The Financial Times, Guardian and Independent all report that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been questioned by police for a second time, as part of a criminal investigation into allegations that he received illegal gifts from businessmen. (unclear if this is what the papers are reporting or Dan adding this in its the same wording as previous DB stories so can we check what the papers are actually saying) Few details of the allegations have been released, but two separate instances, involving two businessmen have been widely reported. Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing.

The Times, Telegraph and Independent report that two Israelis have been arrested for making death threats via social media against the military judges who this week convicted an Israeli soldier of manslaughter. The trial of Sgt. Elor Azaria, who shot a wounded Palestinian attacker, has sparked intense public debate among Israeli leaders. All reports note that the three judges who ruled against Azaria have been given a special security detail by the IDF.

The Independent says that the family of the Palestinian attacker shot dead by Azaria has vowed to take the case all the way to the International Criminal Court in the Hague if necessary, saying that Azaria should have been tried for murder, not manslaughter.

The i covers a piece in Foreign Policy magazine, which suggests that Israel’s hopes of gaining a seat on the United Nations’ (UN) Security Council have been seriously damaged by Israel’s angry response to a resolution two weeks ago which criticised Israeli settlements. The article says that support for Israel to join the Security Council has especially dissipated among African states.

Both the Independent and i report that Israel is building the world’s tallest solar tower in the southern Negev desert. The tower, which is set to be completed in 2018, is part of Israel’s target to increase its renewable energy share from 2.5 per cent of the national energy output to 10 per cent by 2020.

In Syria, the Guardian reports claims by the UN that more than 5.5m Syrians have minimal water access in the Damascus area due to ongoing fighting. Turkey has warned that peace talks between President Assad’s government and rebel forces are in danger unless Iran brings Hezbollah under control, as it is apparently fighting to retake Wadi Barada despite a ceasefire.

In the Israeli media, the headlines remain dominated by the aftermath of Elor Azaria’s conviction. Israel Hayom leads with the police investigation of demonstrators outside the court on Wednesday, who chanted threats to the life of IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot. The top item in Maariv is a poll, which indicates that 75 per cent of respondents favour a pardon for Azaria, and 58 per cent believe that the verdict conveyed a message to IDF soldiers that they do not have the backing of the military establishment.

Yediot Ahronot highlights an impassioned Facebook post from Capt. (res) Shilon, who was seriously injured in a border incident near the Gaza Strip in 2012, losing his hand in a bomb blast. He wrote: “I feel that our people are divided, in pain, are feeling hatred, disappointment and despair… I cried for the people of Israel, tearing themselves to bits in unprecedented hatred. I cried for the hands I left in Gaza, and asked myself, perhaps for the first time in my life, was it worth fighting for a people that hate themselves?”

Yediot Ahronot and Israel Hayom both prominently report that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been questioned for a second time over allegations he received illegal gifts. Haaretz and Maariv both suggest that Hollywood producer Arnon Michan is the businessman at the centre of one of the cases.

The Times of Israel reports that PA President Mahmoud Abbas met hundreds of Israeli activists, writers and academics in Ramallah yesterday. He told them that peace will ultimately be achieved through dialogue, not via the United Nations.

Israel Radio news says that representatives of the Quartet (US, Russia, EU, UN) plus European and Arab countries will convene in Paris to discuss the wording of a draft resolution to be brought to the French-led peace conference on 15 January. Although representatives from around 70 countries are expected to attend the gathering, Israeli and Palestinian officials have not been invited.