The controversy surrounding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled address to Congress two weeks before Israel’s general election in March continues to attract coverage. Netanyahu accepted the invitation from Republican Speaker John Boehner, which was issued without the knowledge of the White House, fuelling speculation that it could increase tension between Netanyahu and Obama. The Independent and Independent i both highlight Netanyahu’s comments to his cabinet yesterday in which he said it was his moral obligation to speak out against the Iranian nuclear threat wherever possible. The Guardian online also reports that White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough sought to diffuse tensions, appearing on all major American television networks to highlight the importance and strength of the US-Israel relationship.

The Telegraph online covers comments made on the controversy by Fox News anchors Chris Wallace and Shepard Smith, who both criticised what they termed a political move by Netanyahu, in an apparent deviation from the channel’s usual editorial stance.

The Telegraph online also reports that Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman yesterday called on his party’s supporters to distribute copies of Charlie Hebdo outside branches of the Steimatzky book store. Steimatzky had originally announced that it would sell copies of the French satirical weekly, but reversed its decision following objections from Israel’s Arab community.

The online editions of the Guardian and Times cover demonstrations in Egypt yesterday to mark the fourth anniversary of the uprising which saw the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak and were a major part of the Arab Spring. Both say that at least 17 people were killed in yesterday’s relatively small-scale demonstrations, which featured public displays of opposition towards current President al-Sisi, who ousted the Muslim Brotherhood from power in 2013.

In the Israeli media, the major item is once again the continuing fallout from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s upcoming address to Congress. It is the top story in Yediot Ahronot, Maariv and Israel Hayom. In Yediot Ahronot, Washington correspondent Orly Azulai says “Netanyahu’s English is excellent, but he doesn’t speak American … he forgot long ago how American values work,” while Nahum Barnea says that Netanyahu finds himself in “a classic dilemma: If he gives up the trip he will be considered a loser; if he insists he will take a beating.” Israel Hayom however highlights comments made by Israel’s Ambassador to the US and former Netanyahu advisor Ron Dermer, who yesterday defended Netanyahu’s decision to address Congress.

Another major item in Yediot Ahronot and Maariv is the signed affidavits by former employees of the Netanyahus testifying to their poor and demeaning treatment by the Prime Minister’s wife, Sara Netanyahu. However, Israel Hayom points the finger at Yediot Ahronot’s coverage of the story, saying that the publication has “crossed every red line.”

Meanwhile, Israel Radio news covers the approval yesterday of the Zionist Camp electoral list by the Labour Party convention. At the event, Labour leader Isaac Herzog insisted that nobody would teach him and his colleagues what Zionism is, while Hatnuah leader Tzipi Livni warned that Netanyahu is attempting to scare the public.

Israel Radio news also reports that the Likud Elections Committee will this morning begin a recount of votes to determine whether Tzipi Hotovely or Avi Dichter has secured the coveted 20th slot on Likud’s electoral list. The Committee originally overturned the result in Hotovely’s favour, but will today respond to Dichter’s appeal.