There is widespread coverage of Business Secretary Vince Cable’s announcement yesterday that the government could suspend 12 arms export licenses to Israel if significant fighting in Gaza resumes. It is reported by the Guardian, Times, Financial Times, Telegraph, Independent, Daily Mail, Sun, Daily Mirror and Metro. Most publications suggest that the conditional announcement represents a coalition compromise between the Liberal Democrat position which is keen for an immediate suspension of arms sales to Israel and a Conservative view which frowns upon such restrictions. The Independent includes a quote yesterday by Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon who warned that fire could yet resume in Gaza, despite the current 72-hour ceasefire in place.

The Guardian says that there is optimism over the talks taking place in Cairo to broker a more long-term ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Hamas. However, the Independent i reports that although the current truce is holding, it describes the Cairo talks as “difficult.”

The Financial Times highlights a suggestion made by Israel’s Finance Minister Yair Lapid, who proposed that a demilitarised Gaza be controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA) with the international community spearheading the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

The Guardian says that a poll it commissioned indicates that 52 per cent of British people think that Israel has acted disproportionately in Gaza. However, the poll also found that although 41 per cent of those questioned said that their opinion of Israel had worsened during the Gaza conflict, 48 per cent said it remained the same.

Writing in the Times, Daniel Finkelstein says that the fighting and devastation in Gaza is tragic, but that Israel had no alternative but to take military action, as the international community cannot be relied upon to protect Israel when needed.

The Times reports that former-South African president Thabo Mbeki has called on South Africans to boycott Israeli goods.

Meanwhile, the online edition of the Times includes a focus on the recent tense relations between Israel and the United States and in particular between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Obama. However, the article emphasises that there is unlikely to be any major change in the bilateral relationship.

In the Israeli media, the main story is the ongoing ceasefire talks in Cairo, with conflicting reports regarding their progress. Yediot Ahronot says that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held private meetings yesterday with key cabinet members to gauge their positions in what may be an indication that an agreement may be close. Haaretz says that Netanyahu is trying to convince ministers of an agreement which is essentially on the table. Maariv reports that such an agreement is subject only to the approval of Hamas’s military wing. However, Makor Rishon leads with the warning given by Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon that fire could resume. Israel Hayom captures the uncertainty with the headline “Between negotiations and threat.”

Yediot Ahronot features an interview with William Schabas, the Canadian jurist set to head the United Nations Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) commission of inquiry over Operation Protective Edge. Schabas is considered an outspoken critic of Israel, but claims much of what he has said in the past was taken out of context. Writing in Maariv, Ben Caspit is highly critical of the commission and the UNHRC as a whole.

Meanwhile, Haaretz, Makor Rishon and Israel Radio news all report Business Secretary Vince Cable’s announcement yesterday that arms exports to Israel could be suspended if fighting in Gaza resumes.