The Guardian looks ahead to Sunday when the EU’s oil embargo comes into full effect, marking a dramatic escalation in the pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme. The London Evening Standard and Metro London report that Turkey deployed anti-aircraft guns, rocket launchers and artillery along its border with Syria today as tensions rose between the two countries. Several papers report that Kamal Ghanaja, a senior member of Hamas has reportedly been assassinated in Damascus. Ghanaja was killed at his home on Wednesday, according to a statement issued by Hamas in the Gaza Strip yesterday. In an unusual move, the statement did not blame Israel for the attack, saying only the group was still investigating who had committed the “cowardly murder”. In the Guardian Simon Tisdall writes that months of futile diplomatic tussling, UN deadlock and finger-pointing over Syria have boiled down to a last-ditch effort this weekend to cut a deal between the US and Russia that will ease President Bashar al-Assad from office and replaces him with an inclusive, transitional government that can halt the country’s spiral towards civil war. Robert Fisk in the Independent assesses that the agreement may enable Assad to remain in power for up to two more years. The Spectator profiles Egypt’s new Islamist president Mohammed Morsi.

Political news dominates the Israeli media this morning, with the resignation yesterday of two representatives from the committee drafting a new law for ultra-Orthodox military and civic service. Members of Yisrael Beiteinu and Jewish Home announced that they committee’s refusal to discuss the service of Arab Israelis does not enable them to continue to support it. Maariv analyst Ben Caspit writes that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “trying to compromise among everyone, but the chances of his budging any of them from the bunkers in which they’‎ve holed up are not good.” Both Maza Mualem in Maariv and Yossi Verter in Haaretz assess that PM Netanyahu’s coalition “went into a tailspin” last night. In other news Israel Radio reports that the eviction of five unauthorised houses in the Ulpana Hill neighbourhood was completed last night. Ynetnews reports that Israel military officials have expressed concern that Syrian terror attacks will target the border and the Jerusalem Post reports that the IDF has bolstered its presence along the Israel-Syria border. Ynetnews also reports on increased tensions along Syria’s border with Turkey. Several papers repost that a night of art and cultural events in Tel Aviv was accompanied with demonstrations and protests against Mayor Ron Huldai and his refusal to allow social protests to resume in the Rothschild Boulevards where they were held last summer. Haaretz quotes Palestinian Chief negotiator Saeb Erekat saying that the planned meeting Sunday between Israel deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is not a renewal of the peace process. The paper also reports that Israel froze plans to relocate Bedouins near Jerusalem.