The main item of Israel related coverage in the UK media today is a statement by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyep Erdogan yesterday that Turkish warships would accompany any future Turkish aid vessels to Gaza. The Guardian, Reuters and BBC Online note Erdogan’s statement. In other items, the Guardian, Independent, Financial Times, Jewish News and BBC Online report on the Palestinian determination to proceed with their bid for UN approval of a unilateral declaration of statehood. The Guardian, City AM, Independent, Sun, Times and Sky News Online note a statement by Quartet Middle East Envoy Tony Blair, in an interview with the Times, supporting regime change in Iran and Syria. The Independent notes the conviction of a NASA scientist who offered to spy for Israel. The Independent notes Russian support for a political solution involving reform in Syria. The Times reports that even President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad of Iran is also now calling for reform in Syria. The Economist has articles on the deterioration of Israeli-Turkish relations, the social protests in Israel, supporters of a boycott of Israel, and a group of Israelis in Netanya who have offered refuge to Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddhafi. Reuters reports on the on-going repression of protests in Syria. BBC Online has an additional piece on the death of an Islamic Jihad member in an explosion in Gaza, and an attack, apparently by radical Jewish settlers, on a mosque in the West Bank. The Daily Express has a report on Syria. The Daily Mail reviews a book on the 9/11 attacks, which asserts that the Palestinian cause was the primary motive for the hijackers. The Independent quotes a Conservative MP who considers BBC coverage to be biased against Israel. The Daily Telegraph and the Independent note the arrest in Berlin of a 28-year-old from the Gaza Strip on suspicion of acquiring chemicals for a planned bomb attack

The print edition of Israel Hayom, Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post today note statements by US officials indicating that they will veto a Palestinian bid for recognition of statehood at the UN Security Council. The Jerusalem Post also has a front-page story on the latest statements by Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan against Israel.

In the Israeli media, all papers focus on the Palestinian launching of the campaign to secure UN approval of statehood, and US attempts to persuade the PA to abandon the claim. All papers also note the latest statement by Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan threatening to send warships to accompany future Turkish aid ships to Gaza. Haaretz and Israel Hayom note violent scenes as Israeli authorities sought to clear remaining tent encampments in Israel’s urban centers. Israel Hayom quotes Israeli security officials who note increased Hamas logistical activity in Turkey. Maariv and the Ynet website report the arrest and subsequent release by the Egyptian authorities of a group of Israeli security guards and yacht crewmen.