The UK media extensively covers US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s visit to Israel. The Times highlights the US threat to Iran that it risks US military action if it does not curb its nuclear programme. The Guardian the Independent, the Daily Telegraph and Financial Times focus on the reassurances Panetta offered Israel over the Iranian threat. The Independent and the Daily Telegraph note Defence Minister Ehud Barak’s order for the IDF to present a new plan to recruit ultra-Orthodox Jews into the army. The Guardian runs a comment piece by former Israeli Ambassador, Prof. Itamar Rabinovich reflecting Israel’s view of Syria. The Independent includes the Bulgarian police’s computer generated image of the bomber from the Burgas terror attack. The Times covers the denial by Egypt’s President Muhammed Mursi that he sent a letter of goodwill to Israeli President Shimon Peres. The Times includes an opinion piece that challenges an article in the Spectator by Jewish Chronicle Editor Stephen Pollard who suggested the British media was not interested in terror attacks when “the victims are Jews”. Matthew Paris argues this is inaccurate and insulting.

Today’s Israeli media analyses the respective meetings held yesterday between US Secretary of Defence Panetta and Israel’s PM, Defence Minister Barak and the President Peres. Maariv believes that although the meetings took place in a positive atmosphere, behind the scenes Panetta is frustrated that the Israeli leadership do not fully trust the US commitment to stop the Iranian nuclear threat. Similarly, Yediot Ahronot depicted the meetings as part of the “ongoing tug-of-war between Israel and the US – once side pulling in the direction of a strike in Iran and the other pulling towards waiting”. Maariv also notes the political character of the visit, intended to strengthen the image of the Obama administration’s support for Israel. Yediot Ahronot covers a Peace Now report on government funding in the West Bank, seemingly contradicting the Prime Minister Netanyahu’s claim that this budget is “negligible”. The paper also quotes settler spokesperson saying, “‎in the past decade, the public investment in Judea and Samaria has shrunk by half, whereas the population has doubled.” Haaretz has a report that the British government are liaising between Israel and Turkey with hope of the former close allies reconciling their differences. Yediot Ahronot and Haaretz both give attention to the continued political wrangling over passing the economic austerity measures in the Knesset. Most recently, the Finance Minister has cancelled most of the cuts he had threatened on Ministries held by Shas and the Independence Party as long as they vote in favour of the legislation. All the papers include prominent coverage of the Olympics and focus on hopes of various Israeli athletes who are progressing well and have a chance for medals.