A tense radio interview on Kan Reshet Bet turned awkward for Yesh Atid MK Merav Ben Ari after Religious Zionist Party MK Tzvi Sukkot confronted her with evidence that she had previously submitted legislation nearly identical to the very bill she was attacking on air.

The clash broke out during a joint interview focused on political maneuvering ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections.

During the discussion, Ben Ari criticized a proposed law granting tax benefits to residents of Judea and Samaria, arguing that the legislation was simply part of the Religious Zionist Party’s election strategy.

“Why should someone living in Judea and Samaria receive a tax benefit?” Ben Ari asked during the debate.

Sukkot, who is promoting the current bill, then asked whether she would support the legislation.

After Ben Ari repeatedly insisted she opposed the proposal, Sukkot stunned her by revealing live on air that the wording of his bill was virtually identical to legislation she herself had submitted earlier in the current Knesset term.

Sukkot further noted that Ben Ari’s original version had itself been based on legislation initially introduced by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Ben Ari attempted to defend herself by arguing that the current bill contained changes and differences from the version she had filed.

As she struggled to explain those distinctions during the interview, Sukkot pressed the issue further and proposed an unusual compromise.

He suggested live on air that he would simply bring Ben Ari’s original version of the bill up for a vote instead — while demanding that Yesh Atid publicly support it.

{Matzav.com}

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Newly leaked design documents for the long-awaited reconstruction of New York’s Penn Station reveal a sweeping transformation of the transit hub into a grand, monument-style complex featuring gold accents, towering classical architecture — and even a marble presidential seal bearing President Donald Trump’s name.

Architectural renderings and engineering materials obtained by Gothamist show plans for a dramatic redesign of the nation’s busiest rail station, replacing the cramped and aging facility with expansive halls, soaring ceilings, oversized staircases, brass-colored railings, and massive columns inspired by the grandeur of the original Beaux-Arts Penn Station demolished in the 1960s.

One feature in particular is already expected to trigger political controversy.

Near a proposed Eighth Avenue entrance, the plans include a presidential seal alongside the inscription “President Donald J. Trump” carved into a stone wall inside the station.

The tribute is positioned near escalators leading into a newly designed concourse filled with natural light in the area currently occupied by the Theater at Madison Square Garden.

The federal government took control of the Penn Station redevelopment project away from the MTA last year, handing oversight to Amtrak.

Since then, Trump has pushed aggressively to speed up the overhaul and ordered that construction begin before the end of 2027.

Last week, the administration committed $8 billion toward rebuilding the station, while sidelining the MTA over what federal officials described as years of delays and mismanagement.

The selected development proposal came from Penn Transformation Partners, a consortium made up of Vornado Realty Trust, construction firms Halmar and Skanska, along with multiple architectural and engineering groups.

Vornado is led by Steve Roth, a longtime ally of Trump, while Halmar executive Peter Cipriano previously served as an adviser at the U.S. Department of Transportation during Trump’s first administration.

The consortium was officially chosen last week by Amtrak and the U.S. Department of Transportation following a bidding process that New York officials criticized for lacking transparency.

Internal documents reportedly show that Amtrak specifically requested a “classical look” for the redesigned station, leading architects to significantly revise earlier concepts unveiled in 2023.

Among the revised elements is a giant gold clock hanging from the ceiling of the main train hall, resembling the prominent clock currently displayed inside Moynihan Train Hall.

The redesign also aims to solve one of commuters’ biggest complaints for decades: the lack of natural light inside Penn Station.

According to project documents, only about 3,400 square feet of the current station receives daylight.

The proposed overhaul would expand that figure to more than 55,000 square feet by adding enormous glass entrances, higher ceilings, and new window openings around the Madison Square Garden complex.

One of the most dramatic changes would take place along Eighth Avenue, where the Theater at Madison Square Garden would reportedly be demolished to make room for a massive new entrance hall.

Additional entrances are also planned along West 31st Street, while new windows would be added to the existing taxiway between Madison Square Garden and neighboring structures.

Inside the station, the changes would be equally dramatic.

Some ceilings would rise as much as 50 feet, while the notoriously cramped 32nd Street corridor would gain an additional 20 feet in height.

Long wooden benches modeled after the original Penn Station would replace the limited seating that has frustrated travelers at modern transit centers such as Moynihan Train Hall and Grand Central Madison.

The proposal is also designed to accommodate future rail expansion connected to the Gateway tunnel project beneath the Hudson River, which is expected to open around 2035.

Amtrak said the redesign would permit limited “through-running,” allowing NJ Transit and Long Island Rail Road trains to continue traveling through Penn Station instead of terminating there.

Transit critics have long warned that Penn Station’s narrow platforms create dangerous crowding during rush hour, especially because structural support columns from Madison Square Garden reduce passenger space.

However, internal plans reviewed by Gothamist reportedly include removing some columns and adding new access points intended to ease congestion.

The project would also require major property acquisitions from Madison Square Garden and its CEO, James Dolan.

According to the leaked documents, the federal government would need to acquire the Theater at MSG, portions of the arena’s exterior façade, signage, loading areas, and sidewalks along 31st and 33rd Streets.

Trump himself has denied personally proposing the redesign, while Kathy Hochul has publicly rejected the concept outright.

Federal officials have declined to comment publicly on the leaked materials.

Amtrak stated that its current focus is securing permits and finalizing contracts ahead of construction.

{Matzav.com}

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced Monday that the agency will begin laying the foundation for a permanent lunar base later this year through a series of major moon missions, with more than a dozen additional launches expected to follow.

The first wave of missions will be carried out by Blue Origin, Astrobotic, and Intuitive Machines, each delivering critical cargo and equipment designed to support future construction efforts on the moon.

“These represent the first of more than a dozen missions we expect to announce through the balance of this year as we return, build the base, and never give up the moon again,” Isaacman told reporters Tuesday. “And as mentioned, just like in decades past, we are taking the world along with us.”

The opening mission will feature Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 lunar lander, which is scheduled to transport payloads to the moon’s south pole in what NASA described as “the first privately funded lunar lander mission in history.”

The second mission, led by Astrobotic’s Griffin Mission One, is expected to deliver what NASA called “the largest commercial payload delivered to the lunar surface ever.”

A third mission will focus on studying the mysterious Reiner Gamma swirl on the moon while also transporting scientific equipment from both the European Space Agency and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute.

NASA also unveiled a new Moon Base website Tuesday aimed at providing regular updates to the public as the massive lunar project advances.

According to the agency, construction of the Moon Base will unfold in three major stages: learning, building, and testing; early habitation; and finally establishing a sustained long-term human presence.

NASA hopes to enter the “early habitation” phase by early 2029.

Moon Base Program Executive Carlos Garcia Galan said the finished lunar outpost could eventually span “hundreds of square miles” and may require major infrastructure systems including electrical grids, communication towers, and other technologies necessary to support permanent human life.

“The endeavor of building a moon base is going to be extremely hard, and it dawns on us every day how little we know of the lunar surface,” said Galan.

Isaacman emphasized that NASA intends to avoid relying solely on a small number of highly specialized government-built systems and instead wants to stimulate broader private-sector participation in lunar development.

As part of that effort, Blue Origin — founded by Jeff Bezos — received a $188 million contract to transport Lunar Terrain Vehicles to the moon.

NASA separately awarded contracts worth $219 million and $220 million to AstroLab and Lunar Outpost for development of the vehicles themselves.

Meanwhile, Firefly Aerospace has been selected to transport drones to the moon by 2028. The drones are expected to capture detailed imagery, identify landing zones, and scout potential locations for future Moon Base facilities.

“We will not sit on our hands and wait for industry to deliver,” Isaacman told reporters. “In the time since Artemis II, we have been extremely active.”

“We’ve been reviewing feedback from the ignition events, speaking to industry, addressing supply chain challenges, having the tough conversations with those failing to meet expectations, and offering NASA’s assistance to solve problems.”

The Artemis II lunar flyby mission was completed last month, while NASA is targeting next year for the launch of Artemis III, which will further test the Orion spacecraft.

Artemis IV — the mission expected to place astronauts on the moon for the first time since 1972 — is currently scheduled for 2028.

A fierce Democratic primary battle in Houston’s 18th Congressional District ended Tuesday with a major generational shakeup, as Congressman Christian Menefee defeated longtime incumbent Al Green in a hard-fought runoff election.

According to projections from Decision Desk HQ, the 37-year-old Menefee emerged victorious over Green, bringing an end to the veteran lawmaker’s decades-long dominance in the district.

Menefee first arrived in Congress earlier this year after winning a January special election to complete the unfinished term of the late Congressman Sylvester Turner.

With Tuesday’s runoff victory, Menefee is now heavily favored to secure a full congressional term in the general election later this year.

Al Green is removed pic.twitter.com/JP4DFfay0P

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 5, 2025

The unusual contest between two sitting Democratic lawmakers became necessary after neither candidate received the outright majority needed during the March 3 primary.

Green, now 78 years old, has served on Capitol Hill for more than two decades but found himself forced into a political collision with Menefee after Texas Republicans approved a dramatically redrawn congressional map.

The redistricting overhaul, crafted by Republicans in hopes of creating additional pickup opportunities ahead of the midterm elections, triggered a nationwide political battle over mid-cycle map changes.

In response, Democrats launched efforts in California aimed at offsetting potential Republican gains in Texas.

Over the course of his lengthy congressional career, Green became one of President Donald Trump’s fiercest and most outspoken critics in Congress.

His confrontational style repeatedly sparked clashes on the House floor, culminating last year in a formal censure after he repeatedly interrupted the president during an address to Congress.

The tensions escalated further this year when Green was escorted out by security personnel during Trump’s State of the Union speech.

Green also repeatedly pursued impeachment efforts against Trump following the president’s return to office.

In February 2025, Green announced plans to seek Trump’s impeachment after the president unveiled a proposal involving the relocation of Gazans and American control over the Gaza Strip.

Several months later, in June 2025, Green introduced another round of impeachment articles accusing Trump of bypassing Congress in military operations involving Iran, which he characterized as an abuse of executive authority.

The House ultimately voted to table the measure.

Throughout the impeachment battles, Green consistently portrayed Trump as a danger to the country, repeatedly describing the president as reckless, ruthless, lawless, and increasingly dictatorial.

{Matzav.com}

A bitter and deeply divisive Democratic primary battle in Texas came to an end Tuesday as party-backed candidate Johnny Garcia defeated controversial challenger Maureen Galindo, whose inflammatory antisemitic rhetoric triggered widespread outrage across the political spectrum.

According to projections from Decision Desk HQ, Garcia emerged victorious in the Democratic runoff election, defeating Galindo after weeks of escalating controversy surrounding her comments about Israel supporters and former ICE agents.

Garcia, a public information officer with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, became the preferred choice of Democratic Party leaders after Galindo faced fierce bipartisan condemnation over a series of incendiary social media remarks.

The backlash centered largely around an Instagram post in which Galindo described what she hoped to do with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Karnes County if elected.

“Into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking,” Galindo had written while discussing plans for the detention center.

Galindo had originally finished first in the March primary election, but the controversy surrounding her remarks quickly engulfed the race.

In an interview with The New York Times, she attempted to defend herself by arguing that “everything is based off a local journalist twisting words” and insisting that she has “always called for all detention centers to be closed.”

Her explanation failed to calm criticism from within her own party.

According to The Hill, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico immediately distanced himself from Galindo and refused to appear alongside her at campaign events following the social media controversy.

The backlash soon spread nationally, including among Jewish lawmakers in Congress.

Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Jared Moskowitz warned that if Galindo somehow won election to Congress, they would “force a vote to expel her.”

Opposition to Galindo ultimately united both establishment Democrats and prominent progressive figures.

Even Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — a member of “The Squad” who has frequently faced criticism herself over anti-Israel rhetoric — sharply denounced Galindo’s remarks.

Ocasio-Cortez described the Instagram comments as “bigoted garbage” before publicly endorsing Garcia in the runoff contest.

{Matzav.com}

New census projections indicate that non-white populations are expected to outnumber whites in the United States for the first time by 2050, with dramatic demographic shifts forecast across much of the country — including major changes in states such as New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

According to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau, the transformation is being driven by a combination of international immigration, domestic migration patterns, and declining birthrates among white Americans.

In 1980, approximately 80 percent of the U.S. population was white. Census projections now estimate that figure will fall to 47 percent by 2050 and decline even further to 44 percent by 2060.

The demographic changes at the state level are expected to be even more dramatic.

As recently as 2000, only three states — California, Hawaii, and New Mexico — had white populations below 50 percent.

Hawaii has never had a white majority population. In the 2000 Census, whites accounted for 46 percent of California’s population and 45 percent in New Mexico.

By 2020, the shifts had accelerated significantly. Maryland’s white population fell to 47 percent, Nevada’s to 46 percent, and Texas dropped to 40 percent.

Census projections now indicate that by 2050, another ten states are expected to see whites become a minority population.

Those states include New York, where whites are projected to make up 46 percent of residents by 2050; New Jersey at 37 percent; Connecticut at 45 percent; Delaware at 47 percent; Florida at 39 percent; Georgia at 37 percent; Arizona at 43 percent; Illinois at 49 percent; Oklahoma at 49 percent; and Washington state at 49 percent.

The trends are expected to continue beyond that point, with whites projected to become either minorities or near-minorities in a total of 24 states by 2060.

Among the additional states expected to experience major demographic shifts are Alaska, where whites are projected to account for 50 percent of the population by 2060; Louisiana at 51 percent; Massachusetts at 46 percent; Minnesota at 51 percent; Mississippi at 51 percent; North Carolina at 49 percent; Rhode Island at 47 percent; and Virginia at 47 percent.

The numbers underscore the scale of demographic change that has swept across the country over the last several decades.

West Virginia remains the least ethnically diverse state in the nation. In 2020, whites made up 89 percent of the state’s population, and projections suggest that figure will only decline modestly to 86 percent by 2050.

The Census Bureau projections also outline state-by-state declines over the coming decades.

In Arizona, whites are projected to decline from 53 percent of the population in 2020 to 43 percent by 2050 and 39 percent by 2060.

California’s white population is projected to fall from 35 percent in 2020 to just 23 percent by 2050 and 20 percent by 2060.

Connecticut is expected to decline from 63 percent white in 2020 to 45 percent by 2050 and 39 percent by 2060.

Florida is projected to shift from 52 percent white in 2020 to 39 percent by 2050 and 36 percent by 2060.

Georgia’s white population is forecast to decline from 50 percent in 2020 to 37 percent by 2050 and 33 percent by 2060.

In New Jersey, whites are projected to fall from 52 percent of the population in 2020 to 37 percent by 2050 and 32 percent by 2060.

New York is expected to decline from 52 percent white in 2020 to 46 percent by 2050 and 43 percent by 2060.

Texas, which already had a white population of just 40 percent in 2020, is projected to drop to 27 percent by 2050 and 23 percent by 2060.

Washington state is projected to decline from 64 percent white in 2020 to 49 percent by 2050 and 44 percent by 2060.

The projections reflect what census analysts describe as one of the most sweeping demographic transformations in modern American history.

An atmosphere of tremendous spiritual elevation filled the Vizhnitz chassidus in Bnei Brak over Shavuos as thousands of chassidim gathered to spend the Yom Tov in the presence of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, Rav Mendel Hager, at the Vizhnitzer beis medrash.

In the days leading up to the Yom Tov, the Rebbe conducted a special and extensive tour of the rapidly advancing construction site of the future Vizhnitzer World Center, the massive new complex currently being built for the chassidus.

One of the highlights of Shavuos night came during the traditional pre-dawn Kadrusa D’Tzafra gathering, held in the large beis medrash in the early morning hours.

But the most dramatic moment of the Yom Tov came during the sale of the Rebbe’s aliyah, which was purchased for the staggering sum of $4 million.

The aliyah was acquired by one of the prominent philanthropists of the Vizhnitzer court as part of the ongoing fundraising efforts for construction of the new global Vizhnitz center.

The donor, who reportedly requested to remain anonymous, designated the enormous contribution toward the building of the grand new mikvah that will serve the large beis medrash complex currently under construction.

A newly released recording has exposed remarks by Yair Golan indicating that he would be willing to sit with chareidi parties in a future coalition if it meant removing Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and his right-wing allies from power.

The recording, aired Tuesday evening by Channel 14 News, appears to reveal a significant gap between the public rhetoric of opposition parties regarding cooperation with chareidi factions and the political calculations taking place behind closed doors.

Several opposition parties have repeatedly declared that they oppose including chareidi parties in any future coalition and have aggressively promoted the idea of a “coalition of those who serve” in the military. Among the parties most identified with sharp anti-chareidi rhetoric has been Golan’s Democrats party, where several candidates have openly taken hardline positions against the chareidi community.

But according to the recording, Golan privately acknowledged a willingness to work with chareidi parties if doing so would help bring down the current right-wing government.

During a closed-door discussion with party activists, Golan was asked directly whether he ruled out sitting with the chareidim. He responded: “I’m not ruling out the chareidim, absolutely not. I can tell you that if right now the possibility of forming a government depended on a chareidi party joining — I would vote in favor. On condition that Likud, Smotrich and Ben Gvir are not there.”

The recording also captured Golan criticizing fellow opposition politicians over the way they have handled the public debate surrounding the military draft law and enlistment of chareidim.

According to Golan, many of the proposals and demands currently being promoted are unrealistic and driven more by political slogans than practical policy.

“We need to work mainly smartly and with indirect pressure, not direct pressure,” Golan told activists.

“I want to tell you here, every draft law they are talking about is infected with populism. All those opposing what the government is doing — rightly so — but what they are proposing… thousands of chareidim are not suddenly going to enlist tomorrow morning. It’s a process,” he concluded.

The Democrats party declined to comment following publication of the recording.

{Matzav.com}

A shocking antisemitic display erected in downtown Montreal has triggered outrage across the Jewish world after activists at a pro-Palestinian demonstration hung effigies of a visibly religious Jew along with Israeli leaders from mock gallows in a public square.

The disturbing exhibit appeared Sunday at Phillips Square in the heart of Montreal during a protest organized by the extremist group “Montreal for Palestine,” an organization critics say has openly aligned itself with support for Hamas and armed “resistance.”

Photographs and videos from the protest showed a doll depicting a Jewish man wearing a yarmulka suspended from hanging ropes alongside effigies of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The display immediately sparked fierce condemnation from Jewish organizations and public figures, many of whom warned that the imagery crossed the line from political protest into explicit incitement to hatred and violence against Jews.

According to critics, the protest organizers have repeatedly refused to condemn the October 7 Hamas massacre and have publicly expressed support for armed struggle against Israel.

This time, demonstrators were accused of taking the rhetoric to a far darker level by publicly displaying violent imagery involving a visibly Orthodox Jewish figure together with senior Israeli officials.

The strongest reactions came from the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, commonly known as CIJA, which issued a sharply worded statement condemning the incident.

The organization stressed that the display was not legitimate political discourse or criticism of Israeli policy but rather a blatant act of antisemitism.

In its statement, CIJA said that hanging effigies of Jews in the streets of Montreal revived some of the darkest antisemitic imagery in human history and accused the demonstrators of promoting hatred and fueling an atmosphere of violence and radicalization.

Jewish community leaders also demanded immediate action from Canadian law enforcement authorities, questioning how much further such incidents must escalate before officials begin treating them as serious threats to public safety.

{Matzav.com}

Jewish music singer Lipa Schmeltzer released an unusual clarification video overnight after widespread rumors circulated online claiming that he had become engaged.

The speculation spread rapidly across social media, prompting Schmeltzer to publicly address the reports while attending a wedding performance.

“I just finished performing at the chuppah. I was supposed to stay for the dancing, but I decided to step outside and record this clarification video,” Schmeltzer said in the clip.

According to the singer, he was shocked to discover the volume of messages flooding his phone.

“I opened my phone and discovered hundreds of ‘mazel tov’ messages from people who thought I got engaged. Some of them even claimed they knew who the kallah was,” he said.

Schmeltzer speculated that the rumors may have started because the wife of a friend works as a shadchan and people may have connected unrelated details.

“I assume the rumor maybe started because the wife of my friend, Moti Orenstein, is a shadchan, and people connected the dots,” Schmeltzer explained.

The singer then directly denied the reports.

“The rumors are not true. Right now I’m not there yet, and when the Ribbono Shel Olam decides the right time has come, He will find me the perfect zivug, and my followers will be the first to know,” he said.

Concluding the video, Schmeltzer reflected on the rapid spread of online misinformation and the growing role of artificial intelligence in generating false reports.

“We live in a crazy world where there’s artificial intelligence (AI), and anyone can write and invent whatever they want. My rule is that as long as it doesn’t appear in my status, it’s not true,” Schmeltzer said.

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{Matzav.com}

The era of bargain airfare may be coming to an end, as soaring jet fuel prices continue hammering the global airline industry and experts warn that travelers are unlikely to see ticket prices fall anytime soon — even if tensions with Iran ease and the Strait of Hormuz fully reopens.

According to a report published by Mako, aviation industry analysts believe the sharp rise in jet fuel costs has already fundamentally altered airline operating expenses, making prolonged higher fares all but inevitable.

Since the outbreak of fighting and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, the price of jet fuel has nearly doubled. Fuel remains one of the largest expenses for airlines worldwide, meaning the impact is being felt across the industry — from low-cost carriers such as Wizz Air, easyJet, and Ryanair to traditional full-service airlines.

The collapse of American low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines has become a major warning sign for the industry. While the company was already struggling financially, the dramatic increase in fuel prices was reportedly viewed as one of the factors that accelerated its shutdown and led to roughly 17,000 layoffs.

Industry officials estimate that even after shipping routes fully reopen, it could take months before cheaper fuel once again reaches global supply chains and translates into lower ticket prices for consumers.

Current forecasts range from roughly three months under the most optimistic scenarios to as long as 18 months under more pessimistic projections.

In the meantime, airlines are already scaling back operations. Routes that were only marginally profitable before are increasingly becoming unsustainable, leading carriers to reduce flight frequencies and cut seat capacity.

According to aviation analytics company Cirium, airlines removed more than 75,000 flights and approximately 9 million seats from summer schedules during April alone.

The crisis is hitting low-cost carriers especially hard because their business models rely heavily on ultra-cheap fares and narrow profit margins. Ryanair, Wizz Air, and easyJet have all reportedly acknowledged growing financial pressure linked to the war and rising fuel expenses.

For Israeli travelers, the situation is even more complicated. Since the October 7 attacks, many foreign airlines have not fully resumed service to Israel, while the presence of American aerial refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport has reportedly added further congestion and operational disruptions.

Wizz Air is expected to resume only limited operations, easyJet is not expected to return before August, and Ryanair has still not announced a formal return date.

Despite the turmoil, tourism industry officials believe routes to Israel remain profitable for many low-cost carriers and therefore are unlikely to be among the first routes eliminated entirely.

At the same time, the strengthening of the Israeli shekel against the dollar has somewhat softened the financial blow for Israeli passengers by offsetting part of the fare increases.

Still, aviation analysts say the broader picture is becoming increasingly clear: even if a diplomatic agreement with Iran is eventually reached, airfare prices are unlikely to return anytime soon to the levels travelers had become accustomed to in previous years.

Within the industry, many now believe that significantly more expensive flights are rapidly becoming the new normal.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli consumers are beginning to feel a new wave of price hikes on basic dairy products, as supermarket chains across the country raise prices on milk, butter, cheese, and other staples — in some cases by even more than the increases announced by the dairy manufacturers themselves.

Following Shavuos, retail chains started passing the higher costs directly onto shoppers after regulated dairy products already went up in price and new increases from major producers including Tnuva, Tara, Strauss Group, and Gad Dairies began taking effect.

According to a report published by Ynet, Tnuva had announced before Yom Tov that it would increase prices on several products, although some retail chains initially resisted approving the hikes. Now, however, most major chains have already adjusted prices upward on at least some items — and in certain cases consumers are paying increases significantly steeper than those announced by the dairy companies.

Products already affected include white cheese spreads, butter, and shelf-stable milk.

A review found that Tnuva’s 3% and 9% white cheese products in 250-gram containers rose in price at several chains despite Tnuva itself announcing only about a 1.05% increase. In practice, some stores charged consumers far more.

At the חילול שבת AM:PM chain, the price of white cheese reportedly climbed from 5.80 shekels to 6.40 shekels — an increase of roughly 10%. At Wolt Market, the same item rose from 6.20 shekels to 6.50 shekels, nearly a 5% increase. The Victory chain recorded a smaller rise, moving from 6.30 shekels to 6.40 shekels.

Tnuva butter has also become more expensive in many stores. At Victory, the price of a 200-gram package rose from 9.90 shekels to 10.50 shekels — about a 6% jump — even though Tnuva’s own increase stood at 4.8%.

Other chains including Machsanei Hashuk and Super Bareket also raised butter prices, while Keshet Teamim increased the same butter product from 10.50 shekels to 10.90 shekels.

Several chains have additionally started raising prices on shelf-stable milk. Yohananof reportedly increased the price of Tnuva 3% shelf-stable milk from 8.40 shekels to 8.50 shekels, while the online platform of Rami Levy raised the product from 8.50 shekels to 8.60 shekels, although physical branches had not yet implemented the change.

According to Ynet, several chains — including Shufersal, Osher Ad, Salah Dabbah, and most Rami Levy branches — have not yet raised prices broadly. Still, retail officials reportedly acknowledged that additional increases are likely unavoidable and said negotiations with dairy suppliers are still ongoing.

Products from Tara have also begun climbing in price at certain chains, although many stores have not yet passed the increases on to consumers.

At the same time, upcoming price hikes from Strauss and Gad Dairies are scheduled to officially take effect on June 1, though some retailers have already implemented increases ahead of schedule.

At Wolt Market, Strauss Symphony 5% olive cheese rose from 11.90 shekels to 12.90 shekels — an increase of 8.4%. Gad Dairies’ refined Bulgarian cheese also increased there from 29.70 shekels to 30.90 shekels.

The Netiv Hachesed chain also raised prices on a variety of Tara and Strauss products, including Muller yogurt drinks, Tov Taam cheese, and Tara 5% cottage cheese. Strauss Greek yogurt reportedly climbed there by more than 8% as well.

The new increases follow months of announcements by dairy manufacturers regarding updated pricing on both regulated and non-regulated products. Consumers across Israel are now beginning to see the impact directly on store shelves, including on everyday household staples used by nearly every family.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu held a lengthy and highly sensitive phone conversation late Tuesday night focused on rapidly escalating developments involving Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza, as both leaders worked to coordinate policy amid mounting regional instability.

The call took place immediately after Israel’s security cabinet abruptly shortened a meeting that lasted roughly two-and-a-half hours so Netanyahu could speak directly with Trump regarding the evolving military and diplomatic situation across the Middle East.

The conversation reportedly came at a particularly volatile moment following a dramatic assassination attempt targeting senior terror leadership figures in southern areas of the region.

A major portion of the discussion focused on the ongoing diplomatic efforts being led by Washington concerning Iran’s nuclear program and attempts to permanently dismantle Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, Netanyahu told ministers in closed-door meetings that Israel’s strategic flexibility remains closely tied to American policy and stressed the importance of remaining fully aligned with Trump’s broader regional objectives.

While concerns reportedly continue circulating within parts of the Israeli government over possible concessions being discussed during negotiations in Qatar, Trump updated Netanyahu on the current state of the talks and reiterated that the United States would immediately return to military options if Iran failed to agree to a verifiable agreement.

The two leaders also reviewed the expanding military operations along Israel’s northern border, where Israeli ground forces have reportedly continued advancing beyond the so-called “yellow line” in an effort to secure dominant strategic positions overlooking the frontier.

According to sources familiar with the call, the White House reaffirmed strong American support for Israel’s right to defend itself against ongoing rocket attacks and Hezbollah threats.

At the same time, however, American officials reportedly urged caution regarding broader operations inside Lebanon, emphasizing a desire to avoid the total collapse of civilian infrastructure throughout the country.

Trump and members of his foreign policy team reportedly stressed that while the administration supports efforts to weaken and disarm Hezbollah, Washington hopes military operations can continue without turning Beirut into a full-scale war zone that could jeopardize parallel diplomatic efforts underway in the region.

The leaders also discussed the latest developments in Gaza, where Israeli officials confirmed that specialized Israeli air units recently targeted the newly appointed head of Hamas’s local military wing.

During the call, Netanyahu reportedly reiterated that Israel would continue pursuing every individual involved in planning or carrying out the October 7 Hamas massacres.

The conversation concluded with both leaders reaffirming mutual support and coordination as they seek to prevent the current conflict from spiraling into a much wider regional war.

According to sources briefed on the discussion, Trump also expressed strong personal support for Netanyahu’s wartime leadership during the exchange.

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is continuing the anti-Israel rhetoric long associated with his father, issuing a series of inflammatory statements Tuesday describing Israel as a “cancerous tumor” and predicting the destruction of the Jewish state.

Posts published through Khamenei’s official social media accounts included repeated threats against Israel and declarations that the country is nearing collapse.

“The shaken Zionist regime and the cancerous tumor of Israel are approaching the final stages of their wretched existence,” read one post.

A second message added: “By God’s grace – and in accordance with the decisive and forward-looking words of our martyred Leader ten years ago – the Zionist regime will not live to see twenty five years after that date, God willing.”

The language closely echoed years of rhetoric from Mojtaba’s father, Ali Khamenei, who was eliminated earlier this year during joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting Iran.

Ali Khamenei had repeatedly referred to Israel as a “cancerous tumor” and openly called for the destruction of the Jewish state throughout his decades in power.

In 2020, Ali Khamenei sparked international outrage after posting comments invoking the Nazi-era term “Final Solution” in reference to Israel.

Following criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Khamenei later claimed that his use of the phrase referred only to the elimination of the State of Israel and not to Jews themselves.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded sharply Tuesday to Mojtaba Khamenei’s latest statements.

“Sounds familiar. I remember someone with a similar surname who used to say it.”

Sa’ar then mocked the Iranian leader over his recent disappearance from public view following his appointment as supreme leader, adding: “BTW, where are you?”

{Matzav.com}

Former Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan has held a series of meetings in recent years with senior officials from Israel’s Shin Bet and defense establishment as part of ongoing efforts to identify a governing alternative for the Gaza Strip, according to a report aired Tuesday night by Kan News.

Sources familiar with the discussions described Dahlan as “one of the strongest people in Gaza,” despite the fact that he has not lived in the territory for years. According to the report, his influence stems largely from his ability to secure funding and financial backing connected to Gaza affairs.

The latest revelations come after reports earlier Tuesday that Shin Bet chief David Zini met with Dahlan during a recent visit to the United Arab Emirates.

According to Kan News, the meeting was not an isolated encounter but part of a broader and ongoing diplomatic-security track taking place behind the scenes amid international efforts to shape the future of Gaza after the war.

The discussions are reportedly unfolding alongside American efforts — together with former UN envoy and current Peace Council director Nikolay Mladenov — to continue advancing President Donald Trump’s regional initiative and create what officials described as a new political horizon for Gaza.

When asked about reports concerning Zini’s meetings, the Shin Bet declined to address the matter directly, stating only: “We do not comment on the schedule of the head of the service.”

Dahlan, once one of the senior leaders of Fatah, previously headed the Preventive Security apparatus in Gaza before falling out with Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas. He has spent years living in exile in Abu Dhabi and currently serves as an adviser to UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

In July 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that American, Israeli, and Arab officials increasingly viewed Dahlan as a leading candidate to play a major role in governing Gaza in the postwar era.

The report also noted that some regional players view Dahlan as a potential future successor to Abbas within Palestinian leadership circles.

Responding at the time in an interview with Sky News Arabia, Dahlan rejected suggestions that he intended to assume a direct security or executive role.

“I have repeatedly declared my refusal to accept any security, ministerial, or executive role, and I call for the formulation of a realistic and implementable international work plan that will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital,” Dahlan said.

{Matzav.com}

An Indiana university has agreed to pay $225,000 to settle a federal lawsuit brought by a former employee who claimed she was unlawfully fired over a private Facebook post criticizing conservative activist Charlie Kirk following his death.

The settlement, announced Tuesday by the American Civil Liberties Union, resolves a lawsuit filed last year on behalf of Suzanne Swierc against Ball State University president Geoffrey Mearns.

Swierc previously served as Ball State’s director of health promotion and advocacy at the university’s campus in Muncie, Indiana. She was terminated last September after university officials cited a Facebook post she made regarding Kirk’s killing, claiming the comments caused “significant disruption” on campus.

According to the ACLU, the firing violated Swierc’s constitutional protections because the post represented speech made in her capacity as a private citizen on a matter involving public debate and political concern.

Swierc’s firing violated her constitutional rights because she was “speaking as a private citizen on a matter of public concern,” said Stevie Pactor, an ACLU attorney in Indiana.

“The First Amendment does not allow government institutions to retaliate in those circumstances, and this settlement reflects that,” Pactor said in a statement.

Mearns defended the university’s decision in a statement distributed Tuesday to campus leadership and later shared with The Associated Press by a university spokesperson.

According to Mearns, the backlash triggered by Swierc’s social media comments threatened the university’s fundraising efforts and future enrollment numbers. He also argued that the settlement payment was significantly smaller than the projected cost of continuing to fight the lawsuit in court.

Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed by a gunman on September 10 while visiting a university campus in Utah. Prior to his death, Kirk had become one of the country’s most influential conservative youth activists and was widely credited with helping energize younger conservative voters during President Trump’s successful reelection campaign.

Swierc was one of several employees in both government and private-sector positions who lost their jobs after posting online reactions, comments, or memes related to Kirk’s assassination. Her case is also not the first to end in a financial settlement.

Earlier this month, a Florida state agency agreed to pay $485,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a former state biologist who had been fired after reposting a meme claiming Kirk would not care about children killed in school shootings.

In another case earlier this year, Austin Peay State University reinstated a professor and agreed to pay a $500,000 settlement after he sued the school over his firing tied to a social media post sharing a 2023 headline that read: “Charlie Kirk Says Gun Deaths ‘Unfortunately’ Worth it to Keep 2nd Amendment.”

Several other lawsuits involving employees dismissed over comments related to Kirk’s death are still pending.

In the Facebook post at the center of the Ball State case, Swierc referred to Kirk’s killing as a “tragedy,” while also criticizing his rhetoric and public influence.

She wrote that the killing was a “reflection of the violence, fear, and hatred he sowed.” She also added: “If you think Charlie Kirk was a wonderful person, we can’t be friends.”

Swierc’s attorneys argued that her Facebook account was set to private and that her comments were never intended for broad public distribution. However, someone reportedly took screenshots of the post and circulated them widely online.

According to Ball State officials, the controversy quickly triggered an avalanche of angry messages directed at the university. Mearns said administrators received numerous hostile emails and phone calls, with some individuals threatening to withhold donations and at least one parent allegedly saying she planned to remove her children from the school. He also said some callers issued threats of violence.

“The reaction was extraordinarily damaging to our University’s reputation and image, and it was exceptionally disruptive to our mission and our people,” Mearns said in his statement.

{Matzav.com}

Disturbing allegations of underage marriages within a Breslover community in the northern town of Yavne’el took center stage Tuesday during a special Knesset hearing, where lawmakers, former community members, social workers, and government officials described what committee members called a deeply entrenched and ongoing crisis.

The hearing was convened by the Knesset Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women and Gender Equality following mounting accusations that girls as young as 14 and 15 had been pushed into marriage over many years while authorities allegedly failed to intervene.

The Breslov community at the center of the allegations was established in Yavne’el in 1986 and is made up largely of baalei teshuvah. According to testimony presented at the hearing, the community encouraged marriages at extremely young ages, with girls often marrying at 15 or 16 and boys around age 18.

Committee chair Merav Cohen opened the session by saying officials have known about the issue for years but repeatedly failed to stop it.

“This has been in the background for two decades,” Cohen said. “This is a principled debate about minors who are forced into marriage and sexual relationships at a young age. Time and again, the public is shocked, but nothing changes, and the authorities fail to stop a phenomenon that endangers lives.”

Cohen said an investigative team had uncovered “very serious” findings, though the details had not yet been publicly released. She added that lawmakers would demand answers regarding how such practices were allegedly permitted to continue unchecked for so long.

Several former members of the community delivered emotional testimony before the committee, recounting experiences of being married off as teenagers against their wishes.

Sarah Maimoni, a mother of eight and grandmother of five who has publicly campaigned against the alleged marriages in Yavne’el, told lawmakers she herself was married at 15 and became a mother a year later.

“This is how my childhood was taken from me,” she said, alleging that girls as young as 14 continued being pushed into marriage and pregnancy. Maimoni accused welfare authorities of abandoning vulnerable children and called for a joint police-welfare task force to confront what she described as “complete lawlessness” in Yavne’el.

She further claimed that influential figures within the community consolidated power and used it to perpetuate the system, while families who resisted the marriages allegedly faced retaliation and pressure.

Another witness, Ruth Reichman, testified that she was forced into marriage at 16 to a man approximately ten years older than her despite objecting to the arrangement.

“I wanted to study and build a future,” she told the committee. “Instead, I knew I was going to be married off.”

Reichman said she became aware at age 15 that preparations for her marriage were already underway but was instructed to keep the matter secret.

Nachman Boltin, who was raised in the Yavne’el community, told lawmakers he married a 14-and-a-half-year-old girl when he himself was 18, describing a culture where teenagers were heavily encouraged to wed young and taught that such marriages represented the proper path in life.

“We were brainwashed for years that this was the right thing,” he said, adding that many children within the community suffered from severe trauma that was never properly addressed.

Social activist Heidi Mozes shared similar allegations, telling lawmakers she too was married at 16 against her wishes despite repeatedly pleading with relatives not to force the marriage.

“Why wasn’t there an adult there to protect me?” she asked during emotional testimony, while criticizing what she described as insufficient enforcement mechanisms to stop such situations.

Officials from Israel’s welfare agencies and law enforcement also appeared before the committee to address questions surrounding the government’s handling of the allegations.

Ilan Sharif, who heads the cults department at the Ministry of Social Affairs, acknowledged that authorities have long been aware of concerns in Yavne’el and said efforts had recently been made to strengthen local welfare services and improve coordination between agencies.

“This situation is horrific, and we are not minimizing it,” Sharif said, noting that staffing levels in the local welfare department had been increased and that a formal report on the issue was nearing completion.

Deputy Police Chief Avi Ayish said police investigated several incidents involving suspected underage marriages but noted that prosecutions are often difficult because ceremonies are sometimes presented publicly as “introduction parties” rather than formal weddings.

Welfare official Ami Romano said social workers had intervened in cases involving minors dressed for wedding ceremonies but emphasized that ultimate enforcement authority rests with police and prosecutors.

Batya Menachem, a social worker in the area, testified that authorities often receive reports only after ceremonies have already taken place, making meaningful intervention extremely difficult.

Representatives from the Knesset Research and Information Center presented statistics showing that between 2023 and 2025 authorities received 321 reports involving underage marriages conducted without legal authorization, yet only four indictments were ultimately filed.

The Health Ministry informed lawmakers that current Israeli law does not require mandatory reporting of pregnancies involving girls over age 16, suggesting that legislative changes may need to be considered.

The hearing intensified growing calls for tougher enforcement measures and new legislation amid accusations that underage marriages in Yavne’el continued for years despite repeated warnings from survivors, activists, and social service professionals.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump launched a blistering attack Tuesday against major media outlets over their coverage of the war with Iran, accusing the press of such extreme bias that they would portray even a total Iranian surrender as a defeat for the United States.

In a fiery post published on Truth Social, Trump mocked what he described as the media’s obsession with undermining his administration regardless of the facts on the ground.

“If Iran surrenders, admits their Navy is gone and resting at the bottom of the sea, and their Air Force is no longer with us, and if their entire Military walks out of Tehran, weapons dropped and hands held high, each shouting ‘I surrender, I surrender’ while wildly waving the representative White Flag, and if their entire remaining Leadership signs all necessary ‘Documents of Surrender,’ and admit their defeat to the great power and force of the magnificent U.S.A., The Failing New York Times, The China Street Journal (WSJ!), Corrupt and now Irrelevant CNN, and all other members of the Fake News Media, will headline that Iran had a Masterful and Brilliant Victory over The United States of America, it wasn’t even close. The Dumacrats and Media have totally lost their way. They have gone absolutely CRAZY!!! President DJT.”

Trump has repeatedly criticized opponents who claim his administration is moving toward an agreement resembling the 2015 Iran nuclear deal formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, which was negotiated under President Barack Obama.

On Monday, Trump amplified that message further by circulating a graphic to millions of followers comparing what he labeled “Obama’s Iran Policy” with “Trump’s Iran Policy.”

The image, designed in a split-panel format, contrasted the Obama administration’s diplomatic engagement with Iran against Trump’s military-focused posture toward the Islamic Republic.

One side of the graphic displayed large stacks of cash labeled “Pallets of Cash,” referencing the controversial transfer of funds to Tehran during implementation of the JCPOA agreement.

The opposing panel showed a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer — identified as the DDG 50 — launching missiles during a dramatic naval battle scene, symbolizing what Trump and his allies portray as a strategy centered on military strength and deterrence rather than economic concessions.

Supporters of the graphic said it underscored the administration’s broader message that Trump views force and pressure as the proper approach toward Iran, in sharp contrast to what he has long condemned as failed appeasement policies by previous administrations.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a sweeping lawsuit against University of California, Los Angeles, accusing the school of allowing violent antisemitic attacks against Jewish and Israeli students following the October 7 Hamas massacre while failing to intervene or protect students on campus.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by The California Post, Jewish students at UCLA were allegedly assaulted, beaten unconscious, attacked with sticks and pepper spray, and blocked from parts of campus by demonstrators enforcing what the complaint describes as “Jewish exclusion zones.”

“Antisemitic hatred against UCLA’s Jewish and Israeli students reached a point where students were physically assaulted, injured, excluded from campus, and deprived of educational opportunities because of their perceived Jewish or Israeli heritage,” the lawsuit said.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division alleged that tensions escalated dramatically in April 2024, when masked anti-Israel demonstrators established a large encampment outside Royce Hall.

According to the complaint, “masked demonstrators erected an encampment outside of Royce Hall and slapped, kicked, beat with sticks, doused with pepper spray, and knocked unconscious Jewish and Israeli students.”

The lawsuit further alleges that demonstrators formed so-called “human phalanxes” designed to physically block Jewish students from accessing certain campus areas unless they publicly renounced Zionism before being allowed through makeshift checkpoints.

Federal officials claim UCLA violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by displaying deliberate indifference toward what the lawsuit describes as widespread and ongoing antisemitism targeting Jewish and Israeli students.

Among the incidents detailed in the complaint was one alleged attack in which a Jewish student suffered an open head wound and was left unconscious. Other students were reportedly kicked, beaten with sticks, and sprayed with pepper spray during violent confrontations. One victim allegedly heard the words, “Hitler missed one.”

According to the lawsuit, nearly 60% of Jewish students reported avoiding campus during the unrest, while more than 40% considered transferring or leaving UCLA entirely because of the atmosphere.

The DOJ also accused UCLA of violating federal grant and funding agreements by certifying compliance with Title VI protections while allegedly permitting discrimination and harassment against Jewish and Israeli students to continue unchecked.

“Earlier this year, we sued UCLA for subjecting its Jewish and Israeli employees to an antisemitic hostile work environment,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said.

“Now, the Department of Justice calls UCLA to account for its toleration of the equally appalling hostile educational environment against its Jewish and Israeli students.”

Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California and one of Los Angeles’ top federal prosecutors, said universities have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of all students regardless of background or religion.

“Universities that violate our nation’s civil rights laws by repeatedly failing to shield Jewish students from antisemitism will be held accountable.”

UCLA has faced mounting scrutiny for months over anti-Israel demonstrations, protest encampments, and campus unrest connected to Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.

{Matzav.com}

A tense confrontation erupted aboard a United Airlines flight earlier this month after a passenger reportedly activated a personal Wi-Fi hotspot using the politically charged network name “Free Palestine, F Zionists,” prompting the pilot to threaten FBI involvement unless the hotspot was immediately shut down.

According to an account later posted on Reddit by a passenger onboard, the pilot addressed the cabin and warned that the individual responsible would have 30 seconds to disable or rename the hotspot or federal law enforcement — specifically the FBI — would be waiting for the aircraft upon landing.

The announcement reportedly created an atmosphere of anxiety and discomfort throughout the cabin, with passengers uncertain how serious the situation had become.

The passenger who described the encounter online said the captain’s response felt unusually aggressive and abrupt, particularly because the hotspot name itself did not contain a direct threat of violence. Nevertheless, heightened airline security sensitivities surrounding Israel-related tensions and global terrorism concerns appeared to contribute to the strong reaction from the flight crew.

According to the account, the pilot immediately escalated the matter to possible FBI involvement without first mentioning any planned intervention by flight attendants or other crew members.

The passenger who posted about the incident acknowledged that pilots and airline crews operate under heightened caution in the post-September 11 security environment. Even so, the individual wrote that it felt “a stretch” to suggest the hotspot itself posed an immediate or credible danger to the aircraft.

The incident comes amid a growing number of airline security scares connected to provocative Wi-Fi hotspot names and politically charged messages displayed during flights.

Earlier this year, a Turkish Airlines flight traveling over the Mediterranean was diverted to Barcelona after concerns emerged over a suspicious hotspot-related incident, according to a report by Fox News. Authorities reportedly met the aircraft with bomb-sniffing dogs after it landed.

In another incident in February, a Wizz Air flight traveling from London Luton Airport to Tel Aviv was intercepted by Israeli fighter jets after a passenger’s hotspot name allegedly included the word “terrorist.”

More recently, a KLM flight traveling from Málaga to Amsterdam was delayed for several hours after a passenger broadcast the hotspot name: “Allahu Akbar – er is een bom aan boord,” which translates to “God is great – there is a bomb on board,” according to NL Times.

Separate security incidents also disrupted two United Airlines flights over the same weekend, prompting emergency responses and renewed debate about airline security procedures and passenger conduct.

Aviation publication Paddle Your Own Kanoo described the hotspot name used on the United flight as anti-Semitic and noted that private airlines have broad authority to remove or deny boarding to passengers displaying provocative political slogans, messages, or symbols.

The publication also noted that many politicians and Jewish advocacy groups argue that the word “Zionist” is often used as a substitute for “Jew” in order to avoid accusations of overt antisemitism, while critics counter that the term is frequently used in debates surrounding Israeli government policy and geopolitics.

The broader debate over whether criticism of Zionism constitutes antisemitism remains deeply contested. Still, many observers noted that the use of an explicit and inflammatory hotspot name alone could justify airline intervention, even if some viewed the threat to summon the FBI as excessive.

At the same time, aviation analysts noted that concerns involving Israeli or Jewish-related security issues are treated with heightened seriousness because of the long history of attacks targeting commercial aviation connected to Israel.

Beginning in the 1960s, Palestinian terrorist organizations increasingly targeted civilian air travel through hijackings and other attacks, leading Israel to develop some of the world’s most advanced airline security measures.

As a result of decades of aviation-related terrorism threats, Israeli commercial aircraft today operate with sophisticated defense systems and some of the strictest security protocols in global aviation.

Not in history books.
Not 80 years ago.
Right NOW!

Two Yidden from Eretz Yisrael are trapped in brutal prison conditions in Poland. Separated from their families, broken emotionally, and desperate for help.

One can finally get out on bail.
But only if we raise $55,000 immediately.

Without it, he may remain in prison for years awaiting trial.

The second Yid is facing years behind bars as well. His wife in Eretz Yisrael is hospitalized and struggling psychologically while he sits alone in a foreign prison. A qualified lawyer can help reduce his sentence, but the legal fees are enormous.

For months, Rabbi Sholom Ber Stambler, the Rebbe’s Shliach in Warsaw for over 21 years, has personally visited them, brought them kosher food, supported them, and fought for them.

Now he’s asking Klal Yisrael to step in.

The Rambam calls Pidyon Shvuyim the greatest mitzvah.

How can we stand by while fellow Yidden sit imprisoned, alone, and forgotten?

Help bring a Yid home.
Help save a family.
Help fulfill one of the greatest mitzvos in the Torah.

DONATE HERE TODAY

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisroel Katz announced Tuesday night that the Israeli military carried out a strike in the Gaza Strip targeting Mohammed Odeh, who recently became the head of Hamas’s military wing.

According to Israeli officials, Odeh assumed the role after the killing of Izz ad-Din Haddad, the previous commander of Hamas’s military apparatus.

Earlier Tuesday, Arab media outlets reported a series of powerful explosions in western Gaza City during what sources described as a large-scale IDF “fire belt” assault. Some reports indicated that Israeli forces launched three separate strikes near the Shaafout restaurant along Salah al-Din Road in Gaza.

In a joint statement issued by the offices of Netanyahu and Katz, Israeli officials said Odeh played a central role in planning and executing the October 7 Hamas massacre and served as the terror organization’s intelligence chief during the attack.

The statement said Odeh had been elevated to lead Hamas’s military wing approximately one week ago following the death of Haddad, who was reportedly eliminated in an Israeli strike in Gaza about two weeks earlier.

“Oudeh was responsible for the murder, abduction, and injury of many Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers,” the statement said.

Netanyahu and Katz also commended the IDF and the Shin Bet for what they described as their ongoing operations against Hamas leadership.

“Congratulations to the IDF and the Shin Bet for their ongoing efforts to eliminate our enemies. We will continue to pursue everyone who took part in the October 7 massacre. Sooner or later, Israel will reach them all.”

{Matzav.com}

A bitter internal war over a proposed boycott of Israeli products has thrown Brooklyn’s famously progressive Park Slope Food Coop into turmoil, with Jewish members accusing anti-Israel activists of harassment, intimidation, and creating an atmosphere so hostile that organizers moved a major vote online over security fears.

The dispute centers around an effort by boycott activists to ban Israeli-made products from the coop, a battle that longtime members say has fractured the organization and created one of the ugliest controversies in its 53-year history.

The vote had originally been scheduled to take place Tuesday evening at the Picnic House in Prospect Park. But after concerns mounted among members about possible confrontations and safety risks, organizers shifted the proceedings to a Zoom-only format. Internal emails obtained by The NY Post said many of the coop’s roughly 15,000 members raised “explicit concerns about their safety.”

“People were nervous to go physically,” coop member Ramon Maislen told The NY Post.

“They are fairly violent,” Maislen alleged of the anti-Israel members.

Maislen said several members feared that individuals publicly opposing the boycott, divestment, and sanctions proposal could face harassment or confrontation after the late-night meeting concluded.

In an email sent to members, coop coordinators Ann Herpel and Matt Hoagland acknowledged that despite increased security measures, “we cannot guarantee their security.”

The proposed boycott itself would have little practical impact on store inventory. The coop reportedly sells only a small number of Israeli products, including seasonal kosher-for-Passover matzah, hummus, Bamba snacks, an herb product, and two Ecolove hair-care items.

Tuesday’s vote marked the latest chapter in a years-long anti-Israel campaign within the coop that reportedly dates back to 2012.

According to members, tensions exploded following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza.

Maislen filed a complaint in 2024 with New York’s Human Rights Division, alleging that he and other Jewish members faced harassment because of their opposition to the boycott effort.

The atmosphere grew even more heated during a coop meeting last month after one member reportedly declared, “Jewish supremacism is a problem in this country,” while also comparing Jews to Nazis — remarks that triggered outrage among many attendees.

Opposition to the boycott effort has also emerged from prominent liberal Jewish figures. Rabbi Rachel Timoner, who previously faced criticism within parts of the Jewish community for publicly supporting New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, has become one of the leading voices against the boycott campaign.

In a recent sermon to congregants, Timoner warned that BDS “is not a movement for Palestinian statehood, or for co-existence or for peace. It is part of a larger movement for the elimination of Israel.”

Numerous coop members told The New York Post that the controversy has become the most divisive internal battle the organization has ever experienced.

Outside the coop Monday, pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered chanting slogans about genocide, apartheid, and Zionism while newly hired security guards monitored the scene nearby.

“Vote yes to not be silent during genocide. Be on the right side of history at the coop,” shouted one woman, who was wearing a shirt that said “I’m Jewish and I’m against genocide.”

But several frustrated shoppers told The Post they were deeply disturbed by the demonstrations and growing hostility surrounding the issue.

Noah Potter, a 54-year-old attorney and coop member since 2012, warned that approval of the boycott would hand the BDS movement a symbolic victory.

He said the measure would become a “scalp hanging from the belt” of the BDS movement.

“It’s about putting the coop’s brand on the BDS ideology.

“In practice, when BDS comes into an organization, the modus operandi is to polarize and expel, purge and cause the organization to adopt a statement that is highly reductionist, and inflammatory, and assigns blame to the extent of incarnating evil,” he added.

Another longtime member from Prospect Heights, who has belonged to the coop since 1987, said the rhetoric surrounding Jews had left her horrified and reconsidering her membership.

“I thought it was disgusting,” she said, adding that if the vote passes, she will do the bulk of her shopping at the Key Food on Flatbush Avenue.

“When people are passionate about an issue, they sometimes don’t realize the antisemitism that’s there.”

One Jewish member connected to the anti-boycott organization Coop 4 Unity described witnessing a confrontation in which a pro-boycott activist allegedly intimidated someone distributing anti-boycott flyers.

“A member walked up to another guy who was flyering and got really physically aggressive,” she said.

“He backed up to him closely and started yelling about genocide and apartheid.”

Although coop staff eventually intervened, members said the incident reflected a broader escalation of tensions that has intensified in recent weeks.

“The whole time I was out there flyering, my heart was racing,” the 37-year-old woman said. “I’m a mom of two. I could think of 1 million other things I could be doing.”

Ahead of the vote, the pro-boycott organization Members for Palestine reportedly distributed forceful campaign emails urging members to support the boycott while dismissing security concerns as political intimidation tactics.

As tensions escalated, several Jewish members said they no longer felt comfortable attending coop meetings in person.

The Post said it contacted Members for Palestine for comment but received no response Monday.

In a recently filed complaint reviewed by The Post, one longtime member described suffering severe anxiety after receiving boycott-related emails referencing “Zionists.”

“I used to love the coop more than any other institution in my life (I am fast falling into a state of utter disgust with every part of it),” the member wrote.

“I lost sleep. I had diarrhea. My stomach was in knots for the two weeks between the April 14 email and the April 29 meeting,” she continued — referring to the heated debates over the boycott.

“I was so nervous that I went to the Picnic House at 4:30 pm, to ensure I could get in, because I expected to be prevented from entering.”

The member further described the atmosphere at the meeting as “intimidating,” alleging that pro-Palestinian activists “flooded” the venue wearing keffiyehs and watermelon imagery associated with Palestinian solidarity demonstrations, causing many members to stay away out of fear.

Bruno Grandsard, who has belonged to the coop for a quarter-century, said the current crisis is unlike anything he has seen before.

“There have been other periods like this in the past, but this is the worst it’s ever been,” he said.

“The majority of people just want all of this to go away. It’s just very divisive, extremely divisive.”

For Maislen and other opponents of the boycott, one of the biggest concerns is that passage of the measure could trigger a major exodus of members from the institution.

An informal survey estimated that nearly 1,000 current members could leave the coop if the boycott is approved.

“My concern is that if coop members leave in disgust, it actually kind of harms us in a way, because if we have to have another vote, there’s just fewer people that are on our side,” Maislen said.

President Donald Trump announced Monday that he received a clean bill of health following a new physical examination conducted just weeks before his 80th birthday, declaring afterward that “everything had checked out PERFECTLY.”

Trump, who became the oldest person ever inaugurated as president of the United States, underwent the medical evaluation on May 26 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The examination marked the fourth physical of his second term and came after months of public attention surrounding visible bruising, skin discoloration, and swelling in his ankles.

Following the examination, Trump posted a message on Truth Social saying: “Just finished my 6 month physical at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. Everything checked out PERFECTLY,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “Thank you to the great Doctors and Staff!”

As of Monday evening, no formal medical report from presidential physician Dr. Sean Barbabella had been publicly released. During a previous examination last April, Trump stated that he also completed a cognitive assessment and claimed he “got every answer right.”

Public discussion surrounding Trump’s health intensified last summer after he appeared in public with noticeable swelling near his ankles and bruising on the back of his right hand. Earlier this year, additional speculation emerged after photographs from a Medal of Honor ceremony in March appeared to show discoloration behind his right ear.

White House officials later explained that the ankle swelling was caused by chronic venous insufficiency, commonly known as CVI, a condition involving difficulty returning blood from the legs back to the heart. Officials also said the bruising on Trump’s hand resulted from frequent handshaking combined with aspirin use. Trump later attributed bruising seen on his left hand to accidentally striking a table.

Regarding the discoloration behind his ear, the White House said it was connected to a topical cream but initially declined to provide additional details.

“President Trump is using a very common cream on the right side of his neck, which is a preventative skin treatment,” Dr. Sean Barbabella said in the statement provided to USA TODAY in March. “The President is using the treatment for one week, and the redness is expected to last for a few weeks.”

Additional photographs taken during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January appeared to show bruising on the back of Trump’s left hand during a signing ceremony connected to the Board of Peace initiative.

Traditionally, the White House determines how much information from a president’s medical evaluation will be released publicly. Presidents are not legally required to disclose detailed medical records, and there is no standardized format governing presidential health exams. Throughout his presidential campaigns, Trump released only limited details regarding his medical condition.

During the 2024 presidential race, Trump frequently criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, over concerns related to age and stamina, particularly as Biden was serving at age 81.

The United States is preparing to significantly reduce the military resources it makes available to NATO allies during future crises, according to a new report outlining major planned cutbacks involving bombers, fighter jets, naval forces, and reconnaissance assets.

German publication Der Spiegel reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed senior NATO officials during meetings in Brussels last week that Washington intends to scale back several key military commitments to the alliance.

Among the proposed changes, the United States would reportedly cut in half the number of strategic bombers available to NATO operations.

According to the report, American envoy Alexander Velez-Green also told alliance members that the number of U.S. fighter aircraft deployed for NATO missions would be reduced by roughly one-third.

The report further stated that the U.S. Navy plans to stop assigning nuclear submarines to NATO altogether and will also decrease the number of destroyers it contributes to alliance operations.

Sources cited by Spiegel said the United States additionally intends to retain full control over its reconnaissance drone fleet while limiting NATO access to American attack UAVs.

The move reflects a broader push to reduce America’s military footprint in Europe, a policy shift that has accelerated under President Trump, who has repeatedly criticized NATO countries for failing to adequately fund their own defense systems and for relying too heavily on Washington’s military power.

Trump has long argued that many NATO members allowed their armed forces to weaken while depending on the United States to shoulder the burden of European security.

At the same time, European governments have sharply increased defense spending in recent years following Russian invasion of Ukraine, amid growing concerns over Russia’s military ambitions and regional instability.

The United States currently maintains approximately 68,000 active-duty troops stationed throughout Europe, with the largest concentration based in Germany.

Israel’s currency has surged to its strongest level against the U.S. dollar in three decades, an extraordinary development given the ongoing regional turmoil that has gripped the country since October 7, 2023.

Since the beginning of May, the exchange rate has hovered around 2.85 shekels per dollar, a dramatic rise from the roughly 4 shekels per dollar seen in October 2023. The shekel has also strengthened sharply against the euro, with one euro falling from 4.34 shekels in October 2023 to approximately 3.39 shekels in May 2026.

The sharp appreciation comes as Israel’s broader economic data continues to outperform expectations. The Bank of Israel is projecting economic growth of 3.8% for 2026, inflation dropped to 1.9% in March, and unemployment has remained relatively low at 3.2%.

For Israeli consumers, the stronger shekel carries significant benefits. Imported goods become cheaper, particularly energy products purchased in dollars, while overseas travel has become far less expensive for Israeli families. At the same time, however, the strengthening currency has placed growing pressure on exporters — especially Israel’s technology sector — since Israeli products and services become more costly in foreign markets.

According to the Bank of Israel, several developments have contributed to the shekel’s rapid climb. The ceasefire in the Middle East helped calm investor fears, lowered the perceived risk attached to Israeli assets, and encouraged foreign capital to flow back into the country. In addition, the weakening of the dollar, tied in part to President Trump’s economic policies, has naturally boosted other global currencies, including the shekel.

Economists also point to another major driver behind the rally: the American stock market. Israeli pension funds maintain large investments in U.S. equities and often hedge currency exposure by selling dollars and purchasing shekels. As Wall Street continues climbing, those hedging transactions have accelerated, further strengthening the Israeli currency.

Between August 2025 and February 2026, those currency-hedging activities are estimated to have involved roughly $23 billion in additional transactions. Economist Alex Zabezhinsky estimated that this factor alone may account for as much as 40% of the shekel’s recent gains.

The dramatic rise in the shekel is now creating growing pressure on policymakers at the Bank of Israel. Business leaders and exporters have increasingly urged the central bank to lower interest rates in an effort to weaken the currency and provide relief to Israeli companies competing overseas.

For now, however, the Bank of Israel has kept its benchmark interest rate at 4% — still higher than rates in both the United States and the eurozone — a policy that continues attracting investors to shekel-based assets.

Officials face a difficult balancing act. While lowering rates could ease pressure on exporters, it also risks reigniting inflation at a time when Israel continues dealing with war-related uncertainty and volatile energy prices.

Concern is also beginning to grow within the Israeli government itself. Israeli exports have steadily declined in recent years, falling from more than $76 billion in 2022 to under $59 billion last year.

In response, Israel’s Finance Ministry recently announced a new funding initiative focused on artificial intelligence, aimed at helping companies hurt by the shekel’s sharp rise remain competitive in global markets.

{Matzav.com}

Israel is escalating its military campaign along the northern border, with Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu making clear that operations in Lebanon are being broadened in scope and depth, aiming to secure key territory and strengthen defenses for communities in northern Israel.

The public is being asked to offer tefillos for the full recovery of the Gerer Rebbe, who is scheduled to undergo a planned medical procedure today.

According to sources, the procedure is connected to a medical complication from which the Rebbe has recently been suffering involving the sinus and eye areas, after doctors determined that the condition was affecting his vision.

Initially, physicians explored the possibility that the issue stemmed from another medical problem, but following additional examinations, doctors decided to move forward with the planned procedure.

Sources within Ger stressed that the procedure was scheduled in advance and, according to current medical assessments, is considered relatively limited and is not expected to last long.

The procedure is expected to take place at a medical center in Herzliya.

Following the treatment, the Rebbe is expected to spend approximately a week resting and recuperating in Kfar Shmaryahu together with close aides and attendants.

The public is being urged to continue davening for the complete and speedy recovery of Rav Yaakov Aryeh ben Yuta Henya.

{Matzav.com}

Reb Gedaliah Kook shared an emotional update this week on the condition of his father, the renowned mekubal and tzaddik Rav Dov Kook, describing moving moments at his bedside, ongoing tefillos, and what the family views as repeated medical miracles surrounding the revered rav’s condition.

Speaking on the “Hafuch Al Hafuch” program with Reb Moshe Ben Lulu, Reb Gedaliah said his father remains hospitalized in intensive care, partially sedated and on a ventilator, though some improvement has been seen in recent days.

“The Rav partially opened his eyes during Yom Tov,” he said, while stressing that the situation remains serious and that Rav Dov still desperately needs the tefillos of Klal Yisroel.

Reb Gedaliah recounted a particularly emotional moment that occurred beside his father’s hospital bed.

According to him, family members played some of Rav Dov’s favorite niggunim, prompting a visible emotional response from the weakened mekubal, who also grasped his son’s hand.

“That was the greatest thing that happened,” Reb Gedaliah said emotionally.

At the same time, he clarified that the rav has not yet fully regained consciousness.

“He is not really in a state of full awareness — it’s more like flickering,” he explained.

He added that family members and talmidim remain constantly at the bedside, surrounding the rav with uninterrupted Torah learning and tefillah.

Reb Gedaliah also revealed difficult details about his father’s longstanding health struggles, particularly the condition of his legs after years of prolonged standing during heartfelt tefillos on behalf of Klal Yisroel.

“His legs are almost black,” he said painfully.

He described how doctors in the past repeatedly warned that Rav Dov’s condition was severe, yet the rav continued recovering against all expectations.

“The Rav is accustomed to miracles,” he said, recalling instances in which physicians feared amputation would be necessary, only for the situation to dramatically improve.

One especially striking story involved a serious infection Rav Dov suffered several years ago.

According to Reb Gedaliah, doctors instructed the rav to undergo a full course of antibiotics, but Rav Dov took only a single pill, relying on his deep emunah.

“We had absolutely no reason to think it would disappear on its own, and the doctors were shocked,” he recounted.

Several months later, the infection reportedly vanished entirely, and Rav Dov returned to standing for long hours in davening.

“We are only people of little faith,” Reb Gedaliah added.

Toward the conclusion of the interview, he urged the public to continue davening fervently for his father’s recovery and not lose hope.

“It is the tefillos of Klal Yisroel that are sustaining the Rav,” he said.

He asked the public to continue mentioning the rav’s full name in tefillah: “Harav Dov ben Shoshana,” emphasizing that the tremendous outpouring of prayers is deeply felt around the rav’s bedside.

{Matzav.com}

A heated debate broke out Monday in the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee over a Transportation Ministry proposal to reduce the frequency of annual vehicle inspections for private cars, with lawmakers and industry representatives clashing over whether the reform would improve convenience or endanger public safety.

Under the proposal being advanced by the Transportation Ministry, privately owned vehicles up to seven or nine years old would undergo licensing inspections once every two years instead of annually.

Committee chairman David Bitan immediately challenged the economic justification behind the move.

“The fact that a person saves 100 shekels a year has no impact whatsoever on the cost of living,” Bitan said. “On the other hand, there is the issue of vehicle safety.”

Bitan proposed an alternative model under which inspection frequency would be based primarily on mileage, while still requiring at least one inspection every two years.

“There is a complete imbalance in determining this according to years alone,” he argued. “Leased vehicles travel tens of thousands of kilometers each year, while others travel only a few thousand. It makes no sense to apply the same rule to everyone.”

MK Sasson Guetta backed the proposal and argued that if the Transportation Ministry truly wanted to ease the financial burden on citizens, it should reduce vehicle licensing fees rather than weaken safety standards.

Deputy Director-General of the Regulatory Authority Guy Mor defended the reform, insisting that the primary savings would come not from the inspection fee itself, but from the time citizens spend dealing with the process.

“When someone dedicates half a day to a vehicle inspection, that’s worth a lot of money. This represents a national savings of about one billion shekels per year,” Mor said.

He also stated that only five percent of road accidents stem from mechanical failures, comments that triggered sharp backlash from representatives of the automotive repair industry.

Ronen Levy, chairman of the Garage Owners Association, argued that European countries are actually increasing inspection frequency because of declining safety standards and odometer fraud.

Attorney Raz Nizri, representing the vehicle inspection institutes, presented opposing data based on research by Professor Moshe Becker, claiming the proposed reduction in inspections would increase accidents and cause economic damages estimated at 4.3 billion shekels annually.

According to Nizri, the Transportation Ministry is ignoring the real financial consequences of traffic accidents.

Representatives of the inspection institutes added that the average vehicle inspection lasts only 26 minutes and argued that “all the Transportation Ministry is saving citizens is the cost of a falafel portion and a bottle of grape juice.”

On the other side of the debate, Neta Lee Graiver, CEO of the advocacy group “Our Interest,” supported the reform and dismissed the warnings as exaggerated.

“As a citizen, I wait two and a half hours outside the inspection institute,” she said. “It’s troubling to hear professionals claim that this inspection ‘is worthless anyway.’”

Yosef Naim, chairman of the tire industry association, warned that poor road infrastructure is causing accelerated tire deterioration and claimed that more than half of the vehicles inspected by Transportation Ministry mobile enforcement units are found with severe defects.

Jonathan Ilan, a representative of the National Road Safety Authority, noted that 168 people have been killed in traffic accidents since the beginning of the year.

He clarified that the authority does not oppose reducing inspection frequency for newer private vehicles, where no proven link has been found between mechanical failure and accidents. However, he said older and heavier vehicles show a direct correlation between wear, mileage, and safety risks.

A police representative similarly voiced support for applying the reform only to newer vehicles.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Bitan demanded that the Transportation Ministry halt advancement of the reform until a comprehensive professional review is completed.

He again urged officials to examine a mileage-based model and instructed the ministry to return to the committee within a week with detailed answers.

“We managed until now with the existing system,” Bitan said. “We can wait a little longer to receive a reliable safety report — and not endanger human lives in the name of reducing regulation.”

{Matzav.com}

Legendary singer Avraham Fried revealed this week that a remarkable moment of hashgachah pratis during a recent visit to the Ohel of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in New York inspired him to launch an unexpected new musical project — recording Jewish lullabies for children.

Fried shared the story during an in-depth interview with journalist Binyamin Lipkin on the debut episode of the “L’Binyamin Amar” podcast on the COL website, where he discussed personal moments from throughout his celebrated musical career.

The singer recounted that during a recent visit to the Rebbe’s kever, he davened for continued success in his music and performances.

“I asked for brachah and hatzlachah in singing, to continue performing and singing, etc.,” Fried recalled.

After leaving the Ohel, Fried entered an adjoining room where videos of the Lubavitcher Rebbe are continuously shown.

To his astonishment, the particular video playing at that exact moment featured the Rebbe speaking publicly about music during a farbrengen decades earlier.

“How many clips are there of the Rebbe speaking publicly about singing at farbrengens?” Fried asked rhetorically. “There aren’t many.”

Fried described the timing as extraordinary and deeply personal.

“Tell me this isn’t hashgachah,” he said. “I’m looking at the video, and the Rebbe says: ‘Before babies begin to speak, it was customary to lull them to sleep, according to the custom of elderly Jewish women, with a lullaby, Torah di beste sechora [the best merchandise]. And it is known what the Rashba writes regarding the customs of elderly Jewish women in Israel, how carefully they must be preserved.’”

Fried said he felt at that moment as though the Rebbe was speaking directly to him.

Inspired by the experience, he immediately decided to move forward with a completely new type of project.

“On the spot I decided: I’m going to make lullaby albums now,” Fried announced.

A new Channel 13 poll published Monday night shows former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s new political party losing momentum, while Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s bloc continues edging closer to a governing majority.

According to the survey, Bennett’s “Together” party dropped three seats compared to the previous Channel 13 poll, while the Netanyahu-led bloc together with the chareidi parties now stands at 56 seats, compared to 54 seats for the anti-Netanyahu bloc.

If elections were held today, Netanyahu’s Likud party would emerge as the largest faction in the Knesset with 25 seats, the poll found.

Bennett’s “Together” party fell sharply to 23 seats, down from 26 mandates in the previous survey.

Meanwhile, the “Yashar” party headed by Gadi Eisenkot continued gaining strength and is now projected to become the third-largest party in the Knesset with 14 seats — an increase of two seats from the network’s earlier poll.

Among the chareidi parties, the numbers remained unchanged. Shas, led by Aryeh Deri, held steady at 10 seats, while United Torah Judaism remained stable with 7 mandates.

Religious Zionism, headed by Bezalel Smotrich, narrowly crossed the electoral threshold with 4 seats, while Otzma Yehudit under Itamar Ben Gvir received 10 seats.

The Democrats party, led by Yair Golan, was projected to win 9 seats, while Yisrael Beiteinu under Avigdor Lieberman gained one additional seat and rose to 8 mandates.

Among the Arab parties, Hadash-Ta’al was projected to receive 6 seats, while Ra’am, led by Mansour Abbas, dropped to just 4 seats.

According to the poll, the Netanyahu bloc together with the chareidi factions now stands only two seats short of the 61-seat majority needed to form a government.

The anti-Netanyahu bloc was projected to receive 54 seats, while the Arab parties collectively accounted for 10 mandates.

{Matzav.com}

Qatar has reportedly provided Iran with massive financial assistance in recent weeks, according to sources cited Tuesday, as Tehran struggles under mounting economic pressure and the lingering effects of the American naval blockade.

The report, published by Yisroel Hayom, claims the Qatari government transferred significant sums of money to the Iranian regime following a series of contacts between Doha and Tehran over the past several weeks.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Monday with Iranian Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati in a meeting that, according to the report, highlighted Qatar’s increasingly deep involvement in supporting Iran economically — far beyond its previously known role as a mediator in negotiations.

According to the report, Iran’s financial situation has deteriorated sharply due to the U.S. maritime blockade. The country is reportedly facing severe difficulties paying public-sector salaries, financing food and goods imports, and maintaining financial support for members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Sources quoted in the report said Qatar transferred substantial financial aid to Iran after diplomatic contacts intensified in recent weeks.

According to those sources, relations between Doha and Tehran expanded significantly following the ceasefire reached more than a month ago.

The report claimed one of Qatar’s main motivations was to prevent another Iranian strike against its territory after Qatar came under attack during the war.

Israel Hayom noted that following the ceasefire, both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were reportedly targeted in separate incidents, while Qatar remained untouched.

One source cited in the report said the two countries are also engaged in secret discussions aimed at reaching a broader arrangement that could include Qatari assistance in developing the enormous shared natural gas field jointly controlled by Iran and Qatar.

{Matzav.com}

Shas faction chairman Yinon Azoulay launched a sharp attack Tuesday against Israel’s attorney general and several coalition lawmakers following the decision to revoke yeshiva students’ eligibility for the government’s “Discounted Apartment” housing lottery program.

Azoulay accused the officials of effectively increasing the chances that terrorists and their families would benefit from the subsidized housing initiative while excluding Torah learners.

The Shas MK directed criticism at Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara along with coalition lawmakers Yuli Edelstein, Dan Illouz, Ofir Sofer, and Sharren Haskel over the controversy surrounding the housing program.

According to Azoulay, “The families of terrorists are thanking the attorney general today, along with those members of Knesset who call themselves ‘right-wing,’ who joined forces with the dismissed attorney general and with their own hands increased the chances of terrorists winning ‘Discounted Apartment’ lotteries by excluding Torah learners from participating.”

He continued by condemning what he described as a reversal of priorities in the Jewish state.

“It is unbelievable that in the Jewish state, instead of strengthening those who dedicate their lives to Torah study and to the Jewish identity of the state, they are strengthening terrorists.”

Azoulay also made clear that Shas does not intend to retreat from the fight over the issue.

“It won’t help you — we will not surrender. ‘The more they oppressed them, the more they multiplied and spread.’ Torah learners will continue to sit and learn, because money does not interest them.”

{Matzav.com}

Shin Bet chief David Zini met in the United Arab Emirates with former senior Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan, according to a report Tuesday by Kan News citing Israeli and regional sources.

The meeting has drawn attention because Dahlan has repeatedly been mentioned in international discussions as a leading candidate to play a major role in governing Gaza after the war.

Responding to the report, the Shin Bet issued a brief statement saying: “We do not comment on the schedule of the head of the service.”

Dahlan, once one of the most powerful figures in Fatah, previously headed the Palestinian Authority’s Preventive Security apparatus in Gaza. For years, he has lived in exile in Abu Dhabi.

In July 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that American, Israeli, and Arab officials had identified Dahlan as the leading candidate to oversee Gaza in the postwar era.

At the time, Dahlan rejected the idea publicly. Speaking to Sky News Arabia, he said: “I have stated more than once my refusal to accept any security, ministerial or executive role, and I call for the formulation of a realistic and practical international work plan that will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”

Earlier this year, it was also reported that former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with Dahlan in Abu Dhabi.

The revelation comes weeks after reports surfaced that Shin Bet director David Zini made a rare and highly unusual visit to the UAE amid the ceasefire and rising tensions involving Iran, signaling increasingly close security coordination between Jerusalem and Gulf states.

The Wall Street Journal reported this month that Mossad chief Dedi Barnea also traveled to the UAE during the war with Iran.

According to the newspaper, Barnea visited the country at least twice during the 40-day conflict in order to coordinate security matters related to the fighting.

Arab officials and another informed source told the Journal that the secret visits took place during March and April.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Former National Security Adviser John Bolton sharply criticized the Trump administration’s negotiations with Iran on Monday, arguing that any pause in military pressure gives Tehran valuable time to regroup and rebuild after weeks of Israeli attacks.

Appearing on CNN’s “The Lead,” Bolton said he believes the ongoing diplomatic effort should collapse rather than produce a ceasefire agreement.

“I hope the negotiations break down, because every day that goes by is a gift to Iran. It gives them 24 more hours to recover from the pummeling they took during the six weeks of Israeli attack. It gives them time to try and reconstitute their government, which increasingly looks dysfunctional and decision-making capability. And it postpones the day of reckoning. Ultimately, when the threat that they posed to control over the Strait of Hormuz is resolved in a way that they never come back and do it again, I think the ceasefire was a mistake.”

Bolton warned that the Trump administration risks squandering strategic gains achieved through military action against the Islamic Republic.

“I think these negotiations are a mistake. I think we’re on the verge of something that ultimately history will decide was a catastrophic loss for the United States. We have we have done significant damage to the Islamic Republic of Iran. And right now, we’re letting them undo the damage. And that that is a real tragedy, not just for us, but for the people in the region.”

CNN host Pamela Brown pressed Bolton on whether he would still oppose a deal even if Iran agreed to major American demands involving its nuclear program.

“So you think even if a deal is reached and, Iran commits to some of the sticking points that the U.S. wants, like moving all the enriched uranium out, that that would still be a failure.”

Bolton responded skeptically, saying the details of the negotiations appear to shift constantly and accusing Iran of deliberately dragging out the process.

“Well, the it’s very hard to know what the terms they’re discussing are since they change day by day. But but it seems a constant that the uranium issues kicked down the road for at least 60 days. This is what Iran wants. They want more time. 60 days turns into six months and then it turns into more than that. I don’t think Donald Trump is analyzing what America’s strategic interests are here. I think he’s looking at the price of gas at the pump, and he’s doing whatever he can to bring it down.”

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{Matzav.com}

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney sharply criticized Israel during a phone conversation Monday with Israeli President Isaac Herzog over Israel’s interception of a pro-Gaza flotilla last week, intensifying growing diplomatic friction between Ottawa and Israel.

According to AFP, Carney condemned Israel’s handling of activists aboard the vessel and accused Israeli authorities of mistreating those involved in the maritime confrontation.

An official statement released by the Canadian government said Carney denounced what he called the “appalling treatment” of activists on the ship and described the actions taken by Israeli forces as “unacceptable.”

The discussion came amid mounting international backlash over National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s filmed confrontation with participants aboard the anti-Israel flotilla headed toward Gaza. Among those aboard were 12 Canadian citizens.

During the call with Herzog, Carney pushed for an independent probe into the naval operation and also “strongly condemned” comments made by Ben Gvir, according to the government statement.

The diplomatic dispute marks the latest step in Canada’s increasingly confrontational response to the incident. Ottawa announced last week that it would summon Israel’s ambassador to formally seek answers regarding the treatment of Canadian nationals involved in the flotilla.

The controversy has also spread into Europe. France has barred Ben Gvir from entering the country, while French officials are reportedly working alongside Italy and Spain to encourage the European Union to impose sanctions on the Israeli minister.

Carney, who succeeded Justin Trudeau as both Liberal Party leader and Canadian prime minister, has previously drawn criticism for remarks viewed as hostile toward Israel.

During a campaign appearance in Calgary last year, Carney responded after a protester shouted, “Mr. Carney, there is a genocide happening in Palestine,” pausing to reply, “Thank you…I’m aware. Which is why we have an arms embargo.”

Afterward, Carney attempted to clarify the exchange, telling reporters he had not actually heard the word “genocide” and had instead been referring generally to Canada’s existing restrictions on arms exports.

“I didn’t hear that word,” Carney said. “It’s noisy. If you’re up there you hear snippets of what people say and I heard Gaza, and my point was I’m aware of the situation in Gaza.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu forcefully responded at the time, criticizing Carney’s rhetoric and defending Israel’s war effort.

“Canada has always sided with civilization. So should Mr. Carney. But instead of supporting Israel, a democracy that is fighting a just war with just means against the barbarians of Hamas, he attacks the one and only Jewish state. Mr. Carney, backtrack your irresponsible statement!”

Last summer, Carney also announced plans for Canada to recognize a Palestinian state, a move that sparked concern among several Jewish and multicultural organizations.

B’nai Brith Canada and a coalition of community leaders later sent Carney a letter warning against the decision. The letter stated that such recognition “could embarrass Canada, compound the crisis in the Middle East, and further push Israelis and Palestinians away from establishing a two-state solution.”

{Matzav.com}

As high-stakes negotiations over Iran’s nuclear material continue behind closed doors, President Donald Trump used Truth Social once again to underscore what he portrays as a dramatically tougher approach toward Tehran compared to previous administrations.

On Monday, Trump shared a viral-style image contrasting his handling of Iran with that of President Barack Obama, reinforcing his administration’s message that military pressure and uncompromising demands — not financial incentives — define current U.S. policy.

The image, formatted as a side-by-side “split-panel” meme, juxtaposed “Obama’s Iran Policy” against “Trump’s Iran Policy,” highlighting what Trump allies describe as a complete break from earlier diplomatic approaches toward the Islamic Republic.

One side of the graphic displayed massive bundles of money stacked on pallets and labeled “Pallets of Cash,” an apparent reference to the controversial cash payments delivered to Iran during implementation of the Obama-era nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA.

In sharp contrast, the second panel showed the U.S. Navy destroyer DDG 50 launching missiles during an intense naval confrontation, symbolizing overwhelming American military strength and Trump’s preference for forceful deterrence rather than economic concessions.

The post appeared shortly after Trump publicly declared that no final nuclear agreement with Iran would move forward unless international inspectors directly observe the destruction of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile.

In a Truth Social message, Trump outlined the conditions he expects for eliminating Tehran’s nuclear materials.

“The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!) will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place or, at another acceptable location, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, being witness to this process and event. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump wrote.

Trump said Saturday that details surrounding a possible agreement with Iran would be made public “shortly.”

Soon afterward, The New York Times reported that negotiations between Washington and Tehran are centered around one major condition involving Iran’s nuclear stockpile.

According to two American officials cited by the newspaper, the tentative framework being discussed would require Iran to surrender its highly enriched uranium reserves entirely — a condition the report said Iranian officials had tentatively agreed to.

Still, American officials acknowledged Sunday that the completion of the memorandum of understanding between the two sides may not happen immediately.

A senior U.S. official quoted by CNN said bureaucratic delays inside Iran’s government are slowing the process as Tehran works through internal approval procedures tied to the precise wording of the agreement.

{Matzav.com}

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A report published by Middle East Eye claims that the United States and Israel are quietly advancing a dramatic proposal that would dismantle Jordan’s longstanding custodianship over the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Yerushalayim and replace it with a new governing structure more closely aligned with Israeli oversight and interests.

According to multiple American, Jordanian, Palestinian, Gulf Arab, and Western sources cited in the report, the initiative is being championed by President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. The proposal would reportedly end the authority of the Jordanian-backed Islamic Waqf and establish a new Israeli-created administrative body that would redefine the Al-Aqsa compound as a “multi-faith centre.”

Officials familiar with the discussions told Middle East Eye that the proposed framework would permit Jews “equal access” to the site and officially authorize organized Jewish prayer there in large groups.

Under the alleged arrangement, Israel would also gain substantial influence over the appointment of imams, mosque administrators, and preachers, while additionally taking part in approving the content delivered in Friday sermons.

Two American officials told the outlet that Washington had already prepared a draft outlining its vision for the future of the compound. According to those sources, the Trump administration envisions transforming Al-Aqsa from an exclusively Muslim religious site into a tourist destination representing all three Abrahamic faiths.

A Western official and another source briefed by Jordanian authorities said one proposal under discussion would create a rotating oversight structure involving multiple Arab countries.

According to those sources, Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates have already been briefed on the American initiative.

However, two Gulf Arab sources and another individual familiar with Jordanian deliberations said Saudi Arabia strongly opposes the proposal, viewing it as dangerously destabilizing.

Sources cited in the report said Israel first presented the concept to the Trump administration nearly ten years ago, but that the effort intensified after Huckabee assumed his diplomatic post last year. According to the report, Huckabee “repeatedly” urged Washington to move forward with the plan.

Huckabee, an Evangelical Christian and longtime supporter of Israel, has consistently backed Israeli settlement activity in disputed territories and has advocated for expanded Jewish rights on Har Habayis.

One source close to the Jordanian government told the outlet that “the Americans have been angry that the Jordanians cite their custodianship and raise complaints about Israeli actions at Al-Aqsa”.

The tensions have escalated in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Jordan’s parliament condemned Israeli efforts to seize Palestinian property and Islamic endowments in areas surrounding the mosque compound.

Sources interviewed by Middle East Eye said the proposal leaves unresolved questions surrounding Yerushalayim’s Christian holy sites.

Jordan’s royal family also serves as custodian of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Church of the Ascension, and maintains veto power over the appointment of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Yerushalayim.

“This plan says nothing about the Christian sites, which raises a whole new set of concerns,” one of the sources said.

A Jordanian government official insisted that the kingdom’s position regarding Yerushalayim remains unchanged and emphasized that the Hashemite custodianship is recognized internationally through treaties and formal agreements, including the 1994 peace treaty between Israel and Jordan.

The official said Jordan continues coordinating with Palestinian, Arab, and international partners to preserve the sites’ “Arab, Islamic and Christian identity” and block attempts to alter the historical status quo.

For decades, the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound has operated under a carefully maintained arrangement preserving its standing as an exclusively Islamic holy site.

Following the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel and Jordan reached an understanding under which the Islamic Waqf would retain control over internal religious administration while Israel handled outside security responsibilities.

Although non-Muslims may visit during designated hours, Jewish prayer at the site is officially prohibited under the current arrangement.

For Jews, the area is revered as Har Habayis, the location where the two Batei Mikdash once stood — first the Beis Hamikdash built by Shlomo Hamelech and later the Second Temple destroyed by the Romans.

Jordanian and Palestinian officials reportedly believe the emerging proposal resembles the arrangement imposed at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Chevron after the 1994 massacre carried out by an Israeli settler.

Following that attack, Israel formally divided the site between Muslim and Jewish worshippers, allocating 63 percent for Jewish prayer and 37 percent for Muslims despite the location’s significance to all three major monotheistic faiths.

For Jordan’s Hashemite monarchy, control over Al-Aqsa is viewed as a central pillar of the kingdom’s legitimacy and standing in the Muslim world.

The Hashemites trace their custodianship over Yerushalayim’s holy sites back to 1924 during the British Mandate period following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the end of the Islamic Caliphate.

After losing control of Mecca and Medina to the Saudi royal family, the Hashemites were granted responsibility for Muslim and Christian holy sites in Yerushalayim.

Jordan’s role was later formally acknowledged in its peace treaty with Israel, which recognized Amman’s “special role” concerning Yerushalayim’s Islamic holy places.

Still, Jordanian and Palestinian leaders have long argued that Israeli governments and nationalist activist groups have steadily weakened that arrangement over time.

Repeated Israeli police operations inside the compound, growing visits by nationalist Jewish activists, and calls by Israeli ministers to allow Jewish prayer at the site have fueled accusations that Israel is gradually reshaping the status quo.

Waqf officials have also accused Israel of severely restricting maintenance and repair work at the compound while imposing increasing limitations on Muslim worshippers.

Mustafa Abu Sway, deputy chairman of the Waqf council, declined to directly address Jordan’s diminishing influence but described the Hashemite role as “a cornerstone for stability in the region”.

He added that Palestinians regard the custodianship “strategically as a lifeline” and said Jordan has consistently defended the historic arrangement at international institutions such as UNESCO.

“The Hashemite Custodianship is a cornerstone for stability in the region, undermining it is tantamount to undermining the very principles for peace”.

The Yerushalayim Governorate said it had not been officially informed about such a proposal but declared that it “reject[s] it entirely”.

Officials there warned of what they described as a “dangerous escalation” in Israeli interference with Waqf operations, including restrictions placed on guards and employees and increasing visits by Jewish activists.

Two Gulf Arab sources told the outlet that Jordan would likely seek broader regional support to counter the reported American-Israeli initiative.

Despite Jordan’s growing diplomatic ties with the UAE, the sources said Saudi Arabia would almost certainly oppose any move that weakens the Hashemite custodianship.

“Saudi Arabia fully understands that if any moves are taken against the Hashemite custodianship, then that would inflame the entire region,” one Gulf Arab source said.

Another Gulf Arab source described the custodianship as “a pillar of regional stability”, adding: “The Saudis may have disagreements with Jordan on some issues, but on Yerushalayim and Al-Aqsa they understand the consequences of dismantling the existing arrangement”.

The report also said Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah has developed increasingly close ties with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in recent years, particularly after several Arab states normalized relations with Israel.

Still, the sources acknowledged uncertainty about how Saudi Arabia would react if the UAE or Bahrain publicly endorsed the proposal.

Since signing the Abraham Accords in 2020, both Bahrain and the UAE have dramatically expanded political, economic, and security cooperation with Israel despite growing outrage across the Arab world over developments in Yerushalayim and Gaza.

The UAE in particular has become Israel’s closest Arab ally, broadening ties in trade, defense, energy, and technology.

Officials cited in the report expressed concern that Emirati-backed interfaith initiatives promoting “multi-faith coexistence” could eventually be used to justify changes at Al-Aqsa.

In 2023, the UAE opened a major interfaith center housing a church, synagogue, and mosque together on one campus.

Bahrain has likewise maintained close cooperation with Israel and has defended those ties as strategically necessary in confronting Iran.

According to the report, Bahraini officials have generally refrained from publicly criticizing Israeli policy in Yerushalayim, increasing fears among Palestinian and Jordanian officials that Manama may ultimately support changes at the holy site.

“They [UAE and Bahrain] understand how explosive this issue is in the Arab and Muslim world,” one of the sources said.

“Given that they are closely aligned with Israel, they should be cautious about publicly supporting changes to the status quo,” they added.

Middle East Eye said it contacted the foreign ministries of Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE but received no response before publication.

After the article appeared, an American official issued a brief denial rejecting the report outright and calling the claims that Washington was working to remove Jordan’s custodianship “totally false.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Deputy Minister Yisroel Eichler launched a sharp attack Monday night against Israeli police and the judicial system over attempts to arrest yeshiva bochurim, accusing authorities of targeting Torah students whose “only crime,” he said, is learning Torah.

In a strongly worded statement, Eichler condemned what he described as efforts “to hunt down and arrest innocent yeshiva students in the streets.”

According to Eichler, “their only sin is Torah study.” He argued that the judicial system has become a “dictatorial regime of those who persecute Torah and those who learn it,” and charged that the police have been “dragged into carrying out humiliating arrests against Torah learners who committed no crime.”

Eichler also sharply criticized police conduct surrounding enforcement of military draft regulations, saying that “the police, which failed to eliminate crime, must take into account the historic consequences of a war between armed police officers and students.”

He further warned that “history will record a mark of shame upon those who persecute innocent Jews devoted to Torah.”

The deputy minister said the proper role of law enforcement is “to preserve public order and protect Jews whose entire desire is to uphold the Torah of Israel,” warning that what he called the ongoing persecution “could lead to innocent blood being spilled.”

Concluding his remarks, Eichler urged Israeli police officers “not to listen to the jurists,” claiming that they “are attempting to undermine the foundations of Jewish existence in Eretz Yisroel.”

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of children from Torah schools, together with leading rabbinic and chassidic figures, gathered this past week in Beit Shemesh for a massive public assembly ahead of Shavuos that featured a rare double Pidyon Peter Chamor ceremony, an event many residents described as something the city had not seen in years.

The gathering was organized by the city’s chassidic faction, including chairman Shimon Goldberg, Yeshaya Weissman, and Avraham Nachman Frenkel, in cooperation with Mayor Shmuel Greenberg.

Kedushas Aharon Street was closed to traffic and transformed into a large event complex to accommodate the thousands who attended. Hundreds of children from Torah schools and chadorim across the city arrived in organized groups following extensive preparations and coordination with school administrations.

The event featured stirring music and emotional songs led by singer and composer Bentzi Stein together with the “Kapella” choir and keyboardist Mendy Brandwein. The crowd joined in singing “U’vchein Tzaddikim Yir’u V’Yismachu” as one rabbinic leader after another ascended the stage.

Among those in attendance were the Vizhnitz Beit Shemesh Rebbe, the Lelov Rebbe, the Trebishan Rebbe, the Shotz-Drohobych Rebbe, the Kasho Rebbe, the Ziditshov Rebbe, the Spinka-Sasregen Rebbe, the Radoshitz Rebbe, the Amshinov Rebbe, the Lizhensk Rebbe, the Dzshikov-Vizhnitz Rebbe, and the Bergsaz Rebbe, along with dozens of rabbanim and community leaders from throughout the city.

The gathering opened with remarks from Harav Asher Schwartz, one of the city’s rabbanim and author of the sefer “Maadanei Asher,” who spoke about the importance of preparing properly for mitzvos and the holiness of the days leading up to Shavuos.

The keynote address was delivered by the Vizhnitz Beit Shemesh Rebbe, who spoke at length about the sanctity of the three days of preparation before Matan Torah and the proper mindset needed to receive the Torah.

One of the most emotional moments of the evening came when the Lelov Rebbe cried out “Shema Yisroel,” prompting thousands of children and participants to proclaim the words together in a thunderous voice that echoed throughout the city and gave the event the atmosphere of a modern-day Sinai experience in the streets of Beit Shemesh.

Later in the evening, two separate Pidyon Peter Chamor ceremonies were conducted one after the other. The first ceremony was performed by the Spinka-Sasregen Rebbe serving as the kohen, followed by a second Pidyon Peter Chamor conducted by Harav Aharon Katz, rav of Kehillas Brod in Ramat Beit Shemesh D.

The large-scale operation and coordination of the event were overseen by Tzvi Frenkel, director of the “לטובת” center, who spent weeks organizing logistics with local communities, Torah schools, safety officials, and the “Aktiver” production company.

Organizers and residents in Beit Shemesh described the gathering as “not just another event, but a historic moment of Torah, unity, and Kiddush Hashem that the city has not witnessed in many years.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is expected to visit Walter Reed National Military Medical Center this week for what the White House has described as a routine medical examination. However, the upcoming visit comes amid growing public scrutiny in the United States regarding the 79-year-old president’s physical and cognitive condition.

According to a report published by Maariv, this will mark Trump’s third visit to the military hospital in just 13 months — an unusually high frequency for a sitting president. Reports noted that his previous visit, which took place last October, sparked widespread speculation, and only three months later did the White House acknowledge that Trump had undergone a CT scan intended to rule out cardiovascular and vascular problems.

The White House has continued portraying Trump as being in excellent health, but independent physicians and a Washington Post investigation have raised concerns over several symptoms and incidents documented in recent months. Among the issues highlighted were recurring bruises on the president’s hands, which White House officials attributed to aspirin use and frequent handshaking.

Trump was also seen with swelling in his legs. Administration officials previously said the condition was related to chronic venous insufficiency, but senior cardiologists warned that such symptoms — particularly when combined with reports of sudden drowsiness — can in some cases point to more serious medical conditions, including heart failure.

Trump himself has continued making his physical and cognitive health part of his public image. He has repeatedly touted the results of cognitive tests he says he passed, emphasized his fitness for office, and mocked critics questioning his condition.

At the same time, however, a Washington Post poll found that only about 40% of Americans believe Trump possesses the mental sharpness necessary to serve effectively as president.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Monday that federal officials blocked her from entering the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility in Newark as demonstrations intensified outside the building and detainees inside reportedly launched a hunger strike over conditions.

Sherrill said the refusal to allow access to the facility only deepened concerns about what may be taking place behind closed doors.

“I have long opposed private detention facilities and will continue to advocate for the closure of Delaney Hall and against any expansion of mass detention facilities in New Jersey, like the proposed facility in Roxbury,” Sherrill said in a statement. “I came today to hear from families and advocates, and what I heard from them was heartbreaking.”

The Department of Homeland Security sharply criticized the visit, accusing the governor of turning the situation into a political spectacle.

A DHS spokesperson told The Hill that Sherrill’s appearance at the detention center was “nothing more than a political stunt on Memorial Day when visitation is currently suspended due to riots outside in the facility.”

Several Democratic officials from New Jersey accompanied Sherrill, including Andy Kim, Rob Menendez Jr., Nellie Pou, and LaMonica McIver. The lawmakers met with demonstrators gathered outside Delaney Hall after confrontations broke out Sunday, during which protesters claimed ICE officers used pepper spray against them, according to WABC.

Federal officials said Kim was eventually permitted to enter the facility after contacting Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin directly. DHS did not clarify whether Sherrill or the other lawmakers were ever granted entry.

Mullin pushed back against allegations surrounding conditions at the center, rejecting claims that detainees had begun a hunger strike and insisting that the facility was not operating under “subprime conditions.” He also accused Democratic officials in New Jersey of “smearing ICE law enforcement.”

Demonstrations outside Delaney Hall began Friday after activist Gabriela Soto arrived at the site during the launch of what organizers described as a hunger and labor strike by detainees, according to The City, a New York-based outlet. Protest organizers said roughly 300 detainees participated, demanding the release of elderly and younger detainees as well as those suffering from medical problems.

Soto said her husband, who has reportedly been detained since February, was confined to a cell for eight hours while being questioned by officers.

“The people inside Delaney Hall are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, and members of our community,” she said. “In New Jersey, we believe in the rule of law and that everyone deserves to be treated with basic dignity. We have a duty to safeguard the rights, health, and well-being of everyone within our borders.”

DHS officials described the protests as disruptive and aggressive. According to a spokesperson, approximately 125 protesters, “many carrying anti-ICE signs and Antifa flags… formed a human chain around entrances to the facility and set up barricades, blocking all entries and exits.”

The lawmakers accompanying Sherrill also criticized the conditions inside the detention center after attempting an unannounced oversight inspection Sunday night. Menendez said he too was prevented from entering.

“I was told that I would be able to go inside at 8 a.m., but ICE continues to deny entry,” he wrote on social platform X Monday morning.

Pou, Kim, and McIver each posted photographs from the protest scene on X and publicly demanded that Delaney Hall be shut down.

Cory Booker also announced Sunday that he planned to visit the facility.

“Immigrants at Delaney Hall are on a hunger strike because they are fighting for their human rights,” he wrote on X. “The conditions there are deplorable… Enough is enough — not in New Jersey, not anywhere.”

Federal officials defended the detention center’s operations and insisted detainees are receiving proper care. A DHS spokesperson said inmates are given three meals daily along with water, bedding, clothing, and hygiene supplies, adding that ICE “has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons that hold actual U.S. citizens.”

{Matzav.com}

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reportedly told regional officials in recent discussions that he does not believe a significant diplomatic breakthrough with Israel is possible under the current government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to a report aired Monday night by Kan News, a regional source familiar with the matter said the Saudis have made clear that any move toward normalization or closer ties with Israel would require a firm Israeli commitment regarding the Palestinian issue.

The report also said Israeli officials were informed in advance about President Donald Trump’s initiative to connect a developing agreement with Iran to a broader expansion of the Abraham Accords that would include Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

An Israeli source told Kan News that the proposal came up during discussions between Trump and Netanyahu.

At the same time, negotiations between the United States and Iran remain unresolved, with major disagreements still lingering over key elements of the proposed agreement. Qatar has reportedly intensified its efforts to mediate between the sides, and its role in the negotiations has become increasingly central.

Earlier reports indicated that Trump is attempting to transform the Iran talks into a much larger regional arrangement by linking a potential agreement with Tehran to a dramatic expansion of the Abraham Accords involving additional Arab and Muslim nations.

In an unusual post published on Truth Social, Trump wrote that negotiations with Iran are “going very well,” while warning that only two outcomes remain possible: “a great deal for everyone,” or a return to military conflict that would be “bigger and stronger than ever before.”

According to Trump, during conversations held Saturday with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain, he stressed that after the American effort to “put together the complicated puzzle,” most of those countries should sign onto the Abraham Accords simultaneously.

Trump acknowledged that one or two countries might ultimately choose not to participate, but insisted that “most should be ready, willing and able” to turn a potential Iran agreement into what he described as a far larger historic regional achievement.

{Matzav.com}

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri is reportedly dismissing concerns that a national election scheduled for mid-September could disrupt travel to Uman and negatively impact the chareidi tzibbur, saying the date would actually benefit the broader right-wing bloc.

According to reports from closed-door discussions, Deri argued that elections held on September 15 would not significantly interfere with the annual pilgrimage to Uman surrounding Rosh Hashanah.

“People return immediately after the Yom Tov, it won’t have an impact. It’s a date that is good for the entire right-wing bloc, not just for Shas,” Deri reportedly said.

Sources in Shas emphasized that the final decision ultimately rests with Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, who is expected to discuss the issue further with Deri in the coming days.

At the same time, Netanyahu has reportedly continued telling associates in private conversations over the past 24 hours that he wants to exhaust every possible avenue to delay elections as long as possible, with his preferred target date said to be October 27.

The issue has created growing tension within the coalition, particularly with representatives from United Torah Judaism, who oppose a September 15 election date because it falls during the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah and could interfere with the schedules of talmidei yeshiva.

During the party’s faction meeting Monday, officials from United Torah Judaism reportedly accused Deri of acting on Netanyahu’s behalf in an effort to undermine the possibility of September elections and push the political system toward an October vote instead.

The editorial board of The Wall Street Journal is raising alarm over President Trump’s ongoing negotiations with Iran, warning that easing pressure on Tehran before major nuclear issues are resolved could create dangerous long-term consequences and weaken America’s leverage in the region.

In its coverage and commentary surrounding the negotiations, the Journal warned that sanctions relief and economic concessions could become “difficult to reverse” if Iran later fails to meet verification requirements or refuses to fully dismantle key elements of its nuclear infrastructure.

The paper also described the negotiations as unfinished and unstable, noting that critical questions surrounding Tehran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, uranium enrichment, and enforcement mechanisms remain unresolved.

One Journal report said the proposed framework would give both sides additional time to negotiate “thorny issues including Tehran’s nuclear program,” while critics quoted by the paper questioned whether the concessions under discussion would be worth the risks.

The Journal additionally highlighted growing concerns among Trump allies and foreign policy hawks that Iran could secure economic relief while maintaining significant leverage and enrichment capabilities. One report noted that “many of Trump’s political allies openly urged Trump to resume strikes on Iran instead of making diplomatic concessions.”

President Trump has continued defending the talks, insisting that any agreement would fully protect American interests and only move forward if Iran accepts strict U.S. conditions. Administration officials have acknowledged, however, that negotiations remain active and that major details are still being worked out.

Trump has also lashed out at critics attacking the negotiations before a final agreement has been completed. According to reports, he argued opponents do not yet know the actual contents of the deal and are reacting prematurely.

Republican lawmakers including Tom Cotton and Lindsey Graham have continued warning that any relaxation of sanctions could strengthen Tehran economically and strategically while undermining years of American pressure efforts.

Former Trump administration officials have also expressed concern. John Bolton and other Iran hawks have repeatedly argued that partial agreements risk leaving Iran’s nuclear infrastructure largely intact while giving the regime badly needed financial breathing room.

Several analysts aligned with pro-Israel security positions have echoed those warnings, arguing that limited agreements lacking aggressive verification systems could allow Tehran to preserve uranium enrichment capabilities while still receiving economic benefits and sanctions relief.

Trump, meanwhile, has rejected accusations that he is preparing to accept weak terms, insisting that he would never agree to “a bad deal” and arguing that many of the loudest critics are reacting without full knowledge of the negotiations themselves.

{Matzav.com}

Senior Likud MK David Bitan said Monday that the controversial draft law regulating the status of yeshiva students no longer has enough political support to pass, while acknowledging that even the chareidi parties themselves are no longer backing the current proposal.

Speaking in an interview on Kol Chai Radio’s main evening program, Bitan painted a picture of a political system already preparing for new elections, with coalition tensions growing over both the draft law and the timing of the next vote.

According to Bitan, the main dispute at the moment revolves around whether elections should be held in September or October.

“We prefer October, while the chareidim prefer September,” Bitan said, adding that “I don’t think elections can be held during the holidays themselves.”

The chairman of the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee also addressed Israel’s ongoing military challenges, saying the country remains deeply engaged in simultaneous conflicts on several fronts, including Lebanon, Gaza, and Iran.

“As the war dragged on, things stopped depending only on us,” Bitan explained.

At the same time, he rejected criticism suggesting Israel entered the fighting unnecessarily.

“I do not accept this claim that we fought for nothing. We absolutely had to fight,” he said.

When asked about the government’s repeated promise of achieving “total victory,” Bitan conceded that Israel has not yet fully reached that objective.

“‘Total victory’ was the intention, but we still haven’t reached that point. It is still a process,” he said.

Bitan argued that the Israeli public understands the complexity of the situation and the enormous challenges facing the country during the current security crisis.

A major portion of the interview focused on the stalled draft law and the growing crisis between the coalition and the chareidi parties. Bitan insisted that responsibility for the deadlock does not rest solely on Likud.

“You can’t come only to Likud with complaints about why the draft law did not advance over these years,” he said. “It is impossible to pass a law that the chareidim themselves currently do not support at all.”

Bitan outlined the series of political and legal obstacles that ultimately derailed the legislation.

“At first there were legal problems that dragged things out,” he explained. “Afterward, some coalition members refused to support the wording, and we reached the point where the law simply no longer has a majority — and now the chareidim themselves no longer want it. Life goes on, and eventually we will arrange a fair law in the next term.”

The veteran Likud lawmaker also addressed the government’s judicial reform efforts, suggesting that Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s current approach differs from his earlier position on the issue.

“Based on how he behaves today, yes. I think today he wants what he did not want in the past,” Bitan said regarding the possibility of reviving judicial reform legislation.

Still, Bitan cautioned that any renewed effort would need to move gradually rather than all at once.

The interview also touched on growing internal tensions inside Likud surrounding reserved spots on the party’s Knesset slate ahead of the next elections.

Bitan said demands that Netanyahu receive ten reserved slots on the list are unrealistic and noted that past Likud leaders rarely relied heavily on such mechanisms.

“We are a democratic party,” he said, defending the party’s primary system, which allows lesser-known candidates to rise through the ranks.

Bitan additionally rejected criticism from some right-wing figures who argue the current government failed to fulfill major ideological promises.

According to him, the war dramatically reshaped the government’s priorities, though he maintained that the coalition still achieved significant accomplishments.

“A lot of good things happened,” Bitan said, arguing that despite wartime pressures and ongoing legal battles, the government managed to preserve economic stability while also addressing social issues.

Toward the end of the interview, Bitan was asked which parties Likud would refuse to join after the next election. He responded that the party maintains a firm line regarding cooperation with Arab parties and the Democrats party.

“Likud currently will not sit with the Arab parties,” he said, adding that there are also major issues from Likud’s perspective regarding cooperation with the Democrats.

{Matzav.com}

At the close of Shavuos, during the traditional Ne’ilas HaChag Tish attended by thousands of Belzer chassidim, a dramatic public announcement was delivered in the name of the Belzer Rebbe regarding what was described as the growing campaign against lomdei Torah in Eretz Yisroel.

The announcement was delivered by the Rebbe’s longtime mashbak, Reb Shimon Wolf Klein, who spoke emotionally about the mounting financial and legal pressures facing avreichim and bnei Torah throughout the country.

“We are now entering the third year of one of the most difficult battles faced by those who learn and toil in Torah here in Eretz Yisroel,” Klein declared.

“Unfortunately, the latest troubles make people forget the earlier ones. It began with the cancellation of funding that supported Torah learners, and when that was not enough for them, they began imposing additional decrees, intimidation, and various harsh measures — all with one objective: to pressure and make life difficult for Torah learners and, chalilah, uproot the existence of Torah.”

Klein praised Belzer chassidim for what he described as extraordinary dedication and sacrifice in supporting kollel families over the past two years.

“Baruch Hashem, over the past two years Belzer chassidim proved themselves and stood with exceptional mesirus nefesh at the side of the kollel avreichim, serving as an example for communities throughout Eretz Yisroel,” he said.

He noted that the Belzer Rebbe established and strengthened the “Keren Hatzolas HaTorah,” a special emergency fund created to sustain Torah learners facing growing economic hardship.

“We merited that the Rebbe established and built the Keren Hatzolas HaTorah, which undertook the enormous responsibility of raising the massive sums needed to support the kollel avreichim — amounts reaching 12 million shekels each year,” Klein announced.

“Now the fund is taking upon itself another year of sustaining Torah learners in partnership with chassidim from Eretz Yisroel and abroad.”

Toward the conclusion of the announcement, Klein issued a direct appeal to the assembled chassidim to personally sponsor avreichim in the Belzer community.

“The Rebbe calls upon every person to take upon himself support for an avreich at a cost of 900,” he said. “And whoever is able should take upon himself several avreichim, so that the strength of Torah should not weaken.”

Klein added a personal message from the Rebbe to those who assist the campaign.

“The Rebbe asked to add that whoever helps will have the Rebbe’s gratitude, and he and his family will be spared from pain and anguish,” he concluded.

{Matzav.com}

The United States carried out a series of military strikes early Tuesday in southern Iran, targeting Iranian vessels and missile infrastructure that American officials said posed an immediate danger to U.S. forces operating near the Strait of Hormuz.

According to American officials, the action was described as a defensive response intended to neutralize threats coming from Iranian military assets during the fragile ceasefire period.

“US forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins said.

“US Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” he added.

Fox News, citing a senior U.S. official, reported that American forces detected two Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz allegedly attempting to deploy naval mines. The same official said U.S. aircraft also came under threat after an Iranian missile installation targeted American warplanes operating in the area.

In response, the U.S. military reportedly destroyed both vessels belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The official also said the United States struck an Iranian surface-to-air missile position in Bandar Abbas after Iranian outlets reported blasts in the city earlier in the day.

Additional explosions were also reported near the coastal areas of Sirik and Jask, both situated close to the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz.

American officials emphasized that the attacks were intended as limited defensive operations rather than a renewed escalation of the broader conflict. One official told Fox News that the mission was “defensive,” while two other sources stressed that the military action should not be interpreted as the collapse of the ceasefire arrangement with Iran.

Reports of explosions across multiple locations near the Strait of Hormuz had already surfaced Monday night, according to Fox. A senior official later told the network that the U.S. military operation was “over for now.”

{Matzav.com}

Degel HaTorah MK Yaakov Asher launched a blistering attack Monday against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and Israel’s Supreme Court, accusing the legal establishment of waging what he described as a systematic ideological war against the chareidi public.

Speaking at a conference for chareidi mortgage advisers, Asher warned that growing pressure on the Torah community could eventually trigger widespread backlash across the chareidi sector.

“The chareidi public will not sit quietly,” Asher declared. “In the end, this will turn into some kind of uprising.”

At the center of his remarks was the ongoing legal and political battle surrounding the draft issue and government funding connected to the chareidi community. Asher claimed the judiciary and legal advisers are deliberately targeting chareidim not only politically, but economically and socially as well.

He described the situation as “a legal war of judicial activism by the attorney general,” arguing that the campaign is fueled by both political and ideological motives.

According to Asher, the legal system is attempting “even ultimately to starve the chareidi population, causing disproportionate harm to women, teachers, kindergarten workers, and children.”

The MK accused Israel’s legal establishment of applying double standards when it comes to human rights and civil protections.

“When they need to pass a law to deport terrorists’ families, all the legal advisers are concerned not to violate the rights of those families,” he said.

“All the sensitivity that the attorney general, her colleagues, and the Supreme Court justices have — all the sensitivity regarding human rights — take 10% of that sensitivity and apply it to this public.”

Asher went on to describe what he said are the practical consequences of government policies affecting chareidi families.

“There are children struggling in school who have tutors helping them, and now they wanted to stop funding for those tutors,” he said. “Why? Because maybe one of the tutors earns a living from it and is considered by them to be a draft dodger. So what do you want? That these children fall apart and later end up being treated by social services?”

The veteran lawmaker portrayed the situation as an organized and relentless campaign against the chareidi sector.

“Every day there’s another letter, every day another directive, every day something else,” Asher said. “This is a war against the entire chareidi public. And it’s not just political. In politics, you can maneuver and make different moves. Here, every move you make, the court comes and overturns everything.”

He also argued that government policy toward chareidim is contradictory and economically self-defeating.

“You are harming the economy while at the same time talking about legislation to encourage public transportation,” he said. “And with the other hand, you are making life harder for the very public that uses public transportation more than anyone else.”

Asher stressed that any response from the chareidi community would remain nonviolent and guided by rabbinic leadership, even as frustration intensifies.

“The chareidi public will not sit quietly. In the end, this will turn into some kind of uprising, but of course a legal one. We are not people of violence or things of that nature. Some say it’s a shame, but no — these are the instructions we receive from the Gedolei Torah, and that is how we will act.”

He concluded by saying that the mounting pressure is increasingly uniting all segments of the chareidi community, including both full-time learners and working families.

“In the end — and this is our strength — they are putting everyone into the same category,” Asher said. “Those whose Torah is their profession and those who work as well, because they are also harming their families and their sons who are learning Torah. They are dragging the entire public into this.”

Asher closed with another sharp jab at the legal establishment, accusing it of showing greater concern for Palestinians than for Israel’s chareidi citizens.

“They are causing enormous damage to the State of Israel,” he said, “but they will continue protecting the quality of life of various Palestinians in Area C.”

A storm of controversy and fascination swept through the Jewish music world this week following claims that Yaakov Shwekey incorporated artificial intelligence into parts of his newly released EP, Happiness — a development some insiders are calling a turning point for the entire industry.

The discussion exploded after reports surfaced that the music-identification system used by the Jewish music app Jusic detected audio patterns suggesting possible AI-generated elements within some of the album’s arrangements.

Israeli radio host Menachem Toker described the revelation during his “Zman Avir” program on Kol Chai as a dramatic moment for Jewish music.

“When the biggest singer in the world today uses AI, it’s an absolutely crazy explosion,” Toker said.

The new EP contains four songs, and according to those involved in the discussion, the concerns do not relate to Shwekey’s vocals themselves, but rather to portions of the instrumentation and production.

Producer and arranger Yishai Shin, who works with the Jusic platform, explained on-air that the app’s “smart algorithm” flagged unusual characteristics in the recordings.

“We can see in the song’s characteristics that it contains content that may have been created by AI,” Shin said.

At the same time, he stressed that the album was not entirely AI-generated.

“There are AI motifs in the guitars and in the arrangement,” he explained, adding that other music professionals independently reached similar conclusions after reviewing the tracks.

Participants in the discussion emphasized that the singing itself was not generated through artificial intelligence.

Toker described the development as “an earthquake in Jewish music,” particularly because of Shwekey’s stature as one of the genre’s most influential and recognizable artists.

According to Toker, the decision was not driven by budget limitations or attempts to cut costs, but rather by an intentional embrace of new creative and technological tools.

During the broadcast, it was also reported that individuals connected to Shwekey confirmed that certain portions of the project were indeed created with the assistance of AI technology.

Composer and producer Moishy Woldar defended the move and argued that adapting to emerging technologies is both natural and necessary.

“The greatest move a person can make is knowing how to connect to the right time and the right generation,” Woldar said.

He warned that musicians who refuse to adopt artificial intelligence tools in the future may ultimately fall behind the industry.

Woldar also noted that arranger Ravid Kashti was involved in the production process and argued that AI does not eliminate the need for human professionals, but rather gives them new capabilities and creative options.

Music critic Netanel Leifer also joined the debate, explaining that experienced musicians and studio professionals are often able to identify AI-generated elements, especially in guitar sounds and instrumental textures.

Still, he acknowledged that most ordinary listeners are unlikely to notice any difference at all.

“For the ears of most listeners, they simply don’t care,” Leifer said.

Despite differing opinions over the growing role of artificial intelligence in music production, all of the participants praised Happiness itself and described the EP as a high-quality and impressive musical release.

As hopes fade for passage of a draft law during the current Knesset term, frustration is mounting inside United Torah Judaism, where party leaders are now demanding immediate and tangible achievements for the chareidi public in exchange for continued coalition support.

According to a report published Monday, senior UTJ figures made clear during an internal faction meeting that the party no longer intends to provide automatic backing for coalition legislation without receiving concrete benefits in return.

The growing pressure follows increasing recognition within the chareidi parties that the long-discussed draft law regulating the status of yeshiva bochurim is unlikely to pass during the current government.

During the meeting, MK Meir Porush and Deputy Communications Minister Yisroel Eichler reportedly insisted that every future vote supporting coalition initiatives in the Knesset plenum must now be tied to legislation delivering immediate gains for the chareidi sector.

The strategy is aimed at allowing UTJ to present voters with meaningful accomplishments after efforts to advance the draft law effectively stalled.

As part of the negotiations, the faction reportedly agreed that in exchange for supporting legislation transferring certain Interior Ministry powers to Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, UTJ would demand advancement of the Daycare Law — legislation initiated by the party intended to benefit chareidi families.

The proposal was supposed to move forward this week with preliminary approval in the Knesset. However, according to the report, UTJ ultimately backed away and abstained during the vote on the transfer of powers without securing any concessions in return.

Party officials are also expected to push for additional legislation important to the chareidi public, including an override clause limiting judicial intervention and further measures designed to ease sanctions imposed on yeshiva students and regulate the legal status of lomdei Torah.

At the same time, tensions reportedly continue between Degel HaTorah and Shas over the question of possible election timing. Due to ongoing disagreements between the parties, UTJ lawmakers reportedly agreed that all faction members will present their positions next week regarding when elections should take place in an effort to establish a unified strategy.

Meanwhile, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri reportedly acknowledged during a separate Shas faction meeting that prospects for passing the draft law have effectively collapsed for the foreseeable future.

“Yesterday it became clear that the draft law will no longer pass during the current term,” Deri reportedly told party members.

Despite the pessimism, political insiders say Degel HaTorah’s position does not necessarily mean the party would actively oppose such legislation if Netanyahu somehow succeeds in assembling a majority independently. In that scenario, faction members could still vote in favor of the bill and allow the legislative process to move forward.

Federal agencies distributed approximately $186 billion in improper payments during fiscal year 2025, according to a new analysis by the Government Accountability Office, with Medicare, Medicaid, and welfare-related programs making up the overwhelming majority of the losses.

The total represented an increase of roughly $24 billion compared to the previous fiscal year, according to a report by the New York Post. The GAO found that 15 federal agencies reported improper payments across 64 separate government programs, with nearly 82% of the questionable payments classified as overpayments.

Among all federal programs, Medicare recorded the highest amount of improper payments, totaling $57 billion.

Medicaid ranked second, with an estimated $37 billion improperly distributed, while the Earned Income Tax Credit accounted for another $21 billion that went to recipients who were not eligible.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as food stamps, saw nearly $10 billion in improper payments.

Another $10 billion was linked to the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program, a pandemic-era initiative created to help theaters, museums, and entertainment venues survive the economic fallout of COVID-19 restrictions.

All other federal programs combined were responsible for an additional $51 billion in improper payments, according to the report.

The GAO noted that improper payments have plagued the federal government for decades, estimating that agencies have improperly distributed nearly $3 trillion since 2003.

The agency warned that the true number may actually be significantly larger, explaining that several programs viewed as highly vulnerable to payment errors were not included in the latest calculations.

The findings were released as a federal anti-fraud initiative spearheaded by Vice President JD Vance pressures states to tighten monitoring of federally funded assistance programs or face the possibility of losing federal dollars.

Kristen Kociolek, managing director of the GAO’s Financial Management and Assurance division, told The Washington Times that the sharpest jump in improper payments occurred during the COVID-19 years between 2020 and 2023, when emergency spending programs rapidly expanded.

The GAO said it has repeatedly called on Congress and federal agencies to strengthen oversight systems and accountability safeguards aimed at curbing fraud, payment errors, and abuse throughout the federal government.

{Matzav.com}

A group of coalition lawmakers from Likud, Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, and the chareidi parties submitted a request Monday for an urgent Knesset discussion over a controversial decision by the Israel Land Authority to block certain Torah learners from participating in subsidized housing programs.

The lawmakers accused the government of carrying out what they described as blatant discrimination against chareidi avreichim, arguing that the new policy unfairly targets bnei Torah while other non-serving sectors continue receiving housing benefits.

The request calls for a fast-track hearing in the Knesset Interior and Environmental Protection Committee following changes to eligibility rules for the government’s discounted housing lottery program, known as “Dira B’Hanacha” and “Mechir Lamishtaken.”

Among the MKs backing the request are Meir Porush, Simcha Rothman, Tali Gottlieb, Avi Maoz, Michel Buskila, Moshe Abutbul, and Tzvika Fogel.

The political uproar erupted after legal authorities instructed the Israel Land Authority to revise eligibility criteria in a manner linking housing benefits to military service status.

In the explanatory notes attached to the request, the lawmakers wrote that “following the Supreme Court ruling and instructions from the legal advisory authorities, changes were made to the criteria for eligibility to register for the government housing program ‘Dira B’Hanacha.’ As part of these changes, avreichim whose military status is not regulated were denied the ability to register for the program and participate in the lotteries, due to the legal linkage created between housing benefits and military service.”

The lawmakers argued that the policy creates discriminatory enforcement aimed primarily at the chareidi public.

“An examination of the reality on the ground reveals a severe picture of unequal treatment, constituting blatant and deliberate discrimination against the chareidi sector alone,” the request stated.

The MKs further claimed that while Torah learners are now excluded from the program, other sectors whose members also do not serve in the military continue to retain full eligibility for subsidized housing lotteries.

“While avreichim whose Torah study is their profession are excluded from the program and denied the basic right to housing, members of other sectors in Israeli society who also do not serve have not lost eligibility and continue enjoying full access to the lotteries and the opportunity to receive discounted housing,” the lawmakers wrote.

They warned that the new rules create an illegitimate distinction between different groups of Israeli citizens based on cultural and sectoral identity.

“This policy creates improper discrimination between one citizen and another based on sectoral and cultural affiliation,” the statement said. “Preventing housing solutions for the avreichim public, which is already suffering from a severe and unprecedented housing crisis, under the false pretext of ‘rewarding those who serve’ — while other sectors are exempted from these rules — is a shocking social and economic injustice that cannot be accepted.”

The lawmakers requested that the issue be placed urgently on the Knesset agenda and demanded that representatives from the Attorney General’s office, the Israel Land Authority, the Housing Ministry, and other relevant agencies appear before the committee to explain the decision.

The Israel Land Authority, however, rejected claims that the policy specifically targets chareidim. According to the agency, the updated directive applies equally to all Israelis classified as draft evaders, regardless of whether they are chareidi or secular.

The move followed pressure from the Attorney General’s office demanding immediate operational steps to revoke housing benefits from individuals obligated to serve in the military who failed to regularize their status.

Under the new procedures, the Housing Ministry now conducts automatic computerized synchronization with IDF manpower databases. Any citizen identified by the military system as draft-eligible without regulated status immediately loses eligibility to participate in government housing tenders.

The policy is expected to affect thousands of young chareidi families hoping to participate in upcoming housing lotteries. In some cases, even individuals who already won discounted apartment lotteries but have not yet finalized their purchases could reportedly lose their eligibility retroactively.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shmuel Yosef Fishbain zt”l, longtime Chief Rabbi of White Lake, who led the community with unwavering dedication, warmth, and mesiras nefesh for more than 55 years.

Rav Fishbain was a venerated figure of old-world rabbonus, a bridge to the great gedolim of prewar Europe and postwar America, and a living symbol of steadfast devotion to authentic Torah life and hashkafah.

For decades, his presence defined White Lake and much of the surrounding Catskills region. To countless families, vacationers, and year-round residents, Rav Fishbain was not merely a rov, but a trusted guide, a compassionate counselor, and a guardian of Torah values whose influence stretched far beyond the walls of his shul.

Born in Chicago in 1927, Rav Fishbain entered a world very different from the flourishing Torah landscape America knows today. His father, Reb Nochum Dov Fishbain zt”l, was among the pioneering builders of Torah in the Midwest and founded what was then the only yeshivos in Chicago. The elder Reb Nochum Dov’s untimely passing left a profound void when Rav Shmuel Yosef was still a young child.

In those difficult years, it was his mother, Miriam Devorah a”h, whose faith and sacrifice shaped the future of her sons. With extraordinary mesiras nefesh, at a time when sending children away to learn Torah was almost unheard of in many American cities, she dispatched Rav Shmuel Yosef and his brother to New York to learn in Yeshiva Torah Vodaas.

In Chicago, Rav Fishbain was raised in a home saturated with Torah and hachnosas orchim. His mother’s home became legendary for its open doors and warmth toward wandering Torah giants who traveled across America to strengthen Yiddishkeit in its fragile early years. As a child, Rav Fishbain merited hosting and observing some of the greatest figures of the generation, including Rav Elchonon Wasserman zt”l Hy”d, the Rayatz of Lubavitch zt”l, the Lomza Rosh Yeshivah, and numerous other gedolim and tzaddikim.

Those encounters left an indelible impression upon him. Throughout his life, Rav Fishbain would recount memories and stories from those formative years with vivid clarity, carrying within him a living connection to a vanished era of European Torah greatness transplanted onto American soil.

As a young man, Rav Fishbain immersed himself fully in Torah learning. He learned in Torah Vodaas and later in Telz, absorbing the greatness of the American yeshivah world during its formative decades. He also became closely connected to Rav Yisroel Zev Gustman zt”l at Yeshivas Netzach Yisroel, where Rav Fishbain himself eventually served as a maggid shiur, transmitting Torah with depth, clarity, and warmth.

Over the years, Rav Fishbain forged close relationships with many of the leading Torah figures and Rebbes of the generation. He maintained strong ties with the Bobover Rebbes, the Satmar Rebbe, the Tzelemer Rov, and the Skverer Rebbe, as well as with such luminaries as Rav Avrohom Pam zt”l, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l, Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l, Rav Eliezer Silver zt”l, Rav Avigdor Miller zt”l, among many others. His life was deeply intertwined with the great personalities who shaped postwar Torah Jewry in America.

Before arriving in White Lake, Rav Fishbain served as rov in several Catskills communities, including Ellenville and Hurleyville, serving both permanent residents and the thousands of summer visitors who flocked to the region each year. In the early 1970s, he assumed the rabbonus of White Lake, a position he would hold for the remainder of his life.

For more than half a century, Rav Fishbain stood as a pillar of Torah in the Catskills. Through changing times and shifting generations, he remained steadfast and uncompromising in his devotion to Torah, halachah, and authentic hashkafah. With tremendous mesiras nefesh, he carried the burdens of the community with dignity and humility, devoting himself entirely to the needs of his flock.

He was a rov whose life revolved around Torah and avodas Hashem, yet who remained approachable and deeply caring to every individual. Whether guiding families through life’s simchos and challenges, delivering shiurim, or preserving the traditions and standards of earlier generations, Rav Fishbain embodied the nobility and responsibility of the classic American rov.

Even in his later years, he remained a revered elder statesman of Torah Jewry in the Catskills, respected across the spectrum of the Torah world for his wisdom, integrity, and unwavering principles.

Rav Fishbain is survived by his esteemed Rebbetzin, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who continue his legacy of Torah and Yiddishkeit.

The levayah will take place tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood, New Jersey. A second levayah will be held tomorrow at Bais Yisroel, located at 92 Main Street in Monsey, NY, at 10:30 a.m. Kevurah will follow at the Monsey Chevrah Kadisha Cemetery on Brick Church Road.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

A 74-year-old traveler heading to Greece narrowly survived a medical emergency at Ben Gurion Airport after collapsing in the duty-free section and suffering cardiac arrest, with two El Al employees rushing to his aid and reviving him before paramedics arrived.

The two workers, both volunteer emergency responders with Magen David Adom, received an alert through MDA’s emergency responder application and reached the scene within moments. Finding the man unconscious and without a pulse, they immediately began CPR.

As the resuscitation efforts got underway, they instructed a nearby passenger to retrieve a defibrillator from the airport’s public area. Within a matter of minutes, the device was used to administer two electric shocks, successfully restoring the man’s heartbeat.

An MDA intensive care ambulance crew arrived shortly afterward, continued advanced medical treatment at the scene, and transported the man to Sheba Medical Center in stable condition.

The responders, emergency medical technicians Efraim Friedman of Petah Tikva and Yosef Zaks of Modi’in Illit, described the dramatic rescue.

“We were standing near the elevator when suddenly we received an alert through the MDA responder app about an unconscious man. We went up one floor in the elevator and ran quickly to the scene. We performed resuscitation efforts, and within a short time his heart started beating again.”

They added: “He gradually regained consciousness and did not understand what had happened around him. We explained that we were taking him to the hospital, and he said he couldn’t because he was on his way to a flight. After we explained his medical condition, we evacuated him to the hospital in stable condition. It’s an emotional event – being in the right place at the right time – and thanks to the defibrillator placed in the public area at Ben Gurion Airport, we were able to save his life.”

A tense confrontation broke out within Israel’s police leadership over whether officers should assist the military in arresting chareidi draft dodgers following a recent Supreme Court ruling, according to a report published today.

The debate reportedly unfolded during a high-level meeting of senior police commanders, where Central District Commander Amir Cohen voiced strong opposition to military requests for assistance in planned operations targeting draft evaders.

“They are not going to tell us how to prioritize missions,” Cohen reportedly said during the discussion.

The controversy comes after Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that police must cooperate with the military in apprehending chareidim classified as draft evaders. Following the ruling, the IDF informed police that it intends to begin proactive enforcement operations in early June and requested security assistance from law enforcement.

During the meeting, Cohen argued that the police should avoid becoming entangled in what he viewed as a military issue.

“The army is dragging us into an event where we are dealing with deserters,” he reportedly said.

According to the report, several senior officers strongly objected to Cohen’s remarks, including representatives from the police legal advisory division and top investigative officials.

Senior officer Boaz Blatt reportedly responded sharply, telling Cohen: “There is no place for statements of this kind.”

“You are representing police officers and commanders here,” Blatt added.

Police Commissioner Dani Levy ultimately settled the dispute by making clear that the police would follow the court’s directive and cooperate with the military.

“There is a Supreme Court decision here. There is law and order — and we will do what the court said.”

{Matzav.com}

An extraordinary photograph that surfaced this week captured a rare halachic drama unfolding thousands of feet above the Atlantic, as renowned posek Rav Ezriel Auerbach was summoned to the cockpit of a flight passing over Greenland to resolve a complex question involving Sefiras HaOmer.

The image shows the senior posek standing beside the aircraft’s captain while examining the flight’s navigation route on the cockpit display screen.

Behind the unusual scene was a complicated halachic issue that arose during Rav Auerbach’s trip to the United States. Shortly after takeoff, the Rav began investigating when passengers aboard the flight would be able to count Sefiras HaOmer.

It soon became apparent that throughout the route, the aircraft would effectively remain in continuous daylight due to the flight path and time-zone progression, seemingly “skipping” nighttime entirely.

The matter deeply concerned Rav Auerbach, who sought to analyze the issue thoroughly. In order to assist with the inquiry, the chief pilot personally invited the Rav into the cockpit and presented him with the aircraft’s precise navigation map and global flight route.

During their discussion, the pilot explained that the plane would soon cross the Greenland region. Although sunlight was still visible at the aircraft’s cruising altitude, conditions on the ground below in Greenland had already entered twilight and darkness due to the geographic positioning and angle of the sun.

After carefully reviewing the geographical and navigational details, Rav Auerbach issued a halachic ruling that has since generated considerable discussion in the Torah world.

“Since on the ground beneath the aircraft it is currently twilight and nighttime, the airplane is halachically considered to be located in a place where it is night,” Rav Auerbach ruled.

Based on that ruling, Rav Auerbach instructed the passengers waiting for guidance — and personally followed the ruling himself — that during the brief period while the aircraft passed over the darkened region, it was both permissible and necessary to count Sefiras HaOmer.

Passengers aboard the flight reportedly hurried to fulfill the mitzvah during the flight itself.

One passenger related: “All of the frum passengers on this flight were especially moved that we merited to have the posek hador himself traveling with us and determining whether and when to recite the brachah. There was tremendous amazement among all of us at the remarkable fusion of science, technology, and Torah, which guides a Jew wherever he may be. There is nothing that the gedolei Yisroel and poskim cannot determine — even in the heavens above.”

{Matzav.com}

The Karlin-Stolin community was saddened this evening by the passing of Reb Aharon Menachem Eisenstein z”l, one of the elder and respected chassidim of Karlin-Stolin in Modiin Illit. He was 75 years old.

Reb Aharon Menachem was the son-in-law of the legendary composer and singer Reb Yom Tov Simcha Ehrlich zt”l, whose deeply moving and authentic Yiddishe melodies left a lasting impact on the Torah world.

The levayah is scheduled to take place tonight at 10:30 p.m., departing from the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim and continuing to Har Hamenuchos, where he will be laid to rest.

The niftar was born on the 25th of Tammuz 5710 to his father, Reb Zev Eisenstein z”l, and his mother, Rebbetzin Chaya a”h.

Upon reaching marriageable age, he married the daughter of Reb Yom Tov Simcha Ehrlich zt”l.

Those who knew Reb Aharon Menachem described him as an exceptional individual, refined in both character and spirit, beloved by all who encountered him. He was known for his warm smile, gracious demeanor, and ability to greet every person with genuine kindness.

He was deeply rooted in emunah and bitachon, and spent his days and nights immersed in the depths of Torah with great diligence, while also sharing Torah with others. He was closely attached, heart and soul, to the Stoliner Rebbe.

He merited to establish generations devoted to Torah, chassidus, and Yiras Shomayim.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Police announced Monday that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting of a 27-year-old avreich in Bnei Brak nearly three weeks ago, in an attack that took place moments after he dropped off his young daughter at daycare near his home.

The arrests come as relatives of the victim continue insisting that the avreich was likely targeted by mistake and has no connection whatsoever to criminal activity.

According to investigators, officers from the Dan District’s anti-crime unit arrested two men Monday morning suspected of involvement in the attempted murder. The victim was seriously wounded in the shooting, which occurred shortly after he returned from taking his daughter to her maon.

Family members said the avreich later described the terrifying moments leading up to the attack after regaining consciousness following surgery. He told relatives that he noticed two helmeted men sitting on a motorcycle outside his apartment building but did not view them as suspicious at the time.

According to his account, the pair remained outside while he brought his toddler daughter into daycare. When he returned to the street moments later, the gunmen allegedly opened fire. Several bullets struck him in the abdomen, causing him to collapse on the spot.

Emergency responders evacuated the avreich to Sheba Medical Center at Tel HaShomer in moderate-to-serious condition. He underwent lengthy surgery and was later reported to be out of danger.

Police said large forces were deployed immediately after the shooting was reported. Officers conducted searches throughout the area, established roadblocks, and gathered evidence from the scene as part of the investigation, which was assigned to the Dan District anti-crime unit.

Following what police described as extensive investigative activity over recent days, authorities arrested two suspects Monday morning — a 20-year-old resident of Hadera and a 26-year-old resident of Kadima-Tzoran.

Investigators suspect the two men attempted to murder the victim under aggravated circumstances and also accuse them of obstructing the investigation.

Both suspects were taken in for questioning and later jailed. Police are expected to request an extension of their detention Tuesday at the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court.

Meanwhile, the avreich’s family continues to maintain that the shooting was a tragic case of mistaken identity. Relatives described him as a devoted ben Torah with no ties to the criminal world. Police have not publicly addressed that claim, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu declared Monday night that Israel will sharply intensify its military campaign against Hezbollah, warning that the terror organization will face even stronger attacks as cross-border drone assaults continue to target northern Israeli communities.

In a video message released by his office, Netanyahu praised Israeli forces for their operations in Lebanon while making clear that the fighting is far from over.

“We are at war with Hezbollah. In recent weeks alone, our heroic soldiers have eliminated more than 600 terrorists. But we are not taking our foot off the gas pedal. I said we must press the pedal even harder,” Netanyahu stressed.

The prime minister also addressed Hezbollah’s increasing use of advanced drone technology, including cyber-guided unmanned aircraft that have posed growing challenges along the northern border.

“Yes, they are launching cyber-guided drones at us. We have a special team working on this, and we will solve that too. We need to increase the strikes and the intensity. We will strike them hard.”

Earlier in the day, Northern Command chief Rafi Milo delivered a forceful warning to Hezbollah during a ceremony honoring the Golan Brigade (474), as tensions escalated following a series of drone and explosive-drone attacks on the Galilee and Golan Heights.

Without explicitly detailing future plans, Milo strongly hinted that the IDF is preparing additional operations inside Lebanon.

“Harming civilians and civilian areas is not a reality that can be accepted or treated as routine.”

Milo emphasized that Israel would not allow continued attacks on residential areas in the north and accused Hezbollah of deliberately escalating the conflict by targeting civilians.

“We will not tolerate fire on the home front. Northern Command is at war. The Hezbollah terrorist organization deliberately chose to escalate the security reality in the north while directly targeting the civilian population. In doing so, the enemy has crossed a severe and unacceptable red line,” he added.

His remarks followed several drone strikes across northern Israel earlier Monday. In one incident, an explosive drone detonated near a children’s bus stop along the main road in the community of Shomera. No injuries were reported.

Later in the day, emergency crews responded to a fire that erupted near Rosh HaNikra after another explosive drone exploded in a wooded area. Firefighters worked to prevent the flames from spreading further.

{Matzav.com}

Elkana Bohbot, one of the producers behind the Nova Music Festival who spent 738 days held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, has revealed disturbing new details about the psychological torment he says he endured at the hands of his captors.

In a deeply emotional interview on the “Voice of Nova” podcast, Bohbot described one particularly horrifying episode in which Hamas terrorists used food and false kindness as part of a brutal act of emotional abuse.

“One day we had this meal he prepared for us,” Bohbot recounted. “They brought us lamb shank – it’s called mandi. It’s the richest meal in Gaza.”

Bohbot explained that the unusual meal arrived unexpectedly in the middle of the day, a shocking departure from the deprivation and uncertainty that defined life in captivity.

“Suddenly, in the middle of the day, he brings you a tray with lamb shank and rice. They cook it underground, and it’s delicious, rich – a very rich Arab dish – and he gives it to us.”

According to Bohbot, he and two fellow hostages, Ohad and Bar, rushed to eat the food quickly, afraid their captor might suddenly reconsider and remove it before they could finish.

After the meal, Bohbot tried expressing gratitude to the terrorist, believing the gesture reflected a rare moment of humanity.

“Listen, this is very honorable, this is food with a lot of respect,” he said.

But Bohbot said the captor immediately revealed the true reason for the lavish meal.

“Come, come, I’ll show you what respect is. I’ll show you why you ate this.”

The terrorist then showed the hostages footage of a deadly bombing attack targeting Israeli forces, informing them that Israeli combat engineers had been killed in the blast.

“Today we killed thirty of your soldiers – bon appétit.”

Bohbot said the emotional shock was overwhelming, describing the moment as one of the cruelest experiences of his captivity.

“He shows you the video, and you throw everything up. I’ve never experienced abuse like that in my life.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] President Trump used his Memorial Day address at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday to pay tribute to the 13 American service members killed during the ongoing conflict with Iran, while also reaffirming his vow that Tehran will never obtain nuclear weapons. One grieving military family attended the ceremony as Trump delivered his remarks following a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

“These incredible men and women gave their lives to ensure that the world’s number one state sponsor of terror will never have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said moments after laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

“Oh, and they won’t. They will never have a nuclear weapon. I’m sure you know that one.”

During the ceremony, Trump recognized the relatives of Air Force Capt. Ariana Savino, the 31-year-old Washington state native who was killed March 12 when a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft crashed over Iraq. The president asked the crowd to acknowledge the family with applause.

Trump reflected on the military losses sustained in the recent Iran conflict while contrasting them with another operation he described as swift and casualty-free.

“In two wars recently, we’ve lost a total of 13 service members,” he said.

“In Venezuela, which was a complete and total victory … we took that over in one day, lost no one. In Operation Epic Fury, we lost 13 wonderful souls — wonderful, special people.”

The remarks came just days after Trump revealed that the United States and Iran had reached what he described as a “largely negotiated” memorandum of understanding that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global maritime traffic, while postponing nuclear-related matters to a later phase of negotiations.

Senior administration officials clarified Sunday that a finalized agreement was still likely several days away. Trump also issued a statement urging caution as negotiations continue.

“Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes!”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated Sunday that Tehran was prepared “to assure the world that we are not after a nuclear weapon,” despite years of international concern over Iran’s uranium enrichment activities, which have approached weapons-grade levels.

At the same time, some Republicans on Capitol Hill have expressed concern that Trump could bring the conflict to a close without fully dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities, fueling debate inside the party over how the war should end.

The president also turned part of the ceremony into a tribute to America’s World War II heroes, singling out 97-year-old Battle of the Bulge veteran Harry Miller for recognition before the crowd.

“At 15, Harry Miller lied about his age to enlist and was soon fighting to stop the SS Panzer divisions, as part of the famed 740th Tank Battalion,” Trump told his audience.

“The Daredevils, they were called — of which he is among the last surviving members at 97 years old,” the president recounted.

“Within six months after the battle, Harry’s unit lost 42 comrades. He’s remembering them today.”

“Sgt. Miller, it is a true honor to have you with us.”

A powerful and emotionally charged gathering took place in Yerushalayim on the eve of Shavuos, as hundreds of avreichim from the prestigious Teshuvos V’Hanhagos network of kollelim gathered for their annual pre-Shavuos assembly led by the senior posek Rav Moshe Sternbuch.

The gathering reflected the tremendous growth of the network, which was founded by Rav Sternbuch and now includes six branches across Eretz Yisroel. Organizers noted that during the past year alone, two new branches were opened, one in Ramat Beit Shemesh Daled 3 and another in Modiin Illit.

At the same time, the number of lomdim expanded significantly, with 30 new avreichim joining the Har Nof kollel and an additional 18 joining branches throughout the network, which organizers described as centers of extraordinary Torah diligence and growth.

The dais was graced by leading Torah and Chassidic figures. The first speaker was Rav Sholom Ber Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo, who passionately addressed the hundreds of avreichim about the greatness of their mission.

Rav Sorotzkin stressed that the concept of “Toraso umnaso,” which exempts bnei yeshivos from military service, is not merely a slogan but a clear and authentic halachic definition established by the Torah itself.

“Ashreichem,” Rav Sorotzkin declared emotionally. “Fortunate are you, whose Torah is your occupation, and who merit to live under the leadership of the posek hador, our guide in this orphaned generation.”

Following him, Rav Nachman Biderman stirred the crowd with emotionally charged remarks. Opening with visible reverence, he proclaimed: “We have merited to stand before the Divine Presence itself — the posek hador, the master of the Holy Land of Eretz Yisroel.”

Turning to the assembled avreichim, Rav Biderman cried out passionately: “You are the ones who uphold the world! Through your Torah and your toil, the entire world continues to exist.”

He concluded by describing Rav Sternbuch as “the Moshe Rabbeinu of this generation,” leading lomdei Torah toward Kabolas HaTorah on Shavuos.

At a later stage of the gathering, renowned Chassidic speaker Rav Yehuda Deitsch addressed the audience with fiery words and emotionally uplifting melodies that inspired the crowd in preparation for Matan Torah.

In his remarks, Rav Deitsch elaborated at length, citing proofs from the Gemara regarding the greatness of receiving one’s rebbe, emphasizing how fortunate the avreichim were to bask in the presence of the posek hador.

He electrified the hall when he declared that the chain of “Moshe received the Torah from Sinai and transmitted it onward” continues even today.

“Now, in the year 5786, we still merit to receive Torah from the Moshe Rabbeinu of our generation,” he proclaimed. “We are witnessing with our own eyes that the very same Torah from Har Sinai still burns like fire within those who learn and toil in Torah.”

A hush descended upon the packed hall when Rav Moshe Sternbuch rose to deliver the evening’s central address, focusing on the essence of the joy of Shavuos and the responsibility facing the Torah world amid growing governmental pressures and attempts to draft bnei yeshivos.

At the beginning of his speech, Rav Sternbuch stated: “The secularists imagine that we are miserable because for us this is forbidden and that is forbidden, and at every moment there is something else prohibited,” he said painfully.

“But the truth is exactly the opposite! We are joyful, fulfilled, and overwhelmed with happiness because we have a direct connection to our Creator and merit true eternal life. The secular world, by contrast, lives like animals — eating merely in order to live and living merely in order to eat, until they die like animals. Blessed is Hashem, Who did not make our portion like theirs and separated us from those who stray. Therefore, on Shavuos we must rejoice tremendously and show the entire world how precious the yoke of Torah and mitzvos is to us, and that the Torah of Hashem is better to us than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”

Rav Sternbuch also shared personal memories from his youth in London during the final year before the outbreak of World War II, when he spent time in the presence of Rav Elchonon Wasserman Hy”d.

“I remember how Rav Elchonon, despite no longer being young, danced on Shavuos with incredible strength for more than an hour straight,” Rav Sternbuch recalled. “That unforgettable display of joy in Torah left an impression on us for the rest of our lives.”

He also spoke about the yeshiva of Rav Moshe Schneider in London, where learning on Shavuos night would periodically pause so the students could break into dancing and singing over the greatness of Torah, demonstrating that Torah Jews are not unfortunate people but the happiest of all.

Later in the speech, Rav Sternbuch addressed the current struggle surrounding the future of the Torah world in Eretz Yisroel, delivering sharp and forceful remarks regarding efforts to draft bnei yeshivos into the military.

“The secularists know very well in their hearts that we are the truly happy ones, and therefore they are intensely jealous of us,” Rav Sternbuch declared. “They fear that we will continue multiplying here in the Land and that they will no longer be able to live lives of abandonment as they wish. Therefore, their entire intention is to defile the people of Hashem and bring us into their army. Militarily, they do not need us there at all! Their only goal is to make us become like them, chas v’shalom. Our obligation is to distance ourselves entirely from them and from any contact with them, because impurity is absorbed even through contact. Only in this way can we preserve our holiness.”

Toward the conclusion of the gathering, Rav Sternbuch praised the tireless efforts of his son, Rav Chaim Ozer Sternbuch, who dedicates himself day and night to establishing and maintaining the kollelim. Rav Sternbuch blessed him that he should continue expanding Torah and witness further miracles in strengthening the boundaries of holiness.

After the address, hundreds of avreichim burst into spirited singing and joyous melodies celebrating the acceptance of the Torah.

The evening concluded with a surprise arranged personally at Rav Sternbuch’s request. Out of concern for the welfare of the lomdei Torah and their families ahead of Shavuos, each avreich received a personal envelope together with a generous package of premium dairy products for Yom Tov, distributed with substantial assistance and sponsorship from the Tara dairy company.

Filled with spiritual inspiration, renewed strength, and profound joy in Torah, the hundreds of avreichim returned home prepared for the holiness of Shavuos night and ready to continue serving as what organizers described as the true protective wall of Klal Yisroel.

Rebbetzin Esther Liba Zaks a”h, widow of Rav Hillel Zaks zt”l, longtime rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Knesses Hagedolah, passed away on Monday at the age of 91.

The levayah is scheduled to leave this evening at 7:30 p.m. from Yeshivas Knesses Hagedolah on Meshech Chochmah Street in Modiin Illit. The procession will continue to the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim and then to Har Hazeisim, where she will be laid to rest.

Rebbetzin Zaks was born in Yerushalayim on the 17th of Iyar, 5695, to her father, Rav Avrohom Moshe Chevroni zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chevron and author of Masaas Moshe, and her mother, Rebbetzin Rochel a”h, daughter of the famed rosh yeshiva Rav Moshe Mordechai Epstein zt”l.

In the 1950s, she married Rav Hillel Zaks zt”l, who would later serve as rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chevron and eventually found Yeshivas Knesses Hagedolah. Rav Hillel was niftar on the 22nd of Teves 5775. The shidduch was reportedly suggested to Rav Avrohom Moshe Chevroni by Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l during one of his visits to Eretz Yisroel. Following their marriage, the couple lived for a period in the United States.

They later returned to Eretz Yisroel, where Rav Hillel joined the staff of Yeshivas Chevron as a maggid shiur. A year after the passing of his father-in-law, Rav Avrohom Moshe Chevroni, he was appointed rosh yeshiva.

When the community of Maale Amos was established, Rav Hillel became its first rov. Several of the founders of the yishuv were talmidim of Yeshivas Chevron. The family later settled on Rechov Tzefania in Yerushalayim’s Geulah neighborhood, near the yeshiva.

In 1996, Rav Hillel founded Yeshivas Knesses Hagedolah in Modiin Illit, and the rebbetzin stood steadfastly at his side throughout the years, supporting the yeshiva’s growth and his tireless dedication to Torah and delivering shiurim without interruption.

Talmidim described her as a true “mother of the yeshiva,” devoted to the wellbeing of the bochurim and always available with a listening ear and practical assistance. She was deeply involved in the yeshiva and would often personally help with kitchen duties and food preparation for the students.

Students also recalled the extraordinary respect and admiration that existed between Rav Hillel and the rebbetzin, describing their relationship as a living example for others to emulate. One talmid recounted that Rav Hillel would often say regarding his wife, “What is mine and what is yours is all hers.”

She is survived by a distinguished family, including her son, Rav Yitzchok Zev Zaks, rosh yeshiva of Knesses Hagedolah, as well as her sons Rav Yisroel Meir, Rav Aharon, Rav Tzvi Hirsch, Rav Dovid, and Rav Menachem Mendel Yosef. Her sons-in-law include Rav Chaim Mann and Rav Tzvi Wilensky.

Tehei nishmasah tzerurah bitzror hachaim.

{Matzav.com}

The Monsey Torah community was plunged into mourning over Shavuos with the passing of Rav Yisroel Sinai Wagshal zt”l of Lanzhut-Monsey, a revered gaon, tzaddik, and longtime mashgiach who devoted his life to Torah, avodah, and chesed. He was 66 years old.

Rav Yisroel Sinai passed away during Shavuos after enduring years of severe suffering following a devastating stroke approximately eight years ago that left him bedridden and paralyzed.

A descendant of an illustrious line of Chassidic leaders and tzaddikim, Rav Yisroel Sinai was widely respected for his warmth, humility, and deep devotion to helping others. Throughout his life, he was known for receiving every person with unusual kindness and a radiant countenance.

He was the son of Rav Yehoshua Mordechai Elazar Wagshal zt”l, Av Beis Din of Lanzhut and one of Williamsburg’s prominent rabbinic figures, who himself was the son of Rav Alter Yaakov Yitzchok Wagshal zt”l, Av Beis Din of Lanzhut.

Through his mother’s side, Rav Yisroel Sinai descended from Rav Yaakov Halberstam of Tshakava zt”l, son of Rav Sinai of Zmigrod zy”a. His lineage traced back to many of the great Chassidic dynasties and luminaries of past generations, including Lizhensk, Zlotchov, Premishlan, Belz, Ropshitz, Dzikov, Melitz, Ohel, Sighet, Sanz, Dinov, Kozhnitz, Kosov, Sassov, Apta, and many others.

After his marriage to the daughter of Rav Moshe Chaim Rubin zt”l of Dinov, son of Rav Menachem Mendel Zeida Rubin zt”l of Glogov and son-in-law of Rav Yekusiel Yehuda Rosenberger zt”l of Dieresh, the couple established a distinguished home built upon Torah and Chassidus.

For many years, Rav Yisroel Sinai served as a dedicated mashgiach in several yeshivos, including Yeshivas Nitra and Yeshivas Noam Elimelech. He profoundly influenced countless bochurim through his teachings, encouragement, and exceptional love for every student.

Those who knew him described a man who lived entirely for Torah and for the welfare of fellow Jews, constantly involved in acts of gemilus chassadim and helping others quietly and selflessly.

He is survived by a distinguished family of children and sons-in-law who continue his legacy of Torah and yiras Shomayim.

Among his sons are Rav Alter Yaakov Yitzchok Wagshal, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Toras Moshe in Montreal and son-in-law of the Karlsburger Rebbe of Montreal; Rav Zalman Leib Wagshal, son-in-law of the Av Beis Din of Vodkert; and Rav Menachem Mendel Wagshal, son-in-law of Rav Avrohom Rokeach, Av Beis Din of Kozlov.

His sons-in-law include Rav Yoel Labin, son of the Balchov Rebbe; Rav Chaim Yechiel Alter Segal Lowy, Av Beis Din of Tosh Monsey and son of the Tosh Rebbe; Rav Berel Rotenberg, son of the Av Beis Din of Voidislev; Rav Itamar Meislish, son of the Av Beis Din of Vitzen; Rav Berel Leifer, son of Rav Shmuel Binyomin Leifer of Voidislev; and Rav Shlomo Meislish, son of Rav Mordechai Aharon Meislish, rav of Bais Medrash Ichud Avreichim Satmar and son of the Satmar Gaavad of Boro Park.

He is also survived by prominent rabbinic siblings, including Rav Shalom Wagshal, Av Beis Din of Lanzhut-Williamsburg; Rav Naftali Elimelech Wagshal, Av Beis Din of Apta-Williamsburg; and Rav Boruch Yehuda Wagshal of Lanzhut-Beit Shemesh, son-in-law of the Mishkenos Haroim Rebbe.

Among his sisters are the Peshvorsker Rebbetzin, the Ziditchov-Chareidim Rebbetzin, the Rebbetzin of the Netzach Menachem Spinka Rebbe, the wife of Rav Yehuda Elisha Horowitz, Av Beis Din of Ohr Hachaim, and the wife of Rav Naftali Kahn of Divrei Emunah Monsey.

The levayah was held at Bais Medrash Dinov on Albert Drive in Monsey and proceeded to New Jersey, where Rav Yisroel Sinai was laid to rest near his ancestors.

Tehei nishmaso tzerurah bitzror hachaim.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Mothers-in-Law,

First, we want to say something important: We truly love having you for Yom Tov.

Your presence brings warmth to the house, excitement for the children, family stories, traditions, and that special feeling that makes Yom Tov feel like Yom Tov. There is something beautiful about having another generation around the table and creating memories together.

We also know that you come because you want to help, spend time with your children and grandchildren, and simply be part of the family experience. We appreciate that more than you know.

With that said, we would like to gently offer one small request on behalf of daughters-in-law everywhere.

After the meal, if possible, please consider going to your room for a few hours to rest, relax, read, nap, or simply enjoy some quiet time — even if you don’t actually need the rest.

It may not seem like a major thing, but those afternoon hours can be incredibly helpful. They give us a chance to clean up the kitchen, reset the house, organize the next meal, and handle the million little things happening behind the scenes.

There is something much easier about moving around freely and getting things done without feeling like someone is watching us work, or feeling like we need to remain socially “on” while simultaneously trying to manage the house.

And if we are being fully honest, those few hours can also give everyone a little breathing room. Not because we do not love you, but because even people who love each other very much sometimes benefit from a little space during a long Yom Tov together.

Ironically, when everyone gets that break, the next seudah is usually even nicer. We return refreshed, calmer, happier, and more able to genuinely enjoy being together.

So please know: Disappearing for a little while in the afternoon is not abandoning the family. It may actually be one of the greatest acts of kindness you can give the family.

With love and appreciation,

The Daughters-in-Law

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A rare public clarification was issued Monday by the family of the Amshinover Rebbe after sources claimed that the rebbe had permitted ascending Har Habayis, sparking sharp reaction across the Torah world.

The unusual statement came from the rebbe’s son, Rav Moshe Milikovsky, who said that reports had badly distorted his father’s remarks and falsely portrayed him as endorsing visits to Har Habayis.

The controversy began after excerpts from an internal Amshinover publication titled Yirah V’Simchah. The excerpts were taken from what was described as a private halachic discussion held in the rebbe’s home roughly a year ago.

In response, Rav Moshe Milikovsky released an official statement — an exceptionally uncommon move for the typically quiet and private Amshinover court in the Bayit Vegan neighborhood of Yerushalayim.

“We were shocked by the removal of the Rebbe shlit”a’s remarks regarding Har Habayis from their proper context. The Rebbe did not, chalilah, permit ascending the mountain in opposition to the view of all the poskim. They took an internal halachic discussion that took place in the Rebbe’s home a year ago, which was published in an internal chassidic publication intended for those who understand the nature of the Rebbe’s responses, and dishonestly presented it as though the Rebbe permits or instructs people to ascend Har Habayis halachah l’maaseh, something that never entered his mind.”

The statement further stressed that the discussion was never intended as practical guidance or a public ruling.

“Certainly this was not a practical or ideological heter to ascend Har Habayis, but rather an internal halachic clarification, in which the Rebbe also expressed his opposition to acts such as waving the Shtei Halechem on Har Habayis in a manner not consistent with halachah. The Rebbe’s position is the same as that of all the poskim — that in our times one should not permit ascending Har Habayis in practice, something that could easily lead to an issur kareis chas v’shalom.”

A British military aircraft transporting UK Defense Secretary John Healey reportedly suffered GPS interference while flying near Russian territory earlier this week, forcing the crew to rely on backup navigation systems during the flight back to Britain.

The disruption occurred Thursday as the RAF jet returned from Estonia, where Healey had been visiting British troops participating in NATO exercises close to the Russian frontier. According to reports, the aircraft’s signal was jammed for roughly three hours after its GPS capabilities were knocked offline.

British officials believe Russia was likely responsible for the electronic interference, though it remains unclear whether Healey himself was specifically targeted. Reports noted that the aircraft’s route could be tracked publicly through online flight-monitoring services.

The UK Ministry of Defense has not yet issued an official response regarding the incident.

The episode came just one day after revelations that Russian military aircraft had aggressively confronted an RAF surveillance plane over the Black Sea last month in what British officials described as a highly dangerous encounter.

During that earlier confrontation, a Russian Su-35 fighter jet reportedly flew close enough to an RAF Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft to trigger onboard emergency systems and disable the plane’s autopilot functions.

A second Russian aircraft, identified as a Su-27, allegedly made six separate passes directly in front of the British plane, at one point coming within just six meters of the aircraft’s nose.

Following that incident, Healey commended the RAF crew for what he called their “outstanding professionalism” during the “unacceptable” Russian maneuvers. Britain’s Ministry of Defense later characterized the encounter as the most serious Russian provocation involving RAF aircraft since 2022, when a Russian pilot described as “rogue” fired a missile near another Rivet Joint aircraft over the Black Sea.

This is not the first time British officials have dealt with suspected Russian GPS interference. In 2024, an RAF aircraft carrying then-Defense Secretary Grant Shapps also experienced GPS jamming while operating near Russian-controlled airspace.

{Matzav.com}

A rare and highly controversial halachic discussion attributed to the Amshinover Rebbe has sent shockwaves through the Torah and Chassidic worlds after the official Amshinov publication released a conversation suggesting that certain areas of Har Habayis may be permissible to enter after proper immersion.

The unusual exchange appeared this past Shabbos in the internal Amshinov publication Yirah V’Simchah under the title “Shtei Halechem in Our Times,” and centered around questions posed to the Rebbe by his son regarding recent attempts by Temple activists to perform Shavuos-related rituals on the Har Habayis.

The conversation, which was obtained by Matzav.com through researcher and tour guide Yisroel Shapiro, has generated intense discussion.

During the discussion, the Rebbe’s son asked directly whether it is currently forbidden to ascend Har Habayis.

The Amshinover Rebbe responded: “A person who is tamei meis is permitted to enter Har Habayis itself. Only the cheil, which is farther inward beyond Har Habayis, is forbidden.”

When asked whether someone who immerses in a regular mikveh may enter Har Habayis, the Rebbe answered: “Yes, but again, only the beginning section of Har Habayis.”

Asked where that “beginning” area would be located today, the Rebbe replied: “Not deep inside. Farther in is already considered the cheil.”

Later in the conversation, the Rebbe explained that the Kosel Hama’aravi is connected to the wall of Har Habayis, citing the sefer Kaftor VaFerach, and acknowledged that the area beyond the Kosel wall is likely already considered part of Har Habayis itself.

At the same time, the Rebbe emphasized that “Har Habayis is not the Azarah. Har Habayis is Machaneh Leviyah,” and therefore, from a strictly halachic standpoint, entering the outer sections of Har Habayis after proper immersion would be permissible.

The discussion also addressed recent efforts by activists to perform the mitzvah of waving the Shtei Halechem offerings on Har Habayis during Shavuos, attempts that reportedly ended this year with the arrest of 13 activists by police.

“On the surface, there would seem to be a mitzvah involved,” the Rebbe remarked regarding the idea itself, but he immediately raised major halachic obstacles that would prevent such an act from being valid.

“You would have to bake them inside, and I do not understand how they would then be removed,” the Rebbe said, noting the serious issue of “nifsal b’yotzei.”

He also questioned whether there could be certainty today regarding valid kehuna lineage, proper identification of techeiles and argaman, and the exact location of the mizbei’ach.

When his son asked whether the laws of Shtei Halechem might parallel those of the Korban Pesach, the Rebbe responded: “Every individual is obligated in the Korban Pesach; Shtei Halechem is a communal offering.”

The Rebbe then reportedly added humorously regarding activists attempting to carry out sacrificial rituals on Har Habayis: “The Korban Pesach requires a mizbei’ach… Are they carrying a mizbei’ach with them as well?”

The publication of the conversation has reportedly caused astonishment among many Amshinov Chassidim, particularly because of the Rebbe’s well-known personal stringencies regarding mekomos hakedoshim.

One prominent Amshinover chossid said that the comments were viewed as extraordinary given the Rebbe’s famously elevated standards of reverence toward holy places.

According to longtime followers, the Amshinover Rebbe is known to avoid even placing his fingers into the crevices of the Kosel stones out of awe for the site’s holiness.

For that reason, many are stunned that the same Rebbe who conducts himself with such extreme caution at the Kosel would publicly articulate a detailed halachic explanation permitting entry into portions of Machaneh Leviyah on Har Habayis after immersion.

President Trump opened Memorial Day with a fiery series of Truth Social posts blasting Democrats, establishment Republicans, and critics of his administration’s ongoing negotiations with Iran, while insisting that any agreement reached would be far stronger than the Obama-era nuclear deal.

“Happy Memorial Day to all, including the Dumocrats, who disrespect our Military and all of the tremendous success that it has had over the last year. God Bless those that have made the ultimate sacrifice. I love you all!” Trump posted on Truth Social at 6:18 a.m. ET.

The president once again used a national holiday to target political opponents, continuing a pattern that has become familiar throughout both of his terms in office.

Earlier Monday morning, Trump lashed out at those attacking the administration’s diplomacy with Tehran, declaring that opponents of the talks “should go home and rest, they do nothing but create division and loss. In other words, they are losers!”

The Iran negotiations consumed much of the president’s weekend as White House officials worked to determine whether a formal agreement could soon be finalized. According to administration officials, a preliminary framework could be completed within days, although Trump later emphasized that he had directed aides not to move too quickly.

“I laugh at all of the Dumocrats, RINOS, and Fools who know nothing about the potential deal I am making with Iran, things that haven’t even been negotiated yet,” Trump seethed on Truth Social before gloating over recent primary defeats of Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).

“The deal with Iran will either be a great and meaningful one, or there will be no deal,” he continued. “It will be the exact opposite of the JCPOA disaster negotiated by the failed Obama Administration.”

Speculation surrounding the emerging proposal has already triggered concern among Republican foreign policy hawks, many of whom fear the administration could offer Tehran excessive concessions. At the same time, some Democrats have mocked Trump by arguing that the developing framework resembles the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action negotiated during the Obama years — the same nuclear accord Trump withdrew the United States from during his first administration.

A senior administration official said Sunday that the White House believes Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has approved the general outline of a possible agreement. According to the official, Iran has agreed “in principle” to eliminate its stockpile of enriched uranium as part of the broader framework for a peace arrangement.

Hundreds of protesters gathered overnight in Yerushalayim in an attempt to prevent the arrest of a yeshiva bochur by military police, leading to violent confrontations and the deployment of Border Police forces.

The incident began overnight, when military police arrested Yosef Levy, a talmid of Yeshiva Pe’er Yosef, in the Armon Hanatziv neighborhood of Yerushalayim, for allegedly not identifying himself to military police officers. He was taken to a police station for further questioning.

Following the arrest, a large protest erupted at the scene. Demonstrators claimed that police used heavy force to disperse the crowd, including stun grenades.

At the same time, dozens of additional protesters gathered at Kikar HaShabbos in Yerushalayim to protest the arrest. During efforts to disperse the demonstration, Border Police officers were filmed striking protesters with batons.

The developments come after Police Commissioner Danny Levy recently instructed police officers to detain any draft deserter encountered and transfer him to military police custody for further handling.

Until now, Israeli police had generally refrained from arresting draft deserters directly. Critics of the new directive have described it as a major policy shift driven by pressure from the attorney general, whom many in the Olam HaTorah accuse of aggressively targeting bnei yeshivos.

Just before Shavuos, an avreich from Ofakim was stopped on a highway and transferred to military police custody, marking one of the first known implementations of the commissioner’s new policy.

{Matzav.com}

Emergency responders and MDA medics were called overnight to Rechov HaRav Kahaneman in Bnei Brak following a traffic accident involving two vehicles, one of which was carrying a chosson and kallah.

Hatzalah volunteers provided initial medical treatment at the scene to eight injured individuals of various ages, including the chosson and kallah. All of the injuries were classified as minor.

The injured were later transported by MDA ambulances and a Hatzalah ambulance to Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak for further treatment.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Juvenile Court Judge Noam Shilo has issued a public apology after sparking outrage by comparing Palestinian minors who entered Israel illegally to Jews during the Holocaust.

The remarks were made in response to a complaint filed against him with the Judicial Ombudsman, retired judge Asher Kula, following controversial comments Shilo made during a court proceeding involving two Palestinian teenagers.

“I deeply regret what was said. I had absolutely no intention of harming the sacred memory of the Holocaust and the terrible tragedy that befell the Jewish people during World War II,” Judge Shilo wrote in his response.

He added, “I should not have shared my feelings, even in an off-the-record conversation.”

Shilo also noted that many members of both his father’s and mother’s families were murdered during the Holocaust in mass shootings and extermination camps in Poland, Latvia, and Ukraine.

According to Shilo’s explanation, the hearing involved two approximately 14-year-old minors who, he said, appeared “malnourished, thin, weakened, and younger than their age.”

After deciding to release the minors without issuing an order against them, prosecutors requested a delay in implementation of the ruling in order to file an appeal.

Shilo stated that during an off-the-record discussion with prosecutors and defense attorneys, he expressed sympathy for the teenagers, who had allegedly entered Israel to sell inexpensive products to drivers near the Tira-Taybeh junction. He said their appearance reminded him of children during World War II who attempted to bring food home to their families.

The judge emphasized that he ultimately agreed to delay his ruling for 24 hours, during which the minors remained in custody. The following day, the Central-Lod District Court accepted the state’s appeal, convicted the minors, and sentenced them to prison terms equivalent to the time they had already spent in detention while waiving financial penalties.

“I apologize from the depths of my heart to anyone who was hurt or may have been hurt by my statement,” Shilo wrote, adding that he would continue judging minors “with dedication,” as he has throughout nearly 17 years serving as a juvenile court judge.

Judicial Ombudsman Asher Kula accepted the apology and wrote in his ruling: “One who admits and abandons his wrongdoing will be shown mercy. A judge who courageously acknowledges his mistake and retracts it actually strengthens public trust in both himself and the judicial system.”

The controversy first emerged last month in a report by i24NEWS, which revealed that Shilo had presided over the case of two 15-year-old Palestinian minors who infiltrated Israel after climbing over the security fence and were later apprehended by police.

At the time, the judge declined to convict or punish them, citing their age and physical condition. During the hearing, he remarked: “They remind me of Jews who stole potatoes during the Holocaust.”

The comparison triggered widespread public backlash, prompting prosecutors to appeal the ruling. The District Court later overturned the decision, convicted the two minors, and imposed prison sentences.

In an earlier statement, the judicial system’s spokesperson’s office said the judge’s comments “stemmed from the human association that arose in light of the minors’ young and emaciated appearance, which reflected their distress and nothing more.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump pushed back on Monday against critics of the potential agreement being negotiated with Iran, writing on his Truth Social account that any such accord “will either be a great and meaningful one, or there will be no deal.”

Trump continued, “It will be the exact opposite of the [2015] JCPOA disaster negotiated by the failed Obama Administration, which was a direct and open path to a Nuclear Weapon for Iran. No, I don’t do deals like that!”

The White House said in a social media post on Sunday that negotiations with Tehran are progressing smoothly. The statement followed an announcement on Friday by Trump that Iran and “various other countries” had “largely negotiated” an agreement to end hostilities.

“The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side. … Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes!” the White House posted, quoting Trump.

The post included an attached statement from the president saying that the relationship between the United States and the Iranians was becoming much more “professional” and “productive.

“They must understand, however, that they cannot develop or procure a nuclear weapon or bomb,” Trump said.

Reportedly, the proposed deal with Iran includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and easing sanctions to allow Tehran to resume oil exports. In return, Iran reportedly committed not to advance its nuclear program.

Trump defended the potential deal in a Truth Social post on Sunday, saying that if an agreement is reached, “it will be a good and proper one, not like the one made by Obama, which gave Iran massive amounts of CASH, and a clear and open path to a Nuclear Weapon.”

The president continued: “Our deal is the exact opposite, but nobody has seen it, or knows what it is. It isn’t even fully negotiated yet. So don’t listen to the losers, who are critical about something they know nothing about. Unlike those before me who should have solved this problem many years ago, I don’t make bad deals! President DJT.”

A U.S. official told Axios on Sunday that the White House believes that “it could take several days” for an agreement to end the war with Iran to be approved by Iran’s leadership, including Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted to X on Sunday that he had spoken with Trump about the negotiations.

“President Trump and I agreed that any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear danger. That means dismantling Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites and removing its enriched nuclear material from its territory,” Netanyahu wrote. “My policy, like President Trump’s, remains unchanged: Iran will not have nuclear weapons.”

Trump also reaffirmed Israel’s right to take action against threats “on every front, including Lebanon,” the prime minister added. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Japanese researchers are moving forward with plans for a revolutionary hypersonic passenger aircraft capable of flying at speeds more than twice as fast as the retired Concorde jet, potentially shrinking flights from Tokyo to the United States to just two hours.

The project is being developed with the involvement of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, known as JAXA, which recently completed a major test of an experimental aircraft at its Kakuda Space Center in Miyagi Prefecture, according to Interesting Engineering.

During the test, engineers placed the prototype aircraft inside a specialized ramjet engine testing facility designed to recreate the extreme conditions associated with hypersonic flight.

Researchers simulated speeds of Mach 5 — approximately five times the speed of sound.

According to reports, the experiment successfully validated key systems required for hypersonic travel, including the aircraft’s thermal protection technology, flight control systems, and ramjet engine combustion performance under extreme temperatures and pressure.

Such testing is considered essential because aircraft traveling at those speeds can encounter external temperatures approaching 1,000 degrees Celsius.

The next stage of development could involve attaching the experimental aircraft to a sounding rocket or similar launch platform in order to conduct a real-world Mach 5 flight demonstration.

Japan’s efforts are part of an intensifying international race to develop ultra-fast next-generation transportation systems. If successful, the aircraft could dramatically transform long-distance travel by cutting a trip from Tokyo to the United States from roughly half a day to approximately two hours.

Part of the aircraft’s speed advantage would come from operating at altitudes reaching nearly 17 miles above Earth — more than twice the cruising altitude of standard commercial jets.

At Mach 5, the aircraft would travel at roughly 3,300 miles per hour, making it about six times faster than conventional passenger planes.

The famed Concorde, which remained in service until 2003, reached speeds of approximately Mach 2 and had a maximum recorded speed of about 1,400 miles per hour.

Despite the excitement surrounding the project, researchers caution that commercial hypersonic travel remains many years away.

Hideyuki Taguchi, a professor at the Tokyo University of Science, told Mainichi: “Developing a conventional aircraft typically takes about 10 years. Since the development of hypersonic passenger aircraft requires two stages of demonstration — an experimental aircraft followed by a passenger aircraft — we hope development can be completed in about 20 years.”

Tetsuya Sato, a professor at Waseda University, added: “This result is still only a first step. Our dream is to connect it to a flight demonstration.”

Japan is not alone in pursuing ultra-fast commercial aviation technology.

Among the most closely watched projects in recent years are NASA’s X-59 experimental aircraft and Boom Supersonic’s XB-1, both of which have recently completed important test flights aimed at solving longstanding challenges involving speed, noise, and fuel efficiency.

{Matzav.com}

Americans across the political spectrum are expressing growing frustration over rising living costs as families gather for Memorial Day weekend, with new polling showing widespread concern about inflation, grocery bills, gas prices, and overall financial stability.

A CNN survey found that majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents said they have changed the way they shop for groceries in recent months in an effort to stay within their budgets.

The same poll found that 59 percent of Americans have also reduced spending on entertainment and nonessential purchases as household expenses continue climbing.

More than three-quarters of respondents said policies implemented by President Trump have contributed to higher living costs in their communities. Even among Republicans, 55 percent said Trump’s policies have played a role in increasing expenses.

Poll after poll has pointed to deepening economic unease among voters nationwide. In the latest New York Times/Siena survey, nearly half of all voters rated the economy as “poor,” representing an 11-point increase since January.

Meanwhile, Gallup reported that Americans’ confidence in the economy has fallen to its lowest level in four years.

Fuel prices have become another major source of frustration, with average gas prices nationwide climbing above $4.50 per gallon, according to AAA.

Polling conducted by Fox News found that nearly 80 percent of voters — including a majority of Republicans — believe the Trump administration bears responsibility for the spike in fuel costs. Large numbers of respondents also blamed oil companies, the war in Iran, and government regulations for the increase.

Overall, the Fox survey found that 57 percent of voters now believe Trump’s policies have harmed the country, an increase from the 51 percent who expressed the same view one year earlier.

{Matzav.com}

The NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau has launched an investigation after a viral social media photo appeared to show two uniformed Bronx police officers making hand gestures associated with the Mac Baller Brims, a violent Bronx-based faction of the Bloods gang tied to murders, shootings, and armed robberies.

The image, which surfaced on Instagram on May 4 before spreading widely on X, shows two masked officers posing with a young man inside what appears to be a McDonald’s restaurant. In the photograph, one officer is seen crossing his middle finger over his ring finger, while the second displays three fingers with his index finger bent backward.

According to the New York Post, both gestures are recognized as signs connected to the Mac Baller Brims.

“This incident is under internal review,” an NYPD spokesperson told the Post, confirming that the matter is being investigated by the Internal Affairs Bureau.

Sources cited by the newspaper identified one of the officers as Shane Cruz, who joined the department in 2024 and was reassigned earlier this year from the 43rd Precinct in Soundview to the 73rd Precinct in Brownsville.

The second officer is also assigned to the 43rd Precinct, though he has not yet been publicly identified because his badge number cannot be seen in the image.

A law enforcement source told the Post that Cruz’s reassignment had nothing to do with the circulating photo and claimed the officers had merely been “messing around” with a young man they knew personally.

Eric Sanders, an attorney and former NYPD officer, told the newspaper that the gestures shown in the photograph were legitimate Mac Baller Brims hand signs and argued that both officers should immediately be placed on modified duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

Retired NYPD Assistant Commissioner Kevin O’Connor said the officers appeared to be attempting Bloods-related signs, though he suggested they may have done so incorrectly. He also questioned whether the blue clothing worn by the civilian in the photo — a color commonly associated with the rival Crips gang — indicated the exchange may have been intended as a joke.

Michael Alcazar, a former NYPD detective who now teaches at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told the Post that investigators would likely review the officers’ backgrounds and determine whether the conduct violated department standards.

He added that if either officer failed to disclose prior gang affiliations during the hiring process, it could potentially result in termination from the department.

The Mac Baller Brims have long been a focus of both federal and state prosecutors in New York.

In 2019, federal prosecutors in Manhattan charged 13 alleged members and associates of the gang with racketeering, drug trafficking, and firearms crimes linked to violence in the Mount Hope section of the Bronx between 2017 and 2019. A superseding indictment filed the following year added murder charges.

In another major case, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office indicted three alleged gang members in May 2023 in connection with a series of armed robberies targeting smoke shops in Chelsea, Union Square, and the West Village.

The controversy comes as the NYPD continues grappling with recruiting and staffing challenges.

In February 2025, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch reduced the department’s college credit requirement for recruits from 60 credits to 24, citing a growing hiring crisis and the fact that 29 percent of applicants — roughly 2,275 people — had been disqualified under the previous standards during 2023.

Tisch, who remained police commissioner after Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s election victory, has repeatedly emphasized internal discipline and accountability since taking over the department in November 2024 under Mayor Eric Adams.

Iran executed a man accused of spying during the ongoing war with Israel and the United States, marking the first time the Islamic Republic has imposed a death sentence for wartime espionage tied directly to the current conflict, AFP reported.

Iranian state judiciary outlet Mizan Online identified the executed man as Mojtaba Kian. According to the report, Kian, “who sent information related to the country’s defense industry units to the enemy, was hanged early this morning.”

The regime claimed that Kian secretly transferred classified information concerning Iran’s military production infrastructure during the approximately 40-day war.

Since the outbreak of fighting, Iranian authorities have sharply escalated arrests and executions involving alleged cooperation with what Tehran calls the “Zionist-American enemy.” However, until now, those executed had allegedly committed their offenses before the war began.

Sunday’s execution marked the first known case involving accusations connected specifically to intelligence activity carried out during the conflict itself.

According to court documents cited by Iranian media, Kian “sent multiple messages to hostile networks affiliated with “the Zionist-American enemy”, including coordinates and information on facilities producing parts related to the country’s defense industries.”

Iranian authorities further alleged that the information was transmitted through foreign satellite television channels. While the judiciary did not identify the specific broadcasters involved, Tehran has repeatedly accused Persian-language media outlets operating abroad of serving as intelligence arms for Israel.

Iran has long accused Israel of conducting sabotage operations inside the country and has routinely arrested, prosecuted, and executed individuals accused of cooperating with Israeli intelligence services.

Human rights organizations say Iran remains one of the world’s leading executioners, second only to China, and accuse the regime of using executions to intimidate the population and suppress dissent.

Amnesty International reported last week that more than 2,150 people were executed in Iran during the past year.

According to the organization’s findings, at least 2,707 executions were carried out worldwide in 2025, with Tehran alone responsible for 2,159 of them — more than double the number attributed to the Iranian regime in 2024.

{Matzav.com}

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The IDF announced Monday morning that Sergeant Nehoray Leizer Hy”d, 19, of Eilat, was killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon.

According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, Sergeant Leizer was killed Sunday at approximately 3:00 p.m. when an explosive drone launched by the Hezbollah terror organization detonated near a group of Israeli soldiers operating in the area.

The attack also left another IDF soldier seriously wounded.

Israeli intelligence officials now believe that the violent demonstrations and repeated clashes along the Gaza border fence in the months leading up to October 7 were part of a deliberate Hamas operation aimed at preparing for the massive terror assault on southern Israel.

According to newly uncovered intelligence assessments, Hamas operatives exploited the protests to study Israeli military response patterns and locate vulnerable areas along the security barrier.

Israeli officials say terrorists posing as civilian demonstrators, balloon launchers, and rioters collected operational intelligence during the disturbances and even marked specific sections of the fence that would later serve as breach points during the invasion.

The findings, first reported Sunday by the Israeli news outlet Srugim, indicate that Hamas identified 114 separate locations along the Gaza border fence in advance of the attack.

Those same locations were reportedly activated simultaneously on October 7, when more than 6,000 Hamas Nukhba terrorists and armed Gazans poured into southern Israel.

According to the report, some of the breaches were narrow openings intended for individual gunmen, while others were large enough to allow motorcycles and pickup trucks to move through rapidly, transforming parts of the border into what Israeli officials described as a “terror highway” leading directly into Israeli communities.

The intelligence conclusions are reportedly supported by an internal Hamas document attributed to slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

Officials involved in the assessment say the document indicates that Hamas leadership believed Israel had completely misread the purpose of the border unrest and failed to grasp the broader military operation being quietly developed behind the scenes.

Israeli intelligence sources cited in the report said Hamas determined that Israeli officials “did not take the staged protests seriously” and failed to realize that the disturbances were being used to gather intelligence and rehearse the large-scale infiltration that unfolded on October 7.

{Matzav.com}

A $25,000 reward is now being offered for information leading to the safe return of Esther, the missing Toronto teenage girl whose disappearance has sparked widespread concern and ongoing search efforts throughout the community.

Newly released posters distributed Sunday identify the girl as possibly going by the names “Esti” or “Sylvia” and include updated information about her last known movements. According to the latest details, Esther was last spotted in downtown Toronto on a bus at approximately 12:35 a.m. on May 16.

Authorities also released a new surveillance image showing Esther wearing gray sweatpants and a green top, believed to be the outfit she was wearing at the time she disappeared.

The updated posters prominently announce a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to her safe return and urge anyone with information to come forward immediately.

The case has drawn major attention in Toronto and beyond, with volunteers, community organizations, and law enforcement continuing intensive efforts to locate her.

Family members and organizers involved in the search continue pleading with the public to remain alert and report any possible sightings or information that could assist investigators.

Anyone with information is urged to call 647-478-2230 immediately.

{Matzav.com}

A yeshiva bochur who recently enlisted in the IDF described a painful and humiliating confrontation he says he experienced at a train station in Haifa, where a woman allegedly screamed at him for not serving in the military — and then spit in his face after he showed her proof that he had just signed his enlistment papers.

The incident came to public attention after media personality and Channel 14 host Yinon Magal shared on X a WhatsApp message he received from the young man, identified only as Ariel.

In the message, Ariel wrote: “Hi Yinon, I’m a yeshiva bochur and today I signed enlistment papers for the IDF. On my way back, a leftist woman around 60 years old started screaming at me about why I’m not enlisting. When I showed her the document proving that I signed up for the army, she spit in my face. And then people say this isn’t pure hatred of chareidim.”

Magal responded in disbelief, writing: “She spit in your face?? Crazy.”

Later Sunday evening, Ariel recounted the incident in an emotional interview with Yaakov Grodka on Kol Barama Radio’s main news program, describing the ordeal in greater detail.

“I was returning from the enlistment office after signing my IDF draft papers,” Ariel said. “At the train station, a woman around 60 years old approached me and started screaming that I’m a chareidi who doesn’t enlist. When I showed her the document proving that I had literally enlisted that very day, she simply spit in my face.”

The yeshiva bochur openly described the emotional toll the encounter took on him.

“After she spit on me, the thought crossed my mind that maybe this whole thing was a mistake and why I even needed to enlist in the first place,” he shared. “I felt deeply humiliated, and it took me a long time to calm down. At the same time, I’m not looking for anyone’s appreciation — this is something between me and myself, and I’m completely at peace with it.”

Ariel also said he believes the woman’s behavior reflected deep-seated hostility toward the chareidi community rather than anger over military service itself.

“That woman didn’t want to see chareidim in the army — she simply hates chareidim,” he said. “They hate that we are in the government, and they hate our very existence. While she was publicly humiliating me and spitting at me, several of her friends were standing there laughing together with her.”

{Matzav.com}

A quiet meeting between former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni took place last week immediately after Rav Dov Landau’s dramatic declaration regarding the “dismantling of the right-wing bloc,” according to a report aired Sunday evening on Channel 12 News.

The reported meeting comes amid mounting political turmoil surrounding the draft law and intensifying efforts by opposition figures to reshape alliances ahead of a possible election campaign.

According to the report, the atmosphere during the meeting was positive despite the sensitive backdrop surrounding the ongoing debate over the enlistment of bochurim and members of the chareidi community.

At the same time, Eisenkot has recently come under attack from political rivals who argue that his proposed draft framework is significantly softer on chareidi enlistment than the positions advanced by Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman.

Under Eisenkot’s proposal, approximately 30 percent of bnei yeshiva would receive exemptions and would not face sanctions. Bennett and Lieberman, however, continue insisting on universal enlistment policies under the principle that “whoever does not serve receives nothing.”

Sources close to Eisenkot declined to confirm or deny that the meeting took place, saying only that “he is operating through numerous channels to advance elections and bring down the government.”

Meanwhile, representatives for Gafni’s office stated that they “do not comment on meetings held by Gafni with various public figures.”

Last week, Eisenkot made clear that the issue of military service remains a red line for him politically, even if it leads to another round of elections.

“There are profound disagreements between myself and the chareidim, and the distorted reality that has developed cannot be accepted,” Eisenkot said during a conference hosted by the Association of Corporations.

Reports published roughly two weeks ago indicated growing communication between chareidi political figures and Eisenkot. According to those reports, chareidi representatives urged him not to rush into alliances with Bennett or Yair Lapid, while expressing the view that Eisenkot’s enlistment framework is more practical and leaves room for compromise.

Shortly after those reports surfaced, Eisenkot was seen touring Tel Aviv’s Carmel Market, where he also declined to rule out joining a future coalition government that includes chareidi parties.

Israel’s Land Authority officially enacted a new policy Sunday barring individuals classified as draft evaders from participating in government-subsidized housing lotteries, marking a significant escalation in efforts to pressure military-age citizens to regularize their status with the IDF.

The move follows a recent High Court ruling ordering the government to revoke various state benefits from individuals designated by the military as draft-eligible citizens who failed to resolve their enlistment status.

Under the newly published decision by the Israel Land Authority Council, eligibility for participating in discounted housing programs such as “Target Price Housing” will now depend on military records confirming that neither the applicant nor a spouse is classified by the IDF as a draft evader who has not arranged his or her legal status.

According to the decision, sections 4.7.19 and 4.7.20 of the Israel Land Council regulations governing subsidized housing tenders were formally amended to include the new restrictions.

The policy change comes roughly one month after Israel’s High Court ruled that certain government benefits should be denied in order to encourage military enlistment. The justices emphasized at the time that the measures constituted the revocation of benefits rather than the denial of inherent legal rights.

As part of that ruling, the court specifically instructed the Israel Land Authority to convene and formulate a policy regarding eligibility for housing discounts — a directive now implemented through Sunday’s announcement.

The court also ruled that resolving one’s military status with the IDF would become a prerequisite for receiving additional state subsidies and discounts, including daycare assistance, after-school program subsidies, public transportation discounts, and municipal property tax reductions.

The judges noted that these measures represent only an initial phase and stressed that additional enforcement actions may still be necessary in the future.

In the same ruling, the High Court also criticized Israeli police for previously refusing to cooperate with the military in detaining draft deserters until military police arrived. Since then, the issue has gained renewed attention following a policy shift announced by Police Commissioner Danny Levy regarding police cooperation with military enforcement efforts.

New American intelligence findings indicate that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has gone into deep hiding at a secret location and is almost entirely cut off from direct communication with the outside world, according to a CBS News report released Sunday.

US officials familiar with the intelligence said the secrecy surrounding Khamenei’s whereabouts is so extreme that messages to him are being relayed through an elaborate chain of couriers rather than through conventional communication channels.

The breakdown has reportedly crippled the Iranian regime’s internal operations. Officials tasked with handling discussions involving the Trump administration are struggling to communicate even among themselves, creating major delays in negotiations and slowing progress on both current and previous agreements with Washington.

Sources told CBS News that whenever the United States sends diplomatic proposals or revisions connected to a possible deal, the complicated process of delivering the information to Iran’s top ruler creates severe delays. Two American officials said responses from Tehran can take an unusually long time because of the bottleneck.

A White House spokesperson declined to address questions regarding intelligence connected to Khamenei’s location or the regime’s communication methods.

Even amid the chaos, officials say some headway has been made. A senior administration official said Sunday that the Supreme Leader had approved the broad outlines of the latest draft agreement. At the same time, President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he expects a final decision within days.

Khamenei, who was reportedly wounded during joint American and Israeli strikes carried out as part of Operation Epic Fury, has adopted extraordinary security precautions following attacks similar to those that killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who ruled Iran from 1989 until Feb. 28. The extent of the secrecy surrounding him is evident in the fact that he has neither appeared publicly nor been heard from since before the war began.

American officials believe the paranoia gripping the regime stems from repeated intelligence penetrations by the US and Israel. According to one official cited by CBS News, intelligence gathered from sources inside Iran’s own government enabled the targeting and elimination of much of the country’s senior leadership during the conflict.

As a result, senior Iranian officials are reportedly living in near-total isolation. Sources said many of the regime’s remaining leaders rarely emerge into public view, spending extended periods inside heavily protected bunkers and limiting contact with one another unless absolutely necessary.

“Watching them try to figure out how to talk to each other is almost like watching a sitcom. They are completely exasperated,” one official remarked.

Officials said the strictest security measures are centered around the Supreme Leader himself. Even top-ranking members of the Iranian government reportedly do not know his exact location and have no direct means of reaching him. Instead, information is passed through a carefully designed courier network intended to conceal where he is hiding.

“This is why you see people saying things like, ‘The Supreme Leader has agreed to the framework,’ or ‘We’re waiting to hear back on the final deal points.’ Every piece of information he receives is dated and there’s a lot of latency to his responses,” an official explained.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio forcefully defended the Trump administration’s ongoing negotiations with Iran on Sunday, dismissing criticism from fellow Republicans as “absurd” amid growing backlash over a possible agreement involving the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program.

Speaking during a press conference in India, Rubio rejected suggestions that President Trump would approve any arrangement that strengthens Tehran’s nuclear position.

“The idea that somehow this president, given everything he’s already proven he’s willing to do, is going to somehow agree to a deal that ultimately winds up putting Iran in a stronger position when it comes to nuclear ambitions is absurd,” Rubio said.

“That’s just not going to happen. But our preference is to address this through a diplomatic means, and that’s what we are endeavoring to do here. I think we’ve made some progress. I’m always cautious when I say that because you can agree to things on paper; they actually have to be implemented,” he added.

Rubio’s comments followed President Trump’s announcement that negotiations with Iran were “largely negotiated” after discussions with Arab allies throughout the Middle East. Trump indicated that one major component of the agreement would involve reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the critical global shipping route that has remained effectively shut amid the regional conflict.

“Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “In addition to many other elements of the Agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened.”

The emerging framework has sparked alarm among several Republican senators and conservative foreign policy figures, many of whom fear the administration could concede too much to Tehran after months of military confrontation.

Sen. Lindsey Graham warned that any agreement allowing Iran to maintain regional leverage would dramatically alter the balance of power in the Middle East.

“If a deal is struck to end the Iranian conflict because it is believed that the Strait of Hormuz cannot be protected from Iranian terrorism and Iran still possesses the capability to destroy major Gulf oil infrastructure, then Iran will be perceived as being a dominate force requiring a diplomatic solution,” Graham wrote in a post on X.

Sen. Ted Cruz also expressed deep concerns over reports surrounding the negotiations, suggesting some voices within the administration may be pushing the White House toward a dangerous compromise.

“President Trump’s decision to strike Iran was the most consequential decision of his second term. He was right to do so, and we achieved extraordinary military results—including destroying all of their missiles & drones and sinking their entire navy,” Cruz wrote.

“If the result of all that is to be an Iranian regime—still run by Islamists who chant ‘death to America’—now receiving billions of dollars, being able to enrich uranium & develop nuclear weapons, and having effective control over the Strait of Hormuz, then that outcome would be a disastrous mistake,” he continued.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also voiced skepticism over the direction of the talks, comparing the rumored framework to Obama-era negotiations that conservatives long criticized.

“The deal being floated with Iran seems straight out of the Wendy Sherman-Robert Malley-Ben Rhodes playbook: Pay the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)] to build a WMD program and terrorize the world,” Pompeo said in an X post.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Sen. Cory Booker said Sunday that Democrats are facing a leadership crisis ahead of the midterm elections, arguing that voters have lost confidence in the party establishment and are looking instead for candidates who focus more on people than politics.

Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” the New Jersey Democrat said his party must reinvent itself if it hopes to regain public trust before November’s elections.

“We need to focus on the people, and the Democratic Party desperately needs new leadership, and that’s what’s exciting me about this cycle. It’s not only new leaders emerging, but a new vision for our party,” Booker told host Jake Tapper.

Booker pointed to several Democratic Senate candidates whom he believes are helping reshape the party’s image, including Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, along with Roy Cooper and James Talarico, the Democratic Senate nominees in North Carolina and Texas.

According to Booker, those candidates are “leaders” who are “stepping up and saying, ‘I don’t give a damn about parties. I care about people.’”

The senator argued that the Democratic Party’s larger problem is a lack of public confidence in its political machinery.

“You cannot lead the people if they don’t trust you, and that’s what’s lacking right now with the party apparatus. But the people running out there that I’m running around this country trying to support, they’re building real trust with the American people, and that’s my hope,” Booker added.

His remarks come as Democrats continue grappling with fallout from the party’s disappointing 2024 election performance. Lawmakers within the party recently criticized the Democratic National Committee over its newly released autopsy report analyzing Kamala Harris’s loss to President Trump.

The 192-page review notably avoided addressing President Biden’s decision to seek reelection despite concerns over his age, as well as Harris becoming the nominee without facing a competitive primary process.

Booker acknowledged that the DNC faces serious problems moving forward.

“The Democratic National Committee has got to do a lot better if they’re going to meet this moment in history,” he said.

Still, Booker suggested that many Americans are no longer paying close attention to party structures and political infighting, because they are far more focused on their own financial and personal struggles.

“The American people have lost trust because of all politics as usual. People are suffering, people are hurting, and they’re going to support the leaders,” Booker added.

When asked directly whether Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer remains one of the leaders he trusts, Booker avoided giving a direct endorsement. However, he stressed that Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and the broader Democratic leadership must present a clear alternative vision to President Trump.

“You are not going to win this election just by what you’re against,” he noted. “You need to start articulating who you’re for and what you’re for. Have a vision that’s compelling that not only engenders trust but makes sense for the American people.”

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{Matzav.com}

The World Health Organization said Sunday that the current hantavirus outbreak linked to a South Atlantic cruise ship remains under control for the moment, even as international health agencies continue monitoring the situation closely following multiple deaths tied to the virus.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that there have been 12 confirmed cases of hantavirus and three fatalities connected to the outbreak, with no additional confirmed deaths reported since May 2. Investigators believe the outbreak began in South America after infected passengers boarded the cruise ship MV Hondius earlier this month.

“All passengers and crew remain in quarantine and under close monitoring to ensure they receive care if needed,” Tedros wrote on the social platform X. “The situation is stable for now. We continue to remain vigilant and in close contact with all relevant governments.”

The latest update came shortly after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Friday that he had signed a targeted Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act declaration aimed at accelerating research and medical response efforts involving the Andes strain of hantavirus.

“This action helps remove barriers to research and response efforts while we continue monitoring the recent outbreak linked to the South Atlantic cruise ship,” Kennedy said in a statement posted to social media. “HHS is taking this situation seriously and will continue working to protect public health and support the safe development of potential treatments and countermeasures.”

Authorities in Argentina said a Dutch couple who later died had participated in a bird-watching excursion that included a stop at a garbage dump, where they may have come into contact with rats carrying the virus. A German tourist also contracted the Andes strain and died.

Argentinian officials said scientific teams would investigate how the outbreak began. The Associated Press previously reported that the MV Hondius departed Argentina on April 1.

Health officials in the United States quarantined 17 Americans and one British citizen in either Nebraska or Georgia after they were exposed to hantavirus aboard the ship. Most of those individuals have not developed symptoms. One person tested positive while remaining asymptomatic, while another experienced mild symptoms but tested negative.

Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that there were no confirmed cases of the Andes strain inside the United States.

Public health authorities have repeatedly emphasized that the outbreak bears little resemblance to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, stressing that hantavirus spreads differently and has a different incubation period and transmission profile.

At the same time, another international health concern continues unfolding in Africa, where an outbreak of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease has led to more than 500 suspected cases in Congo alone. In response, the WHO declared that outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

{Matzav.com}

Dov Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism and a former New York state assemblyman representing heavily Orthodox neighborhoods in Brooklyn, said the New York Police Department deserves strong support but could benefit from additional manpower during the large public event.

Hikind argued that security concerns extend beyond the official parade route itself, warning that Jews carrying Israeli flags or wearing visibly pro-Israel clothing could become targets in surrounding areas of Manhattan.

“We need to make sure bad things don’t happen,” Hikind said. “We want to make sure there is safety for the Jewish community. I’m calling on Governor Hochul to bring in the National Guard to help the New York City Police Department.”

Governor Hochul has previously authorized National Guard deployments at major transit centers throughout New York City as part of crime-prevention and security efforts.

Despite Hikind’s concerns, organizers of the Israel Day Parade said they are confident in the NYPD’s existing preparations and are not requesting National Guard assistance.

Jewish Community Relations Council of New York CEO Mark Treyger said parade organizers are working closely with law enforcement agencies ahead of the annual event.

“I have full faith and confidence in the greatest police department in the world, the NYPD, under the exceptional leadership of Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who has done a tremendous job ensuring the safety and success of major events and parades across New York City, including the Israel Day on Fifth parade in recent years,” Treyger told The Post.

Treyger added that extensive preparations are already underway.

“Commissioner Tisch, the NYPD, and all of our law enforcement partners have left no stone unturned in preparing for next Sunday’s parade.”

He also noted that the Community Security Initiative — the joint security partnership between JCRC-NY and the UJA-Federation of New York — is coordinating closely with law enforcement to safeguard participants.

“New Yorkers should know that extensive planning, coordination, and security infrastructure are in place to ensure a safe, successful, and joyful celebration next Sunday,” Treyger said. “We look forward to proudly celebrating our Jewish identity, our connection to Israel, and our appreciation for living in the best city in the world, New York City,”

Hikind, however, maintained that additional security measures are justified in light of recent anti-Israel demonstrations outside Jewish institutions, including protests near Park East Synagogue and Young Israel Senior Services in Midwood, Brooklyn.

He also pointed to the decision by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani — a vocal critic of Israel — to boycott the parade.

The Israel Day Parade is scheduled for Sunday, May 31, and will proceed along Fifth Avenue from 62nd Street to 74th Street in Manhattan.

Governor Hochul’s office confirmed that the New York State Police will maintain a presence at the event, though officials stopped short of committing to deploy National Guard troops.

“Keeping New Yorkers safe is Governor Hochul’s top priority — especially as communities gather for major celebrations. At the Governor’s direction, State Police maintain an increased presence at large events throughout the state, and we will be closely coordinating with the NYPD and law enforcement partners in New York City to ensure the safety of all involved,” a Hochul spokesperson said.

Her office added that National Guard members remain stationed at major transportation centers as well as key bridges and tunnels throughout New York City.

State authorities also said law enforcement agencies are actively monitoring social media activity and remain on heightened alert for any credible threats to public safety.

{Matzav.com}

The New York Knicks are not the only thing on a historic run this postseason — ticket prices at Madison Square Garden are reaching unbelievable heights as fans scramble for a chance to witness a possible NBA Finals appearance.

With the Knicks holding a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers and standing on the verge of their first Finals berth since 1999, the resale market has exploded.

According to sports business reporter Darren Rovell, two courtside seats for a potential Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden have already sold on StubHub for an eye-popping $279,804.

The skyrocketing resale market reflects the frenzy surrounding a Knicks team trying to end the franchise’s 53-year championship drought.

As of Sunday morning, the cheapest single ticket available for a possible Finals Game 3 at The Garden was listed at $3,265 on TickPick — and that seat was located high in Section 418.

Fans hoping for a closer view of the action are facing even more staggering prices.

On SeatGeek, seats in Section 6D behind the Knicks bench were listed for as much as $192,000. The report noted that the price tag exceeds the cost of some one-bedroom apartments currently listed for sale in midtown Manhattan.

The pricing surge at Madison Square Garden dwarfs what fans are currently paying for potential NBA Finals games in the Western Conference.

If the Oklahoma City Thunder advance to the Finals, they would host Game 1 at Paycom Center, where the most expensive resale ticket currently listed is $12,339 for a seat in Section 106.

Potential Finals games involving the San Antonio Spurs are somewhat pricier, though still nowhere near Knicks territory.

At Frost Bank Center, the highest listed prices include a center-court seat in Section 8 selling for $21,803 on SeatGeek, along with a luxury box seat priced at $29,126.

Even the lowest-priced Finals tickets in Oklahoma City or San Antonio hover around $1,000 — roughly one-third of the current “get-in” price for a possible Finals game at Madison Square Garden.