The Times reports that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas plans to build a $13 million palace in Ramallah to serve as the head of state’s “presidential guest palace”. The self-financed project will take two years to complete and will include two helipads. The decision to build the palace raises eyebrows at a time when one in six West Bank residents is unemployed and the Palestinian Authority cannot afford to pay its employees. The Palestinian Authority has denied these claims.

Also in the Times, Egypt is negotiating the purchase two Mistral warships from France, which were previously destined for Russia. The £1.2 billion deal fell through because of sanctions imposed on Putin’s government and France turned to Egypt, which could use the ships to strengthen its battle against ISIS and other extremists in the Sinai Peninsula.

The Telegraph reports on the controversial decision to select former army general Gal Hirsch as Israel’s next police commissioner in light of his chequered history during the 2006 Lebanon war. Hirsch is slated to appear before the Advisory Committee on Senior Appointments in the Civil Service, led by former Supreme Court Justice Turkel on Tuesday before the Israeli Government can approve it.

In what has been dubbed a modern “Monuments Men” operation, the Telegraph, the Times, and the Independent write that in an effort to mitigate the consequences of the destruction of the ancient ruins in ISIS-controlled Syria, a team of archaeologists from Oxford and Harvard Universities will attempt to create a complete digital record of the artefacts in the area with the help of 3D cameras. The papers say that 3D printing will later be used to build replicas of the destroyed objects so that the history can be preserved.

Following coverage in yesterday’s Financial Times, the Guardian has confirmed with representatives of the Tehran Symphony that Iranian officials have been involved in coordinating an upcoming concert by the Staatskapelle Berlin, the orchestra of the Berlin Opera House, led by musical director Daniel Barenboim. Although a final date has yet to be set, German Foreign Minister Steinmeier has given patronage for the concert.

The Guardian is quoting a study published by the World Resources Institute (WRI) which argues that the next 25 years water supplies in the Middle East will decline significantly, threatening national security, economic growth and continued influx of populations to urban areas. WRI alleges that water shortages were a contributing factor to the Syrian civil war, and thus have already contributed to geopolitical unrest.

The Independent i includes a stub mentioning the Iranian extension of the Parchin military site, where nuclear research is suspected. Another mentions settlers moving into building in East Jerusalem, causing tensions.

The Times, the Guardian, Jewish Chronicle, as well as the, reported yesterday that Conservative Friends of Israel Director Stuart Polak has been elevated to the House of Lords. The appointment had been rumoured for some time and was announced as part of the long-awaited dissolution honours list.

In the Israeli all the major outlets are focusing on the Hirsch appointment from various angles. Haaretz reports that the Israeli Attorney General is looking into whether, as a private defence contractor, Hirsch was involved in any illegal dealings. This, based on information received before his nomination was announced. Yediot Ahronot cites a report following the 2006 Lebanon war that states the Hirsch is “unfit to command” and recommended that he be relieved of his duties. Israeli Radio and Israel Hayom report that Minister Gilad Erdan will meet with representatives of families who lost loved ones in the 2006 Lebanon War after they staged a demonstration outside his home yesterday. The protestors want the minister to rescind Hirsch’s nomination as they see him responsible for the death of their loved ones.

Today’s Jerusalem Post reports that the US State Department now refers to Parchin, the site suspected as an experimenting ground for illicit nuclear weapons activities, as a legitimate military site that is being used for conventional military purposes. A spokesperson made the comments in response to reports of ongoing construction activities at the site that was previously under the IAEA’s suspicion.

The paper also quotes Israeli Foreign Ministry Director General Dore Gold saying that he is “hopeful that in the not too distant future Israel and Turkey will find a way to reestablish their relationship.” This statement follows a June meeting between Gold and his Turkish counterpart, Feridun Sinirlioglu, as part of an effort to mend the ties that were severely damaged as a result of the takeover by Israeli commandos of the Mavi Marmara ship in 2010. The ship was attempting to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza imposed to prevent weapons smuggling to Hamas and other terror groups.