FBI Director Kash Patel said Wednesday that the bureau subpoenaed phone records belonging to him and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles when both were private citizens during the federal investigations into President Donald Trump.

In comments to Reuters, Patel said the subpoenas were issued during the Biden administration as part of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s probes into whether Trump interfered with the 2020 election and improperly retained classified documents at Mar-a-Lago after leaving office.

Smith was appointed in November 2022 by then–Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee the investigations.

Patel described the collection of the phone records as government overreach and said the process was hidden within FBI systems in a way that made it difficult to uncover after he assumed leadership of the bureau in February 2025.

“It is outrageous and deeply alarming that the previous FBI leadership secretly subpoenaed my own phone records – along with those of now White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles – using flimsy pretexts and burying the entire process in prohibited case files designed to evade all oversight,” Patel said in a statement to Reuters.

According to Patel, investigators obtained what are known as “toll records,” which document the timing and recipients of phone calls but not the contents of conversations. Under federal law, such records can be obtained via subpoena without prior judicial approval.

Reuters said it could not independently verify key aspects of Patel’s account, including the full scope and timing of the subpoenas or who authorized them. The news agency also reported it could not determine whether Patel or Wiles were themselves under investigation.

Patel and Wiles were both closely aligned with Trump during the period in question, as he prepared for and later launched his 2024 presidential campaign. Both were known to have been interviewed by investigators during Smith’s probe into Trump’s handling of classified documents.

Patel publicly stated in 2022 that Trump had declassified the documents taken to Mar-a-Lago — a claim prosecutors disputed and that Trump’s attorneys did not formally advance in court filings. Patel later testified before a grand jury in the case after receiving limited immunity.

Smith ultimately charged Trump in 2023 with felony counts related to the classified documents investigation. The case was later dismissed by a federal judge, and Smith dropped his appeal after Trump won a second term. Trump has consistently denied wrongdoing.

A federal judge this week permanently barred the Justice Department from releasing Smith’s final report on the classified documents investigation. Smith has told Congress he is constrained by court orders from discussing details of the probe beyond what has already been disclosed in court.

Democrats have defended Smith’s investigative methods, arguing that subpoenas for phone records are routine in complex federal investigations. Smith previously testified that obtaining call records — including those of lawmakers — helped investigators establish timelines related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and other key events. He emphasized that prosecutors followed legal requirements and did not obtain call content.

The spokesperson for Smith declined to comment on Patel’s allegations. Former FBI Director Chris Wray, Garland and former President Joe Biden did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Patel said he recently ended the FBI’s ability to categorize files as “Prohibited,” a designation he said made the subpoena records difficult to locate within bureau systems.

The White House did not immediately comment on Patel’s claims.

The revelations are likely to intensify partisan scrutiny of the Justice Department’s conduct during the Trump investigations, as Republican lawmakers continue to examine the scope and methods used by federal prosecutors in pursuing the former president and his allies.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Renowned Chazan Nissim Saal, known for his once-in-a-generation voice, sings a version of the famous Modzitz “Shoshanas Yaakov” that was composed by the Modzitz Rebbe, the Imrei Shaul זצ”ל.

https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/MP3.mp3

Credits:
Produced by: Yochi Briskman
Composed by: The Modzitz Rebbe, the Imrei Shaul זצ”ל
Piano Accompanist: Rabbi Eli Cohen
Choir: Yedidim International, conducted by Yaakov Rotblatt
Audio Mixing: Yaniv Balas
Cover Photo: Project Production

For more info and booking: (917)805-4844 [email protected]

Dear YWN,

How many times are we going to keep writing about the seminary insanity before someone actually does something about it?

I am not even addressing the degrading application process, the subtle humiliations, the endless interviews, the social competition over which “name” you were accepted to, or the tired lines about “rebranding” and suddenly taking fewer girls from certain schools.

I am talking about something far more dangerous: the financial catastrophe.

This is no longer $25,000. It is no longer $30,000. We are staring at $40,000 — and sometimes more — for ONE year. For what? Who can afford this? Which normal family with multiple children can absorb this without crushing debt?

Enough is enough.

Why are we silent?

Why are schools and teachers pushing this as if it is some automatic next step in life? Since when did a year in Eretz Yisroel become a mandatory luxury item that families must bankrupt themselves to provide?

Thousands of families are quietly drowning. Credit cards. Loans. Second mortgages. Borrowing from relatives. Parents losing sleep at night. Younger siblings’ futures compromised — all to fund one year that somehow became “non-negotiable.”

And for what? So a handful of seminaries can continue raising prices unchecked? So owners and administrators can operate in a system that no one dares question?

Where is the leadership?

We see kol korehs for every issue under the sun. Where is the collective voice addressing this crisis that is pushing families into debt year after year? Where is the clarity that this is not a halachic requirement, not an obligation, and certainly not something that should come at the expense of financial stability?

Why are we not strongly encouraging local seminaries that have opened in the Tri-State area? Why are we not investing in quality chinuch closer to home at a fraction of the cost? Why is the default still sending every girl overseas regardless of a family’s circumstances?

This has spiraled into pure madness.

It is time to stop pretending this is normal. It is not normal for middle-class families to feel forced into crushing debt to maintain social expectations. It is not healthy. It is not sustainable. And it is not fair.

STOP THIS MADNESS NOW.

Signed,

A Concerned Parent

The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review. 

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Noam chairman Avi Maoz delivered a scathing speech in the Knesset last week in which he accused senior figures in the security and judicial systems for leading a mutiny against the elected political leadership.

In the presence of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Maoz accused former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and senior Shin Bet officials of ongoing attempts to undermine the elected government—even before it was formed.

MK Maoz referred to a tweet posted by Netanyahu several weeks ago, in which the prime minister reshared criticism of Ronen Bar’s decision not to inform him about the events on the night before the October 7 massacre. Maoz noted that while the left called Netanyahu’s criticism of Bar as incitement against a “gatekeeper,” he had previously warned of a deeper trend.

Maoz noted that after the last elections, even before the formation of the current government, a column was published in the media stating that the Shin Bet—whose functions include safeguarding the norms of the democratic system—held discussions regarding “protecting democracy from the legislature.”

Maoz pointed out that this sentence was later removed from the digital version, but he presented a printed copy of the original column from the podium, saying that the remarks marked the beginning of the “deep state’s rebellion against elected officials.”

Maoz linked that rebellion to the events preceding the October 7 massacre, saying that it was the result of a process that began about a year earlier. Moaz also referred to the report that Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara is drafting a legal opinion to bar Shin Bet chief David Zini from being involved in operational activity in the Gaza Strip, saying that this is a “targeted thwarting” of someone who is not part of the “ruling Deep State.”

Maoz concluded by reiterating the warning that national security is being compromised by the left’s attempts to topple the government.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The Trump administration is pressing Iran to accept a nuclear agreement with no expiration date, seeking to eliminate the “sunset clauses” that limited the duration of restrictions in past deals, according to a new report.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told a private gathering of donors affiliated with American Israel Public Affairs Committee on Tuesday that the administration’s goal is a permanent framework, according to sources cited Wednesday by Axios.

“We start with the Iranians with the premise that there is no sunset provision,” Witkoff reportedly said. “Whether we get a deal or not, our premise is: you have to behave for the rest of your lives.”

The push reflects long-standing criticism by President Donald Trump of the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated under the Obama administration. That deal included provisions allowing many restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program to expire after up to 25 years in exchange for Tehran’s pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons.

Trump has repeatedly argued that those limits weakened the agreement and allowed Iran to resume sensitive nuclear activities in the future. According to Axios, administration officials believe that removing sunset clauses would help sell any new deal to domestic audiences skeptical of past diplomatic efforts.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has signaled that Tehran may be open to long-term guarantees. In a recent interview with CBS News, Araghchi said Iran is seeking an agreement that ensures its nuclear program “remains peaceful forever.”

Witkoff is scheduled to meet Araghchi in Geneva on Thursday as part of ongoing negotiations, alongside Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and former senior adviser.

In separate remarks on Wednesday, Araghchi pushed back against speculation in U.S. media about targeting Iran’s leadership, arguing that the country’s political system is resilient.

“I’ve seen suggestions in U.S. media about assassinating the Supreme Leader, but this is a system,” Araghchi told India Today, referring to Ali Khamenei. “It is a well-established mechanism, so nothing would collapse.”

“Our system does not depend on individuals,” he added. “Even in the middle of war, nothing collapsed, and we were able to continue our self-defense.”

U.S. officials have not publicly commented on Witkoff’s reported remarks, but the administration’s strategy underscores its effort to distinguish any potential agreement from the 2015 deal and present it as a tougher, more durable framework.

Whether Iran will agree to a permanent set of restrictions remains unclear. Tehran has historically resisted open-ended limits, viewing them as an infringement on sovereignty.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A senior Hezbollah official said Wednesday that the Lebanese terrorist group would refrain from intervening militarily if the United States carries out limited strikes on Iran, but warned that any attempt to topple the regime or target Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would trigger a response.

Speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, the official said, “In the event of limited US strikes on Iran, Hezbollah’s position will be to not intervene militarily.” However, the official added that if Washington sought to “provoke the downfall of the Iranian regime or to target the supreme leader, Hezbollah will then intervene.”

Hezbollah’s secretary-general, Naim Qassem, has previously described the group as being in a “defensive position,” but has also suggested it would view itself as “targeted” in the event of a U.S. attack on Iran, its principal backer.

The Hezbollah official told AFP that in a scenario where the United States attempts to unseat Iran’s leadership, Israel would “inevitably wage a war against Lebanon.”

Israeli officials have in recent weeks intensified airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, citing concerns that the Iran-backed group could join Tehran in a broader confrontation. During the 2023–2024 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Israeli forces said they targeted only Hezbollah-linked sites and not key Lebanese civilian infrastructure.

Two senior Lebanese officials said Tuesday that Israel had recently conveyed an indirect warning that it would respond forcefully — including by striking civilian infrastructure such as Beirut’s airport — if Hezbollah enters a U.S.-Iran conflict.

“There are signs that the Israelis could strike very hard in the event of an escalation, potentially including strategic infrastructure such as the airport,” Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said Tuesday in Geneva.

Lebanon’s political leadership has publicly urged Hezbollah to avoid actions that could draw the country into another war.

“This war does not concern us,” Raggi said, adding that Lebanese authorities had appealed to Hezbollah not to take steps that would create “bad situations” for civilians.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, whose government has pledged to disarm Hezbollah since taking office, echoed those concerns in a newspaper interview published Tuesday.

“The Gaza adventure imposed a high cost on Lebanon,” Salam said. “We hope that we will not be dragged into another adventure.”

The previous Israel-Hezbollah war began on Oct. 8, 2023, when Hezbollah launched cross-border fire a day after Hamas attacked southern Israel. A November 2024 ceasefire followed an Israeli ground invasion and sustained air campaign that significantly degraded Hezbollah’s capabilities and killed senior leaders.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah was required to withdraw and disarm south of the Litani River. Israel has accused the group of maintaining a presence in the area, prompting continued Israeli strikes targeting what it says are attempts to rebuild.

Lebanon’s army last month said it completed the first phase of its disarmament plan covering territory between the Litani River and the Israeli border.

Hezbollah’s latest comments suggest an attempt to calibrate its posture amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, signaling restraint in the face of limited U.S. action while preserving a potential trigger point tied to Iran’s leadership.

Whether that position holds if hostilities escalate remains an open question in a region already bracing for possible fallout.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

An Israeli man who said he was the last surviving member of the Jewish community of Najran in southwestern Saudi Arabia has died at the age of about 82.

David Shuker, who spent his final years in Israel, became a public symbol of a largely forgotten chapter of Jewish history in the Arabian Peninsula after he launched a series of appeals in 2022 seeking permission to return to his birthplace before his death.

In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal and in interviews with Israeli media, Shuker called on Saudi leaders — including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud — to allow him a final visit to Najran.

“I’m asking … to go to the city of my birth, Najran, while I am still standing on my feet, to see where my grandparents are buried,” Shuker said in a 2022 interview with Channel 13.

His request was never approved.

“Jews lived in Najran long before the Saudi rule. In fact, there is evidence that Jews lived there as early as 2,000 years ago,” Shuker told Channel 13 a number of years ago.

David Shuker in a 2022 interview with Chanel 13 (Screnshot)

Shuker was born in 1944 in Najran, near the border with Yemen. The region, once linked culturally and politically to Yemen, was incorporated into Saudi Arabia in 1934, when the modern Saudi state was established.

At the time of his childhood, Najran was home to a small but longstanding Jewish community. Shuker later recalled that roughly 60 Jewish families lived in the city and nearby villages.

Following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Shuker said Saudi authorities ordered the remaining Jewish residents to leave and move toward the Yemeni border. His family ultimately emigrated to Israel in 1951, as part of the broader exodus of Jews from Arab countries in the mid-20th century.

Shuker later settled in the town of Bnei Ayish, near Ashdod, where he served as mayor and became active in local public life.

In his final years, Shuker sought to draw attention to the disappearance of Najran’s Jewish community and to preserve its history. His 2022 campaign to visit Saudi Arabia was widely covered in Israeli and international media and came amid broader regional shifts following the Abraham Accords and limited warming between Israel and some Arab states.

Despite those changes, Saudi Arabia has not formally normalized relations with Israel, and Israeli citizens generally remain barred from entering the kingdom.

Shuker’s effort was seen by supporters as a humanitarian request rather than a political statement, focused on personal closure and historical recognition. Still, it failed to gain official approval.

In announcing his death, the Yemenite Jewish and Israeli Communities Heritage Center described Shuker as “a multifaceted public character whose image is woven into the story of the Jews of Yemen in general and the Najran community in particular.”

“His life story is that of the Yemenite Jews — tradition, faith, labor and preservation of identity from generation to generation,” the organization said.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Democratic Party’s early race for the 2028 presidential nomination is descending into disarray, according to CNN data guru Harry Enten, who branded the crowded field a “downright clown car” and a “total mess” with no clear frontrunner.

The segment opened with anchor John Berman highlighting recent controversy surrounding California Gov. Gavin Newsom, long considered a leading 2028 contender.

Berman noted that Newsom faced backlash this week over remarks made during a book tour stop in Atlanta, with critics accusing him of racism. Newsom dismissed the criticism as “fake outrage,” but the incident added to questions about his political standing.

Enten then pivoted to early polling, painting a bleak picture for Democratic leadership.

According to Enten, early surveys show Newsom narrowly leading with 19 percent support, followed closely by former Vice President Kamala Harris at 18 percent.

Enten said Harris’s numbers were especially concerning.

“Quite a weak number for her, given that she was the nominee last time around,” he noted.

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg followed at 13 percent, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez close behind at 12 percent.

No candidate is polling above 20 percent, let alone approaching majority support.

“This is just a total clown car,” Enten said. “It is a total mess.”

Enten emphasized that the lack of a clear leader at this stage is highly unusual in modern Democratic politics. He noted that the last time Democrats were this fractured so early in the cycle was more than thirty years ago.

“You have to go all the way back to 1992,” he said. “That was the last cycle in which there was no clear frontrunner at this point. Very unusual.”

In most recent election cycles, a dominant figure had already emerged years before voting began. For 2028, no such figure exists.

Enten also pointed to signs that Newsom’s political momentum is fading. Citing prediction market data, he said Newsom’s perceived chances of winning the nomination have dropped sharply.

“Three months ago, it was a 37 percent chance. Now it’s just at 28 percent,” Enten said. “Down he goes. He’s definitely flailing a little bit.”

Online interest in Newsom has also cooled. Google searches for the governor are down 63 percent from their August peak, when he intensified attacks on President Donald Trump.

“Maybe that interest is waning off just a little bit,” Enten said.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Vice President JD Vance announced Wednesday that the Trump administration would “temporarily halt” some Medicaid funding to the state of Minnesota over fraud concerns, as part of what he described as an aggressive crackdown on misuse of public funds.

Vance, who made the announcement with Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said the administration was taking the action “in order to ensure that the state of Minnesota takes its obligations seriously to be good stewards of the American people’s tax money.”

Wednesday’s move is part of a larger Trump administration effort to spotlight fraud around the country.

That effort comes after allegations of fraud involving day care centers run by Somali residents in Minneapolis prompted a massive immigration crackdown in the Midwestern city, resulting in widespread protests. President Donald Trump, in his State of the Union address on Tuesday, announced Vance would spearhead a national “war on fraud.”

Oz, who referred to people committing fraud as “self-serving scoundrels,” said the federal government would hold off on paying $259 million to Minnesota in funding for Medicaid, the health care safety net for low-income Americans.

“This is not a problem with the people of Minnesota, it’s a problem with the leadership of Minnesota and other states who do not take Medicaid preservation seriously,” he said

Oz said the administration was notifying Minnesota’s Democratic Gov. Tim Walz as he was making the announcement publicly. Messages sent to Walz’s spokespeople were not immediately returned.

The latest action was prompted in part by a series of fraud cases, including a nonprofit called Feeding Our Future accused of stealing pandemic aid meant for school meals. Prosecutors have put the losses from that case at $300 million.

Since then, Trump has targeted the Somalian diaspora in Minnesota with immigration enforcement actions and has made a series of disparaging comments about the community. During his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Trump said “pirates” have “ransacked Minnesota.”

Federal agencies have also been enlisted to assist in targeting fraud in Minnesota.

Last December, the U.S. Treasury Department issued an order requiring money wire services that people use to send money to Somalia to submit additional verification to the Treasury.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services told Minnesota in January that it intended to freeze parts of payments for some Medicaid programs that were deemed high-risk. The state said that those cuts would add up to more than $2 billion annually if they lasted and made an administrative appeal.

Vance said in an interview on Fox News Channel earlier Wednesday that the Justice Department and Treasury Department would also be involved in the effort, and would be looking at tax records to uncover fraud.

“There’s a whole host of tools that we have never used,” Vance said.”

(AP)

Islamic Jihad has acknowledged that a Gaza-based physical therapist working for Doctors Without Borders was also a senior commander in the terror group, confirming long-standing Israeli claims that armed groups are embedded within humanitarian organizations operating in the enclave.

In a statement, Saraya al-Quds, the terror group’s military wing, identified Fadi al-Wadiya as a “martyr commander” and said he served as deputy head of its military manufacturing unit when he was killed in an Israeli strike on June 25, 2024.

The admission aligns with earlier assessments by the IDF, which said last year that al-Wadiya played a key role in developing missiles for the Iranian-backed organization and possessed advanced expertise in electronics and chemistry.

“Al-Wadiya advanced the terror organization’s rocket array, endangering the lives of civilians,” the IDF said at the time, describing the case as “another example of terrorists in Gaza exploiting the civilian population.”

Following the strike, Doctors Without Borders — also known as Médecins Sans Frontières — said al-Wadiya had been targeted while traveling to provide medical assistance to wounded civilians.

“This attack is yet another brutal example of the senseless killing of Palestinian civilians and healthcare workers in Gaza,” the organization said in a statement.

The NGO has not said a word regarding Islamic Jihad’s confirmation of al-Wadiya’s terrorist role.

In January, the Israel Foreign Ministry released evidence showing that several Doctors Without Borders employees were also members of terrorist organizations. Among them was Nasser Hamdi Abdelatif al-Shalfouh, whom Israeli officials said worked for the NGO while simultaneously serving as a sniper for Hamas.

The disclosures came as Israel began enforcing new regulations on international NGOs in Gaza, suspending the licenses of groups that “failed to meet required security and transparency standards,” including Doctors Without Borders.

Jerusalem later ordered MSF to halt operations in Gaza by Feb. 28. In response, the organization said it would, “as an exceptional measure,” provide Israeli authorities with a list of local and international staff members.

The move, MSF said in a January statement, was taken “solely with the aim of being able to continue providing critical medical care.”

Last month, Doctors Without Borders suspended “non-critical” services at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, citing threats to its neutrality after armed terror operatives were seen operating inside the compound.

After Israeli forces withdrew to a truce-established buffer zone in October, Hamas fighters moved to reassert control in the surrounding area, according to Israeli officials.

Since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect, the organization has documented “a pattern of unacceptable acts,” including intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and suspected weapons movements within medical facilities being carried out by terrorist forces.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

UTJ MK Meir Porush on Wednesday delivered the second part of a speech he began in the Knesset plenum on Tuesday, during which he referred to the “Losers’ Government,” composed of members from various parties who served in the previous government and desperately want to be re-elected.

According to Porush, what distinguishes the members of the “Losers Government” is that they have nothing real to offer the public. “So what is their solution?” Porush asked. “Incitement, division, and hatred—of Chareidim, of course.”

On Wednesday, Porush said: “Two days ago, I spoke here about members of the ‘Losers’ Government’—Lapid, Bennett, Lieberman, Golan, and Hendel. Today, I want to speak about the ‘Attorney General of the Losers’ Government,’ and it is directly connected to the subject of this debate. Attorney Miara, who was dismissed by the elected government, was appointed by the Supreme Court as the Attorney General of the Losers’ Government.“

“And why is this important? Because today we are discussing, at the request of Shas MK Moshe Abutbul, the lack of effective enforcement against injuries caused by electric scooters and bikes. The words ‘effective enforcement’ are important—and Miara thinks so too. How do I know? Because she constantly talks about ‘effective enforcement.’“

“What kind of ‘effective enforcement’? Against bnei yeshivos, of course. On that issue, there are multi-participant meetings, urgent letters, and threats in responses to the Supreme Court against the government. On that, there is ‘effective enforcement’—although it doesn’t bring results—but that’s another matter.”

“What is there no effective enforcement for? There is no effective enforcement against crime in the Arab sector that causes murders almost daily, none against spyware crimes—on that there is effective concealment—and not even against injuries from electric scooters and bicycles.“

“So Attorney Miara sees no need to convene discussions, send letters, or threaten Supreme Court action—so there is silence. So what if people are murdered by Arab criminals? So what if people are injured by scooters and electric bikes? It doesn’t interest her.“

“The members of the ‘Losers’ Government’ and their legal advisers care about one thing above all—incitement and persecution of lomdei torah. Losers—we’re tired of you.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Antisemitic incidents in Italy surged to a record level in 2025, with nearly 1,000 cases reported nationwide, underscoring growing concerns about online radicalization and the normalization of hate speech in public life.

According to new data released by the Center of Contemporary Jewish Documentation (CDEC), 963 antisemitic incidents were documented last year — the highest total since the organization began systematically tracking such cases.

The figure marks a sharp rise from previous years. CDEC recorded 241 incidents in 2022, 453 in 2023, and 877 in 2024, reflecting what researchers describe as a sustained and accelerating upward trend.

“This is no longer a marginal phenomenon,” CDEC researchers wrote in their annual report. “Antisemitic discourse is increasingly becoming normalized in Italian society.”

The majority of incidents in 2025 occurred in digital spaces. CDEC reported 643 cases involving social media platforms, messaging apps, and online forums, where conspiracy theories, Holocaust denial, and anti-Jewish slurs circulate with limited oversight.

Physical and in-person incidents accounted for another 320 cases, including graffiti, vandalism, threats, and assaults.

Among the most serious incidents last year were the defacement of synagogues in Rome with Nazi slogans, physical attacks against Jewish individuals in Milan, and repeated verbal harassment in Venice, according to the report.

The rise in incidents coincides with troubling shifts in public opinion. A survey conducted last September found that roughly 15 percent of Italians consider attacks on Jews to be “justifiable” under certain circumstances — a finding CDEC researchers described as “deeply alarming.”

Experts say such attitudes reflect broader polarization in Italian politics and society, fueled in part by global conflicts, misinformation, and the erosion of trust in institutions.

“Once violence is framed as understandable or defensible, the moral barriers collapse,” said a senior CDEC analyst.

Beyond the raw numbers, CDEC’s report highlights what it calls a “shrinking civic space” for Jewish life in Italy. Researchers warn that antisemitic rhetoric is increasingly tolerated in mainstream discourse, undermining constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and equality.

“In many environments — especially online — being openly Jewish is no longer perceived as fully legitimate,” the report states.

This normalization, analysts argue, makes it harder for authorities to intervene early and for victims to seek redress.

The findings are likely to intensify pressure on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government to strengthen enforcement against hate crimes and regulate online platforms more aggressively.

While Italian officials have repeatedly condemned antisemitism, critics say government responses remain fragmented and reactive.

Opposition lawmakers have called for expanded monitoring of extremist networks, tougher penalties for online incitement, and greater funding for education.

Italy’s spike mirrors broader patterns across Europe, where Jewish communities have reported rising hostility in the wake of geopolitical crises and domestic political upheaval. But CDEC researchers caution that Italy’s trajectory is particularly concerning because of the speed of the increase and the apparent shift in social norms.

“Numbers tell only part of the story,” the report concludes. “The deeper danger lies in a society that is slowly learning to tolerate intolerance.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli police are investigating a yeshiva bochur who allegedly sent a message suggesting violence against senior government officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in what authorities say may have been an attempt to entrap an opposition leader.

According to police and media reports, the bochur sent a text message last month to opposition leader Yair Lapid in which he appeared to propose that “by accident” something might happen to Justice Minister Yariv Levin or to Netanyahu himself.

The message reportedly went further, adding, “Maybe, Chas V’shalom, something could happen to his family… between us, right?”

Authorities said the message was quickly deleted, but not before members of Lapid’s team took screenshots and forwarded the exchange to law enforcement officials.

Police sources said the bochur was arrested later that day at a gas station along Route 6, one of Israel’s main north-south highways. He was taken in for questioning, interrogated for several hours, and released the same day without formal charges.

In a statement, police said the suspect admitted sending the message and apologized, insisting he had no intention of harming anyone. He reportedly claimed that he was attempting to “lure” Lapid into responding favorably to the suggestion, with the goal of portraying the opposition leader as supportive of political violence.

Investigators said they are treating the incident seriously, given the sensitive political climate and Israel’s history of political assassinations and threats against public officials. However, authorities emphasized that there is currently no indication the bochur was preparing or capable of carrying out an attack.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A newly erected billboard in central Tehran is threatening Israel with destruction as President Donald Trump continues to weigh possible military action against Iran.

The large placard, installed in Palestine Square, features burning buildings and a defaced sign reading “Welcome to Israel,” which has been spray-painted over with the words “Welcome to Hell.”

Above the imagery, the billboard declares: “A clear target: Trump’s 51st state,” referring to Israel. Another sign on the display labels Israel as the “51st state of the United States of America,” parroting longstanding Iranian claims that the Jewish state functions as an extension of U.S. power in the region.

The billboard appeared as tensions continue to rise between Washington, Jerusalem, and Tehran, amid reports that Trump is considering strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities.

Iranian authorities and affiliated organizations have frequently used large-scale public displays in Palestine Square to convey anti-Israel and anti-American messaging, particularly during periods of heightened regional conflict.

Billboards in the area have previously depicted missile attacks, military hardware, and symbolic imagery threatening Israel, often timed to coincide with political or military developments involving Iran, the United States, or Israeli forces.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Conservative radio host and commentator Mark Levin launched a blistering attack on former Fox News star Tucker Carlson, accusing him of betraying the country and likening him to some of the most notorious figures in American history.

On Tuesday’s episode of his new podcast, Liberty’s Voice with Mark Levin, Levin devoted an extended segment titled “American Traitors” to what he described as Carlson’s “long pattern of disloyalty,” tying his conduct to that of Revolutionary War turncoat Benedict Arnold and pro-fascist radio priest Charles Coughlin.

“I want to talk about American history in the context of the potential coming war with Iran, recent events involving Tucker Carlson, and his treatment of the commander-in-chief,” Levin said, accusing Carlson of aligning himself with hostile foreign powers and attacking American culture, religion, and political institutions.

Levin argued that Carlson’s criticism of President Donald Trump, particularly in the run-up to U.S. military action against Iran, amounted to a betrayal of the conservative movement and the country itself.

“In some ways, he’s worse than some of these people in the past,” Levin said. “He has stabbed the commander-in-chief in the back repeatedly. He coddles up to our enemies. He trashes American patriots.”

The longtime conservative commentator went further, accusing Carlson of misleading audiences, leaking information to friendly media outlets, and deliberately sowing division.

“He has a history of lying, of twisting, of dispiriting the American people,” Levin said. “In my view, he’s undermining MAGA, the Republican Party, and ultimately the country.”

“I believe Tucker Carlson will be viewed as one of the great traitors in American history,” he said.

After drawing parallels between Carlson and disloyal or subversive historical figures, Levin turned his focus to Republican leaders and Trump allies who continue to engage with Carlson.

“Why isn’t Tucker Carlson being condemned?” Levin asked. “Why is he at the White House? Why does he have friends in the White House?”

He said that Carlson’s continued access to influential political figures was deeply troubling, given what he characterized as Carlson’s rhetoric on foreign policy and national security.

“He sort of seems like a foreign agent to me,” Levin said. “And yet he runs around pretending he’s Mr. America.”

Levin argued Carlson’s commentary plays directly into the hands of America’s adversaries.

“That’s what our enemies want,” he said. “Division. Confusion. Dispiriting the public.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Like many of you, I watched the recent video by YouTuber Tyler Oliveira with a heavy heart. It is deeply painful to see our beautiful town (Lakewood) and our way of life portrayed through such a distorted, negative lens. It’s natural to feel defensive when someone enters our neighborhoods looking for a “scandal,” but as the dust settles, I think we need to have an honest conversation as a community: Did we accidentally give him exactly what he wanted?

When these influencers come to Lakewood, they aren’t looking for the truth; they are looking for a “reaction.” They want to see us turning away, closing doors, and refusing to speak. To their millions of viewers, that doesn’t look like “privacy”—it looks like we have something to hide. By being defensive, we unintentionally helped him paint the very picture he came here to create.

What if we had changed the script?

Imagine if, instead of silence and suspicion, Tyler had been met with overwhelming, “annoying” kindness. Imagine if every person he approached on Clifton Avenue or in our local stores had offered him a cold water, a smile, or a genuine invitation to learn about our community.

A “Villain” is hard to edit: It is nearly impossible to turn someone into a “bad guy” on camera when they are busy being incredibly nice to you.

The Power of Kiddush Hashem: Our greatest defense against antisemitism isn’t a wall; it’s our Middos. If he had left Lakewood with ten hours of footage of people being hospitable and warm, he wouldn’t have had a video to post. The “story” would have died because there was no “villain” to be found.

We have to realize that in the age of social media, we are always on a global stage. Every one of us is an ambassador for the Jewish people. When a person like Tyler comes looking for a fight, let’s give them a Kiddush Hashem instead. Let’s make them leave thinking, “I came here to find something wrong, but I only found the kindest people I’ve ever met.”

We missed a massive opportunity this time, but we can’t let it happen again. Let’s use this as a wake-up call to be more proactive, more welcoming, and more confident in who we are. Let’s show the world that our light is much stronger than their cameras.

Signed,

S.G.

The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.

Three people were injured — one seriously and two lightly — after a fire broke out Tuesday evening in the internal medicine department at Laniado Hospital in Netanya, according to the Israel Fire and Rescue Authority.

Firefighters and emergency crews were dispatched to the scene and evacuated the ward shortly after arriving. Officials said the blaze was brought under control quickly, preventing further injuries.

A spokesperson for the Fire and Rescue Authority said the fire is suspected to have started when one of the injured individuals began smoking inside their hospital room.

Hospital staff and emergency responders worked together to secure the area and treat those affected.

“Due to the immediate actions of the hospital’s emergency personnel and the firefighters, there is no further need to evacuate the ward,” the Fire and Rescue Authority said in a statement.

An investigation into the exact cause of the fire is ongoing.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Vice President JD Vance said President Donald Trump has drawn a firm red line against Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon, and is prepared to use military power if diplomacy fails.

In an interview with Fox News, Vance said Trump has been unequivocal about the administration’s ultimate objective.

“The president has been as crystal clear as he could be,” Vance said. “Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon.”

While emphasizing that the White House is prioritizing negotiations, Vance made clear that military action remains on the table.

“Preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon would be the ultimate military objective, if that’s the route that he chose,” he said. “He’s going to try to accomplish it diplomatically. But as we all know, the president has a number of other tools at his disposal.”

“That is, of course, what we’re trying to accomplish through the preferred route of diplomacy,” he said. “But the president has shown a willingness to use” other options if necessary.

He described Iran as “the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world” and warned that allowing Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons would pose a global threat.

“You can’t let the craziest and worst regime in the world have nuclear weapons,” Vance said. “That’s what the president is accomplishing.”

His remarks come as U.S. and Iranian officials prepare for another round of talks on Thursday aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear program, amid rising regional tensions and increasing pressure from Israel and congressional Republicans for tougher action.

“I hope the Iranians take it seriously in their negotiations tomorrow, because that’s certainly what the president prefers,” Vance said.

Pressed on whether that could ultimately mean regime change or targeting Iran’s leadership, Vance declined to commit, saying Trump would make the final call.

“I think the president ultimately will make the decision about how to ensure Iran does not have a nuclear weapon,” he said.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A former American hostage who endured 444 days of captivity during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis is warning that the Islamic Republic will not collapse easily, even under military assault.

Barry Rosen, now 81, was serving as press attaché at the US Embassy in Tehran when he and 51 other Americans were seized on Nov. 4, 1979, by militants loyal to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The hostages were held for 444 days, much of that time in isolation.

“I have seen this regime up close before — this regime will go down fighting. It has everything to lose,” Rosen said. While expressing hope for “a free and open Iran,” he added, “I don’t think we are as close to regime change as it seems.”

Rosen said the regime sees itself as engaged in a moral struggle against Western powers.

“They see themselves as the oppressed,” he said. “The regime believes it represents the moral rebellion of the oppressed against the arrogant powers — the West and the US specifically.”

He cautioned that if confronted militarily, the leadership under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would respond aggressively.

“This regime will go down fighting if there is a military operation against Iran brought by the United States,” Rosen said. “It will fight, and it can cause tremendous damage all over the Middle East and really turn the entire region into flames.”

Iran has built a significant arsenal over the past decade, including cruise missiles, hypersonic missiles and domestically produced Shahed drones, some of which have been supplied to Russia. Rosen noted Iranian officials have openly claimed they possess enough missile power to damage US naval forces.

“The regime knows if they don’t have the power of the missiles themselves, they would be destroyed by the United States,” he said.

The warning follows nationwide protests in January sparked by the falling value of the Iranian rial — the largest domestic uprising since the 1979 revolution. Authorities responded with a sweeping crackdown.

Despite public unrest, Rosen said he does not foresee a split within the regime’s core security apparatus.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Basij militia “will stick up with the regime,” he said. “They’re going to be as aggressive as possible with the Iranian people.”

He added that the Guards are “so ideologically tied to Ayatollah Khamenei that I don’t see any split off from the regime itself.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian recently vowed that Tehran would not “bow” to foreign pressure, a stance Rosen described as increasingly aggressive.

“It is now very aggressive in its stance toward the United States, which it sees as threatening its very existence,” he said.

Rosen argued that the Islamic Republic’s identity has been shaped by confrontation with the West.

“Iran’s post-revolutionary identity was forged by resistance — against the United States, its sanctions and international isolation,” he said. “It has been living under prolonged pressure, bred by a siege mentality.”

That mindset, he explained, reinforces unity at the top.

“The world is against us, so survival depends on vigilance and unity,” he said, describing a psychology that “justifies security dominance — the suppression of dissent in the name of preservation.”

Despite his grim assessment, Rosen said he hopes the current standoff does not escalate into war.

“I would hope the negotiation option will take place — that is lowering the nuclear situation, lowering the enrichment,” he said.

Rosen, who survived mock executions, physical abuse and months of enforced silence during his captivity, also called on Americans to support ordinary Iranians.

“It is very disappointing for me to see that the American people are not supporting the Iranian people,” he said. “The regime is so oppressive, and any progressive human being should be out there in the streets supporting the Iranian people.”

Nearly five decades after he was held at gunpoint inside the US Embassy in Tehran, Rosen says one lesson remains clear: if confronted militarily, Iran’s leadership will not fracture quietly.

“They will stick together like glue,” he warned.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Judge Alon Gabizon, the president of the Southern District Magistrate’s Court, sharply critcized prosecutors for charging the defendants in the Gaza smuggling affair with aiding the enemy in wartime—an offense carrying a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment.

“I have difficulty understanding this offense,” Gabizon said during a hearing at the Be’er Sheva District Court on Wednesday. “How can people be accused of aiding the enemy while the state itself aids the enemy? You went too far.”

Gabizon asked the Southern District Prosecutor’s Office to re-examine whether the offense of aiding the enemy in wartime truly matches the actions of all the suspects, most of whom smuggled only cigarettes into the Strip. Following the judge’s request, prosecutors consulted with the most senior levels of the prosecution. Upon returning to the hearing, they announced that at this stage they decided to leave the charge unchanged. However, Gabizon ruled that a clear distinction must be made among the defendants regarding attribution of the aiding-the-enemy offense, and said he will issue his final decision next Thursday.

About a week and a half ago, i24News reported that Southern District Attorney Erez Padan fiercely opposed State Attorney Amit Aisman’s decision to add the charge of “aiding the enemy during wartime” in the indictment against Betzalel Zini and the other suspects.

Padan said that the charge contradicts common sense, does not align with existing precedents, and violates principles of proportionality. Despite his professional objection, Aisman insisted on getting his way and added the charge to the indictment.

Adv. Yuval Kaplinsky, former head of the State Prosecution International Division, called Aisman’s decision “a display of impaired judgment, professional negligence, intoxication with power, and loss of direction.”

Indictments filed in a recent similar case involving soldiers from the Bedouin reconnaissance battalion accused of smuggling cigarettes into Gaza cited a less severe national security charge, carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

During a court hearing on Tuesday, Zini raised serious allegations about his detention conditions, saying that he has been denied basic necessities and religious needs.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

FDNY firefighters are on the scene of a fire on the second floor of a building at 1494 Coney Island Avenue near Avenue L. There are no reports of any injuries at this time.

THIS STORY WAS FIRST PUBLISHED ON THE FLATBUSH SCOOP STATUS

CLICK HERE SIGN UP TO THE FLATBUSH SCOOP WHATSAPP STATUS TO BE INFORMED OF FLATBUSH NEWS IN LIVE TIME

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris says that she remains undecided about another presidential run but acknowledged that she “might” seek the White House again. Harris made the remarks during a live video conversation Monday with author Sharon McMahon, as part of an online discussion that included both personal and political topics.

Near the end of the event, McMahon launched a rapid-fire “lightning round” of questions and asked Harris directly whether she planned to run again.

“I haven’t decided,” Harris replied.

When pressed further, she added: “I might.”

Your browser does not support the video tag.

McMahon told Harris that she had interpreted her recent book as signaling possible interest in another campaign. Harris pushed back, saying the book was not intended as a political statement.

“The book is about a specific period in time,” Harris said, adding that it was meant to reflect on her experiences and connect with readers.

Harris released her memoir, 107 Days, late last year. The book chronicles the turbulent period after former President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 race, elevating Harris to the top of the Democratic ticket against President Donald Trump.

The book became a bestseller and helped revive Harris’s public profile following her election loss.

Since then, she has increased her public appearances and media engagements, moves widely seen as keeping her politically relevant ahead of the next cycle.

Harris’s comments come as Democrats continue to search for a dominant figure in the early stages of the 2028 race. No clear frontrunner has emerged, and several prominent figures are viewed as potential contenders.

Party strategists say Harris remains a major figure due to her national recognition, fundraising capacity, and experience as vice president, though she also faces lingering questions about her previous campaign.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A 15-year-old boy was seriously injured Wednesday afternoon in an accident while riding his bicycle on Rechov HaRemez in Beitar Illit.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene and found the teen suffering from a significant head injury after apparently losing control of his bicycle.

Hatzolah volunteers and MDA teams provided immediate medical treatment. He was transported in serious condition by an MDA intensive care ambulance to a Jerusalem hospital for further treatment in the trauma unit.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

New York City woke up to yet another round of snow early Wednesday, raising concerns about slick and hazardous travel for the morning commute.

Flurries began falling around 6:00 a.m., and forecasters say up to two inches could accumulate by 10:00 a.m., according to the National Weather Service. The fresh coating is falling on streets that in many areas have still not been fully cleared from the historic Sunday–Monday blizzard.

Parts of northeast New Jersey and the Lower Hudson Valley could see another 1–2 inches, while New York City and the surrounding metro area are expected to receive less than an inch.

Across the country, more than 350 flights were already canceled Wednesday morning — most of them concentrated in the Northeast, which is still recovering from the monster storm.

And it’s not over yet!

Forecasters are tracking another chance of snow on Thursday — with yet another system possible next week on Taanis Esther and again on Purim (this is not a joke).

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israel’s defense establishment estimates that the US has reached a point of no return regarding the possibility of a strike on Iran, Walla reported on Wednesday.

Maariv reported on Wednesday that Israeli defense officials estimate that the first strike may occur on Thursday afternoon, following the conclusion of [Indian Prime Minister] Modi’s visit to Israel and the meeting between US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

A senior reserve officer familiar with regional developments told Walla, “The chances that the U.S. won’t attack are decreasing by the hour. The question is when the first strike will occur, what form it will take, and how extensive it will be.”

He added that Washington must consider more than Iran’s air-defense systems. “The U.S. has to factor in a closure of the Strait of Hormuz, attacks on its interests and allies in the Middle East, and—if unrest breaks out inside Iran—it’s reasonable to assume Trump would try to assist protesters by targeting Basij forces and internal security mechanisms.”

In recent days, the IDF General Staff drilled a scenario involving an Iranian response against Israel. The exercise included attacks on the Israeli home front using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Security officials also assume Iran would attempt to activate all its regional proxies — in Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon — in a coordinated assault.

To prepare, the Air Force, Military Intelligence Directorate and Planning Directorate have intensified coordination, focusing on air-space monitoring, threat detection, and warning systems.

Home Front Command officials estimate that senior leaders—the prime minister, defense minister, and IDF chief of staff — would receive only very short notice before a US strike, while the general public would be warned only if missiles were actually launched toward Israeli territory.

Meanwhile, criticism has emerged regarding US assessments of Iran’s leadership. Similar to the intelligence failure to fully grasp Hamas’s religious motivations before October 7, it is believed that US analysts underestimated the ideological commitment instilled by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei among Iran’s leadership. This gap is reflected in Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear program and its rejection of talks on ballistic missiles or support for militant groups in the Middle East.

The discussion follows comments by US envoy Steve Witkoff, who questioned how the ayatollah regime has not yet capitulated despite the large-scale U.S. military buildup surrounding Iran in preparation for a possible war.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The Knesset plenum on Wednesday approved a bill in a preliminary reading transferring exclusive authority to the Chief Rabbanut to determine what constitutes “desecration” at Jewish holy sites—foremost among them the Kosel—while explicitly limiting the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction on the matter.

The bill, proposed by Noam chairman Avi Maoz, is an amendment to the preexisting Protection of Holy Places law. It was approved with the support of 56 MKs versus 47 who opposed it.

The explanatory notes claim that over the years, the judicial interpretation of the term “desecration” has expanded in a way that allowed the Supreme Court to decide on distinct halachic questions, contrary to the intent of legislators when the original law was enacted following the Six-Day War.

MK Maoz welcomed the approval, stating, “Today, the Knesset placed a clear limit on Supreme Court intervention regarding the kedusha of the Kotel. It is unacceptable for a court to decide what constitutes desecration at the holiest site for the Jewish people. The law restores authority to its natural and proper place—the Chief Rabbanim of Israel. This is a moral, national, and historic step.”

The Shas party stated: “We voted for and approved the law preserving the kedusha of the Kotel, against attempts to degrade and violate long-standing customs. Shas will continue to defend the Jewish people’s holiest site and prevent Reform movements from undermining and desecrating sacred traditions.”

Justice Minister Yariv Levin added: “The Knesset told the Supreme Court—enough. I call to complete the legislation to end Supreme Court intervention in the management of the Kosel.”

The Noam party clarified it intends to quickly advance the bill through the remaining legislative stages in order to complete final approval during the current Knesset session.

The vote on the bill comes after Supreme Court justices Yitzchak Amit, Noam Sohlberg, and Daphne Barak-Erez ordered the state to implement a plan to transform the Ezrat Yisrael plaza into a permanent prayer plaza of roughly 900 square meters—about 70% the size of the main men’s plaza.

According to the plan, the area will be paved with permanent stone, expanded to directly adjoin the main Kosel area, and mixed-gender prayer without a mechitza will be allowed at the site. Management of the area would be entrusted to the Reform and Conservative movements—funded by the state at a cost of millions of shekels annually.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Jarring details about the harsh detention conditions of the defendants in the case involving the smuggling of goods into the Gaza Strip were revealed at the Be’er Sheva District Court on Tuesday, where the criminal proceedings opened, and the indictments were formally read.

Before the hearing began, one of the defendants, Betzalel Zini—the brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini—raised serious allegations about his detention conditions in remarks obtained by Channel 14 News.

“The treatment is almost like that of the Nukhba terrorists,” Zini said painfully. “We don’t receive the most basic necessities; sometimes we live on a slice of bread.” He added that his most basic religious rights are being denied. “We don’t even receive Tefillin…sometimes I have to daven without a tallit and tefillin.”

Zini also raised claims of medical neglect, saying treatments and medications he requires have been withheld. He added that he receives only half the number of phone calls to which he is legally entitled—five instead of ten.

Other defendants voiced similar complaints, saying that their treatment is part of a deliberate and cruel policy.

It should be noted that the very fact that the defendants in the case were imprisoned for months before any conviction is outrageous—a situation that even drew public criticism from a Haaretz journalist.

In a sharply worded post several weeks ago, Haaretz police correspondent Josh Breiner leveled fierce criticism at the State Prosecution’s use of pre-trial detention, saying that the judicial system has effectively “forgotten” the principle of presumption of innocence and now uses imprisonment as the default option, even in cases where the defendants pose no danger to society.

Breiner cited the cases of Betzalel Zini and co-defendant Aviel Ben David—reserve soldiers with no criminal record who served hundreds of days in Gaza—to illustrate the system’s absurdity. While not minimizing the allegations against them, he questioned why they were imprisoned rather than placed under strict house arrest.

“What reason is there for Zini not to be sitting at home in Ofra under house arrest?” he wrote. “Afraid he’ll obstruct the investigation? Confiscate his phones, assign supervisors, cut off his internet. Why should a man with no criminal record, who served in reserves, contributed to the state, and paid taxes—even if he sinned—be sitting in prison now? There’s no reason.”

He also presented data showing that thousands of defendants are currently detained after indictment—some indefinitely and others until the end of proceedings. He added that prisons are overcrowded, the conditions are harsh, and “the experience of detention is terrible and horrific—it must be the exception, not the rule.”

Breiner asserted that alternatives to detention should be preferred: house arrest, supervision, financial guarantees, license suspensions, no-contact orders, or electronic monitoring. “Only those who are truly dangerous should be imprisoned before conviction,” he wrote, emphasizing that the presumption of innocence must carry real meaning.

He concluded that the balance between public safety and individual liberty must be reevaluated. “The State Prosecution and the courts must move toward a dramatic reform in incarceration policy and what is known as ‘detention until the end of proceedings.’”

The fact that a Haaretz journalist used Zini, a “far-right settler of the Shomron,” as an example of the State Prosecution’s abuse underscores the intensity of his concern about the issue.

Another factor that Breiner failed to mention is the suffering caused to families by suspects’ prolonged imprisonment before conviction. Zini is a husband and father of seven.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Five yeshivah bochurim were arrested within 24 hours, overnight Monday and Tuesday, and handed over to the military police.

In addition to the three bochurim arrested in Beit Shemesh overnight Monday, another yeshivah bochur was arrested on Tuesday morning at Ben Gurion Airport.

Another yeshiva bochur was arrested later on Tuesday at the Tel HaShomer induction center when he arrived with exemption documents after only three days of draft evasion. He was sentenced to 20 days in prison.

The Notnim Gav organization said that Itai Chomri, the bochur from Ateret Yaakov yeshiva who was arrested in Beit Shemesh, was arrested at 2 a.m. when 12 military police officers raided his home and carried out a search, leaving the home in a state of disarray. He was sentenced to 20 days in prison.

One of the Chassidish bochurim who was arrested in Beit Shemesh was also sentenced to 20 days in prison.

All of the bochurim are receiving legal assistance from Attorney Shlomo Haddad on behalf of the Notnim Gav organization.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A man and woman in their 80s lost their lives overnight Tuesday in a fire that broke out in a residential building in Netanya.

Firefighters who arrived at the scene instructed the residents of the building to barricade themselves inside their apartments due to the thick smoke in the hallways. Firefighters worked to gain control of the fire while rescuing the trapped residents.

MDA and Hatzalah paramedics provided medical treatment and evacuated 11 victims suffering from smoke inhalation to Laniado Hospital, including the couple in their 80s who were in critical condition, while carrying out prolonged resuscitation attempts. Tragically, the hospital staff was later forced to declare their deaths.

Other victims included a 73-year-old woman who was evacuated in serious condition, a 42-year-old woman in moderate condition, and seven others in light condition, including two children.

MDA paramedic Gil Dekel said, “After the fire was extinguished, a man and a woman, both around 80 years old, were brought out to us—unconscious, without a pulse, and not breathing, after inhaling heavy smoke. We provided life-saving treatment, including prolonged resuscitation efforts, and evacuated them to the hospital in critical condition while fighting for their lives.”

MDA and Hatzalah paramedics Yehuda Deutsch, Eliyahu Rosenberg, and Yonatan Yankelvitz said, “We arrived at the scene quickly with large forces. We encountered a difficult scene of a burning residential building. With the help of additional MDA medics and paramedics, we began providing life-saving medical treatment and performed resuscitation operations on two trapped people.”

According to a Fire and Rescue spokesperson, an initial investigation showed that the fire was caused by candles that were left unattended.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

President Donald Trump delivered his 2026 State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. The speech, which touched heavily on his domestic, economic, and foreign policies, clocked in at 1 hour and 48 minutes, setting a new record for the longest State of the Union speech in American history.

Below is a curated set of highlights from his address.

TRUMP: “Our country is back, Bigger and better than ever before!”

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Trump: Less than five months from now, our country will celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our glorious American Independence. This July 4th will mark two and a half centuries of liberty and triumph and freedom in the most exceptional nation ever to exist.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

TRUMP: “The Biden administration and its allies in Congress gave us the worst inflation in the history of our country. But in 12 months, my administration has driven core inflation down to the lowest level in more than 5 years—and in the last 3 months of 2025, it was down to 1.7%.”

Your browser does not support the video tag.

TRUMP: Mortgage rates are the lowest in 4 years, and falling fast—and the annual cost of the typical new mortgage is down almost $5,000 dollars just since I took office.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

TRUMP: More Americans are working today than at any time in the history of our country… and 100% of all jobs created under my administration have been in the private sector.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

TRUMP: “American oil production is up by more than 600,000 barrels per day, and we just received from our new friend and partner, Venezuela, more than 80 million barrels of oil.”

Your browser does not support the video tag.

TRUMP: For all these reasons, I say tonight—Members of Congress, THE STATE OF OUR UNION IS STRONG.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

🔥 WILD! Trump on the Democrats refusing to stand and clap: “These people are crazy! Democrats are destroying our country. But we stopped it in the knick of time.”

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Trump: “Believe it or not, Hamas worked along with Israel and they dug, and they dug, and they dug. It’s a tough thing to do going through bodies all over. Passing up 100 bodies sometime for each one then found. Tough job. And uhh. They finally got it back to 27. And then they found all 28.”

Your browser does not support the video tag.

🚨 TRUMP ON IRAN: Trump says the ‘evil regime killed some 32,000 protesters through shootings and hangings’ and said the terrorist regime can never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.

“One thing is certain, I will never allow the world’s #1 sponsor of terror to have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let that happen.”

Your browser does not support the video tag.

TRUMP: Together, we’re building a nation where every child has the chance to reach higher and go further—where government answers to the people, not the powerful—and where the interests of hardworking American Citizens are always our first and ultimate concern.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Trump calls the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on tariffs “an unfortunate ruling,” as several of the justices sit directly in front of him in the chamber.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

TRUMP: Let’s also ensure that members of Congress cannot corruptly profit from using insider information.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

TRUMP: Many, if not most, illegal aliens do not speak English and cannot read even the most basic road signs…That’s why tonight, I’m calling on Congress to pass what we will call the ‘Dalilah Law’—barring any state from granting Commercial Drivers Licenses to illegal aliens.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Trump on NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani: “I think he’s a nice guy, actually. I speak to him a lot.”

Your browser does not support the video tag.

TRUMP: “It’s very simple… all voters must show voter ID… All voters must show proof of citizenship in order to vote.”

Your browser does not support the video tag.

President Trump concluded his State of the Union address, which lasted just under two hours, making it the longest in U.S. history.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Trump touted the use of U.S. military might to curb Iran’s advances toward a nuclear weapon at the State of the Union on Tuesday evening, even as tensions remain high between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s weapons capabilities.

“We are in negotiations with them they want to make a deal but we haven’t heard those secret words: we will never have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.

Trump reminded audiences about the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program through Operation Midnight Hammer, the elimination of Qasem Soleimani, which occurred under his first term, and the recent American threat of force that helped deter the death of civilian protesters in Iran.

Trump said his administration would continue to work with Iran to prevent the development of nuclear weapons, but he would not hesitate to go further if necessary.

“They are again pursuing their sinister ambitions,” Trump said.

“My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy, but one thing is certain. I will never allow the world’s No 1. sponsor of terror — which they are by far — to have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let that happen.”

Your browser does not support the video tag.

When Delta Flight 235 from Tel Aviv to New York was forced to divert to Michigan on Monday because of severe blizzard conditions in the New York area, hundreds of passengers suddenly found themselves stranded far from home. But what could have been a difficult and stressful experience quickly turned into a powerful display of achdus and chessed, led by the Detroit Jewish community.

Shortly after 1 p.m. on Monday, Hatzalah of Michigan was notified that the flight had been diverted. Realizing that many Jewish passengers would soon be landing in Detroit with no clear arrangements, Hatzalah coordinators immediately began reaching out to local chessed organizations and community leaders.

Organizers were able to make contact with a passenger on the flight. Within minutes, WhatsApp groups were created connecting volunteers, coordinators, and travelers. Information began flowing, needs were identified, and the kehilla mobilized.

Almost instantly, families opened their homes, kitchens were put into action, and volunteers began arranging transportation. Dozens of people worked simultaneously to prepare meals, organize places to sleep, and secure buses to transport the stranded passengers. What might normally take days of planning was accomplished in a matter of hours.

As word spread that an entire kehilla was preparing to take responsibility for the travelers, the airline took notice. Delta Air Lines soon announced that it would provide complimentary hotel rooms for all passengers.

With lodging arrangements in place, the focus shifted to the many other needs the passengers still had. Families with young children required formula, diapers, wipes, and baby food. Others needed meals, drinks, and basic supplies. Some children needed games and toys to keep them occupied after a long and exhausting journey.

Through the coordination of Hatzalah and community volunteers, every one of these needs was addressed – an incredible display of achdus and ahavas yisroel.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump is set to deliver his first State of the Union address of his second term Tuesday night before a joint session of Congress, in what is shaping up to be a pivotal political moment.

The speech comes just days after the Supreme Court struck down the bulk of his sweeping tariff program, dealing a significant blow to one of his signature economic policies. The administration has also faced mounting criticism over its aggressive deportation push, the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, rising tensions with Iran, and slipping poll numbers.

Trump has previewed the address as “long,” after setting a modern record last year when his speech to Congress lasted one hour, 39 minutes and 32 seconds. Tuesday’s remarks are widely seen as a preview of the Republican message heading into November’s elections, when control of the House and Senate will again be at stake.

While the president is expected to highlight domestic priorities, his escalating rhetoric regarding potential military action against Iran is likely to loom over the address.

Democrats are planning visible demonstrations of dissent. Some lawmakers intend to skip the speech altogether, others will attend counter-programming events, and several are bringing guests they say represent the human impact of the administration’s policies.

Following the address, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger will deliver the official Democratic response. Senator Alex Padilla of California will present a Spanish-language response.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A 25-year-old man was shot and killed Tuesday in the Arab town of Rameh, once again highlighting Israel’s struggle to curb violent crime in minority communities and renewing political pressure on the government to deliver results.

First responders from Magen David Adom found the victim lying unconscious on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds.

“We arrived at a shocking incident of violence,” said paramedic Charbel Assi, adding that the man had sustained severe bullet injuries across his body and showed no signs of life.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Israel Police said officers were dispatched to the scene and have opened an investigation into the shooting. No arrests have been made, and authorities have not released information about a possible motive.

The killing comes amid growing concern over organized crime, illegal weapons, and weak law enforcement in Arab towns, where residents and local leaders have long accused the state of neglect.

According to data from the Abraham Initiatives, which monitors violence in Arab society, the death in Rameh brings the number of Arab citizens killed in homicides this year to 57.

Last year was the deadliest on record, with 252 crime-related deaths across Arab communities in 2025.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has pledged tougher policing and expanded enforcement operations in Arab towns. Public Security Ministry officials have pointed to recent crackdowns on organized crime groups and expanded police deployments. But critics argue that those measures have produced limited results.

Opposition lawmakers have accused the coalition of prioritizing other political battles over public safety in minority communities.

“The government talks about law and order, but Arab citizens are paying with their lives,” one opposition legislator said.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Chaverim of Rockland needs no introduction. The dedicated volunteers are on call 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK, ensuring the safety and well-being of tens of thousands of residents across Rockland County. From major winter storms to late-night emergencies, Chaverim is always just a phone call away.

This year alone, Chaverim of Rockland has responded to THOUSANDS OF CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE — helping stranded motorists, jump-starting vehicles, rescuing drivers stuck in snow, assisting with lockouts, locating lost children and vulnerable individuals, providing emergency transportation, and supporting first responders at countless scenes. During large-scale emergencies, their call volume surges dramatically, with volunteers responding WITHIN MINUTES, around the clock.

The reality is that the demand has never been greater. Their dispatch center fields hundreds upon hundreds of requests, coordinating dozens of volunteers at a moment’s notice. Their fleet of response vehicles is constantly on the road — equipped with lifesaving tools, rescue equipment, and specialized gear to handle virtually any non-medical emergency.

NOW, THEY NEED YOU.

Chaverim of Rockland is a volunteer-based organization that provides every service FREE OF CHARGE. They rely entirely on the generosity of the community to maintain their growing fleet, expand dispatch operations, invest in critical equipment, and ensure rapid response times across Rockland County and beyond.

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT CHAVERIM OF ROCKLAND:
https://dryveup.com/chaverim/?utm_source=MScoop

Here are some things many people may not realize:

• Did you know that Chaverim of Rockland responds to THOUSANDS OF CALLS EACH YEAR?

• Did you know that during major snowstorms, HUNDREDS OF CALLS can come in within just a few hours?

• Did you know that their volunteers arrive within minutes to assist families in distress?

• Did you know that every single service is provided COMPLETELY FREE to the community?

From a child locked in a car on a hot summer day, to a family stranded on the side of the road during a blizzard, to assisting emergency personnel at serious accident scenes, Chaverim is there when people need help the most.

THE CAMPAIGN IS ENDING SOON. DON’T WAIT.

Support the organization that the entire community depends on 24/7/365:

 https://dryveup.com/chaverim/?utm_source=MScoop

Every donation makes a difference. Every dollar helps save time — and sometimes, even lives.

ANSWER THE CALL.
Donate now:
https://dryveup.com/chaverim/?utm_source=MScoop

Help keep your family, your neighbors, and your community safe.

New York City police are searching for two suspects accused of attacking on-duty officers with snow and ice during a violent confrontation in Washington Square Park, as outrage grows over the blatant assault on public servants during a historic blizzard.

The New York City Police Department released new photos Tuesday showing two young men allegedly hurling snowballs at officers who were responding to a disorderly crowd in the Greenwich Village park.

One image shows a suspect lifting a massive snowball—nearly the size of a boulder—over his head, preparing to throw it. Another shows a second suspect standing face-to-face with a uniformed officer while packing ice in his hands.

The incident unfolded around 4 p.m. Monday, hours after a powerful storm dumped nearly two feet of snow across the city.

Authorities say a concerned bystander called 911 to report a group of teens throwing snow from the rooftop of a structure inside Washington Square Park. Two officers assigned to the park responded—and were immediately targeted, with members of the crowd pelting the officers with snow and ice. When backup units arrived in vans, they too were attacked.

The confrontation quickly escalated into chaos, with video showing officers retreating under a barrage of frozen projectiles.

Two officers were hurt in the attack. One suffered a possible contusion near his eye, while another complained of severe head pain after being struck from behind. Both were taken to a hospital for treatment and later released.

Police officials stressed that ice-packed snowballs can cause serious injury and should be treated as dangerous projectiles.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch condemned the incident, calling it “disgraceful” and “criminal.”

Mayor Zohran Mamdani took a notably different tone, initially downplaying the incident and referring to those involved as “kids.” In a post on X, Mamdani wrote that he had seen the videos and urged respect for officers, adding jokingly, “If anyone’s catching a snowball, it’s me.”

The remarks sparked sharp criticism from law enforcement groups and city officials, who accused the mayor of minimizing an assault on police.

Critics said the response sent the wrong message at a time when attacks on officers are rising nationwide.

Police describe one suspect as being between 18 and 20 years old. The age of the second suspect has not been released.

Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage, social media videos, and cellphone recordings to identify additional participants. Officials say multiple people may face charges ranging from disorderly conduct to assault on a police officer.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The shidduch crisis is not news to anyone in our community. For years, askanim, rabbanim, and concerned parents have been sounding the alarm. Dating pools are unbalanced. Young men and women are waiting longer. Shadchanim are overwhelmed. And countless sincere daters are falling through the cracks.

A new chesed organization called Canopy Shidduchim is trying to change that.

Canopy is a free shidduch service currently in its soft launch phase, accepting mainstream torahdig and professional yeshivish daters between the ages of 20 and 35 in the United States. What makes it different is not just what Canopy does, but how it does it.

Above all, Canopy emphasizes the culture of chesed in shidduchim. Why is making shidduchim treated differently from every other chesed? In no other chesed context do we criticize or charge people in need. Hatzolah doesn’t respond to a heart attack and suggest the patient stop eating schnitzel sandwiches.

Canopy takes the same loving approach to our daters.

Rather than flooding daters with a barrage of suggestions, Canopy sends one carefully tailored idea per day, by sharing an anonymous profile. Only once both daters request more information are resumes exchanged and a shadchan is assigned to coordinate. There is no open database and nobody – not even shadchanim – can browse dater profiles. Privacy is built into the foundation. We believe in protecting people’s information. In a world where mainstream yeshivish publications don’t share photos of women, we are committed to maintaining the values of tznius within the dating context.

Our system also creates much more efficiency for overwhelmed shadchanim. We shift much of the work to daters for the initial screening. This opens the gates for everyone to take part in this important chesed. Our shadchanim commit to only 1 hour of volunteering per week, all online, from the comfort of home.

Canopy also addresses the gender imbalance that affects so many shidduch platforms. By requiring sign-ups in pairs and actively working to maintain a 1:1 ratio of men to women, Canopy ensures that its service remains genuinely effective, not lopsided.

We are a registered 501(c)(3) and we provide a free service, with no paid employees. We believe that shidduchim, like every other chesed organization, should run on a donation-based model and not by charging their clients.

We hope our organization will lead to many frum shidduchim and also inspire the community to take a thoughtful, values-based approach to shidduchim. Please join our team as a dater or shadchan and visit canopyshidduchim.com to learn more.

Signed,

Malka Levitin

The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.

The CIA has published a Persian-language video outlining how individuals inside Iran can privately and securely contact the U.S. intelligence agency, as anti-government tensions continue within the Islamic Republic.

The instructional video provides step-by-step guidance aimed at protecting the identity and safety of anyone attempting to reach out from within Iran.

Among the recommendations:

• Use a burner device when initiating contact
• Ensure the internet browser is fully updated
• Activate incognito or private browsing mode
• Clear browser and device history immediately afterward
• Use encryption tools such as Tor or a VPN

The video emphasizes that without Tor or a VPN, visits to the CIA website may be visible to others, potentially compromising security.

The agency also notes that it will review all incoming messages, though responses are not guaranteed. Any reply, the CIA says, will depend on its assessment of the sender’s security situation.

The unusual public outreach underscores Washington’s growing focus on developments inside Iran amid renewed unrest.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

After the last system was forecast to bring just 1–3 inches and instead delivered one of Central Park’s Top 10 snowfalls ever, forecasters are again calling for 1–3 inches Tuesday night across the region.

This time, the ingredients for a blockbuster storm are not expected to align — but as we’ve learned, surprises can happen.

• 1–3 inches expected across NYC, Hudson Valley, Long Island and Connecticut coast
• Slightly higher totals possible inland
• Light snow and rain early Wednesday with potential morning commute impacts
• Precipitation should taper off by midday

A stronger system may bring additional light snow or a wintry mix Thursday into Thursday night. More details expected soon.

Meanwhile, cleanup continues from the historic blizzard:

• Central Park: 19.7 inches (9th largest snowfall on record)
• Islip, LI: 31 inches (highest total in tri-state)
• Multiple Long Island towns: 29–30+ inches
• Bergen County, NJ: Up to 30.7 inches
• Newark Airport: 27.2 inches

After a storm that paralyzed the Northeast, even a few inches now carries weight.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The left has been looking for any way to besmirch the Justice Ministry’s Legal Adviser, Yael Kotik, ever since she signed a legal opinion barring Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara from heading the investigation into the leak of the Sdei Teiman video by disgraced Military Advocate General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi.

Apparently, there wasn’t much dirt to dig up on Kotik, but a few days ago, Haaretz journalist Michael Hauser Tov was about to publish an article against her. First, he sent a message to Kotik asking for her “response” to the story, but refused to reveal the details. Kotik quickly obtained a gag order, blocking the story. But after she was informed about the details of the “story” in court, she waived the gag order.

So what “dirt” did Haaretz dig up on Kotik? According to i24News journalist Avishai Grinzeig, the matter concerns an incident from 33 years ago involving allegations about recording attendance when she served as a junior police officer in her early twenties—an incident for which disciplinary proceedings were opened against her and from which she was acquitted.

Grinzeig wrote: “With all due respect to my friend Michael Hauser Tov, this publication teaches much more about the journalist than about the subject of the ‘expose.’”

The Justice Ministry issued a statement on Tuesday saying, “Attorney Kotik informed the Magistrate’s Court today that she is requesting—on her own initiative—to remove the gag order. The request for the order was filed because when the reporter approached her for comment, he did not provide the required information that would allow her to respond.”

“At the court’s recommendation, a discussion was held, after which she decided she has no objection to the publication, which are baseless claims from about 33 years ago. The allegations were examined in real time by the competent authorities and yielded nothing.”

“Attorney Kotik has served in the Justice Ministry for about 26 years. No blemish has ever been found in her professional or personal conduct, and she is highly regarded. Presenting events from more than three decades ago, at this timing, as if they were just now discovered, creates a false and misleading impression regarding baseless claims that have long since gathered dust.”

Attorney Yael Kotik stated, “Since the moment I published my professional opinion, I have been subjected to daily, unrestrained attacks, including slander and attempts to harm my reputation and professionalism. Once I understood the ‘story’ in question, I acted on my own initiative to have the order removed. I will continue to carry out my duties faithfully and objectively, as I have until now.”

Haaretz regularly engages in witch hunts against any public officials who interfere with its leftist agenda.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A squadron of American F-22 stealth fighter jets that departed the United Kingdom earlier today has been deployed to an Israeli Air Force base in southern Israel, according to reports.

Twelve F-22s were seen taking off from Royal Air Force Lakenheath in England, though one aircraft reportedly returned due to a technical issue. The advanced stealth jets had been stationed at Lakenheath for several days after arriving last week, reportedly delayed by refueling complications.

The deployment comes as President Donald Trump weighs potential military action against Iran, amid escalating regional tensions.

In recent days, dozens of U.S. fighter jets — including F-35s, F-22s, F-15s, and F-16s — have been tracked heading to the Middle East, according to the Military Air Tracking Alliance, a group of open-source analysts who monitor military flight activity.

The group also reports that numerous refueling tankers and hundreds of cargo aircraft have entered the region since mid-February, signaling a significant American military buildup.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israel’s Chief Rabbinate has issued a public warning over multiple imported food products found to carry misleading or unauthorized kosher certifications, raising concerns about kashrus and consumer transparency.

In a special update, the Kashrut Fraud Division of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel detailed deficiencies involving dairy, fish, and meat products sold in major food chains.

One case involves long-life whole milk produced in Belgium by Solarec and imported by Euro Dairies Europe (Gold Frost) Ltd. of Yavne. The cartons claimed supervision by Badatz Beit Yosef and approval from the Chief Rabbinate, presenting the product as chalav Yisrael.

However, inspectors from the Rabbinate’s Import Department found that the milk was never authorized. As a result, officials ordered the product to be removed from shelves and returned to the importer.

The Rabbinate also cited serious problems with “100% smoked cod liver in fish oil,” imported by G. Willifood International Ltd.. Although the packaging displayed kosher approval and supervision by the Orthodox Union, the Import Department had rejected approval requests for production batches beginning in January 2025.

According to the Rabbinate, the rejection stemmed from missing documentation regarding parasite treatment and uncertainty over compliance with bishul Yisrael requirements.

In the meat sector, inspectors identified misleading labeling on frozen beef shank imported from Argentina and marketed by Tnuva. An on-site inspection found that outer packaging described the meat as kosher-chalak, while the stamp on the meat itself indicated only standard kosher certification.

The Rabbinate said the discrepancy could mislead consumers who rely on stricter kashrut standards.

“In light of this discrepancy, which constitutes misleading a consumer,” the agency said, the products were ordered returned to the distributor to prevent further violations.

The Kosharot organization urged shoppers and supervisors to closely examine certification notices.

“We call upon the general public and kashrus supervisors to pay attention to the details of the kashrus update,” the group said, warning against purchasing products that do not meet official standards.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Iran is nearing a deal with China to purchase advanced anti-ship cruise missiles, according to multiple people familiar with the negotiations, as the United States intensifies its military posture near the Iranian coast amid rising regional tensions.

The potential agreement would involve China’s CM-302 supersonic missiles, weapons capable of flying low and fast to evade ship defenses and strike targets nearly 300 kilometers away. Defense analysts say their deployment would significantly strengthen Iran’s ability to threaten U.S. and allied naval forces in the region.

Six people with knowledge of the talks told Reuters that the missile deal is close to completion, though no delivery timeline has been finalized.

Negotiations between Tehran and China began at least two years ago but accelerated following last summer’s brief war between Israel and Iran, according to officials familiar with the discussions.

As talks intensified, senior Iranian defense officials reportedly traveled to China, including Deputy Defense Minister Massoud Oraei. Reuters said the visit had not previously been reported.

“It’s a complete game-changer if Iran has supersonic capability to attack ships in the area,” said Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli intelligence officer now affiliated with a security think tank. “These missiles are very difficult to intercept.”

Neither Beijing nor Tehran has publicly confirmed the deal. China’s foreign and defense ministries did not respond to requests for comment, while an Iranian foreign ministry official told Reuters that Tehran is prepared to activate military agreements with its allies.

The White House has not directly addressed reports of the missile negotiations. A senior administration official reiterated that Trump has warned Iran it must reach a nuclear agreement or face tougher action.

The developments come as U.S. forces assemble a major naval and air presence within striking distance of Iran, including multiple aircraft carrier strike groups, dozens of fighter jets, and hundreds of support flights since mid-February.

Analysts say the potential missile sale highlights growing military cooperation between China and Iran at a sensitive moment for U.S. policy in the Middle East.

China, Iran, and Russia regularly conduct joint naval exercises, and Washington has previously sanctioned Chinese companies accused of supporting Iran’s missile program.

During a visit by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Beijing last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China supported Iran’s sovereignty and national dignity.

Beijing has also joined Moscow and Tehran in criticizing the reimposition of international sanctions on Iran’s weapons programs.

“Iran has become a battlefield between the U.S. on one side and Russia and China on the other,” an official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters.

The CM-302 missiles would represent some of the most advanced weapons transferred to Iran by China in decades and could violate United Nations restrictions on arms transfers.

Those sanctions were first imposed in 2006, eased under the 2015 nuclear agreement, and reinstated last year after the collapse of diplomacy.

Western officials say any confirmed transfer would complicate efforts to contain Iran’s missile development and limit its military reach.

The reports also follow renewed threats from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who last week warned that U.S. warships could be targeted in any conflict.

“A warship is dangerous,” Khamenei said, “but more dangerous is the weapon that can send it to the bottom of the sea.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump is pressing ahead with an ambitious plan to remake post-war Gaza under an international framework that excludes Hamas. But newly revealed documents suggest the terrorist group is quietly positioning itself to retain power behind the scenes, raising questions about the durability of U.S.-led stabilization efforts.

According to evidence reviewed by The Times of Israel, Hamas is preparing a shadow governing structure while embedding loyalists — including military commanders — into civilian institutions expected to operate under a new technocratic administration.

At last week’s Board of Peace meeting in Washington, Trump secured roughly $7 billion in international pledges for Gaza’s reconstruction, along with commitments from five countries to contribute troops to a planned International Stabilization Force intended to replace Israeli forces.

The gathering marked a major diplomatic push to advance a post-war transition. A newly formed body, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), has begun operating from Cairo, recruiting staff and organizing a transitional police force.

“When you think of Israel, we’ve done the biggest thing of all,” Trump said at the meeting. “We have peace in the Middle East right now.”

But on the ground, progress remains limited. Nearly four months into the ceasefire, Israel still controls more than half of Gaza, while most of the enclave’s roughly 2 million residents live in areas where Hamas remains dominant.

Under the ceasefire framework, Hamas is required to hand civilian governance to the NCAG, a 15-member technocratic body led by former Palestinian Authority official Ali Shaath and overseen by High Representative Nikolay Mladenov.

Publicly, Hamas has portrayed itself as cooperative. Spokesman Hazem Qassem told Agence France-Presse that the group had prepared protocols and files for a full transfer of authority.

Privately, however, internal documents paint a different picture.

The Times of Israel reports that Izz al-Din al-Haddad, who assumed leadership after Muhammad Sinwar was killed in an Israeli strike last year, ordered members to copy government records before transferring them, allowing Hamas to maintain leverage over civil servants.

Israeli military officials warned in January that Hamas is embedding supporters “from the bottom up” in local authorities and security services, according to a briefing submitted to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The documents indicate that commanders from Hamas’s armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, are being shifted into civilian posts. Two Palestinian sources told Reuters that five district governors with militant ties have already been appointed.

“Shaath may have the key to the car, and he may even be allowed to drive, but it is a Hamas car,” one source said.

Despite formal steps toward civilian rule, Hamas’s intelligence and security networks appear largely untouched. Internal orders reviewed by The Times of Israel show commanders directing increased surveillance, including around hospitals and public facilities.

A recently released health ministry video showed a new deputy health minister touring medical centers — an example, analysts say, of how Hamas-linked officials are integrating into emerging institutions.

The IDF has warned that Hamas is rebuilding its underground infrastructure and preserving its operational capacity in violation of ceasefire terms.

“Since the ceasefire came into effect, Hamas has violated the understandings and is working to restore its military capabilities,” an IDF spokesperson said.

Israeli and Hamas officials appear to agree on one point: another major conflict is likely.

Last month, a senior Israeli security official said military action may be unavoidable if Hamas refuses to disarm. Hamas leaders have also said further conflict is likely.

“Criminalizing the resistance and its weapons is something we should not accept,” said senior Hamas figure Khaled Mashaal at a recent conference in Doha.

Israeli sources say Hamas is willing to store heavy weapons under international supervision and share partial tunnel maps, but intends to keep rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. The IDF estimates that at least 60 percent of Hamas’s tunnel network remains intact.

An Israeli security official told The Times of Israel that Israel would permit only handguns for a future Gazan police force — and only if Hamas is excluded.

Israeli officials have intensified lobbying of the Trump administration, arguing that Hamas must be fully disarmed for any lasting peace to emerge.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, Israeli leaders have told the White House that renewed military intervention may be the only way to dismantle Hamas’s remaining capabilities — and that any future operation would be faster and more expansive than previous campaigns.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The U.S. military has begun repositioning a dozen F-22 stealth fighter jets toward the Middle East, according to open-source flight tracking data and aircraft spotters, signaling a further escalation in Washington’s military buildup in the region.

The F-22s were seen departing from RAF Lakenheath in England on Tuesday and linking up with KC-46 aerial refueling aircraft as they headed south, based on publicly available flight data.

The jets had arrived at the UK airbase last week and remained there for several days, reportedly due to technical issues involving refueling support aircraft.

In recent weeks, the Pentagon has accelerated deployments of air and logistics assets to the Middle East, as U.S. officials seek to reinforce deterrence and protect American forces and interests.

Dozens of combat aircraft — including F-35s, F-22s, F-15s, and F-16s — have been observed heading toward the region, according to the Military Air Tracking Alliance, a network of analysts that monitors military and government flight activity.

The group says it has also tracked dozens of refueling tankers and hundreds of cargo aircraft moving into the Middle East since mid-February, suggesting a large-scale logistical effort to sustain expanded operations.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Channel 12 journalist Amit Segal posted a video on Sunday revealing the attempts of the leftist anti-government Brothers in Arms organization to whitewash its calls for IDF refusal in the months before the October 7 massacre.

The report comes after Democrats chairman Yair Golan announced last week that one of the leaders of Brothers in Arms, Omri Ronen, is joining his party. The announcement prompted some social media users to remind Israelis of Ronen’s actions before the massacre, including calling for widespread IDF refusal and appearing on 60 Minutes_—_slandering Israel and the IDF to the entire world and provoking Israel’s enemies by saying that IDF refusal is weakening Israel’s security.

After the organization’s efforts to harm Israel bore fruit and the October 7 massacre occurred, Brothers in Arms held a highly publicized campaign to assist IDF soldiers and evacuees, claiming that the organization transformed itself into an assistance organization. While they actually did distribute supplies to IDF soldiers (although many units refused to receive anything from the notorious organization), they later reverted to their political activities.

Segal stated in the video: “Eyal Naveh, one of the leaders of the Brothers in Arms movement, waited for Shabbat—when I can’t respond—to upload a video saying: ‘How did you call us thugs after we helped you in real time—after the October 7 massacre?’”

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

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

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

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

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

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

A notice from Brothers in Arms after October 7 informing IDF soldiers that they can receive a free barbecue dinner—on the condition that they agree to be photographed wearing Brothers in Arms coats. (Amit Segal)

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Former UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is facing a fresh storm of condemnation after promoting grotesque allegations accusing Israel of harvesting organs from Palestinian victims in Gaza.

In a video circulated on social media, Corbyn alleged that IDF troops had delivered boxes of human skulls and mutilated bodies to Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital, claiming that organs had been removed from deceased women.

“They opened the boxes,” Corbyn said, “and each one contained the skull of a Palestinian who had been killed.” He further asserted that bodies had been “opened and some of the organs removed,” declaring the allegations “the cause of our age.”

The video was first published on Instagram by Wear the Peace, a self-described ethical clothing brand that claims to donate portions of its profits to humanitarian causes. The post quickly went viral, drawing criticism from journalists, lawmakers, and Jewish organizations.

Corbyn’s accusations collapse under even minimal scrutiny.

Al-Shifa Hospital lies in an area controlled by Hamas, from which Israeli forces withdrew in October 2025. Since then, any return of Palestinian bodies has been carried out through internationally supervised procedures, coordinated with the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The most recent such handover took place on January 29—months before Corbyn’s claims—and was conducted under international oversight.

There is, of course, no independent evidence supporting Corbyn’s assertions. No medical records, eyewitness testimony, or humanitarian reports corroborate his account. No international agency has substantiated any allegation of organ removal by Israeli forces.

Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, International Spokesperson for the IDF, condemned Corbyn’s remarks.

“What happened to fact checking before spreading a wild blood libel?” Shoshani wrote on X.

He emphasized that IDF troops “haven’t been anywhere near the Shifa hospital in months” and dismissed the claims as “crazy baseless stories.”

“The ‘cause of our generation’ is double checking claims,” Shoshani added, “and not believing journalists who spread misinformation.”

Your browser does not support the video tag.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The White House on Tuesday sought to tamp down speculation about potential U.S. military action against Iran, stressing that President Donald Trump remains focused on diplomacy while retaining the option to use force if necessary.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump prefers negotiations over conflict but is prepared to act decisively to protect U.S. interests.

“The president’s first option is always diplomacy,” Leavitt said. “But as he has shown, he is willing to use the lethal force of the United States military if necessary.”

Her comments come amid heightened tensions with Iran and a wave of media reports suggesting that the administration is weighing imminent military action.

Leavitt pushed back strongly against what she described as inaccurate and exaggerated coverage, accusing some outlets of relying on anonymous sources to fuel speculation.

“I’ve seen a lot of sensationalist reporting over the past day that is just completely untrue,” she said. “Anyone speculating to the media, hiding behind an anonymous source, pretending to know what President Trump is thinking or a decision he will make with respect to action against Iran, has no idea what they’re talking about.”

According to Leavitt, Trump will personally determine the administration’s next steps, balancing diplomatic efforts with military readiness.

“President Trump will be the one who decides what course of action to take,” she said.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Hundreds of flights at New York City-area airports remain grounded in the aftermath of the powerful blizzard, leaving thousands of travelers stranded across the Northeast.

NYC Emergency Management confirmed Monday that there were “major flight disruptions” at all three major regional hubs — John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport.

Despite rapid efforts to clear runways and surrounding roadways, the storm’s impact continues to ripple through Tuesday’s travel schedule.

NYC Airport Breakdown (FlightAware):

✈️ LaGuardia Airport: 263 flights canceled (49% of total flights)

✈️ Newark Liberty: 257 flights canceled (49% of total flights)

✈️ JFK Airport: 249 flights canceled (41% of total flights)

Dizzying Nationwide Cancellations

The monstrous bomb cyclone has wreaked havoc on air travel nationwide, with more than 10,000 U.S. flights canceled from Sunday through Tuesday.

That includes over 2,000 cancellations already logged for Tuesday alone. The majority are concentrated at Boston Logan International Airport, with high levels of disruption also spread across the New York City-area airports, according to FlightAware.

Airlines are now scrambling to reposition aircraft and crews after days of shutdowns, and officials warn that delays and cancellations could continue even as skies begin to clear.

The massive wave of cancellations and delays has triggered a cascading backlog that aviation experts say could take several days — and possibly up to a week — to fully unwind.

Restarting operations after a complete shutdown at major hubs is a logistical nightmare, with three critical challenges disrupting the system:

First, aircraft are scattered across the country. Jets that were scheduled to operate out of New York or Boston are parked in cities like Miami, Orlando, Los Angeles, and San Francisco — and they cannot return until runways, taxiways, and gate areas are fully cleared of more than 20 inches of snow.

Second, thousands of pilots and flight attendants are out of position. Many crews became stranded during the storm and have since exceeded their federally regulated duty limits after sitting in hotels or waiting out delays at alternate airports.

Third, the timing could not be worse. The blizzard struck at the tail end of the busy winter break travel period, when many flights were already operating at or near capacity. With planes full, airlines have limited flexibility to rebook thousands of stranded passengers, leaving many facing waits of 48 to 72 hours — or longer — for confirmed seats.

Meanwhile, frigid temperatures at major hubs such as JFK and Newark have significantly slowed de-icing operations. Limited ramp space, repeated runway closures during peak snowfall, and snow removal constraints have nearly doubled aircraft turnaround times, compounding delays even after skies have cleared.

Major carriers including Delta, United, and American have extended flexible travel waivers through the end of the month. However, meteorologists caution that another fast-moving clipper system expected midweek could further complicate efforts to restore normal schedules.

Travelers are strongly advised to check directly with their airlines before heading to the airport.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A wide-ranging federal inquiry began on Tuesday into a rise in antisemitism across Australia before two gunmen believed to be inspired by the Islamic State group allegedly killed 15 people at a Sydney Jewish festival in December.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced last month that Australia’s most powerful form of public inquiry, known as a royal commission, would investigate the Dec. 14 massacre at Bondi Beach.

Alleged shooter Sajid Naveed was shot dead by police. His son, Naveed Akram, faces charges including committing a terrorist act, 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of attempted murder. He has entered no pleas.

Royal Commissioner Virginia Bell, who heads the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, said she did not want evidence that she heard to prejudice Akram’s criminal trial.

“One might expect a royal commission set up to inquire into an attack would lead evidence of it and of the heroism of those who sort to confront the shooters and of those who ran toward the gunfire to offer medical assistance to the wounded,” Bell said in an opening address.

“The trial of that individual (Akram) will be the occasion to lead evidence of the attack. This commission must do its work without risking any prejudice to that criminal proceeding,” she added.

Royal commissions, which can imprison witnesses who refuse to cooperate, often request time extensions as more evidence is discovered.

Bell is the sole commissioner. As well as lawyers, the commission’s staff include analysts, researchers and other office workers, according to Richard Lancaster, who leads a team of lawyers in his role as the Senior Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission. Lancaster’s job is to manage the investigation’s direction, present Bell with evidence and question witnesses.

Completing her report by the deadline of the massacre’s first anniversary is a “matter of critical importance,” Bell said.

“This imposes a tight time frame and it’s going to impose limitations on how the commission approaches its terms of reference,” the retired high court judge said.

Bell also acknowledged religions and ethnicities other than Jewish suffered prejudice in Australia.

“I expect that social cohesion will be advanced by measures that address discrimination against religious faiths, ethnicities and cultures generally,” Bell said. “Nonetheless, against the background of the massacre of innocent people who appear to have been targeted simply because they were Jewish, I trust everyone will appreciate why the focus of this commission will be on tackling antisemitism.”

Bell must make an interim report by the end of April. That report will examine interaction and information-sharing between federal and state agencies, as well as organizers of the Hanukkah celebration that was attacked. She will investigate security arrangements and report on whether intelligence and law enforcement agencies performed to maximum effectiveness.

The commission must identify gaps in legal and regulatory frameworks that might impede the ability of law enforcement, border control, immigration and security agencies to prevent and respond to such an attack.

Bell will make recommendations to help law enforcement, border control, immigration and security agencies tackle antisemitism through areas such as staff training. The commission will examine the nature and prevalence of antisemitism in institutions and society including drivers such as extremism and radicalization.

Bell and her staff also will review security at Jewish places of worship, education and cultural facilities, as well as public events.

The commission staff already has issued government agencies with dozens of notices to provide documents and more would be issued, Lancaster said, adding that dates for public hearings had not yet been set.

Albanese initially resisted calls from victims’ families, Jewish leaders and opposition lawmakers to establish a royal commission, arguing it would take too long to provide answers.

Instead, he appointed retired bureaucrat Dennis Richardson to examine the roles of intelligence, security and law enforcement agencies, as well as potential failings in procedures and laws that led to the shooting. That inquiry was to report in April.

Richardson’s inquiry has been folded into the royal commission and he has been appointed Bell’s special adviser.

Reports of antisemitism Islamophobic behavior have increased markedly in Australia since the Israel-Hamas war began in 2023.

Jews account for fewer than 120,000 people in Australia’s population of 28 million and 85% of the Jewish population live in Sydney and Melbourne.

In 2024, the Australian government named a special envoy to confront a rise in antisemitism across the country. Months later, the government also appointed a special envoy to combat Islamophobia.

(AP)

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared Tuesday that Russia has not “broken Ukrainians” nor triumphed in its war, four years after an invasion that has severely tested the resolve of Kyiv and its allies and fueled European fears about the scale of Moscow’s ambitions.

In a show of support, more than a dozen senior European officials headed to the Ukrainian capital to mark the grim anniversary of the conflict, which has killed tens of thousands of people, upended life for millions of Ukrainians, and created instability far beyond its borders.

Zelenskyy said his country has withstood the onslaught by Russia’s bigger and better equipped army, which over the past year of fighting captured just 0.79% of Ukraine’s territory, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank. Russia now holds nearly 20% of Ukraine.

“Looking back at the beginning of the invasion and reflecting on today, we have every right to say: We have defended our independence, we have not lost our statehood,” Zelenskyy said on social media, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin has “not achieved his goals.”

“He has not broken Ukrainians; he has not won this war,” Zelenskyy said.

Despite the show of defiance, Ukraine has struggled to hold off Russia’s onslaught, and the war has brought widespread hardship for Ukrainian civilians. Russia’s aerial attacks have devastated families and denied civilians power and running water.

As the war of attrition enters its fifth year, a U.S.-led diplomatic push to end the largest conflict on the continent since World War II appears no closer to finding compromises that might make a peace deal possible.

Negotiations are stuck on what happens to the Donbas, eastern Ukraine’s industrial heartland that Russian forces mostly occupy but have failed to seize completely, and the terms of a postwar security arrangement that Kyiv is demanding to deter any future Russian invasion.

Zelenskyy urges Trump to visit

At a makeshift memorial in Kyiv’s central square, where thousands of small flags and portraits show photos of fallen soldiers, Zelenskyy said he would like U.S. President Donald Trump to visit and witness for himself Ukrainian suffering.

“Only then can one truly understand what this war is really about,” Zelenskyy said.

Trump, who once vowed to end the war in a day, has repeatedly changed his tone toward Putin and Zelenskyy over the past year: sometimes criticizing the Ukrainian leader’s negotiating position while reaching out to the Russian leader and at others lashing out at Putin for heavy barrages and appearing more sympathetic to the Ukrainian predicament.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the invasion would continue in pursuit of Moscow’s goals. They include a demand that Ukraine renounce its bid to join NATO, sharply cut its army, and cede vast swaths of territory.

Zelenskyy said he expected a fresh round of U.S.-brokered talks with Russia within the next 10 days.

A ‘nightmare’ for Ukrainians

The number of soldiers killed, injured or missing on both sides could reach 2 million by spring, with Russia sustaining the largest number of troop deaths for any major power in any conflict since World War II, a report last month from the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated.

European leaders see their countries’ own security at stake in Ukraine amid concerns that Putin may target them next.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wrote on X that “for four years, every day and every night has been a nightmare for the Ukrainians — and not just for them, but for us all. Because war is back in Europe.”

“We will only end it by being strong together, because the fate of Ukraine is our fate,” he added.

Putin’s dangerous gamble

Putin believes that time is on the side of his bigger army, Western officials and analysts say — and that Western support will trail off and that Ukraine’s military resistance will eventually crumble. Already Trump has ended new military aid to Ukraine — though other NATO countries now buy American weapons and give them to Kyiv.

But French President Emmanuel Macron described the war was “a triple failure for Russia: military, economic, and strategic.”

The war “has strengthened NATO — the very expansion Russia sought to prevent — galvanized Europeans it hoped to weaken, and laid bare the fragility of an imperialism from another age,” Macron said on X.

The European Union has also sent financial aid, but has sometimes met with reluctance from members Hungary and Slovakia.

While NATO countries have come to Ukraine’s aid, Russia has been helped by North Korea, which has sent thousands of troops and artillery shells; Iran, which has provided drone technology; and China, which the United States and analysts say has provided machine tools and chips.

A defining conflict

Among the European officials visiting Kyiv on Tuesday were the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, as well as seven prime ministers and four foreign ministers.

The only American listed among the official guests in Kyiv ceremonies was Lt. Gen. Curtis Buzzard, a U.S. officer who represents NATO in Ukraine.

British Armed Forces Minister Al Carns said Russia’s war on Ukraine was “the most defining conflict” in decades.

The war has brought a “revolution in military affairs,” especially through the rapid development of drone technology by both sides, according to Carns. Drones now cause the vast majority of battlefield casualties, he said.

Both sides face challenges in finding enough troops and are increasingly turning to uncrewed aerial drones that take the killing to areas far from the front lines, the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies said in its annual report on the global military situation.

“Given both sides’ reliance on external support for materiel, decisions taken in foreign capitals will play an important role in shaping the war’s trajectory,” the think tank added.

The United Kingdom on Tuesday announced a new package of military and humanitarian support for Ukraine, including sending teams of British military medics to instruct their Ukrainian counterparts.

The cost of rebuilding war-battered Ukraine would amount to almost $588 billion over the next decade, according to World Bank, the European Commission, the United Nations and the Ukrainian government.

That is nearly three times the estimated nominal GDP of Ukraine for last year, they said in a report Monday.

(AP)

Israel sent a message to Lebanon that it would strike the country hard if the Hezbollah terror group attacks Israel in the case of a US attack on Iran, Reuters reported, quoting two senior Lebanese officials.

Israel’s message included a threat to attack Lebanon’s civilian infrastructure, including its airport.

The sources said that the threatening message was sent to Beirut through indirect channels.

The report comes in the light of the possibility that Iran’s proxies, including the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon, will join a potential US-Iran war by attacking Israel.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Israeli intelligence officials have assessed that the US only has enough firepower in the Middle East to carry out four or five days of intense airstrikes on Iran, according to a report in the UK’s Financial Times on Tuesday.

The assessment comes despite the fact that the US has deployed the most firepower in the region since the 2003 Iraq invasion.

According to an Israeli intelligence source quoted in the report, the US could sustain a week of “lower-intensity strikes.”

The report added that Israeli security officials are concerned that if the US carries out only limited strikes on the Islamic Republic, it would escalate the regional tension by provoking the regime.

The warning comes after reports published in US media that the US chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, has warned President Donald Trump against a war with Iran due to concerns that it will drag the US into an extended regional confrontation and leave the US army depleted of air defense munitions. Trump later denied the reports, saying that Caine believes that the US could easily win a war with Iran.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A wave of arrests of yeshiva bochurim took place in Beit Shemesh overnight Monday, with two bochurim stopped by an Israel Police officer and handed over to the military police, and another bochur arrested at his home by the military police.

The first incident took place when an Israel Police officer stopped two Chassidish bochurim for a routine check. When he realized they were designated as “draft dodgers,” he summoned the military police, who arrested the two and transferred them to military prison.

A source familiar with the details said that the initial arrest of the bochurim was carried out without any cause, and the entire incident was the private initiative of a local officer who acted contrary to police guidelines. According to the source, it is possible the officer knew there were military police officers in the area and exploited this fact to check the status of the bochurim he noticed.

“The hatred from the media is trickling down into the police ranks,” the source said.

The detained bochurim are chassidim of Vizhnitz-Monsey and Toldos Avraham Yitzchak. One is a resident of Ramat Beit Shemesh Bet, and the other is a resident of the Old City of Beit Shemesh. One of the bochurim is a yasom after losing his mother to an illness, and his father is currently abroad.

It was later reported that a third bochur, a Sephardi talmid of the Ateres Yaakov yeshiva, was arrested overnight at his home in the Old City of Beit Shemesh, and transferred to Prison 10.

According to a statement from the Am Kadosh organization, the detained bochur is Itai Chomri, 25, and he is being represented by Attorneys Shlomo Haddad and Itai Cohen, who will challenge the validity of his initial statement, which was taken before he could receive legal counsel. A hearing before a military officer is expected within the next few hours to determine the length of his detention.

Chareidi activists called the “handover” by civil police and the “home snatch” by military police a major escalation. In the wake of the arrest, protests will likely take place later on Monday in Beit Shemesh and other Chareidi cities.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

In a stinging defeat for Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich and an embarrassment to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, the Knesset overnight Monday voted down Smotrich’s order doubling the VAT exemption on overseas online purchases from $75 to $150.

The vote was an unprecedented political drama, as it was the first time since the government was formed that opposition MKs, joined by numerous coalition members—mainly from the Likud—succeeded in overturning an order against the position of Netanyahu, despite his frantic efforts until the last minute to secure a majority.

The background to the incident is that although Smotrich’s order was welcomed by the majority of Israelis, small business owners whose sales would be negatively affected by the measure managed to win the support of many prominent Likud members, prompting an internal rebellion. Netanyahu, preoccupied with sensitive security discussions regarding a potential US strike on Iran, made efforts until the last minute to persuade Likud members to vote for the measure—unsuccessfully. After realizing that he had failed to win a majority, he was forced to declare a “free” vote—leading to the order being toppled 59-25.

Likud members who voted against the bill include Economy Minister Nir Barkat, Knesset Finance Committee chair Chanoch Milwidsky, and MKs Eli Dalal, David Bitan, Yuli Edelstein, Sasson Guetta, Shalom Danino, and Osher Shklalim. Otzma Yehudit members Minister Amichai Eliyahu and MK Limor Son Har-Melech also voted against the bill along with New Hope MKs Michael Biton and Akram Hasson, UTJ MK Yitzchak Goldknopf, and Noam chairman Avi Maoz.

Senior Likud ministers—including Yariv Levin, Yisrael Katz, and Avi Dichter—chose to be absent from the plenum, while most of the Shas and Degel HaTorah MKs voted in favor.

MK Eli Dalal explained his rejection of the bill, saying, “This activity is a death sentence for the business sector. I’m talking about small businesses.” He added that the high cost of living in Israel is due to the prices of housing, rent, and food, and “unfortunately those haven’t been addressed over the past three years.”

Smotrich responded to the vote by announcing that he will soon sign the order again. “The economic left in Likud is trying to defeat Israeli citizens in the service of monopolies and for a few votes in the primaries,” he said. “While Prime Minister Netanyahu is preoccupied with Israel’s security, a handful of Likud MKs are busy with petty politics and, together with the opposition, want to make us all pay dearly.”

“I will not let the public lose. Narrow personal interests will not defeat the good of Israel’s citizens. I do not intend to give up and surrender to the left. B’ezrat Hashem, I will sign a new order and continue to look after Israeli citizens. Despite the left, things can be affordable here.”

Opposition leader Yair Lapid rushed to celebrate the defeat, stating: “Netanyahu has no coalition, and his government is falling apart. He doesn’t even control his own party. He and Smotrich were humiliated again today in the plenum. We will continue to fight in the Knesset against the worst government in the state’s history.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Yair Lapid, Israel’s opposition leader, delivered a blistering attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, before pivoting to a message of national unity should Israel slide into open conflict with Iran.

Speaking from the podium of the Knesset, Lapid said that despite deep political divisions, a war with Tehran would force Israel’s leadership into lockstep.

“If war with Iran comes, all differences of opinion will be put into deep freeze,” Lapid said. “We will stand as one.”

Lapid pledged to reprise his role as a global advocate for Israel, promising to take Israel’s case directly to international audiences.

“As in the previous attack, I will go wherever necessary, from CNN to the British Parliament, and tell them: I am the head of the opposition, Netanyahu and I are rivals — but Iran must be attacked with full force.”

The show of unity came only after a fierce personal and political rebuke of Netanyahu, whom Lapid accused of attempting to rewrite the events of October 7.

“History will only remember you for October 7,” Lapid said. “That’s what scares you so much.”

He argued that Netanyahu’s legacy would be inseparable from what he called years of strategic misjudgments, including allowing Qatari funds to flow into Gaza and pursuing policies that empowered Hamas, often with the tacit backing of Qatar.

“How you didn’t see where the suitcases of money were leading,” Lapid said. “How you didn’t see where the destructive policy of strengthening Hamas was leading.”

Lapid also condemned efforts by Netanyahu’s office to soften language in proposed legislation commemorating October 7, particularly by removing the word “massacre.”

“When babies are burned, when families are murdered, it’s not an event — it’s a massacre,” he said. “Nothing else will define your term more than that.”

Your browser does not support the video tag.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

International Jewish music star Gad Elbaz revealed in a radio interview that he only learned in adulthood that he had never undergone a bris mila.

Elbaz shared the story during a candid interview with broadcaster Menachem Toker on Kol Chai Radio, leaving listeners and the host himself visibly stunned.

“I went my whole life believing I’d had a bris as a baby,” Elbaz said. “It was never something I questioned.”

According to Elbaz, doubts only began to surface years later, following his divorce, when he started reflecting more deeply on his life.

“My parents were secular, and the mohel was already elderly,” he explained. “At some point, I just felt I needed to look into it.”

Unsure how to proceed, Elbaz turned to a close friend who regularly serves as a sandak at brit milah ceremonies. He asked him for guidance — and for a discreet examination.

“The answer shocked me,” Elbaz recalled. “He checked and told me I had been uncircumcised my entire life.”

Shortly afterward, Elbaz underwent a full bris milah at the age of 39.

Toker, reacting live on air, said he could hardly process what he was hearing.

“It changed my life completely,” Elbaz said. “I felt that Hashem was choosing me, and I was choosing Him. Now I have a bris with Him.”

Your browser does not support the video tag.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israel’s healthcare system is reportedly taking steps to prepare for a potential extended conflict with Iran, according to multiple media reports.

The Health Ministry is said to be evaluating contingency plans aimed at reducing hospital occupancy in the event of sustained hostilities. Among the measures under consideration is scaling back internal medicine departments by discharging stable patients who can safely continue recovery at home, thereby freeing up capacity for emergency cases.

Officials are also reportedly weighing the possibility of temporarily transferring medical personnel from central Israel — where staffing levels are relatively higher — to hospitals in peripheral regions that may face heavier strain during wartime.

In Tel Aviv, Assuta Ramat HaHayal has completed preparations for a 200-bed underground hospital facility, built at the request of the Health Ministry to ensure readiness during emergencies, Channel 12 reported. The fortified unit is designed to receive patients from public hospitals that lack sufficient protection.

The facility is also equipped with support systems and protected operating rooms above ground, enabling it to handle complex and extended surgical procedures for patients transferred from other hospitals if needed.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is planning to publish a legal opinion banning Shin Bet chief David Zini from involvement in operations related to Gaza, Channel 14 reported on Sunday evening.

The report cited sources in the Justice Ministry who said that after the legal establishment’s initial attempts to harm Zini in the wake of the investigation of his brother Betzalel failed, Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon, backed by Baharav-Miara, is drafting an opinion prohibiting Zini from handling Gaza-related matters, including smuggling attempts.

The opinion, which is being drafted in coordination with the Shin Bet’s legal advisor (a holdover from ex-Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar’s tenure), could seriously damage the Shin Bet’s efforts to prevent smuggling. The report noted that the operation against weapons smuggling into Israel from Egypt was initiated by Zini when he took office.

“Such a prohibition, which is forming against Zini after the investigation has concluded, indictments have been filed against all those involved, and all those involved are no longer active in the field, is a petty, severe, and unnecessary blow to national security—no less,” wrote Channel 14 journalist Yaakov Bardugo. “Imagine, for example, that Gil Limon would inform the IDF Chief of Staff that he is barred from handling the Air Force.”

The left has made multiple attempts to harm Zini, with three former Shin Bet chiefs even submitting a petition to the Supreme Court that consisted entirely of inciteful Haarez reports.

A criminal investigation was subsequently launched against the three ex-chiefs for refusing to transfer classified information.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Israel’s flagship airline, El Al Israel Airlines, is facing a potential $35 million fine after regulators accused the carrier of abusing its dominant position during the country’s war with Hamas.

The Israel Competition Authority said it has notified El Al of its intent to impose a financial sanction of roughly 110 million shekels, alleging that the airline unlawfully blocked a smaller rival from accessing critical maintenance facilities.

According to regulators, beginning in August 2024 — at the height of the war, when many foreign carriers suspended service to Israel — El Al repeatedly refused to allow Arkia Israeli Airlines to rent its aircraft hangars, even when space was available.

For years, El Al and Arkia had operated under an agreement allowing Arkia to use El Al-owned hangars for maintenance and inspections. The competition authority said the carrier’s refusal marked a sharp break from that longstanding arrangement.

“El Al’s conduct could have harmed Arkia’s competitiveness,” the regulator said in a statement, warning that restricted access to maintenance facilities exposed the smaller airline to safety, economic, and reputational risks.

Officials added that limiting Arkia’s ability to service its aircraft could have led to cancellations and delays, ultimately hurting passengers and raising the risk of lawsuits.

“Beyond the direct harm to the flying public, this could expose Arkia to significant legal and reputational consequences,” the authority said.

The watchdog said that El Al will be granted a formal hearing before any final penalty is imposed.

El Al has rejected the allegations, insisting it complied with competition laws throughout the conflict.

“El Al always acts in accordance with competition law provisions,” the airline said. “During the war, the company assisted Israeli airlines far beyond what was required by law, out of a sense of solidarity and commitment to the traveling public.”

The carrier added that it “provided and continues to provide Arkia with various services, including the use of hangars, to the extent possible.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs said on Monday that the Attorney General’s office refuses to advise the government on how to formulate policy and procedures for enforcement against Chareidi draft-eligible individuals.

According to an i24News report, Fuchs wrote to the court that “the Attorney General’s office does not act to help the government advance its policy according to law, but rather promotes its own agenda.” He added that “the draft law is in its final legislative stages” and includes significant enforcement measures.

Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon sent a letter to Fuchs demanding that government ministries expand sanctions against Bnei Torah. Among other measures, he called for canceling municipal property-tax discounts, revoking daycare subsidies, eliminating public transportation discounts, and revoking rental assistance.

UTJ MK Yisrael Eichler addressed the new measures in a UTJ faction meeting, saying: “The official dictatorship issued a letter requiring the government to immediately deny property tax discounts to the Chaeidim, deny daycare subsidies for their children, deny public transportation discounts, deny access to the ‘discounted housing’ program, and deny rental and mortgage assistance.”

Eichler emphasized: “The dictator even added: ‘These steps must be adopted immediately—no legislation is required for this.'”

Eichler added: “Imagine what the ‘enlightened public’ and the media would do if such an order were issued to fight crime families who have murdered hundreds of people in recent years. After all, no one would dare suggest using such draconian discrimination against their families.”

“Woe to them and to the regime of terror that seeks to eradicate lomdei Torah and has turned them into criminals more dangerous than the murderers rampaging in the crime world. We as a faction must not remain silent about this, and must take drastic steps to shake the entire world.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Federal and local authorities are piecing together the final days of a troubled young man who was shot and killed Sunday after sneaking onto Mar-a-Lago, the private estate of President Donald Trump, while armed with a shotgun.

The intruder, identified as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin, was killed Sunday after he reportedly raised his weapon into a “shooting position,” prompting Secret Service agents and Florida police to open fire.

Authorities said Martin had been reported missing by his family a day earlier, after he vanished from his home in North Carolina. His mother had circulated a missing-person poster, hoping to locate him before it was too late.

Instead, investigators now say Martin had driven south on what appears to have been a one-way journey to Trump’s Florida residence.

In the days before his death, Martin sent a series of unsettling text messages to a co-worker, obtained by TMZ, revealing an intense fixation on the so-called Epstein files.

“Evil is real and unmistakable,” he wrote in one message. “The best people like you and I can do is raise awareness.”

Colleagues later told investigators that Martin believed the government was deliberately hiding information to protect powerful elites. He reportedly grew increasingly frustrated over what he saw as corruption, economic hardship, and the inability of young people to afford independence. Sources said he had even tried — unsuccessfully — to organize a union at his workplace for higher wages.

Relatives described Martin as soft-spoken and deeply loyal to Trump. His cousin said most of the family were strong supporters of the president and insisted that violence was completely out of character.

“He wouldn’t even hurt an ant,” the cousin said. “He doesn’t even know how to use a gun.”

On Sunday, Martin allegedly entered the Mar-a-Lago grounds carrying a shotgun and a gas can. When confronted by security, he raised his weapon and was immediately shot.

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were at the White House at the time and were not in danger.

Authorities have not announced a definitive motive and say the investigation remains ongoing. Residents in the area have been asked to review security footage for any additional clues.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Does anything exist? That is one of philosophy’s most enduring questions. Consider a table: to determine whether it exists, we must first define what a table actually is. One might begin by describing it as an object comprised of a flat surface supported by legs — but this definition immediately invites further scrutiny. If a pen is placed on the table, what distinguishes the pen from the table itself? What makes them separate objects rather than one unified thing? At what point, if any, does the pen become part of the table?

While this question might appear silly, it is actually a launch point for the philosophical study of ontology — the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of existence itself, with what it means for something to be. Some argue that in reality, nothing exists as a distinct thing. What we call a “table” is just stuff tableing. We humans created words to make life simpler — instead of saying “stuff arranged so that other stuff can be placed atop it,” we just say table. Others argue that things genuinely do exist in reality — and yes, they work tirelessly to explain exactly how the pen relates to the table.

Is there value in these discussions? If one approaches such questions armed only with their own senses and predispositions, then beyond the pleasure of the exercise itself, no real progress is made. One can live a deeply meaningful life without ever resolving whether a table truly “exists.” When it comes to learning Torah — specifically Gemara — however, asking these very questions is the key to understanding why we learn in the first place.

A brief parenthetical: this is not to dismiss philosophy wholesale. The Rambam and other Rishonim were serious philosophers. But their philosophy was anchored in Torah. They had a divine basis guiding their thinking, and as a result, the conclusions they drew genuinely deepened our understanding of the universe.

Hashem gave us the Torah to inform our daily lives — what I may do, what I must do, what I may not do. Delving into Halacha gives clarity and nuance to these questions, to be sure. But the ultimate purpose of Torah runs deeper: to connect us with our Maker. The Torah transmits to us the most precise description of Hashem available to human beings. By learning Torah we come to know Him. Moreover, learning Daas Elokim imbues us with G-dliness itself, drawing us ever closer.

What does this have to do with Gemara? The Gemara takes seemingly simple laws and breaks them into their most precise and nuanced components. “Thou shalt not kill” — but may one kill in self-defense? The Gemara student is charged with asking further, deeper, always questioning apparent assumptions. In Brisker parlance, the question is not why — but what. When the Torah prohibits Shatnez, we ask: what exactly is the prohibition? Is it the act of wearing it, or the act of deriving benefit while wearing it? When the Torah requires a Get to accomplish a divorce, we ask: what constitutes a Get? The deeper one asks, the more precise their understanding of Hashem’s wisdom becomes — and the more precise that understanding, the closer they draw to Him. Not close in proximity (we hope, until 120), but close in alignment. By plumbing the depths of a sugya through relentless questioning, one becomes more G-dly.

This is why Beis Medrash ontology is the most esteemed of all pursuits. The question “what is a table?” — asked with the right intent, in the right place — becomes a direct pathway to Dveikus BaHashem.

May we all be inspired to dive deeper into the Yam HaShas.

A Freilichen Purim!

Zev Levin

The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.

Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said Sunday that the United States is expected to issue an ultimatum to Hamas in the coming days, demanding that the terror group disarm and fully demilitarize Gaza.

Speaking to Kan News, Smotrich said the move would come from Washington and would give Hamas a final opportunity to avoid a major Israeli military operation.

“It is estimated that in the coming days, Hamas will be given an ultimatum to disarm and fully demilitarize Gaza,” Smotrich said.

He added that Israel is allowing President Donald Trump time to pursue his own approach to the conflict.

“We have not given up on destroying Hamas,” Smotrich said. “We are giving President Trump a chance to do it in his own way.”

Smotrich warned that if Hamas rejects the ultimatum, Israel will move forward with a full-scale military campaign, backed by international and U.S. support.

“If they do not comply, the IDF will receive international legitimacy and American backing to do it itself,” he said, referring to the IDF.

According to Smotrich, the Israeli military is already preparing for potential operations in Gaza, while political leaders continue to refine strategic plans.

“The IDF is already preparing for this and making plans,” he said. “On the political level, we have held several discussions to fine-tune these plans.”

He noted that officials are currently reviewing multiple military options.

“There are two or three alternatives we are examining to determine which is most appropriate,” Smotrich said. “One thing is certain: The IDF will enter and conquer Gaza if Hamas does not disarm.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The snow may be winding down, but the aviation chaos is far from over.

More than 11,000 U.S. flights have now been canceled through Tuesday as airlines scramble to recover from the Blizzard of 2026.

According to FlightAware: ✈️ Nearly 1,900 flights are already canceled for Tuesday
⏳ More than 10,300 flights have been delayed

That brings the total number of disrupted flights to over 21,300 nationwide as carriers struggle to reposition aircraft and crews.

Expect ripple effects across the country for days.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

U.S. President Donald Trump forcefully pushed back against reports claiming that his top military adviser has been cautioning against a prolonged military campaign targeting Iran.

In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump rejected the narrative that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Daniel Caine opposes military action.

“Numerous stories from the Fake News Media have been circulating stating that General Daniel Caine, sometimes referred to as Razin, is against us going to War with Iran,” Trump wrote.

“The story does not attribute this vast wealth of knowledge to anyone, and is 100% incorrect,” the president continued. “General Caine, like all of us, would like not to see War but, if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won.”

Trump praised Caine in emphatic terms, writing that he “is a Great Fighter, and represents the Most Powerful Military anywhere in the World. He has not spoken of not doing Iran, or even the fake limited strikes that I have been reading about, he only knows one thing, how to WIN and, if he is told to do so, he will be leading the pack.”

The president also made clear that the ultimate decision rests with him.

“I am the one that makes the decision, I would rather have a Deal than not but, if we don’t make a Deal, it will be a very bad day for that Country and, very sadly, its people, because they are great and wonderful, and something like this should never have happened to them.”

Trump’s remarks come amid escalating tensions and growing debate over whether Washington will pursue diplomacy or military action regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional activities.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

New York remains under a State of Emergency with a hazardous travel advisory in effect through midnight. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said city agencies have been “working nonstop” to keep New Yorkers safe.

Here’s the citywide breakdown:

• 2,600 sanitation workers deployed on every 12-hour shift
• 2,300+ plows mobilized, including 700 salt spreaders
• 800 emergency snow shovelers deployed this morning (575 overnight)
• 50+ million pounds of salt distributed
• 99.5% of city streets plowed at least once
• 22 warming buses, 11 hospital warming spaces, 13 school warming centers open
• 100 additional low-barrier stabilization beds opened in Upper Manhattan
• 8,000 of 11,000 Rockaways customers have had power restored

Officials say the coordinated effort reflects a “whole of government” response to the historic storm.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Former Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party suffered losses in the 2024 presidential race in part because of the party’s approach to Israel’s war in Gaza, according to internal research cited by Axios.

The report, based on confidential Democratic Party reviews, suggests that U.S. policy toward Israel under then-President Joe Biden alienated key segments of young and progressive voters, contributing to Harris’s defeat by Donald Trump.

According to Axios, Democratic officials conducted more than 300 interviews across all 50 states as part of a post-election analysis aimed at understanding the party’s losses.

Despite the scope of the review, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in December that the party would not release the full findings.

“We’ve completed a comprehensive review of what happened in 2024,” Martin said at the time. “Here’s our North Star: Does this help us win?”

As part of the review, DNC officials met with activists from the Institute for Middle East Understanding Policy Project, which advocates for Palestinian rights and has criticized U.S. support for Israel.

Representatives from the group told Democratic leaders that Biden’s backing of Israel had eroded support among younger voters and progressives.

“The DNC shared with us that their own data found that the policy was a ‘net-negative’ in the 2024 election,” said IMEU spokesperson Hamid Bendaas, according to Axios.

The organization later accused the DNC of withholding its report because of its findings on Israel — a claim denied by DNC spokesperson Kendall Witmer.

Despite the internal conclusions, Harris adopted a more critical tone on Gaza in the final months of the campaign.

While she stopped short of labeling Israel’s actions as “genocide,” she publicly acknowledged protesters’ concerns during a campaign stop in Milwaukee in October 2024, saying, “What he’s talking about, it’s real.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A controversial door-to-door boycott campaign by pro-Palestinian activists in the UK is drawing fierce backlash after Jewish residents reported feeling intimidated in their own neighborhoods.

According to a report by The Telegraph, activists linked to the “Apartheid-Free Zone” (AFZ) movement have been canvassing homes in Hackney, Bristol, Sheffield, and Brighton, urging residents to boycott Israeli products.
Jewish organizations and political leaders say the campaign has crossed a dangerous line from protest into harassment.

The Community Security Trust (CST) condemned the door-knocking efforts, warning that “turning up uninvited at homes in an area with a large Jewish community to push a political agenda of this nature is intimidating and crosses a serious line.”

Tensions escalated further following an alleged incident in Sheffield, where a woman claimed she was headbutted by an AFZ-affiliated activist while counter-protesting with her partner. The incident has fueled growing calls for police scrutiny.

Labour MP Peter Kyle said he had reported the activity to authorities, raising concerns that it may constitute a hate crime.

“My immediate thought was for the appalling scenario of a vulnerable Jewish resident being door-knocked by a gang of people wanting to harangue them,” Kyle told Sky News.

Police have confirmed that no arrests have been made so far.

Hackney, in particular, is home to one of the largest Orthodox Jewish populations outside of New York and Israel, making the door-to-door campaign especially sensitive.

Community leaders warn that targeting residential areas risks inflaming tensions and placing ordinary families in harm’s way.

“What begins as political activism,” one Jewish advocate said, “ends up feeling like a campaign of intimidation when it reaches people’s front doors.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio may postpone a planned visit to Israel as Washington weighs its next steps on potential military action against Iran, according to a U.S. official.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Rubio still intends to travel to Israel, but acknowledged that his schedule remains fluid.

“Secretary Rubio is still planning to travel to Israel, but the schedule remains subject to change,” the official told AFP.

Rubio had been expected to arrive over the coming weekend for high-level talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including discussions on possible strikes against Iran and the broader regional security picture.

However, Israeli media reports indicate that the visit has likely been pushed to Monday, suggesting last-minute adjustments amid heightened diplomatic and military uncertainty.

The potential delay comes as tensions continue to rise over Iran’s nuclear program and as the United States increases its military presence in the Middle East. Washington has warned repeatedly that Tehran cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, while Israel has signaled it is prepared to act independently if diplomacy fails.

A meeting between Rubio and Netanyahu is expected to focus on coordination between the U.S. and Israel, including contingency planning and diplomatic options.

The shifting timeline underscores the delicate balance facing the Trump administration as it attempts to maintain close alignment with Israel while keeping open the possibility of negotiations with Tehran.

Officials have not provided a revised itinerary or confirmed whether additional regional stops could be added to Rubio’s trip.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A senior U.S. military official is reportedly warning President Donald Trump that military action against Iran could carry grave consequences, including the risk of a drawn-out regional war.

According to Axios, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine — the president’s top military adviser — has cautioned Trump and other senior officials that the stakes in confronting Iran are significantly higher than recent U.S. operations elsewhere.

Sources familiar with internal discussions say Caine has stressed that a strike on Iran could result in substantial American casualties and trigger broader escalation across the Middle East. While not ruling out military action, he is described by one source as a “reluctant warrior” on Iran. Another source characterized him as “clear-eyed and realistic” about both the definition of success and the potential fallout once hostilities begin.

The debate comes as the administration weighs whether to pursue military action or allow more time for diplomacy. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are reportedly pushing to extend negotiations and are scheduled to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva on Thursday. They argue that American leverage may increase over time and that diplomatic avenues should be fully exhausted before any strike is authorized.

President Trump has reportedly leaned toward military options in recent days but has agreed to permit additional diplomatic efforts before making a final determination.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been advocating for decisive action against Iran. However, according to a U.S. source cited in the report, Netanyahu left a recent meeting with Trump uncertain about the president’s ultimate position, reportedly asking afterward whether Trump is “still with us.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli police have dismantled a suspected drug laboratory in Bnei Brak, arresting two young men and seizing dozens of cannabis plants. Police said detectives from the Bnei Brak–Ramat Gan station, operating under the Israel Police, raided an apartment on Dangur Street on Sunday after obtaining a court-issued search warrant.

Inside the residence, officers discovered what they believe was a fully functioning drug-growing facility. Police said the lab contained 156 cannabis plants weighing a combined 31 kilograms.

In addition to the plants, investigators found approximately 10 grams of a substance suspected to be cocaine inside a vehicle parked near the apartment.

Two suspects were taken into custody at the scene: a 25-year-old resident of Bnei Brak and a 24-year-old man from Rechovot.

Both men were transferred for questioning and later remanded into custody. A court has extended their detention until Thursday as the investigation continues.

Police officials have not yet said whether additional suspects are being sought or whether the operation is linked to wider drug distribution networks.

Following the raid, Tel Aviv District Commander Haim Sargrof signed an administrative order mandating the closure of the apartment for one month, through March 23.

Authorities said the measure is intended to prevent further illegal activity at the site and to deter similar operations in residential areas.

The bust comes amid stepped-up efforts by Israeli law enforcement to crack down on domestic drug production, which has increasingly shifted from rural greenhouses to hidden urban apartments.

Police officials say such operations pose risks not only due to illegal drug activity but also because of fire hazards, electrical tampering, and public safety concerns.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

American refueling and cargo aircraft were spotted at Ben Gurion Airport on Monday.  The aircraft arrived over the past 24 hours as Washington increases its regional footprint while President Donald Trump weighs potential military action against Tehran.

Israeli authorities have not publicly commented on the presence of the U.S. planes at the country’s main civilian airport. It remains unclear whether the aircraft are stationed in Israel temporarily as part of routine stopovers or are linked to broader operational planning.

According to the Military Air Tracking Alliance, which monitors government and defense-related flights using open-source intelligence, more than 85 American fuel tankers and over 170 cargo aircraft have entered the Middle East since mid-February.

Analysts say such aircraft are critical to sustaining large-scale military operations, enabling long-range strike missions, troop movements, and rapid resupply.

“The volume of tanker and cargo traffic suggests preparations for extended operations,” one regional security analyst said. “These assets are essential if the U.S. intends to maintain pressure or act quickly.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The United States has begun evacuating nonessential personnel and family members from its embassy in Lebanon, signaling growing concern over regional instability as Washington intensifies its military buildup in the Middle East.

The United States Department of State confirmed Monday that dozens of staff were flown out through Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport.

“This is a precautionary measure due to anticipated regional developments,” the State Department said, adding that the United States Embassy in Beirut remains open with essential personnel.

“The Department of State has ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members,” a spokesperson said. “This is a temporary measure intended to ensure the safety of our personnel while maintaining our ability to operate.”

The move comes as the U.S. sharply expands its military presence near Iran, raising fears of a prolonged confrontation.

According to U.S. officials and open-source tracking data, Washington has positioned multiple destroyers across the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf, along with two aircraft carrier groups. More than 50 fighter jets — including F-16s, F-22s, and F-35s — have reportedly been deployed to the region in recent days.

The The New York Times reported Sunday that U.S. and Western officials are concerned Iran could activate proxy groups to attack American interests worldwide if President Donald Trump orders major military action.

Officials told the newspaper that intercepted communications show increased “chatter” suggesting coordination and early-stage planning, even if no specific plots have been identified.

Colin Clarke, executive director of the Soufan Center, warned that Iran could respond asymmetrically if its leadership — including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — feels directly threatened.

“Iran can work through proxies to conduct terrorist attacks that will raise the cost of any U.S. campaign,” Clarke said.

In a separate report, the Times said Trump is weighing a much larger military operation in the coming months aimed at destabilizing or toppling Iran’s leadership if Tehran refuses to meet U.S. demands on its nuclear program.

Such an attack, according to officials briefed on the matter, would represent a dramatic escalation beyond limited strikes.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The historic bomb cyclone has triggered massive air travel disruptions nationwide, with more than 22,000 total flight disruptions reported through Tuesday.

• 10,700+ cancellations
• 9,300+ delays
• Major Northeast hubs effectively shut down
• Orlando, Tampa, and Atlanta also seeing hundreds of cancellations as ripple effects spread

Planes and crews remain stranded, creating what experts describe as a temporary “no-fly zone” across parts of the Northeast.

Delta, United, JetBlue, and American have issued broad travel waivers, allowing passengers to rebook without penalty as airlines brace for a multi-day recovery.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

As if heavy snow and fierce winds weren’t enough, a new hazard is developing across New York City: falling ice and snow from skyscrapers.

With up to 15 inches recorded in Central Park and wind gusts reaching 55 mph, ice is forming and clinging to high-rise ledges and facades — especially on modern, energy-efficient buildings that keep exterior surfaces colder.

As temperatures shift and winds whip through the city, large chunks of ice can break free without warning, posing a serious risk of head injuries and other life-threatening harm.

Residents are urged to stay alert, avoid walking directly beneath building overhangs, and use caution when navigating city streets.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a forceful warning to Iran’s regime Monday night during a dramatic Knesset plenary session convened by the opposition with 40 signatures, making clear that Israel stands ready to unleash overwhelming force if provoked.

Netanyahu, who recently returned from his seventh meeting with President Donald Trump since Trump’s election, declared that Israel has successfully pushed back what he described as an existential Iranian threat against all 10 million citizens of the State of Israel — Jews and non-Jews, chareidim and secular alike.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

“A threat of annihilation by the Iranian enemy and its proxies,” Netanyahu said, emphasizing that Israel today stands stronger than ever.

He underscored what he called an unprecedented strategic alliance with the United States, highlighting the deep coordination between the IDF and the U.S. military, as well as close intelligence and security cooperation.

“Israel has never been stronger. The alliance with the U.S. has never been tighter,” Netanyahu stated, pointing to his personal relationship with President Trump and the close military partnership between the two nations.

But the Prime Minister reserved his most dramatic words for Tehran.

“I have conveyed and clarified to the Ayatollahs’ regime that if they make what might be the gravest mistake in their history and attack the State of Israel, we will respond with a force they cannot even imagine.”

The warning comes amid escalating regional tensions and mounting concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its network of terrorist proxies across the Middle East.

Netanyahu called on Israelis to set aside political divisions during what he described as “complex and challenging days,” urging national unity ahead of Purim.

“We must close ranks as a nation and stand shoulder to shoulder,” he said. “We have already proven that when we stand together, we achieve greatness.”

With unmistakable resolve, the Prime Minister signaled that Israel will not tolerate aggression — and that any attack from Tehran would be met with crushing retaliation.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

While the historic blizzard is still pounding the Northeast, forecasters are already tracking a potential second system for Thursday–Friday.

• Long-range models show possible accumulating snow for NYC and Boston
• Some projections suggest up to an additional half foot in parts of the region
• Other models indicate a weaker storm with limited impacts
• Significant uncertainty remains this far out

Forecasters caution it’s too early to determine exact totals, especially while the current bomb cyclone is still influencing conditions.

Stay with YWN for updates as the forecast evolves.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Orthodox executive members of the World Zionist Organization published a statement denouncing an earlier statement that was published by Reform members “in the name of all executive members” without their consent and against their position.

Last week, Executive member Tami Gottleib, who also serves as the vice-chairman of the Women of the Wall organization, was arrested at the Kosel after she disturbed public order on Rosh Chodesh Adar. The police also issued a restraining order against her, banning her from the Kosel.

Following the incident, some members of the Zionist Organization’s board published a statement of support for Gottleib “in the name of all the board members.”

Rabbi Pesach Lerner from the Eretz HaKodesh faction told Kikar HaShabbat, “In all the big countries around the world—except for one or two—there is a solid and clear majority of religious Orthodox voters who voted for religious slates over Reform ones. Despite this, the representatives of the Reform and Conservative movements have the chutzpah to issue statements ‘in the name of world Jewry,’ even though it has been clearly proven that the majority is Orthodox.”

“The time has come for us to stand our ground and say clearly: the majority of world Jewry supports the Orthodox position and wants to preserve the voice of Torah and halacha in Eretz Yisrael. The Reform movement has no right to speak in the name of world Jewry.”

The statement issued by the Orthodox executive members stated: “We, members of the Zionist Executive representing the religious-Orthodox bloc, hereby express our protest and deep sorrow regarding the statement that was published – contrary to our position – and purportedly issued in the name of all Executive members, following the provocation carried out in the Western Wall plaza by Executive member Tami Gottlieb.”

“The Western Wall is one of the most important Jewish symbols, and we respect the right of every Jew to pray there in accordance with Jewish law and tradition, while preserving the status quo that has been maintained there for decades and in accordance with the directives of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, founded by the eminent Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook, of blessed memory. This is the position of millions of Jews in Israel and around the world, and we seek to express it clearly and unequivocally.”

“We express our pain over the unnecessary provocation that harmed the sanctity of the site, and that bears no connection to the compromise framework proposed by Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky and Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit. We stand with and support the Israel Police and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, who are entrusted with preserving the sanctity of the site and maintaining law and order in accordance with the directives of the Council of the Chief Rabbinate.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The forecasts called for major snow — and they were right on target.

More than a foot of snow has already fallen in parts of New York City, with even higher totals on Long Island and along the Jersey Shore. Snowfall rates peaked at up to 3–4 inches per hour, with wind gusts topping 50 mph creating near-whiteout conditions.

⚡ Nearly 400,000 customers across the Northeast are without power as of 6:30 a.m.

🚫 NYC remains under a mandatory citywide travel ban until 12:00 p.m. Only essential workers and documented emergencies are permitted on the roads. Violators face fines and towing.

🚨 New Jersey remains under a state of emergency, with hundreds of schools closed and a travel ban on non-essential vehicles extended through noon.

🌨️ NYC Blizzard Update: Historic Snowfall Totals

• Central Park: 15+ inches as of 7:00 a.m. — most from a single storm in over 5 years
• Snowiest single storm since 17.4 inches fell in early February 2021
• NYC now at 37.4 inches for the season — snowiest winter since 2020–2021
• Most of this winter’s snow came from just two storms (11.4” last month + this storm)
• Additional accumulation possible through early afternoon

📍 Other Major Totals:
• Islip: 22.5”
• Newark: 18.3” (biggest storm there since 2016)
• LaGuardia: 15.1”
• JFK: 15.0”

Authorities are urging residents to stay indoors and allow plows and emergency crews to continue operations safely.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In an escalation in the struggle against Israel’s corrupt judicial system, Prof. Moshe Cohen-Eliya, one of Israel’s leading critics of what he calls the “judicial system’s tyranny,” has launched an initiative to ask U.S. President Donald Trump to impose personal sanctions on Supreme Court Justice Yitzchak Amit and the dismissed Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara.

Cohen-Eliya is working to collect 100,000 Israeli signatures on an open letter to President Trump urging him to use his authority ” to help rescue Israeli democracy from what we view as an institutional revolt against the sovereignty of the people.”

The letter draws a direct comparison between Trump’s own experiences and the situation in Israel: “As someone who has personally experienced political prosecution by a legal establishment captured by political rivals, you understand that one effective way to curb abuses of prosecutorial power is through targeted sanctions.”

“As you know, Israel’s Prime Minister has been persecuted by the state prosecution in a case that many believe is politically motivated and lacking solid legal foundation, as developments during the trial have exposed. The judges themselves suggested that the prosecution withdraw the bribery charge, while the remaining allegations largely concern claims regarding cigars and champagne allegedly received from friends in limited quantities.”

“Israel’s Supreme Court has assumed authority to invalidate constitutional amendments without explicit constitutional authorization. It intervenes extensively in public appointments based on what it terms the ‘reasonableness’ doctrine. At the same time, Attorney General Baharav-Miara is, in the view of many, engaged in politically driven actions against right-wing leadership. Over several years, law enforcement authorities also deployed intrusive surveillance tools, which in some cases were reportedly used in matters connected to the Prime Minister. When a governmental commission of inquiry was established to investigate this affair, actions by the Attorney General and the Court effectively led to the resignation of the commission’s distinguished members.

“We are fully aware that our request as citizens of Israel is unusual and may be perceived as implicating issues of sovereignty. However, many Israelis believe that democratic sovereignty has been significantly eroded. A government enjoying a clear public mandate is struggling to function in the face of what many view as the most activist high court in the democratic world — one that intervenes deeply in security, political, and appointment matters.

“Israel is unraveling, and Israel’s deep state is acting in ways that undermine American interests. It weakens the United States’ central ally in the Middle East and obstructs the critical cooperation between Israel’s Prime Minister and you in advancing the shared objectives of our two free peoples.

“Accordingly, we call upon you to impose sanctions on Gali Baharav-Miara and Yitzchak Amit, similar to measures previously directed at judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague and its chief prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan.

“We believe such action would make a meaningful contribution to strengthening Israeli democracy.

“We thank you for your attention and for your continued leadership in support of the free world and the people of Israel,” the letter concludes.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps military commanders have been holding meetings in hospitals in recent days, a medical staff member in a hospital in Tehran told Iran International.

“The presence of these individuals, along with their protection units, has alarmed staff because the meetings had nothing to do with medical matters,” a hospital employee said.

Similar accounts from Shiraz, Gorgan, and Tehran describe armed personnel deployed in medical centers and, in some cases, gunfire from hospital rooftops toward protesters.

In recent days, security forces have also assembled at certain stadiums and sports arenas, which sources say is intended to protect personnel and equipment from possible U.S. or Israeli strikes by positioning them within densely populated civilian areas.

During the January 8–9 demonstrations and the days that followed, multiple testimonies described security activity conducted from inside public buildings. Witnesses and local media reported gunfire at protesters from within a governor’s office and from the roof of a hospital in Gorgan. In Arak and Sari, schools were reportedly used to house forces and detain suspects.

Political analyst and journalist Jamshid Barzegar said that the use of hospitals fro military activity reflects a pattern long observed in the Islamic Republic’s proxies.

“The Islamic Republic has once again brought inside the country a criminal pattern it has tested for years through its proxy forces in the region: militarizing civilian spaces and using civilians as human shields,” he said.

“Now that the Islamic Republic has cast the shadow of war over Iran, we are seeing the same methods being applied domestically. In the bloodiest and largest crackdown on public protests in Iran’s history during January 8 and 9 and the days after, the presence of security forces resembled the conduct of terror groups.”

“This is not only a sign of strategic weakness, but a message that the lives of ordinary Iranians carry little weight in the government’s calculations. When commanders enter hospitals with protection teams and hold non-medical meetings, they are effectively taking patients and medical staff hostage to their own security considerations,” Barzegar said. “There is no justification for using civilians as human shields.”

Not just hospitals. Iranian Security forces gather in a school courtyard during the January protests in Iran.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Military Police officers arrived overnight Sunday at the home of an avreich in the city of Be’er Sheva and arrested him for draft dodging in front of his wife and children at 3:30 a.m.

Kikar H’Shabbat noted the IDF’s selective enforcement, saying that the avreich, Daniel Pinto, 28, is Sefardi, like the vast majority of the Bnei Torah who have been arrested and imprisoned.

Following his arrest, he was transferred to a military prison. He was brought before a military officer early Monday afternoon and sentenced to three days in prison.

Attorney Shlomo Haddad is representing the avreich on behalf of the Notnim Gav organization.

“The family is also receiving assistance and support from the organization,” a statement said.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The Shin Bet and Israel Police recently thwarted a terror attack against IDF soldiers in northern Israel, a joint statement revealed on Monday morning.

During the operation, four Israeli-Arab residents of the Galil were arrested for alleged terror activities.

Their interrogations revealed that the four suspects were planning to carry out a shooting attack against IDF soldiers in the city of Karmiel.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Some of the suspects had already trained for the attack.

Following the completion of the investigation, indictments were filed against the suspects by the Haifa District Prosecutor’s Office on Monday.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attempted to sideline Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the peak of the nationwide protests in January but failed, according to a report in the French newspaper Le Figaro.

According to the report, the Iranian official who foiled the coup attempt, Ali Larijani, has since gained sweeping authority and is effectively running the country. He is now considered the Islamic Republic’s de facto ruler.

According to the report, the coup attempt coalesced the night of Jan. 7-8—one day before regime forces massacred tens of thousands of protesters. Sources quoted by Le Figaro said that Rouhani led the move together with members of his former administration, including Zarif, several clerics from Qom, and figures connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

A source familiar with the matter said the objective was to remove Khamenei from the decision-making process during the crisis. However, the plan collapsed due to a lack of support from Larijani, the Supreme National Security Council secretary.

President Masoud Pezeshkian was deliberately excluded from the discussions to prevent the plan from being exposed. After it was discovered, Rouhani and Zarif were allegedly placed under several days of house arrest, while reformist allies were briefly detained.

In the wake of the internal coup attempt, Larijani—credited with blocking it—was given sweeping authority by Khamenei. The New York Times reported on Sunday that Larijani is now managing the state, marginalizing Pezeshkian.

Larijani’s influence has expanded significantly. He oversaw the suppression of recent protests and is working to contain remaining resistance. He also coordinates with allies, including Russia and regional states such as Qatar and Oman, oversees nuclear talks with Washington, and is reportedly preparing contingency plans in case of war with the United States.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A high-stakes debate is underway inside the Trump administration over whether to grant Iran more time to submit a serious nuclear proposal as U.S. military preparations continue in the background, Yisrael Hayom reports.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has said he may meet U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in Geneva on Thursday. He has indicated that Iran plans to submit a more flexible and detailed proposal than in previous rounds, following U.S. demands for clarity on Tehran’s nuclear intentions.

For now, officials say, talks are likely to proceed — even without an advance proposal — as Washington weighs its next move.

At the center of the dispute are two sharply divided camps.

On one side are Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who argue that a narrow diplomatic window still exists. They believe an agreement could prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and limit its regional influence.

Opposing them are Secretary of State Marco Rubio, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Vice President JD Vance, who view regime change as a central U.S. objective. In their assessment, any deal with Tehran would be temporary and eventually violated.

President Donald Trump is seen as leaning toward this more hardline position, though he has allowed diplomatic efforts to continue.

Officials at the State and War Departments have privately criticized the negotiation process, arguing that Iran does not appear to take U.S. military threats seriously.

“Such overwhelming military power should have brought them ready to discuss everything we want,” one senior official said. “That hasn’t happened.”

Inside negotiating rooms, many officials believe Iran sees the U.S. military buildup mainly as leverage — not an imminent threat.

This perception, they say, has encouraged Tehran to delay and negotiate cautiously, hoping that Washington will eventually settle for a limited agreement.

American and Israeli assessments suggest that even increased Iranian flexibility is unlikely to meet Washington’s minimum demands. Iran’s refusal to discuss missile programs and regional proxies is viewed as increasing the likelihood of a limited U.S. strike, potentially designed as a warning shot.

At the same time, administration sources say Trump believes regime change could serve as a strategic tool and is waiting for optimal conditions.

Multiple teams are reportedly developing plans for post-strike scenarios, including efforts to prevent chaos and cultivate alternative leadership.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

An approximately 9-year-old Jackson resident suffered moderate injuries on Sunday evening after he was struck and became pinned under a vehicle in the Brookwood 1 neighborhood.

The circumstances surrounding the incident were not immediately clear, and officials have not confirmed whether the accident was weather-related.

Hatzolah paramedics transported the injured boy to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. He has since been released back home.

Please daven for Yitzchok Zelig ben Malka for a refuah sheleima.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

An approximately 9-year-old Jackson resident suffered moderate injuries on Sunday evening after he was struck and became pinned under a vehicle in the Brookwood 1 neighborhood.

The circumstances surrounding the incident were not immediately clear, and officials have not confirmed whether the accident was weather-related.

Hatzolah paramedics transported the injured boy to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. He has since been released back home.

Please daven for Yitzchok Zelig ben Malka for a refuah sheleima.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

An approximately 9-year-old Jackson resident suffered moderate injuries on Sunday evening after he was struck and became pinned under a vehicle in the Brookwood 1 neighborhood.

The circumstances surrounding the incident were not immediately clear, and officials have not confirmed whether the accident was weather-related.

Hatzolah paramedics transported the injured boy to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. He has since been released back home.

Please daven for Yitzchok Zelig ben Malka for a refuah sheleima.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Yediot Achronot journalist Ben-Dror Yemini wrote an article excoriating Keir Starmer, the leftist prime minister of the UK, for citing “international law” as an excuse to “embolden the axis of evil.”

“You can never know where help for a repressive regime of terror will come from,” he wrote. “But it always comes. Even when the assistance is not massive but merely symbolic, it emboldens the axis of evil. It signals weakness in the democratic camp. The tragedy is that it is the ostensibly enlightened politicians, along with their supporters and those who fear harming international law, who time and again cause far greater damage, not only to fundamental rights but also to human life.”

“This time it is Britain, once again Britain, which informed the United States that it opposes the use of its military bases in the region for a strike on Iran. The reference is mainly to Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago, which under a May 2025 agreement is set to pass largely to the sovereignty of Mauritius. The International Court of Justice ruled in 2019 that sovereignty over the entire archipelago should be transferred to Mauritius and that the military base on Diego Garcia should be dismantled and evacuated. For years, Britain has not complied. But when it comes to saving the Iranian people from a murderous regime of terror, Britain suddenly expresses concern for international law.”

“This is not the 1930s. Iran is not Germany. In Germany at the time there were no masses chanting “Death to Britain,” and barely, if at all, “Death to the Jews.” Nazism’s genocidal character was revealed later. Iran and its proxies, by contrast, openly espouse an ideology of genocidal racism. Hassan Nasrallah, until his assassination the most prominent protégé of the Iranian regime, once declared that Jews should be concentrated in one place so they could be eliminated more easily.”

“The Houthi flag bears the words ‘Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse upon the Jews, Victory to Islam.’ Hamas, backed by Iran, indoctrinates Palestinians, including children, to destroy Jews and conquer the entire world. Iran itself recently demonstrated its nature when it killed tens of thousands of its own citizens only weeks ago. It bankrolls the coalition of evil. It spreads destruction wherever it extends its reach. Alongside Qatar, it is a leading destabilizing force in the Middle East.”

“But Britain’s Labour government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, neither hears nor sees nor understands. It seeks refuge in international law while refusing to comply with international legal rulings itself. This is not enlightenment. It is not respect for the law. It is weakness and appeasement gripping parts of the West like a disease that refuses to heal.”

“It is also striking that one of the Starmer government’s justifications for aiding Iran is the fear of Iranian retaliation against British bases in the region. According to the man in 10 Downing Street, the Iranians are apparently known for their gratitude, and in the Labour government’s imagined world, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will target only Zionists and Americans. That, it seems, is acceptable. No need for alarm,” he ominously concluded.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The Department of Homeland Security said Sunday that the Global Entry program would be shut down as long as the partial government shutdown remains in effect.

The announcement comes after the department said Saturday night that it planned to shut down both Global Entry and the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck program as well, but DHS cancelled the PreCheck closure.

“As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case-by-case basis and adjust operations accordingly,” the agency said.

The turmoil at security and customs lanes is tied to a partial government shutdown that began Feb. 14 after Democrats and the White House were unable to reach a deal on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats have been demanding changes to immigration operations that are core to President Donald Trump’s deportation campaign.

The security disruptions come at a time where a major winter storm will hit the East Coast from Sunday into Monday. Nine out of 10 flights going out of John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Boston Logan Airport have been canceled for Monday.

Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to use expedited kiosks when entering the United States from abroad. There’s no specific government data that shows how much time passengers save at airports or other ports of entry from Global Entry but travel industry experts estimate that Global Entry cuts the amount of time passengers getting through customs from an average of 30 to 90 mins for regular customs lines to 5 to 10 minutes in Global Entry lines.

Those who have Global Entry also receive TSA PreCheck. The Department of Homeland Security said in 2024 that more than 20 million Americans had TSA PreCheck, and millions of those Americans have overlapping Global Entry memberships.

Airport lines seemed largely unaffected through midday Sunday, with security check line wait times listed as under 15 minutes for most international airports, according to TSA’s mobile app.

Amy Wainscott, 42, flew from the Destin-Fort Walton Beach airport in Florida to Dallas Love Field on Sunday and said she didn’t hear about the shutdown until she had already gone through TSA’s PreCheck.

“When we got to the airport this morning everything was working like usual,” she said. “It didn’t seem like anything had changed.”

Jean Fay, 54, said she had no issues going through TSA PreCheck at the Baltimore airport for her 6 a.m. Sunday flight back home to Texas. She didn’t hear about the shutdown until she was changing planes in Austin, Texas, on her way to Dallas Love Field.

“When I landed in Austin I started getting the alerts,” she said.

Homeland Security previously said it was taking “emergency measures to preserve limited funds.” Among the steps listed were “ending Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck lanes and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Global Entry service, to refocus Department personnel on the majority of travelers.”

“We are glad that DHS has decided to keep PreCheck operational and avoid a crisis of its own making,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.

Before announcing the PreCheck shutdown, Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement Saturday night that “shutdowns have serious real world consequences.” Noem said she would take away courtesy escorts from members of Congress at airports during the partial government shutdown as well.

Airlines for America, a trade group representing major carriers, said Saturday night that “it’s past time for Congress to get to the table and get a deal done.” It also criticized the announcement by saying it was “issued with extremely short notice to travelers, giving them little time to plan accordingly.”

“A4A is deeply concerned that TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs are being suspended and that the traveling public will be, once again, used as a political football amid another government shutdown,” the organization said.

Democrats on the House Committee on Homeland Security criticized Homeland Security handling of airport security after the initial announcement on Saturday night. They accused the administration of “kneecapping the programs that make travel smoother and secure.”

Sen. Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat, said Noem’s actions are part of an administration strategy to distract from other issues and shift responsibility.

“This administration is trying to weaponize our government, trying to make things intentionally more difficult for the American people as a political leverage,” he told CNN on Sunday. “And the American people see that.”

(AP)

• Blizzard Warnings issued for NYC, Philadelphia, Boston — impacting 40+ million people
• First Blizzard Warning for NYC since 2017
• 12–24 inches expected along the I-95 corridor
• Heaviest snow Sunday night into Monday morning, with rates up to 2–3 inches per hour
• Wind gusts 50–70 mph creating life-threatening whiteout conditions
• Governors in 6 states have declared States of Emergency
• Mandatory travel bans in NYC and other areas beginning Sunday evening
• 15,0000+ flights canceled; Amtrak modified service; NJ Transit suspending service

• The Garden State is currently the epicenter of utility disruptions in the Northeast. According to data from poweroutage.com, New Jersey is reporting over 22,900 customers without power.
• Heavy, wet snow and strong winds likely to cause widespread power outages
• 2–4 ft storm surge may cause moderate coastal flooding from Delaware Bay to Cape Cod
• NYC and Boston Public Schools canceled Monday classes; many other districts closing

This website allows you to track the progress of DSNY snow removal vehicles by address. Note: A plowed or salted street will not show blacktop immediately. To submit a service request, click here or call 311.

The city offers this caveat: Actual conditions may differ from this data at times due to weather conditions, construction projects, closures, or other events. The data also might be not updated consistently because of time, changing circumstances, sourcing, and the nature of collecting comprehensive information.

For more information, visit nyc.gov/snow.

• Latest forecasts indicate this could be one of the strongest winter storms the NYC area has seen in years.

• Nearly the entire region is expected to receive 12–18 inches of snow between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.

• Parts of Long Island, along with Monmouth and Ocean counties (LAKEWOOD, TOMS RIVER ETC) in New Jersey, could see up to 2 feet of snow.

• When these ferocious winds hit the expected 2-foot snow totals, visibility will drop to near zero in seconds.

Peak wind gust forecast through Monday:

Montauk: 60–70 mph (gusts to 75 mph possible)
New York City: 50–60 mph
Boston: 50–60 mph
Hartford: 50–60 mph
Philadelphia: 30–40 mph
Washington: 40–50 mph
The most extreme winds are expected along the immediate coast, where gusts could top 70 mph as the “L” (low pressure) center tracks just offshore.

🚨❄️ NYC Declares State Of Emergency, Citywide Travel Ban Begins 9 PM

In a rare move, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has declared a State of Emergency and instituted a citywide travel ban as the blizzard intensifies.

🕘 Ban in Effect: 9:00 p.m. tonight through 12:00 p.m. Monday
🚫 All city streets, highways, and bridges closed to non-emergency traffic
🚗 Applies to cars, trucks, scooters, and e-bikes
🚑 Only essential emergency and critical service vehicles exempt

Officials cite forecasts of up to 24 inches of snow and wind gusts near 60 mph. The measure is intended to prevent stranded motorists and allow 2,600 sanitation workers to clear vital routes.

SIGN UP NOW TO A YWN WHATSAPP COMMUNITY TO BE INFORMED OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN LIVE TIME!

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

• Blizzard Warnings issued for NYC, Philadelphia, Boston — impacting 40+ million people
• First Blizzard Warning for NYC since 2017
• 12–24 inches expected along the I-95 corridor
• Heaviest snow Sunday night into Monday morning, with rates up to 2–3 inches per hour
• Wind gusts 50–70 mph creating life-threatening whiteout conditions
• Governors in 6 states have declared States of Emergency
• Mandatory travel bans in NYC and other areas beginning Sunday evening
• 15,0000+ flights canceled; Amtrak modified service; NJ Transit suspending service

• The Garden State is currently the epicenter of utility disruptions in the Northeast. According to data from poweroutage.com, New Jersey is reporting over 22,900 customers without power.
• Heavy, wet snow and strong winds likely to cause widespread power outages
• 2–4 ft storm surge may cause moderate coastal flooding from Delaware Bay to Cape Cod
• NYC and Boston Public Schools canceled Monday classes; many other districts closing

This website allows you to track the progress of DSNY snow removal vehicles by address. Note: A plowed or salted street will not show blacktop immediately. To submit a service request, click here or call 311.

The city offers this caveat: Actual conditions may differ from this data at times due to weather conditions, construction projects, closures, or other events. The data also might be not updated consistently because of time, changing circumstances, sourcing, and the nature of collecting comprehensive information.

For more information, visit nyc.gov/snow.

• Latest forecasts indicate this could be one of the strongest winter storms the NYC area has seen in years.

• Nearly the entire region is expected to receive 12–18 inches of snow between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.

• Parts of Long Island, along with Monmouth and Ocean counties (LAKEWOOD, TOMS RIVER ETC) in New Jersey, could see up to 2 feet of snow.

• When these ferocious winds hit the expected 2-foot snow totals, visibility will drop to near zero in seconds.

Peak wind gust forecast through Monday:

Montauk: 60–70 mph (gusts to 75 mph possible)
New York City: 50–60 mph
Boston: 50–60 mph
Hartford: 50–60 mph
Philadelphia: 30–40 mph
Washington: 40–50 mph
The most extreme winds are expected along the immediate coast, where gusts could top 70 mph as the “L” (low pressure) center tracks just offshore.

🚨❄️ NYC Declares State Of Emergency, Citywide Travel Ban Begins 9 PM

In a rare move, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has declared a State of Emergency and instituted a citywide travel ban as the blizzard intensifies.

🕘 Ban in Effect: 9:00 p.m. tonight through 12:00 p.m. Monday
🚫 All city streets, highways, and bridges closed to non-emergency traffic
🚗 Applies to cars, trucks, scooters, and e-bikes
🚑 Only essential emergency and critical service vehicles exempt

Officials cite forecasts of up to 24 inches of snow and wind gusts near 60 mph. The measure is intended to prevent stranded motorists and allow 2,600 sanitation workers to clear vital routes.

SIGN UP NOW TO A YWN WHATSAPP COMMUNITY TO BE INFORMED OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN LIVE TIME!

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

• Blizzard Warnings issued for NYC, Philadelphia, Boston — impacting 40+ million people
• First Blizzard Warning for NYC since 2017
• 12–24 inches expected along the I-95 corridor
• Heaviest snow Sunday night into Monday morning, with rates up to 2–3 inches per hour
• Wind gusts 50–70 mph creating life-threatening whiteout conditions
• Governors in 6 states have declared States of Emergency
• Mandatory travel bans in NYC and other areas beginning Sunday evening
• 15,0000+ flights canceled; Amtrak modified service; NJ Transit suspending service

• The Garden State is currently the epicenter of utility disruptions in the Northeast. According to data from poweroutage.com, New Jersey is reporting over 22,900 customers without power.
• Heavy, wet snow and strong winds likely to cause widespread power outages
• 2–4 ft storm surge may cause moderate coastal flooding from Delaware Bay to Cape Cod
• NYC and Boston Public Schools canceled Monday classes; many other districts closing

This website allows you to track the progress of DSNY snow removal vehicles by address. Note: A plowed or salted street will not show blacktop immediately. To submit a service request, click here or call 311.

The city offers this caveat: Actual conditions may differ from this data at times due to weather conditions, construction projects, closures, or other events. The data also might be not updated consistently because of time, changing circumstances, sourcing, and the nature of collecting comprehensive information.

For more information, visit nyc.gov/snow.

• Latest forecasts indicate this could be one of the strongest winter storms the NYC area has seen in years.

• Nearly the entire region is expected to receive 12–18 inches of snow between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.

• Parts of Long Island, along with Monmouth and Ocean counties (LAKEWOOD, TOMS RIVER ETC) in New Jersey, could see up to 2 feet of snow.

• When these ferocious winds hit the expected 2-foot snow totals, visibility will drop to near zero in seconds.

Peak wind gust forecast through Monday:

Montauk: 60–70 mph (gusts to 75 mph possible)
New York City: 50–60 mph
Boston: 50–60 mph
Hartford: 50–60 mph
Philadelphia: 30–40 mph
Washington: 40–50 mph
The most extreme winds are expected along the immediate coast, where gusts could top 70 mph as the “L” (low pressure) center tracks just offshore.

🚨❄️ NYC Declares State Of Emergency, Citywide Travel Ban Begins 9 PM

In a rare move, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has declared a State of Emergency and instituted a citywide travel ban as the blizzard intensifies.

🕘 Ban in Effect: 9:00 p.m. tonight through 12:00 p.m. Monday
🚫 All city streets, highways, and bridges closed to non-emergency traffic
🚗 Applies to cars, trucks, scooters, and e-bikes
🚑 Only essential emergency and critical service vehicles exempt

Officials cite forecasts of up to 24 inches of snow and wind gusts near 60 mph. The measure is intended to prevent stranded motorists and allow 2,600 sanitation workers to clear vital routes.

SIGN UP NOW TO A YWN WHATSAPP COMMUNITY TO BE INFORMED OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN LIVE TIME!

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

• Blizzard Warnings issued for NYC, Philadelphia, Boston — impacting 40+ million people
• First Blizzard Warning for NYC since 2017
• 12–24 inches expected along the I-95 corridor
• Heaviest snow Sunday night into Monday morning, with rates up to 2–3 inches per hour
• Wind gusts 50–70 mph creating life-threatening whiteout conditions
• Governors in 6 states have declared States of Emergency
• Mandatory travel bans in NYC and other areas beginning Sunday evening
• 15,0000+ flights canceled; Amtrak modified service; NJ Transit suspending service

• The Garden State is currently the epicenter of utility disruptions in the Northeast. According to data from poweroutage.com, New Jersey is reporting over 22,900 customers without power.
• Heavy, wet snow and strong winds likely to cause widespread power outages
• 2–4 ft storm surge may cause moderate coastal flooding from Delaware Bay to Cape Cod
• NYC and Boston Public Schools canceled Monday classes; many other districts closing

This website allows you to track the progress of DSNY snow removal vehicles by address. Note: A plowed or salted street will not show blacktop immediately. To submit a service request, click here or call 311.

The city offers this caveat: Actual conditions may differ from this data at times due to weather conditions, construction projects, closures, or other events. The data also might be not updated consistently because of time, changing circumstances, sourcing, and the nature of collecting comprehensive information.

For more information, visit nyc.gov/snow.

• Latest forecasts indicate this could be one of the strongest winter storms the NYC area has seen in years.

• Nearly the entire region is expected to receive 12–18 inches of snow between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.

• Parts of Long Island, along with Monmouth and Ocean counties (LAKEWOOD, TOMS RIVER ETC) in New Jersey, could see up to 2 feet of snow.

• When these ferocious winds hit the expected 2-foot snow totals, visibility will drop to near zero in seconds.

Peak wind gust forecast through Monday:

Montauk: 60–70 mph (gusts to 75 mph possible)
New York City: 50–60 mph
Boston: 50–60 mph
Hartford: 50–60 mph
Philadelphia: 30–40 mph
Washington: 40–50 mph
The most extreme winds are expected along the immediate coast, where gusts could top 70 mph as the “L” (low pressure) center tracks just offshore.

🚨❄️ NYC Declares State Of Emergency, Citywide Travel Ban Begins 9 PM

In a rare move, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has declared a State of Emergency and instituted a citywide travel ban as the blizzard intensifies.

🕘 Ban in Effect: 9:00 p.m. tonight through 12:00 p.m. Monday
🚫 All city streets, highways, and bridges closed to non-emergency traffic
🚗 Applies to cars, trucks, scooters, and e-bikes
🚑 Only essential emergency and critical service vehicles exempt

Officials cite forecasts of up to 24 inches of snow and wind gusts near 60 mph. The measure is intended to prevent stranded motorists and allow 2,600 sanitation workers to clear vital routes.

SIGN UP NOW TO A YWN WHATSAPP COMMUNITY TO BE INFORMED OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN LIVE TIME!

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Mexican army killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho, ” on Sunday, decapitating what had become Mexico’s most powerful cartel and giving the government its biggest prize yet to show the Trump administration its efforts.

Oseguera Cervantes was wounded in an operation to capture him Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco about a two-hour drive southwest of Guadalajara and he died while being flown to Mexico City, the Defense Department said in a statement. The state is the base of the cartel known for trafficking huge quantities of fentanyl and other drugs to the United States.

During the operation, troops came under fire and killed four people at the location. Three more people, including Oseguera Cervantes, were wounded and later died, the statement said. Two others were arrested and armored vehicles, rocket launchers and other arms were seized. Three members of the armed forces were wounded and receiving medical treatment.

Roadblocks and burning vehicles

The killing of the powerful drug lord set off several hours of roadblocks with burning vehicles in Jalisco and other states. Such tactics are commonly used by the cartels to block military operations. Jalisco canceled school in the state for Monday.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Videos circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke billowing over the tourist city of Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, and people sprinting through the airport of the state’s capital in panic. On Sunday afternoon, Air Canada announced it was suspending flights to Puerto Vallarta “due to an ongoing security situation” and advised customers not to go to their airport.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

In Guadalajara, the state capital, burning vehicles blocked roads. Mexico’s second-largest city is scheduled to host matches during this summer’s soccer World Cup.

The U.S. State Department warned U.S. citizens in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero and Nuevo Leon states to remain in safe places due to the ongoing security operations. Canada’s embassy in Mexico warned its citizens in Puerto Vallarta to shelter in place and generally to keep a low profile in Jalisco.

Jalisco Gov. Pablo Lemus told residents to stay at home and suspended public transportation.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

In a video shared exclusively with YWN, the Chabad rabbi in Jalisco, Mexico, released a statement addressing the ongoing unrest following the reported killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the longtime leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG):

“As you may know, Jalisco, Mexico, and parts of the country are currently on high alert following the killing of a leader of the criminal organization known as the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación. In response, there have been violent incidents reported, including vehicles being set on fire, road blockages, and multiple shootings in different areas of the state”.

“Rabbi Abraham and Elisheva Srugo, who have served as Chabad directors in the state of Jalisco for over 26 years, encountered narco-related road blockages on the highway while traveling to officiate a wedding approximately four hours from the city of Guadalajara. Due to the situation and widespread shutdowns, the event was canceled”.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

US had offered up to $15 million for his capture

The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of El Mencho. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known as CJNG, is one of the most powerful and fastest growing criminal organizations in Mexico and was born in 2009.

In February, the Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, like her predecessor, has criticized the “kingpin” strategy of previous administrations that took out cartel leaders only to trigger explosions of violence as cartels fractured. While she has remained popular in Mexico, security is a persistent concern and since U.S. President Donald Trump took office a year ago, she has been under tremendous pressure to show results against drug trafficking.

Known as aggressive cartel

The Jalisco cartel has been one of the most aggressive cartels in its attacks on the military — including on helicopters — and is a pioneer in launching explosives from drones and installing mines. In 2020, it carried out a spectacular assassination attempt with grenades and high-powered rifles in the heart of Mexico City against the then head of the capital’s police force and now federal security secretary.

The DEA considers the cartel to be as powerful as the Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico’s most infamous criminal groups, with a presence in all 50 U.S. states. It is one of the main suppliers of cocaine to the U.S. market and, like the Sinaloa cartel, earns billions from the production of fentanyl and methamphetamines. Sinaloa, however, has been weakened by infighting after the loss of its leaders Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, both in U.S. custody.

Oseguera Cervantes, 59, was originally from Aguililla in the neighboring state of Michoacan. He had been significantly involved in drug trafficking activities since the 1990s. When he was younger, he migrated to the U.S. where he was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in 1994 and served nearly three years in prison.

Following his release from custody, Oseguera Cervantes returned to Mexico and reengaged in drug trafficking activity with drug lord Ignacio Coronel Villarreal, alias “Nacho Coronel.” After Villarreal’s death, Oseguera Cervantes and Erik Valencia Salazar, alias “El 85”, created the Jalisco New Generation Cartel around 2007.

Initially, they worked for the Sinaloa Cartel, but eventually split and for years the two cartels have battled for territory across Mexico.

Indicted several times in the United States

Since 2017, Oseguera Cervantes has been indicted several times in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

The most recent superseding indictment, filed on April 5, 2022, charges Oseguera Cervantes with conspiracy and distribution of controlled substances (methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl) for the purpose of illegal importation into the United States and use of firearms during and in connection with drug trafficking offenses. Oseguera Cervantes is also charged under the Drug Kingpin Enforcement Act for directing a continuing criminal enterprise.

Last year, people searching for missing relatives founds piles of shoes and other clothing, as well as bone fragments at what authorities later said was a Jalisco cartel recruitment and training site.

(AP)

• Blizzard Warnings issued for NYC, Philadelphia, Boston — impacting 40+ million people
• First Blizzard Warning for NYC since 2017
• 12–24 inches expected along the I-95 corridor
• Heaviest snow Sunday night into Monday morning, with rates up to 2–3 inches per hour
• Wind gusts 50–70 mph creating life-threatening whiteout conditions
• Governors in 6 states have declared States of Emergency
• Mandatory travel bans in NYC and other areas beginning Sunday evening
• 15,0000+ flights canceled; Amtrak modified service; NJ Transit suspending service

• The Garden State is currently the epicenter of utility disruptions in the Northeast. According to data from poweroutage.com, New Jersey is reporting over 22,900 customers without power.
• Heavy, wet snow and strong winds likely to cause widespread power outages
• 2–4 ft storm surge may cause moderate coastal flooding from Delaware Bay to Cape Cod
• NYC and Boston Public Schools canceled Monday classes; many other districts closing

This website allows you to track the progress of DSNY snow removal vehicles by address. Note: A plowed or salted street will not show blacktop immediately. To submit a service request, click here or call 311.

The city offers this caveat: Actual conditions may differ from this data at times due to weather conditions, construction projects, closures, or other events. The data also might be not updated consistently because of time, changing circumstances, sourcing, and the nature of collecting comprehensive information.

For more information, visit nyc.gov/snow.

• Latest forecasts indicate this could be one of the strongest winter storms the NYC area has seen in years.

• Nearly the entire region is expected to receive 12–18 inches of snow between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.

• Parts of Long Island, along with Monmouth and Ocean counties (LAKEWOOD, TOMS RIVER ETC) in New Jersey, could see up to 2 feet of snow.

• When these ferocious winds hit the expected 2-foot snow totals, visibility will drop to near zero in seconds.

Peak wind gust forecast through Monday:

Montauk: 60–70 mph (gusts to 75 mph possible)
New York City: 50–60 mph
Boston: 50–60 mph
Hartford: 50–60 mph
Philadelphia: 30–40 mph
Washington: 40–50 mph
The most extreme winds are expected along the immediate coast, where gusts could top 70 mph as the “L” (low pressure) center tracks just offshore.

🚨❄️ NYC Declares State Of Emergency, Citywide Travel Ban Begins 9 PM

In a rare move, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has declared a State of Emergency and instituted a citywide travel ban as the blizzard intensifies.

🕘 Ban in Effect: 9:00 p.m. tonight through 12:00 p.m. Monday
🚫 All city streets, highways, and bridges closed to non-emergency traffic
🚗 Applies to cars, trucks, scooters, and e-bikes
🚑 Only essential emergency and critical service vehicles exempt

Officials cite forecasts of up to 24 inches of snow and wind gusts near 60 mph. The measure is intended to prevent stranded motorists and allow 2,600 sanitation workers to clear vital routes.

SIGN UP NOW TO A YWN WHATSAPP COMMUNITY TO BE INFORMED OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN LIVE TIME!

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A five-month-old baby passed away on Sunday after losing consciousness at her babysitter in the Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem.

The babysitter found her unconscious at about 1 p.m. and called rescue services. MDA and Hatzalah paramedics quickly arrived at the scene and carried out resuscitation attempts while evacuating her to Shaare Tzedek Hospital. Sadly, she was pronounced dead shortly later.

Hatzalah paramedics Yosef Gotthold and Eli Roth said, “We performed CPR on the baby and evacuated her to a hospital in critical condition while continuing resuscitation techniques. Due to the nature of the incident, Chusan teams—the United Hatzalah’s mental first aid unit—were also called to the scene.”

MDA paramedic Daniel Elyakim said, “When we arrived at the scene, the baby was unconscious, without a pulse, and not breathing. We provided him with medical treatment and performed prolonged resuscitation attempts and evacuated him to the hospital, where the doctors continued to fight for his life.”

The police announced that they opened an investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

A statement from Shaare Tzedek Hospital said, “A five-month-old baby was brought to the pediatric intensive care unit in critical condition while undergoing extensive resuscitation in the field. Resuscitation efforts continued at the intensive care unit, but unfortunately she was pronounced dead. We share in the family’s grief.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Former Israeli Air Force chief Eitan Ben Eliyahu says he believes the Iranian regime is approaching collapse, even as he cautions against assuming that war is imminent.

“The regime in Iran has finished its career,” he said in an interview. “It will happen soon — in two, three, or four years — it’s finished.”

According to Ben Eliyahu, signs of internal erosion are already visible, with protests likely to intensify rather than fade.

“The protests will escalate,” he warned. “In a large and divided nation, change takes time — but this unrest won’t end.”

Despite his bleak outlook for Iran’s leadership, Ben Eliyahu pushed back against claims that a military confrontation is imminent, as U.S.-Iran talks continue amid rising tensions.

“I never said that diplomacy would win,” he said. “I said that for now, what’s happening is negotiations.”

He acknowledged growing calls in Israel and abroad for immediate military action but stressed that current developments point more to diplomatic pressure than to an impending strike.

“The signs did not necessarily indicate that there would be an attack tomorrow morning,” Ben Eliyahu explained. “They were part of the negotiations. But by default, if it fails, everything is prepared and ready for an attack.”

Recent U.S. military movements in the region, he added, should be viewed as leverage in talks rather than proof that war is around the corner.

Addressing Iran’s expanding ballistic missile arsenal, Ben Eliyahu sought to calm public fears, arguing that the threat does not pose an existential danger to Israel.

“The missile threat cannot be considered an existential threat — it’s not an atomic bomb,” he said, citing Israel’s “exceptional defense system” and the preparedness of the Home Front Command.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

As a significant winter storm is forecast to impact the region from Sunday into Monday, Hatzalah has released a comprehensive Blizzard Preparedness Advisory urging residents to take immediate precautions — particularly seniors and individuals with medical conditions.

According to the advisory, Hatzalah is closely monitoring the developing storm and warns that travel may become extremely limited for several days. Residents who rely on prescription medications are strongly encouraged to refill and secure all necessary medications now, as access to pharmacies and medical facilities could be delayed.

The storm is expected to bring heavy, wet snow, along with the potential for power outages. Hatzalah cautions that individuals who depend on electricity for medical equipment, oxygen, mobility devices, or heating should make arrangements in advance. Where possible, residents are advised to consider staying with family or friends who have reliable backup power.

Heavy snow also poses serious health risks. Each winter, cardiac emergencies increase due to strenuous snow removal. Older adults and individuals with heart disease or other risk factors are urged to avoid overexertion. Shoveling should be done in stages with frequent breaks, proper hydration, and assistance when available. Anyone experiencing chest discomfort, shortness of breath, dizziness, or unusual fatigue should stop immediately and contact Hatzalah.

Families are strongly encouraged to check on elderly relatives and neighbors before and during the storm. Even a simple phone call or visit can prevent a potentially life-threatening emergency.

Residents are also advised to stock essential supplies in advance and remain indoors once hazardous conditions begin. Travel during the height of the storm is strongly discouraged, as roads may quickly become snow-covered and icy. Driving should be limited to absolute necessity in order to keep roads clear for snow removal crews and emergency responders.

Hatzalah announced that it will operate at full capacity throughout the storm, with volunteer members, emergency vehicles, and support units strategically deployed to ensure uninterrupted emergency response across all areas served.

“In any emergency, call Hatzalah immediately,” the advisory states.

Stay safe. Prepare early. Look out for one another.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)