The main item of Israel-related coverage in the UK media today (3/5) and over the weekend was the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin-Laden by US special forces.  All papers and news outlets had coverage and analysis of this latest dramatic development.  The Financial Times, Guardian, Times, Daily Telegraph, City AM and the Glasgow Herald note Gaza Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh’s condemnation of the killing and mourning of Bin-Laden.  The Guardian today has a number of comment pieces noting the slain al-Qaeda leader’s use of the Palestinian cause for his own ends.  The Guardian has an additional piece by a London-based Palestinian Islamist leader on the Arab Spring.  The Independent notes Egypt’s urging of the US to recognise a Palestinian state in September.  The Times has a piece on the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s response to the killing of Bin-Laden. The Financial Times runs a piece arguing that the rise of peaceful protest in the Arab world has served to sideline al-Qaeda.   BBC Online notes the comment of President Shimon Peres that Bin-Laden was a ‘mega-murderer.’  The Independent, Times, Financial Times, Reuters and Sky News Online note the ongoing repression of protests in Syria. The Daily Telegraph notes that the US Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal over whether an American boy born in Jerusalem in 2002 could list his birthplace listed as ‘Israel’ on his passport even though US policy does not recognise the city as belonging to Israel. The paper also notes a statement by Ismail Haniyeh that Hamas has no plans to end the fight against Israel after it signs a unity deal with Fatah.

Over the weekend, the main item of Israel-related coverage was the continued brutal suppression of protests in Syria. The Guardian, Observer, Daily Telegraph, Independent, Times, Financial Times, Scotsman and Sky News Online had reporting and analysis of the latest events.  The Independent, Times, Financial Times and BBC Online noted Israel’s decision not to hand over tax monies raised for the PA, following the announcement of Fatah-Hamas reconciliation.  Reuters noted PM Netanyahu’s description of the killing of Osama Bin-Laden as a triumph for the democracies.  The Daily Mail on Monday ran a piece noting the close relations between Britain and a number of dictatorships in the Arab world.

In the Israeli media today (3/5), all papers focus on the killing of Osama Bin-Laden.  All papers note remarks by Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh mourning Bin-Laden and condemning the killing.  Haaretz notes fears of revenge attacks worldwide and in Israel.  The paper also reports PM Netanyahu’s words of praise for the US and President Obama following the killing.  The Jerusalem Post reports on Netanyahu’s trip to the UK and France. The paper also notes US denials of earlier claims that one of Bin-Laden’s wives was killed during the raid in which he died. Ynetnews reports on a rally in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan to protest the killing of Bin-Laden. Maariv has a piece on the decision making process which led up to the decision to carry put the raid in which Bin-Laden was killed.

Over the weekend, all Israeli papers reported on the planned reconciliation deal between Fatah and Hamas, and Israel’s subsequent decision to delay transfer tax revenues raised on behalf of the PA, until the latter could guarantee that the funds would not be used by Hamas.