Significant coverage this morning is devoted in the UK media to the first day of US President Barack Obama’s visit to Israel and the region. Most publications highlight the visible warmth between Obama and Netanyahu, who have had a seemingly frosty relationship until now. The Independent and Telegraph calls the visit a “charm offensive,” while the Daily Express, Independent i, Metro and The Sun note Obama’s pledge of “eternal friendship” between the two countries and the “unbreakable bond” that exists between them. The Independent highlights public support for a two-state solution given by both Netanyahu and Peres, although the Evening Standard decries Obama’s failure to present a peace plan, while the Guardian says that among the smiles yesterday, there was “not much hope of progress” on a diplomatic breakthrough. The Independent, Guardian, Financial Times and The Sun highlight Obama’s public commitment yesterday to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and to further investigate allegations that the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons, which he described as a potential “game changer.”  The Times claims that Syria has moved to the top of the agenda in talks between Obama and Netanyahu. An editorial in the same publication says that Obama is facing a last chance to steer the region towards peace and must pull Iran back from the nuclear brink.

The Telegraph, Independent i and the Guardian all note small-scale Palestinian protests in Hebron and the controversial E1 area in the West Bank, at which demonstrators expressed opposition to Obama’s visit.

Meanwhile, the Times reports that Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday in the House of Commons, that the European Union’s reluctance to help arm Syrian opposition groups was reminiscent of the international community’s failure to prevent atrocities in Bosnia in the 1990s. The Telegraph and Independent say that there are calls on the United Nations to investigate claims that chemical weapons were used in Aleppo earlier this week.

The Israeli media this morning is similarly dominated by President Obama’s visit to the country. All emphasise the warm atmosphere which characterised the first day of the trip. Yediot Ahronot summarises the day with the headline “A Warm Embrace” while Israel Hayom similarly calls it “A Visit of Embraces.” Meanwhile, Maariv and Makor Rishon highlight Obama’s pledge yesterday not to allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, while Haaretz opts to note Obama’s more general vow to help protect Israel. Commentary surrounding the visit also focuses on the friendly nature of proceedings. Writing in Yediot Ahronot, Sima Kadmon says that the Israeli public, like small children, were won over by a “bit of informality, a joke or a gentle tease, a few words in Hebrew.” However, writing in Maariv, Shalom Yerushalmi notes that although Obama appears to have captured the hearts of Israelis, “we should make no mistake, there are no free gifts and no gestures without interests” and that there will be differences of opinion further down the line.

Israel Radio News notes that Obama will visit the Israel Museum this morning before travelling to Ramallah to meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Obama will then return to Jerusalem to deliver a public address.

Away from Obama’s visit, Makor Rishon reports that the IDF yesterday treated two Syrians who had been injured in fighting near the country’s border with Israel.