The identification of Mary Jean Gardner, the British woman killed in the terrorist attack this week in Jerusalem is the main item of Israel related coverage in the UK media today. The Guardian, Economist, New Statesman and Sky News Online have additional pieces on the implications of the Jerusalem bombing. In other items, the Guardian, Daily Express, Evening Standard, Daily Telegraph, Independent, Times, Financial Times, Scotsman, Economist, Reuters, BBC Online and Sky News Online note the ongoing protests in Syria and the killing by the regime of a large number of protestors yesterday. The Daily Telegraph has a piece suggesting that events in Syria and Yemen represent a greater danger for the West than the Gadaffi regime in Libya. The Independent, meanwhile, runs an article suggesting that Israel has ‘squandered’ its ‘last best chance’ for peace with the Palestinians. The Financial Times notes a statement by US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates calling on the Syrian people to ‘follow Egypt’s lead.’ The Times, meanwhile, runs a piece discussing the implications if the Syrian regime should fall. The Jewish Chronicle notes a decision by the University of Johannesburg to join a boycott of Israel. Jewish News notes an assault on a Jewish student at a London college. The Spectator notes an article by an MP critical of the BBC’s coverage of Israel, and, along with the Daily Mail, has an article on Sarah Palin’s visit to Israel this week. The New Statesman notes the jailing of former Israeli president Moshe Katzav for rape. The Daily Mail has a letter noting that the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the armed wing of Fatah, have taken credit for the Itamar terrorist attack. The Times notes the appointment by the UN of a special investigator to examine human rights abuses in Iran. 

In the Israeli media, all papers discuss the escalation of tension in the South. Haaretz notes an Israeli strike on an arms depot in Gaza in response to rocket attacks yesterday. The paper also notes a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel’s response to rocket attacks will be ‘measured.’ Haaretz has an additional piece on a statement by Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Elaraby that Cairo remains committed to its peace treaty with Israel. The Jerusalem Post, Haaretz and Ynetnews note Israeli plans to begin deploying the Iron Dome antimissile system in the south next week. The Jerusalem Post runs an additional article on the investigation into the terrorist attack in Jerusalem this week. All papers note the unrest in Syria. Ynetnews has an additional piece on queries regarding the Reuters news agency’s coverage of the Jerusalem terrorist attack. Maariv is reporting on an incident in the Jordan Valley this morning in which a Palestinian threw stones at a soldier, wounding him, and was then himself wounded as he tried to escape.