The BBC online reports that the UK and the US have warned Syria that any use or threat of chemical weapons will force them to “change their approach”. The Financial Times reports that Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, is to attend a summit of leaders of non-aligned countries in Tehran next week, defying calls from the US and Israel to boycott the event. The Sun notes the potential financial impact of and Israeli attack in Iran. The BBC online also notes that South Africa’s cabinet has drawn criticism from Israel for approving the labelling of “occupied Palestinian Territories” on goods made in Israeli settlements. The Guardian and the Independent report that Israel’s Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, urged Western powers and Russia to press for Palestinian elections to unseat President Mahmoud Abbas who he blamed for a rise in “activity against Israel”. The Guardian also notes that 15-year-old Bashaer Othman is acting as mayor of Allar, a small town in the West Bank after the regular mayor, Sufian Shadid, and his team of councillors, handed control to teenagers for a two-month period. The Independent’s Robert Fisk hears the Syrian forces’ justification for their fighting in Aleppo.

In the Israeli media, all papers note the South African decision to label goods made in Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Israel’s response. Haaretz reports that the head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Yukiya Amano, said on Wednesday he was not confident there would be a breakthrough with Iran over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear activities when talks recommence later this week. The paper also reports that in closed discussions Wednesday, Defence Minister Ehud Barak sharply criticised Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s letter to foreign ministers from the Middle East Quartet, calling for Palestinian Authority elections to replace PA President Mahmoud Abbas. Haaretz also notes that an Egyptian military official said an understanding has been achieved between Israel and Egypt concerning the deployment of troops in the Sinai Peninsula. The Times of Israel reports that a large number of Syrian army officers defected to Jordan, including a top-ranking general. The Times of Israel also notes a Los Angeles Times report on US contingency plans to deal with Syria’s chemical and biological weapon stockpiles. The Jerusalem Post cites a Channel 10 News report according to which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may choose to hold early elections if the 2013 state budget encounters difficulties.