The online edition of the Financial Times previews US Secretary of State John Kerry’s latest visit to Israel, where he is expected to arrive later today and meet with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas. According to the article, Kerry will focus his talks with both leaders on forging agreement on security plans for the West Bank in the event of a peace accord.

The Telegraph covers the revelations of a European Union (EU) audit which detailed that the EU is continuing to pay the salaries of ‘phantom’ PA civil servants in the Gaza Strip, some of whom have not worked since Hamas took control of the area in 2007.

The Guardian online says the NGO War on Want has issued a report criticising the Ministry of Defence which has agreed to purchase technology for unmanned aircraft from Israeli defence company Elbit. The report claims that the model being purchased may have been used in Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the online edition of the Telegraph includes a feature on an all-female Palestinian radio station which is aiming to shift attitudes towards women in Palestinian society.

The online editions of the Guardian, Telegraph, Times, Independent and Financial Times all cover a decision by both the UK and the United States to suspend the delivery of non-lethal military aid to the Western-backed Syrian opposition umbrella group, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), after Islamist opposition fighters seized control of FSA weapons stores and warehouses in north-east Syria. The decision will not impact the distribution of humanitarian aid in Syria. The Times online highlights a wintry storm which is set to bring further misery to the millions of refugees displaced by Syria’s civil war.

The Telegraph covers comments made by the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards who accused the country’s government, led by President Rouhani of having been “infected by Western doctrine.” Writing in the Financial Times, Geoff Dyer says divisions over Iran in the United States between Congress and the White House revolve around the extent to which Tehran’s leadership is believed to be divided between hardliners and more moderate influences.

In the Israeli media this morning, John Kerry’s return to the region later today is covered by Haaretz, which says he is preparing to present a framework agreement to both Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Israel Radio news says Kerry will meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem before travelling to Ramallah to meet with PA President Abbas. Israel Hayom reports comments made by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who heads Israel’s negotiating team in the current peace talks. Livni said yesterday that Israel is ready for an agreement, but that it would be implemented gradually. She also commented that peace is integral to Israel’s security and criticised those in government who appear to prioritise settlements over peace.

In Yediot Ahronot, Alex Fishman says the recent interim deal between the P5+1 powers and Iran in Geneva actually grants Tehran greater sanctions relief than at first thought. He says that this will be on the agenda for today’s meeting between Israel’s National Security Advisor Yossi Cohen and his US counterpart Susan Rice who are scheduled to hold their first meeting today to coordinate positions on a permanent agreement with Iran.

Yediot Ahronot and Israel Hayom in particular highlight an incident yesterday in the Knesset during which Yesh Atid MK Pnina Tamano-Shata, who was born in Ethiopia, was not allowed to participate in a blood drive, due to regulations which stipulate that blood is not taken from people born or who have lived in a country for more than a year since 1977 where there is a high prevalence of HIV. The incident caused outrage, the blood bank was removed from the Knesset and Israel Radio news says Health Minister Yael German will investigate a change in criteria for blood donation.

Most dailies though lead with the inclement weather which has struck Israel and led to localised flooding, traffic problems and the closure of some schools this morning.