The Times includes a preview of today’s presidential election in Israel, with members of Knesset poised to take part in a secret ballot to choose a successor to Shimon Peres. The headline emphasises a campaign involving “sex, scandal and skulduggery,” having been mired by allegations made against several candidates, including Labour MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer who dramatically withdrew his candidacy over the weekend. Although Likud MK Reuven Rivlin is considered the front runner, he will likely be unable to secure outright victory and an unpredictable second round of voting against his nearest rival is likely.

Writing in the Independent and Independent i, Kim Sengupta reports from the Herzliya Conference, a leading policy gathering in Israel. He says that IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz spoke to the conference, warning against the danger posed by Hezbollah, while Minister Yuval Steinitz emphasised that a bad nuclear deal with Iran is worse than no deal. Sengupta also writes that a panel including four leading government ministers titled “Israeli leaders debate peace” underscored the splits within Israel’s government over peace and relations with the Palestinians.

The online edition of the Guardian reports that Israel’s cabinet is looking to push through a new law which would permit the force-feeding of Palestinian prisoners currently on hunger strike, who are protesting the practice of administrative detention which allows security prisoners to be held without charge for a period of time. The report says that the Israel Medical Association opposes force-feeding.

Writing in the Guardian online, Julian Borger comments on the current talks between United States and Iranian officials in Geneva over a long-term agreement on Tehran’s nuclear programme. He says that Princeton academics have suggested a formula which would see Iran stockpile centrifuges in component pieces under international supervision, thereby restricting their usefulness, for a five-year period. Meanwhile, the Financial Times online reports that Iran’s President Rouhani is visiting Turkey, in a sign of closer relations between the two countries. Rouhani is being accompanied by 90 Iranian businessmen and Iran’s Economy Minister.

The Times online says that Syria’s President Assad has announced an unprecedented prisoner release for his opponents. However, previous amnesties have failed to materialise. The article speculates that the announcement is designed to give the impression of solidifying Assad’s control following his nominal recent election victory.

The Guardian online says that Egypt’s new President al-Sisi has reappointed the country’s current prime minister and is likely to retain several other ministers. Meanwhile, the same publication reports that Egyptians have been shocked over a video of a mass sexual assault on a woman in Tahrir Square during celebrations of al-Sisi’s election victory last week.

In the Israeli media, the top story in all dailies is today’s presidential vote, with the first round of voting to take place at 11am. Yediot Ahronot, Maariv, Israel Hayom, Haaretz and Makor Rishon all deal extensively with the secret Knesset vote. Commentator Ben Caspit writes in Maariv, reflecting on a presidential campaign which has been filled with scandal and acrimony, saying that, “It will finally be over today … It’s been a long time since so many egos, belonging to so many candidates, squabbled over a position that has almost no real authority.”

Makor Rishon highlights the response yesterday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid’s suggested plan for separation and an eventual peace agreement with the Palestinians. Netanyahu commented that Lapid’s “inexperience” would lead to a “reckless” plan. Meanwhile, Maariv says that Yisrael Beitenu leader and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman commented yesterday that Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett’s suggestion to annex areas of the West Bank is unfeasible.

Meanwhile, Channel Two’s political affairs commentator, Rina Matzliah writes on the Mako news website that the “countdown” has begun to the end of the current coalition. She says that centre-left leaders have been meeting in recent weeks to discuss potential alliances and mergers.