The i reports that the United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU) have both condemned Israel’s announcement on Wednesday approving the construction of 2,500 new homes in the West Bank. The article quotes an EU statement saying that the plan would “further seriously undermine” a two-state solution, while the UN Secretary General said that there is “no Plan B” to a two-state solution.

An editorial in the Financial Times says that although President Donald Trump’s apparent tolerance of Israeli construction in the West Bank “might delight hardline Zionists in both Israel and the US. Ultimately it will work against them” as demographically “Israel’s founding principles of being both Jewish and democratic would become incompatible” if it were allowed to continue.

The Independent covers reports in the Israeli media that an additional police probe is underway against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A criminal investigation into his dealings with prominent businessmen is already being carried out. It is now being suggested that police are investigating a deal to purchase German submarines, which was allegedly influenced by the business interests of Netanyahu’s lawyer.

The i reports that former Chief Rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger will serve and three and a half year prison term for corruption, having agreed a plea bargain with Israeli authorities.

The Daily Mirror reports on a case covered by the Times of Israel, in which a Canadian man committed suicide, having lost £183,000 to what it calls the “scam” of binary options companies with “websites operating mainly out of Israel”.

The Times says that Syrian rebel leaders have been invited to Moscow to discuss this week’s peace talks in Kazakhstan. The report says that Russia intends to “persuade them to accept a constitutional settlement for Syria” which would “include elections in which it was assumed Assad would take part”.

In the Israeli media, the top story in Maariv and Haaretz is a stormy session in the Knesset yesterday, in which Prime Minister Netanyahu hit back at claims of corruption. He insisted that the only gifts he had taken were from personal friends, which is perfectly permissible. He also took aim at opposition attempts to limit the media, in relation to allegations he struck a quid pro quo deal with the publisher of Yediot Ahronot.

Commenting on yesterday’s session, Ben Caspit  writes in Maariv: “He [Netanyahu] gave a good performance in the Knesset yesterday, as usual, but he projected weakness, distress, and defensiveness. Netanyahu is fighting, he has no intention of conceding anything without a fight, and yesterday he tried to reboot his authority and image as an all-powerful magician whose every order is obeyed. It’s uncertain whether he succeeded, but he did not fail entirely.”

The top item in Yediot Ahronot is further leaked transcripts from security cabinet meetings during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. The leaks come ahead of the expected publication of a State Comptroller report into the performance of political leaders during the conflict. The latest transcripts show Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, who was finance minister at the time, criticising Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett for his detailed questioning of military plans, saying “this is not a forum of battalion commanders”.

Channel Ten news reported last night that Interior Minister Aryeh Deri has in principle agreed to grant refuge to 100 orphaned Syrian children. They will apparently be given the status of temporary residents and subsequently permanent residents, afforded all the protections of Israeli citizenship. Should the scheme prove successful, Israel would apparently consider taking in relatives of the children too.

Israel Radio news says that a Palestinian man tried to run over Israelis standing at a bus stop in the West Bank last night. No one was injured and soldiers shot and killed the attacker.