Today the Independent, Times, Financial Times, Daily Telegraph, Reuters and Sky News Online have coverage of the latest events in Syria, where the army yesterday killed 19 civilians. The Guardian reports on Israel’s cessation of work on a section of the Security Barrier, because of financial constraints. The paper, together with the Daily Telegraph, has an additional piece on a newly leaked document claiming to reveal that Israel revoked the residency rights of 140,000 West Bank residents prior to 1994. The Guardian has an article praising US playwright Tony Kushner, who is critical of Israel. The Times notes Gulf concerns at Iranian attempts at subversion in Gulf Arab countries. Sky News Online has an interview with a Times journalist who was arrested in Syria. The Independent notes a dispute in Iran between Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

In the Israeli media, all papers note that US President Barack Obama is set to give a major speech on US Middle East policy in the next weeks. Haaretz has additional pieces quoting defence officials who note the difficulty of mounting a rescue operation for Gilad Shalit, and quoting Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar on his movement’s stances regarding Israel. The Jerusalem Post, Maariv and Ynetnews note that Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is asking Arab states for help to cover the salaries of PA employees after Israel has refused to hand over tax revenue because of the Palestinian reconciliation deal. The Jerusalem Post notes that 10,000 Syrian citizens are now reported to have been taken into custody by the Syrian regime. Ynetnews, meanwhile, notes Hamas scepticism toward the idea of a Palestinian unilateral declaration of independence.