The Financial Times reports that a high-level emergency meeting of senior Israeli leaders was held to discuss combatting a recent wave of so-called ‘Price Tag’ attacks, acts of vandalism against Arab and Palestinian property. The report says that both Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich called for greater measures to tackle the attacks, including classifying ‘Price Tag’ attacks as terrorist incidents.

The Independent and Independent i both cover a Newsweek report this week, which claimed that anonymous American officials are furious at levels of alleged Israeli espionage against the United States, which they described as having “crossed red lines.” The report says Israeli officials have vehemently denied the allegations, but suggests that they are a factor in the delay over including Israel in the United States’ visa waiver programme.

The Guardian and Telegraph both report on a huge explosion which destroyed the Carlton Citadel Hotel in Aleppo yesterday, which was being used as barracks by the Syrian army. An Islamist group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that it had dug an enormous tunnel to carry out the operation which it said killed 50 people. The Times also prominently reports the bombing and says that those who carried it out were trained by Hamas, which has extensive experience of tunnel building for both smuggling and carrying out attacks.

Meanwhile, the online edition of the Guardian says that the Foreign Office is investigating the suspected deaths of two further UK citizens who were apparently killed while fighting in Syria for the Islamist opposition group ISIS.

In the Israeli media, Yediot Ahronot leads with a bill which will be brought before the Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Sunday; it would allow some murderers to be imprisoned for life without parole. The bill, which is spearheaded by legislators from Likud and Jewish Home, is apparently intended to apply primarily to those guilty of nationalistically motivated murders. However, the draft bill is reportedly opposed by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni.

Haaretz says Israel’s police and security agencies are concerned that ‘Price Tag’ attacks will be perpetrated intentionally during the upcoming visit of Pope Francis to Israel. Meanwhile, a court found insufficient evidence to continue to hold a suspect from the West Bank settlement of Yizhar who is accused of having attacked a mosque in northern Israel last month.

Israel Radio news says that in a speech last night, United States envoy to the recent peace talks, Martin Indyk said settlement building endangers Israel’s future as a Jewish state. He added that Palestinian applications to join international bodies and the subsequent Fatah-Hamas agreement to form a unity government were major factors in the breakdown of negotiations. Israel Radio news also says that US National Security Advisor Susan Rice made clear yesterday that a Palestinian government must recognize Israel, abandon violence and respect all previous agreements with Israel.