Several dailies preview the Geneva II Syria conference which is set to begin today. Writing in the Guardian, Ian Black says that expectations for the talks are low, with the most ambitious target the establishment of confidence-building measures. In the Independent, Richard Spencer argues that Geneva II is more about the West’s relationship with Iran than brokering a peace deal between the Assad regime and opposition groups. The Independent reports that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the eventual withdrawal of Iran’s invitation to attend the talks as “unseemly.” Meanwhile, a Guardian editorial says the negotiations should have modest aims including a commitment from both sides to keep talking and the creation of humanitarian corridors. In the Evening Standard, Charles Glass says that Geneva II should really be focused on stopping the spread of the Syrian conflict across its borders into Lebanon and Iraq.

However, evidence this is already taking place is covered in the Evening Standard and online editions of the Times and Guardian, which report that at least four people were killed by a car bomb in a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut yesterday. The Sunni Islamist group the al-Nusra Front, a prominent opponent of the Assad regime in Syria, took responsibility for the attack, specifying that it was in retaliation for Hezbollah’s support for Assad. The Times online reports that Hezbollah is likely to become part of a power-sharing government in Lebanon, ending the country’s nine-month long political stalemate.

The online editions of the Times and Telegraph both report on the photographic evidence recently exposed by a defected Syrian government photographer, which appears to show evidence of up to 11,000 cases of torture by the Assad regime. Experts said it could be the “tip of the iceberg” and Foreign Secretary William Hague described the evidence as “horrific.”

Meanwhile, the Times online says Prime Minister David Cameron is likely to avoid a meeting with Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, when both attend the World Economic Forum at Davos this week.

The Independent i reports comments made yesterday by the opposition and Labour Party leader in Israel, Isaac Herzog, who told reporters he fears Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn’t have “the guts” to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinian Authority. Herzog reiterated that his party would act as a ‘safety net’ in the event of coalition tensions resulting from any such peace deal.

In the Israeli media, the lead story in Maariv, Haaretz and Makor Rishon is the start of the Geneva II talks on Syria today. Maariv says the aim of the United States is the removal of the Assad regime and the establishment of a transitional government. Meanwhile, Yediot Ahronot previews the World Economic Forum in Davos this week which will be attended by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres, Justice Minister and lead peace negotiator Tzipi Livni and Bank of Israel President Karnit Flug. Israel Radio news says Netanyahu will focus his speech on Israel’s leading global role in technology.

The top story in Israel Hayom claims President Peres has said in private talks that Prime Minster Netanyahu’s demand that the Palestinian Authority recognise Israel as a Jewish State is an unnecessary stipulation to peace talks. However, Peres has not made his views public, so as not to compromise the government’s position.

Israel Radio news reports that the Israeli Air Force carried out a targeted strike in the Gaza Strip last night, killing Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine operative Ahmed Za’anin, who was responsible for a number of rocket attacks on southern Israel.