The Financial Times, Independent, Times, Independent i and the online edition of the Guardian all report that controversial US Presidential candidate Donald Trump yesterday announced that he is postponing a trip to Israel originally scheduled for later this month. Trump’s comment that all Muslims should be denied entry into the United States prompted almost one third of Knesset members to sign a petition against his visit. Meanwhile, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement which explicitly rejected Trump’s comments.

A feature in the Financial Times by John Reed looks at the prospects of a resolution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict in light of the latest wave of violence which has killed at least 21 Israelis since the start of October. In particular, the article focuses on the Gush Etzion region of the West Bank, a rare example of where Israelis and Palestinians mingle daily, but which has been plagued by violence in recent weeks. The article concludes that support for the two-state solution on all sides is waning.

The Times notes that the Knesset has strengthened relevant legislation after it came to light that Israeli companies had exposed a loophole to export luxury goods to North Korea.

The Times, Independent, Independent i and the Sun all report that Prime Minister Netanyahu recently hosted a reception to celebrate the Jewish festival of Chanukah at his official residence for senior Likud Party figures, at which Netanyahu’s dog bit two guests – Knesset member Sharren Haskel and the husband of Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely.

The Telegraph online says that a diverse group of Syrian rebels meeting in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, has agreed for the first time to meet the Assad regime for peace talks. The Guardian online says that ceasefire plans are afoot in around 50 rebel-held towns and cities in Syria, which will see rebels and some civilians granted safe passage elsewhere, often under the auspices of the United Nations. However, critics say that the evacuations will see Alawites and Shi’ites moving in, amounting to “ethnic cleansing” by the Assad government. Meanwhile, according to the Telegraph online, the Pentagon says that US-led air strikes have killed the ISIS finance chief.

In the Israeli media, the top story in Yediot Ahronot, also covered prominently in Israel Hayom is the first successful test of the Arrow 3 missile defence system. Although its flight capability had previously been tested, the Arrow 3 yesterday successfully intercepted a target for the first time. Developed jointly with the United States, the Arrow 3 is thought to be one of the world’s most sophisticated missile interceptors, destroying targets outside of the earth’s atmosphere. It is designed to protect against long-range missiles, such as Iran’s Shihab-3 missile.

Another major item, highlighted by Yediot Ahronot, Maariv and Israel Hayom, is a terror attack yesterday, which saw four soldiers wounded, one critically, after a car rammed into them near a West Bank junction. The vehicle sped off and was later discovered near the Palestinian village of al-Lubben. It is reported this morning that a 37-year-old Hamas member was arrested overnight suspected of carrying out the attack.

The lead story in Israel Hayom, also covered prominently in Yediot Ahronot, Haaretz and Maariv is the release yesterday of Bedouin Israeli citizen Ouda Tarabin from an Egyptian prison after 15 years of incarceration. He was accused by Egypt of spying for Israel, an allegation always denied by both Tarabin and Israel. Tarabin flew back to Israel yesterday and was met by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. As a gesture, most likely to satisfy Egyptian public opinion, Israel also released a handful of Egyptian prisoners yesterday, several of whom had just completed their prison terms.