The main item of Israel-related coverage in the UK media today is the decision by an Israeli orchestra to perform music by Richard Wagner in Germany. BBC Online, the Evening Standard, Independent, the Guardian and the Daily Telegraph report and analyse this story. In other articles, the Guardian, Financial Times and Scotsman note a decision by the Syrian regime to allow the formation of political parties. The Financial Times has an additional piece on what it regards as the erosion of the foundations of Assad’s rule in Syria. The Guardian notes Iran’s denial that the scientist assassinated in Teheran over the weekend was working on the country’s nuclear programme. The Guardian notes the publication of a book about the Husseinis, a leading Palestinian family. BBC Online reports the interception by Israel of a boat carrying weapons on the Dead Sea. The Times reports that Israel is considering rescinding the Oslo Accords in response to a Palestinian unilateral declaration of independence. The Times and Financial Times note a play in London featuring a character portraying Amira Hass, an Israeli journalist. The Daily Telegraph offers readers a holiday package to Israel.

In the Israeli media, all papers focus on the on-going protests in Israel against high housing costs and the high cost of living. The print editions of Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post lead with this story. Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post note a statement by senior Palestinian Authority official Saeb Erekat, who claimes that Israel had never abided by the Oslo Accords, so any threat to rescind them was without meaning. Haaretz notes a statement by Egyptian leader Hussein Tantawi that Cairo will continue to abide by all signed agreements. Ynetnews, Maariv and the Jerusalem Post note Netanyahu’s promise to lower housing costs in Israel, and his press conference today to announce his plan for doing so. Ynetnews notes an Egyptian-born Jewish author’s regret that her work was cited by Anders Breivik, the Norwegian terrorist who murdered 76 civilians. The Jerusalem Post reports the confirmation that the Palmer Report on the Gaza flotilla will be delayed until 20 August.