The main item of Israel-related coverage in the UK media today is the meeting between Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni and British Foreign Secretary William Hague in London yesterday. The Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Metro London, the Financial Times, Independent, Jewish Chronicle, Jewish News and BBC Online report on the meeting and Livni’s visit to the UK. In other items, the Independent, Times, Scotsman, Reuters and BBC Online note the increasing violence in Syria. The Guardian reports on protests by Bedouin over land expropriations in the Negev in southern Israel. The Times has a report on the Bushehr reactor in Iran, noting predictions that it could be the site of the ‘next Chernobyl’. The paper also notes the Palestinian bid for membership of UNESCO. The Jewish Chronicle notes US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s expressions of opposition to the Palestinian bid. The Scotsman reports on a call by PA President Mahmoud Abbas for European support for the Palestinian statehood bid. The paper also notes fears of a fresh Egyptian uprising. Jewish News reports on Israel’s continued hopes for renewed negotiations with the PA. The Economist has a piece examining options for the PA regarding its statehood bid at the UN. The Economist has an additional piece on the United Nations Human Rights Council, which observes that its critics have noted its ‘knee-jerk condemnation of Israel and a blind eye turned to most other countries’ abuses.’ Reuters reports that Israel has arrested suspects in the murder of an Israeli and his infant son in Kiryat Arba, and in the arson attack on a mosque in the Galilee. Sky News Online notes the Palestinian bid for membership of UNESCO. BBC Online quotes Egyptian leader Tantawi on the ‘sensitive stage’ in which Egypt currently finds itself. The Daily Express notes claims by a Palestinian official that Quartet Mid-East Envoy Tony Blair is biased toward Israel. The Financial Times has a piece contending that all US presidential candidates see Israel as President Barack Obama’s ‘Achilles heel.’ Metro-London notes that Bible manuscripts smuggled out of Syria by the Jewish community went on display in Israel this week for the first time in more than a decade. The Times reports Israeli concerns that the Palestinian UNESCO bid could lead to UNESCO becoming involved in disputes over holy sites designated as World Heritage Sites in Israel and the West Bank.

The print edition of Israel Hayom reports on an IDF call-up exercise this week. The Jerusalem Post print edition notes the arrest of an individual suspected of involvement in the arson attack on a Galilee mosque this week. Haaretz print edition has a lead story of an assault on IDF soldiers by settlers in the Shiloh area this week.

In the Israeli media, all papers note the arrest of suspects in the murder of an Israeli and his infant son in Kiryat Arba, and in the arson attack on a mosque in the Galilee. Haaretz quotes PA President Abbas’s call on European countries to recognise a Palestinian state, and notes that 40,000 Israelis are set to attend Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) services this evening. The Jerusalem Post quotes a PA official who claims that Israeli authorities protect settlers who attack Palestinians. Ynetnews notes a high alert of the Israeli security forces in the approach to Yom Kippur. Israel Hayom notes that Josephs’ Tomb near Nablus has been defaced with swastikas. Maariv quotes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who welcomed the arrest of individuals suspected of the murder of Asher and Yonatan Palmer.

For more information on the Bedouin sector of the Negev please click here.