The Guardian, BBC Online and Daily Telegraph today note remarks by former British Prime Minister and current Quartet Mid-East Envoy Tony Blair. Blair said that a failure by the west to back Arab liberals would result in Islamist victories following the upheavals in the Arab world.  The Daily Telegraph also notes Iranian filming of a US aircraft carrier near the Straits of Hormuz.  The Financial Times and Glasgow Herald  have pieces on the tensions over recent Iranian threats to close the Straits of Hormuz.  The Scotsman has a piece on the ‘threat of fundamentalism’ it sees in Israel emerging from ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities. The Times, Independent, Reuters and Sky News Online note the continued bloodletting in Syria.  The Jewish Chronicle notes a statement by PM Benjamin Netanyahu warning against generalizations with regard to the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Israel. The paper also notes a statement by an IDF official that the next operation in Gaza will consist of ‘urban warfare.’  Jewish News notes a remark by London Mayor Boris Johnson encouraging Israeli sports fans to attend the Olympic Games in London.  The Economist has a piece rejecting claims that references to ‘Jewish neocons’ constitute antisemitism.  The magazine has additional articles on Palestinian attempts at reconciliation, and notes remarks by Israeli-Argentinian conductor Daniel Barenboim on the important role to be played by Israeli and Palestinian public intellectuals.  The New Statesman has an article speculating regarding possible war with Iran, and an additional piece critical of IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz for referring to Operation Cast Lead as ‘successful.’  Reuters notes a major US arms sale to Saudi Arabia. Sky News Online has a piece on  film  of Syrian troops while they shot at civilians. The Financial Times has a piece on the rising power of Islamists in the Arab world.

In the Israeli media, Haaretz and Israel Hayom note new US arms sale to Saudi Arabia. Haaretz notes a statement by the European Union’s special envoy to the Southern Mediterranean, Bernardino Leon, that Israel has nothing to fear from the rise of Islamists in the Middle East. The paper also notes indications that Hamas will not take part in Palestinian presidential elections next year.  The Jerusalem Post notes a scheduled visit by US Chief of Staff General Martin Dempsey to Israel.  Israel Hayom notes remarks by IDF officers regarding possible new operations in Gaza.  All papers report on a riot in Beit Shemesh by Ultra-Orthodox Jews yesterday. Ynetnews has a piece on the Stuxnet computer virus, noting claims that it was one of a group of similar viruses.  Maariv website is reporting on an attack by the IAF inGaza this morning on a rocket cell that was about to launch a rocket onIsrael fromGaza.