The main item of Middle East related coverage in the UK media today is the announcement yesterday by the British government of increased sanctions against Iran. All papers and news outlets note the new sanctions. In other items, the Daily Telegraph, Independent, Times and Reuters note a meeting between British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Syrian opposition leaders. BBC Online have an article on how Israel turned itself into a ‘high tech hub.’ The Daily Mail has an op-ed asserting that the Arab Spring will lead to new Islamist regimes in the Middle East. The Financial Times notes Jordanian King Abdullah’s visit to the West Bank yesterday. The paper also has a piece on Turkey’s role in the region. The Daily Telegraph has an editorial welcoming Turkish president Abdullah Gul to Britain, and contending that the UK should push Gul to repair his country’s relations with Israel

The print edition of the Jerusalem Post leads with the resignation of the Jordanian Cabinet, and the meeting yesterday between Jordanian King Abdullah II and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Haaretz print edition also notes the resignation of the Egyptian government. All papers have front-page stories on the passing of the first reading of a bill to amend Israel’s libel law. Haaretz also has a front-page story on a threat by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman that his party will quit the Cabinet if the government proceeds with the evacuation of two settlement outposts in the West Bank.

In the Israeli media, all papers note the new sanctions against Iran. All papers also report the passing of the first reading of a controversial amendment to Israel’s libel laws. Haaretz notes the issuing of a transitional plan by the Syrian National Council, a prominent Syrian opposition group. Israel Hayom has articles on new Israeli security measures along the Israel-Egypt border, and Egyptian disillusionment with the direction of events in the country.