The Daily Telegraph today runs a piece on the Iranian armed forces’ heightened state of alert, amid raised tensions with the west. The paper also, along with Sky News Online, notes that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due to meet with Syrian opposition leaders in Geneva. The Guardian has a piece noting Israel’s plans to expand Ma’aleh Adumim, east of Jerusalem and relocate local Beduin tribes. The paper has an additional article on the exclusion of US Republican politician Ron Paul from a Republican Jewish Coalition forum because of his views on Israel, and a piece on a large Syrian military exercise that took place over the weekend. The Independent notes Israeli concerns at achievements by Islamist parties in recent elections in the Arab world. The paper, along with BBC Online, also notes that Syrian President Bashar Assad has agreed to the entry of Arab League observers into Syria. The Times and the Daily Telegraph note that Hamas is seeking a new base away from Syria. The Financial Times, meanwhile, notes that Britain and France are to push for a EU ban on the import of Iranian oil. The paper also reports that Islamist gains in Egyptian elections are likely to put the current military regime ‘in retreat’ and has a piece on the gap between Egyptian realities and western expectations. The Sun has a piece on fears of Iranian use of cyber warfare against western targets. Reuters has a piece on caution in Europe regarding a ban on oil imports from Iran. Reuters has additional articles on the ‘cold war’ between Iran and the west in the Middle East, and Israel’s use of drones. BBC Online notes an outcry after Howard Gutman, US ambassador to Belgium, said that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was the cause of Muslim antisemitism. Sky News Online reports from Homs, a focal point of the insurgency in Syria. The Daily Mirror focuses on rising US-Iran tensions.

The print edition of Israel Hayom leads with the Knesset approval of measures recommended by the Trachtenberg Committee which will reduce the tax burden on Israel’s middle classes. The Jerusalem Post leads with a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denying that he is planning early elections, and denying that he has made a deal with Defence Minister Ehud Barak to ensure the latter a Knesset seat. Haaretz print edition leads with an article revealing that the Finance Ministry in Israel stopped an investigation into state-funded Ultra-Orthodox seminaries five months ago following Ultra-Orthodox protests.

In the Israeli media, Ynetnews and Haaretz focus on Iran’s heightened state of alert. The Jerusalem Post notes the downing of a US drone by Iran. Haaretz reports on claims that a planned new Jerusalem park adjacent to Mount Scopus is a ‘ruse’ to block development of Palestinian neighborhoods in the city. Israel Hayom notes Israeli concerns at the possibility of terror attacks from Sinai, and has a piece on the military drill in Syria. Haaretz notes that a committee has recommended that Israel avoid deals of the type that freed Gilad Shalit in future. Maariv reports that a breakthrough in negotiations has raised hopes for a conclusion of a dispute over conditions involving medical residents in Israel.