Several titles cover diplomatic disquiet yesterday between Israel and the United States after an Israeli daily reported that Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon made disparaging comments about US Secretary of State John Kerry and his diplomatic efforts in the region. The US State Department rebuked Ya’alon ,who is alleged to have called Kerry “messianic” and “obsessed” and said Kerry’s proposed security plan is “not worth the paper it’s written on.” The Independent i reports the incident as do the Times and Telegraph; both note criticism of Ya’alon by ministerial colleagues including Justice Minister and lead Israeli negotiator Tzipi Livni. The Guardian also covers the story and comments made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres highlighting the importance of the US-Israel relationship, aimed at smoothing over the incident.

The Independent and the online edition of the Guardian report that Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah’s convoy was stopped yesterday by Israeli police in the West Bank for excessive speeding and reckless driving. Hamdallah protested and was soon allowed to continue his journey by Israeli authorities.

The Guardian online says that Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, viewed by many as a moderate influence in the Iranian regime, reportedly told a crowd that the recent interim deal between Tehran and the international community over nuclear development was a “surrender” of Western powers to Iran. The Financial Times reports that US President Obama is lobbying Democrats in the Senate to withdraw support for new sanctions on Iran for fear that it will damage the diplomatic process currently in place with Tehran. The Guardian online says that talks between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency on inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities have been postponed until February without explanation.

The Times, Financial Times and the online edition of the Guardian report that Turkish authorities have raided the offices of Islamic aid organisation IHH on suspicion of links to al-Qaeda and supplying arms to Islamist rebels in Syria. IHH was responsible for organising the voyage of Gaza-bound protest ship, the Mavi Marmara in 2010 upon which nine Turkish citizens were killed whilst trying to prevent Israeli commandos taking over the ship.

The Times says that in Syria, Assad regime troops are on the verge of recapturing the city of Aleppo, taking advantage of opposition forces having been weakened due to infighting during the past several weeks. Meanwhile, the Telegraph online says the UK is sending the frigate HMS Montrose and £2.5million worth of equipment to help dismantle Syrian chemical weapons.

The online editions of the Guardian and Financial Times say that at least 11 people were killed yesterday in clashes in Egypt and a bomb exploded outside a Cairo courthouse on the first day of voting on a referendum for a new constitution. The Times online also reports “palpable fear” in the country during the poll.

In the Israeli media, headlines are dominated by the fallout from Defence Minister Ya’alon’s comments regarding John Kerry. Israel Hayom and Israel Radio news both report that Ya’alon issued a public apology to Kerry late last night. Yediot Ahronot, which originally reported Ya’alon’s comments yesterday, Haaretz and Makor Rishon highlight American displeasure over the remarks. Writing in Yediot Ahronot, Alon Pinkas says that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should have been quicker and more explicit in condemning Ya’alon’s comments. Meanwhile, Maariv reports that in contrast to yesterday’s US-Israel tensions regarding Ya’alon, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has said that Israel is prepared to go a long way to bridge gaps with the United States over a peace agreement with the Palestinian Authority.

Maariv also says that former-Communications Minister Moshe Kahlon, a popular figure among Likud supporters, is preparing to head a new political party and is recruiting prominent individuals to join his initiative, including Maj. Gen. (res) Tal Russo.

Both Makor Rishon and Haaretz report indications by Egyptian officials that Cairo will confront the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip, which they believe has been providing support to Islamist terror groups in the Sinai Peninsula and has worked closely with the Muslim Brotherhood.