The Guardian online previews Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United States, which includes a meeting with US President Barack Obama at the White House today. The article predicts an awkward encounter with Netanyahu keen to prioritise tackling Iran’s nuclear programme and Obama eager for progress in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA).

The Financial Times says that although US Secretary of State John Kerry’s framework plan for final status talks between Israel and the PA will not be presented during Netanyahu’s visit, the moment of truth over whether peace talks will bear fruit is approaching. An editorial in the Financial Times says that by all accounts, Kerry’s plan includes generous terms for Israel which make it difficult for the PA to accept. However, the failure of peace talks is not in anyone’s interests, including Israel’s.

The Guardian, Telegraph, Independent, Times, Independent i and the online edition of the Financial Times all cover yesterday’s huge ultra-Orthodox protest in Jerusalem against a proposed bill which would reform military enlistment in Israel, including the mandatory draft of the vast majority of ultra-Orthodox seminary students. Hundreds of thousands joined yesterday’s peaceful protest, unusually including women, in a show of ultra-Orthodox unity against the draft legislation.

Meanwhile, the Telegraph reports that Lebanese Shi’ites are joining Hezbollah in increasing numbers to enlist in the fight alongside the Assad regime against Sunni Islamist opponents in neighbouring Syria. With Sunni Islamist groups having launched several attacks on Shia targets within Lebanon due to Hezbollah’s support for Assad, many Shi’ites are reportedly keen to fight back.

The Times online says tension is increasing over the recent kidnapping of five Iranian border guards by Sunni Islamists on its border with Pakistan. The incident has increased tensions not only between Iran and Pakistan, but between Iran and Saudi Arabia, who Tehran accuses of backing the group which carried out the attack.

In business news, the Telegraph and Independent both report that the Israeli gaming marketing company, XL Media is expected to float in London with an initial valuation of around £60million.

In the Israeli media, Yediot Ahronot, Maariv and Makor Rishon lead with yesterday’s huge ultra-Orthodox demonstration in Jerusalem against the military draft bill. In commentary on the protest, Nahum Barnea in Yediot Ahronot says the united face of ultra-Orthodox factions on display yesterday was impressive, but that the proposed legislation will nonetheless become law. In Maariv, Shalom Yerushalmi also notes the ultra-Orthodox unity over the issue, but contends that the proposed law includes enough loopholes to ensure that most will be able to continue evading enlistment.

Haaretz and Israel Hayom both lead with an interview given by US President Barack Obama to Bloomberg in advance of today’s White House meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu. Both emphasise Obama’s message that time is running out to secure a peace deal with the Palestinians. However, he also emphasised American support for Israel and his belief that Netanyahu can and wants to secure a peace accord. Maariv claims that United States officials are pessimistic over the prospect of presenting a framework plan for final status talks before the end of the month.

Meanwhile, Israel Radio news says Lebanese media is reporting that two rockets fired at Mount Hermon on the Israeli Golan Heights last week were not an overspill of the Syrian conflict, but a Hezbollah response to an alleged Israeli air strike on its targets last week.