The passing of the controversial ‘Boycott Law’ dominates Israel-related coverage in the UK media today. The Times, Guardian, Independent and BBC Online report on this latest development and the response to it in Israel. In additional items, the Guardian notes the withdrawal of falafel from McDonalds restaurants in Israel, has a piece which notes French director Jean-Luc Godard’s opposition to Israel, and has additional articles on reconstruction in Lebanon, and, together with the Financial Times, reports on the latest attack on the pipeline bringing gas to Israel from Sinai. The Daily Telegraph notes a new low in relations between Syria and the US and France. The Independent reports that an Israeli Border Police officer will not face trial over the death of a Palestinian girl in 2007. The Times notes that Israel is considering whether to introduce a two-day weekend. Reuters reports that the UN Security Council has condemned attacks on the US and French embassies in Damascus by pro-regime elements. Reuters also notes attempts by Egyptian protesters to secure the resignation of the governing military council. BBC Online speaks to British ‘flytilla’ participants who have returned to the UK. Sky News Online also notes the Assad regime’s declining legitimacy in the US. The Scotsman notes that Israel has opened the traditional site where the baptism of Jesus is considered to have taken place along the River Jordan to daily visits by tourists. The paper also has a piece contending that the Palestinians are paying a financial and diplomatic price because of the unilateral approach they have adopted.

In the Israeli media, all news sites are reporting the Qassam attacks from Gaza yesterday, and Israel’s response. Ynetnews and Haaretz note the response to the passing of the ‘boycott law’ in Israel. Haaretz quotes a senior Palestinian official who said that the bid for recognition of Palestinian statehood in September represents the ‘last chance’ for the two state solution. The Jerusalem Post, meanwhile, quotes former US Ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, who describes President Barack Obama as the worst ever US president from the point of view of Israeli interest. Ynetnews quotes unnamed Israeli officials who hold the Palestinian Authority responsible for the absence of a statement following the Quartet meeting earlier this week. The Jerusalem Post, meanwhile, notes a statement by former Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri saying that Hezbollah’s weapons are the cause of the problem in Lebanon. Maariv, finally, quotes British ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould, who expresses his government’s concern at the passing of the boycott law in Israel.