In the UK media today, several news outlets cover an unconfirmed report that Iran has shot down a US drone. In other items, the Guardian, Financial Times, Times and Scotsman note Israel’s abandonment of a campaign to encourage Israelis living in the United States to return. The Daily Telegraph quotes Iraqi Prime Nouri al-Maliki who predicts regional sectarian war if the Assad regime in Syria falls. The paper also noted the Islamist victory in the first round of Egyptian parliamentary elections. The Times notes the ongoing violence in Syria and has a piece on Israeli fears of a nuclear Iran. The Independent notes that Syria faces new Arab League sanctions. The paper has additional pieces on new reports that Gilad Shalit went on hunger strike during his captivity, and an Iranian threat that blocking oil exports would lead to the doubling of oil prices. Reuters notes Islamist hopes in Egypt to extend gains during a series of runoff votes this week. Sky News Online also reports on the situation in Syria. The Daily Mirror has a piece on Israel’s alleged covert operations against Iran. The Daily Mail also has a piece on the possibility of war with Iran.

The ongoing violence in Syria dominated Middle East coverage over the weekend. The Times had a piece on what the article calls preparations for an attack on Iran. The Sunday Telegraph profiled Qassem Suleimani, head of the Qods force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. The Sunday Times noted remarks by former Mossad Head Meir Dagan opposing a military strike on Iran. The Independent reported on the departure of Iranian diplomats from Britain. Reuters on Saturday quoted Defence Minister Ehud Barak who downplayed claims that war against Iran has already begun with covert attacks on Iranian facilities. Scotland on Sunday, meanwhile, focused on reports of covert attacks on Iranian facilities. BBC Online on Sunday noted remarks by US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta urging Israel to return to negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. The Observer on Sunday had a piece calling for the closure of Press TV, an Iranian propaganda channel. The Guardian on Saturday, Sunday Times and Reuters noted the Islamist victory in the first round of elections in Egypt. The Sunday Express reported that military action against Iran has been ruled out by Britain, to give sanctions a chance to work. The Independent on Sunday ran an opinion piece opposed to military action against Iran. The Observer and the Sunday Telegraph had pieces that contend that political Islam is set to dominate the Middle East in the period now opening up. The Sunday Telegraph also noted a statement by a Syrian opposition leader, who said that a post-Assad Syria would shun Iran, and ran a piece on Labour MP Paul Flynn’s remarks that Britain’s ambassador to Israel, Matthew Gould, might have divided loyalties because he is Jewish. The Sunday Times ran an additional piece on covert operations against Iran. The Sun on Saturday ran a piece agreeing with the decision to expel Iranian diplomats from Britain. The Times on Saturday had a piece noting that the US does not rule out the use of force against the Iranian nuclear programme. The paper also had a piece looking at Israel’s options in the face of Iranian nuclear ambitions.

The print edition of Israel Hayom leads today with the decision to bring Likud primaries forward to 31 January. The Jerusalem Post print edition leads with a speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend, in which he spoke of the need to take ‘difficult decisions’ at the time of Israel’s founding. Haaretz print edition leads with the ‘fleeing’ of Hamas activists from Damascus.

In the Israeli media, Haaretz and Ynetnews note a speech given by Prime Minister Netanyahu over the weekend, at a memorial for Israel’s first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion. Haaretz also has a piece on the Iranian claim to have downed a US drone, and notes the confirmation of Islamist victory in Egypt’s first round of parliamentary elections. The Jerusalem Post and Ynetnews note that Likud leadership primaries are to be held on January 31^st. Ynetnews reports that Hamas is scaling back its presence in Syria, and notes a statement by US Vice President Joseph Biden that the US and Turkey will aid Syria after the fall of Assad. Israel Hayom quotes the recent statements by US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Israel and the peace process with the Palestinians. Maariv has a report noting a statement by Jeffrey Feltman, a senior aide to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, that Iran and Hizballah are actively aiding Assad in Syria.