BBC News, the Guardian, Times, Sky News and Reuters report that the UK-flagged Stena Impero is preparing to leave Iran. Stena Bulk confirmed on Friday that it was preparing to leave Bandar Abbas port. Further information about the tanker’s release, amid reports that tracking data shows it is already moving, has not yet been confirmed.

The Guardian reports that the EU has warned Iran that it will withdraw from the JCPOA in November if Tehran takes new steps away from the deal. Iran has already taken three separate calibrated steps away from the deal, and has warned it will take a fourth in November unless the US lifts economic sanctions. The warning to Iran, pre-agreed by the three EU signatories to the 2015 deal, was made at a meeting on Wednesday, and makes clear that the agreement is now on life support. Reuters reports that the UN nuclear watchdog said Iran has committed another breach of the nuclear deal by enriching uranium with advanced centrifuges.

The Times and Reuters report that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request that his corruption hearing next week be televised has been turned down by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit. In a video online, Netanyahu said: “After three years of a flood of biased and partial leaks, it’s about time the public hears everything, also my side, in its entirety, without go-betweens, without censors, without distorters.”

BBC News reports that Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir has said all options, including a military response, are open after the 14 September attacks on two Saudi oil facilities, which it has blamed on Iran. While Saudi Arabia wanted to avoid war and escalation, Iran would be held accountable for the drone and missile strikes, al-Jubeir told the BBC. A US assessment claiming Iran was behind the attacks was backed up by the UK, France and Germany this week. Iran has denied any involvement.

Reuters reports that Iran has launched an inspection of security at its key Gulf oil and gas facilities, including preparedness for cyber-attacks, the Oil Ministry news agency SHANA said, following media reports of Washington weighing possible cyber-attacks on Tehran.

The Financial Times and Reuters report that the Pentagon will send 200 troops, a surface-to-air missile system and extra radar equipment to Saudi Arabia to help the kingdom boost its military defences following the 14 September attacks on two Saudi oil facilities.

In the Spectator, John R. Bradley argues that the alliance between the US and Saudi Arabia is over.

Reuters reports that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declined on Thursday to discuss the possibility of a US-Iranian prisoner swap after the US deported an Iranian woman who pleaded guilty to exporting restricted US technology to Iran.

The Guardian and Reuters report that the US has concluded that the Syrian regime used chlorine as a chemical weapon in May, marking the first confirmed violation of the ban on chemical weapons since President Trump authorised airstrikes in 2018 over Syria’s use of poison gas. “The Assad regime is responsible for innumerable atrocities some of which rise to the level of war crimes and crimes against humanity,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a news conference in New York.

BBC News reports that the Trump administration has said it will cut by almost half the number of refugees allowed into the country. The State Department says 18,000 people will be accepted under the refugee programme over the next 12 months – a record low. Places will be reserved for Iraqis who helped the US military, and members of persecuted religious minorities. Human rights groups have criticised the move, while former US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power described it as “an abomination”.

The Guardian and Financial Times report that International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has admitted that the UK had breached for a third time a court order banning the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia. Responding to an urgent question, Truss told the Commons that officials had discovered a further violation, 10 days after she was forced to write to the court of appeal admitting two other export licences had been unlawfully granted.

Reuters reports that preparations by Turkey and the US on a safe zone for refugees in north eastern Syria are on schedule, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying on Friday after previously accusing Washington of stalling.

BBC News reports that the wife of a British-Iranian dual national who has been jailed for 10 years in Iran says allegations he was a spy for Israel are “bogus”. Anoosheh Ashoori was convicted in July of spying for the Mossad. His wife, Sherry Izadi, said the claims were “preposterous” and urged the UK government to help free him.

The Times, Independent, Daily Mail and Reuters report that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said he bears “all the responsibility” for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. MBS continued to deny knowing of the murder in advance, however, blaming officials, according to quotes from a partial transcript released before the interview is broadcast next week.

Reuters reports that Saudi Aramco has chosen SMBC Nikko Securities as a book runner for its initial public offering (IPO), the first Japanese financial firm to grab a role in the mega deal.

The Financial Times argues that MBS risks destroying his own script by dictating the terms of the partial privatisation of Saudi Aramco rather than leave it to market forces.

The Guardian, Telegraph and Reuters report that Egyptian authorities have emphasised that they intend to use force to quell Friday’s planned demonstrations against President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi. More than 1,900 people have been arrested since protests broke out last weekend, and on Thursday the ministry of the interior “affirmed that it will confront any attempt to destabilise the country with decisiveness”.

The Guardian maintains that “while foreign leaders buddy up to Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, his people endure a brutal crackdown on rights”.

The Times and Reuters report that the “field marshal” who has been battling for five months to take Tripoli has called for peace talks. Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) launched an assault on the capital without warning in April. However, the battle has reached a stalemate. “Eventually at the end of this road we must sit down and have a dialogue […] The political process must have its place and there must be a comprehensive national dialogue, which would maintain the unity of Libyan soil.”

BBC News reports that the opening concert of Beirut Pride has been cancelled because of pressure from religious institutions and threats of violence. Clerics had complained to the Lebanese authorities, linking the festival to “the promotion of same-sex marriage and associating it with debauchery and immorality”. The opening evening will now be suspended until further notice.

The Times reports that several family members of a British-educated Iranian activist campaigning against the compulsory wearing of the hijab have been arrested. Masih Alinejad founded My Stealthy Freedom, an online movement in which women in Iran post photos of themselves without head scarves.

The Independent reports that thousands of women in Morocco have admitted to sex outside marriage and undergoing abortions to show solidarity with a 28-year-old journalist imprisoned for these crimes.

Reuters reports that the Afghani government has deployed more than 100,000 troops and police on Thursday to guard polling stations in a presidential election which the Taliban has threatened to disrupt with suicide bombings and rocket attacks.

The Jewish Chronicle reports that Krakow’s district court ruled on Wednesday that Chabad must be allowed back into the Izaak Synagogue. Armed guards had locked up the historic 17^th century synagogue on 1 July, after the Jewish Religious Community in Krakow (“Gmina”), which owns the property, claiming violations to their rental agreement.

BBC News, the Daily Mail and Reuters report that Saudi Arabia will open its doors to international tourists for the first time as part of a broader push to cut its economic dependence on oil. On Friday, the kingdom will launch a visa regime for 49 countries and relax strict dress codes for female visitors. Tourism Minister Ahmad al-Khateeb described it as a “historic moment”.

The Guardian reports that organisers of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar are close to a deal that would lead to alcohol being subsidised and more readily available during the tournament. However, they have urged England fans to “bridge the cultural gap” by being on their best behaviour if their team qualifies.

BBC News reports that US authorities have returned a stolen coffin to Egypt, two years after it was acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The 2,100-year-old coffin of a priest called Nedjemankh was featured in an exhibit housing artifacts from Egypt. The stolen antique was sold to the museum by a global art trafficking network, which used fraudulent documents.

In the Jewish Chronicle, academic Denis MacEoin discusses the debate surrounding the BDS movement.

In the Guardian, Saeed Kamali Dehghan interviews Majd Mashharawi, a Palestinian entrepreneur “bringing power to Gaza”: “Energy blackouts had been a feature of daily life for almost as long as [he] could remember. Then a visit to Japan changed everything”.

In the Jewish Chronicle, Colin Shindler examines whether Lubavitch’s support for Jewish Power stopped the right-wing bloc winning last week’s Israeli election.

In the Jewish Chronicle, Melanie Phillips argues that “Israeli Arabs need better representation. It would be a great advance if they were to participate in Israeli politics rather than shun it. They can’t do so, however, through racist leaders who want to destroy Israel”.

The Telegraph examines how football can build bridges in the Middle East: “Unlike so much about Israel and Palestine, at least football is not a matter of life and death. Rather, it’s a cause for fresh hope”.

 

Senior IDF officer warms of major escalation with Iran 

In an interview in Israel Hayom, Israeli military intelligence research chief, Brig-Gen Dror Shalom, warned that Iran could fire missiles at Israel like the ones it launched at Saudi Arabian oil facilities on 14 September. He also expressed concern about the progress Iran is making with its nuclear programme,

Netanyahu’s pre-trial hearing will not be televised  

All the Israeli media report that the Attorney General has rejected Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for his pre-trial hearing to be broadcast live. Netanyahu said: “The time has come for the public to hear everything” but the Attorney General’s office said no hearing in any suspect’s case is or ever was conducted publicly.

Israeli minister accuses boycott movement of antisemitism

Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs, Gilad Erdan, published a new report in Brussels yesterday that he said shows examples of BDS activists using antisemitic content in their campaigns. Speaking alongside US Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism Elan Carr, he urged European politicians not to fund groups with links to the BDS movement.

Likud reach out to Lieberman 

Maariv newspaper reports that Likud leaders have unofficially reached out to Avigdor Lieberman to urge him to join them in coalition. They apparently offered a deal that included a rotating prime minister arrangement, becoming acting prime minister and a path to return to the Likud as a senior party leader. Lieberman refused to discuss the proposal and said he would not join a narrow government.

Union leader encourages Labour Party to negotiate with Likud 

In an interview on Army Radio Histadrut labour federation chairman Arnon Bar-David called on Labour leader Amir Peretz to open coalition negotiations with the Likud party. Peretz said he has no intention of joining a government led by Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Annual census reveals there are now over 9 million Israelis

The Central Bureau of Statistics has announced that Israel’s population is now 9,092,000 and is expected to reach 10 million in 2024.  There are 6.744 million Jews, 74.2 percent of the total population, and its 1.907 million Arabs represent 21%, with 4.8% other minority groups – 441,000 people.  Since last year the population grew by 184,000, a 2.1% increase, a similar change to previous years. Israelis gave birth to 196,000 children in the past year, while 50,000 citizens died. Some 38,000 people moved to the country, of whom 35,000 were Jewish immigrants who received citizenship.