The Independent reports on the hundreds of incendiary kites and balloons that have been launched from Gaza. Palestinians in Gaza have vowed to continue the arson attacks until Israel lifts its 11-year-old blockade on Gaza. In response to the threat, Israel has deployed drones to take out the US$3 homemade weapons which have sparked over 750 fires and burnt more than 2,600 hectares of land. Moreover, there are also concerns that the recent spike in violence would “herald the start of the fourth war between Israel and Gaza since 2008”. The Independent also reports that Israel has halted all fuel and gas deliveries through the Kerem Shalom crossing, the sole goods crossing between Israel and Gaza.

The FT and the the Times report on the passing of the controversial Nation State Bill, that enshrines in law the right of Jewish national self-determination in Israel, removes Arabic as an official language of the state and backs the building of Jewish settlements. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “This is our country. This is our language. This is our anthem and this is our flag. Long live the state of Israel.”

In the Times, Richard Spencer reports that thousands of displaced people, as well as rebels, have been forced closer to the border with Israel as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces advance. The report says that photos taken on the Israeli side of the border showed “rebel forces firing artillery less than 50 yards from the fence”. The report also notes that “Israeli military officials have confirmed rebel claims that pro-Iranian militias have nonetheless been operating within 20 miles of the border”.

The BBC reports on the growing trade relations between Israel and China. The BBC reports that Chinese firms wants to “get their hands” on Israeli technology. Meanwhile, Israeli firms also see important investment opportunities in the Far East with many Israeli companies wanting better access to the giant Chinese marketplace. According to the BBC, better business partnerships have been created through a number of business events which are now held every year, such as the China-Israel Innovation Summit. Royi Benyossef, an Israel-based manager at investment fund Samsung Next, told the channel that the Chinese are “mesmerised by Israel and its technology exporting capabilities”. It is estimated that China will overtake the US as the number one source of overseas investment in Israel.

The Daily Mail reports on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s visit to Israel. Orban’s visit has provoked concern in Israel over allegations he has stoked antisemitism in Hungary with nationalist rhetoric. Orban has also previously denounced the “absolutely crazy” EU demands of Israel, such as those related to Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. They published a statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry: “The visit will promote the good bilateral relations that are notably expressed in supporting Israel’s positions in European and international forums, and underlining the importance of continuing the struggle against antisemitism.”

Israel Hayom reports on the Nation-State Bill that after years of delays and disputes was finally passed this morning in the Knesset plenum with 62 in favour and 55 opposed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised it in a celebratory fashion: “It is a formative moment in the history of Zionism. This is our language, this is our anthem, and this is our flag. Long live the State of Israel!”

Haaretz includes the assessment from the security sources that Hamas is displaying willingness to restrain the cells launching flying firebombs from Gaza.  From the Israeli side, a senior security cabinet official told Army Radio that we are not going to war in Gaza, that we are not even close to it and that war is only embarked upon when there is no other option.  They quote security cabinet member Ze’ev Elkin: “The State of Israel has been saying that it will not accept this thing with the kites and that it would prefer to employ its existing tools. Going from this to stating that we will go to war requires a lot of imagination. On the other hand, we live in a region where you can always deteriorate into war or into an operation of one scope or another.”

Yediot Ahronot and Haaretz report on Prime Minister Netanyahu withdrawing his support for legislation that would have allowed gay men to have children of their own by means of a surrogate mother in Israel. Currently they need to undergo the surrogacy process overseas, which is very costly and difficult. MK Amir Ohana the first openly gay Likud MK had personally asked Prime Minister Netanyahu to support his amendment, and Netanyahu initially had said that he would. However, Haredi MKs announced that they would vote against the amendment and threatened to dissolve the coalition. In response, all the coalition members were asked to vote against the Bill.

Maariv reveals Israel is inadequately prepared for a major earthquake, according to a troubling report that was published by State Comptroller Yosef Shapira. The state comptroller adopted the assessment that a major earthquake was likely to result in 7,000 killed, 45,000 injured, 9,500 people trapped beneath the rubble and 170,000 people left homeless.  The state comptroller brought up the scheduled publication date for this report in response to the series of small earthquakes that were recorded in the past two weeks in northern Israel. The report cites inadequate readiness of national infrastructure for a powerful earthquake, and found flaws in the government’s efforts to prepare for a scenario of that kind.

Yediot Ahronot notes that Likud Minister Ze’ev Elkin will not receive the endorsement from his party to run for the Mayor of Jerusalem and will run as an independent candidate. Elkin, currently Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and of Environmental Protection, was considered to be close to Prime Minister Netanyahu. However, due to the considerations of his coalition partners and other candidates in the race they will not formally back his campaign.

Israel Hayom report that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán arrived in Israel last night and was received by Minister Yariv Levin. This is Orbán’s first official visit since he entered office in 2010.   Orbán is scheduled to meet today with President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chief Rabbi David Lau. He will lay a wreath at Yad Vashem and will dine with his wife at the Prime Minister’s Residence with Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu. Tomorrow Orbán is to visit the Western Wall. Four Hungarian cabinet ministers are accompanying Orbán on his trip to Israel, which has been deemed to be very important by Hungary.

Both Yediot Ahronot and Maariv prominently cover what Yediot Ahronot calls “illicit touching” as Zionist Union MK Eitan Broshi gave his party colleague MK Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin a pat on the buttocks. Broshi has apologised and no further action will be taken.  Zionist Union Faction Chairman MK Yoel Hasson commented on the incident:  “Sanctions are issued in other cases. We have to accept the decision by MK Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin, who accepted Broshi’s apology. I do not think that he had any inappropriate intentions. I think that there was inappropriate conduct.”