The Telegraph, Daily Mail, and Times all report on Israel’s support for an independent Kurdistan. Israel became the first state to officially endorse a Kurdish state when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel “supports the legitimate efforts of the Kurdish people to achieve their own state”.

BBC News Online, the Daily Mail, and PinkNews all report the story of Shas MK Yigal Guetta. Guetta, an ultra-Orthodox member of the religious Shas party, attended his nephew’s same-sex wedding two years ago. After his attendance was publicised, five rabbis accused Guetta of desecrating God’s name and demanded his resignation. The BBC reports that, in response to the criticism, Guetta decided to jump before he was pushed and resigned in an attempt to pre-empt being forced out by the party leadership. Guetta said he attended the wedding despite his opposition to gay marriage in order to make his nephew “happy”.

The Times and the Daily Mail report the decision by the Israeli supreme court that ultra-Orthodox Jews in Isreal must serve in the military or civil national service. The ruling has angered an influential voting block in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition.

The Guardian reports the fallout of  Yair Netanyahu, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s son, posting an antisemitic meme online. The meme depicted conspiratorial and antisemitic imagery and seemed to allege that billionaire George Soros, who is Jewish, was directing lizard people, the Illuminati and a global Jewish conspiracy that includes former Prime Minister Ehud Barak against the Prime Minister.

BBC News Online features a special report from it’s correspondent Quentin Sommerville on the plight of civilians in Raqqa. Sommerville describes the city as an “iron-clad death trap” and “absolute hell” for civilians.

The Daily Mail reports on Netanyahu’s visit to Colombia. Netanyahu pledged to strengthen ties in areas such as science and tourism.

Maariv assessed the recent decision by the High Court of Justice to cancel legislation that allows yeshiva students to avoid military or civil national service. Minister of Defence Avigdor Lieberman added his voice to the debate, declaring “anyone over the age of 18 must enlist… We’re definitely talking about service for everyone, not more first-class and second-class.  Every young person reaching the age of 18 has to either enlist or perform national service. It cannot be any other way. I don’t understand why a Haredi man can’t serve in the army. And if he doesn’t want to, then national service. There are enough challenges in any field”.

Yediot Ahronot includes an interview with MK Yair Lapid, who said: “I prefer the ultra-Orthodox position over the position held by Netanyahu and his ministers. Netanyahu and his ministers announced from the outset that they don’t believe in anything; they just want to hold onto the coalition. Now they’re either going to have to pass legislation similar to ours or the government will fall.”

Yediot Ahronot leads on “the combat soldier revolution”. The IDF has redefined the status of combat soldiers in an attempt to improve motivation to serve in a combat unit. Combat soldiers will now be classified into three groups. The first will be point soldiers – soldiers who do manoeuvers that endanger their lives by fighting in enemy territory. The second will be fighters – soldiers who are trained to function in an operational environment so as to use weapons to hit the enemy while placing their lives in danger. The third group will be soldiers that provide operational combat support. Other soldiers will belong to the rear support.  There will also be increased financial benefits.

Haaretz  and Maariv report that Shas MK Yigal Guetta will resign after a number of prominent rabbis demanded his party sack him for attending his nephew’s same sex marriage, though Israel Hayom suggest in the end he may not resign.

Kan Radio News reports on Netanyahu’s meeting last night in Bogota with the president of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos. Netanyahu expressed concern that Iran was looking to extend its influence in Latin America and that all countries should join together to prevent such expansion. The Colombian president thanked Netanyahu for cooperation with Israel and called Israel a friend and ally. He added that the two countries shared a mutual security philosophy.

Maariv reports that the Police Commissioner said the police questioning of Arnon Milchan was “significant”. Milchan was questioned in connection to case 1,000 – the gifts affair.

Haaretz includes a poll of American Jews showing they overwhelmingly disapprove of US President Donald Trump.  He is less popular than President Obama, even on Israel related issues.  Only 21 per cent viewed him favourably, whilst 77 per cent were unfavourable. The survey also shows a sharp increase in concerns about antisemitism.