BBC Online and the Guardian today note the victory of the An-Nahda Islamist party in Tunisian elections, in articles that reference the Hamas election victory in 2006. The Daily Telegraph reports that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is poised to demand the release of hundreds of prisoners from Israeli jails as a condition for resuming peace talks. The Guardian has a piece on what the writer considers to be Israel’s lack of a plan for peace and the paper has additional pieces on the settling of a dispute between the William Hill company and its Israeli employees, and an article claiming that growing ties between India and Israel are related to a rise in anti-Muslim Hindu nationalism in India. The Daily Telegraph and Times note the torture of a British filmmaker in a Syrian jail. The Financial Times reports on Israel’s approval of a prisoner exchange with Egypt. The paper also has a focus on the electoral strategy of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. The Financial Times also notes natural gas discoveries off the coasts of Israel and Cyprus. The Independent reports Palestinian anger after Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman described PA President Mahmoud Abbas as an ‘obstacle’ to peace. The paper also speaks to Syrian soldiers engaged in suppressing the revolt against the Assad regime.

The print editions of the Jerusalem Post, Haaretz and Israel Hayom lead with the Turkish request for Israeli assistance following the earthquake in Turkey. All papers have front-page stories on the Cabinet approval of the deal to free Ilan Grapel.

In the Israeli media, all papers note the approval by the Israeli political-security Cabinet of the terms for the deal to free Ilan Grapel. Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post have pieces on the arrival of Quartet officials to Israel in an effort to revive Israeli-Palestinian talks. Haaretz quotes former US Mid-East Envoy George Mitchell who argues that the Shalit deal has strengthened Hamas, and says that the continued stalemate could lead to violence on the West Bank. Haaretz has additional pieces on planned social protests in Israel over the weekend, and a statement by President Shimon Peres that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad are serious figures who seek peace. Ynetnews notes Turkey’s request for aid from Israel following the earthquake in eastern Turkey. Israel Hayom has a piece on the Islamist election victory in Tunisia, and apparent Islamist influence in the new Libyan leadership. Israel Hayom also quotes Ron Prosor, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, on the tendency of Arab leaderships to blame Israel for their problems. Maariv reports on the ongoing dispute between junior doctors in Israel and the treasury, over their wages and conditions.