Both the Independent and Times include brief items on Israeli government intentions to advance plans for construction in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The Times claims that European diplomats are preparing a response to be presented to the United Nations Security Council.

The Guardian online this morning includes a report on a decision expected today by Israel’s Central Elections Committee, which will rule on requests to bar Arab MK Hanan Zoabi from next month’s election. The petitions are based on claims that Zoabi’s opposition to Israel’s Jewish character and tacit support for attacks against Israel infringes one of Israel’s Basic Laws, which states that parliamentary candidates cannot reject Israel as a Jewish or democratic state or support armed combat against Israel. The same committee will today also hear petitions against a right-wing party, Strong Israel, on grounds of racism and against ultra-Orthodox parties on grounds of discrimination against women. Any decision to ban a party from running can be appealed to the High Court of Justice, which routinely rejects such decisions.

In other Israel-related news, the Independent i and the Telegraph online report that the Dead Sea Scrolls have been put online in a set of 5,000 images thanks to a joint initiative of the Israel Antiquities Authority and Google.

The ongoing violence in Syria is widely covered. The Daily Mirror and Evening Standard report on continued fighting between government and opposition forces in the Yarmouk camp in southern Damascus, home to much of the country’s half million Palestinians. The Guardian emphasises that this has prompted many Palestinians to flee Syria for neighbouring Lebanon. The online edition of the Independent claims that Russia has sent warships to the Mediterranean in preparation for evacuating its citizens from Syria. Meanwhile, the Financial Times reports on the growing difficulty in sending humanitarian aid to Syria to relieve increasing hunger and homelessness. The Telegraph, Times, Metro and online editions of the Independent and Guardian cover the escape of NBC’s senior foreign correspondent from captivity in Syria after he and his crew were kidnapped for five days by pro-Assad fighters.

The headlines in this morning’s Israeli media focus mainly on the Interior Ministry’s approval of another stage of planning for construction in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Yediot Ahronot leads with yesterday’s sharp response by the United States, with the State Department having referred to the approval as a “pattern of provocative action.” Israel Hayom and Makor Rishon report that despite the criticism, Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government appear determined to push on with construction plans. Meanwhile, Maariv quotes high-ranking Likud officials who claim that the recent decisions to advance building plans is part of the Likud-Yisrael Beitenu election strategy. Israel Radio News reports that within the coming few days the Housing Ministry will issue construction tenders across the country, including a number of projects in the West Bank.

In other news, Israel Radio News says that the Central Elections Committee will today hear requests to disqualify Knesset members and parties from participating in the elections. They include petitions to prevent the candidacy of MK Hanan Zoabi as well as the United Arab List, Balad, Strong Israel, Shas and United Torah Judaism parties. Israel Hayom reports that the committee is likely to approve Zoabi’s disqualification, although Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein announced yesterday that he objected to all of the disqualification requests. All committee decisions are subject to appeal at the High Court of Justice.

Meanwhile, both Israel Hayom and Makor Rishon report comments by Avigdor Lieberman which indicate that the former-foreign minister will not seek a plea bargain with prosecutors over charges of fraud and breach of trust.