Almost every UK daily reports on the comments made by Prime Minister David Cameron on halting Iran’s nuclear programme. The Daily Express, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Times, Telegraph, Independent and Independent i all note Cameron’s speech at a Jewish community event, in which he described Iran’s nuclear development as a threat to the world and while warning that “nothing is off the table”, the Prime Minister also cautioned Israel against using military action against Iran at this juncture, arguing instead for continued international sanctions. Several publications also report the approval given yesterday by the European Union (EU) for a new set of sanctions against Iran. The Financial Times, City AM London and the online edition of the Guardian report the decision at yesterday’s EU foreign affairs council meeting in Luxembourg to adopt punitive measures against Iran’s banking, shipping and industrial sectors, in light of Tehran’s failure to calm international fears over its nuclear development. Meanwhile, the Independent online reports that the United Nations and Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has called on Iran to help broker a ceasefire to Syria’s bloody internal conflict, given Tehran’s close relationship with Syrian President Assad’s regime.

The online edition of the Guardian carries a report on a unanimous vote in Israel’s parliament to dissolve ahead of elections on 22 January. The article notes that during the parliamentary debate preceding the vote, party leaders set out parameters and themes for the upcoming campaign. The Independent, its sister publication Independent i and the online edition of the Telegraph all publish comments made by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas during a meeting with Israeli politicians in Ramallah. Abbas claimed that he and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert were just two months away from reaching a peace agreement before Olmert resigned from his position in 2008. Olmert has not been directly involved in politics since then, but there is widespread speculation that he will return as a leading candidate in Israel’s upcoming elections. The online edition of the Independent reports an appeal made by the United Nations’ special coordinator for the Middle East, Robert Serry, who called on Israel to better protect olive trees belonging to Palestinians in the West Bank from suspected sabotage by extremist Israeli settlers.

In the Israeli media, the front pages focus on the election campaign. Haaretz, Israel Hayom and Makor Rishon report on yesterday’s vote to dissolve the Knesset and the accompanying speeches made by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Leader of the Opposition Shaul Mofaz. Meanwhile, Yediot Ahronot reports that Aryeh Deri will be integrated into the leadership of the religious party Shas. Deri formerly led the party to huge electoral success but has remained outside of politics since he was convicted of bribery in 2000. However, Maariv reports that current Shas leader Eli Yishai has rejected an arrangement that would make Deri party chairman while Yishai would remain Shas’ senior minister. Israel Radio News comments that the Shas leadership question is likely to be solved within the coming two days. In further election developments, Israel Radio News also reports that five Kadima MKs met yesterday with Benjamin Netanyahu and requested to run as Likud candidates. Meanwhile, former-prime minister Ehud Olmert is reportedly scheduled to meet with former-foreign minister Tzipi Livni tomorrow, although it is now believed that Olmert is unlikely to declare his candidacy for the upcoming elections.  In other news, Alex Fishman reports in Yediot Ahronot that an Israeli military aircraft was last week targeted for the first time from Gaza by a shoulder-held surface to air missile. The report speculates that such weaponry has been smuggled into Gaza from Libya.