The Times reports that Israeli security forces killed three suspected Salafi Palestinian terrorists in the West Bank; they were planning an attack on Israeli and Palestinian Authority forces, raising concerns of a growing Salafi presence in the West Bank, with links to global al-Qaeda affiliated jihadists. Meanwhile, the Independent and Independent i both report that the one-year old granddaughter of Hamas Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh has died after the family sought treatment for her in Israel. The article says  Haniyeh’s family attributed no political significance to the decision to request treatment in Israel.

The Times says Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani risks being toppled in a coup if nuclear talks with the international community collapse. The article claims that hardline leaders in Tehran planned to declare a state of emergency had last weekend’s talks in Geneva crossed their ‘red lines.’ In the Telegraph, Peter Oborne sharply criticises the stance taken by Conservative Friends of Israel over the interim deal agreed in Geneva, accusing the organisation of parroting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s views on the agreement. In the Guardian, Seumas Milne writes that the United States may be scaling back its Middle East commitment, as indicated by recent diplomacy over Syria and Iran, but that it will not entirely remove its influence in the region any time soon.

The Guardian online reports that arrest warrants have been issued against two prominent secular activists in Egypt, following their participation in a protest outside Egypt’s parliament against a new law which would curb the right to demonstrate. The Times online says 14 women who were arrested at the same protest have accused Egyptian security forces of having beaten and molested them before abandoning them in the desert.

The Telegraph online says the Western-backed Syrian National Coalition (SNC), an umbrella body for several opposition groups, has agreed to participate in the Geneva II peace talks scheduled for late January. However, the SNC has stipulated it would only agree to Iranian participation in the talks if Iran agrees to remove all of its forces from Syria beforehand, including affiliated Hezbollah fighters.

This morning’s Israeli media remains dominated by the death of iconic singer Arik Einstein, whose funeral yesterday is covered extensively. Most dailies devote their front pages to coverage of the funeral in Tel Aviv, which took place after Einstein’s coffin lay in state in Rabin Square where thousands came to pay their respects, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Poignant headlines include “Final Chord” in Haaretz and “A Parting Song” in Israel Hayom. In Yediot Ahronot, President Shimon Peres pens a tribute to Einstein while Maariv will tomorrow publish the first of what had been intended as a weekly column by Einstein, written before his death.

In other news, Maariv reports that Israel has been accepted into the West European and Others group at the United Nations’ Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which was one of the conditions upon which Israel agreed to rejoin the UNHRC. Relations were restored between Israel and the UNHRC in October after having been severed for a year and a half over the Council’s disproportionate focus on condemning Israel.

Maariv and Haaretz highlight the recommendation yesterday by Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein, that new municipal elections should take place in Beit Shemesh following allegations of electoral fraud during last month’s poll. The ultra-Othodox Shas mayoral candidate won a slim and disputed victory over a secular candidate in the city which has seen an upsurge in tensions between the ultra-Orthodox community and other residents.