The Guardian, Times, Telegraph, Evening Standard, Financial Times and Independent i report that P5+1 representatives and Iranian officials meeting in Geneva have made significant progress towards agreeing a short-term deal and further commitment to discuss a long-term plan over Iran’s nuclear programme. The initial six-month agreement would reportedly involve Iran’s halt in producing 20 per cent enriched uranium and an end to development of the Arak heavy water plant, in return for easing what US officials termed limited and reversible sanctions. All reports say Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his opposition to such a deal, which he described as a “mistake of historic proportions”, as it would see Iran maintain the means of uranium enrichment. The Telegraph says US Senators are also unhappy with the proposed plan and are considering voting in favour of further sanctions on Iran. Writing in the Financial Times, Ivo Daalder argues that the key to any potential deal will be whether both American and Iranian leaders can sell such an agreement to their domestic audiences.

Conversation continues surrounding the report published this week by Swiss scientists revealing “moderate” evidence that former-PA President Yasser Arafat died from polonium poisoning. The Times and Independent report that Arafat’s wife is calling for an international investigation into her husband’s death, the Telegraph online says that this has been echoed by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) which Arafat founded and headed. Both Roger Boyes in the Times and Con Coughlin in the Telegraph note alternative explanations for Arafat’s death beyond poisoning and that the Palestinian leader had plenty of enemies at home and beyond who could have been behind such a killing. Editorials on the issue are published in the Independent and the Guardian which call for an international investigation into Arafat’s death.

The Times and online edition of the Telegraph report that Syrian President Assad’s troops, with the help of Hezbollah fighters, have recaptured the strategic town of Sbeineh, south of Damascus, from opposition forces. The Guardian claims Saudi Arabia is preparing to throw its significant backing behind the Jaysh al-Islam bloc of mainly Islamist opposition groups in Syria on the provison that it is brought under the command of the Western-backed Free Syrian Army. Both the Independent and Independent i say the World Health Organisation has warned that the polio outbreak in Syria could reach Europe. Writing in the Daily Express, Frederick Forsyth laments that there appears to be no stopping the Syrian bloodbath.

Meanwhile, the Guardian notes that Hamas’ newly-appointed English-language spokeswoman was educated for a period of time in Bradford.

In the Israeli media, both Yediot Ahronot and Israel Radio news cover an in-depth interview given to Channel Two by US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday evening, in which he warned that should a peace agreement remain elusive, there is a danger of chaos and a third intifada. Both cover comments subsequently made by Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon who said that “I’ve never heard any Palestinian leadership… willing to consider any territorial compromise… and to recognize Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people.” Commentator Alex Fishman plays down the chances of renewed violence in Yediot Ahronot, saying it is not in the interests of either the Israeli or Palestinian leadership.

Haaretz and Yediot Ahronot prominently report the apparent short-term deal being discussed between P5+1 officials and Iranian representatives during talks in Geneva yesterday. Maariv, Sof Hashavua and Israel Hayom focus on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s sharp warning that such a deal would be a “historic mistake,” allowing Iran to retain the means of enrichment.

Another top item is a car bomb which exploded yesterday in north Tel Aviv which is thought to have targeted a prominent district prosecutor but did not cause any injuries. Maariv, Haaretz and Sof Hashavua all believe the prosecutor was targeted as he has worked on several cases involving figures in organised crime.