The Independent and Independent i both report that a Palestinian man was shot and reportedly killed by Israeli soldiers at the border of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip yesterday. Palestinian sources claim the man was simply collecting scrap metal. while Israeli reports say that the man was suspected of tampering with the border fence and was repeatedly told to stop before shots were fired. There has recently been a spike in explosive devices targeting Israeli patrols along the Gaza border.

The Times says that actress Natalie Portman is making her directorial debut filming a biopic of Israeli author Amos Oz in Jerusalem and that some local ultra-Orthodox residents have objected to the filming in neighbourhoods in which they live.

The Telegraph says that British photographer Rankin has expressed regret over comments made in an interview published in yesterday’s Independent. Rankin claimed that actress Scarlett Johansson had little choice but to support SodaStream in the furore over its West Bank factory, because of a powerful Jewish lobby in the US entertainment industry. He said that “in America, the Jewish zealots are so powerful” and claimed that those who oppose their views are blacklisted. However, according to the Telegraph report, Rankin has apologised for any offence caused and said his comments were “glib” and not his “official” position.

The online editions of the Guardian and Times both report that police are searching the home of a Manchester man reportedly killed fighting with Islamist opposition forces in Syria. Earlier this week it emerged that a man from Crawley is suspected to have killed himself in a suicide bomb attack in Syria. In Syria itself, the Times online says Syrians are being killed at a faster rate since peace talks in Geneva resumed three weeks ago than at any other point during the Syrian Civil War. However, writing in the Guardian online Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander says that although progress in the Geneva talks between Assad regime officials and opposition representatives is slow, they represent the best hope of progress.

The online editions of the Guardian, Times and Telegraph all report that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin endorsed the Presidential candidacy of Egypt’s military ruler General al-Sisi. Putin’s comments came during a meeting in Moscow with al-Sisi who is looking to tie up a huge arms purchase from Russia. The developments are seen as a further sign that Egypt is moving away from the United States and that Russia is looking to reassert influence in the Middle East.

In the Israeli media, Maariv leads with unverified claims that Justice Minister and chief peace negotiator Tzipi Livni urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu two weeks ago to replace Jewish Home with Labour or even ultra-Orthodox parties in the coalition government. Livni apparently said she would be prepared to accept some ultra-Orthodox demands on various issues if it would bring about support for a peace agreement.

Meanwhile, Sof Hashavua reports prominently on a large right-wing demonstration in the controversial E1 area of the West Bank near Ma’aleh Adumim. The protestors, including several ministers and MKs from Likud-Beitenu and Jewish Home called on Prime Minister Netanyahu to resist international pressure and to build homes in E1.

Israel Hayom leads with an opinion poll regarding Israel’s next President with the term of incumbent Shimon Peres due to end in the summer. The poll indicates that 72 per cent of Jewish Israelis prefer a President selected by the public, rather than the current system where the President is chosen by the Knesset. With several candidates having recently thrown their hat in the ring, the poll indicates that the most popular candidate among the public is veteran Likud MK Reuven Rivlin, closely followed by Nobel Prize laureate, Prof Dan Shechtman.