The Daily Telegraph and the Financial Times publish obituaries for the former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, who died on Saturday. The Independent covers the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s war game exercise, which includes drills of surface-to-surface missiles. The paper sees this as “show of force to defy EU sanctions”. The Independent also notes the letters sent by Israeli leaders congratulating the new Egyptian President on his election victory and calling for continued peace between the countries. BBC online reports on the growing Syrian-Turkey tension, as the latter sends fighter jets to the border area in response to Syrian helicopters. The Independent online reports on Foreign Secretary William Hague’s statement that Syrian President Bashar Assad would be excluded from transitional unity government proposed by the UN. The Daily Telegraph’s look ahead to “the week in Westminster”, noting a debate on the “Situation in Area C of the West Bank” on Wednesday.

On Saturday’s several papers reported on the vote in UNESCO to declare Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity an endangered World Heritage Site. The Financial Times includes an interview with former Prime Minister Tony Blair, which includes coverage of Blair’s continued role as the Quartet’s Middle East envoy. The Independent reveals that the London 2012 committee has rejected the petition to hold a minute silence to commemorate the murder of Israeli athletes in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, claiming a separate ceremony at London’s Guildhall would be more appropriate. The London Evening Standard follows a reformed “former Palestinian militant” who has been denied entry into the UK to speak at the premier of the film documenting his journey.

On Sunday all papers report on the passing away of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir. Most reports include his role as a pre-state fighter against British rule, and mention his decision not to respond militarily to Iraq’s scud missiles during the 1991 ffirst Iraq war. The papers also note his attendance at the Madrid peace conference later that year and his hawkish stance towards peace with Israel’s neighbours. The Financial Times and BBC online reports on the swearing in of new Egyptian President Morsi and his promise of a new Egypt. The Sunday Times reveals internal British government correspondence from Bashar al-Assad’s visit to London in 2002, which at the time saw him as a potential reformer and even considered knighting him. The Sunday Times also exposes the role Russia played in assisting Syria target a Turkish military jet last week. The Independent and the Daily Mail on Sunday have follow up comment pieces on Tony Blair’s interview.

In today’s Israeli media all the papers continue to follow the latest challenges of the committee seeking an alternative military and civic service for ultra-Orthodox Jews. The papers note that Jacob Weinroth, the ultra orthodox representative on the committee, resigned last night. Yediot Ahronot reports on a letter Weinroth sent to the PM Netanyahu, warning of the long term damage of applying personal sanctions to draft dodgers. In what some observers see as parallel negotiations, Shas Chairman Eli Yishai met with the Prime Minister and reassured him that “light” personal sanctions would not create a coalition crisis. All the papers also note that the State funeral for Former Prime Minister Shamir will be held later today. Before this, his coffin will lay in State in the Knesset. Maariv reveals that the Prime Minister’s envoy Yitzhak Molcho travelled to Egypt on a secret diplomatic mission and met with leading intelligence and security officials. Yediot Ahronot reports that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told a delegation of international university professors that if there was no progress in negotiations, the Palestinians would request non-member state recognition at the General Assembly of the UN. Israel Hayom covers the trial of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as his case regarding breach of trust and fraud is reaching a conclusion, possibly next week. Yediot Ahronot and Haaretz run part of the letter sent by President Shimon Peres congratulating President Morsi of Egypt on his election victory.

On Sunday all of Israel’s papers focused on the death of the former Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir. The papers also report the political tension over the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews to military or civic service. Maariv reports that Kadima has threatened to quit the coalition if draft dodgers are not personally penalised. Meanwhile, Yediot Ahronot reports from the “suckers’ tent”, a grass roots campaign for equal military conscription, which received support from senior former IDF officers and other high profile guests including Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid. Yediot Ahronot and Haaretz prominently report on Saturday night’s rally for social justice. Haaretz and Israel Hayom  report on the swearing in of the new Egyptian president, noting a call from Prime Minister Netanyahu to “maintain the peace”. Yediot Ahronot speculates why the meeting between President Abbas and Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz was cancelled.