There is significant coverage this morning of criticism surrounding Sunday’s announcement that Israel plans to expropriate 400 hectares of land in the Etzion region of the West Bank, opening the possibility to advance plans for construction. The Guardian notes “unusually strong language” from the UK and US on the issue, a theme also emphasised by the Daily Mail and Independent i, which highlight Prime Minister David Cameron referring to the decision as “utterly deplorable.”

The Telegraph covers international criticism of the announcement, but notes comments by Israel’s Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Israel’s chief negotiator at recent peace talks, who criticised the timing of the decision and its impact on Israel’s diplomatic position. However, she noted that the Etzion bloc is an area of the West Bank thought likely to remain part of Israel under any future peace deal. Meanwhile, the Times also covers the announcement, noting that it appeared to surprise Israel’s Finance Minister Yair Lapid.

The Financial Times says that the Palestinian Authority (PA) leadership is readying to take its case for statehood to the United Nations (UN) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) if necessary. Apparently, senior Palestinian officials including Saeb Erekat will meet US Secretary of State John Kerry later this week.

The Telegraph online says that the Al Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front has issued demands for the release of around 40 Fijian UN peacekeepers it kidnapped in Syria near the Israeli border several days ago. Apparently, Al-Nusra said it will release the UN troops if it is taken off a list of terror organisations, if aid is given to areas of Damascus and if it receives compensation for three fighters killed in a clash with UN soldiers.

The Guardian online includes a feature on Israeli architect Eyal Weitzman, who has released a film called “The Architecture of Violence,” which examines the impact of Israeli military action on the architecture of Palestinian areas.

In the Israeli media, Maariv leads with a report that the potential European Union (EU) boycott of Israeli dairy, egg and poultry products which are not clearly marked as distinct from West Bank produce, will be postponed for a few weeks. Apparently, Israeli officials are negotiating intensively with Brussels on the issue. Commenting in Maariv, Ben Caspit says that the EU initiative is part of a “political tsumani” for Israel.

There is also further comment this morning on Sunday’s announcement regarding land expropriation in the Etzion region of the West Bank. Haaretz examines criticism of the announcement from the international community. However, Walla News says that settler leaders have criticised Prime Minister Netanyahu for consistently restraining West Bank building in practice, despite public announcements, such as Sunday’s, which indicate to the contrary.

Haaretz leads with a report that a heated cabinet debate took place on Thursday over the possibility of a return to peace talks, supported by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Finance Minister Yair Lapid. However, apparently Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon did not feel that the time is right for such a development. Meanwhile, Makor Rishon reports that Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas told Qatari leaders that Hamas does not care about Gazan civilians and branded Hamas’s Khaled Mashaal a liar.