Middle East-related coverage in the UK media is dominated by yesterday’s European Union decision to ban imports of Iranian oil. The Times, Telegraph, Independent, Financial Times and Daily Mail carry this story. The Times notes that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented that the sanctions are “a step in the right direction.” BBC online covers the Iranian reaction to the sanctions as “unfair” and “doomed to fail”. In related news, the Times, Financial Times and the Independent also focus on the UK, US and French naval presence in the Strait of Hormuz, whilst the Guardian runs a timeline of Iran’s nuclear programme. In other news, the Independent and Evening Standard cover an apparent case of abuse in the West Bank, where a Palestinian man kept his daughter locked in a bathroom for ten years. BBC online notes that two Hamas parliamentarians have been detained in Jerusalem, near the compound of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The Israeli media also widely covers the EU’s decision to place sanctions on Iranian oil, with all papers and online news sources reporting and analysing the new measures. Yediot Ahronot highlights Israeli officials’ concerns that it still could be too late to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Ma‫‎ariv’s front page reports that six Israeli diplomatic missions – three in Europe (including London) and three in the US – yesterday received envelopes in the post containing a white powder suspected of being anthrax. Haaretz online focuses on the EU statement reaffirming the two-state solution and concern about settlement growth. Elsewhere, Yediot Ahronot and the Jerusalem Post cover the Israeli air force strike on an arms factory and smuggling tunnels in Gaza. Ynetnews and Maariv cover the latest compromise deal to remove settlers from the Migron outpost.