BBC News Online and the Guardian report that the US has indefinitely suspended handling visa applications in Turkey, after a worker at the US Consulate in Istanbul was arrested. The US Embassy in Ankara said that “recent events” had forced the US Government to reassess Turkey’s “commitment” to the security of US mission services and personnel in the country. The US employee was remanded in custody by an Istanbul court late on Wednesday after being linked to a Gulenist group blamed by Ankara for last year’s failed coup.

BBC News Online and the Times both report the announcement by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of a new operation by Turkish backed rebels in Syria’s north-western Idlib province. The operation will be carried out by the Free Syrian Army with air support from the Russian Armed Forces. The operation is part of an agreement between Russia, Turkey and Iran to secure several “de-escalation zones” within Syria.

The Daily Mail, Express and Reuters all report the failed rocket attack launched from Gaza yesterday. The rocket, originally believed to have hit somewhere in southern Israel, fell inside the Gaza Strip instead. An IDF tank then shelled a Hamas look-out position within the Strip in response.

The Daily Mail reports that UNESCO’s executive board is choosing a new leader to replace its departing director Irina Bokova. The paper notes that Bokova’s tenure was marked by funding troubles and the controversial decision to include Palestine as a member.

Maariv and Israel Hayom lead on the Shin Bet announcement that two Palestinians have been arrested on suspicion of murdering Reuven Schmerling in a terrorist attack last week.

Maariv and Haaretz prominently report the decision by the High Court of Justice to allow demonstrations to be held in Petach Tikva close to the home of the Attorney-General. Incoming President of the Supreme Court, Esther Hayut wrote in the ruling: “criticism of state authorities and public figures is the life’s blood of democracy, and no authority or public figure in a democratic state is immune from criticism.” The protestors are encouraging the Attorney General to indict the Prime Minister on various corruption charges.

Yediot Ahronot reveals that next week the Civil Administration Planning Committee will convene and approve the construction of more than 3,800 new housing units in settlement blocs in the West Bank, in isolated settlements and in the Jewish settlement in Hebron. The paper suggests this is in line with understandings reached with the US, where Israel would approve large-scale construction in the territories once every three or four months on average, instead of every few weeks. Yediot says that “the importance of the agreement is that the American administration no longer draws any distinction between the settlement blocs and the isolated settlements, and that Washington will not condemn Israel for decisions to build in the territories”.

Maariv reports on US President Donald Trump’s comments that he prioritises reaching a peace agreement before moving the US embassy to Jerusalem.

Haaretz reports on the Women Wage Peace rally that culminated last night with 30,000 people in Jerusalem. The rally was the finale of a “peace walk” that began two weeks ago in Sderot and included Israeli and Palestinian women. Among the attendees was Adina Bar-Shalom, daughter of former Sephardi Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. Among the speakers was former Druze MK Shakib Shanan, whose son Kamil was killed in a terror attack at the Temple Mount three months ago.

Yediot Ahronot reports the commotion in the Moroccan parliament during an international economic conference. Labour MK and former party leader Amir Peretz was aggressively confronted by Achsan Abed el-Halak, an MK from the Muslim Workers’ party. El-Halak screamed at Peretz: “You’re a war criminal! You were the Israeli defence minister and you’re not welcome here.” Peretz was born in Morocco and immigrated to Israel with his parents when he was a young child.

Kan Radio News reports that Transport and Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz formally announced that he would run for leadership of the Likud party and for the premiership after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaves office. Minister Katz hosted thousands of Likud activists, including ministers, MKs, and council leaders at his sukkah in Kfar Ahim.