The Times and Independent both report that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu risks losing next Tuesday’s general election. The Times interviews a number of traditional Likud Party voters who are intent on voting elsewhere this time round, concluding that Likud is “losing its grip on power.” The Independent suggests that economic issues are the key to voter dissatisfaction, with disillusionment over the rising cost of living and in particular housing.

Both the Telegraph and Guardian follow Joint Arab List leader Ayman Odeh on the campaign trail and, profiling his rise to prominence and an energised Arab public ahead of next week’s election. Polls suggest that the Joint Arab List could be the Knesset’s third largest faction and that in the event of a unity government, Odeh could be the leader of the opposition. Odeh tells the Guardian that his main goal is to help oust Netanyahu from power.

The Metro reports that Israel has further relaxed restrictions on the Gaza Strip and this week imported tomatoes and aubergines. Israel has taken a range of measures to ease movement and conditions in Gaza during the past several weeks.

The Guardian online says that major international powers are quietly preparing a United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution which would enable sanctions on Iran to be eased if a nuclear deal is agreed between Tehran and the P5+1 forum (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany). Such a resolution could complicate any attempts by US Congress to strengthen the current sanctions regime. The Telegraph, Times and the online edition of the Guardian all report comments made by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, who called the United States “deceitful and back-stabbing” in the wake of a letter penned by 47 Republican senators warning that any nuclear agreement signed by Washington could be nullified when President Obama leaves office.

Writing in the Daily Express, Douglas Murray condemns the hatred directed at Israel on UK campuses. In particular, he highlights a recent debate at the Cambridge Union and an upcoming 3-day symposium at Southampton University, which questions Israel’s right to exist. Murray concludes that those who support such views are “fringe weirdos” in wider society but find acceptance and are given a platform only on campuses.

In the Israeli media, Yediot Ahronot and Maariv publish the last polls which will be conducted ahead of Tuesday’s election. Both polls indicate that Zionist Union holds a four-seat lead over Likud and that the Joint Arab List will be the third largest party, although Maariv places them neck and neck with Yesh Atid. The Maariv poll also suggests that 72 per cent of Israelis believe that the country needs a change.

This morning’s dailies also reflect on interviews which Netanyahu gave yesterday to Channel One and Channel Two, while Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog was also interviewed. Netanyahu admitted that he needs to do more to combat the high cost of housing while Herzog set out three priorities – housing, the cost of living and Israel’s relations abroad. Commenting in Yediot Ahronot, Sima Kadmon summarises saying that Netanyahu’s interviews comprised a “last desperate attempt yesterday to fight the polls and prevent a further deterioration in the Likud’s standing,” while Herzog was more cautious as he doesn’t wish “to spoil what has already been gained, or to spoil what could still be gained.”

In other news, Israel Radio reports that US Secretary of State John Kerry will attend an investment conference in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh where he will meet with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas. The two leaders will apparently focus their discussion on the PA’s current financial difficulties.