There is significant coverage of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos yesterday. The Times and Evening Standard both focus on Rouhani’s call for a new era of relations between Iran and the West. The Times emphasises that Rouhani made a strong pitch for countries to increase trade with Iran. Both the Telegraph and Guardian cover the response to Rouhani’s speech from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres. Both were unimpressed with Rouhani’s advances and accused him of continuing to attempt to deceive the world with the facade of peaceful intentions.

The Telegraph speculates that Rouhani could meet with US Secretary of State John Kerry on the sidelines of the WEF today, which would be the highest level US-Iran meeting in 30 years. The Financial Times reports that Rouhani is trying to lure Western oil companies to Iran and met yesterday in Davos with representatives of BP, Shell, Total and others.

The Guardian online reports the announcement by Israel’s domestic security agency Shin Bet, that it foiled an attempt by al-Qaeda to recruit Palestinians in order to carry out large-scale suicide bombings on high profile targets in Israel. The Guardian online also covers the IDF’s launch of a new camera combat unit, which will capture on film the experiences of Israeli combat soldiers.

The Geneva II peace conference which aims to bring about a resolution to the conflict in Syria is also widely covered. The Guardian online says there is little sign of progress so far, with the United Nations envoy having met separately yesterday with representatives of the Syrian opposition and officials from the Assad government. The Telegraph online suggests that yesterday’s closed door talks were aimed at achieving short-term measures such as localised ceasefires. The Independent online says the Syrian opposition has claimed that Russia is prepared to see Assad relinquish power. The Telegraph online claims the Syrian opposition hopes to position itself during Geneva II as the only credible force which can tackle al-Qaeda in Syria, in preparation for a renewed request for arms from the United States. The Financial Times online says al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has called for unity among the Islamist groups fighting in Syria.

In the Israeli media, yesterday’s speeches at the WEF in Davos are widely covered. Haaretz says Iran’s President Rouhani claimed Tehran is not developing nuclear weapons and seeks normalization. Israel Hayom and Sof Hashavua highlight Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s response, accusing Rouhani of deception. Maariv focuses on comments by both Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres, who both said Israel would be able to withstand any future economic boycott.

Israel Radio news reports that Netanyahu will meet US Secretary of State John Kerry in Davos today, on the sidelines of the WEF. Netanyahu said yesterday that in a short while, Israel will know whether talks with the Palestinian Authority (PA) can advance. Israel Hayom says Kerry is doubtful whether there will be agreement on his proposed framework for final status talks. Maariv reports that the PA is planning to bring thousands of Arab and Muslim tourists to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, to underscore its claim to East Jerusalem as a future Palestinian capital.

In a poll this morning, a year since the general election, Sof Hashavua says that if elections were held today, the joint Likud-Beitenu list would increase from its current 31 seats to 40 seats, Yesh Atid would plummet from 19 to nine seats while Labour would see a drop from 15 to 12 seats and Jewish Home would lose one seat. The poll indicated that should the two parties run separately, Likud would win 39 seats, Yisrael Beitenu 16.