The six-power talks held in Moscow with Iran yesterday ended with no progress. The Financial Times reports that the sides struggled to keep diplomatic momentum alive over the two days, whilst the Independent reported that there is now deadlock after ‘detailed, tough and frank exchanges’. The Guardian reports that the talks have now been downgraded, with further expert-level talks to be held next month in Turkey. The Independent reports that dozens of missiles and mortars were fired on Israel yesterday from Gaza. For the first time in over a year, Hamas took direct responsibility for some of the attacks. The Daily Telegraph comments on the Egyptian elections, urging the United States to condition its considerable aid on the organised handover of power from the dominant military leadership to elected civilians. Although this is expected to lead to threats of reneging on the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty, the paper writes ‘this bluff has grown old. It should be ignored.’ The BBC notes that former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is critically ill and may be close to death. The Independent profiles Palestinian footballer Mohammed  Sarsak, who has been in detention for three years on suspicion of membership in Islamic Jihad. The paper also covers an arson attack yesterday on a mosque in the West Bank, apparently connected to the plans to dismantle five houses built illegally on Ulpana Hill, an outpost of Beit El settlement.

The significant increase in missile fire from Gaza on southern Israel dominates this morning’s Israeli media. Between 40 and 60 missiles were launched at Israel yesterday, with four people sustaining injuries. Rocket fire continues this morning, with a longer-range Grad missile fired towards Be’er Sheva. Yediot Ahronot reports that the spike in tension started on Monday, with an attack on Israeli construction workers on the Israeli-Egyptian border, in which one person was killed. Maariv assesses that, despite Hamas taking direct responsibility for some of the fire, both sides will now try and avoid any further escalation. Haaretz notes a compromise deal has been agreed between the government and settler leaders over the fate of the five houses on Ulpana Hill. In return for peaceful evacuation, the houses will be dismantled and not demolished, and 300 new housing units will be built in nearby Beit El. The Jerusalem Post notes that a State Comptroller’s report is expected to assign ‘special responsibility’ to Finance Minister Steinitz and Interior Minister Yishai for their handling of last year’s Carmel Forest fire. The paper also notes that two Christian groups have called on the British government to boycott settlement produce.