The Times reports on Wednesday’s rocket attack at the Israeli Red Sea tourist resort of Eilat, saying that the jihadist group linked to ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack. The article also notes that Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, allows members of ISIS to cross into the Strip for medical treatment, and in return Hamas receives help smuggling weapons across the Gaza-Egyptian border.

The i, Independent and the Daily Telegraph online report on the discovery of pottery, scroll jars and other antiquities from the Second Temple period in a cave in the Qumran cliffs on the Dead Sea. The Independent says the discovery “puts paid to the existing consensus that the scrolls are only located in eleven caves at Qumran,” a site in the West Bank managed by Israel, whilst the Telegraph claims that Bedouin looters had taken the actual scrolls from the cave sometime in the 1950s.

The Daily Express notes that biophysicists from Hebrew University in Israel have discovered that bacteria develop a ‘sleeping mechanism’ in order to achieve to antibiotics resistance 20 times faster. The article says that the discovery could lead to new antibiotics as the study suggested the way to delay the evolution of resistance is by using drugs that can also target the tolerant bacteria.

The Telegraph reports that the Germany’s President Angela Merkel has been forced to deny its interest in acquiring nuclear weapons following calls for the EU to invest in its own nuclear deterrent. The article quotes a former NATO commander who says such a move would make it more difficult to prevent Iran from building a nuclear deterrent.

The Guardian notes that Israel immigration officials have apologised for their treatment of a senior executive of the New Israel Fund. The Fund supports a number of liberal groups in Israel that had in the past been criticised by the Israeli government. A spokeswoman for the Interior Ministry apologised for any “unpleasantness” experienced over the course of the interview but not for the questioning itself.

The Mail Online reports on a project that tracks the evolution of Israeli and Palestinian female beauty trends in the last 100 years in a series of time-lapse videos.

All the Israeli media cover yesterday’s terror attack in Petach Tikva.  Maariv highlights the good fortune that the terrorist’s makeshift gun malfunctioned so there were no fatalities and only light injuries.  Yediot Ahronot notes an Arab bystander was also injured after being mistaken as an accomplice for the terrorist after he warned people of the danger by shouting in Arabic. Israel Radio announced two people are still hospitalised following the attack.  Israel Radio also covers the continued demonstrations of ultra-orthodox youths protesting the arrest of a teenager for refusing his military draft order.  Twenty two people were arrested in Jerusalem and nine in Bet Shemesh, for blocking roads, torching rubbish bins and disturbing public order.

Israel Hayom and Yediot Ahronot begin to preview Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to Washington next week and his meeting with President Donald Trump. Yediot Ahronot reports Netanyahu will convene the security cabinet on Sunday to formulate the official positions that he will present to Trump on settlement construction, resuming negotiations with the Palestinians and Israel’s position on the nuclear agreement with Iran.

Several papers note the announcement by ISIS formally taking responsibility for the rocket attack on Eilat. Maariv expresses confidence that the rocket fire was an isolated incident, and praised the intelligence and security cooperation between Israel and Egypt. Yediot Ahronot and Haaretz continue their coverage of the Prime Minister’s corruption allegations. This morning they highlight Netanyahu’s defence that cigars were paid for with cash he received from a relative.  Haaretz also carry a warning from the Director of the National Insurance Institute, “without a war on inequality, there will be violent social protest”.  Israel Hayom also focus on the court ruling that forbids El Al pilots to abandon flights following their strike.