Jooish News

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill’s $60.7 billion proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027 eliminates a $2 million line item that had been designated for security and anti-terrorism measures at Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, TLS has learned.

The funding, which was included in former Governor Phil Murphy’s annual budgets was intended to support safety enhancements at the Yeshiva, which is the largest in the country, with well over 10,000 students enrolled.

As a whole, Sherrill’s budget proposal seeks to curb discretionary allocations and reprioritize state resources, as she works to avoid a looming fiscal crisis.

The proposed budget also reduces funding for the state’s New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Program by $3 million, bringing it down to $7 million. The program provides grants to nonprofit organizations, including religious institutions, to support security personnel, surveillance systems and other protective measures, and has been a key resource amid rising concerns about targeted threats.

In recent years, New Jersey has increased funding for nonprofit security grants amid heightened concerns about antisemitic incidents and threats against religious institutions.

The omission has raised concerns among some legislators, with Assemblyman Roy Freiman (D-Princeton) asking Attorney General Jennifer Davenport during a recent Assembly Budget Committee hearing why, in an environment of rising anti-Semitism, the budget cuts security funding.

Budget negotiations between the governor’s office and the Legislature are ongoing, and lawmakers could seek to reinstate the funding before a final spending plan is adopted ahead of the July 1 start of the new fiscal year.

BEIRUT (AP) — The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah will not abide by any agreements that may result from the direct Lebanon-Israel talks in the United States, negotiations it firmly opposes, a senior Hezbollah official said Monday.

Wafiq Safa, a high-ranking member of Hezbollah’s political council, spoke on the eve of the talks expected in Washington between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the U.S. It will be the first time in decades that envoys from Lebanon and Israel, which do not have diplomatic relations, meet face-to-face in direct talks.

“As for the outcomes of this negotiation between Lebanon and the Israeli enemy, we are not interested in or concerned with them at all,” Safa told The Associated Press.

“We are not bound by what they agree to,” he added in a rare interview with international media. He spoke next to a cemetery as an Israeli drone buzzed overhead.

Historic negotiations at a sensitive time
Lebanese officials are looking to broker a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war in the U.S. talks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, has said the goal is Hezbollah’s disarmament and a potential peace agreement between Lebanon and Israel. Shosh Bedrosian, a spokesperson for Netanyahu said Monday that there will be no ceasefire with Hezbollah.

Separately, in U.S.-Iran peace talks held last weekend in Pakistan, Iran has sought to include Lebanon in any ceasefire deal of its own with the U.S. Israel and the U.S. have insisted Lebanon would not be a part of it.

Hours after Tehran and Washington announced a truce last Wednesday, Israel launched more than 100 strikes across Lebanon, including in densely packed residential and commercial areas of central Beirut.

And though the U.S.-Iran talks broke up without an agreement, Safa said Hezbollah has been informed that Iran “was able to obtain a cessation of attacks” in the entire administrative region of Beirut, Lebanon’s caital, including Beirut’s southern suburbs — a Hezbollah-strong area known as Dahiyeh.

Israeli strikes on Beirut and its southern suburbs have halted since Wednesday but intense fighting has continued in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah’s entry into the war
Israel and Hezbollah have fought multiple wars since the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group was formed in the 1980s as a guerrilla force fighting against Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon at the time.

The latest round began on March 2, two days after Israel and the U.S. launched a war on Iran. Hezbollah entered the fray, firing missiles across the border into Israel. Israel responded with aerial bombardment and a ground invasion.

Since then, the war has displaced more than 1 million people in Lebanon and killed more than 2,000, including more than 500 women, children and medical workers. Many Lebanese have blamed Hezbollah for pulling Lebanon into the war, accusing it of acting on behalf of its patron, Iran.

Safa said Hezbollah’s actions were preemptive because its leaders believed “Israel was preparing for a second battle with Lebanon” with the aim of destroying Hezbollah.

It was “an appropriate moment for Hezbollah … to rebuild a new equation” and restore deterrence against Israel, he said, denying any prior deals with Tehran that Hezbollah would enter the war if Iran was attacked.

After a U.S.-brokered ceasefire halted the last Israel-Hezbollah war in November 2024, Israel continued to carry out near-daily strike in Lebanon that it said aimed to stop the group from rebuilding. Hezbollah wants to avoid a return to that status quo, Safa said.

‘Black Wednesday’
Israel has claimed that its strikes on Lebanon last Wednesday killed more than 250 Hezbollah militants. More than 100 women and children were among the over 350 people killed, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

That would mean that, according to Israel’s assertion, every adult male killed that day was a Hezbollah member.

“None of our officials or cadres was killed in Beirut,” Safa said. ”Those who died in Beirut are 100% civilians.” He did not deny that members of the group were killed outside of the Lebanese capital.

Israel claimed to have killed Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem’s secretary who was also his nephew, Ali Yusuf Harshi, as well as some high-level commanders.

Safa said Kassem’s secretary was not killed, although “maybe a relative of his was.”

He also confirmed for the first time that he was wounded during the earlier, 2024 Israel-Hezbollah war, after being targeted by two Israeli strikes in Beirut, “but God granted me survival.”

Souring relations with the government
Relations between the Lebanese government and Hezbollah — which is not just a militant group but also a political party with a parliamentary bloc — have grown increasingly tense.

The government last year approved a plan to remove all weapons that are not property of the state — its security forces or military — and later said it had largely completed the task south of the Litani River, where Hezbollah militants are now fighting with Israeli forces.

After March 2, the government went further, declaring Hezbollah’s armed wing illegal.

Safa said Hezbollah is currently not directly speaking with President Joseph Aoun or Prime Minister Nawaf Salam but that all its communications are going through Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the head of the Hezbollah-allied Amal party.

Safa said that if there is a ceasefire and a withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon, Hezbollah — which calls itself a “resistance” movement against archenemy Israel — is ready to negotiate with the Lebanese government about the fate of its weapons.

“The issue of resistance weapons is a Lebanese matter that has nothing to do with Israel or the United States,” he said.

Holocaust Remembrance Day began Monday night with a solemn state ceremony at Yad Vashem, where Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivered a message tying the memory of the Holocaust to the challenges facing Israel today.

Opening his remarks, Herzog noted that this year’s commemoration is taking place “during a time of war,” offering “words of strength and encouragement” to both soldiers and civilians. While acknowledging the length and difficulty of the current conflict, he said he remains “confident that we will emerge from it strengthened and empowered.”

He centered part of his address on the story of Master Sergeant Asaf Cafri, a 26-year-old IDF reservist who was killed in Gaza a year ago, presenting the family’s experience as emblematic of the broader national story. During a condolence visit, Herzog encountered Cafri’s great-grandmother, Holocaust survivor Magda Baratz, whom he described as sitting quietly, “her eyes…carrying a pain both old and new.”

Herzog recounted Baratz’s wartime ordeal, explaining that she was deported from a ghetto in Transylvania to Auschwitz, where she was separated from her family forever. “We looked at each other and knew: ‘We will never see each other again,’” she had written. He described how she endured forced labor, death marches, hunger, and brutal conditions, ultimately surviving and being freed from Bergen-Belsen at the age of sixteen, weighing just twenty kilograms.

Following the war, Baratz came to Israel, married another survivor, and rebuilt her life. Herzog highlighted her perspective, quoting her words: “This is my victory: to survive, to immigrate to the Land of Israel, and to establish a dynasty.” He noted that she went on to raise a large, multi-generational family.

He described the painful moment when, at a ceremony marking the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, Baratz was informed that her great-grandson Asaf had been killed in combat. Drawing a link between their lives, Herzog said that despite the decades separating them, “one spirit bound these generations: a spirit of heroism, of devotion, of determination.”

Reflecting on a visit during the family’s mourning period, Herzog said he witnessed “four generations in one home” and questioned whether any other nation could endure “such a story of pain and heroism.” He added that Baratz passed away shortly afterward, unable to bear the weight of her grief.

Broadening his remarks, Herzog turned to the historical reality of the Holocaust, noting that about six million Jews were murdered and emphasizing that the Nazis “made no distinction” between them. “To them, we were one people,” he said, with destruction decreed against all.

He spoke about the central role of family in Jewish identity, describing the Jewish people as “a large and expansive family, bound by history, by deep roots, by a shared destiny.” Despite the devastation, he said, the nation chose “not merely to survive, but to grow, to create, to rebuild.”

Addressing present-day events, Herzog pointed to Israel’s ongoing war following the October 7 massacre and highlighted what he described as the country’s resilience. He said he has seen “solidarity, the heroism, the devotion, and the mutual responsibility” throughout Israeli society.

At the same time, he warned about internal divisions, stressing the importance of unity. “A family may argue, but it must never tear itself apart,” he said, adding that the Jewish people “did not rise from the ashes…only to be consumed by the fire of discord.”

Herzog also referenced recent military operations, including cooperation with the United States and ongoing activity on multiple fronts. He acknowledged the heavy cost of the fighting and expressed empathy for bereaved families and the wounded, saying, “I see you, I share your pain.”

He commended emergency responders and security forces, noting the transformation from the helplessness of Holocaust victims to the strength of a sovereign state, declaring that “the striped prisoner’s uniform has been replaced by the IDF uniform.”

Warning of increasing antisemitism worldwide, Herzog urged international leaders to take meaningful action, stating that “empty words will not cover up inaction.”

He concluded by honoring Holocaust survivors, calling them “a source of inspiration…a symbol of the human spirit,” and pledged that Israel will continue to preserve their legacy for future generations.

Closing with the words of Magda Baratz, Herzog quoted her enduring hope: “I continue to believe that it will be good here… I believe this with all my heart.” He said that this belief continues to resonate across Israel today, ending with a note of confidence: “Yes, yes, it will be good here.”

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the American military had begun a blockade of Iranian ports as part of his effort to force Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz and accept a deal to end the war that has raged for more than six weeks.

Iran responded with threats on all ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, taking aim at U.S.-allied countries.

That set the stage for an extraordinary showdown that posed serious risks for the global economy and raised the specter that the ceasefire could collapse and the war could resume. Talks aimed at permanently ending the conflict — which began Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran — failed to reach an agreement this past weekend. There has been no word on whether negotiations will resume.

Trump says the blockade has begun

In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump said the blockade started at 10 a.m. EDT (2 p.m. GMT).

“We can’t let a country blackmail or extort the world because that’s what they’re doing,” Trump said of Iran.

Speaking outside the Oval Office, Trump suggested the U.S. is still willing to engage with Iran.

“I can tell you that we’ve been called by the other side,” Trump said.

He added: “We’ve been called this morning by the right people, the appropriate people, and they want to work a deal.”

Trump did not say who called or what was discussed.

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Trump: “I can tell you we’ve been called by the other side. They’d like to make a deal very badly.”

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Asked whether his earlier threats to destroy Iran’s critical civilian infrastructure still stands, Trump said: “I don’t want to comment on that, but it won’t be pleasant for them. Let me put it that way.”

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Trump: “Iran will not have a nuclear weapon… If they don’t agree, there’s no deal. There’ll never be a deal. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon and we’re going to get the dust back either we’ll get it back from them or we’ll take it.”

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Minutes before the scheduled start of the blockade, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency issued a notice to mariners that said the restrictions included “the entirety of the Iranian coastline, including ports and energy infrastructure.”

It added that transit through the strait “to or from non-Iranian destinations is not reported to be impeded by these measures,” but added that ships “may encounter military presence” in the strait.

Iran’s effective closure of the strait, through which 20% of traded oil passes in peacetime, has sent oil prices skyrocketing, pushing up the cost of gasoline, food and other basic goods far beyond the Middle East. Tehran has allowed some ships perceived as friendly to pass while charging considerable fees, leading to accusations it is holding the global economy hostage.

Some analysts are doubtful that the U.S. can restore normal shipping through force alone — and it’s not clear how a blockade would work or what the dangers might be to U.S. forces.

The question is essentially who can endure the most pain: Could a blockade make Iran’s economic situation untenable and force it to concede? Or will it drive global oil and other prices so high that Trump is forced to back down?

Blockade could have far-reaching effects

The U.S. military’s Central Command announced that the blockade would be enforced “against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas.” It said that would include all of Iran’s ports on the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

CENTCOM’s decision to allow ships traveling between non-Iranian ports to transit the strait was a step down from Trump’s earlier threat to blockade the waterway.

In a social media message posted shortly after the blockade was due to begin, Trump said Iran’s navy was “laying at the bottom of the sea, completely obliterated,” but he added that Tehran still has “fast attack ships,” and warned that “if any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED.”

Iran issued threats of its own.

“Security in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is either for everyone or for NO ONE,” the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported Monday. “NO PORT in the region will be safe,” read a statement from the Iranian military and the Revolutionary Guard.

The threats halted the limited ship traffic that resumed in the strait since the ceasefire, according to a report from Lloyd’s List Intelligence. Marine trackers say over 40 commercial ships have crossed since the start of the ceasefire last week, down from roughly 100 to 135 vessel passages per day before the war.

The blockade is likely intended to pile pressure on Iran, which has exported millions of barrels of oil since the war began, much of it likely carried by so-called dark transits that evade Western sanctions and oversight.

But the effects will be felt far beyond Iran. The price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, rose 7% to hover around $102 per barrel on Monday. It cost roughly $70 per barrel before the war.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that, together with French President Emmanuel Macron, he would hold a summit this week “to drive forward the international effort” to end the conflict and unblock the strait.

On X, Macron said the conference will draw together nations prepared to contribute to a “peaceful multinational mission aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the strait.” He stressed that the mission would be “strictly defensive” and “separate from the warring parties to the conflict.”

Iran says ‘if you fight, we will fight’

Top-ranking Iranian officials threatened retaliation.

Ebrahim Rezaei, a spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s National Security Commission, dismissed U.S. warnings of a potential blockade as “more bluffing than reality,” while warning that Tehran was prepared to respond if the situation escalates militarily.

“It will make the current situation (Trump) is in more complicated and makes the market — which he is angry about — more turbulent. And we may also reveal other cards that we have not used in the game,” he said in a post on X.

The Iranian parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, addressed Trump in a statement: “If you fight, we will fight.”

Ceasefire holds after talks end without agreement

The blockade threat came after marathon U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement on Saturday.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the talks stalled after Iran refused to accept American terms on refraining from developing a nuclear weapon.

Iran has insisted its nuclear program is peaceful. However, it has pushed forward with steps that could give it the ability to build a nuclear weapon, including enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels and developing long-range missiles potentially capable of delivering a bomb.

Iran’s ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, said the main sticking points for Tehran were its nuclear program, war reparations and sanctions relief.

Neither Iran nor the U.S. has indicated what will happen after the ceasefire expires on April 22. The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, 2,089 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states, and damaged infrastructure in half a dozen countries.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said his country will try to facilitate a new dialogue in the coming days.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, whose country has supported mediation efforts, suggested that the ceasefire could be extended for 45 to 60 days to allow for more negotiations.

(AP)

(AP) – More American workers are experimenting with artificial intelligence in their jobs, but skepticism is still widespread.

New Gallup polling finds that while more employees are using AI frequently in their work, there’s been an uptick in alarm that new technologies will replace their jobs. Many workers who are not using AI say they prefer to work without it, have ethical oppositions to the technology or worry about data privacy.

The poll, conducted in February, points to a divergence in how AI is reshaping American workplaces. Some find it to be a gamechanger for productivity and efficiency, while others are concerned about its potentially negative impacts.

Social worker Scott Segal said he regularly uses AI to find information that will help connect his elderly and vulnerable patients to health care resources in northern Virginia. While he knows that the human connection and care he brings to that work is important, he also believes that AI could soon replace him.

“I’m planning ahead,” said Segal, 53. “I think everyone who works in a replaceable field or trade should be planning ahead.”

Most workers using AI report productivity boosts
Roughly 3 in 10 employees are frequent users of AI in their jobs, meaning they use it daily or a few times a week. About 2 in 10 are infrequent users, using AI tools at work a few times a month or a few times a year.

The Gallup poll found that about 4 in 10 workers say their organization has adopted AI tools or technology to improve organizational practices. About two-thirds of those workers say AI has had an “extremely” or “somewhat” positive impact on their individual productivity and efficiency at work.

Workers using AI in management roles are more likely to say the technology has been at least “somewhat” positive for their productivity, compared with individual contributors. About 7 in 10 leaders using AI at least a few times a year say AI has made them more efficient at work, compared with just over half of individual contributors.

Labor and employment attorney Elizabeth Bloch of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, said she uses ChatGPT to help “draft letters or emails in a diplomatic way because it’s a very adversarial profession and sometimes you get heated.”

AI tools appear to have a greater benefit for workers in managerial, health care and technology roles than in service jobs. About 6 in 10 employees in those fields who are using AI say it’s boosted their productivity at least “somewhat,” compared with 45% of those using it in service jobs.

Why some employees don’t use AI
Even when companies make AI tools available, there’s no guarantee employees will adopt them. About half of U.S. employees use AI only once a year or not at all, according to the Gallup study.

Bloch said she’s tried using AI for legal research but finds it is prone to hallucinations, or making up false information, even when using AI tools custom-built for legal work. She’s worried other lawyers who were already bad at finding and citing relevant case law are “going to be bad at using AI, because you’re not using the right prompts,” leading judges to sanction them for false citations.

Among workers who have AI tools available at their company and don’t use them, 46% say it’s because they prefer to keep doing their work the way they do it now. About 4 in 10 non-users who have AI available to them report that they are ethically opposed to AI, are concerned about data privacy or don’t believe AI can be helpful for the work they do.

About one-quarter of these non-users who have AI tools available say they have used AI at work and don’t find it helpful, while about 2 in 10 say they do not feel prepared to use AI effectively.

Thuy Pisone, a contract administrator in Maryland for a company that works with the federal government, said she uses AI weekly for mundane tasks but has avoided it for things she already can do just fine.

“I have heard from my colleagues that we could use AI to put together our PowerPoint slides,” Pisone said. “I’m a little biased in that, well, I could put my own PowerPoints together. I don’t need help because it took me time to hone up my skill.”

More workers are concerned about new technology taking jobs
While this was less of a reason for forgoing AI at work, the poll also found U.S. workers are increasingly concerned about being driven out of a job by new technologies.

About 2 in 10 — 18% — of U.S. workers say it is “very” or “somewhat” likely that their current job will be eliminated within the next five years because of new technology, automation, robots or AI. That’s up from 15% in 2025. People working at companies that have adopted AI are even more likely to be concerned that their job will be eliminated: 23% call this at least “somewhat” likely in the next few years.

A Fox News poll conducted in March found that about 6 in 10 registered voters believe AI will eliminate more jobs than it creates over the next five years. Only about 1 in 10 expect it will create more positions, and about one-third say it’s too soon to say. About 7 in 10 employed voters say they are “not very” or “not at all” concerned their current job could be eliminated by AI.

Segal, the social worker in Virginia, said his alternative plan if AI replaces him is to start a new “health care chaperone service” that physically escorts patients from one appointment to another, especially when they’ve been sedated and don’t have family or others to pick them up.

“I don’t think that’s something that will be replaced for another maybe 10 or 15 years, until robots are embodied with AI,” Segal said. “I do believe that AI is going to displace most people’s employment functions and I question what people will do for livelihood at that point.”

In the meantime, he’s been asking AI chatbots to help him strategize on saving for his retirement.

___

Gallup’s quarterly workforce surveys were conducted with a random sample of adults age 18 and older who work full time and part time for organizations in the United States and are members of Gallup’s probability-based Gallup Panel. The most recent survey of 23,717 employed U.S. adults was conducted Feb. 4-19, 2026. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 0.9 percentage points.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office has announced that it will be joining with local law enforcement agencies across the county in a coordinated, high-visibility traffic enforcement detail as part of the statewide Goal: Zero initiative, aimed at combating the alarming rise in roadway fatalities across New Jersey.

According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, as of April 13, 2026, a total of 134 people have lost their lives on roadways throughout New Jersey, including 12 fatalities in Ocean County alone.

This month’s enforcement effort will place a particular focus on distracted driving, widely recognized as one of the most preventable causes of serious crashes and fatalities. The initiative also carries a deeper meaning, as it is dedicated to the memory of Paul Miller Jr., who was tragically killed in 2010 by a distracted tractor-trailer driver. In the years following his death, his mother, Eileen Miller, became a leading advocate for stronger distracted driving laws, ultimately helping to pass “Paul Miller’s Law” in Pennsylvania, which bans handheld device use while driving.

The coordinated enforcement detail is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, April 13, between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and will involve multiple agencies working together to target unsafe driving behaviors.

“Goal: Zero is a critical initiative that reinforces our commitment to eliminating preventable tragedies through enforcement, education, and strong community partnerships,” Prosecutor Billhimer said. “Every life lost on our roadways is one too many, and through our coordinated efforts we are working to make Ocean County’s roads safer for everyone.”

The Goal: Zero campaign was originally launched in 2024 through the efforts of Holmdel Township Patrolman Matt Menosky, bringing together dozens of municipalities to address dangerous driving habits. The initiative’s bright green branding symbolizes high visibility and pedestrian safety, while a black mourning band incorporated into the logo serves as a reminder of the lives lost in traffic crashes.

Authorities are urging motorists to remain alert, avoid distractions, and comply with all traffic laws as enforcement efforts increase throughout the county.

A psak halacha issued by Sephardic posek Rav Binyomin Chuta urging the public to avoid consuming Papushado cookies on Pesach due to halachic concerns has led to a major legal dispute, with the manufacturer demanding damages totaling three million shekels.

The company, “Ha’achim Papushado,” through its attorney Moshe Yitzchak Osditscher, has sent a formal warning prior to legal action against Rav Chuta, claiming that his repeated public statements amount to a “false, misleading, and damaging campaign” that has hurt the company’s reputation and weakened public trust in its products.

According to the company, the rov‘s remarks went beyond legitimate halachic opinion and instead presented incorrect information as fact. In the letter sent by attorney Osditscher, it states: “This constitutes false, misleading, and baseless publication that clearly exceeds the bounds of legitimate halachic opinion and amounts to a harmful and false factual determination presented to the public as fact.”

The company also stressed that its products are manufactured under strict and high-level kosher supervision, pointing to the backing of leading rabbinic authorities. The letter adds: “The company’s products are produced under strict and enhanced kosher supervision. As you are aware, even the ‘Rishon LeTzion,’ Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l, granted a kosher certification to my client, and leading gedolei hador, including Rav Amar shlit”a and Rav Avraham Yosef shlit”a, who thoroughly examined the matter, made it unequivocally clear that your statements are nothing more than unfounded claims.”

At the same time, the company’s legal representative acknowledged the role of rabbinic leadership but argued that such rulings must be responsibly issued. In his letter, Osditscher wrote: “For the avoidance of doubt, expressing a halachic opinion is an obligation for all mori hora’ah. However, without clarifying the matter with the certifying authority and without visiting the facility, this approach reflects a provocative stance that harms both the kosher certifier and the factory, compounding the offense by refusing to investigate the position as required by halacha.”

The company claims that the statements, which were delivered publicly and broadcast to a wide audience, cannot be viewed as mere opinion but rather as the spread of inaccurate information lacking any factual basis.

It further described the remarks as not only damaging from a business perspective but also problematic from a halachic and public standpoint, warning that they could mislead a broad segment of consumers—especially during the sensitive period leading up to Pesach, when issues of kashrus are particularly critical. According to the company, the harm is both reputational and financial, and losses have already reached significant levels.

As part of its formal demand, the company placed the initial damage assessment at approximately three million shekels, noting that this figure is conservative. In addition, it is requiring Rav Chuta to immediately remove all related statements, issue a public clarification and apology in a pre-approved format, and commit to refraining from making similar statements in the future.

Attorney Osditscher stressed the seriousness of the matter, stating: “This is not a single statement made in error, but rather repeated publications that create a false impression among the public. When this occurs repeatedly, especially in broad public broadcasts, it constitutes a real and ongoing harm to my client’s good name. In a sensitive field such as kashrus for Pesach, the responsibility is multiplied many times over.”

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Israel’s top military commander on Monday stressed the Jewish people’s transformation from helplessness during the Holocaust to a position of strength, declaring that the Israel Defense Forces will confront and eliminate every threat without hesitation as it prepares for the continuation of operations against Iran and its proxies.

Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, chief of the General Staff, made the remarks during a situational assessment and operational planning session with the General Staff Forum focused on Iran and other arenas.

“As we sit and plan the continuation of the operation in which we are currently engaged, on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day I cannot help but reflect on us and on the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces — and on the magnitude of the historic responsibility resting on our shoulders during this time,” Zamir said.

Eighty-one years after the end of World War II, Zamir highlighted the stark contrast between the persecuted Jewish people of the past and today’s reality.

“From a persecuted and defenseless people, we are now fighting a major and consequential campaign to remove existential threats from the State of Israel and the Jewish people,” he said. “We are facing a multi-arena operation, unprecedented in the history of our people and among nations.”

Zamir noted that Israel has struck hard at Iran and its proxy forces, dismantling military capabilities.

“The regime in Iran, which called and acted for our destruction, is a cruel dictatorship — we were not deterred by it. We stood firm in defense of our fate and struck them,” he said.

The chief of staff emphasized the IDF’s role as the strongest defensive force in Jewish history.

“Today, the Jewish people have a powerful defensive force against those who seek to destroy us. We will not be deterred by our enemies — our fate is in our hands,” Zamir said. “This evening, more than ever, it is appropriate that we remember the six million, and alongside that, remember the historic privilege we have been given to defend the Jewish people with strength.”

He concluded with a clear message as Yom HaShoah approaches: “On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day — the message from here is clear and unequivocal: We will not be deterred! We will look every threat in the eye and eliminate it in advance.”

A small red berry known as “miracle fruit” is drawing growing interest for its unusual ability to turn sour flavors sweet, and for offering relief to cancer patients struggling with a common side effect of chemotherapy.

Many patients undergoing treatment experience “chemo mouth,” a condition that causes food to taste metallic, bland, or spoiled. This can lead to reduced appetite, weight loss, and poor nutrition.

The fruit, scientifically called Synsepalum dulcificum, is now being explored as a way to help patients better tolerate food and regain a sense of normal eating.

“A lot of side effects from cancer treatments are underreported,” Dr. Mike Cusnir, a board-certified oncologist and co-director of gastrointestinal malignancies at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida told the New York Post on Monday.

He explained that taste disruption can worsen over time and significantly affect a patient’s well-being.

“The alteration in taste will end up giving the patient the sensation that everything is absolutely bland,” Cusnir said.

“And we may think that that’s negligible, that it’s not that important — but with time it becomes bothersome to the point where the patient doesn’t eat, then there’s weight loss.”

While the severity varies, the consequences can be serious. Poor nutrition and weight loss may interfere with ongoing cancer treatment, he noted.

In his research, Cusnir found that common strategies — such as switching utensils, adjusting food temperature, or adding spices — often fail to provide meaningful relief.

He first encountered miracle fruit when a patient introduced it to him, demonstrating its effects with a lemon.

“I’m like, ‘That’s going to be tangy,’” Cusnir recalled. “He’s like, ‘OK, try it.’ So I tried it. It was tangy. Then he said, ‘Now, try the fruit and then squeeze it again.’ And it tasted like lemonade.”

The berry contains a compound called miraculin, which temporarily alters taste perception. Its effects typically last between 30 and 40 minutes, though researchers are still studying how it works and why results differ among individuals.

In a small clinical study, about half of the patients who used the fruit reported improved taste and overall quality of life, while 14% experienced weight gain.

However, the fruit was not effective for everyone, and experts caution that the findings are still preliminary.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center notes that while some small studies suggest potential benefits, the overall evidence remains limited and inconsistent.

More comprehensive research is needed to determine how effective the fruit truly is and which patients are most likely to benefit.

Because the berry is delicate, it is often sold frozen or in tablet or powder form, as it can quickly lose potency after being harvested. Availability has increased in recent years, though product quality may vary.

Cusnir said there have been no clear safety concerns observed so far, and there is no strong evidence that the fruit interferes with cancer treatments. Still, patients are advised to consult their doctors before trying it.

Researchers are also exploring whether the fruit could help people with diabetes by making low-sugar foods more appealing.

For patients dealing with taste changes, even small improvements can make a meaningful difference in daily life.

“If a meal becomes a challenge for the patient, and they just don’t want to be there because they’re bothered by the food, they may isolate,” Cusnir said.

He added that this isolation can deepen the emotional toll of cancer treatment.

“Patients are tired, fatigued, and the time they spend with their family — if food is bothering them — it creates more isolation,” he said.

Helping patients enjoy even part of a meal again can have a significant impact, he said.

“Patients are with us maybe 15 minutes every few weeks,” Cusnir said.

“But they’re at home, with their family, three meals a day.”

The House returned Monday facing the prospect of multiple expulsion battles at once, a scenario almost without precedent in modern Congress. The most immediate pressure is on Rep. Eric Swalwell, after Rep. Anna Paulina Luna moved to force action following a weekend wave of misconduct allegations against the California Democrat.

Swalwell’s crisis escalated after reports said four women accused him of misconduct, including a former staff member. Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor over the weekend, apologized for what he called “mistakes in judgment,” and insisted the allegations are false.

The broader turmoil extends beyond Swalwell. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas is under ethics scrutiny after admitting to an affair with a former aide, with House Republican leaders had already urged him not to seek reelection. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida is facing one of the most advanced cases, with the Ethics Committee finding multiple violations and a federal criminal trial expected next year. Rep. Cory Mills, also of Florida, remains under investigation over allegations including misconduct, campaign finance issues, and gift violations, which he denies.

Still, expulsion remains difficult. The House has expelled only six members in its history, most recently George Santos in 2023, and doing so requires a two-thirds vote.

Senior Israeli political figure Aryeh Deri compared the war with Iran to a pot of cholent, saying its outcome could not be fully predicted, as he defended the government’s handling of the conflict and the decision to accept a ceasefire.

In a conversation with Israeli journalist Amit Segal, Deri was asked whether he felt let down by the ceasefire that brought a temporary halt to hostilities. He responded that, given the circumstances, the pause in fighting was justified.

“No. I thought that given where we’d arrived, a replacement regime hadn’t emerged in Iran, and on the other hand, there was very great destruction – on the contrary, maybe the nuclear material will be brought up in negotiations. I tell you again with full responsibility – Netanyahu did not say to Trump and to the American administration anything that, God forbid, we didn’t believe to be true.”

Pressed on whether Israel may have misjudged the likelihood of regime change in Iran and in turn misled the United States, Deri firmly rejected the premise.

“No, no, no…War is like a cholent – you know what you put in, you don’t know what you get.”

He elaborated that Israel had presented a strategic framework to its American counterparts based on the intelligence and projections available at the time, but acknowledged that outcomes in war cannot be guaranteed.

“Yes, we presented to them a plan for how, based on the data we had, if all these things came to pass… The goal was to create conditions for the regime’s fall, and I think we created those conditions. That’s actually why I think the ceasefire is a blessing – there’s a greater chance the regime will fall from within. Iran begged for a ceasefire. They’re presenting it – together with our own opposition – as an Iranian victory. To my great sorrow, that’s very nice cooperation between the two of them. But you can see that in the end they stopped the fire for two weeks with no commitments at all, and now even Lebanon, which was one of their conditions, that’s not happening either.”

During the course of the conflict, reports surfaced suggesting frustration within certain Israeli circles over intelligence assessments—particularly from the Mossad—that the war could lead to regime change in Iran, a development that has yet to materialize.

When asked directly about those reports and whether plans to topple the Iranian regime had failed to come to fruition, Deri acknowledged that while military operations had exceeded expectations, other aspects were still ongoing.

“The military achieved above and beyond. The Mossad, which was more responsible for the regime-change plan, has not yet reached. I say ‘yet’ because in my assessment it will be reached very soon.”

Looking ahead, Deri expressed confidence that internal pressures within Iran could still bring about significant political change in the near future.

“I believe so. By the way, Trump believes the current regime is far more measured and responsible than what came before. In a certain sense, I agree. The diplomatic figures there effectively forced the ceasefire because of the constraints, not because of any genuine change of heart. They understood that within two weeks Iran would go bankrupt.”

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge in Miami on Monday dismissed President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, which stemmed from a controversial report about an alleged lewd letter he sent to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday.

US District Judge Darrin Gayles ruled that Trump’s legal team had “not plausibly alleged that the Defendants published the Article with actual malice,” though he granted the president the opportunity to submit a revised complaint.

“President Trump will follow Judge Gayles’s ruling and guidance to refile this powerhouse lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and all of the other Defendants,” a spokesman for Trump’s legal team told The New York Post shortly after the ruling. “The President will continue to hold accountable those who traffic in Fake News to mislead the American People.”

Defamation claims brought by public figures have historically been difficult to win, as legal precedent requires proof that false information was knowingly published with malicious intent. The judge noted that the Journal had contacted Trump, 79, and his administration for comment before publishing the article.

While the Journal did not publish the letter itself, it described its contents. House Democrats later released the document publicly, which included a lewd image. The House Oversight Committee had obtained the letter from a birthday book discovered in Epstein’s estate. “Happy Birthday—and may every day be another wonderful secret,” read part of the letter, which bore Trump’s signature.

Trump’s lawsuit, filed in July 2025, asserted that “no authentic letter or drawing exists” between the two.

“We are pleased with the judge’s decision to dismiss this complaint. We stand behind the reliability, rigor and accuracy of The Wall Street Journal’s reporting,” a spokesperson for its publisher, Dow Jones, told The Post.

The controversy intensified weeks before the Journal’s report, when backlash grew over a joint FBI and Justice Department memo stating there was no evidence Epstein maintained a “client list” and that his 2019 death in a Manhattan jail cell was likely a suicide.

The uproar ultimately led to Congress passing the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November, compelling the DOJ to release more than 3 million pages of documents related to Epstein.

Trump’s lawsuit named Dow Jones, its parent company News Corp – which also owns The Post – as well as CEO Robert Thomson, Chair Emeritus Rupert Murdoch, and two reporters.

“President Trump’s conclusory allegation that Defendants had contradictory evidence and failed to investigate is rebutted by the Article and is insufficient to establish actual malice,” Gayles wrote. “President Trump’s allegation that Defendants acted with ill-will is insufficient to plead actual malice.”

The judge did not determine whether the article’s claims were true and declined to award legal fees, citing the possibility that Trump may file an amended complaint.

Trump had been photographed with Epstein years ago but has said their relationship ended badly in the mid-2000s. He has stated that he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago and claimed he “stole people that worked for me.” Trump has also said he cut ties with Epstein before his 2006 arrest on Florida child prostitution charges.

Last week, First Lady Melania Trump issued a public statement from the White House rejecting claims about her past connection to Epstein, stating, “I am not Epstein’s victim.”

Since the 2024 election cycle, Trump has filed multiple lawsuits against media outlets, securing $16 million settlements with ABC News and CBS News over their coverage.

In September, a judge dismissed Trump’s $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times related to its reporting on the 2024 election.

Trump is also pursuing a $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC, accusing the outlet of deceptive editing of his January 6, 2021 speech at the White House Ellipse, with the network seeking to have the case dismissed.

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning Monday that Iranian vessels identified as “fast attack ships” will be destroyed without delay if they approach the U.S.-enforced blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, as American forces begin a major naval operation targeting Iran’s maritime activity.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump asserted that Iran’s naval strength has already been significantly degraded, claiming that “158 ships” have been destroyed, leaving behind only a small fleet of fast-moving boats.

“What we have not hit are their small number of, what they call, ‘fast attack ships,’ because we did not consider them much of a threat,” Trump wrote.

He then delivered a direct warning regarding those vessels: “Warning: If any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED.”

Trump made clear that any response from U.S. forces would be immediate and forceful, describing it as “quick and brutal.” He also pointed to broader maritime enforcement efforts, saying they have significantly curtailed the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.

The warning coincides with the official rollout of a large-scale U.S. naval blockade aimed at restricting Iranian maritime operations.

U.S. Central Command announced that the initiative began Monday morning and applies to all ships moving in or out of Iranian ports throughout the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

CENTCOM stated that the blockade will be carried out “impartially against vessels of all nations,” while still allowing ships headed to destinations outside Iran to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, an effort meant to limit disruption to international commerce.

“All mariners are advised to monitor” U.S. naval communications and coordinate with forces in the region, CENTCOM said on X, highlighting the seriousness and wide reach of the operation.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global transit point, with roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply moving through its narrow corridor.

Recent actions by Iran to assert greater control over the waterway, including reported fees and limitations on passage, have heightened concern among U.S. officials and global shipping firms.

Trump’s latest remarks reflect an intensifying pressure campaign against Tehran, particularly as diplomatic attempts to address disputes over Iran’s nuclear program have stalled.

Military experts have long warned about the threat posed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ fast attack boats, which are built to overwhelm larger vessels through coordinated swarm tactics in the tight waterways of the Gulf.

Still, Trump’s comments indicate that the administration views that threat as manageable and believes those vessels could be dealt with swiftly.

With the blockade now in effect and tensions continuing to rise, the possibility of a direct clash in the region appears to be increasing.

HAVANA (AP) — On a recent sweltering afternoon in the Cuban capital, dozens of commuters on bicycles, scooters and electric motorcycles gathered in a tidy row at the entrance of the Havana Bay Tunnel. They were waiting for the Ciclobús, a bus specially fitted to take people — and their rides — through the underwater tunnel linking Old Havana to the eastern side of the island.

The diesel-powered bus can accommodate around 60 travelers and their vehicles, making enough trips to transport more than 2,000 people per day. It features a front seating section, but half its metallic frame is an open bay for cargo. Riders enter via a specialized ramp and stay with their vehicles for the duration of the trip, holding onto wall-mounted grab bars for balance. Bicycles, motorcycles and scooters are not allowed in the tunnel.

While the Ciclobús is not new, it has never been as popular — and essential — as Cuba navigates its most severe energy crisis in decades.

People with their bicycles and motorcycles cross the Bay Tunnel in a public bus in Havana, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

The energy blockade imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump in January has forced the country to ration gasoline to only 20 liters (5 gallons) per vehicle through a cumbersome appointment process that can take weeks, or even months, halting public transportation. These days, the streets of Havana are almost empty of cars but teeming with thousands of bicycles and small electric motorcycles that have become the only way to get around.

“My husband owns a bicycle, so I’m riding as his companion,” said Ingrid Quintana, a resident of East Havana, who works in the old part of Havana, while waiting for the tunnel bus. “It’s an option we have, because there’s no public transportation and we can’t afford to pay for a private taxi, so we ride the Ciclobús.”

The Ciclobús is the shortest public transportation route on the island, covering 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) in about 15 minutes.

After boarding near the Havana Bay Tunnel in Old Havana, passengers endure a rattling journey through the darkness of the underwater passage. They emerge in eastern Havana, a sprawling residential zone where hundreds of thousands reside. By contrast, the alternative land route must skirt the massive bay, a 16-kilometer (10-mile) trek through sparsely populated and poorly paved industrial port areas.

The fare for boarding ranges from 2 to 5 Cuban pesos (a tiny fraction of a U.S. dollar on the informal market) depending on whether you are transporting a bicycle or a motorcycle.

In comparison, a ride in a shared taxi from the eastern neighborhoods — passing through the tunnel — costs 1,000 Cuban pesos (about $2). A Cuban worker can earn a monthly salary of 7,000 Cuban pesos (about $14).

Owned by Havana’s state-run transport company, the Ciclobús emerged in the 1990s during the so-called “Special Period,” the crisis triggered by the collapse of the Soviet Union that left the island isolated, prompting then-President Fidel Castro to distribute Chinese-made bicycles among the population.

Over time, the service lost some of its appeal as residents turned to regular buses or shared taxis. But it is now seeing a resurgence as fuel shortages force more Cubans to rely on bicycles, electric tricycles, scooters and motorcycles for their daily commutes.

“Most jobs are on the other side, in the city, and that’s why we have to ride it to get across,” said 32-year-old gym teacher Bárbaro Cabral, gripping his bicycle tightly as the Ciclobús began to fill with passengers.

The Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel approved a special resolution on Monday expressing gratitude for “the great miracles that we see during these times.”

Chief Rabbi Kalman Ber, who heads the council, presented the resolution during its official session.

The text of the resolution extends appreciation to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, IDF soldiers, and US President Donald Trump “for being eloquent ambassadors for the defense of the people of Israel,” while also offering wishes for their continued success.

“The Chief Rabbinate Council sees the providence of the One who dwells in Shamayim over His nation who sits in Eretz Hakodesh, and gives thanks for the miracles that we see during these difficult days of war,” the resolution states.

The council praised IDF soldiers and commanders “for fighting with dedication and for standing steadfast for acheinu kol Beis Yisrael,” and voiced encouragement for the Prime Minister and government ministers “who guide the policy of protecting the people.”

It also conveyed condolences to bereaved families, stating: “Both families of IDF soldiers gave their lives…and for the families who lost their loved ones in attacks that aimed to harm the citizens of Israel.” The council further offered prayers for the recovery of those wounded.

In addition, the resolution expresses gratitude to US President Donald Trump, “and all those who surround him who defend our land and the world, as well as the soldiers of the US Military who are also in full cooperation with Israeli soldiers fighting against evil and wickedness.”

The resolution concludes with a prayer: “May the bracha be granted: ‘And I establish peace in the Land and the world, and eternal joy on all its inhabitants’.”

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that it killed a Hamas operative who took part in the deadliest single attack on Israeli troops during the ground offensive in Gaza, along with at least six other militants in a strike the previous week.

Yousef Ibrahim Mahmoud Beshiti was among those killed in the strike last Monday in central Gaza, the military said. Beshiti belonged to a Hamas cell that attacked troops on Jan. 22, 2024, killing 21 soldiers in what remains the deadliest incident for the IDF since the start of its ground operation in the territory.

The strike targeted several armed Hamas members who approached the Yellow Line — a de facto operational boundary in the area — and were planning an imminent attack on IDF forces, the military said.

“The terrorists posed a real threat to IDF troops and were therefore targeted in precise strikes,” the IDF said in a statement.

In the January 2024 attack, Hamas operatives fired RPGs at troops, striking a tank and detonating mines rigged to demolish two buildings. The secondary explosions caused the structures to collapse on soldiers operating nearby.

The latest operation also killed a member of Hamas’ elite Nukhba Force, a cell commander and a Hamas police officer, among others, according to the IDF.

The military has continued targeted operations against Hamas infrastructure and operatives involved in past attacks, even as broader ceasefire efforts and regional dynamics evolve. Hamas has not commented on the specific identification of Beshiti.

A 58-year-old man has subjected himself to more than 200 snake bites over nearly two decades in an effort to develop immunity that could help create a broad, potentially universal antivenom, a breakthrough researchers say could save thousands of lives worldwide.

The effort comes as experts warn that climate change is expected to increase human encounters with venomous snakes. In response to this growing threat, Tim Friede deliberately exposed himself to repeated snake bites in hopes of building resistance that could later be used for medical purposes.

For close to 20 years, Friede allowed some of the world’s most dangerous snakes to bite him as part of a self-driven mission to develop immunity. His goal was to eventually contribute to the creation of a universal antidote to snake venom.

The extraordinary and often dangerous undertaking, carried out without formal scientific training in the basement of his Wisconsin home while he worked as a window cleaner, nearly cost him his life. At various points, he almost lost his leg and fingers, and at one stage fell into a coma.

“People said I was crazy, of course. There were people who tried to stop me,” he told The Guardian. “I knew it was dangerous but people die from snakebites and that made me angry. I couldn’t get it out of my head. I put myself at risk and I’m glad I did it.”

His efforts may now be yielding results. Scientists say his antibodies could help pave the way for a new type of antivenom capable of preventing some of the estimated 138,000 deaths and 400,000 serious injuries caused annually by snake bites, most of them affecting poor populations in Asia and Africa. Globally, up to 5.5 million people are bitten by snakes each year.

Treating snake bites remains challenging because different species require different antivenoms, with hundreds of dangerous species capable of harming humans. Centivax, a California-based vaccine company where Friede now works, is attempting to develop a near-universal antivenom using the antibodies he built up through repeated exposure.

Friede was exposed to venom from “very deadly snakes that would normally kill a horse,” according to Centivax CEO Jacob Glanville, who has reviewed the research. A study conducted last year found that Friede’s antibodies were able to neutralize toxins from 19 snakes in the elapid family, which includes roughly half of all venomous species, such as cobras, mambas, taipans, coral snakes, and kraits.

Testing of the new antivenom is expected to begin on animals in Australia later this year, before any potential human use. Reflecting on his unusual path, Friede said, “I wanted to make sure all of this wasn’t for nothing, so people couldn’t say I was an idiot for doing it.”

“I knew I was immune and that I could help bridge that gap, and I’m confident that I did. I wanted to do this for humanity, for the people most at risk on the planet.”

Beginning in 2001, Friede started injecting himself with small amounts of venom mixed with saline in order to gradually build immunity before eventually allowing snakes to bite him directly, typically on his forearms or fingers.

“For me it was a puzzle of how to not die from a snake bite. I wanted to figure out a way to become immune,” he said. Friede continued working as a window cleaner while pursuing his self-taught experiments, maintaining a collection of about 60 snakes in the basement of his home in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. The snakes were purchased from a breeder in Florida and shipped to him in wooden crates, secured in sealed bags.

One early experiment nearly ended in disaster. On September 12, 2001, Friede allowed himself to be bitten by a monocled cobra and then an Egyptian cobra—two of the world’s most dangerous snakes—and fell into a coma for several days.

“If my neighbor hadn’t been there to call emergency services, I would have died in 15 minutes,” he said. “I know what it’s like to be almost dead. Cold and dark, you can’t talk, my body just froze. I could still think and hear everything around me.”

Despite concerns from his wife—whom he has since divorced—Friede quickly resumed his efforts, believing that real bites were necessary to accurately simulate actual encounters with venomous snakes.

Over the years, he suffered additional severe injuries and near-death experiences. He lost consciousness multiple times due to anaphylactic shock, one of his fingers turned black and nearly had to be amputated after a particularly severe bite, and venom from a cobra caused significant muscle damage in his leg.

Describing the pain, Friede said a snake bite feels “like a bee sting, but 1,000 times worse, it just hurts terribly and there’s nothing you can do about it.” He added that some of the most dangerous snakes, such as certain cobras, inject necrotic venom that destroys body tissue.

In total, Friede endured more than 200 bites, nearly half of them from mambas.

He eventually developed immunity to one of the most venomous snakes in the world—the taipan, native to semi-arid regions of Australia. A single bite from a taipan can contain enough venom to kill more than 100 people.

“It was a big goal of mine to beat taipan. I spent four months preparing for it to build up my immune system,” he told The Guardian. “I knew that if I could beat that I could beat anything. Now I’ve been bitten 22 times by a taipan, so now I can say I can do it.”

New York City is set to enter the grocery business, as Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled plans for the city’s first government run supermarket, a $30 million project planned for East Harlem’s historic La Marqueta.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 12: The prediction market company Polymarket prepares to open a free grocery store in Manhattan on February 12, 2026 in New York City. According to the company, the physical store is opening from February 12th to 16th, 2026 and will be fully stocked and ready for shoppers, with “no purchase required.” Polymarket allows users who download its app to bet on just about anything, including economic data, elections, sports, entertainment and more. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The store will be the first of five city owned grocery locations planned across all five boroughs, as part of a larger $70 million initiative to lower food prices by cutting out overhead costs like rent, property taxes, and profit margins.

The goal is simple, make essentials like bread, milk, and eggs more affordable for struggling families, particularly in neighborhoods like East Harlem, where food prices remain a serious concern. By operating the stores directly, the city hopes to create what Mamdani has described as a “public option” for groceries.

US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) shares a laugh with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during Mamdani’s 100 Day Address in Maspeth, New York on April 12, 2026. April 10 marked Mamdani’s 100th day in office as New York City’s 112th mayor. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)

The plan is being criticized as a costly government overreach, warning that taxpayer-funded supermarkets are an inefficient, poorly managed, and ultimately unsustainable idea. Such ideas have historically failed in other parts of the US and in other countries, arguing that the private sector, despite its flaws and costs, is better equipped to handle food distribution at scale.

People shop at a local supermarket in the Sugar Hill neighborhood of the Manhattan borough of New York City on April 9, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)

The East Harlem location will be built using city-owned space at La Marqueta, a once thriving public market that officials hope to revive as part of the project. When approved, the first store is expected to open by 2027, with all five locations projected to be operational by 2029.

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By Y.M. Lowy

A heartbreaking tragedy has struck the Goldstein family with the sudden passing of Dina Goldstein a”h, a 43-year-old mother whose life was cut short during Chol Hamoed.

Dina leaves behind her only son, Aryah Avrohom Chaim, now left alone with no parents. His father passed away before he was even born, and Dina spent her entire life raising him on her own, giving him everything she possibly could. She worked tirelessly to ensure he received the best chinuch and opportunities, always putting him first.

In recent years, Dina faced serious challenges, including major health issues, surgeries, and job loss, all while continuing to care for her son with strength and determination.

Now, Aryah is facing an unimaginable reality—grieving the loss of his mother while trying to continue building his future on his own. He is currently learning and working toward a professional career, but without the support system most young people rely on.

A fund has been set up to help ease this burden and give him a chance to move forward with stability. The goal is to support him through his learning, help him stand on his own, and assist with future needs.

We cannot replace his loss. But we can decide what happens next.

Be the reason he can keep going.

Be the support he no longer has.

Every donation is more than help - it’s hope.

👉 https://abcharity.org/campaign.php?id=7685

Give now. Don’t wait. Help secure his future.

NEW YORK (AP) — For decades, presidents avoided even the appearance of profiting from their office.

Harry Truman refused to lend his name to any business, even in retirement. Richard Nixon so feared a brother might profit off their ties, he had his phone tapped. And George W. Bush dumped his individual stock holdings before taking office.

President Donald Trump is taking a different approach.

The family real estate business is undergoing the fastest overseas expansion since its founding a century ago, each deal potentially shaping everything from tariffs to military aid.

Led by Eric, and his brother, Donald Jr., the family business has expanded into cryptocurrencies with ventures that brought in billions of dollars but raised questions about whether some big investors received favorable treatment in return.

The brothers have also joined or invested in a number of companies that aim to do business with the government their father runs. Last month, they struck a deal giving them stakes worth millions in an armed drone maker seeking contracts with the Pentagon and with Gulf states under attack by Iran and dependent on the U.S. military led by their father.

The White House and the Trump Organization deny there are any ethical problems. Asked about the issue at a recent crypto conference, Donald Jr. said, “Frankly, it’s gotten old.”

The problem of conflicts of interest goes back a decade to when Trump first ran for office, but some government ethics experts and historians argue it’s more pressing than ever as conflicts pile up in his second term that they consider unprecedented, blatant and dangerous to democracy.

“I don’t think there’s any line right now between policy decisions and political calculations and the interest of the Trump family,” said Julian Zelizer, a presidential historian at Princeton University.

Deal-making spree abroad
In Trump’s first term, the Trump Organization did zero deals in foreign countries. In a little over a year into his second term it did eight, all ostensibly complying with the Trump Organization’s self-imposed rule not to do business directly with foreign governments.

But governments in authoritarian and one-party states rarely take a hands-off approach — especially when the business belongs to a sitting president.

In Qatar, a Trump golf club and villa project is being developed in part by a company owned by the Qatari government. In Vietnam, where The New York Times reported the government pushed farmers off their land to make way for a Trump resort, the country’s deputy prime minister signed off on the deal at a ceremony. And in Saudi Arabia, a planned “Trump Plaza” resort on the Red Sea is being built by a Saudi real estate developer close to the ruling family.

Whether the deals played any role in changing U.S. policies in ways these countries sought is nearly impossible to know but the countries did get what they wanted – access to advanced U.S. technology for Qatar, tariff relief for Vietnam and fighter jets for Saudi Arabia.

And the Trump Organization got something too: Tens of millions in fees.

Asked about those projects, the Trump Organization said it has done no deals with governments so far, noting that the Saudi company was private and has said it is “collaborating” with the Qatari business and had not struck a “partnership” with it that would have broken its self-imposed rules.

The UAE, crypto and Binance
Another deal raising conflicts of interest questions first came to light in a Wall Street Journal article in January — a year after it was struck.

Days before the inauguration, the Trump family sold nearly half of its World Liberty Financial crypto business to a UAE government-linked company run by a member of the UAE royal family for $500 million.

A second UAE entity, a government fund, invested in the offshore cryptocurrency exchange Binance using $2 billion worth of a digital currency called a stablecoin issued by World Liberty. That allowed the Trump company that received the dollars to put it in safe investments such as bonds or money market funds and keep the tens of millions of dollars in interest for itself.

Shortly after, the Trump administration reversed a Biden-era restriction and granted the UAE access to advanced U.S. chips. Binance’s founder, Changpeng Zhao, later got a pardon from Trump, despite having pleaded guilty to failing to stop criminals from using his platform to move money connected to child sex abuse, drug trafficking and terrorism.

A lawyer for Zhao denied any connection between the Binance’s business with the Trump family and the pardon.

“Any claim of a quid pro quo by Binance or CZ, or preferential financial treatment by Binance, is a clear misstatement of the public record,” said Teresa Goody Guillen in a email to the AP, referring to Zhao by his initials.

Asked about the pardon, the White House said federal authorities had unfairly punished Zhao in what it called “The Biden Administration’s war on crypto.”

World Liberty dismissed the notion of a conflict, saying the UAE deal had no connection to the president’s chips policy.

Crypto billions
World Liberty has also provided a separate income stream to a new Trump limited liability corporation through sales of “governance tokens” that give owners certain voting rights in its business, though not equity stakes, raising $2 billion last year. That translates into hundreds of millions of dollars for the Trumps through their World Liberty ownership stake and a separate side deal allowing them a cut of these sales.

One big token investor was Justin Sun, a cryptocurrency billionaire who as a foreign citizen would be banned under U.S. law from making political donations to U.S. politicians. Between Trump’s election and inauguration, Sun spent $75 million on the tokens.

In February last year, a federal lawsuit charging Sun with duping investors was paused before being settled last month for a $10 million fine.

Then there are the souvenir-type “meme” coins stamped with Trump’s face that went on sale days before he took the oath of office last year.

Over the next four months, the coins generated $320 million, mostly going to Trump-related entities, according to blockchain tracker Chainalysis. That is more than double the money collected in four years running his Washington D.C. hotel in Trump’s first term.

Unlike the lobbyists or campaign donors trying to influence Trump, the coin buyers can buy anonymously. One who chose to make his purchase public was Sun, who spent $200 million on the coins and got access to Trump at a gala party he held for the biggest buyers.

Another family cryptocurrency business, American Bitcoin went public in September, giving Donald Jr. and Eric about $1 billion in paper wealth at that time. Months earlier, their father announced a new national bitcoin reserve, sending the price for the cryptocurrency soaring to a record.

The Trump businesses aren’t completely immune to crypto’s notorious volatility. The value of bitcoin and other digital tokens have since plunged and rattled investors. Both American Bitcoin stock and the value of Trump’s souvenir meme coins have collapsed 90% from their highs.

Last month, Trump announced he would hold another dinner with new top holders of his meme coins, giving the coin a boost before it fell back again.

“Whatever constraints there were in the first term appear to have completely disappeared,” says Columbia University historian Timothy Naftali. “Do you want future presidents to be open to the highest bidder?”

Trump thinks people don’t care
Asked to comment for this story, the White House said Trump acts in an “ethically-sound manner” and that any suggestion to the contrary is either “ill-informed or malicious.” It reiterated that his assets are in a trust managed by his children and stated he has “no involvement” in family business deals.

“There are no conflicts of interest,” said spokesperson Anna Kelly.

In a separate statement, the Trump Organization said it is “fully compliant with all applicable ethics and conflicts of interest laws” and added, “The implication that politics has enriched the Trump family is unfounded.”

Trump in January told The New York Times that when it comes to potential conflicts of interest, “I found out that nobody cared, and I’m allowed to,” alluding to an exemption the president gets from the federal statute banning federal officials from holding financial interests in businesses impacted by public policy they help shape.

It’s not clear he’s wrong about American attitudes, though they appear to be changing even among Republicans. In a Pew Research Center poll in January, 42% of those voters said they were confident that Trump acts ethically in office, down from 55% at the start of his second term a year ago.

Change of fortune
Forbes estimates Trump’s net worth is now $6.3 billion, soaring 60% from before he returned to office, a striking development given how much the Trump Organization struggled before.

The Trump International Hotel in D.C. never turned a profit before being sold. Two Trump hotel chains catering to middle class travelers in his first term shut down for lack of demand. Condominium buildings stripped the Trump name off their facades after discovering that instead of attracting buyers, it was repelling them.

No new U.S. condominiums are putting the Trump name above their entrances in his second term, but his name is prized in Washington where people have business before the federal government.

Donald Jr., Trump’s oldest son, opened a private club in the Georgetown section of Washington that is charging initiation fees as high as $500,000 for founding members.

One of the few clubs with comparable fees, the Yellowstone Club in Montana, offers access to multiple resorts, 50 ski trails and more than a dozen restaurants across a members-only area the size of Manhattan.

Donald Jr.’s club is in the basement of a building but offers something else — proximity to power.

The club’s name is “Executive Branch.”

Bibles, guitars and sneakers
Other presidents and their families have done things in pursuit of profit that stained that high office.

Hunter Biden got paid as a director of a Ukrainian gas company while his father was vice president. The Clinton Foundation got foreign donations, though after Bill Clinton had left office. And Jimmy Carter’s brother Billy cashed in on the family name by selling beer.

In Trump’s case, the president himself is hawking goods, including $59.99 “God Bless the USA” Bibles, $399 sneakers stamped “Never Surrender” and electric guitars priced up to $11,500 — shipping not included — for a model autographed by the president.

New year, new profits
In the first months of Trump’s second year back in the White House, the momentum hasn’t let up.

In January, the Trump Organization announced its third deal involving Saudi Arabia in less than a year, this time a “collaboration” with a company more directly tied to the government because it is owned by the country’s sovereign wealth fund chaired by its crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. Asked by the AP whether the project outside Riyadh for Trump mansions, a hotel and golf course violated the company’s pledge not to strike deals with foreign governments, the Trump Organization said it doesn’t “conduct business with any government entity” but didn’t address the project specifically.

Meanwhile, as the two oldest brothers’ new drone company seeks Pentagon contracts, other government contractors in which one or both have gotten ownership stakes this past year are taking in tens of millions of dollars of new taxpayer money. That includes a rocket motor maker, an AI chip supplier and a data analytics company, according to government contracting records.

Asked about potential conflicts after the drone deal was announced, Eric said, “I am incredibly proud to invest in companies I believe in.” A spokesman for Donald Jr. said he doesn’t “interface” with the government on companies in his portfolio, adding that “the idea that he should cease living his life and making a living to provide for his five kids just because his dad is president, is quite frankly, a laughable and ridiculous standard.”

A new investment firm that the brothers joined as advisers last year has raised $345 million in an initial public offering to buy stakes in U.S. companies designed to help their father revive America’s manufacturing base. After the AP asked Trump’s chief business lawyer about language in a regulatory filing stating the firm would target companies seeking federal grants, tax credits and government contracts, he filed a new document with that language removed.

Zelizer, the Princeton historian, says he expects future presidents will show more restraint in enriching themselves, but worries about the message Trump is sending.

“He has shown politically there is no price to be paid to making money,” he said. “You know you can go there.”

Mordechai Zelig ben Blima, the boy who was seriously injured in yesterday’s fatal accident, is in very serious condition.

The family and his Yeshiva are asking all to Daven for him.

For your convenience, TLS has opened an online Tehillim chain here.

A patient is being airlifted to the hospital following a home fire in Toms River this morning.

The fire broke out at the home shortly before 11:00 AM, with reports of a patient trapped.

At least one victim sustained serious injuries, requiring airlifting.

Developing story.

Shalom Ohalecha is proud to invite the community to our inaugural Shalom Bayis Awareness Event.

Gain valuable insight into preparing your children for successful shalom bayis, and understand why proper guidance and training should begin well before the chuppah.

Participants will leave with practical tools to help build strong, lasting foundations for their children’s future homes.

Join us this Thursday, April 16th
Williams St Shul Hall
8:00 – 10:00 PM | 60 Williams St.

Opening remarks will be delivered by Rabbi Uri Deutsch and Rabbi Moshe Rotberg, followed by an engaging Q&A panel.

Watch on Zoom

**Join Zoom Meeting
**https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82783734656?pwd=flQMXObLVAMaBFu06cqzgGTP4txepT.1

Meeting ID: 827 8373 4656
Passcode: 991506

Call In:
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For questions, comments or to receive replay audio or video, contact: shalomohalecha@gmail.com

As many politicians do, the mayor often has his staff set up lecterns on street corners, and he even did so on a city bus on Feb. 13.

The mayor stood in front of city transportation workers in hard hats and reflective vests as he delivered remarks behind a lectern on a Manhattan city street on Jan. 6, and spoke at a lectern on a street corner the next day in Jackson Heights in Queens.

He and others spoke at a podium in the snow in a park on Jan. 17 and in front of an apartment building in the Bronx on March 6.

Beverly Hallberg, president of District Media Group who trains politicians, business leaders and others on media strategy and public speaking, told JNS that Mamdani’s outdoor desk reflects his “being self-conscious about being mayor.”

“Instead of holding a document signing inside, where cameras could easily be let in, he goes outside to signal that he’s not a typical politician but a man of the people,” Hallberg said.

“At the same time, he wants to flex his authority as mayor of New York City, so he brings the desk outside to show he should be taken seriously,” she said.

Hallberg thinks there’s also another aspect to Mamdani’s choreographic decisions here.

“He may believe that clips of him signing outside play better with Gen Z audiences watching on TikTok,” she told JNS.

Outdoor lecterns, to Hallberg, aren’t unusual.

“Having a single fixed location for a speaker helps with sound and lighting, gives the speaker a place for notes and makes it easier for the press to capture clean photos and video outdoors,” she said.

“It’s the desk outside that’s the head-scratcher. I haven’t seen it done to the extent that Mamdani does it,” she told JNS. “Trump did sign executive orders at a desk on Inauguration Day at the Capital One Arena, but a desk being used for outdoor signings isn’t something I can recall being a recurring practice before this.”

Henry Olsen, senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and host of the Conservative Crossroads and Beyond the Polls podcasts, told JNS that he has seen lecterns on flat ground before.

“I presume it allows for better sound through the fixed mic, plus it conveys official status with the seal,” he said.

JNS shared photos that City Hall posted of Mamdani signing documents at the desk with the city seal on street corners.

“I have never seen a desk transported like your picture shows, nor have I seen a lectern on a bus,” Olsen said. “I presume he uses those to reinforce the idea that he is the mayor. He is so young, and the fact he has a beard means he could be subliminally viewed as unauthoritative if he stands alone, but that’s just conjecture.”

JNS found two examples of then-mayor Bill de Blasio signing documents at a desk on the street, one with a “black live matter” sign on July 15, 2020, and the other on May 14, 2021. JNS

ROME (VINnews) — A Vatican official has responded to an Israeli rabbi who criticized recent comments by Pope Leo XIV about the conflict between Israel and Iran, according to a report by the The Times of Israel.

Rabbi Eliezer Simcha Weisz, a member of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate and its interreligious dialogue committee with the Vatican, wrote to the pope expressing concern that the pope’s public remarks suggested moral equivalence between Israel and those attacking it. Weisz argued that framing the conflict in such terms risks obscuring Israel’s right to self-defense.

Flavio Pace, a senior official in the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, replied to the letter, thanking the rabbi and stating that relations between the Vatican and the Chief Rabbinate will continue to develop despite disagreements. The response did not directly address the substance of the criticism.

The exchange comes amid broader tensions surrounding international reactions to the war. The Times of Israel reported the correspondence and said it was unclear whether the reply represented the pope’s official position or a personal response.

In a rare and powerful show of urgency, several leading Gedolei Yisrael have traveled to the United States for a high-stakes mission to support the Shuvu educational network, which is facing a critical financial situation.

Among those participating are Maran HaGaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, HaGaon Rav Shimon Galei, and HaGaon Rav Yehuda Silman, who have arrived in New York and New Jersey as part of a focused fundraising effort.

Over the course of several days, the Gedolim are expected to attend private events and gatherings in key Jewish communities, including Brooklyn, Lakewood, and the Five Towns, meeting with supporters and donors to secure vital funding. Shuvu operates approximately 60 schools across Eretz Yisrael, providing education to more than 6,000 students, many from families with limited access to traditional Torah schooling.

Shuvu has long been recognized as a cornerstone in kiruv and chinuch, bringing thousands of children closer to Torah and mitzvos. The involvement of such senior Gedolim demonstrates the importance of the organization and how essential immediate support is to ensure their continued operation.

The gedolim arrived at Newark airport to start off their mission, greeted by organizers and supporters determined to help secure the future of the establishments.

Israeli troops have taken operational control of a destroyed stadium in southeastern Lebanon where slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah once threatened the Jewish state, the military said on Monday, confirming a major raid in the Bint Jbeil area.

“Bint Jbeil in the year 2000. Someone stood here, in this field, and claimed that Israel is a cobweb filled with spiders that must be exterminated. Today, that man is gone, the compound is gone, and his words are worth nothing,” Brig. Gen. Guy Levy, commander of the 98th Paratroopers Division, said in a statement shared with reporters.

“Our troops have operational control of the area, dismantling terror infrastructure and eliminating dozens of terrorists,” the general said.

“Behind us are the residents of the north whom we protect; ahead of us are national days that remind us why we are fighting and for what we are fighting,” Levy added, in reference to Israel’s Remembrance and Independence days, which are this year marked on April 21 and 22, respectively.

“With us are the very best forces: people of courage, capability, determination and steadfast spirit,” he said.

Nasrallah was killed on Sept. 27, 2024, in an Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah’s underground headquarters in the heart of Beirut’s southern district. Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed earlier on Monday that the Iranian-supported Hezbollah leader likely died of suffocation following the attack and had “a few minutes to think about how wrong he was in understanding the Jews—that we have changed.”

Levy’s remarks at the stadium where Nasrallah delivered his May 26, 2000, speech followed an IDF announcement that the 98th Division had carried out a targeted ground operation in Bint Jbeil over the past week.

The soldiers “struck and eliminated more than 100 Hezbollah terrorist operatives, both in close-quarters combat and through aerial strikes, dismantled dozens of terrorist infrastructure sites and located hundreds of weapons in the area, including weapons located in and around civilian infrastructure,” the army said.

A military official told JNS on Monday that the operation was launched following indications that Hezbollah terrorists planned to infiltrate Israel from Bint Jbeil. Following fierce fighting in the town, only a small number of terrorists remain and the threat has been neutralized, the official stressed.

“Full operational control of Bint Jbeil will be achieved within days,” the official predicted, noting that the IDF since the ceasefire with Iran has defined Southern Lebanon as the “main operational front” of “Operation Rising Lion” against the Islamic Republic.

Meanwhile, peace talks between Israel and Lebanon are expected to kick off at the U.S. State Department on Tuesday following Beirut’s promise to outlaw the Iranian terrorist proxy.

“As a result of this power we demonstrated, Lebanon turned to us in the last month, turned several times, to start direct peace talks,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address on Saturday night.

“This has never happened in history; well, it happened once decades ago [under Lebanese President-elect Bachir Gemayel, who was assassinated in September 1982], but now they turned to us and I approved it subject to two things: We want to reach the disarming of Hezbollah and we want a real peace agreement, a peace agreement that will last for generations,” the prime minister said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Monday said he discussed the negotiations with his Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani, who is set to meet with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut this week.

“I said that it’s important to sever the link between Iran and Lebanon. Iran effectively controls Lebanon through Hezbollah. This is how Iran once again involved Lebanon in a war against its will,” wrote Sa’ar on X.

According to Jerusalem’s top diplomat, “Hezbollah’s attack against Israel on March 2 served Iranian interests, not Lebanese ones—just like Hezbollah’s joining of Hamas’s attack on Oct. 8, 2023.”

Hezbollah began firing rockets, missiles and suicide drones at Israel on March 2, in retaliation for the Jewish state’s targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Khamenei was killed in the opening strikes of the war.

In response to the terrorist organization’s violation of the U.S.-brokered Nov. 27, 2024, truce agreement, Jerusalem launched an aerial campaign against Hezbollah and ordered IDF troops to advance and take control of additional areas in Southern Lebanon to halt cross-border attacks.

Hezbollah has continued in recent days to fire rockets and explosive-laden drones at northern Israeli communities, with air-raid sirens sounding again Monday afternoon. No major injuries have been reported in this week’s attacks.

The IDF Home Front Command on Saturday night announced the suspension of educational activities and restricted public gatherings in the north following an assessment that Hezbollah would intensify attacks on border communities.

The restrictions had been relaxed on April 9 following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. JNS

NEW YORK – Councilmember Simcha Felder has introduced legislation that would extend free official city trash bins to owner-occupied three-family homes, a benefit currently available only to one- and two-family homes. The measure, Intro 0193, is co-sponsored by Justin Sanchez, who chairs the sanitation committee of the New York City Council.

The proposal would require the city to provide the bins directly or reimburse homeowners who purchase them. Supporters say the bill closes a gap that has left many small homeowners paying out of pocket despite facing the same rules and tax burdens as smaller homes.

“Owner-occupied three-family homes are just like families in one- or two-family homes. They’re taxed the same, they should be treated the same,” Felder said. “If the city mandates new bins, it should provide them.”

Sanchez called the bill a practical investment in homeowners and neighborhood cleanliness, saying it builds on policies designed to help families stay in their homes while easing costs.

City data show that tens of thousands of owner-occupied three-family homes exist across New York City, with the largest concentrations in Brooklyn and Queens. Advocates say those properties play a critical role in providing affordable housing while allowing families to build wealth through homeownership.

A new report by FakeReporter, an Israeli disinformation watchdog group, revealed a network of fake accounts on X impersonating Chareidim and working to deepen polarization within Israeli society.

The accounts, which present themselves as members of the Chareidi sector, disseminate extreme content including incitement and calls for violence against secular Israelis, left-wing activists, and the judicial system. Analysis of their activity indicates that the profiles are operated by foreign actors aiming to provoke public outrage and increase hostility toward the Chareidi community by creating a false impression of extremism.

One quote that drew particular attention—“throw the secular out of Israel”—was not presented as an isolated outburst, but as part of a broader pattern. According to Ynet, other messages included statements such as “leftists are enemies of Torah and Judaism” and “the courts are servants of Satan.” The goal, the report suggests, was not persuasion but to provoke disgust, anger, and backlash against the Chareidi sector as a whole.

The investigation identified at least four suspicious accounts active on X over the past six months, using names like “Chaim Alush,” “Shimon,” and two users named “Yaakov.” All were created in November 2025, used VPNs to obscure their origins, and maintained activity that initially appeared fairly authentic. This is what makes the operation especially concerning: the Hebrew used was relatively fluent and worded to seem credible rather than easily dismissible.

FakeReporter

To build that credibility, the accounts did more than post slogans. According to the report, they copied content from real Israeli users—including posts by known Israeli figures. This created a seemingly legitimate façade, within which more extreme messages were inserted. It was not amateur provocation, but a method: blend in first, then escalate, and finally rely on someone in Israel to take the bait and amplify it.

The sophistication extended beyond content. Despite having relatively few followers, the accounts gained wide exposure by replying to posts from journalists, influencers, and prominent public figures. This is how effective influence networks operate: they don’t need a large audience of their own—only access to others’ audiences, inserting inflammatory messaging at the right moment.

The choice of topics was also deliberate. According to the findings, the network focused on issues that already inflame Israeli discourse, including the draft law, Chareidi protests, the judicial system, and support for Binyamin Netanyahu. These are precisely the areas where the line between political debate and incitement becomes blurred—and where it is easiest to convince the public they are seeing the “true face” of an entire sector, when in reality they are being exposed to a coordinated influence operation.

At FakeReporter, officials warn that this is not just about damaging the image of the Chareidi community, but about directly undermining Israel’s social resilience. CEO Nir Rosen said the network is not operated by Israelis and is intended to incite hatred toward the Chareidi public and deepen internal divisions. According to him, as elections approach, such attempts are likely to intensify.

This exposure joins the identification of additional foreign influence networks that have been active in Israel since the beginning of the war, some of which have managed to mislead influencers and public figures who inadvertently amplified their divisive messages.

The public is urged to remain vigilant, verify the sources of online content, and report suspicious accounts to prevent foreign propaganda from shaping the public discourse in Israel.

FakeReporter

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – A heavy rocket barrage fired from Lebanon struck the northern Israeli city of Nahariya on Monday, leaving one woman injured and causing significant damage to a residential building, according to Israeli authorities.

The Israel Defense Forces said about seven rockets were launched from Lebanon into northern Israel. Most were intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system, but one rocket struck near a residential structure in Nahariya.

Emergency responders treated a woman in her 60s for light injuries from the blast and shattered glass. She was listed in stable condition and received treatment at the scene.

Police and bomb disposal units cordoned off the impact area, warning residents to stay away as they searched for additional fragments or unexploded ordnance.

Authorities said the explosion caused heavy damage to the building and nearby property. The attack is believed to have originated from areas in southern Lebanon controlled by Hezbollah.

Over the Pesach break, while traffic was lighter and many residents were away, township and county crews took advantage of the quieter streets to move forward with roadwork projects across Lakewood.

Efforts have focused on repaving worn roadways and adding sidewalks in several areas, aiming to minimize disruption while improving overall road conditions and pedestrian safety.

Which roads in Lakewood do you believe are most in need of repaving or enhanced safety features?

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Last year saw the highest level of deadly violence against Jews in over three decades, with 20 people killed in antisemitic attacks, according to an annual study released by Tel Aviv University on Monday.

The violence, including a deadly attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia, continued a spike that began following Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza, the report’s authors said.

“The data raise concern that a high level of antisemitic incidents is becoming a normalized reality,” said Uriya Shavit, the chief editor of the widely cited annual report.

Deadly antisemitic attacks were recorded on three continents, according to the report. Fifteen people were killed at the holiday event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach in December. There were additional fatalities in two antisemitic attacks in the U.S. in Washington, D.C., Colorado; and in Britain, where two people were killed at a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.

The report also tracked an increase in antisemitic attacks that resulted in physical harm, including beatings and stone throwing.

The study found that 2025 was the deadliest year for antisemitic attacks since 1994, when the bombing of a Jewish community center in Argentina killed 85 people and wounded more than 300. An Argentine court has blamed Iran and its Hezbollah proxy for the attack.

According to the report, there was a moderate increase in the overall number antisemitic incidents last year compared with 2024, but that total represents a huge jump from 2022, before the war in Gaza. The report tracks incidents that range from physical attacks and vandalism to verbal threats and harassment on social media.

“The peak in the number of incidents was recorded in the immediate aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack, after which we began to see a downward trend — but unfortunately, that trend did not continue in 2025,” Shavit said.

In the United Kingdom, there were 3,700 antisemitic incidents in 2025, a small increase from 3,556 in 2024. In Canada, the total number of incidents grew from 6,219 in 2024 to 6,800 in 2025, a number more than three times higher than in 2022.

The report found that even after the Gaza ceasefire took effect last October, antisemitic incidents continued to rise from the same period during the previous year. In Australia, there were 492 antisemitic incidents between October and December 2024, that number increased to 588 during the same time in 2025. Comparatively, there were a total of 472 antisemitic incidents across Australia during all of 2022, before the war between Israel and Hamas began.

Most physical attacks were carried out by people acting on their own, which is why it is so difficult to try to prevent them, according to Carl Yonker, the study’s director of research. He noted that most of the attacks were carried out by either extremist white Christians devoted to white supremacy or radical Muslims, but that often the attackers were unemployed and struggling financially.

Each year, Tel Aviv University’s Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry and the Irwin Cotler Institute for Democracy, Human Rights and Justice, releases the report about antisemitism ahead of Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day. The day marks a national memorial for the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust, which begins Monday evening.

The statistics are based on reports from police, national authorities and local Jewish communities.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke at the cabinet meeting on Monday, providing a comprehensive political and security review during which he revealed details from his conversation last night with US Vice President J.D. Vance.

Netanyahu said that Vance called him on his way back to Washington from Pakistan and briefed him on the talks with Iran in Islamabad. Vance clarified that the main US goal in negotiations with Iran is to remove all enriched nuclear material from its territory and ensure that there will be no enrichment for decades.

Netanyahu declared at the meeting that Israel gives full backing to President Trump’s decision to impose a naval blockade on Iran, and rejected reports of a rift between Jerusalem and Washington, describing them as “completely false,” saying that the two countries are in constant coordination.

“The exact opposite is true,” Netanyahu stressed. “This level of coordination has never existed before, not in the history of Israel, and not in the history of the Jewish people.”

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In his speech, given on the eve of Yom HaShoah, Netanyahu drew a comparison between the current operational situation and the threats of the past. Netanyahu said: “The most important thing on the eve of Holocaust Day is to say the following: if we had not acted, if we had not taken our fate into our own hands in the independent State of Israel, with the Israel Defense Forces and our security arms – the names Isfahan, Natanz, Fordow, and Bushehr would be remembered like Auschwitz, Majdanek, and Sobibor. That is exactly the whole difference. They come to destroy us – and we rise up against them.”

Netanyahu concluded that today the State of Israel has the active ability to thwart the threat of annihilation, in contrast to the helplessness that characterized the Jewish people during the Holocaust, and that standing up to Iran and its proxies is backed by decisive actions and government decisions.

“In every generation they rise up; in this generation we have risen up against them, and this is a huge change that all citizens of Israel should celebrate,” Netanyahu asserted. “This ensures the main thing: never again. Every year I stand at Yad Vashem, and I say: ‘There will be no more Holocaust.’ And today these things are backed by the mighty actions of the IDF, the steadfastness of the citizens of Israel, and the very strong determination of the government of Israel.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

(AP) – Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell in March to their slowest pace nine months, as easing mortgage rates failed to motivate home shoppers during what’s traditionally been the busiest time of the year for the housing market.

Existing home sales fell 3.6% last month from February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.98 million units, the National Association of Realtors said Monday.

Sales also fell 1% compared with March last year, weighed down by declines in the Northeast and Midwest. The latest sales figure fell short of the roughly 4.06 million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet.

“Lower consumer confidence and softer job growth continue to hold back buyers,” Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, said in a statement.

A measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market fell 1.7 points to 70.9, remaining well below 80, a marker that can signal a recession ahead. It’s the 14th consecutive month that reading has come in under 80.

Sales have been hovering close to a 4-million annual pace now going back to 2023. That’s well short of the 5.2-million annual pace that’s historically been the norm.

Despite the pullback in sales, home prices continued to rise last month. The national median sales price increased 1.4% in March from a year earlier to $408,800, an all-time high for any March on data going back to 1999, NAR said. Home prices have risen on an annual basis for 33 months in a row.

The U.S. housing market has been in a slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes remained stuck last year at 30-year lows. They have remained sluggish so far this year, declining in January and February versus a year earlier.

The pace of home price growth has slowed or fallen in many metro areas and there are more homes on the market than a year ago.

And until recently, mortgage rates were easing, lowering borrowing costs for homebuyers. Homes purchased last month likely went under contract in January and February, when the average rate on a 30-year mortgage ranged from 5.98% — its lowest level in three and a half years — to 6.16%, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac.

But mortgage rates have been mostly rising since the war with Iran began, sending energy prices surging and heightening worries about higher inflation. That’s pushed up the yield on U.S. 10-year Treasury bonds, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage was at 6.37% last week, according to Freddie Mac.

The rise in mortgage rates led Yun to lower his 2026 existing U.S. home sales forecast. He now projects sales will rise 4% this year, down from his previous forecast of a 14% increase.

A major national organization focused on combating antisemitism sharply criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s handling of Jewish community concerns during his first 100 days in office, pointing to what it described as troubling policy decisions and insufficient action, the NY Post reports.

The Anti-Defamation League said that while Mamdani has spoken about opposing antisemitism, his actions early in his administration raise significant red flags.

“Mayor Mamdani wants credit for fighting antisemitism, but the policies, programs, and personnel that he has put in place in his first 100 days give us serious cause for concern,” Scott Richman, the NY-NJ regional director for the ADL told The Post.

“He has both neglected to proactively protect Jews and rescinded key antisemitism protections while calling himself a mayor committed to the Jewish community,” Richman said.

Soon after assuming office, Mamdani rolled back several executive orders enacted by his predecessor, Eric Adams, including measures that prohibited city agencies from participating in boycotts or divestment efforts targeting Israel.

Another policy reversal involved scrapping an order that adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, which Adams had said was intended to prevent “demonizing Israel and holding it to double standards as forms of contemporary antisemitism.”

Mamdani, a vocal critic of Israel, supports the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians. He has also appeared alongside activists viewed by critics as promoting antisemitic rhetoric, including Hasan Piker.

The ADL has long maintained that the BDS movement constitutes antisemitism because it seeks to undermine Israel’s legitimacy and economy.

“ADL believes that many of the founding goals of the BDS movement, which effectively reject or ignore the Jewish people’s right of self-determination, or that, if implemented, would result in the eradication of the world’s only Jewish state, are antisemitic,” the group says on its website.

Richman suggested that Mamdani could begin repairing relations with the Jewish community by approving legislation passed by the City Council that would authorize the NYPD to establish buffer zones preventing protests near entrances to synagogues and other houses of worship.

The proposal followed a violent confrontation outside the Park East Synagogue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side last November.

“ADL will continue to hold Mayor Mamdani accountable for his promises to be a mayor for all New Yorkers, including Jewish New Yorkers. He can start by signing the buffer zone bills passed by the New York City Council,” he said.

Additional concerns among Jewish leaders have centered on statements and actions attributed to Mamdani’s wife, first lady Rama Duwaji, which have fueled unease within the community.

Duwaji, a professional illustrator, created artwork for the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America as part of a campaign titled “PalestineOnTheBallot.com.”

Past social media activity linked to Duwaji has also drawn attention, including interactions with posts that praised Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, supported Palestinian militants, and criticized the U.S. military.

She has also contributed illustrations to the work of an author accused of making antisemitic remarks, including referring to Jewish people as “vampires.”

Some elected officials have urged Mamdani to moderate his rhetoric on Israel, warning that it risks inflaming antisemitic sentiment.

“His opinions on Israel are unconscionable. Some of the comments unintentionally contributed to antisemitism,” said Councilman Simcha Felder, who represents heavily orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in southern Brooklyn, including Borough Park, Flatbush, Gravesend, Mapleton, and Midwood.

Felder argued that many people see Judaism and Israel as closely linked, meaning accusations against Israel can have broader repercussions for Jews.

“The concept that there is a distinction between the two doesn’t hold water,” Felder said.

When asked what Mamdani should do differently, Felder offered blunt advice.

“Stop acting as if you are the US ambassador to the United Nations,” he said.

Polling has also reflected dissatisfaction among Jewish voters. A recent Marist College survey found that only 38% of Jewish respondents viewed Mamdani favorably, while 55% held an unfavorable opinion—making them the only religious group in the city to rate him negatively.

Brooklyn Assemblyman Kalman Yeger echoed those concerns, giving the mayor a failing grade on issues related to antisemitism and relations with the Jewish community.

“He continues to platform antisemites, gaslight the Jewish community, has appointed renowned Jew haters to positions of authority, and endorsed Jew aters for public office. I don’t think he’s even trying for a good grade,” Yeger said.

At the same time, some voices within the Jewish community have called for engagement rather than confrontation.

Michael Nussbaum, a longtime member of the Jewish Community Relations Council, said, “The Jewish community is still trying to find a way to work with the mayor. The mayor needs to open a dialogue with the larger Jewish community, not just one faction.”

Nussbaum also credited Mamdani with certain efforts, including cooperation with law enforcement leadership and involvement in plans for a Holocaust memorial in Queens.

“It’s a story still to be written,” he said of Mamdani and the Jewish community.

City Hall pushed back on the criticism, defending the mayor’s record and emphasizing ongoing outreach efforts to Jewish residents.

“Since taking office, Mayor Mamdani has made it a priority to consistently show up for and build relationships across New York City’s Jewish communities — listening deeply, celebrating holidays together, and engaging with the full richness of Jewish life across neighborhoods and traditions,” said Phylisa Wisdom, executive director of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism. “Every day, his administration is working to protect and support Jewish New Yorkers, because that work is inseparable from our broader mission: building a safer, more affordable, and truly inclusive city for all.”

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — After an election earthquake in which voters overwhelmingly rejected pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Hungarians are contemplating what to expect from the country’s incoming leader, Péter Magyar — a pro-European reformer who has promised a fundamental transformation in Hungary’s political culture.

In his campaign, Magyar pledged to end Hungary’s drift toward Russia and restore its ties with European allies. He promised voters that after 16 years of autocratic governance and the erosion of the rule of law under Orbán, he will root out corruption and create a “peaceful, functioning and humane” Hungary.

But what those changes will look like remains to be seen. During his long time in office, Orbán ruled with the power of a two-thirds parliamentary majority, allowing him to pass a new constitution, rewrite the electoral system and reshape the judiciary.

Magyar’s Tisza party secured exactly such a mandate Sunday when it won 138 of parliament’s 199 seats, giving it broad authority to undo much of the legislation that allowed Orbán to stack the courts, manipulate the electoral system, crack down on press freedom and discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community.

Still, there are potential pitfalls that could stand in the way of the radical changes many Hungarians had hoped for.

Historic win
Magyar’s victory was met with jubilation on the streets of Budapest late Sunday with tens of thousands, many of them young people, celebrating what they view as a ray of hope that Orbán’s loss will make Hungary freer, happier and firmly rooted within the fold of European democracies.

On streets and avenues across the capital, drivers blared car horns and cranked up anti-government songs while people marching in the streets chanted and screamed.

During the celebrations, Adrien Rixer said he’d come back to Hungary from his home in London “because I really wanted to make my vote count, and I’m over the moon.”

“Finally I can say that I’m a proud Hungarian, finally after 16 years,” he said.

Many Hungarians, and others across Europe who were closely watching the election, had feared that a simple majority for Tisza would have been inadequate to truly transform Orbán’s system.

Yet others remain uncertain about what the authority of a two-thirds majority will bring, with some uneasy about taking such a mandate from Orbán and delivering it to his opponent.

“Its hard to see that with two-thirds that it’s going to be a fair government, but we will see,” said reveller Dániel Kovács. “Lets hope that it’s going to be a promising four years.”

The election win for Magyar and Tisza was without precedent in Hungary’s post-Communist history: They received more votes and more parliamentary seats than any party ever had before.

Bulcsú Hunyadi, an analyst with the Budapest-based think tank Political Capital, said that while Tisza’s constitutional majority gives it broad powers to roll back many of Orbán’s policies, Hungary’s key institutions are “led by people who are cemented in their position for many years.”

As part of his broader effort to consolidate control over Hungary’s democratic system, Orbán installed loyal allies at the helm of key institutions, from the media authority to the public prosecutor’s office and the Constitutional Court.

In several cases, mandates were extended or new appointments pushed through before existing terms had expired — moves that effectively kept loyal leadership locked in place for years, well beyond any potential change in government.

In his victory speech on Sunday, Magyar called for such officials — including Hungary’s president — to step down of their own accord. Beyond that, Hunyadi said, “they don’t really have any other tools to remove these people.”

Pressure from the EU
Magyar accuses Orbán and his government of mismanaging Hungary’s economy and social services, and overseeing unchecked corruption he says has led to the accumulation of extreme wealth within a small circle of well-connected insiders while leaving ordinary Hungarians behind.

He’s vowed to hold such abuses to account, and plans to create an Office for the Recovery and Protection of National Assets to reclaim what he says are Orbán’s allies’ ill-gotten gains.

Magyar campaigned heavily on a promise to bring home billions of euros in European Union funding that has been frozen to Hungary over corruption and rule-of-law concerns under Orbán. He’s also pledged to introduce the euro to Hungary by 2030 — something Orbán’s government long resisted.

Hunyadi, the analyst, said Magyar’s government will be under “tight pressure” by the EU to quickly carry out reforms in order to get access to those frozen funds that are badly needed by Hungary’s faltering economy.

“There are deadlines in terms of unfreezing the funds. They will have to deliver certain laws and reforms by August this year, which is only a few months away,” he said.

Tisza’s win raised hopes across the EU that a new government in Budapest would reverse Orbán’s antagonistic approach to Ukraine and his obstruction of efforts to assist the war-ravaged country as it defends against Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Orbán has used his veto power in the EU to stymie sanctions on Russia and block crucial funding to Kyiv. He’s also vowed never to allow talks on Ukraine joining the EU to resume.

In a statement on Monday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Orbán’s election campaign, “which unfortunately was marked by manipulative rhetoric about Ukraine, is now behind us.”

“We expect that … the election results will also contribute to a normalization of political relations,” Sybiha said.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Israeli President Isaac Herzog will bestow the nation’s highest civilian honor on Argentine President Javier Milei during his upcoming visit to Israel, the President’s Office announced Monday.

Herzog will award Milei the Presidential Medal of Honor (עיטור הנשיא), Israel’s top civilian decoration, in recognition of his “consistent and public commitment to the State of Israel” and his deep personal dedication to fighting antisemitism, according to an official statement.

“While wave after wave of attacks on Israel has become more common than ever, President Milei represents bold leadership and advances a clear, unequivocal policy in support of the State of Israel — as a passionate Zionist, through fire and water,” Herzog said in the announcement.

The advisory committee, headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Dr. Yoram Danziger, unanimously recommended granting the medal to Milei. The recommendation was conveyed to him through Argentina’s ambassador to Israel.

Milei, who has been a vocal supporter of Israel since taking office in 2023, made his first state visit to the Jewish state in early 2024 amid the ongoing war with Hamas. During that trip, he toured the devastated Kibbutz Nir Oz with Herzog and stood in solidarity with hostage families.

The Argentine leader has repeatedly pledged to move his country’s embassy to Jerusalem and has taken clear diplomatic and security steps aligning Argentina closely with Israel.

During his upcoming visit, Milei is also expected to light a torch on Israel’s 78th Independence Day and inaugurate Argentina’s new embassy in Jerusalem. The formal medal presentation ceremony will be held at the President’s Residence.

The Presidential Medal of Honor is awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the State of Israel or to humanity.

Rescue units were deployed overnight to search for three yeshiva bochurim who went missing in the Arava region, as concerns grow over their safety.

The Arava Rescue Unit launched a search operation in the Small Crater area after the three 21-year-old chareidi hikers were reported missing during the night.

According to information received by the rescue teams, the last contact with the group was made the previous evening before communication was lost. Authorities believe the three may have strayed from the marked trail. Search crews are using drones to assist in scanning the rugged terrain.

The incident comes amid a series of recent tragedies involving young yeshiva bochurim during the bein hazmanim period. Just a day earlier, a fatal drowning was reported at the Ein Akev spring in the Negev.

Yehoshua Ram, 17, a first-year bochur at Yeshivas Grodna in Be’er Yaakov and a resident of Bnei Brak, passed away after drowning during a trip with friends.

Aerial rescue personnel from the Lehava unit, led by the unit commander, were dispatched to the scene following reports of a missing individual who had fallen into the water. After his clothing was located nearby, his body was recovered several hours later.

Meanwhile, search efforts are continuing for Avraham Yeshayahu Spiegel, 17, who has been missing since a drowning incident at Tsanz Beach in Netanya this past Friday. Emergency forces have significantly intensified their efforts. His 21-year-old brother was evacuated to the hospital in serious condition.

{Matzav.com}

By BoroPark24 Staff

Green infrastructure work has officially begun on 46th Street in Boro Park, with residents in the area already seeing activity as of today, April 13.

The project is taking place on the south side of 46th Street, between 14th Avenue and 15th Avenue, as part of a city initiative to improve stormwater management and strengthen local infrastructure.

Construction is expected to last approximately two to four weeks, weather permitting. Work is being conducted on weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and residents should expect temporary disruptions, including parking restrictions and limited driveway access.

Officials note that while the work may cause short-term inconvenience, it is intended to improve long-term street conditions and neighborhood resiliency.

By BoroPark24 Staff

Key sections of two of the city’s busiest highways are set for improvements as part of New York State’s aggressive road repair initiative following a harsh winter.

State officials announced that approximately 11 lane miles along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) and the Cross Bronx Expressway will be resurfaced at various locations in Kings and Bronx counties.

The work is part of a broader statewide effort to repair damage caused by months of freezing temperatures, snow, and ice, which contributed to widespread potholes and deteriorating road conditions.

The BQE and Cross Bronx Expressway are among the most heavily traveled routes in the region, carrying thousands of commuters and commercial vehicles daily. Officials say the resurfacing project aims to improve safety, reduce wear on vehicles, and provide a smoother ride for motorists.

The repairs are expected to be carried out during the ongoing paving season, with crews working in phases to minimize disruptions as much as possible.

Drivers are advised to remain alert for lane closures and construction activity along both expressways as the work progresses.

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV pushed back Monday on President Donald Trump’s broadside against him over the U.S.-Israel war in Iran, telling reporters that the Vatican’s appeals for peace and reconciliation are rooted in the Gospel, and that he doesn’t fear the Trump administration.

“To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here, I think is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is,” Leo told The Associated Press aboard the papal plane en route to Algeria. “And I’m sorry to hear that but I will continue on what I believe is the mission of the church in the world today.”

History’s first U.S.-born pope stressed that he was not making a direct attack against Trump or anyone else with his general appeal for peace and criticisms of the “delusion of omnipotence” that is fueling the Iran wars and other conflicts around the world.

“I will not enter into debate. The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone. The message of the Gospel is very clear: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers,’” Leo said.

“I will not shy away from announcing the message of the Gospel and inviting all people to look for ways of building bridges of peace and reconciliation, and looking for ways to avoid war any time that’s possible”

Speaking to other reporters, he added: “I’m not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the Church works for.”

“We are not politicans. We do not look at foreign policy from the same perspective that he may have,” the pope said, adding, ”I will continue to speak out strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems.

“Too many people are suffering today, too many innocent people have been killed, and I believe someone must stand up and say that there is a better way,” he said.

Trump says Leo is not ‘doing a very good job’
Trump delivered an extraordinary broadside against Leo on Sunday night, saying he didn’t think the U.S.-born global leader of the Catholic Church is “doing a very good job” and that “he’s a very liberal person,” while also suggesting the pontiff should “stop catering to the Radical Left.”

Flying back to Washington from Florida, Trump used a lengthy social media post to sharply criticize Leo, then kept it up after deplaning, in comments on the tarmac to reporters.

“I’m not a fan of Pope Leo,” he said.

Trump’s comments came after Leo suggested over the weekend that a “delusion of omnipotence” is fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran. While it’s not unusual for popes and presidents to be at cross purposes, it’s exceedingly rare for the pope to directly criticize a U.S. leader — and Trump’s stinging response is equally uncommon, if not more so.

“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” the president wrote in his post, adding, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.”

Italian politicians across the spectrum showed their solidarity with Leo. Premier Giorgia Meloni sent a message of support for his peace mission while the leader of the main opposition party, Elly Schlein, was more direct, calling Trump’s attacks “extremely serious.”

Trump repeated that sentiment in comments to reporters, saying, “We don’t like a pope who says it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon.”

Later, Trump posted a picture suggesting he had saint-like powers akin to those of Jesus Christ. Wearing a biblical-style robe, Trump is seen laying hands on a bedridden man as light emanates from his fingers, while a soldier, a nurse, a praying woman and a bearded man in a baseball cap all look on admiringly. The sky above is filled with eagles, an American flag and vaporous images.

Leo’s opposition to war irked Trump
All of that came after Leo presided over an evening prayer service in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, the same day the United States and Iran began face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan during a fragile ceasefire. The pope didn’t mention the United States or Trump by name, but his tone and message appeared directed at Trump and U.S. officials, who have boasted of U.S. military superiority and justified the war in religious terms.

Leo, who is on an 11-day trip to Africa starting Monday — has previously said that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.” He’s also referenced an Old Testament passage from Isaiah, saying that “even though you make many prayers, I will not listen — your hands are full of blood.”

Before the ceasefire, when Trump warned of mass strikes against Iranian power plants and other infrastructure and that “an entire civilization will die tonight,” Leo described such sentiments as “truly unacceptable.”

In his social media post on Sunday night, however, Trump went far beyond the war in Iran in criticizing Leo.

The president wrote, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States.” That was a reference to the Trump administration having ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January.

“I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do,” Trump added, referencing his 2024 election victory.

He also suggested in the post that Leo only got his position “because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.”

“If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” Trump wrote, adding, “Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!”

In his subsequent comments to reporters, Trump remained highly critical, saying of Leo, “I don’t think he’s doing a very good job. He likes crime I guess” and adding, “He’s a very liberal person.”

Bishops say the pope is not a politician
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement saying he was “disheartened” by Trump’s comments.

“Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls,” Coakley said.

The Italian Bishops’ Conference expressed regret over Trump’s words, and underlined that the pope “is not a political counterpart, but the successor of Peter, called to serve the Gospel, truth and peace.”

In the 2024 election, Trump won 55% of Catholic voters, according to AP VoteCast, an extensive survey of the electorate. But Trump’s administration also has close ties to conservative evangelical Protestant leaders and has claimed heavenly endorsement for the war on Iran.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Americans to pray for victory “in the name of Jesus Christ.” And, when Trump was asked whether he thought God approved of the war, he said, “I do, because God is good — because God is good and God wants to see people taken care of.”

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a warning to Americans amid escalating tensions, saying fuel prices are likely to surge far beyond current levels.

“Enjoy the current pump figures… Soon you’ll be nostalgic for $4–$5 gas,” Ghalibaf wrote, referencing a potential U.S. blockade and its impact on global oil markets.

He accompanied the post with a screenshot of gas prices near the White House and even included a mathematical equation suggesting a sharp, non-linear increase in costs.

The warning comes as U.S. gas prices already sit around $4.12 per gallon, with concerns growing that disruptions tied to the Strait of Hormuz could drive prices significantly higher.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

NEW YORK (VINnews) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday announced the launch of a new website highlighting his administration’s work during its first 100 days in office.

The site features an interactive map displaying initiatives across the city’s five boroughs, allowing users to view projects tied to key priorities such as child care expansion, tenant protections, infrastructure improvements and worker protections.

City officials said the platform details actions taken since January, including a $1.2 billion investment in universal child care, expansion of early childhood education seats and more than $9 million in recovered wages and penalties for workers and small businesses. The administration also reported securing millions of dollars in repairs and settlements on behalf of tenants and completing infrastructure work such as road repairs and neighborhood cleanups.

Mamdani said the goal of the website is to increase transparency and allow residents to track where and how city resources are being used. The website also includes links to press releases, photos and videos related to the administration’s initiatives.

Online: https://www.nyc.gov/content/100days/pages/

The following is an ‘Ask The Chief’ question submitted to TLS, and the Chief’s response. Email your questions for the Chief to [email protected].

Question:

Dear chief,

There’s a guy on a motorcycle zooming around town at night into the wee hours of the morning, making a lot of noise, keeping people up, and being a big nuisance. I’m hearing from a lot of different people around town that they hear the same sound, this guy doesn’t stick to one area, he zooms all around the town making tons of noise and probably driving recklessly too. Can PD take care of this? thank you,

Resident trying to sleep

The Chief’s response:

We did attempt to stop this motorcycle over the weekend and have identified the operator. Charges were issued and we will be dealing with this matter in front of the judge. Please report asap if you see or hear him again if you can.

Thank you

————-

Have a question for the Chief? Email it to [email protected]

Have a question for the Mayor? Email it to [email protected]

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Eli Pollak, Deputy CEO of United Hatzalah, issued a sharp call on Monday morning for caution as the Bein Hazmanim period comes to an end, following a series of serious accidents involving yeshiva students who went out on trips around Israel.

On Friday, a young man was seriously injured at the beach in Netanya, and his brother was swept out to sea and is still considered missing. The two are the children of a rosh yeshiva at the Mirrer yeshiva in Jerusalem. Yesterday, a yeshiva student drowned at a spring in southern Israel. Currently there are three yeshiva students missing from a trip to the Small Crater in the eastern Negev and search parties have been dispatched to find them.

“It’s so sad. These tragedies happen when they could be completely prevented,” Pollak said in an interview with Kol Hai. “A little caution, a little understanding of the risks, understanding what the sea is, what it means to take risks in the water, especially at an unguarded beach or when entering the sea under dangerous conditions. This is something each individual can control, and it’s something we warn about every year.”

Pollak emphasized that entering the water at unregulated beaches is essentially gambling with one’s life: “People need to understand what it means to go into the sea under such circumstances. For many years, we’ve seen how Bein Hazmanim is marked by tragedy, and it’s heartbreaking. People go out to relax, not to get hurt.”

He added that not only young people need to be aware, but also their parents: “In many cases, parents are also part of the lack of awareness. A parent needs to know where their child is going, whether the route is approved, whether there is enough water, and whether conditions are suitable. Don’t say ‘it won’t happen to me’, just check with your children.”

Pollak also referred to rescue incidents in streams and in the south: “We see cases of human error that ultimately end in disaster. Caution during trips is not a slogan, it’s a matter of life and death. We’re literally watching the clock, waiting for Bein Hazmanim to end safely, but each tragedy wakes us up again.”

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — An annoyed Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did a few rounds of jumping jack exercise and jogged briefly outside his office in front of journalists Monday to disprove rumors of his failing health.

Wearing formal office wear, reading glasses and leather shoes, the 68-year-old leader said he did the impromptu workout to ease any worry about his health at a time when people were already beset with problems sparked by the war in the Middle East.

WATCH: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. walks, jogs across Malacañang complex to prove that he is still fit, debunking reports re: his illness:

“I dont want people to think there is a problem because sa dami ng problema nating hinaharap… that will be an additional concern for our… pic.twitter.com/ouJQoQvZTN

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) April 13, 2026

PH PRESIDENT DOES JUMPING JACKS, CHALLENGES ALLEGATIONS VS DETERIORATING HEALTH Pres

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appears before the Malacañang Press Corps to belie allegations he is gravely ill. | via @_katrinadomingo pic.twitter.com/wWoOoPeypp

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) April 13, 2026

“I challenge anyone who are saying that I am sick, that they come and exercise with me,” Marcos told reporters. “You come to the gym with me. Let’s see who can lift the weights better.”

“Those people who tell you that I’m sick, that I’m paralyzed, they’re all liars,” Marcos said.

Rumors about the president’s deteriorating health and even death have swirled on social media after he briefly vanished from public view in January then later acknowledged in a video message that he was taken to a hospital for an abdominal ailment that he ascribed to stress and age.

Marcos then laughed off rumors of his demise and said he had been diagnosed with diverticulitis. The condition involves inflammation of small pouches in the digestive tract, usually in the colon, that causes pain, fever, nausea or constipation.

His last hospital checkup a couple of months ago showed he had been cured of that ailment, Marcos said, and added that he was back on normal diet and was regularly exercising.

When asked if he was taking any maintenance medicine, Marcos said he was taking medication for gout and for high blood pressure.

Since taking office in mid-2022, Marcos has grappled with multiple complex problems and political dilemmas.

Those include an increasingly hostile territorial dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea, devastating earthquakes, typhoons and flooding, economic difficulties, tumultuous relations with his vice president and a corruption scandal involving powerful legislators and allies that has sparked public outrage.

President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States could quickly devastate Iran’s critical infrastructure, delivering a stark warning following the breakdown of diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions with Tehran.

Speaking in a Fox News interview, Trump asserted that American military capabilities could inflict sweeping damage on Iran’s energy systems in an extremely short time frame.

“I could take out Iran in one day … in one hour. I could have their entire energy, everything, every one of their power-generating plants, which is a big deal. I hate to do it, because if you do it, it takes 10 years to build. … They’ll never be able to rebuild it,” Trump said.

His remarks came just hours after negotiations led by Vice President JD Vance concluded without producing an agreement, marking another failed attempt to ease hostilities between the two countries.

Trump also indicated that recent U.S. military action was meant to send a clear signal to Iran.

The president said he destroyed a bridge in Iran “just to show them because they came out with a statement.”

JERUSALEM (VINnews)  — BDE: Yehoshua Rom z”l, a 17-year-old student in his first year at the Grodna Yeshiva in Be’er Yaakov, a resident of Bnei Brak, passed away after drowning at the spring during a Bein Hazmanim trip with his friends.

An aerial team from the Lahava unit, led by the unit commander, was called to Ein Akev following a report of a missing youth who had drowned after falling into the spring during the outing. After his clothes were found at the site, his body was located several hours later.

Volunteers from ZAKA operated at the scene, treating the deceased with dignity and collecting findings. Aharon Fischer, a ZAKA volunteer who was in the area and was called to the scene, together with Gili Tugenhaft, a ZAKA volunteer from the Negev (Dimona team), said: “We arrived after receiving a report of a missing youth at the spring. After hours of searching, the 17-year-old was located. This is a very harsh scene. Together with additional ZAKA volunteers, we are handling the scene with respect for the deceased and accompanying the family in these difficult moments.”

His body will be transferred for external examination at the Abu Kabir forensic institute. The funeral will take place on Monday at 1:30 PM, departing from his home at 25 Ben Zakkai Street in Bnei Brak to the cemetery in Elad, where he will be laid to rest.

The deceased was born in Bnei Brak 17 years ago to his father, Rabbi Yisrael Noam Rom, a Talmid Chacham and kollel scholar at Beit David in Holon, considered among the prominent disciples of Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein, and to his mother, Sarah (née Glick).

It was also learned that at the age of three he became seriously ill and was in critical condition, but by divine mercy he recovered.

He studied at the Tiferet Zion yeshiva for younger students, and this past Elul he began his first year at the Grodna Yeshiva in Be’er Yaakov, where he continued to grow in his Torah studies.

Earlier today, after the sunrise (netz) prayer, he went on a trip to the Negev with his friends. In this tragic incident, he drowned in the spring, to the deep sorrow of his family and friends.

His fellow students are in shock over his sudden passing and describe him as an exceptional young man with outstanding character who was deeply devoted to his studies.

May his soul be bound in the bond of life.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Roni Insaz, a Jewish man who served in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and secretly saved dozens of Jews, already knows what he will say at Israel’s Independence Day torch-lighting ceremony to be held in two weeks.

“I’m sure I’ll talk about unity of the people, because that’s what our nation needs most right now,” he says for the first time since learning he was chosen.

“We are a divided and fragmented country, and we need to stop tying everything to left and right. We are one people. There are disagreements, and that’s fine, we’re not different from any other country in the world. But we’ve turned into two groups that can’t have a dialogue with each other. When two business partners let disputes sink to the lowest level of discourse, the business loses. When two brothers from the same family fight to the point of hatred, the family suffers. The State of Israel is being harmed by these disputes, and I believe it’s still possible to fix and repair things. It’s okay to have different opinions, but it’s forbidden to descend into hatred.”

Insaz (52), owner of the shoe company “Scoop,” who also runs accessories shops and real estate businesses, was recently featured in Yisrael Hayom and his life story sounds like a thriller: at age 18, he infiltrated the Revolutionary Guards, rose to become an assistant to the deputy justice minister, and managed to make criminal files against Jews who tried to flee Iran disappear.

Alongside his business activities, Insaz devotes much of his time to volunteering with burial societies and ZAKA, helps build synagogues and yeshivas, and supports families in need and new immigrants. He learned of his selection on Thursday from Minister Miri Regev.

“She called me on a video call, and I was very emotional. I had tears in my eyes. I thanked her for appreciating what I do. That night I couldn’t sleep. I thought that those who should light a torch are the soldiers, the pilots, and the bereaved families. I decided that if there wouldn’t be such a representative, I would give up my spot to a bereaved family. Later I understood that Talik Guaili, the mother of the fallen and abducted soldier Ran Guaili, had been chosen.”

“You know you’ll be on the same stage as, for example, the President of Argentina?”

“I heard. It’s an honor for me to stand alongside all the torch-lighters. I heard that U.S. President Donald Trump might come. I’ll try to speak with him, though I’m not sure he’ll pay attention to me.”

“Have you heard the criticism about the selection—that these are people who haven’t spoken out against the government?”

“I haven’t heard it, and it doesn’t interest me. This is a public, professional, and objective committee. What does politics have to do with such a selection? It’s even insulting—as if it diminishes the value of the work. My political views are irrelevant. What drives me is the desire to do good for my country and my people.”

TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to us via  Whatsapp  or via email  [email protected]

Israel issued a sharp diplomatic protest to Spain after an effigy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was detonated in a town in southern Spain, intensifying an already strained relationship between the two countries.

At the direction of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Foreign Ministry Director General Eden Bar Tal held a reprimand call on Sunday with Francisca Pedrós, head of the Spanish Embassy in Israel, following the incident in El Burgo, near Malaga.

The protest centered on what Israeli officials described as an antisemitic display during a local event in which a figure representing Netanyahu was blown up, prompting strong condemnation from Jerusalem.

During the call, Bar Tal stated that “this horrifying display is a direct result of the systematic incitement against the State of Israel by the government of [Prime Minister] Pedro Sánchez.”

He added, “Equally outrageous is the fact that, as of this moment, the Spanish government has still not seen fit to condemn this blatant antisemitic spectacle. Such conduct is completely unacceptable.”

Israeli officials emphasized that the incident reflects what they view as a broader pattern of hostility by Spain’s current government toward Israel, a stance they say has persisted since the events of October 7, 2023.

“The Sánchez-led government spreads false blood libels against Israel and IDF soldiers and is attempting to impose sanctions on Israel within the European Union. During the war against Iran, the Spanish government acted against Israel’s interests and those of our ally, the United States. Spain has aligned itself with the world’s most radical regimes – from Venezuela to Iran, where it intends to reopen its embassy.”

Bar Tal also pointed out that, on Friday, Sa’ar—working in coordination with Prime Minister Netanyahu—decided that Spain would not be allowed to take part in a civil-military coordination center in Kiryat Gat established as part of President Trump’s Gaza peace initiative.

“In light of the Spanish government’s extreme one-sided and anti-Israel positions, it can no longer contribute or serve as a constructive actor in implementing President Trump’s peace plan,” Bar Tal concluded.

The latest episode further deepens a prolonged diplomatic dispute between Israel and Spain that began amid disagreements over the Gaza war.

In November 2023, Spain’s ambassador to Israel was summoned after Sánchez said that “Israel is violating international law and is carrying out indiscriminate killings in Gaza.”

Tensions continued in April 2024, when Sánchez criticized Israel’s military response, calling it a “disproportionate response” that risks “destabilizing the Middle East, and as a consequence, the entire world”.

Shortly afterward, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares called for international sanctions against Israel, citing the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

The United Nations is scrambling to find a solution to the disruption in fertilizer shipping caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly one-third of the world’s seaborne fertilizer, particularly nitrogen-based urea, is shipped through the strait. India, Pakistan, Brazil, Ethiopia and other countries in Asia and Africa heavily rely on fertilizer shipped through the crucial waterway and are now facing low crop yields and shortages due to their inability to obtain it.

Farmers in Latin America are already skipping their second corn planting as fears of global crop shortages loom.

Juliette Touma holds a press conference in Brussels, Belgium, on March 26, 2025. (Photo by Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu via Getty Images)

As the key chokepoint remains blocked, the U.N. says it’s working on a plan to restore shipping.

“Extensive meetings” have been held in New York over the past two weeks to figure out how the plan will work, said Juliette Touma, director of communications for the United Nations Office for Project Services. Touma did not explain what the initiative will be, but time is running out for countries that depend on fertilizer shipped through Hormuz to plant and grow their crops.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — “During our escape from the ghetto, through mountains and rivers, representatives of the escapees approached my mother and tried to convince her to give me up so as not to endanger the group. But my mother did not give up on me. She refused, promised them I wouldn’t cry, and asked that if there was a problem, they should get rid of both of us together. A mother, she told everyone, does not part from her child.”

Today, Esther Yaron is 84. She is active and energetic, full of vitality, charm, and personal warmth, someone whom nothing in life has broken. Her spirit has overcome all hardships, and it is very important to her that people remember, speak about, and tell the story of the Holocaust of Greek Jewry, of which, she says, only a few survived.

“By the way,” Esther admits in a Yisrael Hayom interview, “it wasn’t always like this. For many years I avoided telling my story. I kept my past to myself. The one who encouraged me and taught me the importance of sharing it, so people would know and remember that the Holocaust did not skip Greek Jewry, was my dear niece Anat Beldinger.”

She was born in the city of Drama in northeastern Greece. As an infant, her family fled to Thessaloniki, and not long after, the Germans gathered the city’s Jews in the central square and transferred them to four ghettos there.

“My mother and I arrived at the ghetto, where there was a train station from which Jews were sent to extermination camps,” Esther recounts.

“The first transport left on March 15, 1943. We were in the 19th transport, on August 10, 1943. Thanks to the Greek partisans—my father Moshe was one of them—we managed to escape just before boarding the death train.”

Esther says that she and her mother managed to hide in a suburb of Athens with a local Catholic priest, who gave them Greek identities and a cover story. “My mother thought we had reached a safe place, but then Gestapo soldiers appeared, and the church became their headquarters. I was a blonde, blue-eyed child, about one and a half to two years old, cheerful and full of life. The soldiers were charmed by me and showered me with food, candies, and toys.”

After the war, Esther says, her father returned to them and only then actually met her for the first time. The reunited family returned to Drama, where her siblings, the twins Elisheva and Levi, were later born.

Esther immigrated to Israel in 1950 with her family at the age of 8. “We arrived by ship at the Sha’ar HaAliyah immigrant camp in Haifa. After two weeks we moved to Kibbutz Ginegar, and later to Kibbutz Afikim, where immigrants from Greece who had arrived in 1939, before the war, were living.”

Due to her father’s work, the family later moved to Nachlat Yehuda. Esther is very proud of her life path. She studied extensively, became a psychiatric and rehabilitation nurse, built a family, and had two children, Yaron and Yuval.

“Only at the age of 30, during my mother’s testimony at Yad Vashem, when I was already a mother of two, did I learn that I am a first-generation Holocaust survivor. Then I had a flashback from early childhood. I saw ‘black columns’ walking in a steady rhythm. It was probably the boots of the Gestapo, since I reached only up to their knees and ran freely among them.”

Esther was supposed to participate this year in the March of the Living in Poland, held on Holocaust Remembrance Day between the Auschwitz and Birkenau extermination camps. This year’s march was to focus on combating antisemitism, but the arrival of 1,500 participants from Israel, including 50 Holocaust survivors and their families,was canceled due to the war.

“I won’t give up: I’ll go next year,” she promises. “My parents raised me to be strong and positive. Thanks to their approach, I don’t tend toward depression and don’t experience trauma like many Holocaust survivors. They raised me wonderfully, and I miss them so much.”

A few days ago, she celebrated her 84th birthday. Her home in Neot Afeka, Tel Aviv, was filled with flowers. Yohanan, her partner for many years after divorcing the father of her children, came from Pardes Hanna-Karkur to spend Shabbat with her.
“I’m truly happy about this springtime of my birthday,” Esther says, beaming.

“I’ve had a difficult journey in life. I’m proud that I overcame all the challenges and reached where I am today. As someone who survived the darkest days of humanity, I feel it is my duty to remember and to remind, and I do so with great joy, also in ‘Zikaron BaSalon’ [Holocaust survivors in salon gatherings]. There I tell the story of the Holocaust of Greek Jewry. People often ask me whether there was even a Holocaust in Greece. I am the proof. I survived, I won, and I built a beautiful home in Israel.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military said Sunday that it blew up two boats accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing a total of five people and leaving one survivor, as the Trump administration pursues its campaign against alleged traffickers in Latin America while preparing a naval blockade of Iranian ports.

The attacks on Saturday bring the number of people who have been killed in boat strikes by the U.S. military to at least 168 since the Trump administration began targeting those it calls “narcoterrorists” in early September.

As with most of the military’s statements on the dozens of strikes in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean Sea, U.S. Southern Command said it targeted the alleged drug traffickers along known smuggling routes. The military did not provide evidence that the vessel was ferrying drugs. Videos posted on X showed small boats moving across the water before they each were engulfed in a bright explosion.

U.S. Southern Command stated on X that it notified the U.S. Coast Guard to activate the search-and-rescue system for the survivor. The Coast Guard confirmed it was coordinating the search and said updates would be provided when available.

President Donald Trump has said the U.S. is in “armed conflict” with cartels in Latin America and has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States and fatal overdoses claiming American lives. But his administration has offered little evidence to support its claims of killing “narcoterrorists.”

Critics have questioned the overall legality of the boat strikes as well as their effectiveness, in part because the fentanyl behind many fatal overdoses is typically trafficked to the U.S. over land from Mexico, where it is produced with chemicals imported from China and India.

The boat strikes have continued in Latin America even as the U.S. military has focused on operations in the Middle East, where the U.S. was engaged in a war with Iran for several weeks.

Trump on Sunday said the U.S. Navy would begin a blockade of ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, after U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement. Trump wants to weaken Iran’s key leverage in the war after demanding that it reopen the crucial waterway through which 20% of global oil normally passes. U.S. Central Command said the blockade would involve Iranian ports.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The big election over the weekend was in a small European country nearly half a world away from Washington, but the defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has significant reverberations in the United States.

That’s because President Donald Trump and many U.S. conservatives have long embraced Orbán, who has become an icon among the global right for his anti-immigrant stance. The American president’s agenda has striking parallels with the way the Hungarian leader used the levers of government to tilt the media, judiciary and electoral system to keep his party in power for 16 years.

Trump supported Orbán’s reelection bid and even dispatched Vice President JD Vance to Budapest last week — in the midst of the Iran war — to stump for the incumbent.

Orbán’s loss was a reminder of how the war has diminished Trump’s ability to help allied politicians overseas, as well as of the limited ability of leaders to use their power to tilt voting in their direction in an age of worldwide discontent over incumbents of all ideological stripes.

“Oppositions can win despite a tilted playing field,” said Steven Levitsky, a politics professor at Harvard and coauthor of the book “How Democracies Die.” “Democracies are facing many challenges in many parts of the world, but so are autocracies.”

Orbán’s defeat has immediate global implications because he was the European leader closest to Russian President Vladimir Putin and had blocked European Union aid to Ukraine, which is defending itself after Russian’s 2022 invasion.

His fall was celebrated on Sunday by both Democrats and Republicans, some of whom criticized their own administration for such overt support for the Hungarian leader.

“Don’t fiddle-paddle in other democracies’ elections,” Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska said on the social media site X.

“The freedom-loving people of Hungary have voted decisively in favor of democracy and the rule of law,” posted Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi.

Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, is part of the wing of the American right that embraced Orbán. The Conservative Political Action Conference, which Schlapp’s group hosts, held its first European session in Budapest and has made Hungary a regular destination.

Orban was a featured speaker at the group’s conference in Dallas in 2022.

Schlapp said there’s an easy explanation for Orbán’s loss.

“Eventually, democracies just want change,” he said. “In democracies, you don’t have kings, and the people in the end speak.”

“The people of Hungary were saying, ‘We’re having a difficult time with inflation, the economy and the war. Let’s try the new guy,’” Schlapp said, noting that he backs Trump’s Iran war but the turmoil it’s created, especially in European energy markets, hurt Orbán.

Diana Sosoaca, a far-right member of the European Parliament from Romania, on Sunday called Vance’s Hungarian visit “a big mistake” given widespread revulsion at the Iran war on the continent.

“You invite a representative of the United States of America, who created the big disorder in this world?” Sosoaca said in an interview posted by the Kremlin-controlled network RT, formerly known as Russia Today. “It was the biggest mistake he could do before the elections.”

How Orbán consolidated power
An anti-communist activist in his youth, Orbán was initially elected prime minister in 1998 but took a turn to the right after being voted out in 2002. Upon returning to office in 2010, Orbán and his Fidesz party implemented a legal framework to consolidate authority that he and his allies developed while he was out of power.

Orbán embraced what he dubbed “illiberal democracy,” building a barrier on Hungary’s southern border to block migrants from Africa and Asia who were moving northward through Europe. He and his party stifled LGBTQ+ rights, cracked down on freedom of the press and undermined judicial independence.

Orbán cemented his power when his Fidesz party won enough seats in Parliament during the 2010 global recession to rewrite the country’s constitution. They restructured the judiciary to funnel appointments to the bench through party loyalists, redrew legislative districts to make it much harder for Fidesz members to lose elections and helped push Hungary’s media companies to be sold to tycoons allied with Orban.

The European Union has declared Hungary an “electoral autocracy.”

Orbán backers have scoffed at suggestions that the Hungarian leader is an enemy of democracy, and on Sunday he quickly conceded his loss. Democrats have worried that Trump will try to use his own executive power to tilt November’s midterm elections or the 2028 presidential vote to his party, much as Trump tried to use his official powers to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 presidential election.

“Most importantly for American voters, even a guy who rigs the system can be defeated when the people unite and turn out against him,” said Ian Bassin of Protect Democracy, a nonpartisan group that says it combats authoritarianism.

Democrats weigh in
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California took the opportunity to jab at Vance: “Your ally Orban conceded. In 2028, will you @JDVance follow suit if you lose?” he posted on X.

Levitsky said defenders of democracy shouldn’t take too much comfort from Orbán’s loss, noting that in some ways Trump has been more oppressive. He cited Trump’s use of the Justice Department to investigate political opponents and the shooting deaths of protesters by immigration officers — steps that Orban’s government never took, Levitsky said.

But Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, said he sees parallels between Trump’s and Orban’s political projects, as well as the potential fate of their parties at the polls.

“He was essentially doing what Donald Trump is trying to do here in the United States,” Van Hollen said of Orban. “My read of the election is that the people of Hungary rejected that, just like people in the United States are rejecting that here at home.”

Trump made no public comments Sunday about the election results in Hungary.

The search continues for an 18-year-old yeshiva bochur missing since Friday at Sanz Beach in Netanya, as large-scale efforts enter a fourth day with growing concern. As YWN reported on Friday, the Bochur and his brother went missing after being swept into the sea together on Friday. His brother was located in critical condition.

With calmer sea conditions today, ZAKA’s elite diving units are expanding operations deeper into the water, increasing the range of underwater searches in hopes of locating the missing bochur.

Overnight, ZAKA teams conducted shoreline searches across Netanya. Following a fresh assessment and analysis of sea currents, officials have now shifted the primary search area slightly north of the original location, where there is a higher likelihood the bochur may have drifted.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Multiple specialized units—including divers, drones, and advanced technological equipment—are actively operating both at sea and along the coastline.

The public is urged to continue davening for Yeshaya ben Shoshana.
Tefillos are also requested for his brother, Yisochor Dov ben Shoshana, who remains in critical condition.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

NEW YORK (VINnews/Rabbi Yair Hoffman) – There is a recurring pattern in the history of the Catholic Church: a tendency to mistake a political or strategic judgment for a moral imperative, and to speak from the throne of religious and or moral authority. The Church committed this error in the seventeenth century when it silenced Galileo Galilei. Today, in modern times, as Pope Leo XIV attacks President Trump over the war with Iran, and as the question of nuclear weapons in the hands of the Iranian regime hangs in the balance, the Church is repeating this error on an infinitely more dangerous scale.

The Galileo Precedent

In 1633, the Roman Inquisition forced Galileo to recant his scientifically correct observation that the Earth orbits the Sun. The Church’s error was not merely intellectual; it was moral. It confused the domain of their faith with the domain of empirical inquiry.

It took the Church 359 years — until 1992, under Pope John Paul II — to formally acknowledge this error – that Galileo was right and the Inquisition was wrong. Three and a half centuries of institutional stubbornness.

The lesson should have been clear: When it comes to geopolitical strategy, military doctrine, and nuclear deterrence — humility is not just a virtue. It is a necessity.

What Pope Leo XIV Said — and What He Got Wrong

According to recent reporting, Pope Leo XIV — the first American pope — denounced the U.S.-Israel war in Iran, and demanded that political leaders stop and negotiate peace. President Trump responded sharply, calling the Pope “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy.”

Let us set aside the personalities and focus on the substance. What exactly is being negotiated?

The core question in the U.S.-Iran confrontation is whether a regime that has publicly and repeatedly called for the annihilation of Israel — a regime that chants “Death to America” as official state liturgy, that funds and arms Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and the Houthis — should be permitted to acquire, develop, or retain nuclear weapons capability.

The Pope’s call for negotiation sounds like a plea for peace. But it is, in practice, a plea for allowing time — and time, in the nuclear context, is the one resource Iran needs most.

Radical Islam and Nuclear Weapons: A Combination the World Cannot Survive

The Iranian regime is not an abstract threat. Its leadership has stated repeatedly — in Arabic and Farsi and Persian, for their domestic audiences, with no diplomatic softening — that Israel must be wiped from the map.

Former President Rafsanjani famously noted that a nuclear exchange would destroy Israel entirely while only damaging the Islamic world, since there are 1.5 billion Muslims. This is their unabashed strategic doctrine.

Radical Islamist ideology, as expressed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Supreme Leader’s office, does not regard nuclear weapons as deterrents. It regards them as instruments of divine will in the culminating battle against the enemies of Islam.

This is no longer the MAD [Mutually Assured Destruction] doctrine of the Cold War. And Dorothy, this is no longer Kansas. This is eschatological warfare. 

Think Ghengis Kahn and AH y”s.

The Pope’s framework, shaped by Christian just-war theory and a European sensibility forged in the aftermath of World Wars fought between nation-states with some mutual interest in survival, does not map onto this reality. A world where radical Islamists hold nuclear weapons is not a world where deterrence works. It is a world where deterrence fails — catastrophically and irreversibly.

The Moral Weight of “Negotiation”

Pope Leo’s call for negotiation is not morally neutral. Every day of negotiation is a day in which Iran’s centrifuges spin. The 2015 JCPOA — hailed by many in the European Church as a triumph of diplomacy — did not stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions. It temporarily slowed enrichment while providing Iran with sanctions relief that it promptly spent on proxy warfare across the Middle East.

Every ceasefire is a window for dispersal, hardening, and concealment of nuclear infrastructure.

There is a morally serious case for negotiation in most conflicts. But negotiation requires a partner who shares some minimal commitment to the continued existence of the other party. Where one side is ideologically committed to the other’s total destruction, “negotiation” is not diplomacy. It is appeasement with extra steps.

Neville Chamberlain negotiated with Adolf Hitler. He came home waving a piece of paper and promising “peace for our time.” Six million Jews were murdered. The Pope’s spiritual predecessors were largely silent then as well.

The Torah teaches in Leviticus 19:16: “Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor.” This is not a call for passivity in the face of mortal threat. It is a demand for action. The question is not whether to act, but how and when. Those who have the means and the knowledge to prevent a nuclear Iran from murdering millions of people are not exhibiting arrogance. They are exhibiting the most basic form of moral responsibility.

Respect for the Papacy — and Its Limits

This article is written with respect for the Catholic Church and its one billion faithful. Pope Leo XIV is a man of evident sincerity and moral seriousness. His concern for human life is genuine. But sincere concern for human life, unaccompanied by strategic competence and historical awareness, can lead one to advocate positions that cost more lives than they save.

The Galileo affair reminds us that institutional prestige is not the same as truth. The Church was wrong then because it confused ecclesiastical authority with scientific authority. Today, the Church risks being wrong again — not on astronomy, but on the infinitely more consequential question of whether radical Islamist governments should be permitted to hold the human race hostage to nuclear annihilation.

The Pope’s moral instinct toward peace is admirable. But peace is not merely the absence of conflict. It is the presence of security, justice, and the reasonable certainty that one’s children will survive. A “peace” that leaves Iran’s nuclear infrastructure intact is not peace. It is a countdown.

President Trump, whatever one thinks of his style, is correct on the substance: allowing Iran to emerge from this conflict with nuclear capability would be a catastrophe of historic proportions. The Pope’s instinct toward dialogue is not wrong in the abstract. But it is wrong here, applied to this regime, at this moment in history.

We all pray for the day when swords will be beaten into plowshares and all nations will ascend in peace to the mountain of the Creator. But we do not get there by handing nuclear swords to those who have sworn to use them.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

A new poll from Hebrew University’s Agam Labs — the first one since the ceasefire with Iran began — shows a country mostly united on the war with Iran but divided on next steps. According to the national survey, drawing on the opinions of 1,312 Israelis, nearly two-thirds oppose the ceasefire. But 39 percent think Israel should resume strikes, 41 percent believe Israel should wait, and 19 percent are unsure.

While negotiations during the ceasefire failed to yield the results President Donald Trump had been hoping for, except to halt strikes, the battle with Hezbollah continues to rage. Israel continues to pound Hezbollah military infrastructure via air and ground operations, and Hezbollah continues to launch rockets at Israeli civilians.

Israeli left-wing activists hold placards during an anti-war and anti-government demonstration in HaBima Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, on April 11, 2026, following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire. (Photo by Ori Aviram/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Israeli officials behind the scenes are preparing for a long, grinding conflict, concluding that a total defeat of Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran may be unrealistic.

But for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Netanyahu bet his political career on defeating Iran, an enemy he has been warning about throughout his political career. He would like to go down in history as the one who vanquished Israel’s greatest threat, but his support is slipping — down six points to 34 percent from 40 percent at the beginning of Operation Roaring Lion.

Despite divided public opinion, it’s unlikely Israel will press forward against Iran without U.S. backing.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — An unprecedented political and legal storm erupted on Sunday during the Supreme Court hearing on the issue of the draft law and yeshiva funding. At the center of the uproar were remarks made by one of the petitioners’ representatives, which were picked up by open microphones as he was heard saying: “We will dismantle the world of Torah.”

The statement was made by attorney Chagai Kelly, representing the “Free Israel” organization, as he consulted with his colleague Gilad Barnea, representing the “Alert Mothers” organization. Both had petitioned to cut funding and subsidies to yeshiva students who do not serve in the IDF.

¹”אנחנו נפרק את עולם התורה”

כך נשמעו עורכי הדין של העותרים נגד החרדים באמצע הדיון בבג”ץ כשלא שמו לב למיקרופונים. עו”ד גלעד ברנע, המייצג של תנועת “אמא ערה”: “מה אתה אומר חגי? על מה שהצעתי להם, זה יגמור את זה”. עו”ד חגי קלעי, המייצג של “ישראל חופשית”: “אנחנו נפרק את עולם התורה” pic.twitter.com/whTm870NOk

— Judeoespañol 🇮🇱 (@Judeoespanol) April 12, 2026

The statement caused deep shock among the leadership of the charedi public, who quickly presented it as proof of the petitioners’ true intentions—not equality in sharing the burden or concern for the army, but a direct ideological war against the world of yeshivos.

The Chairman of Degel HaTorah, MK Moshe Gafni, responded sharply, linking the remarks directly to the Passover holiday. “As we said last week: ‘And it is this that has stood for our ancestors and for us… for in every generation they rise against us to destroy us, and the Holy One, blessed be He, saves us from their hands,’” Gafni stated.

He added a message of endurance in the face of the petitioners: “History proves time and again: those who sought to harm the world of Torah disappeared into the dust of history, while we continue to exist and thrive. So it was, and so it will be. No hateful statement will extinguish the light of Torah.”

The Shas faction also attacked the motives behind the High Court petition, claiming that “the truth has emerged.” According to them, “it is not the needs of the army or reserve duty that are at stake here, but one declared goal: ‘to dismantle the world of Torah.’”

In its statement, the faction also leveled harsh criticism at the judicial system: “Left-wing organizations that hate Judaism have joined forces with detached and power-drunk judges,” in an attempt to harm the spiritual strength of the Jewish people during wartime. “This is a shame and disgrace that will be remembered forever.”

Iranian and American officials offered sharply different accounts after marathon negotiations in Pakistan collapsed without a deal, with each side faulting the other for the breakdown and signaling continued tensions over nuclear demands.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran entered the discussions prepared to reach an understanding but was met with what he described as unrealistic conditions from Washington that ultimately derailed progress.

“In intensive talks at highest level in 47 years, Iran engaged with US in good faith to end war,” the Iranian Foreign Minister wrote, adding, “But when just inches away from ‘Islamabad MoU’, we encountered maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade.”

“Zero lessons earned. Good will begets good will. Enmity begets enmity,” added Araghchi.

From the American side, Vice President JD Vance confirmed that the talks, which stretched over 21 hours, concluded without an agreement after Iran declined to accept key U.S. conditions.

Vance stressed that the administration had laid out its expectations clearly throughout the negotiations.

“We’ve made very clear what our red lines are, what things we’re willing to accommodate them on, and what things we’re not willing to accommodate them on. And we’ve made that as clear as we possibly could, and they have chosen not to accept our terms,” the Vice President said.

He explained that Washington’s primary objective remains preventing Iran from developing nuclear capabilities.

Vance explained that the US demands “an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon. That is the core goal of the President of the United States, and that’s what we’ve tried to achieve through these negotiations.”

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf echoed Tehran’s position, saying the United States failed to earn Iran’s confidence during the discussions.

Speaking after the talks, Ghalibaf said Iran had entered the negotiations emphasizing its “goodwill and necessary determination,” but pointed to lingering mistrust rooted in past dealings.

“My colleagues in the Iranian delegation presented forward-looking initiatives, but in the end, the other side could not gain the trust of the Iranian delegation in this round of negotiations,” he said.

He added that the United States now faces a decision about whether it can establish credibility moving forward.

Ghalibaf added that the US had come to understand Iran’s “logic and principles,” and now faces a decision on whether it can build the necessary trust. “Now is the time for the US to decide whether it can gain our trust or not,” he stated.

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — A Nigerian Air Force strike targeting jihadi rebels hit a local market in northeastern Nigeria, killing over 100 civilians including children and injuring many others, a rights group and local media reported on Sunday. Officials confirmed a misfire without providing details.

Amnesty International cited survivors as saying that at least 100 people were killed in the airstrike on Saturday on a village in Yobe state, near the border with Borno state, which is the epicenter of the jihadi insurgency that has ravaged the region for over a decade.

“We have their pictures and they include children,” Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International’s Nigeria director, told The Associated Press, referring to the casualties.

“We are in touch with people that are there, we spoke with the hospital,” he said. “We spoke with the person in charge of casualties, and we spoke with the victims.”

A worker at the Geidam General hospital, in Yobe, said at least 23 people injured in the incident were receiving treatment. The worker spoke anonymously as he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Such misfires are common in Nigeria, where the military often conducts air raids to battle armed groups who control vast forest enclaves. At least 500 civilians have died since 2017 in such misfires, according to an AP tally of reported deaths. Security analysts point to loopholes in intelligence gathering as well as insufficient coordination between ground troops, air assets and stakeholders.

The large, remote market located near the Borno-Yobe border is known to be often used by Boko Haram jihadis to buy food supplies.

Abdulmumin Bulama, a member of a civilian security group working with the Nigerian military in the northeast, said there was intelligence that Boko Haram terrorists had gathered very close to the market and were planning an attack on nearby communities.

“The intel was shared and the Air Force jet acted based on the credible information,” Bulama said.

The Yobe State Government confirmed in a statement that a Nigerian military strike was targeting a stronghold of the Boko Haram jihadi group in the area and that “some people … who went to the Jilli weekly market were affected.”

The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency also acknowledged that an incident had occurred resulting in “casualties affecting some marketers” and said it had dispatched response teams to the area.

Nigeria’s military issued a statement saying it conducted a successful strike on a “terrorist enclave and logistics hub” belonging to jihadis in the area, killing scores of them as they rode on motorcycles. It did not provide any detail about a possible misfire, but noted that motorcycles remain prohibited in conflict hot spots and “any such movements in restricted areas are therefore treated with the utmost seriousness.”

Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into the incident, adding that the military is “fond of” labeling civilian casualties as bandits

Nigeria, which is Africa’s most populous country, is battling a complex security crisis, especially in the north, where there is a decade-long insurgency and several armed groups that kidnap for ransom.

Among the most prominent Islamic militant groups are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, which is affiliated with the Islamic State group and known as Islamic State West Africa Province. There is also the IS-linked Lakurawa group operating in communities in the northwestern part of the country that borders Niger Republic.

The “Bennett 2026” party sent a pre-lawsuit warning letter on Sunday evening to the Likud party and “Meluchadim News,” accusing them of defamation against party candidate Keren Terner Eyal.

The Likud and government members had attacked Bennett for adding Terner Eyal to his party list, saying that she was active in the notorious leftist anti-government Brothers in Arms organization, which had called for widespread IDF refusal in the months before the October 7 massacre.

A statement from the party stated: “Keren Terner was never a member of the ‘Brothers in Arms’ organization and was never involved, in any way, in calls for refusal to serve.”

“After October 7, a civilian emergency operations center was established, which assisted tens of thousands of civilians, soldiers, and reservists when state systems collapsed. It was not political in nature and received support from across the political spectrum for its vital work during one of Israel’s most difficult moments. We will not allow Likud to spread false and poisonous lies. We will defeat the smear machine and repair Israel.”

It should be noted that Bennett’s statement that the humanitarian work carried out by the Brother in Arms organization after October 7 was “not political in nature” may have been true for some of the volunteers, including Terner, but, according to Channel 12 journalist Amit Segal, the actions of the organization’s leaders were politically tainted even in the days after the October 7 massacre.

Earlier this year, after Democrats chairman Yair Golan announced that one of the leaders of Brothers in Arms, Omri Ronen, was joining his party, Segal posted a video revealing the attempts of  Brothers in Arms to whitewash its calls for IDF refusal before the October 7 massacre.

“Five days after the war broke out, the Brothers in Arms organization, which was not fond of me and vice versa, called me to invite me for a tour of its headquarters,” Segal stated.

Segal said that he happily agreed to the request, with the goal of using his influence to encourage unity during that harrowing time. And afterward, at the request of one of the Brothers in Arms leaders, Eyal Naveh, he “held his nose” and published a post in support of the organization.

Segal noted, “I have to note that I’ve been at many headquarters, and I’ve assisted many volunteer organizations, and I’ve never seen an organization that was so obsessed with public relations, branding, and publicity, as Brothers in Arms. Many people support giving to others secretly. Brothers in Arms supported ‘giving secretly’ as long as everyone knew about it. That’s why the sandwiches they distributed were branded, and the volunteers always wore Brothers in Arms T-shirts.”

Segal added that he regretted posting in support of the organization when he later realized its true intentions. “Well, as it turned out, the goal for Naveh and his friends at Brothers in Arms was less to help the public and more to whitewash their reputation and remove their sin of calling for IDF refusal,” he said.

“All this was an attempt to erase that crime of mass IDF refusal pre-October 7, when Naveh yelled out the names of the IDF units that would refuse to serve, the call to break apart the people’s army, and the threat to harm state security, and the confirmation that his actions did indeed harm Israel’s security.”

Segal concluded: “I have news for you, Naveh, it will never be erased.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

More than six weeks after the killing of Ali Khamenei, Iran’s leadership is sending a message — just not the one it intends.

The continued delay in publicly burying the longtime supreme leader, an extraordinary break from Islamic tradition, is emerging as a revealing signal of instability inside the Islamic Republic, according to analysts and opposition-linked figures. What would normally be a tightly choreographed display of regime continuity has instead turned into a conspicuous absence — one that underscores the fragility of Iran’s current power structure.

Forty-day mourning ceremonies began April 9, a milestone typically marking closure. But officials have yet to disclose burial plans, even after postponing a previously scheduled state funeral in early March. The silence has fueled speculation not just about logistics, but about control.

“This is not a procedural delay. It’s a political one,” said Ramesh Sepehrrad, who argues the regime’s hesitation reflects internal fear. In a system where burial within 24 hours is the norm, the extended delay suggests leaders are wary of public exposure — and potentially of public reaction.

The uncertainty comes at a sensitive moment. Iran’s attempt to reset relations with Washington — through indirect talks mediated by Pakistan in Islamabad — has stalled, with no follow-up negotiations scheduled. That diplomatic impasse is colliding with a leadership transition still unfolding largely behind closed doors.

At the center is Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s son and successor, who is quietly consolidating authority while recovering from injuries sustained in the same strike that killed his father. According to individuals familiar with his inner circle, Mojtaba has resumed participation in high-level decision-making, joining meetings via audio link and weighing in on strategic issues — including negotiations with the United States and ongoing military operations.

But the portrait that emerges is less of a traditional supreme leader and more of a coordinator navigating a fractured system.

“He’s not operating from a position of organic authority,” Sepehrrad said. “He’s operating through the institutions that control force.”

That distinction matters. Unlike his father, who wielded a blend of religious legitimacy and political dominance, Mojtaba appears heavily reliant on a network of security and political figures — including parliamentary leadership, judiciary officials, and senior commanders tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The result, analysts say, is a system that functions less like a unified government and more like a coalition of power centers bound by shared interests rather than trust.

“This is not one voice,” Sepehrrad said. “It’s multiple channels — one negotiating, one threatening, one enforcing.”

That fragmentation may explain the regime’s dual-track approach: tentative engagement abroad paired with tightening control at home. While Iranian negotiators explored a potential de-escalation framework during the recent ceasefire window, officials have simultaneously signaled a harder domestic posture — with expectations of increased repression, including arrests, executions, and expanded internet restrictions.

The underlying calculation, analysts suggest, is straightforward. External diplomacy can buy time. Internal dissent poses a more immediate threat.

“The regime fears unrest more than it fears failed negotiations,” Sepehrrad said.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s Office announced on Sunday evening that the advisory committee for senior appointments, headed by former Supreme Court President Asher Grunis, has approved the candidacy of Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman for the position of Mossad chief.

“Following the committee’s approval, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu signed the appointment of the next head of the Mossad, Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman, who will assume his position on June 2, 2026, for a term of five years,” the statement said.

Netanyahu congratulated Gofman, saying, “Maj. Gen. Gofman has served as my military secretary for the past two years. He is an outstanding, bold, and creative officer who demonstrated out-of-the-box thinking and impressive ingenuity throughout the war. I wish him great success in his new role as head of the Mossad and am confident he will do much for Israel’s security.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also praised the appointment, describing Gofman as “sharp, professional, and highly accomplished,” with strategic thinking and exceptional execution abilities. He added that since October 7, he has worked closely with Gofman in decision-making forums and witnessed his determination, sensitivity, and professionalism firsthand.

Ben-Gvir noted that Gofman immigrated to Israel, fought for the country, and was wounded on October 7.

Gofman, who made aliyah from Belarus at the age of 14, was the commander of an IDF base in the Negev during the October 7 massacre. He rushed into battle against the Hamas terrorists and was seriously wounded in a gun battle outside Sderot.

Gofman’s appointment was approved despite earlier concerns raised during the review process about a controversial incident in his past, which had delayed the decision.

The incident occurred while he was serving as the IDF commander of the Bashan Division in the Golan. According to allegations, Gofman carried out an ‘influence operation’ in which he instructed two subordinate officers to pass classified information to a 17-year-old, Ori Elmakayes from Ashkelon, who ran a news channel on Telegram.

Elmakayes was subsequently arrested by the Shin Bet and police—who were unaware that Gofman had recruited him—and charged with serious security offenses. He was imprisoned for 18 months, and it was only after an indictment was filed against him that his defense attorneys managed to prove that the classified information was provided to him by IDF intelligence officers, and the charges were dropped.

Gofman denied direct responsibility, saying that he was unaware of Elmakayes’ age and that he had ordered that only non-classified information be transmitted to him.

Grunis expressed reservations about the appointment but was in the minority, with the three other members of the committee saying that the incident should not disqualify Gofman from serving as Mossad chief. Political sources estimate that, in light of his objection, the issue may ultimately reach the Supreme Court.

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir supported Gofman’s appointment, describing him as an “excellent” officer with a distinguished career, and said that he did not view the incident as severe.

During the review, Attorney General Gali Baharav‑Miara, who consistently opposes anything and anybody associated with Netanyahu, raised legal concerns about Gofman’s handling and reporting of the case, following a request from Grunis.

The committee had not convened for more than two months due to Grunis’ illness, but resumed its work after his recovery. Although a decision had been expected earlier, disagreements among committee members delayed the process until the final approval was reached.

Gofman will replace current Mossad chief David Barnea, who will conclude his five-year term in June 2026.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A dramatic political upheaval took place on Sunday evening in Hungary when opposition leader Péter Magyar won the elections, ousting Prime Minister Viktor Orbán after 16 years in power.

The dramatic news of Orbán’s defeat was met with great concern in the halls of power in Jerusalem. For 16 years, Orbán was widely seen as Israel’s closest and most dependable ally within the European Union—and often its lone defender.

His close personal relationship with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu evolved into a strategic asset, enabling Israel to fend off anti-Israel EU decisions, from condemnations of Israeli policy to attempts to impose diplomatic or economic sanctions.

For Israel, Orbán’s departure means the loss of an automatic veto in the EU Council. Under his leadership, Hungary repeatedly stood alone against the other member states to shield Israel’s interests and block positions hostile to Israel.

Péter Magyar campaigned on returning Hungary to the European mainstream and repairing relations with EU institutions. Under his leadership, Budapest will align itself more closely with common EU positions—a shift that could leave Israel more vulnerable to diplomatic pressure from Brussels.

Magyar is not considered overtly hostile toward Israel, but he represents a new generation of Hungarian leadership that espouses the rule of law and liberal democratic norms—values that previously put Orbán at odds with the EU.

Israeli officials expect cooperation in security, cyber, and economic spheres to continue due to shared interests. However, the automatic political backing Israel enjoyed under Orbán is likely to give way to a more measured—and at times critical—relationship.

More broadly, the shift in Hungary effectively dismantles the Visegrád Group—Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia—as a pro-Israel bloc that served as a buffer within Europe. Together with political changes in Poland, Israel is left without a reliable anchor in Central Europe.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar quickly congratulated Magyar, writing on X: “We look forward to continuing to work together on further strengthening the good relations between our two countries and expanding our cooperation in different fields of mutual interests.”

“We thank Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his government for their friendship and steady support of Israel and Jewish life in challenging times.”

Netanyahu has not yet commented on the election results.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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As search efforts continue along the Netanya shoreline for one missing bochur, while his brother remains hospitalized in critical condition, their father, Rav Shlomo Spiegel, a rosh chaburah in the Mir, has sent an emotionally powerful letter to his talmidim, calling for mechilah, hisorerus, and strengthened kabbalos tovos.

The two sons, Yissachar Dov and Avrohom Yeshaya, were caught in the sea. One was rescued and is in serious condition, while the second remains missing.

In the midst of this painful ordeal, Rav Spiegel reached out to members of his chaburah, asking forgiveness from anyone he may have wronged and urging increased sensitivity in areas of bein adam l’chaveiro, particularly during these days of Sefirah.

Tefillos are being recited for Yissachar Dov ben Shoshana and Avrohom Yeshaya ben Shoshana.

The full letter follows:

“Last Friday morning, in the hours before the storm descended upon me, I was sitting and reviewing the weekly parsha—shnayim mikra v’echad targum. As I came across the posuk, ‘And the entire house of Yisroel shall cry over the burning that Hashem has burned,’ I recalled that people say this week is considered a time prone to tragedies. I thought to myself, ‘Baruch Hashem, the week passed without anything happening.’ But I forgot that the week wasn’t over yet… and it happened specifically to me.

“I was marked by hashgacha pratis from the Ribbono Shel Olam! The truth is that we are always marked by hashgacha pratis, but usually we sense it faintly. This time, the marking was in bold red.

“We were in a state of euphoria from the ‘ceasefire with Iran,’ but the consuming fire of Nadav and Avihu did not cease. It joined together with the waters of the sea, and together they drowned bnei Torah.

“The fire that burns most during the days of Sefirah is the fire of bein adam l’chaveiro. We mourn during these days for the talmidim of Rabbi Akiva who did not treat one another with proper respect, and it seems that the severe punishments of this time stem from shortcomings in bein adam l’chaveiro.

“This tragedy belongs to all of Klal Yisroel, to the entire tzibbur of bnei Torah. But certainly those who are closest to the fire must reflect on their actions more than anyone else.

“Therefore, I ask complete mechilah from each and every member of the chaburah, past and present—avreichim and bochurim alike—anyone with whom I had any connection through this holy chaburah. Whether I hurt someone directly or indirectly—myself or any member of my family.

“Please! With tear-filled eyes, I ask each of you to say out loud [literally with your mouth, not just in your heart]: ‘I forgive Shlomo ben Chaya Tova and Shoshana bas Matil and their family.’

“Additionally, if anyone was harmed by me in monetary matters, please inform me and I will repay.

“And for those who wish to help: please take upon yourselves during these days to be extra careful not to hurt one another. Pause for a moment before delivering a sharp comment, and guard your speech. In many gatherings, people look for something to talk about, and the easiest topic becomes lashon hara or gossip—this one said this about you, that one said that. Please, stop your tongue and even your breath, and through that difficult restraint, we will merit to add another healthy breath to Yissachar Dov ben Shoshana and Avrohom Yeshaya ben Shoshana. May it be Hashem’s will.”

{Matzav.com}

With summer approaching and police patrols thinner than they were a year ago, riders on New York City’s subway system are growing uneasy — and crime data suggest they have reason to be.

Robberies on trains and buses are up 21% this year, with 128 muggings recorded through April 5 compared to 106 at the same point in 2024. Misdemeanor assaults have risen 12%, transit murders have gone from zero to three, and felony assaults — already 60% above pre-pandemic levels — do not yet reflect three separate machete attacks on riders on Saturday.

The backdrop to those numbers is a patrol rollback. Under former Mayor Eric Adams, the NYPD deployed 300 extra officers for overnight train duty beginning in January 2025, specifically targeting late-night shifts with two officers per car. Crime fell. Then, in February, the Mamdani administration cut overtime funding and reduced those patrols.

Mayor Mamdani had campaigned in part on shrinking the NYPD budget, including shuttering its Strategic Response Group. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch pointed last week to a 5.3% overall drop in citywide crime and a 1.3% decline in subway crime as of March 29 — figures the administration has highlighted as evidence the system remains on track.

But former NYPD Detective Michael Alcazar, who now teaches at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told the NY Post the patrol reduction has created openings that criminals are already exploiting. “They can almost predict where police are going to be and they’re timing it,” he said. “I think robberies are going to increase because there’s going to be more riders and more bad guys, especially in the subway.”

The NYPD notes that 34% of subway robberies so far this year were committed by juveniles, and that 63% have led to arrests. Officials also point out that the current robbery total is only marginally above 2019 levels, and that last year’s figures reflected an all-time low, making the year-over-year comparison unusually stark.

Still, Alcazar said the city cannot afford to wait. “We need to have an omnipresence,” he said. “Summer is coming.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In unusually sharp and forceful language, the Chief Rabbinate Council issued a direct and unprecedented attack on Israel’s Supreme Court following its decision to hold deliberations during Shabbos. The rabbonim made clear that this was not merely a legal disagreement, but a deeper battle over the Jewish identity and character of the state.

The council convened a special protest session in response to the ruling, condemning what they described as a cynical misuse of the concept of pikuach nefesh to justify court proceedings and demonstrations on Shabbos. According to the rabbonim, such reasoning reflects a worldview that is fundamentally at odds with Torah principles.

During the meeting, the council’s official statement was read aloud, strongly criticizing what it called an attempt by Supreme Court justices “to crown themselves with the authority of Torah” by determining what constitutes pikuach nefesh. “A decision as to whether something qualifies as pikuach nefesh is a Torah-based determination that must be evaluated by those entrusted with such matters,” the rabbonim stated. They emphasized that while the Torah places supreme value on human life, it cannot be used as a blanket justification for public desecration of Shabbos under the guise of protest rights.

The rabbonim also referenced previous tensions, pointing to what they described as a broader pattern of dismissiveness toward matters of holiness. “The offensive tone in which issues of chametz were presented as if they were merely a ‘diet,’ and the decision that demonstrations constitute pikuach nefesh, indicate a profound distance from Judaism,” the statement read.

Concluding with a stark warning, the council declared: “Whoever kicks at the sacred foundations of the nation is denying the very existential idea of the State of Israel as a Jewish state.”

The Israeli Supreme Court on Sunday evening authorized the publication of the names of two brothers accused of spying on behalf of Iran. The defendants are Meir Nachum of Beitar Illit and Yosef Nachum of Modiin Illit, who are charged with maintaining contact with an Iranian agent while using artificial intelligence tools and impersonating a soldier from Unit 8200. The brothers had sought to block the release of their identities, arguing that it could expose them to retaliation by Iranian elements and cause severe psychological harm.

Justice Alex Stein ruled that the names could be made public. Meir Nachum, 24, and Yosef Nachum, 28, are accused of engaging with an Iranian operative over an extended period, during which time one of them allegedly posed as a member of Israel’s elite intelligence Unit 8200 while communicating through AI-based platforms.

According to investigators, the Iranian agents initially reached the brothers through a Telegram-based “phishing” scheme. The connection reportedly continued for several months, during which the suspects carried out various security-related activities with the understanding that they were acting on behalf of Iran.

Prosecutors allege that Meir Nachum, identified as the primary defendant, received tens of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency from the Iranian agent. Among other actions, he is accused of contributing to the arrest of an innocent Iranian civilian. Yosef Nachum is charged with passing information to an enemy as part of a coordinated effort.

The brothers argued before the court that publicizing their names could endanger them by inviting retaliation and inflict serious emotional damage. However, Justice Stein rejected the request, stating that these claims were speculative and did not demonstrate a high likelihood of danger. He also noted that any psychological harm resulting from the publication would not be considered unusual compared to other defendants facing serious criminal charges.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu told members of Israel’s security cabinet that the country may ultimately need to dismantle Hamas’ weapons capabilities on its own, as a deadline for the group’s disarmament approaches without clear progress.

According to remarks reported Sunday evening, Netanyahu indicated that President Donald Trump shares the view that Hamas is unlikely to voluntarily surrender its arsenal.

Addressing cabinet ministers, Netanyahu said, “Trump understands that a foreign coalition will not succeed in disarming Hamas. He failed to assemble a coalition to open the Strait of Hormuz, so he also understands that building a coalition to disarm Hamas is less realistic—we will have to do it ourselves.”

The comments come as the timeline set for Hamas to relinquish its weapons is set to expire this week. Meanwhile, discussions tied to a broader diplomatic effort are ongoing.

A source familiar with talks involving Trump’s peace council and Hamas leadership said the coming days will be decisive. “This week we will know if Hamas will disarm as part of an agreement.”

The source added that the outcome could take different forms depending on developments. “This week we will know where things are headed. Whether there is voluntary disarmament or whether it will happen ‘by other means’,” echoing language previously used by Trump.

According to the source, negotiations are continuing at an intense pace, with the Trump administration and its representatives maintaining focus on Gaza even as attention shifts to Iran and Lebanon.

The report also noted that some of the contacts are being facilitated by Nikolay Mladenov, director-general of the peace council, who has reportedly met with senior Hamas officials in Cairo as part of the ongoing efforts.

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani rallied Sunday to celebrate 100 days in office, touting his early accomplishments and charting future goals as he pledged to lead with a relentless focus on the city’s working class.

In front of a crowd just days after reaching an early milestone of his first term, Mamdani said he took office promising “that City Hall would hold a singular purpose, to make this city belong to more of its people than it did the day before.”

“For 102 days, we have endeavored to do exactly that,” he said.

After highlighting the early accomplishments of his administration, he then turned to a few new plans.

The first, he said, would be to inch toward one of his major campaign promises: opening a slate of city-run grocery stores. The initial store, he said, would open next year, with the remaining shops — eventually one in each of the city’s five boroughs — opening by the end of his four-year term.

“At our stores, eggs will be cheaper. Bread will be cheaper. Grocery shopping will no longer be an unsolvable equation,” said Mamdani, a Democrat.

In addition, the mayor announced plans to expand the city’s covered trash bin program — “Say goodbye to black bags and say hello to the bins,” he said, vowing to spread the initiative citywide by the end of 2031.

And he reiterated his campaign promise to make buses faster and free of cost, saying he would move to speed up bus services along some routes. It remains unclear how he would make good on eliminating bus fares.

“Tonight, we’re delivering the fast, and we’re excited to keep working with Albany to deliver the free,” he said, referencing the governor and the state Legislature, which hold considerable sway over parts of his agenda.

Before Mamdani spoke, the crowd heard from a city transportation department staffer to hear about Mamdani’s pothole filling blitz; a tenant organizer who praised the mayor’s focus on renters; and a mother who boosted his push to expand child care programs in the city.

“No longer will city government be afraid of its own shadow,” Mamdani told the crowd shortly after taking the stage. “If anyone should be afraid it is those who take advantage of working people.”

Mamdani, 34, took office in January after a campaign centered on making New York City a more affordable place to live, centering his agenda on refocusing the vast power of government toward helping the city’s struggling working class.

Israeli police have arrested two additional suspects in connection with the 2019 murder of chareidi teenager Evyatar Azarzar, marking a significant development in the case six years after the killing.

The arrests were carried out Sunday by the central unit of the Tel Aviv District Police, following a recent breakthrough in the investigation. Earlier in the day, authorities had already detained a suspect in his 30s from Bnei Brak and indicated that further arrests were expected.

Later, two more suspects—also men in their 30s from Bnei Brak—were taken into custody, bringing the total number of arrests in the latest development to three.

According to a report by Li Ayash on i24, the two newly arrested suspects are already being held in connection with the 2020 murder of Michael Miller, who was killed in a hotel restroom in Tel Aviv.

All three suspects are scheduled to appear Monday before the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court for a hearing on extending their detention. Police also announced that a gag order previously placed on the case has now been lifted.

Earlier Sunday, Channel 13 News reported that four individuals had been arrested in connection with the murder. “We have strong evidence,” police sources said.

Evyatar Azarzar, 18, was found dead in December 2019 with signs of violence on his body, discovered in a pit in an open area near the Morasha Junction after he had been missing for approximately three weeks.

Azarzar, a resident of the Ramot neighborhood in Yerushalayim, was last seen on Shabbos Parshas Vayeitzei (December 7) at the intersection of Jabotinsky and Ben Gurion streets in Ramat Gan, near Bnei Brak. He then disappeared, until his body was later located.

President Donald Trump’s move to cut off negotiations with Iran and impose a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is being framed by some Republican leaders as a decisive show of strength, with former Rep. Pete King saying the United States has already secured victory and must now press its advantage.

Speaking Sunday on Newsmax’s “Wake Up America Weekend,” King welcomed the end of diplomatic talks, arguing they had yielded no progress. “Well, first, I’m glad that they called off the talks,” the New York Republican said. “They were going nowhere. To me, this was all just a subterfuge by Iran.”

King said Trump avoided being drawn into prolonged negotiations that would have benefited Tehran. He added that he would “give the president credit for not falling into a trap of endless negotiations, endless extensions.”

Declaring the outcome of the conflict, King said, “The fact is that the United States military has won this war,” and emphasized that continued pressure is necessary moving forward.

He said the immediate priorities should be reopening the Strait of Hormuz while continuing to address Iran’s nuclear activities. “To me, the main issue now is to reopen the strait and then work on the nuclear enrichment. But we cannot in any way accept the status quo,” King said.

King also argued that the blockade sends a broader signal to the international community, highlighting the global implications of the crisis. “I think sending a message that this is just not a United States issue. This does affect the entire world, and it has to be addressed,” he said. “I think the president is dramatically emphasizing that by us doing the blockading.”

He added that ensuring free navigation through the strait must remain a central objective while encouraging allied participation. “I think we have to begin the process to clear it and to make sure that there’s free access, freedom of waterways at the Strait of Hormuz,” he said. “But no, I think it is important that the president is bringing in the other nations, realizing it’s not just us, it’s everyone being affected by this.”

Responding to Iranian officials who have questioned U.S. credibility, King rejected those claims outright. “That’s typical of Iran. It’s absolute nonsense,” he said. “The fact is that for 47 years, they’ve been at war with us. They’ve threatened to destroy us, destroy Israel. Everything is going in that direction. Their word cannot be taken at all.”

Former Rep. Jack Kingston of Georgia offered a different perspective, suggesting Trump’s tone could open the door to broader international cooperation. “You know, I’m moving in the opposite direction. I feel like this is a tone that’s a lot different than it was a week ago,” Kingston said. “The president is kind of speaking more the language of the U.N. or NATO, our European allies.”

Kingston said the shift in messaging may resonate with key Western partners and encourage them to get involved. “I think this is the kind of language that France and Germany and Great Britain can respond to, and they are slowly moving toward helping us out and realizing that we are helping them out,” he said. “So I think that the president has made more of an international appeal with this sort of tone.”

He concluded by stressing the need for a unified global response to the situation. “I do think it is time for the nations of the world to unite, say, OK, listen, let’s agree. Iran is a thug nation. The Gulf of Hormuz is relevant to all of us. Energy certainly is. Free commerce is. Let’s all cooperate,” Kingston said.

Israeli airstrikes during Operation Roaring Lion damaged Iran’s ability to control and maneuver satellites in orbit, the IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate has assessed, dealing what officials say could be a setback lasting years to Tehran’s space program.

Yisrael Hayom reported that the Israeli Air Force targeted ground bases operating Iran’s satellite array, degrading the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Space Command’s capacity to manage its satellites, including advanced maneuverable systems capable of approaching and potentially disrupting the satellites of other nations. The economic damage is estimated in the billions of dollars, with assessments suggesting Iran will need years to restore what was lost.

The strikes were driven in part by concern that Iran could turn those maneuverable satellites against Israeli assets in orbit. Officials at the IDF’s Space Center, part of Unit 9900, said that defending Israeli satellites from Iranian interference was a central mission throughout the war, carried out around the clock.

“In this war, space was significant in ways not seen before,” said Lt. Col. Sh., the Space Center’s commander. “When the IDF operates over great distances, the importance of satellites rises dramatically. We are relying on years of investment that have placed Israel among the leading countries in this field.”

The stakes were high. Israeli military satellites from the Ofek series provided critical intelligence throughout the campaign — essential given the distance from Iran, which limited other collection methods. Damage to even a single satellite, officials noted, could have materially affected the conduct of the war.

Iran has spent the past decade narrowing a long-standing gap in space capabilities, successfully launching satellites it claimed could photograph U.S. bases in the Gulf and collect electronic signals intelligence. The overlap between satellite launch technology and ballistic missile development added further urgency to the Israeli targeting effort.

The campaign also prompted a shift in U.S. policy on commercial satellite imagery. The Pentagon required commercial providers to delay releasing images from the conflict zone, and Planet Labs confirmed it would withhold imagery from Iran and surrounding areas for an indefinite period. The restrictions took effect as early as March 9, shortly after the war began, though they were only disclosed publicly afterward.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Iran’s leadership remains firmly committed to advancing its nuclear ambitions and backing terrorist proxy groups, with little expectation of any meaningful policy change despite internal differences, Iranian opposition figure Ali Safavi said in an interview Sunday.

Safavi, a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran and a parliamentarian in exile, told Newsmax that the regime’s various factions operate with the same overarching goals. “Well, to be honest, various factions within the Iranian regime throughout the 47 years of rule of this dictatorship are all cut from the same cloth,” Safavi said on Newsmax’s “Wake Up America Weekend.”

He explained that while disagreements may exist at the tactical level, they do not reflect any real strategic divide. “They may differ in tactics, but strategically they are all in for the continuation of the nuclear weapons program, support for the proxy terrorist groups, and of course, suppressing the Iranian people,” he added.

According to Safavi, any perceived divisions among Tehran’s leadership are largely superficial. “So there may be some nuances, but at the end of the day, they’re basically the same,” he said. “And interestingly, those who came to the negotiating table, the speaker of the parliament, the foreign minister, and they’re both die-hard and veteran IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] commanders.”

He pointed to recent developments as further evidence supporting his assessment of the regime’s intentions. “And clearly, I think what happened yesterday proved what we have been saying all along, that this regime will never abandon its nuclear weapons program. It will never stop funding and training its terrorist proxies. And, of course, it will not abate in suppressing the Iranian people,” Safavi said.

Safavi also highlighted recent executions as an illustration of continued repression. “Case in point, the execution of 13 dissidents, including six members of the main Iranian opposition, the Mujahideen, last week,” he said.

Appearing alongside Safavi, Asaf Romirowsky, executive director of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, said he largely agrees with that assessment, emphasizing that internal disagreements do not weaken the regime’s hold on power. “The fact of the matter is, I have no disagreement with what my colleague is saying here,” Romirowsky said.

“I mean, the fact is that these axis of oppression forces are still controlled by the regime itself. There’s still enough power that the IRGC has. And so any opposition forces really are being squashed.”

Romirowsky added that while Iran’s leadership may have suffered setbacks, its guiding ideology remains firmly in place. While agreeing the leadership has been “decapitated,” Romirowsky said “the ideology is still alive and well, and they’re the ones who are controlling what’s going on.”

He also pointed to the strategic and economic importance of key waterways, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, as a critical factor moving forward. “Now, obviously, the main concern going forward, economically speaking, is going to be who’s controlling the Straits of Hormuz, and that is the IRGC,” Romirowsky said. “And we’re going to see probably more activity in that area for sure. So that’s part of what you’re going to see play out here.”

Romirowsky concluded that as long as the current leadership remains in power, repression will continue. “So long as they’re in power, this tyrannical regime and the suppressive, you know, repression forces are going to continue to squash any opposition forces,” he said.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — A Brooklyn judge has overturned the murder conviction of Carl Miller, declaring him innocent in the 1979 killing of Rabbi David Okunov and formally clearing him during the Passover period.

The ruling vacates Miller’s 1980 conviction and dismisses the charges, ending a decades-long legal battle. Miller, who was a teenager at the time of his arrest, spent years in prison and consistently denied any involvement in the killing.

Okunov, an immigrant from the former Soviet Union, was fatally shot while walking to morning prayers in Crown Heights, a crime that stunned the local community.

The case was largely built on testimony that later raised credibility concerns, while other witnesses did not identify Miller as the attacker. In reviewing the case, the judge found the evidence insufficient to support the conviction and concluded Miller did not commit the crime.

The decision marks a rare legal finding of actual innocence, a higher threshold than simply overturning a conviction.

The killing drew widespread attention at the time, with large crowds attending the rabbi’s funeral, including Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who publicly mourned the loss.

Prosecutors have a limited window to appeal the ruling. The case, now decades old, may remain unsolved

Tucker Carlson’s standing among Republican voters has fallen sharply, according to new polling, as his opposition to the Iran war and criticism of Israel put him increasingly at odds with the GOP base and with President Donald Trump.

A University of Massachusetts Lowell poll found that Carlson’s net favorability among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents has dropped from +54 in March 2024 to just +7 today. Among Republicans, 31% view him favorably against 24% unfavorably; nationally, those numbers invert sharply, with 17% favorable and 38% unfavorable. Trump, by contrast, maintains a net favorability of roughly +61 among Republicans.

The collapse in support coincides with an escalating public break between the two men. Trump has taken direct aim at Carlson in recent days, calling him “a broken man” in one social media post and describing him as “a low IQ person” in separate social media posts.

Carlson has been an outspoken critic of U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict and of Israeli policy, a position that has placed him at odds with much of the Republican electorate. Reporting from the Conservative Political Action Conference in late March pointed to a growing split within the party, particularly among younger conservatives and “America First” voices, over support for Israel and military action against Iran.

Israel’s Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry has taken note, releasing a report warning of an emerging “America Only” current within segments of the American right and identifying Carlson as part of a broader environment of anti-Israel and antisemitic messaging.

The poll was conducted before Trump’s most recent attacks on Carlson, suggesting the full political damage from the feud may not yet be reflected in the numbers.

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