The ongoing diplomatic developments regarding a potential United States-led strike against the Assad regime continues to lead the headlines. The Times, Independent i and the online edition of the Financial Times all report that US President Barack Obama is struggling to convince the American public and significant portions of Congress over the case for military action. The Independent online covers US Secretary of State John Kerry’s efforts to build support for intervention, especially a meeting with Arab leaders in which there was agreement that Assad crossed an “international, global red line.” The Guardian online says that Assad himself has been interviewed on US television, denying that he was responsible for a chemical weapons attack. The Times reports that German intelligence suggests that although his forces used such weapons, Assad himself may not have personally sanctioned their deployment. A feature in the Guardian says that Islamist fighters in Syria who oppose the Assad regime fear that they might become the target of a US air strike.

Writing in the Telegraph, Philip Sherwell calls the upcoming vote in Congress Obama’s “great gamble” arguing that it places his credentials as commander-in-chief on the line. Meanwhile, in the Guardian, Gary Younge says that US credibility is already low in the international arena regardless of which way Congress votes.

Meanwhile, the online editions of the Telegraph and the Financial Times both report that European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has indicated that there may be some flexibility over implementing new guidelines which specify that all future EU funding agreements with Israeli entities should exclude those in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. The guidelines have thrown Israel’s participation in the EU’s flagship Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme into doubt. EU officials are due in Israel this week to discuss the issue.

The Guardian online says that there are fears in Egypt that the country’s military rulers will crack down on secular activists who opposed Hosni Mubarak’s rule in 2011, following the arrest and eventual release of a leading lawyer who helped spearhead the movement to overthrow Mubarak.

In this morning’s Israeli media, the uncertainty over a US-led strike against Syria continues to be the main story. Israel Hayom’s headline says that it is “In Congress’ Hands,” while Makor Rishon focuses on Assad’s denial of having carried out a chemical weapons attack. Haaretz says that Russia and Iran are looking at ways to campaign against an air strike. Both Maariv and Israel Hayom highlight a speech delivered yesterday by Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon who said that although it is unclear exactly what action the US may or may not take, Israel is ready for the consequences and that Israelis should go about their daily lives unhindered. Yediot Ahronot meanwhile suggests that President Obama asked Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to help convince US lawmakers to support a strike on Syria, which has led to a flurry of activity by AIPAC. Writing in Maariv, Shalom Yerushalmi warns against the dangers of AIPAC lobbying dragging Israel into the confrontation. Meanwhile, in Yediot Ahronot, Nahum Barnea argues that Obama has made a mountain out of a molehill by bringing the question of a limited military strike to a Congressional vote and making it the subject of a major diplomatic offensive.

In other news, both Maariv and Makor Rishon report that there have been leaks from the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Maariv says that Israel is arguing to maintain control over the border with Jordan and to operate warning stations in the northern West Bank in the context of a future peace agreement. However, Makor Rishon says that Israel has proposed removing settlements from the West Bank during talks.