The Guardian reports on speculation that Israel’s former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will return to the political arena as a candidate in the upcoming elections. Olmert was recently cleared of corruption charges relating to his time as a government minister and was handed a relatively light sentence having been convicted of breach of trust. He is also accused of bribery during his time as Jerusalem mayor, with the case still pending. The Guardian reports that Olmert is expected to decide on his immediate political future in the coming days. Several Israeli commentators consider Olmert to be the only potential challenger capable of unseating incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  Meanwhile, the Financial Times online carries a report on recent Israeli polling, which points to a comfortable victory for Netanyahu’s Likud Party in upcoming elections. Although the poll points to the Labour Party emerging as the second largest party, the report comments that only a small number of voters view its leader Shelly Yacimovich as a potential Prime Minister.

All UK daily broadsheets report on two stories relating to Syria. The Times and the online editions of the Guardian, Telegraph, Financial Times and Independent report on the latest incident to heighten tensions between Turkey and Syria. Turkish fighter jets last night forced a Syrian passenger aircraft to land in Turkey following Turkish suspicions that the flight was carrying military communications equipment destined for Syrian President Assad’s forces.  With the exception of the Financial Times, the same publications also report that an initial 150 US troops have been sent to Jordan in order to help contain any possible regional escalation from the continued violence in Syria, including the possible transfer of Syria’s chemical stockpile. The Times reports that a small number of UK military personnel have also been sent to Jordan and also note Israeli concerns over a possible transfer of chemical weapons from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Both the Telegraph and the online edition of the Financial Times report on comments made by Foreign Secretary William Hague on BBC Radio 4, who described the situation in Syria as a “deeply frustrating and depressing crisis.” The Financial Times online also carries a report on yesterday’s publication of Egypt’s draft constitution. The report notes concerns within the country over the content of the proposed charter and the composition of the panel that put it together. Meanwhile, the online edition of the Independent notes a televised speech by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has told the country’s officials to halt their bickering over Iran’s worsening economic situation. Divisions between rival political factions have become apparent over the recent plummeting value of the Iranian currency.

In Israel, the media is dominated by the election campaign. Haaretz and Maariv publish separate latest polls, both of which indicate that the Likud Party led by Prime Minister Netanyahu would win an easy victory if elections were held now. Both surveys predict that this would remain the case even if former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni choose to run. Widespread speculation continues over the possibility of the two former Kadima leaders entering the race. Israel Hayom reports that both Livni and Olmert remain undecided, while also reporting that Likud and Israel Beiteinu are pushing for an election on 15 January, while Kadima is hoping for the poll to take place on 19 February. Maariv also devotes coverage to the possibility that former Shas leader Aryeh Deri, who has been out of politics since being convicted of bribery in 2000, will return to head Shas or a new party in the upcoming elections.