The Independent i reports further clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinian youths yesterday at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The site, which is holy to both Jews and Muslims has become a flashpoint for violence in recent months. A group of Palestinians reportedly barricaded themselves in the al-Aqsa Mosque armed with firebombs and projectiles with the aim of targeting non-Muslim visitors, especially during yesterday’s opening day of the Jewish festival of Sukkot. Israeli forces entered the compound and clashed with the protestors, but succeeded in opening the site to visitors.

Several dailies cover yesterday’s clash of words between US President Barack Obama and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin over Syria at the opening day of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The Guardian, Independent, City AM, Independent i and the online edition of the Times all highlight Obama’s assertion that Syria’s President Assad cannot remain in power, while Putin said that Assad is the only power fighting ISIS. The Guardian also notes that Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani in his UNGA address claimed that US support for “inhumane” Israel leads to Islamist terror. Meanwhile, the Telegraph online covers Rouhani’s speech in more depth, primarily his assertion that Assad must remain in power to defeat ISIS.

The online editions of the Guardian and Financial Times both report that Obama and Putin met for an hour and a half following yesterday’s speeches. Despite their sharp differences, the meeting was said to be “frank” and “productive,” with Putin assuring that Washington and Moscow can work together for political change in Syria.

Writing in the Financial Times online, Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations comments that Putin is exploiting a Western vacuum in the Middle East in order to divert attention from Ukraine and a shrinking Russian economy.

In Syria itself, the Times online says that Russian-supplied weaponry, including munitions, are already being used by Assad’s forces against opposition groups.

In the Israeli media, yesterday’s public disagreement between Presidents Obama and Putin is covered prominently in Haaretz, Yediot Ahronot and Israel Hayom, all reporting the stark difference between the two world leaders’ approach to the Assad regime. Writing in Israel Hayom, Boaz Bismuth highlights the convergence of the Russian and Iranian positions on Syria, saying that both are looking to cast themselves in the role of humane world powers, masking their involvement in Syria as a fight against ISIS.

Another prominent story is the identity of Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan’s new choice as the next head of Israel’s police force. Erdan was last week forced to withdraw his offer to former-IDF Brigadier General Gal Hirsch, due to Hirsch’s involvement in the arms industry. However, Erdan remains determined to appoint someone from outside the police force to the role and both Israel Hayom and Haaretz cover his choice of current Shin Bet deputy head Roni Alsheich for the job.

Meanwhile, Israel Hayom, Haaretz and Ynet news all cover the continuing clashes at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, with fears that they could continue throughout the current week-long Sukkot festival. Israel Hayom highlights a new mobile protective wall which Israeli police used yesterday to protect themselves from objects hurled by rioters.