The Telegraph and Times both report on the spat this week between Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Economy Minister and Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett, over the future of West Bank settlers. Netanyahu’s office suggested that settlers could be given the option of living under Palestinian rule under a peace agreement, an idea Bennett sharply rejected, commenting that Netanyahu had lost his “moral compass.” Netanyahu gave Bennett an ultimatum to apologise or resign and eventually accepted a statement of regret from Bennett. The Times says that the disagreement reflects growing coalition tensions over peace talks, while the Telegraph highlights comments by Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz, who accused Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas of anti-Semitic incitement.

Meanwhile, the Guardian includes an in-depth analysis of US Secretary of State John Kerry’s peacemaking efforts between Israel and the PA. It focuses on the individuals in Kerry’s team and concludes that ultimately Kerry’s efforts are likely to fail.

The Guardian also says that Friends of the Earth Middle East are preparing to launch a campaign in Israel to raise awareness of the region’s water crisis.

The Times, Telegraph, Guardian, Independent, Metro, Independent i and Evening Standard all report that the actress Scarlett Johansson has stepped down as an ambassador for Oxfam. Johansson was criticised by pro-Palestinian activists for her appearance in an advert for SodaStream, which has a factory in the West Bank. However, Johansson robustly defended SodaStream’s activities, explaining that the factory provides equal employment for Palestinians and Israelis alike. However, yesterday she announced she would no longer be an Oxfam ambassador, citing a “fundamental difference of opinion in regards to the boycotts, divestment and sanctions movement.”

Commenting on the episode, Harry Phibbs in the Times says that it demonstrates exactly why charities should not be permitted to indulge in “ill-judged political posturing.” Writing in the Guardian, Vijay Prashad says that the incident highlights how Israeli actions should be “increasingly held up to scrutiny.” In the Financial Times, Gideon Rachman warns that calls to boycott Israel could thrive if Israel rejects a two-state solution during current peace talks.

The Times reports that the head of IDF Military Intelligence, Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi told a security conference in Tel Aviv this week that there are three Jihadist training camps in southern Turkey, from which Islamist fighters are prepared to fight in neighbouring Syria. The Independent and the online editions of the Guardian and Telegraph cover a Human Rights Watch report which accuses the Syrian government of destroying entire neighbourhoods in Damascus and Hama; as a form of collective punishment against supporters of opposition groups seeking the downfall of the Assad regime.

In the Israeli media, reverberations from this week’s sharp disagreement between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Economy Minister Bennett over the fate of West Bank settlers continue to be felt. Maariv suggests that during talks with Netanyahu, John Kerry has not ruled out the possibility of settlers remaining under Palestinian rule. Israel Hayom continues to portray the episode as a defeat for Bennett, leading with the headline “Great embarrassment in Jewish Home.” Sof Hashavua also offers commentary on the spat.

Meanwhile, Yediot Ahronot reports on a conference call between US special envoy to the peace talks, Martin Indyk and US Jewish community leaders. Indyk apparently said that Kerry’s framework plan is intended to extend the peace talks until the end of the year, by which time it is hoped that a permanent peace accord will be agreed.

The top story in Maariv focuses on the nascent campaign to succeed Shimon Peres as President when his term expires this summer. A poll indicates that Likud MK and former-Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin is supported by 24 per cent of the public, closely followed by Nobel Prize winner Prof Dan Shechtman whose candidacy is supported by 23 per cent. However, the new President will be chosen by a Knesset vote, not a public ballot.