The FT and the Times report on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments about the EU’s stance towards Israel in a closed door meeting with the leaders of the Visegrad countries. Mr. Netanyahu’s comments were not meant to be public, but the PM was caught off guard when a microphone transmitted the conversation to reporters. Mr. Netanyahu criticised the EU’s qualification of relations with Israel on the basis of progress in peace negotiations, and asked the Visegrad leaders to pressure Brussels to change its stance.

The Times reports that Palestinian groups threatened war with Israel yesterday at a press conference in Gaza City.  Among the groups represented at the conference were Hamas, Fatah’s military wing in Gaza, and Islamic Jihad. The conference was stated to be in response to the new security measures that have been placed around the Temple Mount, with the spokesperson stating “we will not allow our enemy to invade our Al-Aqsa” and warning this could be a “spark that ignites the whole region”.

The Times and the BBC report on the 27-year-old Israeli art student, Rotem Bides, who stole artefacts from the Auschwitz concentration camp for her college art project in Tel Aviv. The Auschwitz museum has declared its intention to take legal action against the student, while Ms. Bides remains unapologetic stating it was “something I had to do”

All the Israeli media continue to discuss the security arrangements on the Temple Mount.  Maariv highlights the fear that that there will be violent clashes during Friday prayers tomorrow. Haaretz cites differences in approach between the Shin Bet and the IDF who both support removing the metal detectors whilst the Police insist they remain.

Yediot Ahronot reports Education Minister Naftali Bennett’s remarks: “There’s a metal detector in Mecca. There’s a metal detector at the Knesset. There’s a metal detector at the Western Wall. The Waqf’s demand to prevent metal detectors is hypocritical.  Capitulation now in the face of Palestinian pressure will damage Israel’s power of deterrence and will endanger the lives of the visitors, the worshippers and the police officers at the Temple Mount. Don’t capitulate.”

Israel Hayom suggests the Police are looking to install advanced closed circuit cameras that are capable of facial recognition, to enable monitoring of suspicious individuals entering the Temple Mount.

Israel Hayom reports on a meeting between an Israeli Arab member of Knesset  from the Joint List with Jerusalem Mufti Muhammad Hussein at which they agreed to extend the ban on Muslim worshippers entering the Temple Mount as long as they have to pass through metal detectors.

Yediot Ahronot also includes the preliminary findings from the investigation into last Friday’s attacks.  They reveal no Waqf staff on the Temple Mount played a role in smuggling weapons.  The three terrorists from Umm el-Fahm travelled to Jerusalem carrying the weapons.

Kan radio news reports there were disturbances and riots in several locations in the Jerusalem area last night against the backdrop of events on the Temple Mount. Stones were thrown at security forces in the Shuafat refugee camp, and a masked man who threw a firebomb was caught in the act and taken into custody. Another firebomb was found on his person. A rioter was arrested at the Kalandiya crossing as dozens of people assembled and threw stones at the soldiers, who retaliated with crowd-control measures. Two stone-throwers were arrested near Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem.

Haaretz reports the comments by Prime Minister Netanyahu speaking to European leaders yesterday.  He referred to the behavior of the EU towards Israel as ‘crazy’. Referring to security, “We built the wall because there was a problem with ISIS and Iran trying to build a terror front there. I told Putin, when we see them transferring weapons to Hezbollah, we will hurt them. We did it dozens of times.”

Maariv reports on comments Prime Minister Netanyahu made about the submarine affair.  He vigorously denied he was involved.   Asked about the sale of submarines to Egypt, he said “This was not Israel’s decision, but rather Germany’s. We did not decide to authorize or not to authorize.

Kan radio news reports that the the band Radiohead performed in front of 50,000 people in Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv. This was the British band’s fourth concert in Israel.