(IsraelNN.com) Three more free daily commuter newspapers will soon join the market – competing with the relatively right-wing Zionist Yisraeli daily.

The Yisraeli paper was the first of its kind in Israel – a commuter paper distributed daily in bus stations, train stations and, more recently, at gas stations as well. The paper does not back down from being highly critical of the government and features columnists such as Manhigut Yehudit (Jewish Leadership) faction head Moshe Feiglin, of the Likud Party. It now publishes 180,000 copies daily.

It now faces at least at least three new competitors.

Israel Today will launch its first issue next week. It is being published by American billionaire Sheldon Adelson, whose dispute with Yisraeli owner Shlomo Ben-Zvi led to a halt in production for almost a week earlier this year. Adelson seems to be aiming directly at Yisraeli’s market share and aims to have a circulation of 300,000 copies.

Adelson is reportedly an associate of Likud chairman Binyamin Netanyahu and has hired close Netanyahu associates to run the paper, leading to speculation that it could be used to assist the former prime minister in returning to leadership when the rest of Israel’s media has been traditionally hostile to Netanyahu's campaigns.

Another paper, due to be launched in August, will be called Metro Israel and will be distributed in the afternoon. Designed to look like an Israeli edition of a European paper, it will be distributed at convenience stores and supermarkets in addition to the regular commuter points.

Metro Israel is being published by Eli Azur and David Weissman. Azur also owns the Jerusalem Post; reporters from that paper will reportedly be writing for it.

Yediot Acharonot is also planning to enter the free commuter-paper market with a Ynet Print Edition. Publisher Arnon Mozes says he hopes the free paper will exceed Yediot Acharonot’s 250,000 copies printed daily. He says he is aiming to match Israel Today’s 300,000.

Yediot Acharonot is currently Israel's largest daily newspaper.

Paper For New Immigrants Launching
Another paper bearing the name Israel Today will also launch in the near future – this one in simple Hebrew designed to help new immigrants learn the language while keeping abreast with current events. Not only will the paper be written in simple Hebrew, but some words will also be punctuated to make pronunciation easier. It will be marketed to elementary school students and the Arab sector as well.

That paper is being published by Avi Kartin and Daniel Gov. The paper will cost two shekels and be available at newsstands and markets. The owners say the name Israel Today was theirs since they launched the paper briefly in the early '90s. They admit that they did not trademark the name, but were annoyed that it would now share its name with another daily.