The Daily Mail reports that relations between Jordan and Israel have remained strained since the shooting incident in July, when an Israeli security guard shot dead a Jordanian attacker and a Jordanian doctor caught in the cross-fire. While a multi-million-dollar energy deal between the two countries remains on track, other joint-ventures between the two nations have suffered. The third phase of a program to employ Jordanians in Israeli hotels has been placed on hold and a conference on water and energy cooperation scheduled for October in Jordan has been postponed.

The Guardian and the Daily Mail report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is supporting a new “Greater Jerusalem” law that that would absorb settlements in the West Bank into the State of Israel. The settlements are home to 125,000-150,000 Jewish citizens. The law, proposed by right-wing MKs, would result in 19 settlements around Jerusalem being included within the city’s municipal boundaries.

The Guardian reports on accusations by Australian MP (Federal Labour) Michael Danby, who has taken out an advertisement in the Australian Jewish News accusing ABC Middle East correspondent Sophie McNeill of being biased in her reporting of Jews and Palestinians. The accusation centres around McNeill’s reportage on the eviction of the Palestinian Shamasneh family and the stabbing of the Israeli Salomon family, claiming that she over-reported the first incident to the detriment of the latter. ABC’s director of news, Gaven Morris, has written to opposition leader Bill Shorten calling for him to discipline Danby.

As part of its Witness series, BBC News Online features the account of Maisoon Bashir, whose house in the Gaza strip was occupied by the IDF until Israel withdrew from Gaza in September 2005. Maisoon speaks to the programme about the experience of sharing her home with IDF soldiers.

The Daily Mail reports that Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman has said that Syrian President Bahar al-Assad is winning the Syrian civil war and urged the United States to do more to prevent Iran and Hezbollah gaining ground in Syria.

BBC News Online reports that US Secretary of Defence James Mattis has told the Senate that the Iran nuclear deal is in the US’s interest. The BBC notes that this contrasts with the view of President Donald Trump who has repeatedly condemned the deal.

All the Israeli media continues to dwell on the aftermath of the Las Vegas shooting, sharing in the grief and trying to understand why the attack happened.

The Israeli newspapers continue to focus on Palestinian unity talks. Maariv highlights Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s message to the two sides: “don’t miss this chance for peace”. The paper also notes frustration in Gaza that despite the talks, the Palestinian Authority has not yet lifted sanctions on the Gaza strip. Channel Ten news reported last night that Israeli officials feared that the reconciliation was liable to strengthen Hamas’s presence in the West Bank. Similarly, Israel Hayom assesses the real test of reconciliation will be the disarming of Hamas.

Maariv reports on Netanyahu’s visit yesterday to Maale Adumim where he pledged “we will build thousands of housing units here. We’ll add industrial zones and the necessary expansion to enable accelerated development of this city, which will be part of the State of Israel”.

Haaretz reports that Trump told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that Netanyahu was the harder side to convince in his efforts to reach an Israeli- Palestinian peace deal. However, the President remains optimistic he can reach a deal.

Yediot Ahronot publishes extensive details of the draft indictment against the Prime Minister’s wife for allegedly fraudulently claiming expenses from state funds worth £77,000 for food from expensive restaurants and private chefs. Sara Netanyahu will appear in court in two months.

Israel Hayom reports that Erel Margalit intends to resign from the Knesset. Margalit failed in his attempt to win the Labour Party leadership in the last two primaries and is not considered close to the new party leader Avi Gabbay.

Yediot Ahronot and Haaretz recount the tragic story of a  19-year-old  female soldier, who died in an IDF prison after fainting last week.  She was arrested two weeks ago for smoking marijuana. Following her arrest, she complained of chest pains and breathing difficulties. The army has opened an investigation into the incident.

Kan Radio news announced that the IDF closed the West Bank last night and shut the crossings to the Gaza Strip. The closure will be lifted and the crossings will open next Saturday after the holiday of Simhat Torah. The closure will be lifted only in humanitarian, medical and exceptional cases.