In the UK and international media today, several news sources note the failure of nuclear inspectors to gain access to suspected nuclear and military sites in Iran, raising further alarm about the Iranian nuclear development programme. The death of Sunday Times war correspondent Marie Colvin by artillery fire in Syria is widely covered in the UK media today. All note her exceptional bravery in highlighting the plight of victims suffering in war zones across the world. Several outlets speculate that she was deliberately targeted by the Syrian regime. Reuters report the continued shelling of Homs by Assad’s forces. The Daily Telegraph online follows the announcement of the opposition Syrian National Council that external military intervention was the ‘only solution’. The Financial Times covers a significant economic story from Israel; the plan of the government to break up various conglomerates, which is perceived as limiting the powers of leading tycoons. The Independent covers the Supreme Court’s decision to declare a law exempting ultra-Orthodox men from military conscription unconstitutional. BBC online covers the end of former Egyptian president Mubarak’s trial and now expects the verdict on 2 June. The Guardian features an emotive piece by the wife of Khadar Adnan, the Islamic Jihad operative arrested by Israel, who recently ended his hunger strike. The Guardian also publishes a letter on the subject, signed by prominent members of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign.

In the Israeli media today, Haaretz reports on President Shimon Peres support for the US position that the time is not right for an attack on Iran. Both Haaretz and Yediot Ahronot include front-page headlines covering the continued attacks in Syria and relate to the killing of British journalist Marie Colvin. The Jerusalem Post online covers the US Republican debate on CNN and highlights the candidates’ support for arming the Syrian opposition. Both Haaretz and Israel Hayom have front-page headlines relating to the ‘Economic Concentration Committee’ findings that focus on monopolies in the Israeli economy. The committee actually began its work a year and half ago, but the issue received greater prominence following the social protest of last summer. All the papers continue their coverage of yesterday’s announcement by the Supreme Court regarding ultra-Orthodox military conscription. Ma’ariv quotes Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz saying, ‘I think it’‎s very important that there be mandatory service for every citizen in their country, and it shouldn’t be obvious that it’‎s okay not to serve’. There is also continued coverage of the events surrounding the dismissal of former Prime Minister’s office chief of staff Nathan Eshel.