In the UK and international press today, the Guardian, BBC Online and Sky News report that yesterday the rape conviction of former Israeli president Moshe Katsav was upheld by the Supreme Court. BBC Online notes that Dennis Ross, senior Middle East aide to US President Barack Obama, has stepped down from his post after three years. The Guardian reports that the Shalit Prisoner swap deal has boosted Hamas’ popularity in Gaza but that disillusionment grows over corruption and focus on conflict with Israel rather than job creation. The Financial Times notes that the UN will publish a report today that will confirm that the Palestinian statehood bid received support from only 8 out of the 15 Security Council members, making it unlikely for the bid to succeed. The Independent leads with an article calling for diplomacy and not war to confront Iran’s nuclear programme. The paper also runs a piece on the Dead Seas and the bid to declare the area a wonder of nature. Reuters notes that the European Union may approve new sanctions against Iran within a few weeks. The Scotsman reports that Palestinian Authority Spokesperson Ghassan Khatib said that Britain should compensate the Palestinians bid for statehood after Britain supported the creation of Israel under the Balfour Declaration in 1917. The Telegraph and Reuters notes that due to the US funding cuts to UNESCO after it accepted the Palestinian Authority as a member, the UN body has suspended its new programs. In other news, the Independent, BBC Online and Reuters note that violence in Syria continued with at least 30 civilians and 26 soldiers being killed ahead of Friday’s prayers.

In the Israeli media front pages today, all papers lead with the Supreme Court rejection of former president Moshe Katsav’s appeal on charges of rape and sexual harassment. The Jerusalem Post notes that Dennis Ross, senior Middle East aide to US President Barack Obama, resigned from his position after serving for 3 years. In other news, Haaretz and Jerusalem Post note that an Israeli was killed and three wounded in an accidental IDF shooting in the West Bank early this morning.