BBC News, The Independent, The Guardian and The Daily Mail report on the surrender of Syrian rebel fighters in Daraa to the Assad regime. The Independent reports that Daraa is known as “the birthplace of the Arab spring revolt” and that the city hosted some of the first anti-government protests in 2011.  BBC News reports that Syrian military, accompanied by Russian forces, entered the city yesterday and raised the national flag, according to Syrian state media. This victory for Assad is significant due to the “strategic and symbolic importance” of Daraa and the implication that this success comes in the wake of a string of surrenders and handover agreements by rebel-held villages and towns in the South.

The Daily Mail via AFP reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Israeli foreign ministry to “reprimand” EU envoy Emanuele Giaufret over allegations of interference in the passing of a “controversial clause” in the Nationality Bill. The Daily Mail reports that European diplomats have told Israeli lawmakers that ‘the law is discriminatory and against democratic principles”. Netanyahu’s office is claimed to have accused the EU of “interfering with Israeli legislation”.

Business Insider UK via Reuters reports on the Israeli Supreme Court’s decision to defer the demolition of the West Bank Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar by at least a month. The proposed demolition of village has provoked international condemnation due to the belief that the forced removal and relocation of the villagers is said to be a violation of international law. The Supreme Court has said it won’t rule on the issue until 15 August and has therefore deferred the proposed demolition.

The Times reports that Israeli police are being blamed for their “alleged inaction providing protection for Arabs”. The accusation is linked to the kidnapping of Karim Jamhour. The Times reports that a “demonstration was held outside Kalansua police station” following the kidnapping of Karim. It is believed that the boy is being held in Ramallah in the West Back. This has reportedly “emphasised the difficult situation endured by Israeli Arabs, who are officially prohibited from entering the area”.

Yediot Ahronot reports that Israel has demanded that Iranian forces and Iranian weapons systems must withdraw from of Syria. Israeli officials said that the deployment of missile batteries with a range of 700 kilometres in Syria indicated that the Iranians wished to threaten the State of Israel, rather than to fight ISIS. Yossi Yehoshua writes: “A day after the meeting between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, it has become apparent that the security establishment raised the demand to ask the Russians to keep the Iranians and Hizbullah at least 80 kilometres away from Israel’s border. This is as an interim measure until the Israeli demand is met for a full withdrawal of Iranian troops from Syria – a demand that the Russians have so far refused. The practical implication of the Israeli demand is that any Iranian military target found within this range will be hit.”

Noa Landau writes in Haaretz that Israel’s top priority is “getting rid of the missiles which Netanyahu says are aimed at Israel – weapons they brought there for the explicit purpose of attacking us”. Second is removing all pro-Iranian forces from Syria. While Netanyahu was in Moscow, government sources said the Russians have already removed Iran from southern Syria, to a distance of “tens of kilometres” from Israel’s border. But Israel is still demanding a full withdrawal.

In related news, Kan Radio News reports that the IDF attacked Iranian forces in Assad regime bases when it attacked targets after a drone infiltrated Israeli airspace on Wednesday.

Yediot Ahronot and Haaretz report that EU Ambassador to Israel, Emanuele Giaufret will be summoned for a reprimand at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem. It follows a report that he called Likud MKs and warned them of the consequences of the nationality bill saying it would “distance Israel from the accepted norms in democratic countries and that it reeked of racism”.

Kan Radio News reports on comments by Prime Minister Netanyahu at the state memorial ceremony for Zeev Jabotinsky. Netanyahu said that that he hoped to pass the Nationality Bill soon and that an overwhelming majority of the Israeli people wished to ensure that the state maintained its Jewish character for future generations to come. Yediot Ahronot reports that Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit is examining two alternative wordings for section 7b of the Nationality Bill, which caused a coalition crisis and prevented a majority from being secured in the Knesset for the Bill’s approval. This is the section which aims to permit Jews to establish communities in the State of Israel on the basis of religion and nationality.

Haaretz reports that the IDF warned Hamas of a harsh military response if the “incendiary kites and balloons” into Israel continue. On Thursday, the IDF Spokesman’s Unit said an Israeli aircraft had fired a warning missile near a cell that had launched incendiary balloons from the northern Gaza Strip, in an attempt to make clear that it would not continue its present policy of restraint for much longer.

The Times of Israel reports that the Supreme Court has further postponed the planned demolition of the West Bank Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar. The court rejected the state’s response to a petition from the village’s residents and ordered a hearing to be held on 15 August.

Kan Radio News reports that the Supreme Court will today decide the appeal from the State Attorney’s Office’s challenging the decision to release the minor charged with involvement in the murder of the Dawabshe family. The teen, who has been in remand for more than two and a half years is scheduled to be moved to house arrest and to wear an electric tag.

Maariv reports latest opinion polls that predict 33 seats for Likud, 18 for Yesh Atid, 11 for Zionist Union, 11 for the Joint List, 9 for the Jewish Home, 8 for United Torah Judaism, 7 for Kulanu, 7 for Meretz, 6 for Yisrael Beiteinu, 6 for the party led by Orly Levy-Abekasis and 4 for Shas. It also asked the question how the public would vote if Ayelet Shaked of the Jewish Home was running as the leader of the Likud. The paper writes that the polls “indicated that Shaked is currently the most popular politician in Israel” following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.