The Telegraph reports that the Settlers Council, the representative body of West Bank settlers has produced a spoof video directed at US Secretary of State John Kerry’s peace efforts and his understanding of the Middle East. The video clip comes as right-wing Israeli leaders have voiced criticism this week of Kerry’s contention that Israel could face increasing boycott efforts if peace talks collapse. The Independent i includes a brief item which reports that Swedish bank Nordea is reviewing its holdings in two Israeli banks over possible ties to West Bank settlements.

The Guardian online reports that Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister has said the Syrian government will attend the next round of Geneva peace talks and that the Assad regime’s stockpile of chemical weapons will be removed by 1 March. The Independent includes a detailed eye-witness account of fierce fighting in the Syrian city of Homs. Meanwhile, the Telegraph online says that a Briton has been killed in the Syrian violence, fighting for the extreme Islamist opposition group ISIS. The Times online reports that British ISIS fighters have been left confused over al-Qaeda’s announcement this week that it has cut ties with ISIS, which it accuses of seditious behaviour and spilling “forbidden blood.”

The Times reports that US President Obama will visit Saudi Arabia in a few weeks time in an attempt to smooth relations between the two countries. The Saudis are concerned that the Obama administration has largely disengaged from Syria and is allowing Iran to grow in strength and develop nuclear weapons. A Times editorial calls on Obama to reassure not only Saudi Arabia but its other regional allies, that the United States will not allow an Assad victory in Syria and will not permit a nuclear Iran.

The Guardian online reports that the Israel Antiquities Authority has launched an expanded digitalisation of the Dead Sea Scrolls, allowing anyone to view the historic manuscripts, shining light on Jewish life 2,000 years ago and the origins of Christianity.

In the Israeli media, Yediot Ahronot, Maariv, Israel Hayom and Haaretz all lead with a High Court ruling yesterday which ordered that the state halt payments to ultra-Orthodox seminary students refusing to respond to military enlistment orders. The ruling, a response to petitions from lobby groups, is also widely viewed as a message to the Knesset that it must complete the legislative process regarding a draft bill currently being considered. The bill aims to create a more equitable draft system, including far more comprehensive ultra-Orthodox enlistment. Both Yediot Ahronot and Israel Hayom lead with the headline, “No Enlistment, No Money.”

The death yesterday morning of IDF officer, Lt. Tal Nachman as a result of ‘friendly fire’ on the Gaza border is also widely covered. Nachman was mistakenly identified as a terrorist attempting an infiltration, in what Israel Hayom’s headline describes as a “Terrible accident.” Haaretz also covers the tragic story, while Yediot Ahronot includes comments from Nachman’s mother who said, “Stupidity killed my son.” Israel Radio news says that a team of experts headed by the director of the infantry training school Col. Mordechai Kahane has been appointed by the IDF to investigate the accident.