The Telegraph and the online edition of the Guardian both report that Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin has publicly declared his opposition to the controversial so-called ‘Jewish State’ bill. The initiative seeks to enshrine Israel as a Jewish State, but critics say it would also denigrate the country’s minority communities. Rivlin questioned the purpose of the proposed legislation, said it could aid Israel’s critics and emphasised that Judaism and democracy are co-dependent foundations of the state.

The Times includes a report on draft legislation proposed by Likud MK Yariv Levin, which he says is designed to give government the tools to combat a recent wave of terror attacks mainly perpetrated in Jerusalem. Levin’s plan, which is also featured in the Telegraph online, includes giving authorities the power to revoke residency or citizenship of those convicted of terror offences, permit the demolition of the homes of terrorists and allow the arrest of those displaying symbols in support of terror. The Times report predicts that Levin’s bill, which has been criticised by several Israeli civil society groups, would be struck down by the country’s courts.

The Financial Times includes a feature on the impact of recent unrest on Israel’s economy, especially the tourism industry which it says has been hit hard by the tension. The third quarter, which includes the period of Operation Protective Edge, saw Israel’s economy contract for the first time in five years.

The Independent includes a report on a heated debate in the European Parliament, which decided to postpone a vote on recognition of a Palestinian state until next month. The vote was deferred after the Parliament’s left and right-wing groupings failed to agree on the motion’s language.

According to the Independent i, Egypt has temporarily re-opened the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip to allow stranded Palestinians to re-enter Gaza. Egypt abruptly closed the crossing after a huge terror attack on Egyptian soldiers in the Sinai Peninsula in October, which Egyptian authorities accuse Hamas of aiding. Meanwhile, the Guardian online reports that an Egyptian court has sentenced 78 boys aged between 13 and 17 to between two to five years in prison for participating in demonstrations calling for the return to power of the Muslim Brotherhood.

In the Israeli media, the ongoing coalition tensions especially regarding the so-called ‘Jewish State’ bill continue to be a focus of headlines. It is the top story in Israel Hayom, while Haaretz and Maariv highlight a Knesset debate yesterday during which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the draft legislation and its importance. Writing in Maariv, Ben Caspit says that the content of the bill is less important to Netanyahu than a fight with its opponents, including party leaders Tzipi Livni, Yair Lapid and Isaac Herzog. Caspit comments that “they, in their amateurism, not to say naivety, gave him [Netanyahu] his fight.”

Maariv also reports that a general strike is “on the way” over a disagreement between the Histadrut central workers union and the Finance Ministry over the minimum wage. Histadrut leaders said yesterday that if the issue wasn’t resolved, then a strike which could paralyze sections of the Israeli economy, would commence on 7 December.

Israel Radio News reports comments made by High Court of Justice Judge Salim Joubran at the State Attorney’s conference yesterday, during which he said that although the country’s Declaration of Independence calls for equality for all, in practice there are gaps in provision for Israeli Jews and those made for Israeli Arabs.