The Guardian online reports that the latest Syria peace talks in Geneva have stalled over the Assad regime’s objection to the composition of the opposition delegation and the expected Kurdish declaration of an autonomous federation. The online editions of the Times, Telegraph and Financial Times all say that Syria’s Kurds are expected to announce the autonomous region today, in a move opposed by both the Syrian and Turkish governments.

Meanwhile, an editorial in the Financial Times says that Russia’s sudden withdrawal from Syria is a “hollow victory” for Moscow, as in reality Russian troops leave with opposition to Assad as “strong as ever,” ISIS still in control of “large swaths” of land and no long-term stability.

The Independent includes a feature by Kim Sengupta on Iran’s Jewish community, which numbers as many as 20,000 people and is growing. There are around 60 synagogues in Iran and the community is described as being happy and relatively prosperous, despite the ongoing enmity between Iran and Israel. The feature quotes several community members critical of the Israeli government.

The Telegraph covers comments made by Jeremy Newmark of the Jewish Labour Movement on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. He said that the Labour Party leadership appears “impotent” over worsening anti-Semitism in the party. His comments come after the latest accusation of anti-Semitism within Labour ranks this week, when an activist accused of anti-Semitic views and virulent hostility towards Israel was suspended from the Labour Party. Vicki Kirby is the vice-chair of the local party in Woking, but has previously suggested via social media that Hitler is the “Zionist God” and has questioned why ISIS has not yet attacked Israel.

The Daily Mail recommends BBC Radio 4’s two-part series on Rudolf Kastner, a Hungarian Jew who during the Second World War helped Jews escape as part of a bargain with SS chief Adolf Eichmann. After the war ended, Kastner moved to Israel and stood trial for collaboration with the Nazis. He was eventually assassinated in 1957. The programme asks whether Kastner was a hero or a traitor.

In the Israeli media, Haaretz and Yediot Ahronot prominently cover President Reuven Rivlin’s meeting yesterday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Rivlin is reported to have outlined Israel’s concerns over a possible strengthening of Iran and Hezbollah in Syria, in the wake of Russia’s withdrawal of troops. Rivlin apparently suggested that Russia help re-establish the United Nations (UN) observer force on the Israel-Syria border, as one measure to help allay concerns.

Israel Radio news reports that Germany has criticised a decision by the Israeli government to declare around 2,300 dunams near Jericho in the West Bank as state land. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued a similar statement yesterday, calling on Israel to reverse the decision, which it said damages “the diminishing prospects for a two state solution.”

A major item in Maariv is a rare handshake yesterday between former-Prime Minister Ehud Barak and former-IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi at a book launch in Tel Aviv. The two endured an often bitter relationship when Barak was Defence Minister and Ashkenazi headed Israel’s armed forces. It is reported that the audience cheered loudly when the two shook hands yesterday.

Israel Radio reports that Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon was in New York yesterday, where he met UN Secretary General Bank Ki-moon and also briefed UN Security Council members on the security challenges facing Israel, especially in light of the current wave of attacks, which has seen at least 31 Israelis killed since October.