There is widespread coverage this morning of the serious deterioration in the medical condition of Israel’s former-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, whose life is thought to be in imminent danger. The Telegraph says tentative plans are being made for a state funeral, while the Times, Guardian, Independent, Daily Mail, Independent i, Sun, Evening Standard and Metro also cover the critical condition of Sharon, who has been in a coma since suffering a massive stroke eight years ago. Writing in the Telegraph, David Blair analyzes Sharon’s career, describing him as a leader who made the journey from “hawk to flexible pragmatist.”

The online edition of the Guardian covers the arrival in Israel yesterday of US Secretary of State John Kerry, who met with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and is scheduled to visit Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah today. Kerry is hoping to make progress in peace negotiations by reaching an agreement on the outlines for talks on core issues. David Blair in the Telegraph says Kerry’s enthusiasm to resolve issues in the Middle East should be applauded, but unfortunately it coincides with dwindling US influence in the region.

The Guardian online reports that an 85-year-old Palestinian man died in a village near Nablus in the West Bank; he is thought to have inhaled tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers nearby who clashed with a group of rock-throwing Palestinians.

The death of the Palestinian envoy to the Czech Republic following an explosion at his home in Prague continues to make headlines. The Telegraph reports that a cache of unregistered guns was found in his home by Czech officials, which the Times online says was enough for a unit of 10 men. The Guardian online also covers this story, as do the Independent and Independent i which both report that staff at the Palestinian mission have said that the safe which exploded and killed the envoy was used regularly, contradicting official Palestinian claims that it had remained unused for many years.

A large car bomb which exploded yesterday in a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut and killed five people, this is reported by the Guardian, Independent i, Independent and online editions of the Financial Times and Telegraph, The explosion was the fifth to hit a Hezbollah target in Beirut since July. The latest bombing would appear to be revenge for the killing last week of a Sunni former-Lebanese Finance Minister, who openly opposed the Assad regime in Syria.

The Guardian online reports that two people died yesterday in Alexandria after Egyptian security forces clashed with Muslim Brotherhood supporters.

In the Israeli media, Ariel Sharon’s critical medical condition remains the top story in Yediot Ahronot, Maariv, Sof Hashavua and Israel Hayom. Israel Radio news says that the Sheba Medical Centre will issue an update on Sharon’s condition at 11am this morning.

The lead story in Haaretz focuses on John Kerry’s latest visit to the region which began yesterday. The headline emphasises Kerry’s assertion during a press conference yesterday that “tough decisions” will need to be made during the coming weeks. Writing in Sof Hashavua, Ben Caspit says Kerry is presenting a document, not a proposal to Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas, which is a summary of the sides’ positions which he hopes will be a mandate for the continuation of negotiations beyond the April deadline already set.

Both Yediot Ahronot and Israel Radio news report that Israeli security forces have arrested the terror cell which planned and executed a bus bombing in Bat Yam less than two weeks ago. The four main suspects, all from Bethlehem are linked to Islamic Jihad and one is a PA police officer.

Israel Radio news also says that Israel’s Air Force last night struck strategic targets in the Gaza Strip in response to a rocket which was fired yesterday into the Western Negev region. No injuries or damage was reported.