The Telegraph and Times both cover comments made by US President Barack Obama ahead of yesterday’s White House meeting with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which he urged Netanyahu to seize the chance of peace. The Guardian online reports on yesterday’s meeting itself, noting that Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s desire for a lasting peace and the need for the Palestinian Authority (PA) to recognise Israel as a characteristically Jewish state.

The Independent covers figures released yesterday by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics which detailed that construction began on 2,534 new housing units in the West Bank in 2013, compared to 1,133 during 2012. However, the number of completed homes was much lower.

The Guardian online reports that Israel’s Air Force last night carried out a strike in the northern Gaza Strip which prevented the imminent threat of a rocket launching squad firing rockets at Israeli civilians. Two suspects were killed in the operation.

The Independent i notes that International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Yukiya Amano said Iran has made progress in reducing its stocks of highly enriched uranium, but that there is still much work to be done.

The Times online says Islamist opposition group ISIS, which has made recent military gains in Syria and clashed with fellow Islamist groups, is demanding that Christian residents of the town of Raqqa pay them a protection tax and refrain from publicly displaying religious symbols or practice.

In the Israeli media, the main item is Prime Minister Netanyahu’s meeting with US President Obama yesterday in Washington. Yediot Ahronot highlights Obama’s statement that the time has come for tough decisions to be taken for the sake of peace. Haaretz and Makor Rishon focus on Netanyahu’s contention that Israel has consistently fulfilled its obligations regarding peace agreements and that the Palestinians must now play their part. Israel Hayom and Maariv include headlines highlighting Netanyahu’s comment that Israel desires real peace and not a piece of paper. Commenting in Yediot Ahronot, Shimon Shiffer says Obama’s assessment that peace is still possible but unlikely, is most probably an accurate analysis.

Makor Rishon highlights a meeting yesterday in Ramallah between Meretz leader Zahava Gal-On and PA President Mahmoud Abbas. Gal-On reported that Abbas demanded Israel either introduce a housing construction freeze in the West Bank or free additional Palestinian prisoners beyond those already scheduled for release as a pre-condition to extending peace talks beyond their original April deadline.

Yediot Ahronot also highlights yesterday’s report by the Central Bureau of Statistics which noted a rise in West Bank housing starts during 2013. The report includes criticism of government settlement policy from various opposition leaders, including Labour leader Issac Herzog who said “12 years of slavery are needed to buy an apartment in Israel, unless you live beyond the Green Line—this is not a movie, this is reality.”

Meanwhile, Israel Radio news reports this morning on the Israeli Air Force strike last night which prevented rockets being launched from Gaza against Israeli citizens, but which killed two Palestinians who were suspected of being part of a rocket launching squad.