The main item of Israel related coverage in the UK media today is the large demonstrations against high prices that took place in Tel Aviv and other cities over the weekend. The Independent, Guardian, Financial Times, Scotsman, Reuters and BBC Online have coverage of the protests. In additional items, the Guardian notes that Quartet Envoy Tony Blair is set to meet Israeli and Palestinian leaders this week in an attempt to renew peace talks. The Scotsman and the Daily Telegraph note ongoing US attempts to persuade the Palestinians not to seek UN approval for a unilateral declaration of statehood. The Guardian, Independent, Financial Times and Sky News Online have pieces on the worsening relations between Israel and Turkey. The Independent looks at concerns among Syria’s Christian minority regarding life after the Assad regime, if it falls. The paper also notes the commencement of an operation by the Egyptian army to close smuggling tunnels into Gaza, and has a comment piece on the possible backfiring of a Palestinian unilateral declaration of statehood. The Independent and Scotsman note the ongoing repression of protests in Syria. The Independent, BBC Online, Daily Telegraph, Scotsman and Reuters note the connection of the Bushehr nuclear plant to the national electricity grid.

Over the weekend, the main item of Israel related coverage was the ongoing diplomatic row between Israel and Turkey, and Turkey’s decision to expel Israel’s ambassador from Ankara. The Guardian, Sun, Daily Mirror, Sunday Times, Sunday Express, Financial Times, BBC Online and Sky News Online had coverage of the latest developments. In other items, the Observer on Sunday noted the disruption of a performance by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in London last week. The Sunday Times, Independent and Evening Standard also had pieces on the incident. The Independent on Sunday, Guardian, Independent, Scotland on Sunday and the Scotsman noted the ongoing repression of protests in Syria. The Independent and Daily Mirror on Saturday noted growing concerns at Iran’s nuclear weapons plan. The Financial Times and Independent on Saturday and the Sunday Mirror reported on a EU decision for sanctions on Syria’s oil sector. Reuters and BBC Online had pieces on the social protest rallies in Israel over the weekend. Reuters on Sunday had an additional piece on US efforts to prevent a Palestinian statehood bid at the UN. The Independent on Saturday had a piece claiming that opposition to US support for Israel was the principle reason motivating the terrorists who committed the September 11 attacks on the US in 2001.

The print editions of Haaretz and Israel Hayom focus on protests by junior doctors in Israel. Haaretz, the Jerusalem Post and Israel Hayom print editions also note the dismantling by protest leaders of tent encampments, and the Jerusalem Post has a lead story on a meeting of the Israeli Security Cabinet in an attempt to defuse tensions with Turkey.

Over the weekend, the Israeli media focused on the social protest demonstrations that took place across the country on Saturday night.

In the Israeli media today, all papers note the demolishing by the IDF of three illegal structures in the settlement outpost of Migron in the West Bank and the subsequent vandalising and arson of a Mosque near Nablus by Israeli settlers, in an apparent ‘price tag’ attack. Haaretz, the Jerusalem Post and Ynetnews all note Palestinian determination to proceed with plans for seeking UN approval of a unilateral declaration of statehood. Haaretz also notes a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responding to the social protests, and, along with Ynetnews, quotes a statement by former-prime minister Ehud Olmert recommending the repairing of relations with Turkey. The Jerusalem Post quotes an Israeli official who considers that a trip by Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan to Gaza would hurt Turkish ties with the US. Ynetnews and Maariv note the evacuation by the IDF of three illegal structures in the settlement outpost of Migron in the West Bank. Israel Hayom reports on the social protests, notes PM Netanyahu’s clarification that there will be no apology to Turkey and has an additional piece on the connecting of the Bushehr plant to the national grid in Iran.