The i reports that the Holy Land Co-ordination Group, consisting of 14 Catholic bishops and clergy from around the world, has urged Christians to “take action” against Israeli settlements and to promote the two-state solution. The initiative coincides with this year’s 50^th anniversary of the Six-Day War, which resulted in Israel taking control of the disputed territories.

The Daily Mail reports that declassified documents show that celebrity Israel psychic Uri Geller participated in and passed CIA tests to determine whether he in fact possesses extrasensory powers. The CIA report concluded that Geller “unequivocally” has psychic abilities.

The Independent and the Telegraph online report that ISIS has shot and beheaded at least 12 people in the Syrian city of Palmyra, “as it reasserts control of the ancient city”.

The Financial Times says that Russia’s “Middle East ambitions grow with Syria battlefield success,” arguing that Moscow’s deep involvement in Syria is part of a wider strategy to “expand its role as [a] regional powerbroker”. The article suggests that although the chances of progress are slim at next week’s talks in Kazakhstan, from Russia’s perspective the important factor is that they brokered the talks.

The Times and Guardian cover the collapse yesterday of the iconic Plasco building in Iran’s capital Tehran, which is thought to have killed approximately 50 people. Both reports mention that the landmark was built in 1962 by a Jewish-Iranian businessman, who was arrested and executed following the 1979 Islamic Revolution for alleged contacts with Israel. His execution precipitated an exodus of Jews from Iran.

In the Israeli media, Maariv and Israel Hayom lead with Donald Trump’s inauguration today. Yediot Ahronot prominently features an opinion piece by Eitan Haber, titled “Good luck Mr President”. He says: “I believe that Donald Trump ought to find the right balance between his genuine affection to Israel and the need to lead America the best way he can. Therefore, one of the first challenges of the 45th president of the United States is to restore some of the trust so many Israelis have lost in America in the last several years.”

The top item in Haaretz is further reported details of allegations in the criminal investigation against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his dealings with prominent businessmen. The report suggests that Netanyahu and his wife placed orders with Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan for cigars and champagne, using code words to do so.

In a poll published in Maariv, 57 per cent of respondents said they believe the accusations against Netanyahu are substantiated. The same poll indicates that Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid remains the most popular party and if an election were held now his party would win 26 seats, followed by Netanyahu’s Likud with 23 and the Jewish Home and the Joint List with 13 seats each. The Zionist Union, according to the poll, would win just nine seats, in comparison to its 24 sitting MKs.

Israel Radio news suggests that Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked is mulling the possibility of supporting a bill which would limit the Prime Minister’s term to a maximum eight years in office. The same bill would also legislate that the Prime Minister cannot be indicted for transgressions, misdemeanours, and felonies whilst in office, although it would be possible to indict the sitting prime minister for high crimes.

Maariv, Israel Hayom and Israel Radio news report that IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot underwent surgery yesterday to remove his prostate after a local malignant tumour was discovered. Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva said that Eisenkot is now recovering. Eisenkot’s authority was transferred to his deputy, Maj Gen Yair Golan, prior to the operation.