In the UK and international press today, several papers note that a blast in an Iranian arms depot west of Tehran killed a commander of the Revolutionary Guard who was a key figure in Iran’s missile programme. In other news, the papers also note that an Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved two bills that limit donations by foreign governments or international bodies to Israeli non-governmental organisations. In developments in Syria, the Independent and Reuters note that Syrians are protesting their expulsion from the Arab League and are calling for an Arab Summit to resolve the issue. The Independent carries a piece by Robert Fisk who writes on the Arab League and Qatar’s newly found influence in the organisation. Reuters notes that an Israeli air strike on a Hamas compound in Gaza killed a policeman and wounded four others in retaliation for rocket attacks targeting Israel.

Over the weekend, The Telegraph reported that an Iranian Revolutionary Guard member was killed in an explosion in an arms depot west of Tehran. The Sunday Times reports that Turkey evacuated its diplomats from Damascus, while the Observer noted that the Arab League voted to suspend Syria due to its repression of anti-government protesters.

On Israeli front pages, the Jerusalem Post reports that Syria has urged the Arab League to reconsider its suspension from the organisation. Haaretz notes that Iran acknowledged that it has been hit by a new computer virus designed to damage computers involved in its nuclear development programme. The Jerusalem Post notes that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Iran’s nuclear programme is a danger to world peace and that Tehran is closer to attaining nuclear weaponry than was originally thought. All papers on their front pages also report that a Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved two bills that seek to restrict the funding of non-government organisations from foreign governments.

Haaretz reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s senior cabinet is expected to meet today and approve the release of £62 million of tax funds Israel collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. The funds were frozen due to the Palestinians unilateral efforts to seek UN membership and its acceptance into the UNESCO organisation. Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post note that PA President Mahmoud Abbas told US Enjoy David Hale on Sunday that the Palestinians would resume peace talks if Israel halts all West Bank construction. The Jerusalem Post notes that the Middle East Quartet arrives in Israel today amid little hope of reviving the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.