The Times this morning reports on the approval given yesterday by Israel’s Interior Ministry for the construction of 1,500 housing units in the Ramat Shlomo neighbourhood of East Jerusalem. The announcement comes two weeks after several European governments sharply criticised Israel’s approval of construction plans in other parts of East Jerusalem and in the West Bank. However, the article notes that the Ramat Shlomo planning application must still go through several more stages before final approval by the Prime Minister.

The online edition of the Telegraph reports that Israel’s Foreign Ministry is investigating a controversial Facebook post on the page of Israel’s Embassy in Ireland, which yesterday depicted an image of Jesus and Mary, commenting that were they alive today, as Jews, they may well be lynched by Palestinians in Bethlehem. The post was promptly removed.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror covers recent comments made by an aide to Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, who called The Quartet “useless.” The Quartet represents the United Nations, United States, European Union and Russia in peace-making efforts between Israel and the Palestinians.  However, in the Financial Times, an op-ed by Saudi Arabian government adviser Abdulrahman Al-Saeed argues that in the aftermath of Operation Pillar of Defence, the situation is ripe to conclude a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Guardian online reports that Egypt’s public prosecutor Talaat Ibrahim yesterday stood down from his post. His sudden appointment in November, after President Mursi had sacked the former public prosecutor had been viewed by some members of the country’s judiciary as an assault on their independence.

Developments in Syria continue to be widely covered. The Guardian says that Syrian army tanks are advancing on the Yarmouk camp in southern Damascus, which is home to many of the country’s half a million Palestinian residents and was bombed two days ago by Syrian government planes. Meanwhile, both the Independent and Independent i cover PA President Abbas’ call for all sides in the fighting to leave Palestinians out of the conflict. All three reports note an upsurge in Palestinians from Syria seeking refuge in neighbouring Lebanon. The online editions of both the Independent and Telegraph report that Prime Minister David Cameron told the House of Commons yesterday that European countries including the UK will review the arms embargo of Syria in an effort to bolster support for the country’s opposition.

In the Israeli media this morning, Haaretz, Israel Hayom and Makor Rishon all lead with the announcement made yesterday that Israel’s Interior Ministry has approved plans for the construction of 1,500 housing units in the Ramat Shlomo neighbourhood of East Jerusalem. Both Hatnuah leader Tzipi Livni and Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid criticised the announcement. Meanwhile, Israel Radio News reports sources at the Prime Minister’s Office keen to emphasise that yesterday’s announcement was just one part of the planning procedure and did not indicate the start of construction.

Yediot Ahronot and Makor Rishon also focus on the possible appointment of former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel as the next US Secretary of State. Both report concerns over Hagel’s attitude towards Israel, with Sever Plocker in Yediot Ahronot calling a Hegel appointment “a nightmare come true” for the current Israeli government. However, the front page headline in Yediot Ahronot is devoted to the ongoing nurses’ strike, noting the comparison that workers at Ashdod Port have recently been granted a substantial pay rise.

Meanwhile, Israel Radio News reports that the State Attorney’s Office is today expected to indict Avigdor Lieberman with bribery and breach of trust in the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court. The prosecution is not expected to ask for prison time but may well request that the crimes bear a mark of moral turpitude, which would, in the result of a conviction, result in a seven year ban on Lieberman taking government office.