The main item of Israel related coverage in the UK media today is the issuing of the UN’s Palmer report into the incidents on the Mavi Marmara ship, in 2010. The report is due to be issued today, but a copy was obtained in advance by the New York Times, and published. The Guardian, Independent, Times, Reuters and BBC Online note details of the report. In other items, the Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Times, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Evening Standard, Daily Express, Jewish Chronicle and BBC Online note the disruption of a performance by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, by pro-Palestinian protesters. The Guardian has two op-eds that are critical of the Palestinian leadership, from a pro-Palestinian perspective. The paper also notes a statement by a former MI5 chief, which lists concern for the Palestinians as one of the issues motivating al-Qaida. The Daily Telegraph, Independent, Financial Times, Metro London, Reuters and Sky News Online note the resignation of a senior Syrian legal official in protest at the actions of the Syrian security forces. The Scotsman notes that the EU has not yet reached a position regarding a Palestinian unilateral declaration of statehood. The paper also reports the defacing of a monument commemorating a pogrom of Jews in Poland. The Jewish Chronicle reports the arrest of a senior Hamas official by Israeli forces in the West Bank. Jewish News reports on a pro-Israel demonstration in London and has a piece on Arab leaders opposed to a unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood. The Economist and Sky News Online also have pieces that are skeptical regarding the consequences of such a declaration. The New Statesman has a piece contending former US President George W. Bush showed “almost complete indifference to…injustices such as the Israeli treatment of Palestinians”. The New Statesman suggests that the west has a ‘terrorism industry’, which inflates the threat of Islamist terror groups.

In the Israeli media, the print editions of the Jerusalem Post and Yisrael Hayom lead with the Palmer Report, and its possible consequences. Haaretz leads with a planned mass resignation by protesting junior doctors in Israel.

Haaretz notes concerns that Turkey may expel Israel’s Ambassador to Ankara following the issuing of the report, if Israel does not issue an apology. The paper also notes the resignation of a senior Syrian legal official in protest at actions by the Syrian authorities. The Jerusalem Post notes EU divisions regarding a unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood. Ynetnews reports on the disruption of a concert by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, by pro-Palestinian protestors in London. Israel Hayom notes the arrest of a senior Hamas official in London, and quotes Israeli Ambassador to Washington Michael Oren on the possible consequences of a Palestinian unilateral declaration of statehood. Maariv also notes Israeli concerns in this regard.