The most widely covered Middle East related story in the UK media today is ongoing developments relating to Syria. The Guardian prints a feature on the complex political dynamics surrounding the Arab League’s intervention in Syria, whilst the Independent has a comment piece on the uncompromising nature of the Syrian regime. All the papers, along with BBC and Reuters, have more coverage online of attempt to secure a UN Security Council resolution against Syria, including pressure on Russia to lend its support. Meanwhile the Guardian has an article on comments by James Clapper, The director of US national intelligence, warning of the threat of Iranian attacks on international targets, whilst the Independent reports on the establishment of a new unit of the IDF set up to carry out missions deep inside enemy territory.

In the Israeli media today, all the press focus on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comfortable win in the Likud leadership vote, and the possibility of early elections, with Yediot Ahronot, for example, reporting that elections may come in October 2012. Israel Hayom has a front-page story on Israeli concerns about the transfer of chemical weapons from Syria to Hezbollah, whilst Maariv and Haaretz report on a recent visit by the head of Mossad, Tamir Pardo, to Washington. Makor Rishon reports that Netanyahu has removed settlements from a list of priority areas that receive special funding. Widely reported is the re-arrest by the IDF of a Palestinian freed in the Gilad Shalit deal, who is suspected of having returned to terrorist activity. The Jerusalem Post reports on calls from UN Secretary General for Israel to give confidence building gestures to the Palestinians ahead of a planned visit to Gaza, and Israel’s deliberations relating to this. The media also widely reports developments in a story about two baby twins suspected of being abused by their parents, one of whom died a few days ago.