In the UK media today, the Independent and the Daily Telegraph report that US Diplomats and military officials claimed that Azerbaijan had granted Israel access to its air bases, which could be used in any potential strikes against neighbouring Iran. BBC online reports that Foreign Secretary William Hague vowed to to double its non-military aid to opponents of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. The Independent’s Robert Fisk reports on Syrian refugees seeking shelter in Lebanon. BBC online also reports that a Palestinian woman being held in detention in Israel, Hana Shalabi, is ending her 43-day hunger strike. The Jewish Chronicle publishes an article by London mayoral candidate Ken Livingston in which he vows to improve relations with the Jewish community. The Guardian and the Times also report on the article, with the Times publishing an editorial comment on the issue. The Financial Times reports that US President Barack Obama and Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney express diverging views on Iran and US foreign policy. Metro London reports that French police say a third man thought to have been involved in the recent shootings in Toulouse could be planning a future attack. The Independent and the Daily Telegraph report that the gunman in the Toulouse terror attacks was buried yesterday in a Muslim cemetery near where he was shot by police. The Guardian publishes a letter by theatre actors and directors protesting the invitation of Israel’s national theatre to perform in the Globe Theatre.

Today’s front pages in the Israeli press focus on the state of alert on Israel’s borders, in preparation for mass marches and demonstrations expected within and surrounding Israel. All papers prominently note the hike in petrol prices in Israel and the likelihood that high costs of living will spark protests similar to those that took place last summer. Haaretz reports that political hopeful Yair Lapid said he would not invite Tzipi Livni to join his party. The paper also notes that Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister is conducting a series of meetings in the US in an effort to block a UN Human Rights Committee probe on the issue of settlements. Ynet and Haaretz note that a Palestinian woman suspected of involvement with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and detained in Israel, has agreed to stop her hunger strike and will be released to the Gaza Strip. ‎Maariv features a poll showing public satisfaction with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and compares his standing with other prospective contenders. ‎In analysis of the poll, Maariv’s Mazal Mualem writes that despite Shaul Mofaz‫’‎s victory over Tzipi Livni this week, he has not succeeded in changing the balance of power in the political establishment. Ben Caspit, also writing in Maariv, points out that the element of the poll that should worry the prime minister is the broad dissatisfaction with his performance on socio-economic matters. Haaretz and Ynet report that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed to drop and ultimatum to dismantle the Palestinian Authority if negotiations remained stalled. According to an Associated Press report, Abbas agreed to drop