The BBC, Financial Times and Independent report on Yair Lapid’s turn as prime minister in Israel, taking over from Naftali Bennett after just one year. The BBC also publishes a short bio of the former political chat-show host.

The Guardian and Reuters report that Iran has been accused of making “maximalist demands” in the latest unsuccessful meeting in Doha on reviving the JCPOA nuclear deal. Iranian and US officials, with the EU acting as mediators, told a session of the UN security council that no progress was made on Iran’s central demand that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps be removed from US sanctions and its list of foreign terrorist organisations. During the special session of the UN security council, Barbara Woodward, the UK envoy, warned Iran that no better deal was going to be offered.

Ben & Jerry’s has said it disagrees with parent company Unilever’s move to end a row over ice cream sales in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, reported in the Financial Times, highlighting the discord between the Vermont-based manufacturer and the UK consumer goods group.

Reuters reports that U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday he would not directly press Saudi Arabia to increase oil output to curb soaring crude prices when he sees the Saudi king and crown prince during a visit next month.

In the Israeli media, Kan Radio reports that Defence Minister Benny Gantz has ordered an investigation into leaks from private military discussions and operational events. Yesterday Kan released footage of a recent cyberattack on Iranian steel plant. Earlier in the week Yediot Ahronot reported that the Mossad and IDF Military Intelligence were at odds on a potential nuclear deal between Iran and the world powers. Gantz said that the leaks have undermined Israel’s policy of deliberate ambiguity. The matters to be investigated include the publicisation of the IDF Intelligence Branch’s disagreements with the Mossad, the cyberattack on the steel factory, the interception of UAVs in Iraq, and IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi’s visit to Egypt.

Israel Hayom reports that fighters of the Naval Intelligence Division have been awarded certificates of appreciation for initiatives that contributed to Israel’s security. Commander of the Israeli Navy Vice Adm. David Saar Salama awarded the certificates to units, commanders, and fighters who developed projects that brought a significant intelligence and operational advantage to the IDF. According to the report, the projects required years of intensive work to develop in cooperation with the Military Intelligence Directorate, and reflect the fighters and commanders’ technological innovation, extraordinary operational abilities, and creative thinking.

Maariv follows news in Turkey this morning on new details about foiled Iranian kidnapping attempts on Israelis in Istanbul. According to reports, one of the intended targets of the Iranian terrorist cell was Yosef Levy Sefri, the Israeli consul general in Istanbul, who was rescued by the authorities and sent back to Israel. The the Iranian agents were staying at the same hotel where Levi Sefri and his partner were staying. “The Iranian squad was caught hot at the last minute,” it was reported. It was also claimed that seven of the eight suspects of the Iranian cell have been brought before a judge with the aim of extending their detention.

With the Knesset’s dissolution and Yair Lapid’s assumption of office as prime minister, all the papers turn their attention to the upcoming elections. A new poll in Maariv predicts that if elections were held now, the Likud would win Likud 34 seats, followed by Yesh Atid on 22, Religious Zionist Party 10, Blue and White 9, Shas 8, United Torah Judaism 7, Labour 6, Joint List 6, Yisrael Beiteinu 5, New Hope 5, Yamina 4, and United Arab List 4. Meretz would fail to cross the 3.25 per cent threshold. Neither the pro-Netanyahu nor the current coalition would win enough seats to form a new government.