Google and OpenAI reportedly provided access to their artificial intelligence models to Singapore-based subsidiaries of major Chinese technology companies, according to an investigation by the Financial Times.

The report says the subsidiaries are linked to Chinese firms including Alibaba, Baidu, and Tencent, some of which appear on U.S. government watchlists over alleged ties to China’s military.

According to the report, the companies gained access through subsidiaries operating in Singapore rather than directly from mainland China, making the arrangements legally permissible under current U.S. restrictions while raising concerns among lawmakers and national security officials in Washington.

U.S. officials are reportedly concerned that Chinese companies could use advanced American AI models to improve their own competing systems through a process known as “distillation,” in which the outputs of powerful AI models are used to train or enhance other models.

OpenAI confirmed that it recently blocked accounts linked to Alibaba over concerns about prohibited use of its developer platform and said it reported the activity to the U.S. government.

The company said its AI models are not available inside mainland China but that its services remain accessible in jurisdictions where it can enforce its usage policies and monitor suspicious activity.

Google also offers AI services in Singapore and Hong Kong under geographic restrictions. However, according to the report, the company acknowledges that location-based controls alone may not always prevent sophisticated attempts to access its technology.

Anthropic, by contrast, has adopted a stricter policy, reportedly prohibiting Chinese companies and foreign entities controlled by them from using its AI models.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israel’s political leadership has instructed the IDF to freeze all operations considered “sensitive” in southern Lebanon following a request from the United States, Kan News reported Friday.

The directive will remain in effect until further notice and until it becomes clear how the current escalation between the United States and Iran develops, as well as what happens with the negotiations between Israel and Lebanon.

U.S. officials, who have been focused in recent days on the confrontation with Iran, have expressed concern that Israel could also be drawn into the fighting. A security official said Israel is prepared to use any Iranian attack against it as an opportunity to carry out significant strikes in Iran. However, following the White House request, the IDF was instructed to wait so the current confrontation does not expand to include Israel.

The IDF is also expected to begin withdrawing from the pilot areas in southern Lebanon as early as next week, when another round of talks between Israel and Lebanon is scheduled to take place in Rome.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Yechiel Leiter is expected to lead the Israeli delegation together with the team that participated in previous rounds of negotiations with Lebanon.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Russia says it intercepted and destroyed 376 Ukrainian drones overnight in what officials described as one of the largest aerial attacks on Russian territory since the war began.

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, air defense systems intercepted drones between Thursday evening and Friday morning over multiple regions, including Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Rostov, Moscow and surrounding areas, Crimea, Krasnodar Krai, and the Sea of Azov.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said four drones headed toward the Russian capital were shot down overnight, bringing the total number intercepted near Moscow to 14 during the day.

Russian officials also reported casualties and damage in several regions. In Belgorod, authorities said one person was killed and ten others were wounded during Ukrainian attacks over the past 24 hours. In the Kursk region, one person was reportedly injured after a drone strike damaged a vehicle.

Falling drone debris reportedly sparked a fire at the Ilsky oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region, while additional fires were reported at two fuel facilities in the Rostov region. Local reports also indicated a fire at the port of Taganrog following the attacks.

Separately, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed it foiled what it described as a Ukrainian plot to attack the Rostov-Tsentralny military airfield using explosive-laden drones.

According to the FSB, a Russian citizen allegedly recruited by Ukrainian intelligence informed Russian authorities of the plan, leading to the seizure of 13 drones, each reportedly carrying more than one kilogram of explosives. Russian officials said the alleged plot aimed to damage the airfield’s infrastructure and target military personnel and aircraft stationed at the base.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Britain’s two leading Jewish organizations have expressed “significant concerns” over comments about Israel made by Labour leadership frontrunner Andy Burnham, who is widely expected to become the country’s next prime minister.

In a video posted to social media, Burnham said the United Kingdom should increase pressure on Israel over its military campaign in Gaza and halt the sale of weapons that could be used in Gaza and the West Bank. He also criticized the humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for greater international pressure on the Israeli government.

In a joint statement, the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council said that combating antisemitism requires addressing all of its sources, including Islamist, far-left, and far-right extremism.

The organizations warned that criticism of Israel often crosses the line into hatred directed at Jews and Israelis, arguing that distorted and one-sided portrayals of the war in Gaza contribute to rising antisemitism and the unfair targeting of the world’s only Jewish state.

The statement also noted that Burnham, as Mayor of Greater Manchester during the Heaton Park terror attack, has firsthand experience with the connection between anti-Israel extremism, antisemitism, and violence against British Jews. The groups said they look forward to discussing their concerns directly with Burnham and his team.

Burnham recently returned to Parliament and is expected to be the sole candidate in the Labour Party leadership race following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s announcement that he intends to step down.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The continued absence of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, from public view has fueled growing speculation over his condition, his ability to govern, and the stability of the Islamic Republic’s leadership following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei.

Despite large funeral ceremonies attended by thousands across Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei did not appear publicly at any of the events, including his father’s burial. His absence has sparked widespread speculation on social media, where unverified videos and images have circulated claiming to show him disguised among mourners or recovering from injuries.

According to reports, Iranian officials have maintained that Mojtaba is overseeing state affairs and negotiations with the United States from a secure location. However, analysts say his prolonged disappearance may reflect serious security concerns following the strike that killed his father, while others suggest he could still be recovering from injuries.

Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group told reporters that the absence could indicate either significant security fears or lingering medical issues preventing the new Supreme Leader from appearing in public.

At the same time, tensions within Iran’s leadership appear to be surfacing. Reports from the funeral ceremonies indicated that hardline supporters confronted senior officials they believe are pursuing negotiations with the West, highlighting growing divisions inside the regime.

Analysts say the lack of a visible Supreme Leader creates uncertainty at a time when Iran faces both internal political strains and mounting international pressure. Some believe Mojtaba Khamenei continues to exercise authority behind the scenes through Iran’s security establishment, while others argue his absence has fueled speculation over who is truly making decisions within the regime.

If the decision to keep Mojtaba out of public view is primarily for security reasons, observers say it presents its own challenge: while it may reduce the risk of an assassination attempt, it also makes it more difficult for the regime to project stability and demonstrate that its highest-ranking leader remains firmly in control.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Police Commissioner Danny Levy has sharply limited who inside the police force is allowed to view the organization’s internal October 7 investigations, after details from the first discussions were leaked to the media despite confidentiality commitments signed by participants.

In recent weeks, the police began presenting its internal reviews of the force’s conduct during the October 7 massacre to members of its command staff. Ahead of those discussions, those taking part were required to sign a confidentiality form, but according to an i24NEWS report, details from the early sessions still found their way into the press.

Following the leaks, Levy decided to exclude most of the police’s top brass from the process and establish a much smaller forum of only six senior officers. From now on, the report said, the internal investigations will be presented only to that limited group.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Hamas has reportedly moved its primary organizational operations from Qatar to Turkey, according to a report by the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat. The report says the terror group recently held internal elections for its political bureau leadership in Ankara, reflecting the shift in its regional base of operations.

Sources within Hamas told the newspaper that meetings previously held in Doha are now taking place in Istanbul, with senior members of the group’s political bureau and Shura Council participating.

Despite the relocation, Hamas officials insisted relations with Qatar remain strong. According to the report, the move is intended to reduce pressure on Doha from the United States and Israel, both of which have demanded that Qatar expel Hamas leaders. Turkey is also reportedly viewed by the terror group as a safer location from potential Israeli strikes.

The report also says Hamas is working to rebuild ties with Syria after years of strained relations. In recent months, the terror group issued statements condemning attacks in Damascus and expressing solidarity with what it called “sister Syria” and the country’s new leadership.

Hamas officials described the outreach to Syria as a natural step for what they called a national liberation movement seeking relations with governments across the region. While no official Hamas delegation is expected to visit Syria in the immediate future, the group reportedly believes such a visit could take place once Syria’s new government becomes more established.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The U.S. State Department reportedly intervened to block a planned meeting between New York City Commissioner for International Affairs Ana Maria Archila and Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, according to a report by the New York Post.

The meeting had been scheduled for July 7 but was canceled after State Department officials learned of the plans. According to sources cited by the Post, the initiative was undertaken without coordination or approval from the appropriate federal authorities, prompting immediate concern given heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.

The cancellation came amid renewed hostilities in the Persian Gulf, following Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and President Donald Trump’s announcement that a temporary ceasefire with Iran had ended.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani reportedly said he was unaware of Archila’s plans. Nevertheless, the incident has drawn criticism from political opponents, who argue it reflects poor judgment and inexperience within the mayor’s administration.

Archila, a progressive activist and former candidate for New York lieutenant governor, has faced scrutiny since her appointment. According to the report, City Hall retained former International Affairs Commissioner Aissata M.B. Camara alongside Archila in an unusual dual leadership arrangement, reportedly due to concerns over Archila’s diplomatic experience.

The Mayor’s Office of International Affairs is responsible for maintaining relationships with foreign governments and diplomatic missions based in New York City, home to the United Nations. Critics argue that any effort by city officials to independently engage with representatives of hostile foreign governments without federal coordination exceeds the office’s proper role.

The episode is expected to intensify criticism of the Mamdani administration, with opponents pointing to the canceled meeting as another example of what they describe as a lack of experience in handling sensitive diplomatic matters.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Following the phone call President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held Thursday night, senior White House officials told Walla that, at least for now, no meeting between the two leaders is being planned. The clarification came despite Trump saying over the weekend that they were expected to meet soon and the Prime Minister’s Office announcing last week that a meeting in the United States had been agreed upon.

Iran, meanwhile, issued its first direct threat against Israel since the latest escalation with the United States began. Mohammad-Bagher Zolqadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned that attacks on Iranian infrastructure would be met with similar retaliation and that the “Zionist regime” would not be immune.

At the same time, Washington is seeking to prevent Israel from entering the current fighting. Two Israeli sources told CNN that the Trump administration fears Israeli involvement could cause the conflict to spiral out of control. One source said Netanyahu “would really want to join the U.S. strikes,” but that Washington does not want Israel involved at this stage.

Israeli sources also told i24NEWS that Iran currently has no interest in drawing Israel into the regional confrontation and is therefore not firing at Israel. The Iranian threat, however, suggests that could change if Tehran believes Israel is involved in attacks on its infrastructure.

Qatari mediators recently traveled to Iran in an effort to lower tensions and encourage renewed negotiations with the United States, Reuters reported. The talks in Tehran were coordinated with Washington.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The first “pilot zone” in southern Lebanon from which Israeli forces are expected to withdraw could be launched within days under the U.S.-brokered Israel-Lebanon framework, according to American officials cited in multiple reports, as Washington presses both sides toward the implementation phase of the agreement.

Axios and i24NEWS reported that U.S. officials expect the initial pilot zone to move forward shortly, with CENTCOM coordinating implementation alongside Israel and Lebanon. The reports said additional pilot zones are already being mapped out and planned as part of the broader framework, with the upcoming talks in Rome expected to focus on launching the implementation stage.

At the same time, Lebanese officials are making clear that Beirut wants to see movement on the ground before returning to the table. CNN reported, citing a diplomatic source, that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has tied Lebanon’s continued participation in talks with Israel to the beginning of an Israeli military withdrawal from occupied areas in southern Lebanon. A U.S. official also told Axios that the Lebanese government is refusing to attend another round of talks in Rome next week until Israel begins its initial withdrawal.

According to CNN, the current U.S.-brokered framework envisions Israel withdrawing from two areas along the Yellow Line before the Lebanese Army takes over security there, though there has been no indication that such a withdrawal has begun. Aoun also called for pressure on Israel to halt its military operations in Lebanon, while Defense Minister Yisroel Katz rejected the idea of a broader withdrawal and said Israel does not need permission to remain in Lebanon.

Channel 12 reported that the Lebanese Army has already begun extensive planning for the pilot phase, under which it is expected to enter two areas in southern Lebanon that the IDF is set to evacuate. According to that report, the Lebanese Army is determining force requirements, deployment plans and entry points for both areas, with the current plan calling for both zones to be entered simultaneously rather than in stages. No agreed timeline has yet been set, and the issue is expected to be discussed during next week’s talks.

The American side is also looking beyond the initial withdrawal phase. According to the reports, once negotiations resume, technical teams are expected to take over the implementation process, while the United States plans to bring in international partners to help Lebanon restore effective sovereignty in the affected areas and eventually across the country.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett spent the past several days in Sun Valley, Idaho, where he participated in the exclusive Allen & Company conference, one of the world’s most prestigious annual gatherings of business, technology, media, and political leaders.

Bennett took part in a closed-door panel on the Middle East alongside Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump, and Yousef Al Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates’ ambassador to the United States. According to Jewish Insider, citing Puck News, the off-the-record discussion was held before a select audience, and no details of the conversation have been released.

According to Israeli reports, Bennett was the only Israeli invited to this year’s conference. His appearance comes as questions have been raised in Israel over his recent absence from the public eye during an increasingly active political period.

The annual Sun Valley conference, organized by Allen & Company, is known for bringing together many of the world’s most influential business executives, investors, media leaders, and public figures. Among those reportedly attending this year’s gathering were Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, Sam Altman, Reed Hastings, Lachlan Murdoch, Anderson Cooper, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and numerous other technology and media executives.

The conference is conducted under strict security and confidentiality, with no public schedule and little access for the media. It has long been known as a venue where major business deals are discussed and where influential figures privately exchange ideas on global affairs, technology, artificial intelligence, and international policy.

Bennett’s participation also comes at a politically sensitive time in Israel, as polls have shown declining support for his political alliance. Nevertheless, his invitation to participate alongside senior American and Gulf figures involved in the Abraham Accords underscores his continued international profile and connections in diplomatic and strategic circles.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

HaRav Asher Abramowitz, a Rosh Mesivta in a yeshiva in Jerusalem, spoke to Kol Chai after accompanying a talmid who was arrested, visiting him in military prison, and attending hearings at the military court. He said that although he does not usually give interviews, he chose to reveal the details because “the public simply is not aware of what is happening.”

The Rav said that what shook him most was seeing his talmid sitting behind a glass partition in the courtroom. “Instead of sitting in the Beis Medrash and learning, he was sitting in court like one of the criminals,” he said. He added that the main difficulty is not the physical conditions, but the humiliation the bnei yeshivos are subject to, including restrictions on phone calls with family members and degrading treatment by staff members.

The Rav also described the daily routine in prison: early wake-up, lengthy roll calls, prolonged standing in front of commanders, extended periods in closed rooms, and various restrictions. He said his talmid was even punished after learning for a few extra minutes after davening by being denied use of the phone for three days. He added that the bnei yeshivos also encounter difficulties in religious matters, including kashrus issues and the ability to learn Torah quietly.

At the end of the interview, he said the image that will remain with him is the sight of his broken talmid on the first day of detention. “He told me: ‘HaRav, it is impossible to survive here,'” he recalled.

The Rav concluded by asking the public to identify with the pain of the detainees and understand that “there is a bachur here who, instead of sitting in the Beis Medrash, was taken in handcuffs and humiliated.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A new i24NEWS poll published Thursday shows Likud remaining the largest party in Israel with 29 seats, while Gadi Eizenkot’s Yashar party rises to 21 seats — its highest showing in recent weeks. The poll also finds that separate runs by Benny Gantz and Chili Tropper would leave both parties below the electoral threshold.

Behind Likud and Yashar, the Democrats stand at 10 seats. The poll gives 9 seats to the Beyachad party led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, while Shas and Yisrael Beytenu each receive 9 seats. Otzma Yehudit and United Torah Judaism each receive 8 seats, the Joint List gets 7, and both Religious Zionism and Ra’am stand at 5.

The poll also finds that Zehut, the Economic Party, Blue and White led by Gantz and Smotrich, and a separate party led by Tropper, Yoaz, and Hendel, all fail to cross the electoral threshold. In the broader bloc picture, opposition-aligned parties, including the Joint List and Ra’am, reach 61 seats, while the current coalition bloc stands at 59.

The survey also tested a scenario in which a new right-wing party led by Yuli Edelstein, Gilad Erdan,rdan and Ayelet Shaked enters the race. In that case, the overall map remains unchanged, with that party also failing to cross the threshold, alongside Gantz-Smotrich, Tropper-Hendel, Zehut and the Economic Party.

The poll further asked whether Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump are still acting in full coordination. Among coalition supporters, 52% said they are. Among opposition supporters, 68% said the two leaders are now acting mainly in the narrow interests of their own countries. Across the full sample, 51% said local interests are driving both leaders, compared to 32% who still believe Netanyahu and Trump are operating in full coordination.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Tensions are expected to remain high in Jerusalem this Shabbos as secular activists plan a counter-demonstration outside a café that intends to remain open, while Chareidim are preparing another protest against its Shabbos operations.

The café, “Basmata,” located in the Nachlaot neighborhood, became the focus of protests last week when hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside. According to Israeli media reports, chairs were overturned, windows were pounded, and patrons were spat at during the demonstration.

Ahead of this Shabbos, flyers distributed in Chareidi neighborhoods are calling on the public to march to the café and protest its continued operation on Shabbos.

At the same time, activists from the secular “Hitorerut Jerusalem” movement announced they will remain at the café from opening until closing in an effort to show support for the business and deter further disturbances.

Jerusalem Police said they have been gathering intelligence, holding discussions with all parties, and are preparing for the possibility that the demonstrations could escalate.

Despite the threats, café owner Yoel Ben David said he has no plans to close on Shabbos.

“Many people told me they will come, and I’m grateful for the support,” he said. “I spoke with the police, and they said they are preparing and will be there. I trust them to do their job, but I hope the Chareidim wake up tomorrow morning and decide not to come for their own reasons.”

He added, “I’d like my only concern to be whether I’ll have enough milk for the coffee. We’ll try to calm things down, and I hope people come, drink coffee, and everything stays peaceful.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Iran’s regime is institutionalizing calls to avenge the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, announcing that prayers for revenge will now become a permanent part of Friday prayer services across the country.

According to Iranian media, Abolhassan Fatemi, the Friday prayer leader in Shahrekord, declared that worshippers will now hear calls for vengeance every week.

“From now on, every Friday, during Friday prayers, we will raise the call for revenge and blood vengeance,” Fatemi said. “Revenge against the oppressors must remain at the top of the Islamic Republic’s priorities.”

At the same time, senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Ahmad Vahidi insisted that Khamenei’s death would not weaken what Tehran calls the “Axis of Resistance”—its network of terror proxies across the Middle East.

“The criminal leaders of America and all enemies of the Islamic Revolution and the Resistance Front should know that by assassinating this leader they will never be able to extinguish the light, weaken the will of the believing nations, or bring down the banner of resistance,” Vahidi said.

He added that Khamenei’s death has become “a flowing spring of awakening, honor, strength and unity for the Islamic nation,” and said the demand to punish those responsible for his killing will remain “absolute, legitimate, and unforgettable.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A majority of Jewish adults in the United States say they feel less safe than they did before Hamas’ October 7, 2023, massacre in Israel, according to a new poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

The survey found that approximately six in ten Jewish adults feel less safe today than they did before the attack. Among those who identify as religiously Jewish, that figure rises to about seven in ten.

Nearly one-third of respondents said they or someone in their household experienced antisemitic harassment or attacks over the past year because they were Jewish. The incidents included physical assaults, verbal abuse, online harassment, threats, and property damage.

About one in ten said they or someone in their household had been physically assaulted because of their Jewish identity, while a similar percentage reported property being damaged or destroyed. Roughly two in ten reported verbal harassment or slurs, and a similar share experienced online harassment or cyberbullying.

The poll also found that many American Jews have become more reluctant to openly display their Jewish identity. About four in ten said they are now less likely to wear or carry items that identify them as Jewish, such as a yarmulke, Magen David, or other Jewish symbols.

When asked about their sense of security, about one-third said they feel safe as Jews in the United States, while another one-third said they feel unsafe. The remaining respondents said they feel neither safe nor unsafe.

The survey also highlighted divisions within the American Jewish community over the definition of antisemitism. About half of respondents said anti-Israel protests are not inherently antisemitic, while roughly four in ten believe such protests do constitute antisemitism.

The findings come amid a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents across the United States since the October 7 Hamas attack and the subsequent war in Gaza.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israel is prepared to join renewed U.S. military strikes against Iran if President Donald Trump approves, according to multiple media reports citing Israeli sources.

Kan News reported that some officials in Jerusalem favor rejoining the campaign against Iran and are awaiting a green light from the White House. The report also said Israeli officials believe the current exchange of attacks between the United States and Iran is likely to continue for several more days.

Similarly, the New York Post, citing a source in Jerusalem, reported that Israel is interested in participating in future strikes and fully resuming military operations against the Islamic Republic.

“We’re willing to do it again, if needed,” the unnamed source told the newspaper.

The source acknowledged that Israel is “not eager to go back to the day when people have to go to shelters,” but added that the country cannot “ignore what’s happening in Iran.”

“So if that will be the price we’ll have to pay, we will bear with that situation,” the source said.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Four Arab Israeli citizens from the Bedouin town of Segev Shalom have been indicted after Israeli authorities uncovered what officials described as a Hamas-linked terror cell planning a mass-casualty attack at Beersheba’s central bus station, along with additional attacks targeting police and security forces.

According to a joint statement from the Israel Police and Shin Bet, the suspects were arrested during undercover Border Police operations in May and June 2026 following a joint investigation that exposed the terror network before it could carry out its plans.

Investigators said the group initially planned to carry out a stabbing attack at the Beersheba central station but later decided to obtain firearms and launch a mass shooting instead, believing knives would not be effective enough.

Authorities said the suspects also planned to open fire on the Segev Shalom police station, establish a local terror infrastructure, and target Israeli security personnel operating in the community. Their primary objective, investigators said, was to attack soldiers in public places.

According to prosecutors, the alleged leader of the cell began building the network following the 2021 Jewish-Arab riots. He allegedly created social media accounts that spread Hamas propaganda, jihadist content, footage from the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre, praise for terrorists, and calls for armed struggle and martyrdom.

Through those online activities, prosecutors say he recruited the other members, assigning each a nickname, including referring to one suspect who downloaded bomb-making videos as the group’s “engineer.”

The indictment charges the four suspects with conspiracy to commit an act of terror and receiving terrorist training or instruction. The alleged leader also faces additional charges of incitement to terrorism and identifying with a terrorist organization.

Israeli authorities said one of the suspects was arrested while allegedly on his way to carry out an attack.

In a joint statement, the Israel Police and Shin Bet said, “This is a serious terrorist organization in which young Israeli citizens planned to carry out terrorist activity. This intention was thwarted in advance by the Israel Police and the Israel Security Agency before the suspects were able to take steps to carry out their plan.”

Officials added that they “view with the utmost severity any involvement of Israeli citizens in terrorist activity” and pledged to continue working “to thwart terrorist intentions and bring those involved in terrorism offenses to the fullest extent of the law.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Ten people were injured Friday in a six-vehicle crash on Route 6 near the Kiryat Gat interchange, including two young children who suffered serious injuries.

Magen David Adom and United Hatzalah responded to the scene, where a 3-year-old girl was found unconscious with a severe head injury. She underwent resuscitation efforts at the scene before being airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in critical, unstable condition.

A 5-year-old boy also suffered a serious head injury and was transported to a hospital while semi-conscious.

Two men, ages 30 and 43, sustained moderate injuries, while six others—including several children—were treated for minor injuries and taken to hospitals for further evaluation.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

GREENFIELD PARK, NY — New York State Police are investigating what appears to be an antisemitic attack after five Jewish women riding bicycles on Weiner Road in Greenfield Park were targeted with a water cannon filled with manure on Thursday.

According to exclusive information obtained by YWN, the suspect sprayed manure at the group from a passing vehicle, striking two of the women.

One victim was hit in the face and ear with such force that she was knocked off her bicycle and onto the ground. Another woman was struck in the back.

Sources tell YWN that the suspects shouted expletives and antisemitic remarks at the women both before and after the attack.

New York State Police responded to the scene and have launched an investigation. Police are looking at camera footage, and are looking for a white vehicle which was involved.

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(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The State Attorney’s Office filed an indictment Thursday against Assaf Israel Aryeh, 28, of Be’er Sheva, accusing him of plotting violent attacks for money — including an alleged plan to assault former Meretz MK Mossi Raz and a separate effort to obtain the home address of former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.

According to the indictment, filed by attorney Orad Shalev of the Central District Attorney’s Office, Aryeh made contact through Instagram with a man he believed was a right-wing activist looking for recruits for missions “to save the people.” After Aryeh expressed interest, the two allegedly discussed a series of violent acts, including stabbing, setting a vehicle on fire, and attacking a person with pepper spray. Aryeh allegedly quoted prices for each act and eventually agreed to attack Raz in exchange for NIS 8,000. The indictment says it was agreed that he would beat Raz or alternatively spray him with pepper spray while filming the attack.

That same day, according to the indictment, Aryeh traveled from Be’er Sheva to Lod, bought an operational phone, equipped himself with pepper spray and a knife, and left his personal phone with a friend to make it harder to identify him. He then went to the city where Raz lives, photographed Raz’s home several times, and sent the photos and videos to the man he had been in contact with.

Days later, the indictment says, Aryeh was asked in exchange for payment to provide the address of Ronen Bar. In return for carrying out the missions, he allegedly received about $1,000 through a digital wallet. After carrying out his actions, Aryeh is accused of smashing his operational phone and deleting his Telegram conversations in an attempt to destroy evidence. He was arrested in Lod while carrying a knife.

In asking the court to keep Aryeh in custody until the end of proceedings, prosecutors pointed to what they described as his extensive criminal record. According to the filing, he has four prior convictions for offenses including violence, possession of a knife, threats, carrying a weapon and shooting, as well as multiple drug offenses, and has served three lengthy prison terms. Prosecutors also said he allegedly committed offenses while on probation from a previous sentence and that a separate drug indictment is still pending against him.

Raz said he was informed that an indictment had been filed against Aryeh, who he said “for financial gain, photographed my home and undertook to harm me.” He thanked the Shin Bet, police and prosecutors, adding: “Violence will not deter me.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Turkey has deployed an advanced radar system at Damascus International Airport, a move drawing close attention in Israel amid growing concerns over Ankara’s expanding military and technological footprint in Syria.

According to an analysis by the Alma Research and Education Center, the HTRS-100 radar system, manufactured by Turkish defense company ASELSAN, was recently installed at the airport. Syrian authorities and Turkish Ambassador to Syria Nuh Yilmaz have presented the system as a civilian upgrade designed to improve air traffic management and flight safety. However, analysts note that the radar also possesses capabilities with potential military applications.

The HTRS-100 is capable of providing a three-dimensional picture of aircraft within a range of approximately 80 to 100 nautical miles (150 to 185 kilometers). From its location in Damascus, the system can monitor large portions of Syrian airspace, parts of Lebanon, and areas in northern Israel.

The radar operates in the S-band frequency and includes advanced weather filtering technology, a secondary surveillance radar, and an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system commonly used by military forces to identify aircraft. It is also designed with redundancy features that allow it to continue operating even if portions of the system are damaged or disabled.

Israeli defense officials are reportedly monitoring the deployment closely amid concerns that the system could provide Syria and Turkey with a significantly broader picture of aerial activity throughout the region. Officials are also assessing whether the radar could eventually affect the Israeli Air Force’s operational freedom.

The deployment comes as Turkey continues to deepen its involvement in Syria through military cooperation, training, and security assistance. Israeli analysts are also examining whether Ankara is taking advantage of Iran’s reduced influence in Syria to expand its own strategic presence.

While the HTRS-100 is currently being presented as a civilian air traffic control system, Israeli officials view its installation as part of a broader Turkish effort to increase its military and technological influence in Syria and reshape the regional balance of power.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Board of Peace is advancing plans to transfer Gaza residents to areas in the southern Gaza Strip that are not under Hamas control, according to a Channel 12 report. Practical preparations are already underway on the ground.

According to the report, the plan depends on receiving internal and security approvals, while IDF forces have begun clearing unexploded ordnance, preparing the area around the Emirati neighborhood in southern Gaza, and setting up a dedicated base in the area.

The move is part of a broader effort to create a program that would allow Gaza’s population to relocate to areas outside Hamas control. While Israel and the Board of Peace continue to define the dismantling of Hamas as a main objective, the goal is not to wait for Hamas before allowing civilians to move closer to the Yellow Line, outside areas controlled by the terror group.

A source familiar with the details said the Board of Peace is preparing to begin the move, but is waiting for final approvals from Israel and additional internal work by the Board of Peace. The source added that practical steps are already being implemented on the ground.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In an extraordinary and emotional moment, 100-year-old Holocaust survivor Kurt Marx was called to the Torah at a shul in north London and read from the very same Sefer Torah he used at his bar mitzvah in Cologne, Germany, nearly 88 years ago—just two months before Kristallnacht.

“It was beyond anything I ever imagined possible,” Marx said through tears. “When I read the same pesukim I read as a child, before my life was turned upside down, it felt as though all the years in between disappeared for a moment.”

Marx celebrated his bar mitzvah in September 1938 at the Adass Jeschurun Orthodox synagogue in Cologne. Just two months later, during Kristallnacht, he watched as the shul was set ablaze. Amid the flames, someone managed to rescue the sifrei Torah and bring them to the nearby Jewish school where Marx was a student.

Following the pogrom, school principal Erich Klibansky worked to organize the rescue of his students through the Kindertransport. In January 1939, Marx said goodbye to his parents, believing they would soon join him in England once their immigration papers were approved. The children traveled to Britain carrying one of the rescued sifrei Torah with them.

Marx rebuilt his life in Britain, later marrying Ingrid, an Auschwitz survivor. The couple eventually settled in London after spending several years in Tanzania, where Marx worked in the diamond industry.

For decades, Marx searched for information about his parents. The last letter he received from them arrived in the fall of 1942. He later learned they had been deported to Minsk and murdered in the Maly Trostenets extermination site in present-day Belarus. Marx was the sole survivor from his mother’s family.

The remarkable reunion with the Sefer Torah began when Marx discovered an old document recording its arrival at a London synagogue in 1939. Working with the Association of Jewish Refugees and the United Synagogue, researchers eventually traced the historic Sefer Torah to Brondesbury Park Synagogue in London.

Standing once again before the Sefer Torah from which he had read as a 13-year-old, Marx described the moment as far more than rediscovering a treasured object.

“It was restoring a living connection to my family, my community, and the world the Holocaust tried to destroy,” he said.

Now 100 years old, Marx continues to speak out against rising antisemitism, saying education and remembrance remain the strongest tools to combat hatred and ensure future generations never forget.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israel recently passed fresh intelligence to the United States indicating Iran was considering a new plot to assassinate President Trump, placing him again at the center of Tehran’s threats as the war with Iran intensifies, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

The intelligence indicated that Iran was looking at targeting Trump personally, not just issuing general threats against the United States. Trump also addressed the danger directly Wednesday, saying, “They want to take out the U.S. leader — me,” and adding that he has been moving from place to place and has “been a little bit lucky.”

The threat comes years after Trump ordered the 2020 strike that killed IRGC Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, an attack Iran has repeatedly vowed to avenge. The latest intelligence suggested a fresh assassination threat beyond those long-running warnings.

Trump and Netanyahu also spoke again Thursday, with Netanyahu’s office saying they agreed to continue coordination between the countries and that Trump updated Netanyahu on recent U.S. activity in the Gulf.

At the funeral for slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, mourners chanted for Trump’s death and displayed a banner reading, “We Will Kill Trump.”

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State prosecutors have filed an indictment against two residents of Rahat after authorities allegedly caught them in possession of an IDF-issued M-16 rifle, eight magazines, and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition. One of the defendants is an active IDF reservist accused of removing the weapon from a military base without authorization.

According to the indictment, 21-year-old Maasari Karinawi was serving as an active reservist and had been authorized to possess the M-16 only while on base. Prosecutors allege he illegally removed the rifle from the base and later met with 20-year-old Fahad al-Karinawi and a third suspect in a vehicle in Rahat.

Investigators say officers found the rifle loaded with a magazine containing 29 rounds, along with seven additional magazines and two ammunition boxes holding roughly 170 more rounds. At one point, prosecutors allege the reservist remained inside the vehicle while Fahad and the third suspect stood outside wearing masks, with Fahad holding the loaded rifle.

Police conducting a proactive operation in the area reportedly spotted the suspects and ordered them to stop. According to the indictment, Fahad and the third suspect fled on foot, with Fahad allegedly throwing away the rifle during the pursuit. He was arrested shortly afterward, and officers recovered the weapon nearby. The reservist was arrested inside the vehicle, while the third suspect escaped.

Both defendants have been charged with illegal possession and transportation of weapons and ammunition. Prosecutors say the case underscores the ongoing effort by Israeli law enforcement to combat the theft and illegal distribution of weapons and ammunition from IDF stockpiles into criminal hands.

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The burial place of fallen IDF soldier Pvt. Yaakov Zarihan, who was killed in 1948 during Operation Harel, has been identified after 78 years. Zarihan, whose grave had remained unknown since Israel’s War of Independence, was found to have been buried in a mass grave at the military cemetery in Kibbutz Kiryat Anavim together with seven other fallen IDF soldiers.

Zarihan fell while taking part in the supply convoys to besieged Yerushalayim. His convoy set out for the city on April 20, 1948, with about 300 vehicles and armored vehicles, and he was killed in battle near Sha’ar HaGai together with 13 other members of the convoy. He was buried two days later, on April 22, at the military cemetery in Kiryat Anavim, but his exact burial place remained unknown for decades.

After years of efforts to determine his fate, the IDF established a special investigation team in 2024 to locate Zarihan’s burial place. The investigation included locating and analyzing documents, questioning witnesses, studying the terrain and conducting archaeological surveys. Those efforts led investigators to conclude that Zarihan had been buried in the Harel Brigade cemetery at Kiryat Anavim together with seven other fallen soldiers.

His family, including his sisters, was updated Tuesday night by Chief Human Resources Officer and head of the IDF Casualties Directorate Brig. Gen. Edna Ilya, who informed them that the investigation had been completed and the mystery solved. In the coming weeks, a state military ceremony will be held to add a headstone bearing Zarihan’s name at the cemetery in Kibbutz Kiryat Anavim.

Zarihan made aliyah from Casablanca, Morocco, in December 1947 as part of the Habonim movement aboard the immigrant ship Haportzim. He joined the Hasneh training group at Kibbutz Ramat HaKovesh, which was intended to settle at Kibbutz Bror Chayil. He enlisted on April 12, 1948, in the transportation service and was attached as an operational driver to the Etzioni Brigade.

“For me, finding his burial place means the world,” said his sister, Yvonne Cohen. “My sons will be able to say Kaddish at his grave for the first time.”

“This is a moving closing of a circle,” said Brig. Gen. Ilya. “It is a privilege for us to continue acting out of a deep moral commitment to bring comfort and to accompany the bereaved families.”

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Deepening divisions within Iran’s leadership have reportedly spilled into public violence, with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi allegedly coming under physical attack from hardline opponents of negotiations with the United States during funeral events for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to reports, the incidents occurred before the latest round of U.S. strikes on Iran and President Trump’s public comments casting doubt on the ceasefire. The attacks underscore growing tensions between Iranian officials who favor diplomacy with Washington and hardliners fiercely opposed to any agreement with the United States.

The New York Times reported that on Monday, Pezeshkian was confronted by a crowd of hardline supporters who attempted to ram into him while shouting, “Death to the compromiser.” The president appeared shaken as security personnel rushed him away and pushed back the crowd.

The newspaper also reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was chased through an alley during the funeral procession and struck by a stone. Witnesses said his attackers waved flags, shouted insults, and called for his death.

The reported assaults took place during the weeklong funeral ceremonies for Khamenei, which were held across several cities in Iran and Iraq. The events have become a flashpoint for the country’s internal political struggle, with hardliners directing increasing anger toward officials seen as favoring renewed engagement with the United States.

Senior Iranian officials and government supporters have since called for the attackers to be arrested and prosecuted. The president’s son and adviser, Yousef Pezeshkian, condemned the attacks in a lengthy social media post, warning that turning public anger against Iranian officials only serves the country’s enemies and undermines national unity.

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Thousands of young Chareidi couples who registered for the Dira B’Hanacha subsidized housing lotteries before the High Court barred bnei yeshivos from participating have received official notices from the Housing Ministry informing them that they have been removed from the lotteries.

The move marks a significant escalation, as these couples registered before the High Court issued its ruling but are now being removed retroactively.

Kol Chai reported that the next major question is what will happen to the thousands of applicants who have already won previous lotteries but have not yet reached the stage of selecting an apartment and signing a purchase agreement. In many cases, two, three, or even four years can pass between notification of winning a lottery and the signing of a contract.

According to the report, that question is now on the desk of the virulently anti-Chareidi Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon. Sources familiar with the matter say legal officials are currently examining whether they can revoke lottery wins even for applicants who have already been selected, provided they have not yet signed a purchase agreement.

At this stage, officials acknowledge that once a contract has been signed, there is no straightforward legal mechanism to revoke the award or alter rights that have already vested. However, those who have won a lottery but have not yet signed contracts are now at the center of the legal deliberations.

The Israel Land Authority held a committee meeting yesterday attended by Limon, and consultations are continuing ahead of a decision. If legal authorities determine that lottery wins can be revoked before contracts are signed, the move could affect thousands of Chareidi families who have already received notice that they won and have planned their financial future accordingly.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

President Isaac Herzog on Thursday warned that hostile foreign actors are seeking to interfere in Israel’s upcoming elections, as he met with Shin Bet Director David Zini and Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg to review security preparations for the national vote.

The meeting, held at the President’s Residence at Zini’s request, focused on election security, logistical preparations, and efforts to protect the integrity of the democratic process from foreign interference and cyber threats.

“There are elements from within, and especially from outside, who seek to influence and sabotage the integrity of the elections and dismantle our society,” Herzog said. “We are here to ensure that this does not happen.”

Calling free and fair elections “a national challenge of the highest order,” Herzog stressed that protecting Israel’s democratic institutions requires close cooperation between all branches of government. “Elections are not a civil war,” he said. “They are a social, democratic and political process that is essential to the life of the nation.”

Justice Sohlberg said safeguarding the integrity of the vote remains the Central Elections Committee’s highest priority. He noted that the committee’s workforce will expand from roughly 60 permanent employees to approximately 90,000 workers on election day to oversee the nationwide process.

Shin Bet Director David Zini said the agency will operate under the authority of the Central Elections Committee throughout the election period and pledged to do everything possible to protect the integrity of the vote.

The public appearance came one day after i24NEWS published recordings in which Zini criticized some of Israel’s elected leadership, prompting political debate. Without directly addressing the recordings, Herzog emphasized that Israel’s security and law enforcement agencies remain loyal only to the State of Israel, its laws, and its democratic institutions—not to any individual or political camp.

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Saudi Arabia is examining a significant change to the route of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, or IMEC, with the aim of removing Israel from the project and routing it through Syria instead, according to two sources familiar with the discussions who spoke to i24NEWS.

The corridor, unveiled at the 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi, was designed to connect India and Europe through a network of ports, rail lines and shipping routes running through the Gulf states, Jordan and Israel. Under the original plan, goods were supposed to move from Saudi Arabia through Jordan into Israel, and from there continue to Europe through the Port of Haifa.

According to the sources, the war in Gaza and the freeze in normalization talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia have led Riyadh to examine alternatives. One of the main options under consideration is rerouting the corridor through Syria, creating a land connection between the Gulf and the Mediterranean without passing through Israeli territory.

“They are examining different options, and one of them is Syria,” one of the sources told i24NEWS.

If the route is ultimately changed, it could deal a significant blow to Israel, which viewed the economic corridor as a strategic and economic asset and as part of the broader regional vision that was meant to accompany a future normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia.

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Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel’s war is “not over,” while Defense Minister Yisroel Katz warned that the IDF is prepared to resume its campaign against Iran and carry out additional strikes if necessary.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony for IAF Flight Course 192, Katz said the military is “alert and ready to renew the campaign” against Iran in order to restore air superiority and remove threats. “If we need to return, we will return with even greater force,” he said.

Netanyahu also addressed the fighting with Iran, saying that over the past year the skies of the Middle East had seen unprecedented Israeli activity. Netanyahu said Israel had established aerial superiority over its enemies. He argued that had Israel not acted when it did and with the force it used, Iran would have armed itself with nuclear weapons meant to destroy Israel.

“The war is not over,” Netanyahu said. “Alongside the old challenges, new challenges are emerging. We are paying attention to this and are prepared for every scenario.” He added that preserving Israel’s air superiority is a central pillar of national security and said Israel is advancing a policy of weapons independence in order to equip its pilots with the tools they need.

Netanyahu added that Israel acted “with our American friends to remove an immediate danger of destruction, and also a danger to the entire Western world.” He praised Israeli pilots for carrying out thousands of sorties and strikes, saying they delivered a powerful opening blow to Iran and comparing those preemptive strikes to Operation Focus at the start of the Six-Day War.

Katz, in his remarks, referred back to a speech he gave at last year’s flight course graduation, when he warned Iran’s leadership that Israel’s “long arm” would reach them in Tehran, Tabriz and Isfahan. He said that in recent months Israel had resumed operating in Iranian skies, eliminated many senior regime figures, and in the opening blow of Operation “Roar of the Lion” killed “Khamenei the father” and severely wounded “Khamenei the son.”

He added that Israel today is stronger, more determined and more powerful, and stressed that the IDF will not withdraw from the security zones in Gaza, Lebanon or Syria. “It is our right and our duty to defend the residents of the Galil and the citizens of Israel against jihadist enemies seeking to destroy the State of Israel,” Katz said.

Katz also paid tribute to fallen IDF soldiers and members of the security forces, saying Israel’s achievements on the battlefield, in the diplomatic arena and in the struggle for the country’s future were made possible by their courage, heroism and sacrifice. Turning to the new pilots, he added: “Graduates of Course 192, I have a feeling you will not have trouble accumulating flight hours in the coming years.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Knesset House Committee voted 6-4 on Thursday evening to advance a Basic Law bill enshrining Torah study as a national value, sending it to the plenum for final votes expected next week.

The bill, sponsored by United Torah Judaism MKs Moshe Gafni and Yaakov Asher and backed by Shas, is being advanced as the battle continues over whether bnei yeshiva should continue receiving blanket exemptions from military service after those exemptions were struck down in court in 2024. The measure is intended to protect yeshiva students who evade the draft from sanctions and prosecution.

Before the vote, coalition whip and committee chairman Ofir Katz announced that the Chareidi parties had agreed to remove a clause that would have explicitly placed Torah study on par with service in the IDF. Legal officials warned that the clause could have entitled yeshiva students to financial and other benefits equal to, or even greater than, those granted to soldiers.

While Shas and the Degel HaTorah faction of UTJ agreed to remove the clause, UTJ chairman and Agudas Yisrael leader Yitzchak Goldknopf said he had not been consulted and opposed the move. “No one spoke to me about removing it, and I do not agree,” Goldknopf said. “I ask that the clause remain, and I oppose its removal.”

Opposition lawmakers and legal advisers argued that removing the clause does not change the purpose of the legislation. Yesh Atid MK Naor Shiri said that even without it, the bill would make Torah study the only value explicitly enshrined in a Basic Law, rather than military service, care for soldiers suffering from PTSD, or other national values. Deputy Attorney General Avital Sompolinsky also argued that removing the clause does not necessarily make the bill merely declarative, and said the committee must explain what legal effect recognizing Torah study as a fundamental value is meant to have.

“The Jewish state is restoring the honor of Torah and those who study it to its rightful place,” Gafni said after the committee advanced the bill.

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Inbar Harush Gity, a candidate in Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party who was involved in establishing Chareidi enlistment initiatives at the Defense Ministry, said this week that Yashar’s objective extends beyond recruiting Chareidim into the IDF to targeting “every aspect of Chareidi life” in order to “end Chareidi autonomy.”

Speaking on a panel at the Yisrael Hayom conference, she explained her approach: “Listen, if you want to recruit Chareidim—and I’m saying this as someone who established Chareidi hesder yeshivos and Chareidi IDF programs—there is no choice but to end Chareidi autonomy. It’s not just about enlistment. It’s about ending Chareidi autonomy. Those who read all the texts we’ve written—on education, economy, and military service—will see exactly that.”

She continued: “We’re going after every aspect of Chareidi life. We won’t allow Chareidi autonomy to exist because it weakens the State of Israel and harms its security and economy.”

When questioned about which Chareidi Rabbanim she’s spoken to, she claimed she’s in touch with the most senior Chareidi Rabbanim but refused to reveal names.

“The last thing that needs to be done is to talk to the Rabbanim at the top of the Chareidi autonomy pyramid—we need to cut out the middlemen,” she said.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

COGAT published a report Thursday saying that Gaza received far more humanitarian aid than required during the ceasefire, saying food deliveries, water access and medical supplies all exceeded international benchmarks and undercut repeated claims of widespread shortages in the Strip.

The report, released by the Israeli defense body that oversees civilian affairs in Gaza and the Palestinian territories, examined conditions from the start of the ceasefire in October 2025 through June 2026. According to COGAT, about 1.78 million tons of food entered Gaza during that period — roughly three times the amount required under standards defined by the World Food Program. The report said that even without counting private-sector shipments, humanitarian food assistance alone exceeded the defined need.

COGAT also said food prices in Gaza dropped sharply during the ceasefire, citing an average decline of about 65% across major staple products between September 2025 and May 2026. Prices for flour, rice, lentils, vegetables, eggs and other basic goods all fell significantly, and the report argued that current prices are driven mainly by internal market conditions, including Hamas taxes and its control over commercial distribution.

The report further said Gaza currently receives more than 70,000 cubic meters of water per day through pipelines, desalination facilities and other infrastructure, a level COGAT said exceeds international humanitarian standards. It also said Gaza’s healthcare system remains operational, with more than 18,000 tons of medicines and medical supplies entering the Strip since the ceasefire began and hospital bed capacity increasing by more than 55%.

Maj. Gen. Yoram Halevy, the coordinator of government activities in the territories, said the report was published in response to what he described as Hamas efforts to distort the humanitarian picture in Gaza. “The data are clear and leave no room for doubt: throughout the ceasefire, humanitarian stability was maintained in the Gaza Strip, and the volume of aid entering the territory significantly exceeded humanitarian requirements,” he said. Halevy added that “anyone who ignores these facts is amplifying Hamas propaganda.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Deputy Knesset Speaker Nissim Vaturi launched a scathing attack on Democrats MK Naama Lazimi in an interview on Kol Barama on Thursday, saying that she is “worse than Hamas.”

During the interview, Vaturi referred to the conduct of opposition members in Knesset committees, claiming: “They’re frustrated because they can’t accept four years of this government. Look at Naama Lazimi — when she goes up to the podium she curses everyone and the Prime Minister. She can run for elections….maybe for the leadership of Hamas in Gaza. That’s her character.”

When the radio hosts questioned his comparison of the left-wing MK to a murderous terror organization, Vaturi refused to retract his statement and even escalated further: “Listen to how she talks. Look at what they wish for the Prime Minister. You know what? I don’t see any difference between her and them, I’m sorry. Someone who harms the State of Israel from within is even worse than that. Our enemies are among us, in our soft underbelly, in the Knesset.”

Lazimi responded quickly, placing the blame on the Prime Minister: “Netanyahu and his people have marked a target on my back,” she claimed. “The government of draft‑dodgers and failures is inviting the next political assassination. Our blood will be on their hands…Likud has become a mafia; they have nothing to offer so they turn to incitement and violence.”

Vaturi also addressed the issue of the High Court’s overreach, saying that he fully backs Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s call not to comply with the Court’s ruling ordering a new election for the State Comptroller.

“Of course we must listen to Minister Levin,” Vaturi said. “The High Court harms the state and has become hostile to it. If we listen to them on this matter, we might as well shut down the Knesset, lock the building, and go home.” He added: “My personal opinion is to dissolve the High Court and rebuild it, but if the Prime Minister decides otherwise — I’ll go with Netanyahu.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Billboards calling for revenge and targeting U.S. President Donald Trump were erected today in the Iranian city of Mashhad.

Over the past day, billboards and posters carrying harsh messages against U.S. President Donald Trump have appeared throughout the city. Footage published online shows signs displaying Trump’s portrait with a red crosshair superimposed over his face alongside the words: “Kill Trump.”

According to reports, the signs were placed in public areas across the city as part of a wave of protests and expressions of hostility directed at the U.S. administration and Trump personally.

Local sources said the campaign is a direct continuation of the regime’s official rhetoric and public statements emphasizing its desire to “settle the score” with political figures in the West.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A dispute inside the coalition over the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study ended Thursday with the removal of one of the clauses the Likud had sought to add to the legislation.

Shas and Degel HaTorah issued a joint statement opposing new sections that the Likud wanted inserted into the bill, saying they would not agree to change the law from its original version. But it later emerged that coalition chairman Ofir Katz reached an agreement with the Chareidi parties under which Section 2 of the bill will be removed.

According to the report, Section 2 is the clause that sets a “balancing of values” within the law. The dispute over the wording came after the government sought to make changes to the proposal following sharp criticism from Knesset legal adviser Adv. Sagit Afik.

Among the changes considered was an effort to sharpen the wording of the law in order to make clear that it is only a declarative law. Afik warned that the current wording could later serve as a basis for interpretations that would create significant consequences and benefits in different areas. During the discussion, she repeated that if lawmakers want to advance only a declarative law, its wording must clearly reflect that. She also warned that in its current form, the law raises more questions than answers, and that its ambiguity could lead in the future to practical interpretations in various areas, even if it does not directly grant an exemption from military service.

The move to change the bill drew strong opposition from Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni, who sent a message to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that United Torah Judaism would not agree to any change in the wording of the law.

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Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is seeking sweeping control over the next Likud Knesset slate, demanding 10 reserved slots for candidates of his choosing in a move that has triggered a growing internal fight inside the party ahead of the upcoming primaries.

Under Netanyahu’s proposal, he would keep the top spot on the list for himself while also reserving places 2, 4, 6 and 8 in the top 10, effectively giving him control over half of the party’s first 10 spots. He is also seeking additional reserved slots at numbers 11, 15, 18, 22 and 29. The move would allow Netanyahu to place candidates directly onto the list without a primary vote, bring in outside figures and push some sitting Likud lawmakers into lower and less secure positions.

The battle is now centered on Likud’s constitution committee, chaired by Minister Haim Katz, which is supposed to set the rules for the party primary and determine how many places Netanyahu will be allowed to reserve. The committee had been scheduled to meet Thursday ahead of the August 4 primary, but Netanyahu has already delayed the meeting twice and on Wednesday asked for a third postponement. In a letter to Likud’s internal tribunal, party attorney Ilan Bombach requested an extension until Sunday for finalizing the proposed primary rules, citing urgent constraints involving the prime minister.

The repeated delays have fueled suspicions inside Likud that Netanyahu is trying to run out the clock so that a full primary cannot be held in time, potentially allowing him to push for a smaller selection committee instead. Senior party figures believe the effort is aimed at giving Netanyahu broader control over the slate, enabling him to add outside candidates and weaken the position of current MKs. Among the names raised as possible additions are Local Government Federation chairman Haim Bibas and media personality Natali Shem Tov.

The push has drawn strong opposition from within the party. MK David Bitan, chairman of the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee, petitioned Likud’s internal tribunal demanding that the constitution committee and party institutions convene immediately and that the primary process begin without further delay. He also demanded that any reserved slot Netanyahu seeks be brought to the Likud Central Committee for a secret ballot, arguing that such a large number of personal appointments would effectively turn the party into a selection committee and undermine the democratic process.

At the same time, Netanyahu is said to be exploring understandings with Haim Katz that could help him pass the plan. Party sources claim Katz may support Netanyahu’s reserved-slot proposal in exchange for a guaranteed place on the list for his ally, MK Eti Atiya, whose chances of securing a realistic spot in an open primary are seen as slim. Katz’s office denied the claim and insisted that any decision would be brought before the proper party institutions.

Pressure is also building from newer Likud lawmakers, especially MK Tally Gotliv and other first-term members, who are pushing for primaries and warning against a system that would place their political future in the hands of a small committee. Some of them have recently accused Netanyahu of “throwing them under the bus” after they stood by him throughout the term, and messages have reportedly been sent to his associates warning that if all candidates are not given an equal chance, there could be retaliation through no-confidence votes, secret ballots and other parliamentary moves.

With the August 4 primary date approaching and July 15 serving as the deadline for candidates to submit paperwork in order to receive Knesset campaign financing, the struggle over how Likud’s slate will be built is quickly becoming one of the most explosive internal battles in the party.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Ireland’s parliament has approved legislation banning the import of goods produced in Israeli communities in Yehuda and Shomron, marking one of the most sweeping trade measures adopted by a European nation targeting Israeli communities beyond the 1967 lines.

The proposed law would prohibit the import of products from Israeli residential, agricultural, and commercial enterprises located outside Israel’s internationally recognized borders. Irish officials said the legislation was drafted in response to the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which declared Israel’s presence in Yehuda and Shomron, eastern Yerushalayim, and Gaza to be illegal under international law.

Ireland has been among Europe’s most vocal critics of Israel throughout the war in Gaza. In 2024, Dublin recognized a Palestinian state, prompting Israel to close its embassy in the Irish capital. More recently, Ireland announced that National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich would be barred from entering the country.

Despite the political significance of the legislation, its economic impact is expected to be minimal. Irish imports from Israeli communities in Yehuda and Shomron—including agricultural products, timber, fruits, and vegetables—totaled less than €1 million between 2020 and 2024.

The measure nevertheless carries broader diplomatic implications, as Ireland has become the first European Union member state to advance comprehensive legislation specifically targeting imports from Israeli communities in Yehuda and Shomron.

The move has also drawn criticism from Washington. The U.S. State Department warned in June that the legislation amounts to a “pointless signal” that neither advances peace in the Middle East nor helps address humanitarian needs in Gaza.

Irish officials insist the proposal is not a boycott of Israel but a narrowly targeted restriction on goods originating from Israeli communities beyond the pre-1967 Green Line.

The bill must still complete several additional parliamentary stages before becoming law, though Irish lawmakers are expected to finalize the legislation before Parliament’s summer recess next week.

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A beret march completion ceremony was held at the Golani Interchange area in northern Israel on Thursday. Parents arrived at the site at dawn to meet their children, who had completed the physically demanding all-night endurance exercise.

However, for some parents and soldiers, the joy and excitement of the ceremony were overshadowed by a lack of consideration for their religious way of life, Arutz Sheva reported.

One father said that his family stayed overnight in nearby Mitzpe Hoshaya to arrive at the ceremony at 5 a.m. Right before the ceremony began, an announcement was made informing attendees that women would be singing at the event and that anyone who found it objectionable was welcome to step aside during those parts.

“Some families left along with quite a few soldiers,” the father said, adding that because the ceremony site was surrounded by loudspeakers, stepping away did little to mitigate the noise of the singing. “There was nowhere to escape. It was pathetic.”

He said the ceremony alternated between speeches by commanders congratulating the soldiers and their families and performances by two female soldiers and one male soldier, who sang both together and individually.

“Time and again you could see mothers wearing headscarves and men wearing kippot walking off to the side,” he said.

“Then I suddenly saw my son joining them, followed by more soldiers wearing kippot who went over to stand with their families. When the song ended, they returned to formation. Then another commander would speak, and as soon as he finished, the small singing group would come back on stage, and once again the families and soldiers would leave and stand off to the side. It was disgraceful.”

The father said his son later told him, “Is this what we marched dozens of kilometers all night for? So they could spit in our faces like this?”

He said that the hurt was evident on his son’s face.

“The feeling was that we were the outsiders—the strange ones who had to leave the ceremony. At the same time, they were telling us, ‘Well done, parents, for your dedication,’ and praising us.”

Asked whether anything could have been done, the father said that after the ceremony, several parents looked for the unit Rabbi, who had attended previous ceremonies and addressed the families, but were unable to find him.

“They told us he had left earlier,” he said.

“We couldn’t do much. It’s a military ceremony, and we respect the army and the occasion. But I’m not sure that respect is mutual.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Israel’s Nurses Association has declared a labor dispute involving approximately 60,000 nurses, a move that could pave the way for widespread strike action affecting hospitals, clinics, maternal and child health centers, nursing schools, and other healthcare facilities across the country.

According to the union, the dispute stems from growing workloads, severe physical and emotional burnout, and what it describes as the government’s failure to improve working conditions or address longstanding staffing shortages. Union leaders say nurses continue to face increasing patient loads without adequate resources, resulting in lower caregiver-to-patient ratios and concerns about the quality of care.

The Nurses Association also cited deteriorating workplace conditions, a shortage of hospital beds and medical infrastructure, limits on hiring new staff, and proposed changes that would replace certain nursing roles in operating rooms with non-medical technical personnel. The union further objected to plans to privatize school health services, arguing the move would undermine nurses’ rights and working conditions.

Shaul Skiff, chairman of the Israel Nurses Association, said the dispute comes as the healthcare system continues caring for thousands of people physically and psychologically affected by the war. He said nurses remain on the front lines despite chronic understaffing and warned that the union is prepared to take all necessary steps to protect both healthcare workers and patient care.

Last month, the association warned Health Minister Chaim Katz that it could move toward a strike, claiming Israel is short roughly 1,200 nursing positions, including more than 1,000 in hospitals and another 200 in school health services and maternal and child health clinics.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Iranian state media claimed Thursday that U.S. forces struck a strategic railway bridge used for trade with Russia and China, marking what Tehran described as an attack on key civilian infrastructure.

According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, the bridge is part of the China–Turkmenistan–Iran rail corridor and has recently handled increased volumes of Russian cargo as maritime shipping routes faced growing disruption. The report alleged the bridge was hit by U.S. cruise missiles during the latest round of strikes.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the reported attack, claiming the strikes targeted civilian infrastructure, including railway bridges, and called them a “serious war crime.” In a sharply worded statement, the ministry accused the United States of carrying out attacks on multiple sites in Iran’s southern coastal provinces as well as two railway bridges on the route leading to the holy city of Mashhad, while denouncing the U.S. administration in harsh terms.

The U.S. has not publicly commented on the Iranian claims.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The hostilities between Iran and the US continued to escalate on Thursday as Iran targeted a US base in Jordan, firing eight missiles.

Residents of Israeli yishuvim in the Jordan Valley reported hearing the sound of explosions. According to Jordanian media, all the missiles were intercepted, with no casualties or damage reported.

Following the attack on its neighbor, Israel is preparing for the possibility that Iran could expand its missile attacks to include Israel, Ynet reported, citing security sources.

Early Thursday afternoon, reports emerged of another unusual U.S. airstrike near the Bushehr nuclear power plant. It was the second daylight strike, after the United States earlier targeted a strategic bridge in Iran.

According to the latest reports, the U.S. strike hit the area around the nuclear power plant. It remains unclear whether there is any concern about a radioactive leak.

In response, Iran launched five missiles at a U.S. military base in Jordan, in what appears to be a significant expansion of its attacks, which until now had been directed at American bases in Gulf states.

According to CNN, residents of the city of Choghadak, near Bushehr, “heard several explosions” early Thursday afternoon local time, citing the semi-official Iranian news agency Fars.

One person was injured in Kuwait after debris fell following interceptions during an Iranian missile and drone attack on the Gulf state, the Kuwaiti military said.

Iran launched three ballistic missiles, one cruise missile, and 10 drones at Kuwait, all of which were “successfully intercepted,” according to the Kuwaiti military, which added that the interceptions caused property damage.

In neighboring Bahrain, the military said its air defense systems intercepted an Iranian missile and drone attack earlier today, but provided no additional details.

As noted, Israel is preparing for the possibility that Iran could expand its attacks to include Israel. However, the prevailing assessment by defense officials is that Tehran is reluctant to bring Israel into the confrontation out of concern that it would trigger a severe response.

Before the sirens sounded in Jordan, an Israeli security official told Ynet that the conflict was not expected to spill over into Israel.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

President Yitzchak Herzog used a speech Wednesday evening to respond to the storm surrounding Shin Bet chief David Zini, declaring that Israel’s security and law enforcement bodies “are not loyal to a person or to one camp or another, but to the sovereign — which is the people, to Israel’s body of law, and to the values of the Jewish and democratic state.”

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the National Security College, Herzog said that “in the face of the polarization spreading through society, we must cling to statesmanship.” He added that the institutions of the state, its laws and its directives, “belong to everyone and serve everyone.” Herzog also stressed that Israel rests on the commitment, in the words of the Declaration of Independence, to “complete equality of social and political rights for all its citizens, without distinction of religion, race or sex.” He said that universal and Jewish moral values, safeguarding human dignity and human rights, adherence to the international laws of war to which Israel is committed, and preserving law and justice “are the path.”

Herzog’s remarks came a day after Zini touched off a political storm when he said he agreed to take the job because he believed he was better than others at being loyal to the elected leadership, regardless of his own political views. “On this issue I felt I was very qualified, more than many others,” Zini said. “I have an agenda. I want to advance it. That is my responsibility. That is my role.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir quickly responded with a sharp statement attacking Herzog.

“Mr. President, the Labor Party has already closed. There is no need to continue leading it from the President’s Residence,” Ben Gvir said. “You defended Ronen Bar, yet you attack David Zini. The time has come for you to stop deepening divisions and serving as the mouthpiece of one side, and to start being the president of all the people of Israel. When it came to honoring ‘Brothers in Arms’ refusers, you acted quickly, but when it comes to justice and pardoning the prime minister, suddenly you have all the time in the world. Embarrassing and divisive.”

Also speaking at the ceremony was IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who reflected on the lessons of the war and said that October 7 and the 1,000 days of fighting since then are not only a wound but also the army’s operational compass. He said the war must remain a source of lessons, growth and improvement, while pushing back against what he called the “background noise and manipulations” of social media and public commentary.

Despite that noise, Zamir said, there is one “truth carved in stone” — that the IDF has achieved unprecedented operational successes on every front in which it has fought, struck the enemy hard, removed existential threats, and improved Israel’s security position. He added that even if a new phase opens, the campaign is continuing in a different form, with the IDF implementing a new security concept focused on striking the enemy, removing threats in advance, and creating demilitarized zones along Israel’s borders inside enemy territory.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli on Thursday warned in an interview  with Kan News that a scenario in which Turkey launches military action against Israel is “entirely possible.”

Chikli’s warning follows statements by US President Donald Trump that he is considering allowing Turkey to purchase F-35 aircraft after meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara.

“From our perspective, Trump’s close friendship with Erdoğan is very problematic, as is NATO’s relationship with him,” Chikli said.

“We’ve learned that it’s very important to pay attention to what world leaders—and Israel’s enemies—are saying,” he added. “When Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says that Israel is a burden on humanity and that humanity can no longer tolerate it, that is an extremely serious statement.”

Chikli stressed that Turkey’s harsh rhetoric toward Israel is not new, but has reached unprecedented levels. “I’ve been closely following the statements made over the past several months, and what we’re seeing is unlike anything before. I’ve never heard Turkish officials say, ‘We intend to liberate Jerusalem,’ or ‘We’ll do in Israel what we did in Syria’—until these past few months.”

However, Chikli added that Israel views Trump’s remarks as a diplomatic achievement. “There was no declaration that he would provide Turkey with F-35 fighter jets, and that is to a large extent a significant achievement of the Prime Minister, who did not hide his position, and also of Greece and Cyprus, which applied very strong pressure,” he said.

While the NATO summit was taking place in Ankara, Netanyahu spoke against Turkey in interviews with US media outlets, telling CNN that Ankara is “a regime that’s infected with the Muslim Brotherhood, which hates the US.”

“He’s not exactly a model ally of the United States,” Netanyahu asserted. “He threatens to destroy my country, the one and only Jewish state.”

“This is not a force for peace and stability. When you give them that power, you’re going to see aggression in its wake,” Netanyahu added.

Chikli has warned in the past about the danger Turkey poses, calling it “the most serious danger to the State of Israel today.”

Journalist Amit Segal has also warned about the danger posed by Turkey, calling it “Iran 2.0: The Greatest Threat Of All That Israel Still Hasn’t Recognized.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on Thursday morning responded to President Donald Trump’s statement in Ankara on Wednesday that he believes Israel will withdraw its forces from Lebanon as part of the Israel-Lebanon agreement signed in Washington.

“We did not ask any party for permission to enter Lebanon, and we do not need permission to remain in Lebanon,” Katz said.

“It is our right and our duty to protect the residents of the Galil and Israeli citizens from threats posed by the Hezbollah jihadist terrorist organization, which seeks to destroy the State of Israel,” Katz asserted. “As Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and I have made clear, we will continue to remain in the security zone in Lebanon and operate from there as long as necessary until Hezbollah is disarmed throughout Lebanon and the threat to the residents of the north is removed.”

“We promised security to the residents of the north, and that is what we have delivered and will continue to deliver,” Katz concluded.

Trump was asked yesterday on the sidelines of the NATO summit whether he believes Israel should withdraw IDF troops from southern Lebanon. He replied: “I talked to Bibi about that. I think they want to. They’re getting along with Lebanon. They’re signing agreements with Lebanon for the first time ever.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio added: “We have an agreement. That’s ultimately the goal. Of course, Israel is concerned about its security, but the President has done a tremendous job bringing these two countries closer together.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz held an emergency security consultation on Wednesday night as tensions continue to escalate between the United States and Iran, following another round of high-intensity attacks in the region.

At the same time, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir conducted a series of security assessments at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv with senior officers from the Military Intelligence Directorate, the Israeli Air Force, and the Operations Directorate. The IDF said Zamir remains in direct contact with senior officials at U.S. Central Command and the Pentagon.

Israeli defense officials are closely monitoring developments in the Persian Gulf. Current assessments indicate that the fighting between the United States and Iran is likely to remain centered in the Gulf for now, but Israel is also preparing for the possibility that the conflict could spread and include direct Iranian attacks against Israel.

“Any Iranian attack on Israel will be met with a powerful Israeli response,” officials in Jerusalem warned. The statement came after overnight U.S. strikes reportedly hit 90 targets across Iran—the largest wave of attacks since the ceasefire.

According to reports, U.S. Central Command targeted Iranian air defense systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage facilities, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure along the country’s coastline. The U.S. military also struck two railway bridges in northern Iran.

Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones at U.S. military installations across the Gulf, including Ali Al Salem Air Base and Ahmad Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait, the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters at Salman Port, and Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that if Washington broadens its military campaign, “we will immediately expand the range of our targets.”

President Donald Trump defended the operation, saying, “The strikes are retaliation for Iran’s bombing of ships. If it happens again, the situation will become much worse.”

For now, Israel’s Home Front Command has not changed its civilian security guidelines. Nevertheless, defense officials continue to monitor developments closely and say they are prepared for any scenario.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The United States dramatically expanded its military campaign against Iran on Wednesday night, striking approximately 90 additional military targets along Iran’s southern coastline after Tehran resumed attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest wave of strikes came less than 24 hours after U.S. forces hit roughly 80 Iranian military targets in retaliation for attacks on merchant vessels, marking one of the largest American military operations against Iran in recent years.

In a statement released Wednesday night, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces targeted key elements of Iran’s military infrastructure designed to threaten international shipping.

“U.S. forces struck approximately 90 Iranian military targets including air defense systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure along Iran’s coastline,” CENTCOM said.

The military said the operation was intended to “further degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping and innocent civilian mariners in the Strait of Hormuz.”

Trump: “It Will Be Over Very Quickly”

President Donald Trump signaled Wednesday that the United States has no interest in a prolonged conflict but warned Iran that every attack on commercial shipping would be met with overwhelming force.

“I don’t think it’s going to start again. I think it’s going to go very quickly,” Trump said during a press conference following the NATO summit in Ankara.

“They hit a couple of ships, and so we hit them much harder.”

Trump emphasized that freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz remains a non-negotiable American objective.

“Anything that happens is going to be over very quickly, and we’ll only make it safer — including for oil,” he said.

Later aboard Air Force One, Trump revealed that Iran had reached out seeking renewed negotiations.

“They called a little while ago, they want to make a deal so badly,” Trump told reporters.

“I just don’t know if they are worthy of making a deal. I don’t know if they are going to honor a deal.”

He described Iran’s recent actions as erratic.

“They’re sort of crazy. They’re a little bit out of control.”

Trump again warned that any future Iranian attacks would bring an overwhelming response.

“Every time they hit us we’re going to hit them twenty-fold.”

Vance Issues Stark Warning

Vice President JD Vance echoed the president’s warning, saying the agreement reached between Washington and Tehran was straightforward.

“The basic deal that we cut was we’ll lift our blockade if you stop shooting at ships,” Vance said.

“But if you shoot at ships, we are going to punch back, and we’re going to punch back harder than ever before.”

Earlier in the day, Vance said:

“If they shoot at ships, we’re going to knock the hell out of them.”

Iran Threatens Wider Conflict

Despite the latest American strikes, Iran continued issuing threats.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it launched missiles and drones at U.S. military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait following the American operation.

Iran also warned that any future U.S. attacks could trigger strikes against additional American bases throughout the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei warned countries that assisted the United States they could also face consequences.

“Those who provided their territories, military bases, and infrastructure to enable the aggression cannot evade responsibility,” Baqaei said.

He also criticized NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte after Rutte described recent U.S. military operations as “absolutely necessary.”

Israel Closely Monitoring Escalation

Although the current fighting has remained centered around the Persian Gulf and has not spread to Israel, Israeli defense officials are maintaining a heightened level of readiness amid concerns the conflict could rapidly expand.

According to Israeli media reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz held high-level security consultations Wednesday evening as the latest strikes unfolded.

The IDF has reportedly kept offensive and defensive plans ready, with fighter aircraft armed and on standby while maintaining close coordination with U.S. Central Command.

Israeli television also reported that U.S. aerial refueling aircraft are returning to the region after having been withdrawn during the ceasefire period, a move viewed as another indication Washington is preparing for additional military operations if necessary.

Strait Of Hormuz Remains Flashpoint

The renewed fighting stems from Iran’s attacks on commercial shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important waterways through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass.

While international mediators including Qatar and Pakistan have urged both sides to exercise restraint and preserve last month’s memorandum of understanding, Iran continues insisting it alone will determine how maritime traffic operates through the strait.

Tehran has also threatened once again to close the vital shipping lane if additional U.S. military action continues.

The Pentagon has indicated U.S. forces remain fully prepared for further operations if Iranian attacks continue.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner suspended his campaign Wednesday, just days before a key ballot deadline, after mounting controversies and allegations of “assault” led top Democratic leaders to call for him to withdraw.

Platner, who had defeated establishment-backed opponents in Maine’s Democratic primary and was set to challenge longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins, announced he was suspending campaign operations, saying continuing his candidacy would hurt the broader movement.

“For the movement to continue, it can’t be me. For that reason, we are suspending campaign operations,” Platner said in a video posted to social media.

Platner denied the allegations against him, calling them “false” and insisting they did not happen.

“This is all false. The things that have been claimed did not happen. It is not real,” he said.

His withdrawal comes before Maine’s July 13 deadline, allowing the state Democratic Party to select a replacement nominee for the November election.

The campaign had already been engulfed in controversy over a Nazi tattoo.

In recent days, numerous prominent Democrats withdrew their support, including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Ruben Gallego, Rep. Ro Khanna, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, who publicly urged Platner to step aside.

Following Platner’s announcement, Schumer wrote on social media that Democrats remain committed to defeating Sen. Susan Collins and winning the Maine Senate seat.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee also pledged to support the party’s eventual replacement nominee.

Republicans quickly seized on the developments, arguing the controversy reflects poorly on Maine Democrats as they prepare to nominate a new candidate.

The Maine Democratic Party is expected to choose a replacement nominee later this month.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A British neo-Nazi has been sentenced to 13½ years in prison after being convicted of preparing terrorist acts, including plans for a mass shooting, bombing ATMs, and targeting other locations in what prosecutors described as a dangerous extremist plot.

Alfie Coleman, now 22, was arrested by Britain’s MI5 in September 2023 after spending months communicating with undercover intelligence officers on encrypted messaging apps while attempting to purchase a Makarov semi-automatic pistol, five magazines, and 200 rounds of ammunition using savings from his part-time supermarket job.

Investigators found a cache of extremist material at Coleman’s home, including knives, a Molotov cocktail, a swastika, a Black Sun flag associated with neo-Nazism, hidden cameras, a bug detector, and far-right literature. They also uncovered detailed plans outlining potential terrorist attacks, including hijacking an aircraft, attacking the home of London’s mayor, and placing explosives inside ATMs. Counterterrorism officials said his efforts to acquire firearms suggested he intended to carry out a mass shooting, with mosques believed to be among his potential targets.

During the investigation, authorities also discovered lists of individuals Coleman referred to as “race traitors,” including former coworkers and customers who were in interracial relationships. One listed target was a cashier whose husband is African American.

Coleman admitted attempting to possess prohibited firearms and ammunition and pleaded guilty to multiple counts of possessing material useful for terrorism. Although he denied planning a terrorist attack, a jury at his retrial convicted him of preparing acts of terrorism. The court sentenced him to 13½ years in prison followed by five years of supervision, with the judge describing him as a “dangerous offender” who held deeply racist extremist views.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli travelers will soon once again be able to fly directly to Morocco, after Arkia announced Wednesday that it will resume flights from Israel to Marrakesh later this month, restoring a route that had been suspended for the past three years.

According to the airline, service to Marrakesh will restart on August 24, with flights operating twice a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays, using Airbus A320 aircraft. Arkia said the route’s return comes after a prolonged period of work with aviation and security officials.

One-way fares will begin at $329. The airline also stressed that Israeli passport holders must obtain a visa before entering Morocco and urged travelers to prepare in advance.

The renewed service returns Morocco to the list of destinations accessible to Israeli tourists by direct flight after years in which the route was suspended.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A senior IDF officer said the military is in desperate need of extending mandatory service to 36 months, warning that the manpower crisis has reached a breaking point, according to Kan News.

“We are on the edge of a cliff — it’s to be or to cease,” the senior officer said. “We do not know how to function on 30 months of service. The IDF needs 36 months of service, which would save the service of 8,000 reservists a day. Thirty-two months is the minimum required in order not to worsen the situation.”

The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is set to discuss extending mandatory service on Thursday. In the IDF, officials are planning that if service is extended to 36 months, soldiers would receive pay of about 11,000 shekels during the additional four months. However, the report said that such a move is unlikely under the current government.

In the military, officials believe the Knesset is more likely to approve an extension to 32 months. In that case, the plan is to compensate soldiers at a rate of 200% pay during the additional two months.

Earlier Wednesday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir addressed the manpower crisis and said that already during his time as deputy chief of staff, he had warned that the IDF was nearing its minimum size relative to the threats it faces.

“We must significantly expand the ranks of the IDF so that it can meet all of the missions placed upon it,” Zamir said. “The responsibility is on all of us. The IDF needs all of us. We must not exempt ourselves from the burden of the mitzvah of defending the state. It is an operational necessity and a Zionist and moral obligation.”

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Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich are demanding that heads of Chareidi hesder yeshivos publicly support coalition bills in exchange for a major increase in government funding, Kan News reported Wednesday evening.

Netanyahu and Smotrich are demanding that the roshei yeshivos support the Basic Law on Torah study and the bill to halt the arrest of draft evaders. In return, the yeshivos would receive a major boost through a government decision that would double the budgets allocated to them.

At the same time, the coalition came to understand that the Basic Law on Torah study was creating a problem following comments by Knesset Legal Adviser Adv. Sagit Afik, who said the law would equate benefits for IDF servicemen with benefits for Torah learners. A new version was then drafted with legal backing.

Under the new wording, the phrase “scales of justice” would be removed, so that Israel would recognize the value of Torah study as an important value, while removing the section that places it on the scales against other values, in order to avoid a comparison between Torah learners and those serving in the IDF.

The Chareidi parties read the new version and were outraged, and as a result the negotiations blew up Tuesday night. From their perspective, it amounted to a violation of the understandings that had been reached.

The part that placed the value of Torah study on the scales was a central part of the law they wanted to advance, specifically because of the comparison to those serving in the military. Because of that, the new draft was shelved, and by Wednesday morning the coalition presented a different clause dealing with the status of combat soldiers, a clause that the Chareidi parties are also opposing for now.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A significant hurdle to the return of foreign airlines to Israel was lifted on Wednesday after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency removed Israel from its highest-risk aviation warning list, easing restrictions that had effectively kept many carriers away from Ben Gurion Airport since the war began.

EASA announced that the strict Conflict Zone Information Bulletin, known as a CZIB, covering Israel expired Wednesday and would not be extended. In its place, the agency issued a regional Information Note classifying the risk level as medium and grouping Israeli airspace together with countries including Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. At the same time, EASA left in place severe warnings for the airspaces of Iran, Lebanon and Iraq.

The move is considered highly significant for airlines because a high-risk CZIB can effectively block flights due to insurance limitations and strict security procedures. Under the new guidance, airlines are now advised to factor the potential risk into their own flight routing and operational decisions, rather than being subject to a sweeping European warning against service to Israel.

In practical terms, the decision opens the door for European airlines to resume service to Ben Gurion Airport if they choose to do so. The carriers most directly affected are airlines that have not yet returned to Israel since the start of the war, including Ryanair, easyJet and KLM. Their absence, along with that of Air India, Air Canada, Delta and American Airlines, has significantly reduced the number of flights to and from Israel, especially on routes to Europe and North America.

Now that the official EU barrier has been removed, the remaining question is which European airlines will use the change in status to restore service to Israel — and when.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A London woman has been convicted after hurling antisemitic abuse at Jewish children outside a school in Stamford Hill and then assaulting a father who confronted her, according to a statement from the Crown Prosecution Service.

The CPS said Syeda Khatun, 39, approached children waiting outside a Jewish secondary school on May 10 after a school trip. Prosecutors said she first shouted antisemitic abuse at a mother holding her baby, then turned toward the children and swung her arms at them aggressively.

When the father of one of the children asked why she was targeting children, Khatun struck him in the face, pulled his beard, and continued shouting antisemitic slurs, the CPS said.

Following a trial at Stratford Magistrates’ Court on July 3, Khatun was convicted of three counts of racially aggravated assault, one count of racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one count of racially aggravated words and behavior causing harassment, alarm or distress. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24 at Thames Magistrates’ Court.

Ragvesh Singh, a senior Crown prosecutor in CPS London North, called it “a shocking attack” and said violence driven by antisemitic hatred is “abhorrent.” Detective Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke of the Metropolitan Police said officers responded within minutes and stressed that police continue to maintain enhanced security measures around vulnerable Jewish areas in London.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Jerusalem has been ranked the seventh-best city in the world in the 2026 World’s Best Awards published by Travel + Leisure, marking a major international achievement as Israel’s tourism industry continues its recovery. The Holy City also earned the title of the top destination in Africa and the Middle East, based on hundreds of thousands of reader votes.

The ranking represents a significant improvement from last year, when Jerusalem placed third in the Africa and Middle East category. This year, it climbed to the top regional spot and entered the global top 10 for the first time, finishing ahead of internationally renowned destinations including Tokyo and Prague.

According to Travel + Leisure, the rankings are based on reader evaluations of each city’s attractions, culture, cuisine, hospitality, shopping, and overall value. More than 207,000 readers cast over 661,000 votes covering more than 10,000 hotels, cities, airlines, cruise lines, and other travel-related businesses around the world.

The recognition comes as Israel’s tourism sector continues to rebound. According to the Ministry of Tourism, approximately 1.3 million tourists visited Israel in 2025, an increase from 2024 but still well below pre-war levels. By comparison, Israel welcomed about 3 million visitors in 2023 and a record 4.5 million in 2019. Despite the slowdown, a Ministry of Tourism survey found that 88% of visitors reported high satisfaction with their trip, while 83% said they would recommend Israel to others as a travel destination.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A large emergency response was launched Wednesday evening after a tree fell onto a group of people at Camp Mevo’er HaTalmid on La Vista Drive in South Fallsburg.

Fearing the worst, Catskills Hatzolah responded with five ambulances and approximately 20 EMTs and paramedics, joined by other emergency personnel.

B’chasdei Hashem, despite the frightening incident, only five people sustained minor injuries. Hatzolah members treated the victims at the scene, and emergency responders ensured the area was safe following the collapse.

The incident caused a brief scare at the camp, but no serious injuries were reported.

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(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

If elections were held today, the new “Yashar” party led by Gadi Eisenkot would become the largest party in Israel with 23 seats, according to a Channel 13 poll aired Wednesday evening. The Likud, led by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, would fall to second place with 22 seats. After recovering in the previous poll, Naftali Bennett’s “Beyachad” party drops by two seats and falls to third place with 15.

Yair Golan’s Democrats and Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu each receive 10 seats in the poll. Shas, United Torah Judaism and Otzma Yehudit each receive 8 seats. Hadash-Ta’al receives 6, while Ra’am and Religious Zionism each receive 5. Failing to cross the electoral threshold are the joint party of Chili Tropper and Yoaz Hendel with 2.2%, Benny Gantz’s Blue and White with 2.1%, and Balad with 1.7%.

The bloc map gives Netanyahu’s opponents 58 seats, Netanyahu’s bloc 51, and the Arab parties 11. Overall, opposition parties would hold 69 seats compared to 51 for the current coalition. Eisenkot also leads Netanyahu in suitability for prime minister, with 46% saying he is better suited for the job, compared to 36% for Netanyahu and 18% who said they do not know.

Channel 13 also examined a scenario involving mergers in the political system. In that case, a joint Hadash-Ta’al and Balad list would win 10 seats and push Ra’am down to 4. A joint party of Benny Gantz and Dedi Simchi would still fail to cross the threshold with 2.1%, as would a party led by Gilad Erdan, Ayelet Shaked and Yuli Edelstein with 1.6%. In that scenario, Netanyahu’s coalition bloc would drop to 49 seats, while the anti-Netanyahu bloc would remain at 58 and the Arab parties would rise to 14.

The poll also asked whether the government must obey rulings of the Supreme Court. A large majority of the public, 62%, said the government must obey in all circumstances, while 28% said it does not have to and 10% said they do not know. Among coalition voters, only 9% said the government must obey court rulings, while 74% said it does not have to and 17% said they do not know.

Another question dealt with the proposed bill that would prevent the arrest of Chareidi draft evaders. Fifty-six percent of the public opposes the bill, while 29% support it and 15% said they do not know. Among coalition voters, 68% support the bill, compared to 21% who oppose it and 11% who said they do not know.

Respondents were also asked whether passage of the laws Netanyahu agreed upon with the Chareidi parties would affect their vote in the next election. Fifty-three percent said they have already decided whom they will vote for and it would not affect them. Twenty percent said it would definitely affect their vote, 17% said it could affect their vote, and 9% said they do not know.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

An IDF reserve officer who was critically wounded during a clash with terrorists in southern Lebanon underwent a rare, life-saving operation after doctors discovered a piece of shrapnel lodged just millimeters from his aorta.

Capt. Malachi Mondani, 26, a reserve platoon commander from Moshav Neveh in the Gaza border region, was seriously wounded in Thursday’s battle and rushed to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa with multiple penetrating injuries. After doctors stabilized his condition, scans revealed that a fragment had come to rest directly beside his aorta—the body’s main artery carrying blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

Doctors faced a difficult decision. While Mondani’s extensive injuries made surgery extremely risky, leaving the shrapnel in place carried an equally grave danger, as even the slightest movement could have ruptured the aorta and proved fatal.

Following consultations among trauma, vascular, and cardiac surgery specialists, the medical team decided to operate. The delicate procedure was performed by Dr. Zvi Adler and Dr. Kamel Murshad, who successfully removed the fragment without complications.

Prof. Gil Bolotin, head of Rambam’s Department of Cardiac Surgery, said the shrapnel was in direct contact with the aorta and that any movement could have punctured the artery with catastrophic consequences. He noted that such cases are extremely rare and have been documented only a handful of times in medical literature. Following the successful surgery, Mondani’s condition stabilized and he remains under medical care.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The United States has begun returning aerial refueling aircraft to the Middle East and to Israel after the planes had been moved to Europe in recent weeks, following the overnight exchange of attacks between the United States and Iran, according to Kan News.

Over the past day, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir held a series of assessments at the Kirya in Tel Aviv with senior officers from Military Intelligence, the Israeli Air Force, and the Operations Directorate. He also remained in direct contact with senior officials at U.S. Central Command and the Pentagon as Israel monitored developments.

Israeli officials say that any Iranian attack on Israel would inevitably trigger a powerful Israeli response. Unlike the previous round, when the United States prevented a broader Israeli strike, Israeli officials now believe President Donald Trump also sees Iran as dragging out negotiations and trying to buy time.

Israel is continuing to monitor developments in the region and is also preparing on the defensive front, though at this stage there has been no change in Home Front Command guidelines.

Kan News also reported that Trump and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu are in direct contact regarding the tensions with Iran, and that Israeli sources believe there could be several consecutive days of American strikes in Iran. At this stage, the fighting between Washington and Tehran appears centered around the Strait of Hormuz.

Netanyahu has continued to say that more work remains to be done in Iran, including dealing with its stockpile of enriched uranium. Trump said today that he doubts the feasibility of a ground operation and argued that only the United States could carry out such a move.

In the past, there have been reports of a possible joint U.S.-Israeli operation to remove the enriched material stored at three separate nuclear sites in Iran.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A Swiss court on Tuesday sentenced a Muslim teenager who stabbed a Chareidi man 17 times in Zurich in an antisemitic terror attack to one year in prison after convicting him of attempted murder, but he may not actually serve time behind bars. Swiss media reported that the sentence was suspended so the 17-year-old can instead be placed in a treatment and rehabilitation institution.

The judge said that murdering Jews simply because they are Jews is “an act devoid of conscience,” but acquitted the attacker of the charge of making repeated threats. His attorney had asked the court to convict him of attempted manslaughter rather than attempted murder, and also argued that he should be cleared of the allegation that he intended to murder additional people.

The attack took place on March 2, 2024, when the assailant, who was 15 at the time, attacked the victim from behind with a knife in Zurich and stabbed him repeatedly. According to the report, he first aimed for the victim’s neck and head and ultimately tried to slit his throat, inflicting 17 stab wounds in total.

According to the indictment, the teen became radicalized after Hamas’ October 7 massacre. In January 2024, he began searching online for information about ISIS, bomb-making, and ways to carry out attacks. He was accused of planning for weeks to “kill as many Jews as possible,” and exchanged information online with another person who shared similar views about how to produce explosives and carry out the attack.

After deciding bomb-making was too complicated, prosecutors say he bought a butcher’s knife at a shopping center in Zurich the day before the attack. On social media, he reportedly asked, “What time do the Jews gather?” and intended to murder Jews while they were davening in shul. The indictment also says he began a livestream before the attack that recorded audio, but not video.

During the hearing, the judge sought to understand why the teenager identified with ISIS, how he planned the attack, and what he thinks today about the victim. But the defendant refused to answer any of the questions, repeatedly responding only, “No comment.” Because he remained silent, the judge referred to earlier statements in the case. According to those statements, the teen wanted to be killed by police after the attack so he could die as a “martyr” and “go to heaven.”

Under Swiss law, adults who seriously wound another person can face up to 10 years in prison, and murder carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. But because the attacker was only 15 at the time of the stabbing, prosecutors could seek only a much lighter sentence under Switzerland’s juvenile justice system. The court may still revoke his citizenship and deport him to Tunisia, his country of origin.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israel will extend its earthquake relief mission in Venezuela by an additional two weeks after the country’s interim president formally requested that the team remain to assist with recovery efforts. The extension was approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in coordination with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The request followed direct talks between Sa’ar and Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, who asked that the Israeli delegation stay to help implement a national reconstruction plan developed by Israeli experts. The death toll from the devastating earthquake has now surpassed 3,600, with Israeli personnel continuing to operate around the clock.

At Venezuela’s request, Israel will also assist in developing a comprehensive national plan to rebuild areas devastated by the earthquake. In addition to dozens of personnel on the ground, a team of approximately 20 Israeli experts is working from Israel, analyzing data from the disaster zone and helping formulate the recovery strategy.

The joint delegation, made up of representatives from Israel’s Foreign Ministry, the IDF Home Front Command, and the National Emergency Management Authority, is working alongside local officials to assess damaged structures and determine which buildings can safely be restored, allowing displaced residents to return to their homes. The recovery plan has already been presented to Venezuela’s infrastructure minister and is expected to be submitted to the country’s interim president in the coming days.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

OpenAI is set to roll out its new GPT-5.6 family of artificial intelligence models after receiving approval from the U.S. government following an extensive review process, according to a report by Axios. The company announced that the new lineup—consisting of three separate models named Sol, Terra, and Luna—will begin launching to the public on Thursday, with preview access already expanding to additional users.

While OpenAI has not officially announced which users will receive access first, the initial rollout is expected to be limited to paid subscribers before expanding more broadly.

The GPT-5.6 family is designed to serve different types of users. Sol is the company’s most advanced and powerful model, built for demanding tasks such as advanced software development, research, cybersecurity, and complex data analysis. Terra is intended for everyday use, including writing, coding, and information analysis, while Luna is the fastest and most cost-effective model, optimized for simpler tasks requiring fewer computing resources.

The new models were initially made available about two weeks ago to a limited group of organizations that underwent screening by the U.S. government. Officials reportedly restricted the early release over concerns that increasingly capable AI systems could potentially be used to compromise cybersecurity systems, impact critical industries, or enable sensitive technology to reach adversarial nations such as China.

Following additional testing and meetings between OpenAI executives and U.S. government officials, the company was cleared to proceed with a broader launch. The evaluation process was conducted by the Center for AI Standards and Innovation within the U.S. Department of Commerce, with OpenAI sending technical experts to Washington to address questions raised during the review.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The United States launched a new wave of military strikes against Iranian targets Wednesday night, just hours after President Donald Trump declared the U.S.-Iran ceasefire was effectively over and warned that additional military action was imminent.

The strikes mark a dramatic escalation in the conflict after Iran resumed attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, violating the agreement reached only days earlier.

At approximately 11:15 p.m. local time, multiple explosions were reported near the strategic Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas and the nearby coastal city of Sirik.

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Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported that “the sound of several explosions was heard in Bandar Abbas and Sirik. The sound of some explosions was also heard coming from the sea in the area off the western coast of Sirik.”

According to Fars, Iranian air defense systems were activated and were “engaging hostile targets” in the area.

Initial reports from Bushehr indicate a high number of casualties after the reported strike on an IRGC base in the city, with witnesses saying military forces were seen evacuating wounded personnel and bodies from the compound into nearby streets. Meanwhile, Mehr reports widespread power outages across much of Chabahar in southern Iran, while IRIB says Imam Ali Hospital in the city sustained damage.

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Iran’s Mehr News Agency also reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, as well as in the southern coastal cities of Konarak and Chabahar.

Moments later, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that American forces had begun carrying out strikes against Iranian military targets.

“At the direction of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command forces have started conducting additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM said in a statement.

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“The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway,” the statement added.

Earlier Wednesday, President Trump said the ceasefire was over and warned that the United States would “very probably hit” Iran later in the night if Tehran continued its attacks.

Vice President JD Vance also made clear that the administration viewed Iran’s recent actions as a direct violation of the agreement reached between Washington and Tehran.

“They were good. They were well behaved for about a week, but then they started shooting at ships,” Vance told reporters in Milwaukee.

“The deal is very simple. If they shoot at ships, we’re going to knock the hell out of them. … They can either follow it or they can have exactly what happened to them last night. It’s just going to keep on happening until they open up that lane and stop shooting at ships.”

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Vance stressed that President Trump remains committed to ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as “that crucial artery through which we ship a lot of the world’s energy.”

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important waterways, with roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies passing through the narrow shipping lane.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Ukrainian authorities have officially begun preparations for the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage to Uman, as senior police officials from the Cherkasy region met with Breslov leaders to coordinate security and logistics ahead of the arrival of tens of thousands of mispallelim.

Cherkasy Regional Police Chief Yaroslav Yevnovych Mezhenyi, accompanied by his deputies, visited the offices of the Breslov Union in Uman for a working meeting with Rabbi Nosson Ben Nun, chairman of the organization. The officials reviewed operational plans and discussed the unique security and logistical needs involved in accommodating the massive influx of visitors expected at the kever of Rebbi Nachman of Breslov.

Following the meeting, Rabbi Ben Nun led the police delegation on a comprehensive tour of the area surrounding Rebbi Nachman’s kever, where officers inspected key sites and reviewed preparations to ensure the city is ready for the annual gathering.

The visit is part of ongoing coordination between Ukrainian authorities and the Breslov Union, which works year-round with government agencies to facilitate the annual kibbutz and ensure that the tens of thousands of visitors can spend Rosh Hashanah in Uman safely and comfortably.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Knesset gave preliminary approval to legislation introduced by MK Eliyahu Revivo to establish a national center commemorating Rebbi Nachman of Breslov. The proposal, which passed its preliminary reading unanimously, would create a statutory public corporation responsible for preserving Rebbi Nachman’s legacy through a research institute, archive, educational programs, and a museum. The bill will now move to the Knesset Education, Culture and Sports Committee for further consideration.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Binyamin Regional Council is advancing plans for Natuf, the first new secular yishuv in the area since the 1980s.

The announcement follows the security cabinet’s decision to establish new yishuvim in Yehuda and Shomron.

Settlement Minister Orit Strock said, “Through settlement, we are reclaiming parts of Eretz Yisrael that were abandoned, putting down deep roots in a land that has always been ours, and creating a stronger diplomatic and security reality—a defensive belt of yishuvim, both within the Binyamin region and beyond the seam line.”

Binyamin Regional Council head and Yesha Council chairman Yisrael Ganz said, “Binyamin is an Israeli mosaic made up of religious, secular, and Chareidi communities. We are proud of the strong and thriving secular communities in Binyamin, and we are now proud to lay the foundations for Natuf and continue that story.”

“Settlement is a national mission that belongs to every part of Israeli society, and we invite families who want to take part in establishing Natuf’s pioneering founding community to join us and build the next generation of settlement in western Binyamin.”

According to the plan, Natuf will be built near the yishuvim of Nili and Na’ale, a short drive from central Israel. The project is being advanced in cooperation with the Settlement Ministry, the Settlement Division of the World Zionist Organization, the Binyamin Development Company, and the Amana settlement movement. Alongside the planning process, the council is working to assemble the founding group of families that will establish the new community.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A rare and historic chalitzah ceremony was held Monday evening by the Beis Din of the Machzikei Hadas kehilla in Antwerp, Belgium, with the participation of the city’s Rabbanim, lomdei Torah, talmdidei chachamim, and hundreds of attendees who gathered to witness the rare event.

It was the first chalitzah ceremony held in Antwerp in nearly 40 years.

The ceremony was held in a large hall to accommodate the large crowd led by the city’s Rav, HaGaon HaRav Aharon Schiff, and Dayanim, HaGaon HaRav  Amram Henig, HaGaon HaRav Zekiel Polak, and HaGaon HaRav Eliezer Shimon Eckstein. The eidim were HaGaon HaRav Asher Sternbuch and HaGaon HaRav Shalom Greenfeld.

At the request of HaRav Schiff, HaGaon HaRav Aharon Dovid Dunner, Av Beis Din of London, traveled especially to Antwerp to preside over and conduct the chalitzah ceremony, since he has presided over several chalitzah ceremonies in the past.

The day before the ceremony, members of the Beis Din visited the site to determine the precise location where the ceremony would take place, in accordance with halacha.

In honor of the rare event, the Beis Din especially printed the Seder HaChalitzah of the Maharam, a talmid of the Rema, and distributed copies to all those in attendance.

Preparations for the ceremony required extensive planning. HaRav Dunner brought the specially crafted leather chalitzah shoe.

The dayanim placed the special shoe on the foot of the avreich who had traveled from France. The almanah then removed the shoe, recited the Yehi Ratzon, and spat onto the ground before him. The crowd then proclaimed three times in a loud voice: “Chalutz HaNa’al! Chalutz HaNa’al! Chalutz HaNa’al!”

At the conclusion of the ceremony, those present recited the tefillah: “May it be Hashem’s will that Jewish women never again come to require either chalitzah or yibum. Amen.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A political and public firestorm has erupted in Austria after authorities approved plans to build a massive logistics center and a branch of the German discount supermarket chain Lidl on the site of the former Hirtenberg women’s concentration camp, the country’s second-largest concentration camp for women during World War II.

The project received approval from Austria’s Federal Monuments Office, which ruled that the remaining camp walls do not qualify for historic preservation. The decision has sparked widespread outrage, with critics accusing officials of erasing an important Holocaust site for commercial development.

According to reports, the mayor of Leobersdorf, Andreas Ramharter, stands to make millions of euros from the project. A company he owns reportedly sold the land for more than €15 million, while a rezoning decision approved by the local council generated an additional €1.34 million for him. He has also secured exclusive rights to install solar panels on the roof of the future complex, providing a long-term source of income.

The planned development includes a large industrial logistics and cold-storage facility with loading docks, shipping infrastructure, and a Lidl supermarket. Opponents have also raised concerns over plans to reroute traffic through the former camp site, with as many as 1,200 trucks expected to pass through the area each day.

Jewish and Holocaust leaders sharply condemned the project. Oskar Deutsch, president of Vienna’s Jewish Community, called it “a disgrace” to profit from the memory of murdered women, saying such a dark chapter of history cannot simply be covered by a shopping complex. Barbara Glück, director of the Mauthausen Memorial, likewise denounced the destruction of the camp’s remains.

The Hirtenberg camp operated as a subcamp of the Mauthausen concentration camp during the final years of World War II. Approximately 400 women deported from Auschwitz were imprisoned there and forced to work 12-hour shifts in a nearby weapons factory under brutal conditions. The youngest prisoner was just 16 years old.

Local activists spent months urging officials to preserve the site and establish a modest memorial honoring the victims, but their appeals were rejected. Lidl declined to confirm its involvement in the project but did not deny the reports, saying only that it is continually exploring new locations to expand its operations.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A major emergency response was launched in East Jerusalem on Wednesday after 20 women were found unconscious inside a beauty salon in the city, in what authorities suspect may have been a carbon monoxide poisoning incident.

Magen David Adom and Fire and Rescue teams were dispatched to the salon after receiving reports of multiple unconscious women at the scene. According to preliminary information, the incident took place on Sheikh Anbar Street, and some of the victims apparently lost consciousness after inhaling a toxic substance. Emergency officials said there was suspicion the incident involved carbon monoxide poisoning.

As crews rushed to the scene, nearby ambulances and first responders were instructed to monitor radio communications, while hospitals were told to clear space and prepare for incoming casualties. Firefighters said all 16 women were evacuated from the salon.

“At this stage, the initial assessment is that poisoning is suspected, but the circumstances of the incident are still being examined,” the Fire and Rescue Service said.

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(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Hundreds of Gaza residents who have remained in Israel and Yehuda and Shomron since the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre are voluntarily turning themselves in to the IDF and requesting to be returned to the Gaza Strip, according to a report by Army Radio.

More than 200 Gazans have surrendered to Israeli security forces in recent weeks alone. The individuals had legally entered Israel before the war using official permits for work or medical treatment and remained in Israel and Yehuda and Shomron after the fighting began. This week, a group of 46 Gazans arrived together at a security crossing in Shomron and asked soldiers to detain them. They were subsequently transferred back into Gaza in coordination with security authorities.

Israeli defense officials believe the growing trend is largely driven by the collapse of financial and social support they had been receiving from Palestinians in Yehuda and Shomron. During the war, many found temporary jobs and assistance, but officials say that support has now largely disappeared, leaving many without a source of income and prompting them to return to Gaza despite the ongoing conflict.

Defense officials estimate that the more than 200 who have voluntarily surrendered represent only a fraction of the total number of Gazans who remain in Israel and Yehuda and Shomron. Current estimates range from several hundred to several thousand, though the exact figure is unknown. While Israel initially conducted organized operations to locate and deport Gazan workers after the war began, those efforts largely ended some time ago, with authorities now primarily handling those who voluntarily surrender.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz canceled their participation in a military ceremony Wednesday and were set to hold a security discussion as Israel is closely monitoring the renewed confrontation between the United States and Iran.

The move came after a night of strikes in the Persian Gulf and sharper rhetoric from President Donald Trump, who said he views the ceasefire with Iran as effectively over. The security discussion had been scheduled to focus on Israel’s memorandum of understanding with Lebanon, with U.S. involvement, and was also expected to address Iran.

President Isaac Herzog and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir were expected to attend the National Security College graduation ceremony.

In Jerusalem, officials said Israel is on high alert and preparing for the possibility that fighting could quickly resume. Still, the prevailing assessment is that the current U.S.-Iran clash will not escalate into a full-scale war for now, at least not before the U.S. midterm elections.

Israeli officials have long assessed that Washington would struggle to reach a permanent agreement with Tehran and that the American strategy would be to buy time until the midterms, while keeping oil prices low and avoiding disruption to the World Cup.

A senior Israeli official said anyone who claimed Trump had turned his back on Israel and lost the war “was premature,” adding that Trump is now driven mainly by economic pressure on Iran. The official said Iran’s economic pressure intensified greatly during Operation Lion’s Roar and that Israel believes the Iranian economy must continue eroding.

The official added that Israel did not like the U.S. fuel exemption but does not view it as dramatic. On the possibility of renewed fighting, the official said a return to war could serve Israel’s goals but is not the only option.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Emergency work continued Wednesday at a massive under-construction Midtown Manhattan high-rise after buckling columns and sagging floors triggered evacuations, street closures, and fears of a possible collapse.

The building, located at 235 East 42nd Street near Second Avenue, is the former headquarters of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. It is currently being converted into a massive residential complex in what developers have described as the largest office-to-residential conversion in New York City history.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Wednesday that the building has had no additional movement since Tuesday morning and was deemed stable late Tuesday after crews worked through the night to install emergency shoring.

“The building is stable and yet we are going to continue to prioritize the safety of all in that immediate area,” Mamdani said.

People inspect a buckled support beam inside 235 East 42nd Street, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Temporary supports and beams have already been installed on multiple floors, including the 18th through 23rd floors, where the most serious damage was found. Crews are expected to continue adding supports throughout the day, working upward toward the roof and downward toward the ninth floor.

Despite the progress, at least four nearby buildings remained under evacuation orders Wednesday, and several surrounding Midtown streets remained closed. A nearby school, the Israeli consulate, hotels, and other buildings had been evacuated after the structural emergency was first reported Tuesday morning.

Authorities were called to the site after construction workers noticed structural issues. Firefighters and inspectors found two badly bent support columns and sagging floors on the 21st floor, along with cracks and other signs of distress.

People inspect buckled support beams inside 235 East 42nd Street, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

The FDNY said the concern was not necessarily a total building collapse, but rather a localized collapse in the damaged section. Still, the risk was serious enough for officials to clear a large area around the building, creating a “frozen zone” spanning several blocks.

Only construction workers were inside the building at the time, and no injuries were reported.

Once emergency stabilization is completed, the city’s Department of Buildings will conduct what officials described as a rigorous assessment before any non-emergency construction work is allowed to resume.

The developer, MetroLoft, said the structure was never at risk of collapse and insisted the issue was localized. The company said the affected area involves fewer than 30 apartments out of more than 1,600 planned units.

Sagging floors above a buckled support beam are seen inside 235 East 42nd Street, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

“Our team worked through the night stabilizing the affected columns, and the DOB has confirmed the structure is now stable,” MetroLoft said in a statement. “We have identified the issue and developed a clear plan to fix it.”

MetroLoft added that it plans to fully rebuild the affected portion of the building while continuing the broader project, saying the issue is not expected to delay completion.

However, structural experts said the damaged columns and sagging floors will likely require extensive repairs, including removal and replacement of compromised structural elements.

Experts told local outlets that buckled steel columns typically cannot simply be pushed back into place. Once steel columns bend and floors crack or sag, those elements usually lose their structural capacity and must be replaced.

One structural engineer said the damaged columns may now be carrying only a fraction of the load they were designed to support, placing additional stress on nearby columns and beams. Another expert said the emergency stabilization itself is a delicate process, requiring engineers to determine whether workers can safely enter the building to install supports.

People inspect a buckled support beam inside 235 East 42nd Street, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

The likely cause remains under investigation. MetroLoft founder Nathan Berman told The Wall Street Journal that added weight from work on the upper floors may have contributed to the damage, particularly as the project involves widening the top portion of the tower and adding new stories.

The ambitious project calls for transforming a pair of 1970s-era office buildings into approximately 1,600 luxury rental apartments. Plans include adding more than a dozen stories to one tower and redesigning another.

City records show the project had previously received several safety violations, including violations related to falling glass and metal and an incident in which a worker fell from a ladder.

By Wednesday, some residents and hotel guests were allowed back into nearby buildings, and parts of the frozen zone were reduced. Still, city officials said closures and evacuations will remain in place until inspectors are fully satisfied that the area is safe.

The building sits in one of Manhattan’s busiest corridors, near Grand Central Terminal, the Chrysler Building, and the United Nations.

Officials said public safety remains the top priority as crews continue shoring up the structure and investigators work to determine exactly what went wrong.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The IDF announced Wednesday that it eliminated Mohammed Imad Al-Rahman Abu Taima, a Hamas Nukhba force squad commander who participated in the October 7 massacre at Kibbutz Nirim.

According to the IDF, Abu Taima led a Nukhba squad that carried out ambushes against Israeli forces throughout the war. In recent months, he was involved in planning additional terror attacks, maintaining the operational readiness of Hamas terrorists, and recruiting new members into the organization. The military said he posed an immediate threat to IDF troops operating in southern Gaza and was eliminated in a precise airstrike. The IDF added that Southern Command forces remain deployed in the area and will continue operating to eliminate any immediate threats.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric against Iran on Wednesday, warning that the United States could launch another round of military strikes as tensions continue to rise following Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Iran is behaving very badly,” Trump said. “We hit them very hard last night. They fired on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and we may hit them hard again tonight.”

Earlier in the day, Trump declared that the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement was effectively over, saying he no longer had any interest in dealing with the Iranian regime. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s over,” Trump said. “I don’t want to deal with them anymore. It’s a waste of time.” He added that Iran continues to violate the ceasefire and suggested the United States could ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon even without a negotiated agreement.

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Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump further intensified his criticism, calling the Iranian regime “cancer” and “a bunch of scum.” He also claimed Iran has long sought to assassinate him, saying, “I’m number one on their list. We have to eliminate the cancer early.”

When asked whether diplomacy had completely ended, Trump replied that, in his view, the ceasefire was finished but acknowledged that negotiations could still continue.

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Iran responded with a sharp warning of its own. A spokesman for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters declared that “the era of containing crises is over, and the era of breaking the rules has begun,” warning that any further U.S. military action would be met with a response that would “change the balance of power across the region.” The spokesman added that Iran’s next strike “will not come from where the enemy expects” and would differ from any previous confrontation.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth canceled his planned visit to Israel amid the rapidly developing security situation.

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(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Monsey community is in mourning following the heartbreaking petirah of 7-year-old Blima Weber A”H, who was tragically struck and killed by a school bus on Blauvelt Road on Wednesday morning.

Blima A”H was the beloved daughter of Reb Yisroel Ephraim and Etty Weber.

The devastating incident prompted a massive emergency response, with paramedics from Rockland Hatzolah, officers from the Ramapo Police Department, volunteers from Chaverim of Rockland, and other emergency personnel rushing to the scene.

Rockland Hatzolah’s paramedics and EMTs fought tirelessly to save the young girl’s life, employing every lifesaving measure possible. Despite their extraordinary efforts, she tragically succumbed to her injuries.

Following the tragedy, volunteers from Chesed Shel Emes, Misaskim, and Chaverim of Rockland responded to ensure proper kavod hameis and to assist the grieving family during this unimaginably difficult time.

UPDATE: The Levayah will take place today at 3:30p.m. at the Vizhnitzer Beis Hamedrash, 25 Phyllis Terrace, followed by the kevurah at the Vizhnitzer Beis HaChaim on Route 306.

Besuros Tovois!

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A former spokesman for Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital claimed this week that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan became seriously ill about seven years ago and that the Mossad sent an Israeli doctor to treat him and save his life.

The claim was made by former Ichilov spokesman Avi Shushan during an appearance on Channel 14, where he said that when Erdogan became seriously ill, the Mossad asked Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to approve sending an Israeli physician to Turkey. According to Shushan, Netanyahu agreed, the doctor was dispatched, and Erdogan’s life was saved.

The report comes against the backdrop of Erdogan’s repeated threats and attacks against Israel in recent years. Shushan did not identify the doctor by name during his remarks, but the report pointed to a January 2022 report in Israel that said Erdogan had received medical advice from an Israeli physician, Prof. Itzhak Shapira, deputy director-general of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, better known as Ichilov Hospital.

According to that 2022 report, Prof. Shapira advises world leaders on medical issues and treatment. Shapira is a cardiologist by training, which led to speculation at the time that Erdogan may have been dealing with heart-related problems, though no official diagnosis was ever made public.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Soldiers involved in a clash in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon, are disputing the IDF’s official account of the incident in which an Oketz female fighter was killed and a Hezbollah terrorist was said to have been eliminated.

According to the IDF, reserve troops from the 679th Yiftah Brigade operating under the 91st Division searched a building where a previous encounter had taken place. The military said a Hezbollah terrorist inside the structure opened fire on the troops, who returned fire, and that the terrorist was killed by an Oketz fighter. The IDF said Israeli soldiers were wounded in the incident, in addition to the death of the combat dog.

But soldiers from the brigade told Ynet the clash unfolded differently. According to their account, the force — including Oketz troops — surrounded the compound and came under fire from inside the building. The exchange killed the Oketz dog, and the Oketz fighter fired two rounds toward the source of the gunfire.

The soldiers said the force was then evacuated from the area while still under fire, after which brigade troops entered the compound and conducted searches. Roughly an hour later, after Oketz forces and their dogs had already left the area, troops identified a Hezbollah terrorist who surrendered and was taken alive for questioning. They added that later on, a brigade commander and one of the fighters encountered another Hezbollah terrorist wearing a vest and carrying combat equipment, and opened fire at him.

The soldiers’ version directly contradicts the IDF statement, which said the Oketz fighter killed the Hezbollah terrorist during the encounter. At the time of publication, the report said, the IDF had not responded to the soldiers’ claims.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A child was critically injured after being hit by a school bus on Blauvelt Road in Monsey on Wednesday morning at approximately 9:00 a.m.

Rockland Hatzoloh, Ramapo Police, and other emergency personnel responded to the scene and immediately began lifesaving efforts. The child was reported to be in traumatic arrest.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.

YWN will publish the child’s name for Tehillim as soon as it becomes available to us.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Justice Minister Yariv Levin on Wednesday called for defying the High Court’s unprecedented ruling invalidating the appointment of Michael Rabello as state comptroller.

Levin’s call came after the Cabinet on Sunday announced that it will not recognize the High Court’s ruling reinstating the Second Authority Council appointed by the previous government. In response, High Court justices threatened government members, saying that anyone who fails to obey their decision could bear civil liability and be exposed to lawsuits.

Levin said: “There can be no hesitation. A new election for the position of State Comptroller cannot be held. Rabello should simply take up his position.”

Levin added, “The one creating a constitutional crisis is the court, not us. At no point have we said that we are taking powers that we do not have or doing anything unlawful, nor have we said the court should not intervene. On the contrary, if the government acts unlawfully, there is room for the court to intervene.”

“State employees will receive our full backing. Public servants are subordinate to the government. If the court believes the government has issued an unlawful directive, it can issue an order to the government.”

Levin further stated, “The law explicitly provides that the police are subordinate to the government, so when the police commissioner, on his own initiative, says, ‘I am subordinate to the court,’ that is unacceptable and contrary to the law. It reflects the view that there aren’t three equal branches of government, but rather that the court stands above everyone else. That cannot exist in a democratic state.”

Levin also addressed the audacity of the High Court in an interview with Galey Yisrael on Wednesday morning: “The High Court justices are acting like the worst dictators. I believe that ever since I forcefully put judicial reform on the table, people’s eyes have been opened. Today, people see the unacceptable situation that has developed here—the anti-democratic reality, the trampling of the government’s and the Knesset’s authority, and, as a result, the trampling of the voters’ will and the entire democratic process.

“The result of all this is that the court has moved to the stage of making threats. What branch of government resorts to threats? A branch of government that does not have the public’s trust and believes it can impose its authority and its decisions through intimidation. That is exactly what characterizes the worst dictators—those who have neither the people’s confidence nor public support, and who try to impose their will through force and threats.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Denmark on Wednesday vowed to defend its territory after President Donald Trump insisted again that the United States should control Greenland, upending a NATO summit in Turkey meant to be a show of strength and unity.

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said her country is “ready to defend every inch of NATO including our own territory” in the event of an attack, and would rely on NATO allies to honor their commitment to defend each other.

“We hope that all, including all allies, will respect the Greenland people’s right for self-determination,” Frederiksen said ahead of the meeting of NATO leaders. “Greenland is of course not for sale.”

Trump had reopened old wounds on the eve of the meeting by insisting that the United States should control Greenland, a semiautonomous Danish territory.

Arriving at the summit on Wednesday, Trump said he was “not happy with NATO” for its member nations’ pushback against his earlier efforts to take over Greenland, adding that the territory “is very important for the United States, but it’s not important for Denmark.”

Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland could put at risk the entire future of NATO, which was founded in 1949 to counter the threat to European security posed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

The organization is normally focused on outside threats such as that posed by Russia. It is not designed to deal with threats from within.

Iceland’s Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir said Greenland “belongs to the people of Greenland,” and called for unity in the face of Russia, which she called “the biggest threat.”

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said from Ankara on Wednesday that he believes the United States is fully committed to the alliance. He praised Trump for the series of U.S. strikes on Iran overnight, after Tehran struck three merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

“I think what you did last night was absolutely necessary,” Rutte said to Trump. “It was a very strong response, and I’m with you on this.”

The U.S. strikes, as well as the revoking of a license allowing Iran to sell its oil on global markets, underscored the fragility of an interim deal to end months of fighting.

Trump said Wednesday the interim agreement with Iran is “over” after the strikes, but that he will allow talks to continue.

“For me, I think it’s over,” Trump responded when asked about the status of the ceasefire. “It’s just a waste of time dealing with them.”

The meeting in Ankara was meant to focus on progress made toward meeting the alliance’s spending targets — something Rutte highlighted by noting numerous countries that are already investing more.

“The commitment is there, no doubt,” Rutte said before chairing the summit, but noted the Trump administration expects “the Europeans and Canadian will equalize their spending with the United States.”

In an attempt last month to mollify the U.S. leader, Rutte went to Washington to hail the “Trump Trillion” — the $1.2 trillion that European allies and Canada have added to defense spending since Trump came to power in 2017.

Yet Trump has demanded “loyalty” and branded NATO a “paper tiger” after some allies refused to grant open access to their bases for U.S. forces to attack Iran.

Trump on Wednesday blasted NATO member Spain for its refusals to allow U.S. forces to use its bases to attack Iran, saying it was a “terrible partner in NATO” and renewing his threats to cut off trade with Spain.

As leaders converged on Ankara, Rutte hosted a “big reveal” event to showcase the many deals planned for the increased spending — much of it to be spent on U.S. companies, creating thousands of jobs for Americans.

NATO diplomats and officials had hoped that Trump would take the win, but judging by some of his remarks since arriving in Turkey, they are in for yet another dressing down.

Trump has long argued that the U.S. carries more than its fair share of the defense burden for NATO. At last year’s summit, the allies agreed to invest 5% of their gross domestic product on defense — 3.5% on their defense budgets and 1.5% on infrastructure so troops and equipment can move faster in times of conflict.

Yet new figures released by NATO on Tuesday showed that Slovenia, Belgium, Spain and the Czech Republic could be in hot water with the Trump administration as they struggle to meet the alliance’s old spending target of 2% of GDP.

The Trump administration wants to see a more lean and lethal “NATO 3.0,” with Europe taking responsibility for its own security, including Ukraine, with conventional weapons while America would continue to provide its nuclear umbrella.

However, the Pentagon has launched a six-month review of U.S. military presence in Europe, leaving allies to seek clarity on just how deeply Trump intends to cut U.S. force numbers.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a fresh appeal Tuesday for Ukraine to be allowed to join the alliance, saying Ukrainian armed forces are highly experienced and would only boost NATO’s defense capabilities.

Zelenskyy, who is expected to meet with Trump in Ankara on Wednesday, highlighted Ukraine’s adaptability and its ability to strike deep inside Russia, hit Moscow’s oil refineries and other energy targets. He said Ukraine’s armed forces are “eliminating” on average 30,000 Russian troops every month.

Concern has been mounting among some northern, central and eastern European countries that Russia might be preparing a hybrid attack — a combination of conventional warfare with tactics like cyberattacks — on the continent as President Vladimir Putin struggles to secure victory in Ukraine.

U.S. Sen Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), one member of a congressional delegation attending the NATO summit, said at a news conference Wednesday that she hoped there would be a “recommitment” to Ukraine, and that the momentum on the battlefield favored Kyiv.

“We need to do everything possible to ramp up pressure on Russia to come to the table,” she said.

Trump will also meet with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former insurgent who led the offensive that unseated autocrat Bashar Assad in December 2024. Despite having once been an al-Qaida fighter, al-Sharaa has won Trump’s backing as he seeks to rebuild Syria and restore its long-shattered ties with the West.

Trump has repeatedly suggested that al-Sharaa would do a better job of rooting out Hezbollah in Lebanon than the Israeli army, raising alarms in Lebanon and Israel alike. The Syrian leader has said he has no interest in doing so.

(AP)

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was scheduled to make his first visit to Israel on Wednesday since taking office, but canceled the visit following the escalation of hostilities between the US and Iran.

Hegseth had been expected to fly to Israel from Turkey, where he is attending this year’s NATO summit in Ankara alongside President Trump. However, Israel received notice from the United States at the last minute that the visit had been called off.

According to CNN and Axios_,_ Hegseth had been scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz to discuss Israel’s concerns regarding the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.

According to the report, the visit was intended to ease Israeli concerns over the dramatic move, which is expected to deprive Israel of the air superiority it has long maintained in the Middle East.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday called Iran “scum” and “sick in the head”  and said that the memorandum of understanding is “over.”

Responding to a reporter’s question on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said: “I think it’s over. They’re sick people. They’re led by sick people. And they’re vicious, violent people. And if they had a nuclear weapon, they’d use it. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over. It’s just a waste of time dealing with them.”

“We said, ‘Go and do your funeral stuff,’ and instead of that, they start shooting rockets at ships yesterday. And so we hit them very hard last night, very hard- 20 times harder than before.”

“They want to take out the US leader — me. I’m on whatever list. I saw this morning I’m on every single one of their lists. And so far, I guess I’ve been a bit lucky, but maybe that doesn’t last very long,” he says.

“These are evil, sick people. And we have to root out that cancer. That cancer. You know what you do? You’ve got to cut out cancer early. And that’s the way I feel.”

However, Trump said minutes later that US negotiations with Iran can continue. “Now, I’ll let our wonderful negotiators keep talking if they want, but I don’t see it. I don’t like these people.”

Trump continued with his diatribe against the Islamic Republic, saying that it murdered 54,000 of its own people during protests, retaining its vicious rule through killings. “You know, when people say, ‘How come they haven’t taken over? They can’t take over because they’re dead. They killed them. Nobody’s going to take over. They have no guns, and the other side has machine guns, and they’re killing them. The press doesn’t report it, but they’re bad people, and frankly, I don’t want to waste my time with them.”

Trump’s statements came after Iran’s most recent violation of the ceasefire, during which they attacked two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. In response, the US carried out extensive attacks on Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by launching strikes on US military targets in Bahrain and Kuwait.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday morning, citing a senior U.S. official, that the US strikes against Iranian targets were four to five times more extensive than previous strikes since the “ceasefire” was signed. At the same time, the official emphasized that the United States still considers the ceasefire to remain in effect.

Following the overnight exchange of attacks, Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying, “Violations of the arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon are rendering the interim agreement ineffective. The Iranian Foreign Ministry reiterates its warning to countries in the region not to allow the United States to use their territory to launch attacks against Iran.”

In a parallel move, the Trump administration announced it is reimposing sanctions on Iranian oil sales, reversing one of the key concessions granted under last month’s memorandum of understanding. The sanctions had been lifted as part of an agreement that led Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil markets reacted immediately, with Brent crude futures surging more than 5% following the announcement.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A heated confrontation erupted Tuesday in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee during a discussion on freezing the arrests of bnei yeshivos

During the debate, the kippah-wearing Yesh Atid MK Elazar Stern said, “How can you not hate the Chareidim when you see them in the Galil during Bein HaZemanim?”

The remark drew sharp reactions from the Chareidi MKs present at the meeting.

Shas MK Yinon Azoulay retorted, “I don’t recognize Jews who hate other Jews. If you hate Jews, your Judaism needs to be examined.”

MK Moshe Solomon (Religious Zionism) also interjected, saying: “It’s forbidden to hate Jews. Elazar, my friend, I think it is forbidden to hate Jews, no matter what.”

Stern was later heard saying: “I don’t hate people at all, not just Jews.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Exclusive recordings published by i24NEWS on Tuesday show Shin Bet chief David Zini saying he agreed to take the job because of his “ability to be loyal to the elected leadership,” while also sharply criticizing the legal establishment. Zini said he believes the elected echelon often lacks the ability to properly manage the systems under its authority, and argued that ministers can issue directives that then take months to implement. He said he has his own worldview and agenda and is “not a marionette moved by the wind,” adding that this sense of responsibility was part of why he accepted the position.

In another portion of the recordings, Zini lashed out at lawyers and the broader legal system, saying “monsters” emerge from it that harm human rights, individual rights, economic growth, prosperity and national security. He said lawyers and jurists are supposed to be a tool to assist decision-makers, not dominate the process, and argued that “common sense” should come before procedure.

The report was met with so-called “outrage” by the left, despite the fact that Zini’s remarks are in accordance with Israeli law.

Democrats chairman Yair Golan said the recordings exposed one of the most dangerous statements ever made by someone leading a security body, arguing that the head of the Shin Bet must be loyal only to the State of Israel, its security and the law. MK Naama Lazimi said the comments showed the government’s judicial overhaul mentality had already penetrated the Shin Bet and warned that a security service driven by political loyalty ahead of elections would pose a direct threat to democracy and the integrity of the vote.

Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich responded by saying: “The Shin Bet chief stated the obvious: In a democracy, the security services and civil servants are subordinate to the elected officials who derive their authority from the people. Those attacking Zini for speaking the truth invoke the name of democracy in vain and seek to trample the law, which states that the Shin Bet is subordinate to the government.”

“The attacks against him are taking place solely because this is the first time someone in his position has loudly voiced the truth— that bureaucrats and legal advisers make it difficult for elected officials to govern the State of Israel.”

“This is dangerous, and it will become even worse if, chalila, the left returns to power and entrenches the rule of the legal establishment, which will continue to trample the people and their elected representatives.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir wrote, “At last, the head of a senior security agency is saying the most basic thing in a democratic state, something that has become extraordinary thanks to the madness of the High Court and the Attorney General: ‘I am subordinate to the elected leadership.’

“Now watch the left-wing lunatics and the cult of the judicial junta’s sycophants attack him with furious rage.”

Chairman of the Constitution Committee MK Simcha Rothman stated: “The Shin Bet chief is stating something that should be obvious to anyone who genuinely cares about the rule of law or democracy.

“Governmental authority belongs in the hands of an elected government, not in the hands of a closed clique of bureaucratic and judicial oligarchs.

“Look at who is attacking him, and you’ll understand who the dangerous fascists are who should never be allowed anywhere near power.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Border Police officers neutralized a terrorist who threatened them with a knife at the Rachel Crossing in the Etzion Brigade sector overnight Tuesday.

The terrorist arrived at the Rachel Crossing area late at night and attempted to cross into Israel illegally. After realizing he could not get through, he began throwing stones at the security forces at the crossing in an attempt to strike them.

In response, Border Police officers were dispatched to the scene. The terrorist pulled out a knife and waved it threateningly at the officers, posing an immediate threat to their lives. The officers acted in accordance with the suspect arrest procedure and employed riot dispersal measures.

Israel Police

After the terrorist continued to approach the officers with a knife, they fired at his lower body and neutralized him. He was arrested by the security forces for further investigation. No members of the security forces were injured.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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Israel has not renewed the agreement under which Jordan receives additional water from Israel at a discounted rate, raising the prospect of a new dispute between the two countries over one of the key provisions tied to their peace treaty.

According to Kan News, the agreement has still not been signed, and sources familiar with the matter said there is currently no timetable for its renewal. The delay has reportedly sparked anger in Jordan, where officials view the water arrangement as a critical national interest and an integral part of the peace agreement with Israel.

While Jordan has not issued an official public response to the impasse, a Jordanian source close to the government told Kan that “the water issue is very important for us and it is also part of the peace agreement.” The comment reflects growing frustration in Amman over what is seen as Israel’s willingness to turn an issue that had largely remained outside the political arena for most of the peace era into a bargaining chip.

Jordan is one of the most water-stressed countries in the region and relies heavily on the additional water supplied under the agreement with Israel. The report noted that Jordanian officials have also been pressing the matter behind the scenes. In March, Kan reported that King Abdullah II had conditioned a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu on a series of demands related not only to the Palestinian issue, but also to the renewal of the additional water agreement.

The delay now threatens to add another layer of tension to already strained ties between Jerusalem and Amman, at a time when both sides have been trying to manage a series of disputes tied to the war and regional diplomacy.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

An emotional moment unfolded Tuesday at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center, where Sarah Yahav, daughter of MK Limor Son Har-Melech, gave birth to her firstborn son in the same hospital where doctors saved her life nearly 23 years ago.

Sarah was born prematurely after her father, Shuli Har-Melech, was murdered in a terrorist shooting attack on August 29, 2003. Her mother, Limor, who was six months pregnant at the time, was seriously wounded and rushed to Hadassah Ein Kerem, where doctors performed emergency surgery to save both her life and her unborn child.

The medical team, which included Prof. Asher Shoshan, Prof. Avi Rivkind, and Prof. David Shveiky, succeeded in saving Limor’s life and delivering Sarah, who then spent an extended period in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.

On Tuesday, Sarah returned to that same hospital with her husband, Natan — this time as a mother — and welcomed their firstborn son in the very place where she had once fought for her own life.

MK Son Har-Melech said the moment represents the victory of the Jewish people over its enemies.

“Nearly 23 years after I arrived at this hospital wounded, and Sarah was born here as a premature baby, I have now been blessed to see my daughter holding her firstborn son in the same place,” she said.

“This is a moment that demonstrates the victory of the Jewish people over its enemies and the triumph of the life force of the people of Israel over the death wish of those who hate us. Out of pain grows hope, out of loss a family is built, and life continues to prevail,” she added.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Volunteers from ZAKA’s international rescue unit continue operating in the disaster zones across Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes, working under dangerous conditions to search for survivors and recover victims with dignity.

The Israeli delegation, which includes engineers, rescue specialists, paramedics, EMTs, and logistics personnel, is working alongside local emergency responders and international rescue teams to conduct search-and-rescue operations in collapsed buildings and unstable areas.

Although hopes of finding additional survivors continue to fade, rescue teams say they are pressing on with every effort to locate anyone still alive. Where survival is no longer possible, volunteers are focusing on the respectful recovery of those who perished.

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Nachman Dickstein, commander of ZAKA Europe and head of the delegation, said the team entered operational activity immediately upon arrival, working alongside Colombian and local rescue forces to assess collapsed structures, develop rescue plans, and coordinate operations. He said the mission remains far from over and that teams will continue searching as long as there is even the slightest chance of finding survivors.

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Guy Mansour, the field commander and a disaster rescue expert, said every entry into a damaged building requires a professional risk assessment, close coordination with other rescue teams, and rapid decision-making. He said the experience ZAKA volunteers have gained from disaster zones in Israel and around the world has enabled them to assist local authorities in managing the search effort.

ZAKA Deputy Director of Operations Chaim Weingarten said the delegation is representing the State of Israel and the organization’s values of compassion and professionalism, adding that volunteers will continue working around the clock alongside local and international rescue teams until the mission is complete.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Germany will increase its annual funding for Yad Vashem to €5 million under a new agreement signed during German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul’s visit to Israel.

The agreement, signed with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, will support Holocaust research, documentation, education, and commemorative activities at Yad Vashem. The Foreign Ministry said the deal reflects Germany and Israel’s recognition of “the eternal responsibility of the German people for the events of the past” and their shared commitment to preserving Holocaust memory.

The new arrangement updates a 2020 agreement, under which Germany had committed to providing Yad Vashem with €1 million annually from 2022 through 2031. Under the revised terms, Germany will provide €5 million per year through 2030, before the funding returns to €1 million annually beginning in 2031.

Wadephul is visiting Israel as Sa’ar’s guest, marking the ninth meeting between the two foreign ministers over the past year.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A Manhattan high-rise remained unstable Tuesday after structural columns buckled and floors sagged during work to convert the former Pfizer headquarters into luxury apartments, forcing evacuations and major street closures in Midtown.

The building, located at 235 East 42nd Street between Second and Third Avenues, is an active construction site being converted from commercial office space into residential use. Officials said structural issues were found on the 21st floor, where two columns buckled and multiple cracks and sagging floors were discovered.

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Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the situation “extremely serious,” saying first responders and structural engineers were working with the project engineer to develop a plan to shore up the impacted floor.

“This is a minute-by-minute assessment,” Mamdani told reporters near the scene.

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Fire officials said the damage spans floors 21 through 26, with continued movement detected in one of the compromised columns after emergency crews arrived. FDNY Chief John Esposito said specialized monitoring equipment was being used to detect even small shifts in the structure.

“It does mean that it is not yet stable. It is still a very serious and dangerous situation,” Esposito said.

Esposito said the building’s steel-frame construction makes a total collapse unlikely, but warned that a localized collapse remains possible.

“It would not be a total collapse, it would be more of a localized collapse,” he said.

At least nine nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution, including a school with roughly 400 children inside and the Israeli Consulate across the street. A nearby hotel was also reportedly evacuated.

The NYPD established a frozen zone from 40th to 45th Streets between First and Third Avenues, closing the area to both pedestrians and vehicles while engineers and emergency crews assessed the building.

Officials said there were no injuries and that all workers at the construction site had been accounted for.

The project is described by developers as the largest office-to-residential conversion in New York City history, with more than 1,600 units planned. Buildings Department records show the project has previously been fined for multiple safety violations, including falling glass and metal, as well as an incident involving a worker falling from a ladder.

The Department of Buildings said workers will need to install emergency beams and columns to stabilize the compromised areas before repairs can proceed.

“Our top priority right now,” Mamdani said, “is the safety of those who live in this area and the safety of those who work in this area.”

A firetruck is parked at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and East 42nd Street after buildings in the area were evacuated, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

People gather near East 42nd Street after buildings in the area were evacuated, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Firefighters stage at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and East 42nd Street after buildings in the area were evacuated, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

NYPD officers talk about buildings in the area that were evacuated, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

The building at 235 East 42nd Street is seen Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on Manhattan’s Upper East Side has grown to 23 confirmed cases, with several patients hospitalized in critical condition, New York City health officials announced Monday.

The number of confirmed infections has risen sharply from just two cases reported on July 2 and 14 cases reported Sunday.

Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin said many of the infected patients remain hospitalized, with several receiving treatment in intensive care units.

“We’ve had our first discharge,” Martin said, adding that officials are still in the early stages of the outbreak.

The Department of Health is investigating approximately 160 cooling towers in the affected area—including Yorkville and Carnegie Hill—to identify the source of the bacteria. About one-third of the towers have already been tested, and officials say any tower testing positive will be immediately remediated.

Residents who live or work in ZIP codes 10028, 10128, and 10075 are being urged to seek medical attention if they develop flu-like symptoms, particularly fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.

Health officials stressed that the outbreak is believed to be linked to contaminated cooling towers—not drinking water, residential plumbing, or home air conditioning systems.

Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria spread through contaminated water vapor. The disease is not contagious and can usually be treated successfully with antibiotics, but it can become life-threatening if treatment is delayed. Adults over 50, smokers, and people with chronic lung disease or weakened immune systems are at greatest risk.

The investigation comes as city officials work to determine whether building owners complied with recently strengthened regulations requiring regular testing of cooling towers for Legionella bacteria.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

U.S. Central Command says American forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM said the strikes are intended to impose “heavy costs” on Iran for targeting commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway.

The command said Iran’s attacks were “unwarranted,” “dangerous,” and “a clear violation of the ceasefire.”

The strikes mark a major escalation in the region following the Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Tuesday said American forces have begun launching a series of “powerful strikes” against Iran in response to Tehran’s attacks on commercial ships in an international waterway.

“U.S. Central Command forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway,” the command wrote on X. “The U.S. strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”

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CENTCOM added, “Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.”U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Tuesday that American forces have launched a series of “powerful strikes” against Iran in response to Tehran’s attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, marking the most significant U.S. military action against Iran since last month’s ceasefire agreement.

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“U.S. Central Command forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway,” CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X.

“The U.S. strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”

CENTCOM described Iran’s actions as “unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.”

According to U.S. officials, three merchant vessels were struck Tuesday in waters off Oman near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

As U.S. strikes continued across southern Iran, explosions were reported in the Bandar Abbas area, on Qeshm Island, and near Tahuyeh Port in Hormozgan Province.

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A U.S. official told CNN the operation was intentionally designed to inflict significant damage.

“This is punishment,” the official said. “It won’t be over for a bit.”

The official added that the strikes were “not proportional,” signaling Washington intends to impose severe consequences for Iran’s latest actions.

In a parallel move, the Trump administration announced it is reimposing sanctions on Iranian oil sales, reversing one of the key concessions granted under last month’s memorandum of understanding. The sanctions had been lifted as part of an agreement that led Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil markets reacted immediately, with Brent crude futures surging more than 5% following the announcement.

The latest escalation threatens to derail ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz, addressing Iran’s nuclear program, and ending the conflict that erupted on Feb. 28.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Meta Platforms says four U.S. states are seeking an unprecedented $1.4 trillion penalty, alleging the company intentionally designed Facebook and Instagram to encourage addictive use among children and teens while misleading the public about the platforms’ safety.

According to court filings, the proposed penalty is based on the number of alleged violations under state consumer protection laws and is nearly equal to Meta’s entire market value. The lawsuit was filed by the states of California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, with a trial scheduled to begin in August in federal court in Oakland, California.

Meta has dismissed the demand as unprecedented and unsupported by the evidence, arguing that no comparable consumer protection penalty has ever been imposed. The company also maintains there is no evidence it misled users about its platforms and argues that “social media addiction” is not a recognized psychiatric diagnosis.

The case is separate from a broader federal lawsuit brought by 29 states alleging Meta violated children’s online privacy laws by collecting data from minors without parental consent. Last month, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers allowed the consumer protection case to proceed, finding there are factual disputes over whether Meta’s platforms promote addictive behavior, whether the company misrepresented those risks, and whether its services were intentionally directed at children.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States is considering selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, praising Ankara’s loyalty during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Asked about a possible sale, Trump said the administration has not made a final decision but is actively considering the matter.

“It’s a decision we’re going to make. We have a very good relationship. Many people, including those sitting here, think, ‘Why wouldn’t we do that?'” Trump said.

The president added that Turkey has proven to be “more loyal than other countries” that have purchased the advanced fighter jets.

“We have a better relationship with Turkey, and Turkey has been more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal. So it’s something we’d consider,” Trump said.

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(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Knesset’s legal adviser warned Tuesday that if the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study is enacted, Torah learners could become eligible for benefits currently reserved for combat soldiers and military veterans.

Speaking during a heated Knesset committee debate, Knesset Legal Adviser Adv. Sagit Afik said legislation providing free academic tuition for soldiers “could also have to apply to Torah learners in light of the law.”

Afik’s comments came as lawmakers debated the far-reaching implications of the proposed Basic Law, which was introduced by the Chareidi parties and seeks to recognize Torah study as a foundational value of the State of Israel.

During the discussion, a combat veteran suffering from PTSD interrupted the proceedings, angrily confronting supporters of the legislation.

“What’s going on with you? How do you run a country like this?” he said. “The faces of people who exploded in our hands come to visit us at night.”

The warning follows comments made Monday by another representative of the Knesset’s legal department, Adv. Avital Simpolinsky, who challenged coalition claims that the law would not place Torah learners on equal legal footing with IDF soldiers.

“We don’t understand what ‘a foundational value of Torah study’ means,” Simpolinsky said. “The term ‘foundational value’ has no clear legal definition.”

She warned that courts could ultimately interpret the law as granting Torah learners legal status comparable to that of soldiers, workers, or holders of higher education degrees, potentially affecting eligibility for a wide range of state benefits.

Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni, who sponsored the legislation, challenged the legal interpretation during the hearing, asking, “Where are you getting that from?”

Simpolinsky replied that her assessment was based on the wording of the bill and statements by coalition lawmakers that Torah study is intended to receive elevated constitutional status.

Separately, Israel’s Finance Ministry submitted a legal opinion warning that the legislation could have sweeping economic consequences. The ministry cautioned that if courts interpret the law as giving Torah study constitutional priority over other values, including equality, it could require expanding government benefits for Torah learners, including tuition assistance, housing benefits, daycare subsidies, land allocations, and other forms of state support.

The Finance Ministry also warned that the measure could weaken incentives for Chareidim to enlist in the IDF or enter the workforce, potentially reducing long-term economic growth, lowering tax revenues, and increasing the burden on reserve soldiers.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Supreme Court of Israel has rejected a petition filed by the former Gaza Division intelligence officer, Lt. Col. A., clearing the way for the Israel Defense Forces to move forward with his permanent dismissal over his role in the failures surrounding the October 7 Hamas attack.

The officer challenged a decision by IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who ordered his immediate dismissal last November as part of a broader effort to remove senior officers deemed responsible for the catastrophic intelligence and operational failures. The decision was based on the findings of a commission led by Maj. Gen. Sami Turgeman, which concluded that several senior officers bore primary responsibility for the failures that enabled the Hamas assault.

Military investigations identified Lt. Col. A., who served as the Gaza Division’s intelligence officer on the morning of October 7, as one of the central figures in the intelligence breakdown. According to the findings, investigators concluded that serious failures in his performance contributed to the IDF’s lack of preparedness and its inability to prevent the Hamas infiltration into southern Israel.

The officer had already been removed from his position by Intelligence Directorate chief Shlomi Binder, while Defense Minister Israel Katz barred him from serving in any command or intelligence-related role.

With the Supreme Court rejecting his appeal, the IDF is expected to convene a special military panel in the coming weeks to formally terminate his service, bringing his military career to an end.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

An active-duty IDF reservist was among the 10 Israelis who illegally entered the Palestinian Authority city of Qalqilya in an attempt to recover a motorcycle that had allegedly been stolen from Elad, according to Hebrew media reports.

During the police investigation, officers reportedly discovered knives and clubs inside the four vehicles used by the group. Authorities also seized an IDF-issued M16 rifle that was in the possession of one of the suspects, an active reservist. The incident has been referred to the IDF Military Police for investigation.

Nine of the suspects were released under restrictive conditions, including being barred from entering Yehudah and Shomron. A tenth suspect is expected to appear before a court for a hearing on the police request to extend his detention.

The incident began after security forces received reports of a disturbance involving four Israeli vehicles inside Qalqilya, which is located in Area A under full Palestinian Authority control. Large forces from the IDF and Border Police were dispatched to the scene.

According to the initial investigation, the group entered the city in an effort to locate a motorcycle that had been stolen in Elad the previous day and was believed to have been taken to Qalqilya.

Once local residents realized the group was Israeli, dozens reportedly gathered around the vehicles, surrounding them until Israeli security forces entered the city and extracted the group safely.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)