The speech delivered yesterday by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly is covered by the Guardian online, which highlights Netanyahu’s emphasis that Hamas and ISIS are “branches of the same poisonous tree” of radical Islamism. The Telegraph also reports on Netanyahu’s speech, focusing on his criticism of the UN Human Rights Council and its determination to investigate Israel’s actions during Operation Protective Edge while apparently ignoring the violations committed by Hamas. The Telegraph also mentions Netanyahu’s warning that the world must stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions or else lose the war on militant Islam.

The Guardian online provides an update on the Israeli commercial ship which did not dock in Oakland, California earlier this week due to the presence of around two hundred pro-Palestinian protestors. The vessel is now reportedly on its way to Los Angeles.

The Guardian online also includes a feature on a new recruitment campaign by Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, which is encouraging potential recruits to apply online through its website for the first time.

Meanwhile, the Times reports that Lebanese Christians are arming themselves in anticipation of ISIS making gains in Lebanon. The Telegraph says that despite the US-led air strikes in Syria, ISIS has launched an attack on the Kurdish town of Kobane, which is located on the Syrian border with Turkey.

In Iran, the Guardian online says that a 37-year-old man has been executed for heresy after he openly publicised his own interpretations of Koranic scripture.

In the Israeli media, the main story is Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to the UN General Assembly yesterday. The headlines in Yediot Ahronot and Israel Hayom focus on Netanyahu’s rebuttal of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas’s accusation that Israel committed war crimes during Operation Protective Edge. Meanwhile, Maariv and Haaretz highlight Netanyahu’s suggestion that a wider rapprochement with the Arab world could lead to peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

In commentary on Netanyahu’s speech, Ben Caspit in Maariv warns that the world has become tired of Netanyahu’s rhetoric and that, “in the international arena, actions are also needed. Not talk.” Israel Radio news reports the response of opposition leader and Labour head Isaac Herzog, who said that Netanyahu has yet to do anything substantive to further the prospects of peace.

In advance of Netanyahu’s meeting with US President Obama at the White House tomorrow, Israel Radio reports that White House spokesperson Josh Earnest emphasised that the Obama Administration is continuing to push both Israel and the PA to return to peace talks.

In other news, Maariv says that there is criticism from within the coalition towards Finance Minister Yair Lapid’s draft 2015 budget which he finally announced earlier this week and will seek to bring before cabinet for approval.