The aftermath of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress on the emerging nuclear deal with Iran is widely covered. The Evening Standard notes US President Obama’s initial reaction, in which he claimed there was “nothing new” in what Netanyahu presented. The Financial Times says that following Netanyahu’s speech, there is already a Congressional dispute over new Iran legislation. Apparently, ten Democrat senators, who are considered hawkish on Iran, are inclined to vote against a bill restricting a potential nuclear deal, due to Republican tactics over the legislation.

The Independent, Independent i and the online editions of the Guardian and Telegraph all round up responses to Netanyahu’s speech. They all highlight comments made by Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog, who criticized the potentially negative impact that Netanyahu’s visit will have on US-Israel relations, effectively distancing Israel from the negotiating process with Iran. Each article also summarises the response in the Israeli media, highlighting criticism of Netanyahu from local commentators. The Telegraph online notes the latest poll yesterday evening, which indicated that Netanyahu’s Likud Party enjoyed a modest bump following the speech, putting them neck and neck with Zionist Union.

Both the Metro and Daily Express report that the BBC’s Middle East Editor Jeremy Bowen has been criticised for tweeting during Tuesday’s Congressional address that Netanyahu was playing the “Holocaust card.”

The Independent online reports that controversial firebrand Arab MK Haneen Zoabi yesterday had orange juice thrown on her at a public cross party election event. Zoabi has previously been suspended from Knesset activity due to her controversial statements and activity.

The Guardian online covers the announcement earlier this week by Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence agency that three Israelis have been arrested for knowingly supplying Hamas with metal and other materials which can be used to strengthen its military infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. The suspects are being charged with assisting the enemy in wartime.

The Telegraph online reports that Syrian rebels have attacked the Syrian army’s intelligence headquarters in Aleppo, leaving 34 people dead and ending hopes of a localised ceasefire.

In the Israeli media, the impact of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Congressional address is the main story. Israel Hayom devotes several pages to reactions and responses to the speech, headlining a poll which indicates that 41 per cent of Israelis feel they can rely on Netanyahu to combat terror, with just six per cent saying the same about Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog. The main story in Maariv is Netanyahu’s insistence that his message was well received. Meanwhile, Haaretz says that senior US officials maintain that Netanyahu has caused a friction in bilateral relations and it is incumbent upon him to make amends.

The top story in Yediot Ahronot is research which has exposed significant salary gaps between men and women in Israel. The story coincides with International Women’s Day.

There is also commentary on the diplomatic relations between Israel and the United States from former-IDF general Yisrael Ziv, who contends that Netanyahu’s speech may or may not have an impact on the nuclear deal with Iran, but “will certainly not help achieve the strategic understandings with the administration in Washington that Israel must achieve at the present juncture in time.”

Israel Radio news says that Israeli diplomats and representatives across the world will today cast their votes for the general election. Their ballots will be transported to Israel and only counted on election day.