The uprising in Syria continues to dominate Middle East coverage in the UK media today. The majority of papers have articles on the on going attempts by the Syrian regime to repress the revolt. The Guardian notes Arab League criticism of the actions of the regime. The Times has a piece reporting concerns at the possibility that the uprising is acquiring a Sunni vs Alawi sectarian dimension. The Scotsman, meanwhile, notes claims from Iran that the US and Israel are fomenting the revolt. BBC Online and the Independent note Israel’s dismissal of Egyptian claims that an American-Israeli student arrested in Cairo is a Mossad agent. The Financial Times has a letter asking which borders of Israel Palestinians are being asked to recognise. The paper also has a piece noting that Syria may be forced to seek outside economic aid by the end of the year. The Independent reports tensions in Turkey between Syrian refugees and local members of the Turkish Alevi community.  

In the Israeli media, all papers note the publication of a document appearing to show Syrian government involvement in the recent ‘Nakba Day’ riots on the Golan border. All papers note a Palestinian announcement that the composition of a new Palestinian unity cabinet will be announced next week. Haaretz and Ynetnews report Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement reiterating his opposition to Palestinian unilateralism, which he made after meeting European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek yesterday. The Jerusalem Post has a piece suggesting that the arrest of the alleged Mossad spy in Egypt indicates a worrying return to the practice in Egypt of blaming Israel for its problems. Maariv has a piece in what it describes as the extremely comfortable conditions enjoyed by convicted Palestinian security prisoners in Israeli jails.