The Independent reports that General James Mattis, who is being tipped to become US President-elect Donald Trump’s Secretary of Defence, has previously said that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are a serious impediment to the two-state solution and that they could lead to effective “apartheid”.

Writing in The Telegraph, former Foreign Secretary William Hague says that the “litmus test” of Trump’s presidency will come over the Iran nuclear deal, which Trump has pledged to scrap. Hague says that “it is hard to overstate the importance of this agreement” and that going back on the deal would “vindicate the hardliners” in Tehran. He notes that “even the Israelis and Saudis… seem very cautious about revoking it”. As a result, Hague argues that Trump’s attitude towards the deal will be a reflection of how willing he is to listen to others.

The Financial Times online includes a feature on the work of Dr. Dalia Fadila, the first female dean of an Arab college in Israel. Her Q Schools programme in English is designed “to impart values of personal freedom” and to encourage students to grow as individuals and increase their confidence. It has since been introduced to Jordan, especially to help Syrian refugee children. Dr. Fadila was interviewed by Fathom in September on the subject of educational equality in Israel.

The Guardian online reports that the dual UK-Iranian citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has been imprisoned in Tehran for alleged spying, is at “breaking point” after going on hunger strike to protest her sentence and treatment. She was arrested leaving the country with her infant daughter after a family visit.

The Independent says that President Assad’s forces in Syria are advancing on the besieged city of Aleppo in a “horrific” assault. The Times reports that Iraqi Shi’ite militias are set to travel to Syria in order “to help Assad” and his campaign.

In the Israeli media, Haaretz and Maariv continue to lead with the controversy surrounding the purchase of three German submarines, which media reports claimed last week were influenced by the business interests of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s lawyer, David Shimron. Maariv highlights defiant comments by Netanyahu, who has denied any wrongdoing. Haaretz says that Shimron did contact the Defence Ministry over the tender for purchasing the submarines, despite claiming he had not been in contact with relevant officials.

Writing in Maariv, Ben Caspit says that the “emerging picture… mandate[s] a police investigation”. In the same publication, Yossi Melman takes an opposing view and argues that for “those who are after his [Netanyahu’s] head, the submarine affair does not provide any real grounds”.

The lead story in Yediot Ahronot is a public debate over the increasing integration of women in combat positions in the IDF. Prominent former generals have argued that it is not appropriate for women to fight in tanks with men and in similar roles. Yediot Ahronot publishes the views of three female officers, while the debate is also a focus in Israel Hayom.

A major story in Yediot Ahronot, Maariv and Haaretz is a High Court injunction, following a petition by Meretz, over the appointment of Rabbi Eyal Krim as the Chief Military Chaplain of the IDF. The court has asked Krim to submit an affidavit clarifying his position on comments he has previously made which appeared to justify the rape of non-Jewish women during wartime under Jewish religious law.

Israel Radio news reports that following 12 hours of talks, no resolution appears to be in sight over the strike by El Al pilots over their conditions. The strike has forced Israel’s national air carrier to cancel a number of flights over the past several days.

Israel Radio news also says that fire fighters are continuing to battle a large blaze near Neve Shalom in central Israel, which has seen around 270 people evacuated from their homes.