The Financial Times reports that Lebanon has moved to break nearly two months of political deadlock by naming ex-education minister and university professor, Hassan Diab, as its next prime minister, with the support of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. BBC News reports that Mr Diab reportedly failed to secure the backing of the main Sunni-led bloc, which could make it difficult to form a new government and secure Western aid. The Associated Press reports that this point is key because under the country’s sectarian-based system, the premier must come from the Sunni community. The Guardian reports that the designation of Hassan Diab has failed to spark enthusiasm, exposing yet again the depths of divisions across the fractured political spectrum and among a public that has little faith in the stewardship of its leaders.

The Jewish Chronicle reports that the UK government has confirmed it will ban Israel boycotts by councils and public bodies, stopping ‘public bodies from taking it upon themselves… to develop their own pseudo-foreign policy’. The Jewish News reports that the prime minister said in the Queen’s Speech debate that the move prevents local authorities from boycotting goods from Israel with “nauseating frequency”.

The Guardian reports that mobile phones of at least two dozen Pakistani government officials were allegedly targeted earlier this year with technology owned by the Israeli spyware company NSO Group, as scores of Pakistani senior defence and intelligence officials were among those who could have been compromised.

The Guardian reports that the UN-recognised Libyan government has agreed to activate a military cooperation agreement with Turkey, bringing closer the possible dispatch of Turkish advisory troops to help defend the capital, Tripoli, from an attack by forces supported by the United Arab Emirates and Russia. The Financial Times reports that the UN-backed government based in Tripoli, the Libyan capital, announced on Thursday that it was deepening military relations with Turkey in a move expected to heighten tensions in the North African oil exporting country.

Reuters reports that U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft made a rare compassionate public gesture towards her Iranian counterpart in the U.N. Security Council chamber on Thursday, after discussions over the Iranian nuclear deal (JCPOA). The Associated Press reports that The United States renewed its offer to engage in talks with Iran on Thursday but warned it will do everything in its power “to curb malign Iranian behaviour” if Tehran continues to destabilise the Middle East.

Reuters reports that the United States said new evidence and analysis of weapons debris recovered from an attack on Saudi oil facilities on Sept. 14 indicates the strike likely came from the north, reinforcing its earlier assessment that Iran was behind the attack.

In The Associated Press, Samya Kullab argues that the Iraqi protests have taken a heavy toll on the domestic economy and the country’s ‘most vulnerable’ are suffering the most.

Russian court rejects jailed Israeli’s appeal: All the Israeli media report that Naama Issachar had her appeal rejected by a Russian court. Issachar, an Israeli backpacker has been in custody since April after being caught with nine grams of marijuana while transiting Moscow Airport. Issachar was convicted on “drug smuggling” charges and sentenced to seven years in prison, drawing anger from Israeli officials and the general public. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier this week vowed to secure Issachar’s release. In a telephone conversation yesterday with Issachar’s mother, Netanyahu said: “Despite the disappointment of the court verdict – I am not giving up. I will continue to do everything to bring Naama back home.” Two days ago forty Israelis were detained and questioned at Moscow Airport for several hours, further raising diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Nevertheless, Jerusalem is still hopeful that Russian President Vladimir Putin will intervene in the case and pardon Issachar.

Likud court rejects cancellation of open primaries: The internal court of the Likud ruled yesterday that the party had to hold open primaries for its entire list of candidates for the 2 March 2020 election next March’s general election. The court ruling reversed a decision earlier this month by the Likud Central Committee canceling the vote – thereby securing the positions of the Likud’s currently serving Knesset Members. The Central Committee can still amend the party’s constitution and cancel the primaries with a two-thirds vote, although this is unlikely to take place before the party’s leadership election next Thursday (26 December) when Benjamin Netanyahu competes with Gideon Sa’ar.

Rockets fired from Gaza: A rocket was fired last night from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel for the second time in the past twenty-four hours, all the Israeli media reported. In response Israeli aircraft hit Hamas military targets including an underground facility, naval assets and a training compound. The Israeli military also limited the fishing zone off the Gaza coast to ten nautical miles. Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett had vowed to adopt a more aggressive policy with regard to any rocket fire emanating from Gaza, while Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad this morning threatened a response if Israeli airstrikes continued.