The online editions of the Guardian, Times, Telegraph and Independent all report that a delegation from the Syrian opposition yesterday represented Syria for the first time at the Arab League summit in Qatar. The Independent online describes it as a “significant diplomatic boost” to the opposition. Syria’s government was suspended from the forum in 2011, with Syria’s seat empty until now. The new Syrian opposition delegation was headed by Moaz al-Khatib, who had seemingly resigned as leader of the Syrian National Coalition last week. Meanwhile, all reports note that opposition mortars were fired in central Damascus yesterday.

The Financial Times online reports that Israel will resume the transfer of tax funds to the Palestinian Authority (PA) following US President Barack Obama’s visit to the region last week. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly agreed the measure after consulting his inner Security Cabinet. Israel had suspended the transfer of tax funds to the PA late last year, using some of the money to repay sums owed by the PA to the Israel Electric Corporation and other bodies. The report reiterates Netanyahu’s pledge last week that Israel is committed to returning to peace talks with the PA without preconditions.

In the Israeli media, both Israel Hayom and the Jerusalem Post focus on the ongoing process of rebuilding Israel-Turkey ties in the wake of last week’s apology by Netanyahu to his Turkish counterpart Recip Tayyip Erdogan over the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident. Israel Hayom says that representatives of the two countries have begun talks over exactly how compensation will be paid by Israel to families of the Turkish citizens killed in the incident. Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Post highlights comments from an unnamed Israeli official, that rebuilding the relationship between the two countries will take time. Makor Rishon also focuses its front page on the developments in Israel-Turkey diplomacy.

Meanwhile, Haaretz leads with an announcement by the Arab League yesterday of the creation of a $1 billion dollar fund “to finance projects and programs that would maintain the Arab and Islamic character of” Jerusalem.

In Maariv, the front page headline is devoted to comments made by new Welfare Minister Meir Cohen, of the Yesh Atid party, in opposition to planned budget cuts by Finance Minister and Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid. Cohen expressed strong opposition to possible cutbacks in the welfare budget, saying that Israel’s weakest sectors will not pay the price of the country’s deficit. Maariv reports that Lapid intends on making cuts to the country’s defence budget, but is facing opposition. Another prominent story in Maariv says that Israel and the United States are in talks over American funds for a new Israeli defence package. The Times of Israel reports concerns from Israeli officials over possible cutbacks in US aid.