The Telegraph reports that a five-year-old Syrian boy escaped death after having been shot, when his father brought him to the Israeli border and he was transferred to a hospital in the northern Israeli city of Haifa. Surgeons managed to remove a bullet lodged in a very sensitive area during complex surgery, saving the boy’s life.

As the fighting in Syria continues, the Financial Times online says that the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Nusra Front is considering joining forces with ISIS against the US-led coalition which is carrying out air strikes against ISIS targets in Syria and Iraq. The online editions of the Guardian, Times, Telegraph and Financial Times all report that MPs in Turkey voted overwhelmingly yesterday to join the US-led initiative. The vote comes after Kurds from the border town of Kobani streamed across the border into Turkey, fleeing an ISIS advance. Meanwhile, the Telegraph online says that a UN report has concluded that ISIS is committing human rights atrocities on a “staggering” scale.

The Independent i covers the spat this week between United States officials and Israeli leaders over plans to construct around 2,500 housing units in the neighbourhood of Givat Hamatos in East Jerusalem. Writing in the Independent, Ben Lynfield says that the latest development is further evidence that although Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu consistently pledges support for a two-state solution, his actions indicate otherwise. Meanwhile, the Guardian reports that the Palestinian leadership has circulated a draft motion it intends on submitting to the UN Security Council which calls to mandate Israel to withdraw from the West Bank and East Jerusalem by November 2016.

Writing in the Guardian, Christopher de Bellaigue argues that it is time for Western powers to strike a deal with Iran over its nuclear programme. He says that failure to do so would damage President Rouhani, who he believes wishes to reform Iran.

In the Israeli media, the fall-out from the difference of opinion between Israeli and American leaders over planned housing in Givat Hamatos continues to make headlines. Yediot Ahronot covers comments made yesterday by US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki, who said that Washington “has its information clear” in making criticism, but that Israel remains an “important partner,” friend and ally. Writing in Haaretz, Barak Ravid says that the controversy “astounded” Prime Minister Netanyahu and scuppered what was meant to be a low-key visit to the United States.

Another major item is the preparations in Israel ahead of the solemn Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, which begins this evening. For the first time in 33 years, it coincides with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, prompting Israeli authorities to make special plans in case of increased tensions, especially in mixed Jewish-Arab areas. Israel Hayom covers the preparations as one of its major stories.

Haaretz includes a preview of a special interview with IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, with the full piece set for publication on Sunday. In the selected comments published today though, Gantz says that Hamas was seriously weakened during Operation Protective Edge and predicts that neither Hamas nor Hezbollah wishes to start a conflict with Israel during the coming year. He also says that Israel must help engender hope, not fear in the Gaza Strip.