The Financial Times includes an editorial commenting on the new national unity coalition in Israel and calls on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to give the Palestinians a viable and contiguous state. Tony Blair is quoted in the Independent and the Guardian urging the Israeli government to take “all necessary measures” to avoid the deaths of Palestinian hunger striking prisoners. The Independent also runs a comment piece by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown concerned that there is not enough condemnation of Israeli extremism. She ends by saying “I truly want Israel to survive and thrive but it is becoming its own worst enemy”, as Israel has lost all its idealism. The Guardian online has an additional article focusing on the issue of administrative detention. The Daily Telegraph has a report on Palestinian’s who face possible eviction from their caves, close to the city of Hebron, as the area is designated as a training zone for the IDF. Financial Times and BBC online note violence in northern Lebanon and the potential for the conflict in Syria to spill over across the border.

Over the weekend, the Independent on Saturday ran a leader commenting on Israel’s new coalition and suggesting that the US and the EU “nudge Mr Netanyahu towards serious negotiations with the Palestinian leadership before it is too late.” The Daily Telegraph on Saturday highlighted the portion of the Egyptian presidential election debate where the leading candidates lambasted Israel as an “aggressor and enemy”. The paper also included a comment from and Israeli government spokesperson saying “I think it is quite obvious that the populist thing to do is to bash Israel as strongly as you can, we will only know when the political situation stabilises what their intentions really are.” The Sunday Times warns of a new intifada if a Palestinian prisoner currently on hunger strike dies in an Israeli prison. The paper highlights the plight of world jihad activist Thaer Halahlah. They also quote the Israeli Prime Minister’s spokesman, noting prison authorities can’t be held to ransom by prisoners who “are using hunger strikes as get out of jail free card.” “Many of them are serving long sentences for their direct involvement in terror against civilians. These are people guilty of crimes against humanity, not choir boys,” he said. The Observer includes an editorial arguing the “internment…. without charge….in Guantanamo, UK or Israel – must always be opposed” “has long been a stain on Israel’s democracy”. The paper goes on to warn this form of non-violent protest and the failing two-state solution could develop into a Palestinian civil rights campaign for a binational state. The Independent on Sunday includes comment on Israel-US relations and the Iranian nuclear threat.

In today’s Israeli media, all papers lead on the secret vote in the Knesset to choose next State Comptroller. Unlike last time when the position was uncontested, there are three candidates, the favourites being two judges, District Court Judge Yossef Shapira and Supreme Court Vice President Judge Eliezer Rivlin. Ma’ariv and Jerusalem Post report on the suggested legislation to legalise the Ulpana neighbourhood, bypassing the High Court. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is thought to be against legislation that undermines the High Court, but at the same time is loath to destroy the neighbourhood. Yediot Ahronot and Ma’ariv report on the ongoing negotiations brokered by the Egyptians to end the Palestinians prisoner hunger strike. Both papers suggest the sides are close to reaching an agreement. Haaretz gives details of the letter PM Netanyahu passed on to Palestinian President Abbas in which he explicitly stated his desire to establish a Palestinian State alongside Israel. Yediot Ahronot announces that Kadima MK Yohanan Plesner was appointed to lead the team to draft a “new Tal law” regarding the conscription of ultra orthodox Jews into the IDF. He insisted the changes will not be insignificant.

In the Israeli media on Sunday all papers focus on disturbing incidents of violent crimes in civil society. Politics continues to reverberate, Yediot Ahronot and Ma’ariv both write about four members of Kadima party who are unhappy about joining the government and are potentially looking to break away. They will need a minimum of seven MK’s in order to split the party. Yediot Ahronot continues to cover the dispute over the Ulpana neighbourhood near Beit El. The high court ruled that the residents must be evicted but the government is still searching alternative solutions. Israel Hayom reports on the expected announcement by the US administration to increase the funding for Israel’s anti-missile defence. Haaretz and Israel Hayom follow the first gathering of this year’s social protest demonstrations that brought out a few thousand people on Saturday night. Ma’ariv prominently covers Gilad Shalit playing a friendly game of basketball with veterans of the Maccabi Tel Aviv team.