The Daily Mail reports that Israel has developed a new supersonic missile which is nearly impossible to intercept as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise. The air-to-surface missile, dubbed “the Rampage” after a popular video game, was manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Israel Military Industry Systems (IMI). According to its makers, the powerful weapon is equipped with a warhead, rocket engine and advanced navigation suit which allows for precision targeting at a lower cost than the nation’s existing arsenal.

The Times report two stars of  Miss Universe were reunited in Jerusalem, after Miss Iraq had to leave her home country amid death threats over a photo with Miss Israel. Sarah Idan was representing Iraq in last year’s contest in Las Vegas when she posted a photo with Miss Israel, Adar Gandelsman on Instagram. In the November post she wrote “peace and love from Miss Iraq and Miss Israel”. The image created horror and anger in Iraq, which has no diplomatic relations with Israel over what it views as the oppression of the Palestinian people. Idan fled to the US with her family after receiving death threats.

The Independent reports that the Deputy Mayor of the northern Israeli town of Afula has joined a demonstration calling for a house in the community not to be sold to an “undesirable” Arab-Israeli family. Approximately 150 people marched through the town’s streets on Wednesday afternoon to protest against the owners of a house in the Yizrael neighbourhood who decided to sell to Arabs. Flyers circulated before the protest called on Afula’s residents to “put a stop to this phenomenon… the sale of homes to those who are undesirable in the neighbourhood… from the beginning”.

The Independent has published a story in which journalist Robert Fisk speaks with Palestinians in Lebanon who are determined to return to their former homes. Fisk writes that, “for most of [those who fled] were convinced – or thought they knew – that they would return after a week or two and re-open those front doors and walk back into the houses many had owned for generations.” He spoke with Mohamed Issi Khatib in the Shatila Camp in Beirut who runs the “Museum of Memory” which contains artefacts from pre-1948 Palestine.

The Financial Times reports that UN officials are urging a Saudi-led coalition to stave off a sharp escalation of its campaign against rebels holding a Yemeni port for fear of triggering a human catastrophe. In a closed session on Thursday, members of the UN Security Council also pressed for Hodeidah port to be kept open, even as the coalition prepared to accelerate its campaign with an assault by land, sea and air, according to two people briefed on the meeting.

The Guardian published an opinion column by the chairman of the board of B’Tselem, David Zonsheine, who has written in response to the destruction of “the homes of the 173 Palestinians who live in the small shepherding community of Khan al-Ahmar, along with the school that serves 150 children from the area”. He writes that “last month, Israel’s high court of justice removed the last obstacle to this barbaric act of demolishing an entire community in order to forcibly transfer its residents and take over their land. Israel has announced that the land from which these Palestinians will be evicted will serve to expand the nearby settlement of Kfar Adumim.” He calls on the UK to take action and try to use its influence to prevent the destruction of the settlement.

The Guardian reports that forces loyal to the Yemeni government, backed by Saudi and UAE airstrikes, claimed on Thursday to have breached the first line of defences of Houthi rebels defending the strategic port of Hodeidah. The UAE claimed its operation, named Golden Victory, had reached an area within five miles of the airport, amid reports of terrified civilians trying to flee the city. The Hodeidah deep sea port on the Red Sea is the base from which badly needed food, water and medicine is distributed to more than 8m Yemenis, and all sides fear the fighting may result in the destruction of the port’s infrastructure, either by Houthi mines or airstrikes directed by the UAE.

The Guardian published a column by foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall which argues that repression in Iran is becoming more common and the actions of US President Donald Trump are partly to blame. This column comes in response to the arrest and jailing of Nasrin Sotoudeh, a leading Iranian human rights lawyer this week.

The Daily Mail via AP reports that the leader of Indonesia’s largest Muslim organisation has held a surprise meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Yahya Staquf, secretary general of the 60 million member Nahdlatul Ulama, is visiting Israel at the invitation of the American Jewish Committee, a U.S. advocacy group. Israel and Indonesia do not have diplomatic relations, and the visit has prompted protests in Indonesia. Staquf, an advocate of interfaith coexistence, met with several religious leaders this week. However, Thursday’s meeting with Netanyahu was not listed on his schedule.

The Daily Mail via AFP reports that FIFA said Thursday it has started disciplinary proceedings against the Palestinian Football Association’s chief, after he called for protest against Lionel Messi and his plan to play with Argentina in Jerusalem. “The FIFA disciplinary committee has opened disciplinary proceedings against the president of the Palestinian Football Association, Jibril Rajoub,” a spokesman for the world body said in a statement to the AFP. Its decision, he wrote, “came as a result of his statements, widely reported in the media, with respect to the international friendly match that was scheduled to take place on 9 June 2018 between Israel and Argentina.”

The Daily Mail via AP reports that an exhibit showcasing 100 years of fashion in the Holy Land is opening this week at Jerusalem’s Israel Museum. Timed to coincide with Israel’s 70th anniversary, “Fashion Statements: Decoding Israeli Dress” features over 150 outfits by local designers, ranging from the late 19th century to present day.

The Daily Mail via AP reports that a Palestinian man whose face was severely damaged by a tear gas canister that was shot into his mouth by Israeli troops during a border protest last week was allowed to leave Gaza on Thursday for treatment at a Jerusalem hospital. Haitham Abu Sabla, 24, spent three days on life support after being wounded during the protest along Gaza’s border with Israel last Friday.

In the Israeli media, Yediot Ahronot, Maariv and Israel Hayom  all prominently cover the threat of kite flying terror cells that threaten southern Israel emanating from the Gaza strip.  Yediot Ahronot claims, “the containment period is over: The IDF has changed its policy against people releasing incendiary kites and balloons from Gaza, and from now on it is expected to respond to anything that cause fires in the Gaza perimeter. Today the new policy will be put to the test, as the Palestinians have threatened to release thousands of incendiary kites as part of the riots near the fence on the first Friday after the month of Ramadan.”

Yediot Ahronot reports speculation that Prince William may visit the Western Wall during his visit to the region later this month.  Although the released schedule from Kensington Palace did not mention the Western Wall, the Rabbi of the Western Wall, Shmuel Rabinovitch confirmed to reporters that the British Embassy is examining adding the holy site to the visit’s schedule.

Maariv note the threat from ultra-Orthodox members of Knesset to oppose the new IDF conscription bill in its current format, and to withdraw from the government should it pass without their support. UTJ Faction Chairman MK Mozes, “The instructions we received were unequivocal—to oppose the new draft bill as it was consolidated in the Defence Ministry and to quit the coalition and the cabinet should it pass without us. If they introduce changes to the bill that make it dissimilar to what was presented, we will go back to the Council of Torah Sages and solicit their opinion.” Maariv also speculates that Netanyahu is again considering calling early elections, before former chief of staff Lt. Gen. (res.) Benny Gantz’s cooling off period ends.  However, “no one can say precisely when this cooling period is supposed to end. Sources close to Gantz have said it’s this November. More informed people say next February.”  Even if the cooling period does last until February, “Netanyahu could still call early elections over the draft bill, for example, or another fake crisis, and catch the Labour Party without Gantz.”

Maariv and Haaretz cover a new bill proposed by the Yisrael Beiteinu party that will be presented  to the Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Sunday.  The bill will forbid recording footage of soldier’s activities in the territories with the aim of “demoralising Israeli soldiers and residents” would be punishable by up to five years in prison. The bill is intended to prevent the use of video clips like those filmed by activists from B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence.