The Times reports that Israel’s government has apparently approved a Defence Ministry plan to reinforce the border fence with Jordan, south of the Syrian border, in order to protect against potential terror infiltrations. Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994 and have since enjoyed a mostly warm relationship, with the common border almost entirely quiet. It is thought that the two countries cooperate closely on security matters. However, the report notes that earlier this week, Israeli authorities seized 20 pistols, five M-16 assault rifles, and other weapons as part of an operation halting such smuggling from Jordan into Israeli territory.

The i covers Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat’s decision not to attend today’s gay pride parade in the city. Barkat emphasised that he fully supports the right of the march to go ahead and that the municipality will do everything possible to make that happen. However, Barkat said that he does not wish to be “part of something that offends the ultra-Orthodox public and the national-religious public”. The parade is invariably a point of tension with some members of the religious public in the city.

The Guardian online reports the Knesset decision late Tuesday night to approve a new law, which will in theory allow MKs to dismiss a colleague for incitement to violence or racism, and support for armed conflict against Israel. Critics say that the legislation sullies Israeli democracy. However, with a three quarters majority needed to activate the law, the article says it “could prove to be more symbolic than practical”.

The Independent online says that Israel’s Army Radio has been sharply criticised by Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Culture Minister Ayelet Shaked for broadcasting a piece on iconic Palestinian writer Mahmoud Darwish, whose writing was often highly critical of Israel. The piece was part of a series called “fundamental Israeli texts,” which Army Radio said has covered a wide variety of writing.

Meanwhile, the Times online reports that in Syria, the Islamist group Nusra Front is facing internal division over whether to remain an affiliate of al-Qaeda. Some say that many in the group are motivated by opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, rather than affinity with al-Qaeda.

The Guardian online says that the Foreign Office has updated its travel advice to Iran, warning UK nationals and especially dual UK-Iranian nationals of the risk of arbitrary arrest. A young mother, herself a dual UK-Iranian, is currently being held in an Iranian prison over unclear allegations, having been detained returning to Britain with her infant daughter.

In the Israeli media, the top story in Yediot Ahronot and Haaretz, is the opposition of coalition partners Kulanu head Moshe Kahlon and Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett, to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to postpone the creation of a new public broadcasting corporation by at least a year. Bennett suggested that Netanyahu is trying to muzzle the media. Writing in Yediot Ahronot, Sima Kadmon suggests that Netanyahu does not approve of the choice for CEO of the new authority, saying that “if someone else to Netanyahu’s liking were to be appointed instead—‎we’‎d see just how quickly the corporation would begin to operate.” However, Israel Hayom and Israel Radio both report that Netanyahu noted many of the critics supported an effort to effectively close Israel Hayom.

Another item regarding press freedom is the top story in Maariv. Apparently, workers at Army Radio fear that the station may be closed, after Ministers Lieberman and Shaked condemned the decision to broadcast a programme on the writings of Mahmoud Darwish.

Meanwhile, the top story in Israel Hayom, which is also a major item in Yediot Ahronot is today’s gay pride parade in Jerusalem. Haaretz says that 2,000 police officers will be on duty. The event has proven to be a flashpoint in the past, with 16-year-old Shira Banki stabbed and murdered at last year’s event by an ultra-Orthodox extremist.