The Times continues to cover the potential consequences of Avigdor Lieberman becoming Israel’s new Defence Minister. Critics have pointed out Lieberman’s lack of military experience and his perceived hard line positions on a number of issues. Since being sworn in, Lieberman has looked to assuage concerns, emphasising his commitment to a two-state solution and support for the possibility of a regional accord based on the Arab peace initiative. However, the Times says that there is also “concern” that Lieberman will damage relations with Washington, while strengthening ties with Moscow. Lieberman himself is originally from the former-Soviet Union and maintains close relations with Russian leaders.

The Daily Mirror says that the Israeli soft drinks company SodaStream has seen a 36 per cent surge in sales in the UK in the first three months of 2016. The drinks system, which utilises carbonated water, may have benefitted from rising concern over sugar-rich soft drinks. SodaStream used to operate a plant in the West Bank, which employed both Israelis and Palestinians, but was subject to boycott calls.

Meanwhile, the Independent online says that in Syria’s second largest city of Aleppo, six children are among the nineteen people killed in an air strike by government forces. The Guardian online says that the United Nations (UN) is being sharply criticised by Syrian opposition groups. It has still not finalised plans to air drop aid to stricken areas, despite a deadline of 1^st June having passed for the Assad regime to permit aid to besieged towns.

In the Israeli media, Maariv leads with ongoing speculation over potential challenges within the coalition. Jewish Home leader and Education Minister Naftali Bennett said: “If there is talk about a withdrawal to the 1967 lines and partitioning Jerusalem, I will not only resign from the government, I will topple it.”

Haaretz speculates that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is courting senior Zionist Union leader Tzipi Livni to bring her Hatnuah faction into the government, most likely at the expense of Jewish Home. Maariv also says that former-Likud Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon, who recently resigned from the Knesset, is examining his future options and has spoken to former-IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz about possible collaboration.

Israel Hayom leads with Israel’s consistent position on the Paris summit for foreign diplomats, which is aiming to arrange a multi-lateral peace conference to agree a two-state solution. Dore Gold, Director General of Israel’s Foreign Ministry repeated Israel’s contention that there is no substitute for direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, and that a multi-lateral forum hands the Palestinians the chance to make unreasonable demands and avoid real negotiations. Maariv says that Prime Minister Netanyahu will meet Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week and will try to recruit him to support an alternative diplomatic initiative.

Yediot Ahronot reports that the Justice Ministry has revealed a list of 27 NGOs which would be subject to a controversial bill which would require them to more clearly publicise their funding from foreign governments.

The NGOs in question are overwhelmingly left-wing in nature or human rights groups, and perceived to be sharply critical of Israeli policy. Writing in Yediot Ahronot, Ben-Dror Yemini said: “Instead of measures on a diplomatic and substantive level, the right wing has introduced a bill that both fails to deal with the problem and gives a tailwind to Israel’s haters.”