A photo of Israel’s Independence Day celebrations in full swing yesterday is published by the Times this morning. Meanwhile, the Independent reports that an Israeli archaeologist claims to have uncovered the exact site of King David’s citadel just outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, now an Arab neighbourhood. Critics say that the dig is part of an attempt to assert further Israeli control over such areas of Jerusalem which were captured by Israel in 1967.

The Guardian includes exerts from an interview with Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi, one of Tehran’s top nuclear negotiators. He claims that “dark forces” are at work who do not wish to see the current talks between Iran and the P5+1 (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) succeed. The article says that Araqchi’s comments are assumed to have been alluding to Israel.

The Independent i reports that Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Zarif has been questioned and sharply criticised by elements of the country’s parliament over comments he made to a German newspaper in which he described the Holocaust as a “horrifying tragedy.” Zarif’s critics insist on a continued policy of Holocaust denial, while Zarif defended his actions saying that Holocaust denial provides ammunition for the country’s opponents.

In the Telegraph online, Con Coughlin reports that Western security officials suspect that Iran has been supplying the Assad regime in Syria with Chinese-made chlorine bombs, which have been used against Syrian civilians during the past several weeks.

The Guardian online says that the United Nations’ refugee agency and Human Rights Watch have criticised Lebanon for apparently blocking the entry of numerous Palestinian refugees fleeing the fighting in Syria.

In Egypt, the online editions of the Guardian, Telegraph and Financial Times all report that former-de facto military ruler and leading presidential candidate Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pledged during a television interview that the Muslim Brotherhood will not exist under his rule. Al-Sisi is expected to win a presidential election scheduled for later this month by a wide margin. The online editions of the Times and Guardian say that an Egyptian court has ruled that officials from the party of ousted former-President Hosni Mubarak will be barred from standing in all future elections.

The Evening Standard reports that Israeli online advertising company Marimedia is planning a £100 million listing on London’s junior AIM market.

In the Israeli media, Maariv-NRG and Israel Radio news report that Israeli officials have vehemently denied claims made in a Newsweek report that Israel engages in widespread espionage in the United States, which has “crossed red lines.” Meanwhile, Makor Rishon highlights that US National Security Advisor Susan Rice is scheduled to arrive in Israel today to discuss issues including talks over Iran’s nuclear programme.

Yediot Ahronot’s main story covers allegations that residents of the West Bank settlement of Yizhar have discussed the possible religious justification in harming Israeli security forces tasked with evicting settlers. Police have made several recent arrests in Yizhar in connection with so-called ‘Price Tag’ incidents, acts of vandalism against Palestinian and Arab property.

Israel Hayom leads with a claim by Public Security Minister, Yitzhak Aharonovitch that dramatic progress has been made in the investigation regarding the murder of a 20-year-old woman last week in the north of the country. However, the case is still subject to a gag order.

Makor Rishon reports comments made by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman yesterday, who warned that a reconciliation between the Fatah faction of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas would result in Hamas taking control of the West Bank.