A variety of articles this morning preview Pope Francis’s upcoming visit to Israel and Palestinian areas of the West Bank which begins on Sunday. The Guardian says campaigners hope that the Pope’s visit will lead to more openness over the Vatican’s secret Holocaust-era files, which the pontiff has previously indicated should be released more publicly. In an opinion piece in the Guardian, Paul Vallely, author of a biography of Pope Francis, says that unlike his predecessors who visited the region, the Pope can be expected to fearlessly tackle Israeli-Palestinian political sensitivities during the coming days. The Times reports that Israel has given permission for a number of Christians from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip to visit Bethlehem in the West Bank and see the Pope during his visit.

The Guardian says that the Israeli human rights group B’tselem has endorsed the authenticity of video footage released this week which raised questions over the deaths of two Palestinian teenagers. They were killed in clashes with Israeli security forces in the West Bank during protests to mark ‘Naqba Day’. Meanwhile, the Independent includes a picture of a mural suspected to have been painted by street artist Banksy on the separation barrier near Bethlehem, depicting a dove wearing a flak jacket.

City AM reports that Israel is ranked among the top 20 countries in the world to do business, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit. The Financial Times says that Chinese state-owned company Bright Food had purchased a controlling stake in Israeli dairy giant Tnuva.

The Guardian reports that Russia and China have vetoed a United Nations (UN) resolution which called for Syria to have been referred to the International Criminal Court. Foreign Secretary William Hague is quoted as being “appalled” at the opposition to such a move. In Syria itself, the online editions of the Times and Telegraph say that President Assad’s forces have broken a year-long siege of Aleppo prison.

The Guardian also includes an analysis and feature on Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, the former army chief expected to win next week’s presidential vote in Egypt by a wide margin. The article says that despite his popularity, little is known about al-Sisi’s views and policies.

The Times and the online edition of the Telegraph say that a group of 50 hard line conservative Iranian women have called for legal proceedings and the eventual flogging and imprisonment of award-winning Iranian actress Leila Hatami. She was pictured this week exchanging a kiss on the cheek with the president of the Cannes Film Festival, which she was attending.

In the Israeli media, Yediot Ahronot and Haaretz both lead on the ongoing dispute between the Finance Ministry and the Defence Ministry over cuts to the defence budget. Yediot Ahronot reports that the Israeli defence establishment has accused the Finance Ministry of “incitement” against them.

Maariv follows on from its story yesterday which claimed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came close to firing Justice Minister Tzipi Livni after she had met with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas in London last week, against Netanyahu’s wishes. Maariv says this morning that Opposition and Labour Party leader Isaac Herzog and Meretz leader Zahava Gal-On both criticised Netanyahu for considering dismissing Livni and indicated that Livni herself should resign.

Meanwhile, Yediot Ahronot reports that Hezbollah fighters are operating in Syria near the border with Israel for the first time. Fighting in the area has intensified this week with President Assad’s forces launching an offensive against opposition groups. Hezbollah has fought alongside Assad’s troops on numerous occasions, but not previously in such close proximity to the Israeli border.

Both Israel Hayom and Maariv anticipate the visit of Pope Francis to Israel, which begins on Sunday, including a preview of his trip and the preparations which are being made to welcome the pontiff.