Coverage of the Middle East in the UK media is dominated by the unfolding violent protests seemingly triggered by an amateur anti-Islamic film which emerged earlier this week, leading to the killing of the US ambassador to Libya. All daily titles devote significant coverage to the violence which spread further across the region yesterday, resulting in several deaths outside the US embassy in Yemen and large protests in other countries including Egypt and Iran. The Daily Mirror and Daily Mail note that anti-Israel slogans were chanted at some demonstrations, while the Independent reports a Hamas-organised protest in Gaza and a peaceful demonstration of around 100 Arab Israel citizens in Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, the Daily Mail reports that in light of the violence, emergency plans are in place to evacuate UK diplomats and their families from the region if necessary.

The Evening Standard, Independent i, Daily Telegraph, Guardian, Times and The Sun report increased speculation over the identity of the producer behind the film which apparently ignited the violence. All report that the man claiming to be an Israeli Jew called Sam Bacile is probably an Egyptian Coptic Christian and convicted fraudster living in California named Nakoula Basseley Nakoula.

Online, the Daily Telegraph carries an AP report on a vote of the International Atomic Energy Agency board which overwhelmingly condemned Iran for refusing to curb activities which could enable nuclear armament. The report notes that while only one out of 32 countries voted against the resolution, it is largely symbolic and is unlikely to persuade the Israeli government that diplomacy is having an impact on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

In its print edition, the Daily Telegraph reports that Iran is secretly offloading millions of barrels of oil at a little known port in Malaysia, in order to evade economic sanctions.

Meanwhile, the Times quotes Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor rejecting the need for red lines over Iran’s nuclear development, in favour of continued pressure on Tehran. Meridor’s comments follow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request earlier this week that the US issue red lines to Iran.

Reuters UK reports that Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has reiterated his stance that any country wishing to mediate the rift between Israel and Turkey will need to guarantee that all Turkish demands are met. Relations between the two countries broke off two years ago.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times online carries an op-ed authored by staff at McKinsey’s Tel Aviv office, urging Europe to tap into Israel’s capacity for innovation.

In the Israeli media, all paper focus on the upcoming publication of a State Comptroller’s report on the Harpaz affair, involving a dispute between senior military commanders and Defence Minister Barack over his intention to appoint Yoav Galant to replace former chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi. Ma’ariv’s lead story reports comments by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Leiberman, who yesterday spoke at a ministry event and urged a re-examination of the relationship between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, nineteen years after the signing of the Oslo Accords. The report states that although Leiberman believes a permanent agreement with the Palestinians is not achievable within the next few years, he is still believed to support a two-state solution and the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The Jerusalem Post carries a front page summary of an interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which he denies allegations that his call for the United States to set red lines over Iran’s nuclear development had anything to do with the upcoming US elections.

In Ha’aretz, the main headline is devoted to a decision apparently taken by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office and Foreign Ministry, which may impact future negotiations with the Palestinians. The report states that from now on, the issue of Jewish refugees who fled Arab countries for Israel shortly after the foundation of the Jewish State, will be considered by the Israeli government to be a core issue in final status negotiations with the Palestinians.

Meanwhile, Israel Radio News reports that Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas called Israeli President Shimon Peres to wish him and the people of Israel a happy Jewish new year, adding that he and the Palestinian people long for an upcoming year of peace.