In the aftermath of the visit of Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal to the Gaza Strip over the weekend, during which he publicly rejected recognition of Israel’s right to exist and vowed to continue an armed struggle against the country, the Independent and the online edition of the Financial Times report on the response of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking to his cabinet yesterday, Netanyahu said that Meshaal’s comments demonstrate that Hamas has no intention of compromise and intends to destroy Israel.

The Financial Times and the online editions of the Times, Guardian and Independent all report on the continuing political uncertainty in Egypt. Following two weeks of unrest, President Mursi announced over the weekend that he would rescind some of the controversial measures that he decreed to himself last month, which appeared to give him unchallenged powers. However, the move does not seem to have pacified Mursi’s opponents who claim that the referendum on a controversial new constitution set to be held on Saturday, is a further attempt by Mursi to solidify his own power.

The Guardian online and the Financial Times online both include articles reporting that American and Russian diplomats have met in Geneva in order to discuss developments in Syria. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was quick to temper speculation that talks included any discussion over the fate of Syria’s embattled President Assad. The Guardian online report includes a quote from Israel’s Vice Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon, who said that there is no immediate sign that the Assad regime is preparing to use chemical weapons. However, a report in the Times online includes comment from Foreign Secretary William Hague who outlined evidence that the Syrian regime could use chemical weapons and warned of very serious consequences should they do so. Meanwhile, the online editions of the Telegraph and Independent report on increasingly intense fighting around the Syrian capital Damascus, while the Financial Times online claims that Syrian opposition leaders will urge western governments to supply its fighters with weapons at a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.

In the Israeli media, Israel Hayom leads with the attempt by Likud MK Ofer Akunis to disqualify fellow member of Knesset Hanin Zuabi from the upcoming election, appealing to the Central Elections Committee that Zuabi has “constantly worked to undermine the State of Israel.” The Committee is set to discuss the appeal today, but previous petitions to disqualify candidates have been rejected by the High Court of Justice. Meanwhile, Maariv focuses on an incident on Friday in which IDF soldiers were forced to retreat from Palestinian stone throwers in the West Bank town of Kfar Kadum. Maariv interviewed soldiers involved in the incident who claimed that they had been barred by officers from using crowd-control measures due to the presence of journalists and cameras.  In Haaretz, a new poll is published which indicates that the joint Likud-Yisrael Beitenu list is heading for a clear victory in January’s election. When asked who would be the next prime minister, 81 per cent of respondents said that Netanyahu will be re-elected rather than rivals Tzipi Livni or Shelly Yachimovich. Israel Radio News this morning previews today’s meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels, where they will discuss Israel’s recently announced construction plans in the West Bank. The report indicates that Israeli officials expect the forum to condemn Israel but not to resort to any practical measures against it.