The Times, Telegraph and Guardian all cover the imminent appointment of Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Lieberman as Israel’s Defence Minister. It follows a dramatic turn of events on Wednesday, in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s advanced coalition talks with opposition leader, Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog ended, only for Netanyahu to swiftly turn to firebrand right-wing leader Lieberman to join his government. Lieberman has previously served as Foreign Minister under Netanyahu.

The Telegraph emphasises that Lieberman is a long-time resident of a West Bank community. The Times says that Netanyahu’s sharp change of direction “wrong-footed” not only Herzog but also former-Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is said to have played a significant role in trying to bring Netanyahu and Herzog together. The Guardian covers comments made by current Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon, who is set to be replaced by Lieberman. Ya’alon said yesterday that “We need to steer the country in accordance with one’s conscience.”

Elsewhere in the region, the Times online says that Russia is deepening its military presence in Syria, two months after announcing that it was withdrawing the bulk of its forces from the country. The Guardian online covers rare polling in Syria, which indicates that 75 per cent of Syrians believe that a political solution is the best way to end the civil war, while 60 per cent believe that ISIS’ influence has decreased over the past six months.

Writing in City AM, Mark Wallace outlines five reasons why investing in Iran is too great a risk for British firms. He says that these include the reputational risk of being associated with a country, which is the “world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.”

In the Israeli media, the top story is the continuing negotiations which are expected to result in Yisrael Beitenu joining the government and the party’s leader Avigdor Lieberman becoming Defence Minister. It is the top item in Yediot Ahronot, Haaretz, Maariv and Israel Hayom. Yediot Ahronot says that a potential sticking point in the talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party may be Lieberman’s wish to introduce the death penalty for terrorists. Meanwhile, Israel Radio news and Israel Hayom both report that senior Yisrael Beitenu MK Orly Levy-Abuksis has announced that she is leaving the party, over its failure to advance a social welfare agenda during the coalition talks. She will remain as an independent Knesset member. Meanwhile, Sofa Landver is set to become Yisrael Beitenu’s second minister if the coalition agreement is finalised, taking the Immigrant and Absorption portfolio.

Israel Radio news also says that current Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon spoke yesterday with Netanyahu, but that no mention was made of an offer for Ya’alon to become Foreign Minister in the event that Lieberman does join the government. Zionist Union head Isaac Herzog yesterday called on Ya’alon to join his party.

Another major story is the EgyptAir plane crash yesterday, which is covered prominently in Yediot Ahronot, Maariv, Haaretz and Israel Hayom.  Most reports speculate that the incident was a terror attack. Israel Radio news says that Prime Minister Netanyahu telephone Egypt’s President al-Sisi to offer his condolences on behalf of the country.

Israel Radio news also reports that France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault confirmed that a planning meeting for a multi-lateral initiative to kick-start Israeli-Palestinian peace talks will take place on 3 June. Ayrault met with US Secretary of State John Kerry on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels yesterday, where Kerry confirmed that he will attend the meeting.