This morning’s Independent i and online edition of the Independent notes a series of planning meetings taking place this week among Israeli authorities which are set to approve plans for several construction projects in East Jerusalem, drawing criticism from a number of Western countries. The Telegraph focuses on a sharply worded statement issued by the US State Department following the approval of plans to build 1,500 homes in the Ramat Shlomo neighbourhood earlier this week. Meanwhile, the Financial Times online reports on yesterday’s authorisation of plans to build new homes in the East Jerusalem area of Givat Hamatos and includes the response of Mark Regev, spokesman for Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office. The Guardian highlights European criticism of the Givat Hamatos project, but notes Israeli sources which believe the series of planning approvals is an electoral tactic employed by the joint Likud-Yisrael Beitenu list.

The Guardian also includes an article on the decision taken yesterday by Israel’s Central Elections Committee to disqualify Arab MK Hanan Zoabi from next month’s election, based on petitions that her opposition to Israel’s Jewish character and tacit support for attacks against Israel infringes one of Israel’s Basic Laws, which states that parliamentary candidates cannot reject Israel as a Jewish or democratic state or support armed combat against Israel. The ruling will be appealed to the High Court of Justice, which routinely rejects such decisions. Yesterday, the Central Elections Committee also rejected petitions to bar two Arab parties from running next month. Today the panel is expected to rule on petitions against a right-wing party, Strong Israel, on grounds of racism and against ultra-Orthodox parties on grounds of discrimination against women.

The Evening Standard reports that Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas has offered to welcome Palestinian refugees fleeing the fighting in Syria into the West Bank. The article notes that such a decision would require Israel’s permission. Meanwhile, the online editions of the Guardian, Times, Telegraph and Independent all report that the chairman of the Commons foreign affairs committee has written to Foreign Secretary William Hague expressing “grave concerns” over the legitimacy and legality of providing military support to the Syrian opposition.  The Financial Times and the online editions of the Guardian, Telegraph and Independent all cover the launch of a United Nations appeal to raise £920million in aid for those who have fled the violence in Syria.

The top story in much of the Israeli media this morning is the death yesterday from cancer of former chief of staff and cabinet minister Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, aged 68. Lipkin-Shahak served as chief of staff in the late 1990s before entering the Knesset and serving as minister for tourism and then transportation, whilst pressing for a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Yediot Ahronot’s front page headline refers to him as “An officer and a gentleman,” while Israel Hayom’s lead headline says “Farewell to a hero.”

Meanwhile, the lead story in Maariv and Haaretz is the conclusion of the nurses’ strike after an agreement was reached last night between nurses’ representatives and the Finance Ministry to award nurses a 13 per cent pay increase.

Israel Radio News this morning reports on critical statements released yesterday by all members of the United Nations Security Council apart from the United States, following the decision yesterday by Israeli authorities to authorise construction planning in the East Jerusalem area of Givat Hamatos. Yediot Ahronot reports that the Defence Ministry has approved construction of 523 homes in the West Bank settlement of Gvaot.

Makor Rishon reports on the decision taken yesterday by the Central Elections Committee to disqualify Arab MK Hanan Zoabi from next month’s election. However, Israel Radio News says that the High Court of Justice will hear an appeal against the decision as early as next week and will announce a ruling by 30 December. The court is expected to overturn the ban.