In the UK and international press today, all papers note that over 250,000 Israeli protesters took to the streets across the country on Saturday calling for social justice and a reduction in the cost of living. In other news, all papers note the continuing attacks against civilians by the Syrian army.

BBC Online notes that Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador from Syria in protest of the government crackdown against the population. Reuters reports that Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called to cut ties with the Palestinian Authority ahead of the September UN bid for statehood and said that the PA is planning violence after the bid. The Times newspaper carries an article by Israeli novelist Amos Oz on the Israeli protests against the cost of living.

Over the weekend, the Observer newspaper reported that 250,000 Israelis marched to protest against the cost of living putting pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. The Telegraph noted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed a panel to open a dialogue with protesters. All weekend papers noted the continued crackdown by the Syrian authorities against anti-government protests.  The Independent on Sunday reported that former Israeli president Moshe Katsav appealed his rape conviction. The paper also reported on a five star luxury hotel that opened in Gaza.

The front pages of Israeli newspapers today report that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a panel of economic experts to open dialogue with protesters. Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post front pages note that Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that Israel should cut all ties with the Palestinian Authority and noted that the Palestinians are planning for a violent confrontation following the September UN vote for statehood. Yisrael Hayom and the Jerusalem Post lead with a fall in the Tel Aviv stock exchange following the downgrading of US debt rating from its spotless AAA to the lower AA +.

In other news, the papers report that Hamas and Fatah agreed to release their political prisoners as the two factions met in Egypt in order to improve reconciliation efforts and to form a unity Palestinian government. The Jerusalem Post notes that 81 US congressmen will visit Israel in the coming weeks. Haaretz reports that Defence Minister Ehud Barak told the weekly cabinet meeting yesterday that Israel was closely monitoring the escalation in rocket attacks from Gaza and warned that terror attacks may escalate.