The Independent this morning says that there is a split in the Israeli cabinet over returning to peace talks with the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the wake of Operation Protective Edge. According to Israeli media reports, an acrimonious cabinet meeting took place last week, with Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Finance Minister Yair Lapid supporting a new diplomatic push while Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon insisted that now is not the right time to talk about territorial concessions given the precedent of Gaza.

Meanwhile, a separate item in the Independent reports that a new poll indicates a surge in Palestinian support for Hamas following the recent Gaza conflict. The poll indicated that Hamas would likely win Palestinian elections if they were held now and that there is popular Palestinian support for armed struggle in the West Bank rather than peace talks.

The online edition of the Financial Times says that both the United States and European Union have urged Israel to reverse its decision, announced earlier this week, to expropriate 988 acres of land in the Etzion region of the West Bank, opening the possibility to advance plans for construction. The Etzion bloc though is an area of the West Bank thought likely to remain part of Israel under any future peace deal.

Elsewhere in the region, the Times and the online editions of the Guardian and Telegraph report that the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Nusra Front, which has recently consolidated its position on the Syrian border with Israel, released demands for the return of 45 Fijian United Nations (UN) peacekeepers it kidnapped last week. The demands include being removed from a UN terror list, aid to be sent to parts of Damascus and compensation for three fighters killed in a shoot-out with UN troops.

Both the Independent i and the online edition of the Financial Times cover an explosion in the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula yesterday, near the border with the Gaza Strip, which killed 11 members of Egypt’s security forces. Although no group has yet taken responsibility for the attack, it would appear part of an ongoing battle between Egyptian authorities and armed Islamists in the area.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has arrested 88 people in a crackdown on Islamist terror groups, according to the Guardian and the online edition of the Financial Times. Saudi authorities said that those arrested were planning an “imminent attack.” The Guardian also says that the Saudis are purchasing £1.8 billion worth of weapons to help the Lebanese government tackle Islamist terror.

The Financial Times includes a feature on the power struggle in Iran, with hard-line politicians reportedly looking to consolidate control 18 months ahead of parliamentary elections, by attacking opponents for corruption.

The overwhelming top story in the Israeli media is the recommendation by police yesterday that former Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi should be charged over his role in the so-called Harpaz Affair. The affair centres on a document forged by Lt.Col. Boaz Harpaz, which first came to light in August 2010. It exacerbated serious tensions between then Defence Minister Ehud Barak and then Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and formed part of a bitter battle between their two offices. Yesterday’s announcement that Ashkenazi is likely to become the first head of Israel’s armed forces to face charges is the top story in Israel Hayom, Haaretz, Makor Rishon, Maariv and is also covered prominently in Yediot Ahronot.

The proposed charges of breach of trust and divulging public information against Ashkenazi are criticised by commentators including Nahum Barnea in Yediot Ahronot, who says “Chiefs of staff brief journalists as part of their job.” Meanwhile, in Maariv, Ben Caspit alleges that the charges are part of an “orchestrated … political assassination” of Ashkenazi who is thought to have ambitions for elected office.

In other items, Israel Radio news reports that a delegation of Palestinian leaders will visit Washington today to meet with US Secretary of State John Kerry, where they are expected to propose that Israel be given three years to withdraw from the West Bank.