Escalating tensions in Jerusalem are covered by the Telegraph, Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, Times, Independent i and Evening Standard. All report that Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas called the decision by Israeli authorities to temporarily close the Temple Mount to Muslim and Jewish worshippers as tantamount to a “declaration of war” by Israel. The decision followed the attempted assassination on Wednesday evening of a campaigner for increased Jewish access to the Temple Mount, which came against the background of several months of unrest in the Arab neighbourhoods of Jerusalem.

The Financial Times includes a feature on the impact which Israeli building in areas of Jerusalem beyond the pre-1967 borders has on the Palestinian city of Bethlehem.

The Guardian online says that US Secretary of State John Kerry described reported derogatory comments directed at Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by a US Administration official as “disgraceful” and “damaging.” Metro covers Netanyahu’s response to the comments in which he said he will continue to defend Israel’s interests.

The Independent, Times, Independent i and the online edition of the Guardian all report that Sweden yesterday recognised the State of Palestine. In response, Israel recalled its ambassador to Stockholm for consultations on the issue.

The Independent includes a lengthy report on Israeli company SodaStream, which has recently seen a downturn in profits and decided to move its West Bank factory to southern Israel. As noted in the article, the company says the decision was purely a business decision and not influenced by a high-profile pro-Palestinian campaign against the factory’s West Bank presence.

The Independent online includes the testimony of a former-Israeli soldier and now an activist with the group Breaking the Silence, who claims that IDF soldiers routinely view all Palestinians as potential terrorists.

The Daily Express reports that Labour peer Lord Mitchell has backed actress Maureen Lipman’s decision to drop her lifelong support for the Labour Party, in large part due to what she views as leader Ed Miliband’s critical attitude towards Israel. The Sun also covers Lipman’s comments.

The Times covers claims by Iran that it foiled an attack by “foreign agents” on the Arak heavy water reactor. The facility is a bone of contention between Iran and the international community which is seeking a long-term agreement over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The online editions of the Guardian and Telegraph both report that residents of a displaced persons’ camp in the Idlib province of Syria claim that the Syrian Air Force recently killed dozens of civilians using crude barrel bombs. The US State Department described the attack as “barbaric.”

In the Israeli media, the main story is the continued tension in Jerusalem, with the Fatah faction of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas having called for a “Day of Rage” to protest the temporary Israeli closure of the Temple Mount as a security measure. It is the top item in Yediot Ahronot, Israel Hayom, Maariv and Haaretz, which says that police are on peak alert ahead of Friday prayers. Israel Radio news says that the Temple Mount will be open today, but men under 50-years-old will not be permitted access.

Israel Hayom and Maariv both highlight Sweden’s recognition yesterday of a Palestinian state and the recall of Israel’s ambassador to Stockholm. Israel Radio news highlights comments made by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman who advised Swedish leaders that peace in the region is not as simple as assembling IKEA furniture.

Meanwhile, Maariv and Israel Radio news both report that a suspected Hezbollah operative has been arrested in Peru on suspicion of planning a terror attack against Israeli and Jewish targets in the country.