In the UK and international press today, most papers carry pieces on the developments in Syria and report that Damascus has agreed to an Arab League proposal to buy more time and to avert the threat of a UN Security Council resolution. BBC Online notes that dozens of Syrian army deserters have been shot dead by Syrian troops as they attempted to flee army bases and join the anti-government protests. In other news, the Guardian reports on the continued clashes in Egypt and efforts to save historic manuscripts from the Institute of Egypt that are being destroyed due to the violence and uprising. 

On the Israeli front pages today, all papers report that a ceremony was held yesterday attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu marking the one-year anniversary of the Carmel fire disaster that claimed 44 lives. Meanwhile, Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post carry opinion pieces about the death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il and the hope it will damage the country’s relations with Iran.

In other news, Ynetnews and Israel Radio report that Lebanese army discovered four Grad rockets in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border. Meanwhile, the papers report that Germany criticised Israel for new plans to build 1,028 housing units in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Post notes that Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh is planning a visit to Arab and Islamic countries. All papers report on US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta’s remarks to CBS on Iran.