The Telegraph offers an overview of US Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to the region, which got underway yesterday at a late-night meeting in Jerusalem with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The report describes Kerry’s latest visit, his fifth to the region since March, as a “last push” to bring Israeli and Palestinian leaders together for peace talks.

Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby’s current visit to the region is covered by the Guardian and the Times who both say that he has faced criticism from Palestinian Christians for failing to adequately reach out to their community during his trip, which did not include a visit to Bethlehem. Meanwhile, the news that the McDonald’s franchise in Israel has declined the offer to open a branch in a new shopping centre in the Israeli West Bank town of Ariel is covered in the Guardian, Independent i and the online editions of the Times, Independent and Telegraph. The franchise owner is a founding member of the anti-settlement organisation Peace Now and says that his businesses do not operate in the West Bank.

In the online edition of the Telegraph, Damien McElroy says that leaked CIA plans show that the United States will begin distributing arms from Jordan to specially vetted Syrian opposition groups within a month. The Financial Times online reports claims by Syria’s senior economics minister that the country’s economy is being propped up by Iran, Russia and China.

The Guardian online previews mass protests in Egypt, scheduled for Sunday, against the rule of President Mohammed Morsi. However, according to the report, Morsi’s supporters are also expected to mobilise en masse while the army is prepared to step in should serious civil disorder occur.

The Financial Times online reports on deep concerns among Sunnis in Lebanon that the Lebanese army has become too close for comfort towards Hezbollah, with the two having reportedly fought alongside each other in Sidon earlier this week to root out a radical Sunni cleric.

The top story in the Israeli media is John Kerry’s visit to the region. Haaretz and Sof Hashavua both report that Kerry met for a working dinner yesterday with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Maariv says that Kerry is hoping that he can at least broker an agreement for a future meeting between Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas. Meanwhile, Yediot Ahronot says that Abbas is insisting on a reference to the 1967 borders in any American opening statement for negotiations, an idea rejected by Netanyahu who wants it to mention recognition of Israel as a Jewish State.

Meanwhile, Israel Hayom and Yediot Ahronot highlight comments made yesterday by IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, who figuratively said that the flames are licking the robe of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. With Hezbollah suffering losses from its’ heavy involvement in the Syrian civil war and facing criticism in Lebanon itself, Gantz indicated a belief within the IDF that Hezbollah is in a state of weakness.

Maariv says that secret meetings have been held between officials from Hamas and four European Union (EU) countries, in an effort to have Hamas removed from the EU’s list of terror organisations. The article says that Israeli officials are furious over the discussions.