The online edition of the Telegraph covers the upcoming election in Israel’s Knesset to choose a successor to President Shimon Peres. The article focuses on political manoeuvring by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, regarding the list of candidates. There are six contenders for the 10 June vote. Earlier this week, Netanyahu surprisingly handed his public backing to Likud MK and former Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, despite deep animosity between them. The article says that Netanyahu is reported to have made intense efforts, ultimately unsuccessfully, to find an alternative candidate to support and had even mulled delaying the vote or abolishing the office altogether to prevent Rivlin from winning.

The Times reports that current President Shimon Peres has confirmed that he will travel to the Vatican on 8 June for a prayer session with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas. The two leaders this week accepted an impromptu invitation from Pope Francis during the pontiff’s visit to the region.

Meanwhile, the Guardian reports that Abbas yesterday formally asked current PA Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah to head a new Palestinian unity government alongside Hamas. Similarly, the Independent i says that Abbas yesterday issued a formal decree to establish a unity government. Abbas’s Fatah faction and Hamas agreed a unity pact in April, which prompted the suspension of peace talks with Israel, given Hamas’s commitment to Israel’s destruction. Yesterday’s announcement brings the unity government a step closer to implementation, although the two factions apparently still have outstanding issues to resolve before confirming the exact composition of the new government.

The Guardian online includes a feature on the Jerusalem light railway system, which began operating in 2011 and serves both Jewish and Arab neighbourhoods in the city. The article uses the medium of the city’s transport system to examine Jerusalem’s complex demography and geography.

The aftermath of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s presidential election win in Egypt is discussed in several publications this morning. Al-Sisi won an estimated 93 per cent of the vote, but the turnout was just 46 per cent. The Financial Times says that the low voter participation is reminiscent of the political antipathy which characterised the Mubarak era; an editorial in the Guardian says Egypt has come “full circle” since Mubarak’s ousting in 2011 and remains divided. The Times reports that Egyptian opposition leaders are bracing themselves for a fresh crackdown in the wake of al-Sisi’s victory.

In the Israeli media, Yediot Ahronot, Haaretz and Israel Hayom all lead with the story that police have recommended that new charges be brought against former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his attorney for obstructing an investigation and tampering with witnesses. Tape recordings indicate that Olmert attempted to influence the testimony of his former senior aide Shula Zaken in the context of several previous cases against him. Olmert was recently sentenced to six years imprisonment for bribery relating to a housing project during his time as Jerusalem Mayor.

Maariv leads with more political machinations over the upcoming election to choose a successor to President Shimon Peres. The article quotes senior United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni, who indicated that the ultra-Orthodox parties in the Knesset may not support Reuven Rivlin, although he believes Rivlin may be suitable for the job. Gafni explained that ultra-Orthodox MKs could use the vote to exact retribution against those who passed legislation mandating greater ultra-Orthodox military conscription. Maariv also publishes a poll which indicates that Rivlin is the most popular candidate among Israelis, garnering 28 per cent of public support. Nobel Prize laureate Dan Shechtman comes second with 21 per cent.

Israel Radio news reports that UK Ambassador to Israel, Matthew Gould reiterated last night at an event to mark the Queen’s birthday, that the government vehemently opposes all attempts to boycott Israel.