In the UK and international press today, the Independent and BBC Online note that US President Barack Obama, following a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, said yesterday that it was “more vital than ever” to renew Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Several papers note that the US and EU are planning to put more pressure on Syria over its violent handling of anti-government protests. Meanwhile, Reuters notes that Syrian tanks moved into the southern city of Hauran Plain yesterday in further efforts to crack down on anti-government protests. The Guardian features a piece by Simon Tisdall on the effects of the Arab spring on Iran. The Guardian and the Independent report that the English National Opera is to stage an opera about the 1985 hijacking of the Achille Lauro. The Independent carries an excerpt from the New Left Review which calls on the Arab world to declare the Israel-Egypt peace treaty legally defunct.

In the Israeli press, all papers note that President Obama met with King Abdullah at the White House yesterday and said that the renewal of the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks is more “vital than ever.” In other news, the papers note that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday accused PA President Mahmoud Abbas of distorting facts in a New York Times op-ed published on Monday. All papers also report that following an investigation, it was revealed that former National Security Council head Uzi Arad leaked sensitive information to the media and resigned to avoid being indicted.  The Jerusalem Post and Ynetnews note that Turkey has warned pro-Palestinian activists of the risk involved in organising aid boats to sail to Gaza. Haaretz reports that, in what is being seen as a goodwill gesture to the Palestinian Authority, Israel is set to okay the paving of a road to the planned Palestinian city of Rawabi.