The Independent and Independent i both report that a senior advisor to Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas has hinted that the PA may curb its security cooperation with Israel in protest at settlement construction in the West Bank. However, the articles quote an Israeli commentator who said that the comments, made by Yasser Abed Rabbo, are unlikely to reflect Abbas’ position.

The Guardian and Telegraph both report that one of Israel’s most eminent authors, Amos Oz, has described those who perpetrate so-called ‘Price Tag’ attacks, acts of vandalism against Arab and Palestinian property, as “neo-Nazis.” The Telegraph says that former-Knesset Speaker and presidential candidate Reuven Rivlin MK, while condemning ‘Price Tag’ attacks, criticised Oz’s classification, saying that it cheapens the Holocaust.

Both the Times and the Financial Times preview the talks between the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme, which are scheduled to resume in Vienna tomorrow. The Financial Times says that with half of the period designated for talks having passed, there is “everything to play for” and that three issues will dominate this week’s negotiations – Iran’s enrichment capacity, the Arak reactor and “possible military dimensions” to the Iranian programme. The Guardian says Iranian officials believe that Western sanctions against Russia have boosted their own negotiating position, figuring that the United States and its allies will be keen to avoid closer Iran-Russia ties.

A separate report in the Guardian covers an Iranian official who has declared that, “We have won in Syria” with President Assad having cemented his position in power during the past few months, thanks to the backing of Tehran and the military support of Hezbollah. The online edition of the Guardian reports that the Syrian election season officially began yesterday with a presidential vote set for 3 June. The poll will see President Assad returned to office in an election which international leaders have condemned as a sham. Meanwhile, the Telegraph online says that two further independent investigations by a German and an Italian publication, have confirmed its own recent probe which indicated that Assad’s forces used chlorine bombs against civilians in the town of Kafr Zita.

In the Israeli media, Yediot Ahronot and Maariv lead on suggestions that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is attempting to delay the vote for a new president to succeed Shimon Peres or do away with the institution altogether. Netanyahu is reportedly virulently opposed to fellow Likud MK and former Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin succeeding Peres and Yediot Ahronot columnist Nahum Barnea suggests that Netanyahu has an “obsession” over the issue, which has prompted his latest move. However, both reports say that Netanyahu’s suggestion faces strong opposition from within his own party.

Israel Hayom leads with an analysis of Finance Minister Yair Lapid’s plan to scrap VAT for first-time home buyers who fulfil specific criteria, including having completed military or civilian national service. The scheme is also covered prominently by Maariv and Haaretz, which emphasises that it will exclude those from the Arab and ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities.

Makor Rishon and Israel Hayom highlight a letter sent to Prime Minister Netanyahu by a group of reservist soldiers, who said that they have not received training for the past three years due to budget cuts. The servicemen explained that they are in danger of being unprepared for the next conflict and suggest that financial cuts be made elsewhere.

Israel Radio news says that Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has accepted Israel’s offer to send counter-terrorism experts to the country to help locate the hundreds of young women who were kidnapped by the Islamist terror group Boko Haram from a school in the north east of Nigeria.