Sky News carries an exclusive 20-minute interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The interview covered matters as diverse as the judicial reform, Israeli-Palestinian relations, the potential for Israeli-Saudi normalisation, and the Iranian nuclear threat. Of Iran, Netanyahu said: “I don’t think that diplomacy by itself will work. I think diplomacy can only work if it’s coupled with a credible military threat or the willingness to apply the military option if deterrence fails… Iran is openly committed to destroying, repeating the Holocaust and destroying the six or seven million Jews of Israel and we’re not going to sit by, idly by and let them do it… (If) these Ayatollahs think that they could threaten us with a nuclear holocaust they’re wrong. We will do whatever we need to do to defend ourselves.”

The BBC, Reuters, and The Independent cover our main story, that six people were killed and two injured in shootings in northern Israel yesterday.

The Independent reports on yesterday’s Pride Parade in Tel Aviv, which follows a week after its Jerusalem equivalent. Israel, says the paper, “is generally tolerant toward the LGBTQ+ community, a rarity in the conservative Middle East, where homosexuality is widely considered taboo and is outlawed in some places. Members of the LGBTQ+ community serve openly in Israel’s military and parliament, and many popular artists and entertainers are openly gay.”

Reuters reports that at a joint news conference with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the US would press ahead with efforts at Israeli-Saudi normalisation. Prince Faisal agreed that such a deal would bring benefits, but stressed the Saudi commitment to active pursuit of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Reuters also covers Amir Ohana’s visit to Morocco, in which the Knesset Speaker said that Israel would soon announce its support for Morocco’s claim of sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara region. “I am fully aware of the importance of the recognition of the Moroccan Sahara,” he said, adding that “Israel should move towards the goal of recognising the Moroccan Sahara just as our closest ally the US did… There are currently serious discussions between our governments on that matter and I believe that Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu will be announcing this decision in the near future.”

Kan News reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke last night with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who called him the day after his visit to Saudi Arabia. Blinken informed Netanyahu about his meetings in Jedda, at which he had discussed the possibility of normalising relations with Israel. Blinken subsequently announced that he and Netanyahu had also discussed Israel’s further integration by normalising relations with other countries in the region. Blinken also reiterated the need to uphold the commitments that were made in the  meetings earlier this year in Aqaba and Sharm el-Sheikh.  Israel Hayom notes that Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his appreciation for the recent bilateral talks held in Washington and on the continued close bilateral cooperation.  The Prime Minister also suggested advancing Israeli-American cooperation on artificial intelligence. On Iran, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated his consistent position, “that returning to the nuclear agreement with Iran would not stop the Iranian nuclear programme and that no arrangement with Iran will obligate Israel, which will do everything to defend itself.”

Israel Hayom also includes the assessment that if Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant present the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet with a plan to strike Iran, “it would pass by a large majority, unlike the situation 10 years ago, when Netanyahu and then-Defence Minister Barak could not get such support in that forum… if Netanyahu and Gallant were to make the case that such a measure was essential.” Adding, “in light of the hawkish attitude of the government, perhaps the forum will show a more proactive posture than previous iterations….even though Iran’s nuclear programme has advanced significantly over the past decade, Israel’s military and intelligence capabilities have improved dramatically and today Israel has more means than before should it need to take out the Iranian programme.”

Kan News also reports that this morning a man who arrived by car at the Rantis crossing in the Ephraim region of the West Bank tried to snatch an IDF soldier’s gun. Another soldier shot and killed the assailant in response. A search of the area turned up a knife. The soldier who was assaulted sustained light injuries.

Yediot Ahronot reports on the first ever visit of a Speaker of Knesset to an Arab country, as Amir Ohana was welcomed in the Moroccan Parliament yesterday.  Ohana is the only openly gay member of the coalition and was accompanied by his partner Alon Hadad. “During the meeting, Knesset Speaker Ohana emphasised the importance of diplomatic and security cooperation between the countries in the face of the threats and challenges posed by Iran to the region’s countries. Regarding recognition of Western Sahara, Ohana said that to the best of his knowledge, the talks between Israel and Morocco on the move are in an advanced stage.” Later today Ohana is expected to meet other senior Moroccan government officials, including Moroccan Foreign and Justice Ministers.

All the Israeli media cover tens of thousands of people participating in Tel Aviv’s Pride Parade yesterday, marking its 25th anniversary. Haaretz covers the opening ceremony and quotes Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, “Pride weekend started with a clear message for everyone: we are all equal, we are all human, and we all deserve to love without fear, whoever we want. Happy Pride to all and sundry. Enjoy!.” Ynet features colourful images from the parade including the presence of the British embassy’s float.

Yediot Ahronot continues to focus on the perceived split inside the Likud when it comes to advancing judicial reform. Opponents of the reform within the Likud believe that “the reform is dead,” or at least that it will not be advanced after Netanyahu promised international leaders that he does not intend to pass the reform bills without the opposition’s consent. Economy Minister Barkat, now on a working visit to New York and Boston, also relayed messages to US investors that there would be no unilateral reform and also said that this was coordinated with Prime Minister Netanyahu. In contrast, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Minister in the Justice Ministry Dudi Amsalem, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Chairman MK Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionist Party) have said publicly that if no agreement is reached, the bills will be passed unilaterally. Levin and Amsalem even announced this adamantly in the Knesset plenum this week. For Levin, this was unusual and not typical. “If Yariv Levin wants to tell Netanyahu something, he simply talks or meets with him,” said a Likud source. “If he had to relay the message to Netanyahu publicly in the Knesset plenum, it’s most likely because he too realises that Netanyahu is far from intending to pass the reform.”

Maariv includes its weekly polling suggesting, that Gantz’s National Unity Party continues to grow. Overall, if elections were held today, the National Unity Party receives 31 seats, Likud: 26, Yesh Atid: 18, Shas: 9, United Torah Judaism: 7, Yisrael Beiteinu: 6, Religious Zionist Party: 5, Hadash-Ta’al: 5, United Arab List: 5, Jewish Power: 4, Meretz: 4. This would divide the blocs giving the current  Coalition: 51, Opposition: 59 with the Hadash-Ta’al and United Arab List 10 seats. When asked; Who is better suited to be prime minister: Gantz receives 45% v Netanyahu: 38%.