The Telegraph reports that the United States expressed deep concerns following news that an Israeli planning committee gave approval for the construction of a 234-unit nursing home in Elkana, 30 houses in Beit Arye and 20 dwellings in Givat Zeev, all situated in the West Bank. In addition, 179 building permits were issued retroactively, legalising under Israeli law housing units that were erected in the West Bank community of Ofarim. Much of the construction in question is slated for areas in West Bank blocs which many believe will remain under Israeli sovereignty under any future peace deal.

Both the Times and the Guardian cover highly controversial comments made by Israel Police Commissioner Roni Alsheich at an Israel Bar Association conference. He said that it was “natural” for Israeli police to be more suspicious of Ethiopian-Israelis, as immigrant groups worldwide are disproportionately involved in crime. The Times says that Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan defended Alsheich, saying that he was not endorsing such a view, but rather highlighting the problem in order to fix it. In the same report, Meretz leader Zahava Galon is quoted calling for Alsheich to resign.

The Independent covers a story also in Haaretz, which speculates that a female ultra-Orthodox teacher in Beitar Illit, may have been fired for having a driving licence. In some ultra-Orthodox communities, it is frowned upon for women to drive. Israel’s Ministry of Education is apparently investigating the incident.

The Metro includes a lengthy travel review of Israel, including a food tour of the country. A separate article in the Metro details how an Israeli research team has developed robotic technology which could help patients to release drugs into their bodies on feeling pain.

The Times online says that ISIS has vowed revenge following the death of senior commander and spokesman Abu Muhammed al-Adnani, who is thought to have been killed in a US-led airstrike in Syria earlier this week. Writing in the Telegraph, David Blair says that ISIS will not face total defeat while President Assad remains in power. He argues that “what is needed is a political settlement that includes the Sunnis of Syria,” which is unlikely to be brokered under Assad’s rule.

In the Israeli media, the focus of front page headlines is the start of the new school year today. In a related item, Haaretz, Israel Hayom and Israel Radio news all prominently report a public disagreement between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, over the Tel Aviv Municipality’s decision to open the city’s Shevah Mofet School to the children of African migrants. The vast majority of this community live in the nearby south Tel Aviv neighbourhoods. Netanyahu said that the plan would turn the school “into an educational institution for infiltrators’ children”. However, Huldai accused Netanyahu of acting like “an online commentator” and ignoring the issue of African migrants which he had helped to create.

Israel Hayom says that a number of right-wing leaders have criticised comments by former head of the IDF’s Central Command, Maj. Gen. (res.) Gadi Shamni. At a conference yesterday, Shamni said: “We have elevated the occupation to an art form.” He asked “is this what we want to be?” and urged separation from the Palestinians. In June, Shamni co-authored a plan to provide better security for Israelis and Palestinians, involving a phased IDF redeployment.

Haaretz says that Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman has given his approval for the construction of a new Palestinian children’s hospital near Beit Sahour in the West Bank. It is situated in Area C, territory which remains under exclusive Israeli control as part of the Oslo Accords of the 1990s. Lieberman’s approval is thought to be part of his new ‘carrot and stick’ strategy for the West Bank.