The main item of Middle East related coverage in the UK media today is the opening of the trial of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The Guardian notes that one of the charges against Mubarak is exporting gas to Israel for prices lower than international market rates. Most papers have coverage of the trial. In other items, the Independent, Financial Times, Scotsman, Daily Mirror, Reuters, BBC Online and Sky News Online report on the on-going violence in Syria and the condemnation of the Syrian regime by the UN Security Council. The Scotsman notes the appointment of the head of the Revolutionary Guard as oil minister in Iran. BBC Online notes the conviction of two Palestinian men for the murders of the Fogel family in Itamar earlier this year. BBC Online has an additional piece on smuggling into Gaza. The Daily Telegraph has a letter from a reader noting Hamas’s objection to recognising Israel.

The Jerusalem Post, Israel Hayom and Haaretz print editions lead with the opening of the trial of Hosni Mubarak. The Jerusalem Post and Israel Hayom print editions also have a front-page piece on the negotiations between the Treasury and doctors in Israel. Haaretz has a front page piece noting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not consider the current protests form a threat to his government.

In the Israeli media, all papers note an IAF strike on Gaza following rocket attacks from Gaza yesterday. Haaretz, along with Ynetnews and the Jerusalem Post, also notes the UNSC condemnation of Syria. The Jerusalem Post has an additional piece on Arab League help for the Palestinians in formulating their bid for statehood in the UN. Ynetnews has an additional piece on reports that Turkey recently stopped an Iranian arms shipment meant for Syria. All papers note the passing of the National Housing Committees Law by the Knesset. All papers also report on the opening of the trial of Hosni Mubarak and the conviction of two Palestinians for committing the murders of the Fogel family in Itamar. Maariv notes a threat by junior doctors in Israel to carry out mass resignations.  Haaretz reports that Forty lawmakers, from both the coalition and opposition, Wednesday submitted a proposal to the Knesset for a new Basic Law that would change the accepted definition of Israel as a ‘Jewish and democratic state.’