This morning’s headlines continue to be dominated by the increasing tension over Egypt’s future, which is set to come to a head today. The Guardian, Times, Telegraph and Financial Times all report that President Mohammed Morsi rejected the forty-eight hour ultimatum issued by the country’s military, defiantly refusing to comply with their demands during a late-night speech yesterday. The army then issued a statement warning that the “final hours” are approaching and that it will “sacrifice” to defend the Egyptian people. Rival mass protests by those opposing and supporting Morsi took place yesterday and reports indicate that at least sixteen people died in clashes. Meanwhile, an editorial in the Independent laments the popular Egyptian clamour for a return to military rule.

The Independent i and the BBC online report that a nineteen-year-old Palestinian was killed during clashes with the IDF in the West Bank near Hebron. The BBC online says that the IDF has opened an investigation into the incident, while the Independent i notes a rise in West Bank violence since the start of 2013.

The Times reports that Israel’s culture of innovation was praised as a potential model for the UK during a business conference which brought CEOs together. Meanwhile, in the Telegraph, a travel review by Tom Rowley recommends a visit to Tel Aviv, especially as a weekend destination.

The Independent includes an interview with Syria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad in which he said that the United States has no control over the opposition groups that it is arming. Mekdad also criticised the UK government for what he believes is their false calculation that helping tip the military balance of power in favour of Syrian rebels will force President Assad to negotiate.

Meanwhile, the Guardian online covers an interview given to an Iranian youth magazine by the country’s new President Hassan Rowhani, in which he appeared to criticise gender segregation and internet censorship in Iran.

In the Israeli media this morning, the unfolding drama in Egypt takes centre stage. Yediot Ahronot and Israel Hayom both call it “Judgement Day” in Egypt as the military-imposed ultimatum on President Morsi expires. The story also makes the front page headline in Haaretz and in Maariv, which claims that there is fear of a civil war in Egypt. Commenting in Israel Hayom, Yoav Limor predicts that although Egypt’s military is applying serious pressure to Morsi, it will refrain from a wholesale hostile takeover of the country.

A poll published this morning in both Maariv and Jerusalem Post investigates Israeli and Palestinian attitudes towards the peace process. It indicates that 62 per cent of Israelis and 53 per cent of Palestinians support a peace agreement based on a two-state solution. Meanwhile, 63 per cent of Israelis and 69 per cent of Palestinians are opposed to the idea of a bi-national state.

Both Haaretz and Israel Hayom prominently cover the first day of a Supreme Court hearing of a state appeal against former-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s acquittal on charges that he profited from foreign trips while in office and that he unlawfully received large amounts of money. Both reports say that judges yesterday indicated that they believe some of the money that Olmert received was done so illicitly.