The BBC reports that a University of Michigan professor has been criticised for declining to provide a recommendation letter, citing his support for an Israel boycott. John Cheney-Lippold turned down a student’s request for a reference after he learned it was to support an application to study in Israel. The academic says he supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement for human rights reasons only. The professor’s email was shared days later on social media by Club Z, a youth Zionist organisation based in California. Masha Merkulova, executive director of Club Z, described Prof Cheney-Lippold’s email as “bigotry and discrimination”.

The Telegraph, BBC and The Times report that Hezbollah has boasted the group now possess “highly accurate” missiles despite Israeli attempts to prevent it from acquiring such weapons. TheTelegraph reports that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah did not offer specifics on the precision weapons, but his comments prompted a reply from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who said: “if he confronts us, he will receive a lethal blow that he can’t even imagine.” The BBC reports that Nasrallah said that the dozens of Israeli strikes aimed at preventing it from acquiring rockets with highly accurate targeting capacity had failed because it had “already been achieved”.  The Times reports that Nasrallah said Israel’s efforts to cut smuggling routes through Syria had failed to stop Hezbollah from gaining advanced weaponry and warned they would be used in a future conflict should Israel threaten its bases in Lebanon. Nasrallah also said Hezbollah would maintain its paramilitary presence in Syria despite an agreement between Russia and Turkey to set up a demilitarised zone in the last rebel-controlled enclave, Idlib, to prevent the massacre of civilians.

The Independent and the Daily Mail report that an Israeli delegation has held discussions with Russian officials over the downing of a Russian plane. The Independent reports that Israel dispatched a high-powered military delegation to Moscow on Thursday to patch up relations after the deadly downing of a Russian reconnaissance plane on Monday – the Kremlin had pinned blamed on Israel. Moscow blamed Israeli jets launching an airstrike on Syrian positions for the mishap, accusing them of triggering the Syrian S-200 anti-aircraft system by flying in too close in an attempt to destroy a facility allegedly used by Iranians to facilitate the transfer of weapons to Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The Daily Mail reports that the Israeli army said in a statement that “The meetings were held in good spirits and the representatives shared a professional, open and transparent discussion on various issues.” Netanyahu expressed his “sorrow” to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Tuesday but insisted the Russian plane was shot down by “extensive and inaccurate Syrian anti-aircraft (fire)”. Putin has said the incident was the result of “tragic accidental circumstances,” but also warned Netanyahu against carrying out such operations in the future.

The UK Government has expressed its concern over the planned demolition of the village of Khan al-Ahma. Ambassador Karen Pierce, UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations, spoke at the Security Council Briefing on the Middle East Peace Process. Ambassador Pierce said that “The UK remains deeply concerned about the Israeli authorities’ planned demolition of the village of Khan al-Ahmar. Khan al-Ahmar is located in an area of strategic importance for the contiguity of a Palestinian state.” Ambassador Pierce also spoke about UNRWA and the current situation in Gaza. The full speech can be read here.

Reuters reports that the White House said that Trump will hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of South Korea, Egypt, France, Israel, Japan, and Britain next week during a gathering for the United Nations General Assembly.

All the Israeli media continues to focus on the aftermath of the downed Russian plane over Syria. Yediot Ahronot reports that Israel is concerned that Iran will attempt to exploit the strained relations between Israel and Russia to step up its shipments of advanced missiles to Hezbollah in the next few days, believing that Israel will not attack during this time so as not to further exacerbate the tension with Moscow.  The paper quotes high-ranking officials saying that Israel would attack any such shipments and said, “We don’t have the option of not taking action against such a threat.” Maariv includes a report from the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that reported yesterday that despite the tension with Russia, Prime Minister Netanyahu is taking steps to prevent advanced S-300 defence systems from reaching the Syrian regime. Israeli sources said they feared that Putin would provide Syria with the system, although they said the chances were low.

All the papers report Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah’s defiant speech yesterday. Yediot Ahronot noted, “Nasrallah also mocked Israel and said that its plot to assassinate him had failed.”  Israel Hayom leads with the response by Prime Minister Netanyahu saying,  “I heard the arrogant words that came from the direction of Hezbollah. This comes from the same man who said after 2006 that if he had known what Israel’s response would be to the abduction of three of our soldiers, he would have thought twice about doing it.  Then today I suggest that he think not twice but 20 times because if he confronts us he will receive a crushing blow that he cannot even imagine.”

Maariv and Haaretz both report that Israel is upgrading and reinforcing its nuclear sites amid Iranian threats to attack them. They quote the director general of the Atomic Energy Commission, Zeev Snir who said in a speech earlier in the week, “We cannot ignore the repeated and explicit threats, made my Iran and its proxies, to attack Israel’s nuclear sites. These outrageous threats require Israel to take action and continue to protect and defend its nuclear facilities. These facilities are constantly upgraded and reinforced, in line with IAEA safety guidelines, in order to withstand any attack.”

Yediot Ahronot reports that in the security cabinet meeting that was held on Sunday, senior IDF officials warned that the latest steps taken by the US administration against the Palestinian Authority did not serve Israel—and could exacerbate the tension on the ground.  Officials, while careful not to criticise the US administration directly, they voiced their concern about the American punitive measures, which included closing the Palestinian office in Washington and cutting hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to the PA, on the grounds that these measures would increase the humanitarian distress in the territories—and thereby increase the chance of the resumption of violence.  Meanwhile, the White House announced that US President Donald Trump will meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu next week during the UN General Assembly in New York.  President Trump will also hold discussions with leaders from the UK and Egypt as well as South Korea, France and Japan.

Kan radio news reports that IDF aircraft attacked a terror cell last night in the northern Gaza Strip that had released incendiary balloons into Israeli territory. Earlier, an explosive balloon exploded in Moshav Melilot in the Sdot Negev Regional Council. No one was injured. Yesterday, ten fires broke out in the western Negev following the release of incendiary balloons from Gaza.

Yediot Ahronot also reports on the latest developments in the Jerusalem mayoral elections as  Minister Naftali Bennett, chairman of the Jewish Home party announced yesterday his support for Jerusalem Affairs Minister Zeev Elkin from Likud for the post of mayor.   Bennett and Elkin agreed that Hagit Moshe, who has been a member of the city council until today on the Jewish Home ticket, would serve as Elkin’s deputy mayor if he were elected. Previously, on Yom Kippur eve, candidate Moshe Lion achieved a significant breakthrough by securing a statement of support from two of the prominent rabbis in Jerusalem’s Haredi communities—Degel Hatorah and Shas.  The paper also prominently covers Kulanu Minister and former Maj. Gen. Yoav Gallant joining the Likud. Furthermore, he declares he is “best suited to be defence minister.”

After several delays both Yediot Ahronot and Israel Hayom cover the inauguration of the new Jerusalem – Tel Aviv train line.  Prime Minister Netanyahu was accompanied by Transportation Minister Israel Katz, who declared the journey a “historic moment.”  The pair boarded the train at the new Yitzhak Navon Station in Jerusalem.  The connection between the two cities will be known as the King David Line. However it is not yet clear when it will open for the public, when it finally does open, the journey will take just under half an hour.

Maariv prominently covers celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey’s visit to Jerusalem.  They quote from his Instagram account, “First time in Jerusalem, and this place is crazy – crazy!” He also posted a video from the Old City. “Now we’re in the Christian quarter of Jerusalem, beautiful, beautiful.”