The Financial Times reports the US has approved a new round of sanctions on Iran and Syria, which aim to disrupt the ability of the regimes to target opposition groups through the internet or mobile phone networks. The Independent reports that the Iranian oil ministry was the target of a cyber-attack yesterday which resulted in the country’s main oil export terminal being disconnected from the internet. The Financial Times notes that Teheran said that no sensitive data was harmed. The Times, along with other papers, reports that Egypt has cancelled its gas deal with Israel. The Guardian notes comments by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that the decision was commercial, rather than political.

In the Israeli press, Makor Rishon reports that a ministerial committee headed by PM Netanyahu yesterday agreed to ask the High Court for an extension to the deadline for evacuating the Ulpana settlement outpost. The committee also recommended to approve three settlements established in the 1990s without authority. The issue will now go to the full cabinet for further discussion. Maariv reports comments by PM Netanyahu aimed at reducing the tension between Egypt and Israel over the cancelled gas contract. Speaking to the contestants in the annual International Bible Quiz, held on Independence Day, he said, “this is a commercial conflict between a private Israeli company and the Egyptian gas corporation. We have been in ongoing contact with the Egyptians, and there is no political issue here.” Quoting the official Egyptian news service, Israel Hayom carries a statement by the Egyptian minister for planning and international cooperation, who said “‎we have no objection to formulating a new agreement for the sale of natural gas to Israel, but this agreement will be with a new price and with new terms.” The Jerusalem Post reports that international donors have warned Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas against dismissing prime minister Salam Fayyad. A serious crisis has developed between the two, with Abbas under strong pressure from his Fatah party to remove Fayyad, an independent, from his position. Haaretz carries a story that the Hamas education ministry in Gaza will begin teaching Hebrew to schoolchildren, starting next year.