The Guardian online reports that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to respond “forcefully” to an explosion yesterday on Israel’s border with Syria which targeted an Israeli army jeep and wounded four Israeli soldiers, one seriously. The BBC online also covers the blast, which is the latest in a series of recent attacks or attempted attacks on Israeli military personnel on the northern border.

The online edition of the Guardian also covers comments by senior Palestinian Authority (PA) negotiator Saeb Erekat, who said that this week’s meeting between PA President Mahmoud Abbas and US President Barack Obama was “difficult.” Erekat reiterated the PA’s refusal to recognise Israel’s character as the nation state of the Jewish people, which Israel’s government views as a crucial foundation to future peace talks. The Telegraph reports on a recent speech by Abbas to Fatah members in which he implied that exiled influential Palestinian leader Mohammed Dahlan had a hand in the death of Yasser Arafat.

Martin Samuel, the Daily Mail sports correspondent highlights the strong support given by Qatar to Hamas and anti-Israel sentiment expressed by Qatari officials deeply involved in hosting the 2022 World Cup.

The Daily Mail also reports on comments made by Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon, who indicated that Israel may be forced to act alone against the threat of a nuclear Iran, with the United States unlikely to use a military option if negotiations fail to bear fruit. The Financial Times includes an op-ed by Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Zarif who insists that the current talks between Iran and the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany) are not an attempt by Tehran to buy time and calls for the international community to show courage to broker a long-term deal. The Guardian online says that P5+1 delegation head Catherine Ashton has defended her recent meeting with Iranian dissidents during a visit to Tehran, which was criticised by some Iranian leaders.

The Financial Times reports that Western and Israeli intelligence believe that foreign jihadist fighters in Syria are becoming disillusioned with the factional fighting within the Islamist opposition and are increasingly leaving Syria. However, the report suggests there is a danger that they will wage violence elsewhere, including the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, which borders Israel. In Egypt itself, the Times online says that 16,000 Muslim Brotherhood supporters have been arrested since the fall of Mohammed Morsi eight months ago.

The Guardian reports that the Israel Antiquities Authority has announced plans to build the largest archaeology centre in the Middle East in Jerusalem, housing numerous exhibits yet to be viewed by the public.

The lead item in the Israeli media is yesterday’s explosion on Israel’s border with Syria, which injured four Israeli soldiers. It is the top story in Israel Hayom, Makor Rishon and Yediot Ahronot, which calls the attack a “trap.” The blast also leads in Haaretz which terms the attack the worst incident of its kind since the Syrian conflict erupted three years ago while Maariv-NRG says it has effectively ended forty years of quiet on the Syrian border. Writing in Yediot Ahronot, Alex Fishman warns “The Syrians and Hezbullah are dragging Israel into a war of attrition on the northern border at a timing and pace that they are dictating, and the Israeli security establishment is being dragged into this.”

In other news, Makor Rishon focuses on calls by several government ministers not to release a fourth and final batch of Palestinian prisoners, set to be freed on 29 March as part of an agreement by Israel to pave the way for peace talks to resume last July. The PA has yet to agree to extend talks beyond their April deadline. Israel Radio news says that the PA published a list of thirty prisoners it wants to see released.

Israel Hayom further analyses Finance Minister Yair Lapid’s plans to give first time home buyers tax breaks, while Haaretz suggests that Lapid will also look to set limits on the rental market.