There is significant coverage of the violent incident which took place yesterday morning between Palestinians and Israeli security forces in Kalandiya, situated in the West Bank. The Times, Telegraph, Guardian, Independent, Metro, Independent i and the online edition of the Financial Times all report that Israeli border police were attacked with fire bombs and rocks by hundreds of Palestinians, as they arrested a terrorist suspect. Israeli forces then opened fire, killing three Palestinians. It was claimed by Palestinian leaders that peace talks set for yesterday were postponed in protest at the killings, although the Independent suggest that no such talks were scheduled.

The Independent online also covers Palestinian objections to an announcement yesterday by the Jerusalem Municipality that it will help fund the construction of new homes in the Ramat Shlomo neighbourhood of East Jerusalem. An official from Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office is quoted explaining that the area in question would remain under Israeli control in the event of any future peace deal with the Palestinians.

The prospect of Western military action in Syria continues to be a major focus of coverage. The Guardian, Independent i and the online editions of the Financial Times and Independent cover a strong statement by US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday, who said that the Syrian government must be held accountable for the “obscene” use of chemical weapons last week. The Guardian suggests that Parliament could be recalled this week to discuss a potential military strike. However, the Telegraph emphasises that Russia has warned that Western military force against the Assad regime would be a “tragic mistake.” The same publication speculates that Saudi Arabia has offered Russia a significant share of oil revenues if it softens its steadfast support for Assad.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror and the online editions of the Guardian and Independent report that United Nations’ chemical weapons inspectors who are currently in Syria in order to collect evidence of the use of elicit weaponry came under fire in Damascus yesterday.

There is significant commentary on the prospect of Western military action in Syria, with Max Hastings in the Daily Mail arguing against such a move. However, Tony Blair writes in the Times, opining that the West has no choice but to intervene with the consequences of inaction far more grave. In the Telegraph, David Blair says that the United States must act if it wishes to maintain its’ credibility as a superpower while in the Independent  Patrick Cockburn argues that the current situation provides the opportunity to hold a peace conference between Syria’s warring parties. In the Financial Times, Gideon Rachman explains the complexities of the United States’ Middle East relations.

In this morning’s Israeli media, John Kerry’s statement on Syria is featured on the front pages of Yediot Ahronot, Maariv, Israel Hayom, Haaretz and Makor Rishon. Yediot Ahronot refers to it as “Kerry’s war speech” and the overwhelming tone of commentary is one of an inevitable US-led military strike. Writing in Maariv, Nadav Eyal says that Kerry’s speech was “the last sign that America has made a decision.” Meanwhile, in Yediot Ahronot, Alex Fishman takes a similar position saying, that “the die has been cast. The American army is completing its preparations for a strike on Syria.”

Headlines this morning also focus on the first day of the new school year, a significant event in the calendar for most Israeli families. Maariv and Makor Rishon both note on their front pages that more than two million children will go back to school today while Israel Hayom simply wishes them “Good luck!”

The deadly violence yesterday in Kalandiya is also a major story, particularly in Haaretz, Makor Rishon and Israel Hayom which sets out the sequence of events stating, “Our troops attacked, three Palestinians killed.” Meanwhile, Eli Bardenstein in Maariv claims that Israel’s senior negotiators in talks with the Palestinians, Tzipi Livni and Issac Molcho are divided over the ultimate goal of the current talks.