A stormy confrontation broke out Wednesday during a Knesset Finance Committee session, as MK Zvi Sukkot of the Religious Zionism party and MK Iman Khatib-Yassin of Ra’am exchanged sharp accusations, prompting a Knesset security guard to physically separate them.

The dispute unfolded during deliberations over a bill to amend the Income Tax Ordinance to provide tax benefits for residents of threatened communities.

During the discussion, Khatib-Yassin argued, “On the one hand, they ask to bring money into the state treasury from citizens who pay taxes, and on the other hand, they give money to citizens who don’t really pay taxes…”

Sukkot interjected, saying, “Don’t pay taxes like there was no massacre, you’re insolent.”

“Speak to me with respect! Did you hear what he said?” Khatib-Yassin responded.

Sukkot continued, “No, you denied the October 7 massacre, insolence.”

“Did you hear what he said?” Khatib-Yassin repeated.

“Yes, you denied the massacre,” Sukkot replied.

“He called me insolent,” she said.

“Of course you’re insolent. You say that we don’t pay taxes? You denied the massacre, you support Hamas, you are a terrorist, a female terrorist, that’s what you are,” Sukkot shot back.

“Insolent, you are insolent,” Khatib-Yassin responded.

In the background, Arab lawmakers shouted at Sukkot, “You support terror.”

MK Ahmad Tibi joined the fray, shouting, “You piece of nothing. The sole of her shoe. You’re nothing. Don’t call her terrorists.”

Sukkot responded, “You are Hamas supporters, a bunch of terrorists, all of you. Not once did you condemn the massacre. You said it didn’t happen at all, insolence. You call us ‘they also don’t pay taxes!’ You brought the terror!”

“Shame!” Khatib-Yassin yelled.

Sukkot concluded the exchange by telling her, “Go to Gaza.”

The altercation intensified to the point that a Knesset guard intervened to separate the lawmakers as shouting continued around the committee table.

{Matzav.com}

Efforts to advance the draft law remain stalled, as chareidi parties said that a recently submitted preliminary draft does not provide sufficient grounds to resume negotiations. Sharp disagreements over canceling tens of thousands of draft orders already issued and lowering the exemption age have left talks at an impasse.

Earlier this week, coalition officials believed the legislation was back on track after chareidi lawmakers issued an ultimatum demanding that the legal adviser to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee produce a written version reflecting clauses that had already been agreed upon. Although the draft was delivered a day later than expected, a preliminary text was submitted Monday, seemingly clearing the way for renewed committee discussions.

However, it has now emerged that the chareidi parties do not view the draft as adequate to return to the negotiating table. According to sources familiar with the discussions, United Torah Judaism faction chairman MK Uri Maklev remarked, “We have nothing with which to go to the rabbis.”

Negotiations remain stuck primarily over two key issues. First, chareidi representatives are demanding that approximately 80,000 draft notices already sent out be annulled. Second, they are insisting that the exemption age be set at 26 rather than 29.

Ariel Atias, often described as the “architect” of the draft law, visited the Knesset again Tuesday and met with legal advisers in an effort to bridge the gaps. The meeting, however, did not produce a breakthrough, and both sides reportedly maintained their positions.

At the same time, chareidi parties are weighing the possibility of submitting a revised version of the bill that would exclude the two disputed clauses. They are currently consulting legal experts to assess whether the Supreme Court would invalidate the entire law if it lacks those provisions, or instead instruct the Knesset to amend the problematic sections while allowing the rest of the legislation to stand.

{Matzav.com}

A brief moment in the Knesset today drew widespread attention after Settlement and National Missions Minister Orit Strock politely declined to shake the hand of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the conclusion of his address, an interaction that many observers described as creating a kiddush Hashem.

After delivering what was described as a historic and passionate speech before the Knesset, Modi stepped down into the plenum to greet lawmakers and attendees personally.

As he made his way among members of Knesset, the Indian leader shook hands with those present. An unusual exchange occurred when he naturally extended his hand to Minister Strock, a member of the Religious Zionism party who is religious. She did not take his hand.

Video footage of the encounter, which quickly circulated online and sparked discussion, shows Strock raising her hands respectfully and explaining to Modi that, according to Jewish law, she refrains from physical contact. Modi appeared to accept the explanation without incident.

{Matzav.com}

Slabodka rosh yeshiva Rav Dov Landau delivered a pointed message Tuesday night to yeshiva bochurim, warning them not to endanger themselves in response to recent arrests and stressing the importance of listening to their roshei yeshiva and remaining focused on Torah learning.

The rosh yeshiva spoke during a shmuess at Yeshivas Zichron Yaakov, where he addressed how bochurim should conduct themselves in light of a series of arrests carried out over the past 24 hours.

Opening his remarks, Rav Landau said, “We are learning Torah. One must understand that today the situation is not simple. They are pursuing bnei Torah. May Hashem protect us from them, from all their accusations and from all these matters. But one thing must be understood: do not do anything dangerous, do not engage in dangerous actions. Everything should be done according to what the rosh yeshiva says. Do not act on your own, do not be overly clever. Be wise in Gemara, not in these matters. Listen to everything you are told.”

He continued with a strong warning against risky behavior. “And it is very bad,” the rosh yeshiva added, “that people act and endanger themselves and others. All kinds of actions that are being done are very bad things. They accomplish nothing. It is not fear of Heaven and not anything.”

Rav Landau further instructed the students to adhere closely to the guidance of their rabbinic leadership. “In the yeshiva, you must listen to what the rosh yeshiva says, to the one who guides you. Obey him in every matter. Do not endanger yourselves with all these things. These are very bad matters. Nothing good comes of them.”

He emphasized the importance of following direction and not acting independently. “There are people,” he said, “who do very improper things. Hashem should have mercy on us. There is no need to elaborate. Whatever you are told — listen. In every single matter. Do not initiate things on your own. Do not endanger yourselves in any way. And if you take risks, afterward you bring problems upon yourselves and upon others.”

Concluding his address, Rav Landau returned to the central theme of immersion in Torah study. “We have nothing but learning — to learn, to be immersed in learning. That is everything. May Hashem help us to be immersed in learning, and we will all be saved from all the harsh decrees, and there will be only good for Israel, until the coming of the righteous redeemer speedily in our days, Amen.”

As previously reported, five yeshiva students were arrested over the past day in different locations across the country and transferred to the military police for further processing.

Among those detained was a yeshiva student arrested Tuesday morning at Ben Gurion Airport, as well as another student who was taken into custody at the draft office in Tel Hashomer. The latter had arrived with documents intended to arrange a service exemption but was arrested due to a three-day period of alleged draft evasion.

The student arrested at the draft office was sentenced to 20 days in prison and is receiving legal assistance from support organizations. A similar 20-day sentence was imposed on Itai Ben Merav, a student at Yeshivat Ateret Yaakov, who was arrested at 2 a.m. at his home in Beit Shemesh.

During the Beit Shemesh arrest, 12 military police officers arrived at the residence, six of whom entered the home and conducted what family members described as an extensive search. Relatives said the officers left the house in significant disarray after concluding their operation.

Two additional young men were arrested at 4 a.m. in the same city by civilian police and later handed over to military authorities. The detainees were identified as Menachem Mendel Ben Esther Sheindel, who was sentenced to 20 days in prison, and Yehuda Shimon Ben Sheindel Leah, who is classified as a prosecutorial draft evader.

{Matzav.com}

MK Yoav Ben Tzur sharply criticized what he described as selective enforcement against chareidi draft evaders during a speech Wednesday in the Knesset plenum, accusing authorities of unfairly targeting law-abiding members of the chareidi community.

Ben Tzur addressed the chamber during a debate on an urgent motion submitted to the justice minister regarding enforcement policies toward chareidi draft evaders. In his remarks, he charged that a community with low crime rates and strong civic commitment was being stigmatized.

“You have taken a quality, law-abiding public, a public that loves the country and contributes enormously to all segments of society. You have taken the community with the lowest crime rate and turned it into a leper society, a society whose finest sons are being arrested for the ‘sin’ of learning Torah. Who are you fighting against? Your own people?” Ben Tzur said.

He went on to question the focus of recent arrests. “Who are you arresting?” he asked. “Outstanding young men who have never encountered the police, because they are law-abiding? The chareidi community and its leadership respect IDF soldiers. There are chareidi soldiers within the IDF who have fought, and to all our sorrow, chareidi soldiers have also fallen in battle. The enemy did not distinguish between us and did not carry out selection against us in war, but there are those who, for small political reasons, are carrying out selection within our own people.”

Ben Tzur further accused political opponents of placing partisan interests above national concerns. “You are not lovers of the land, you are lovers of politics! The good of the IDF is not before your eyes, nor the good of the state, only divisive rhetoric guides you. What I, as labor minister — a chareidi with a kippah and beard — have done for reservists, most of those who shout here and in the media against the chareidi community have not done. In fact, you have done nothing, not even passed a single benefit for them.”

{Matzav.com}

Kamala Harris said she has yet to determine whether she will pursue another campaign for the presidency, offering a brief but notable response during a podcast interview that is expected to fuel renewed discussion about her political future.

Speaking with podcaster and author Sharon McMahon, Harris stated, “I haven’t decided — I might.”

Her remarks are likely to add momentum to speculation surrounding a possible 2028 run and keep her name circulating in discussions about who will lead the Democratic Party in the next presidential cycle.

Harris, who previously served as vice president and as a U.S. senator representing California, became the Democratic nominee in 2024 after President Joe Biden chose not to run for a second term. She was defeated in the general election by President Donald Trump, a loss that triggered widespread internal debate among Democrats over campaign messaging, coalition strategy, and the party’s broader direction.

In the months following the election, Harris has kept a relatively restrained public profile. She has appeared at a limited number of events and participated in policy-related conversations but has largely refrained from publicly dissecting her defeat or outlining her long-term political ambitions.

During the same podcast appearance, Harris discussed her recently released book and dismissed the notion that it was designed as a stepping stone for another campaign.

“The book was about a specific period in time,” she said. “There was no agenda beyond what we’ve discussed already, which is just sharing with people the reality of the experience and hopefully allowing people to see something of themselves.”

Political observers note that even a cautious or noncommittal statement about a potential presidential run can influence early groundwork, including fundraising networks, activist engagement, and behind-the-scenes organizing well in advance of the primary season. A number of Democratic governors and lawmakers are already being mentioned as possible 2028 candidates, though the prospective field remains unsettled.

Harris did not indicate when she expects to reach a decision about another White House campaign, nor did she specify which considerations would ultimately guide her choice.

Party strategists say Democrats continue to analyze the 2024 results and are weighing how best to expand their support in future national elections.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. John Fetterman joins ‘America’s Newsroom’ reacting to Democrats either skipping the State of the Union address or heckling President Trump and refusing to stand on key issues.

WATCH:

Rep. Ilhan Omar said Wednesday that she does not regret shouting at President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address, dismissing repeated efforts by CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer to get her to reconsider or apologize for her actions.

Omar made the remarks during an appearance on “The Situation Room,” after video circulated online showing her yelling toward the president while he discussed federal immigration enforcement during Tuesday night’s address.

Sitting next to Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., Omar repeatedly interrupted, accusing Trump of bearing responsibility for the deaths of two Minneapolis residents, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were fatally shot by federal immigration agents in January.

One of the individuals Omar brought as a guest, Aliya Rahman, was reportedly taken into custody by Capitol Police after allegedly causing a disturbance during the event.

During the interview, Blitzer referenced comments from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who had advised Democrats opposed to the speech either to skip it entirely or to register their objections silently.

“Should you have just boycotted the address? And do you think you violated the guidelines set out by your own leader?” Blitzer asked.

Omar rejected the notion that she should have stayed quiet or stayed away.

“No, I think it was really unavoidable,” she said. “The president talked about protecting Americans, and I just had to remind him that his administration was responsible for killing two of my constituents.”

Blitzer continued pressing the issue, noting that Democrats had previously criticized Republicans who disrupted President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech.

“Many members of your Democratic Party criticized their Republican counterparts when they interrupted President Biden’s State of the Union address, as a lot of us remember,” he said. “Do you have any regrets at all about the interaction we played between you and President Trump just last night?”

“I do not,” Omar said. “And I think many people look at that moment when the president says it is our responsibility to protect Americans, and he does not acknowledge the fact that two Americans, two of my constituents, two of our neighbors, were killed.

“And it was important for me to just remind the American people that the president and his administration was responsible for killing two American citizens.”

Blitzer made a final attempt to ask whether, in retrospect, she might have handled the situation differently, including by boycotting the address altogether. Omar remained firm, maintaining that her presence in the chamber — along with her guests — was deliberate and meaningful.

She said she attended the speech with four guests from Minnesota and insisted that it was important for the people she represents to see her there.

“It was important for us to be there to bear witness, to hold the space for our constituents that have lived through an occupation from federal law enforcement, that have been terrorized, that have seen our neighbors been killed and traumatized in so many ways,” Omar said.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that the United States has obtained information indicating Iran is attempting to reconstitute its nuclear program, while emphasizing that President Donald Trump is pursuing a diplomatic resolution but retains additional options if talks fail.

Speaking about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Vance made clear that preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains a central U.S. objective.

“The principle is very simple, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. If they try to rebuild a nuclear weapon, that causes problems for us. In fact, we’ve seen evidence that they have tried to do exactly that. So the President is sending those negotiators to try to address that problem,” Vance said.

NOW – Vance says, "we've seen evidence," Iran is trying to rebuild nuclear weapons. pic.twitter.com/dCw7aMcQYq

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) February 25, 2026

He underscored that the administration’s preferred course is negotiation, while noting that other measures remain on the table if diplomacy does not succeed.

“As the President has said repeatedly, he wants to address that problem diplomatically, but of course the President has other options as well.”

President Trump delivered a similar message during his State of the Union address Tuesday evening. He said that last June’s military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities had “obliterated” the country’s program, but added that Iran has since killed more than 32,000 protesters and is working to restart its nuclear activities. He also cautioned that Tehran is advancing missile technology capable of reaching Europe and potentially the United States.

“We’re in negotiations with them. They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words, ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon’. My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain: I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror to have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let that happen.”

“No nation should ever doubt America’s resolve. We have the most powerful military on earth – hopefully, we seldom have to use it,” continued the President.

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance is set to announce that $259.5 million in Medicaid reimbursements to Minnesota will be withheld while federal officials conduct a fraud investigation, along with a nationwide halt on new firms seeking Medicare subsidies for durable medical equipment such as canes and walkers, The Post has learned.

Vance will make the announcement alongside Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a day after President Trump declared a “war on fraud” during his State of the Union address.

The decision to suspend reimbursement payments to Minnesota affects nearly half of the claims submitted by the state for its Medicaid program serving low-income residents during the most recent fiscal quarter.

The action, described as a “deferment,” targets 14 state-run programs flagged as particularly vulnerable to fraudulent activity. These include services such as autism treatment, in-home rehabilitation, non-emergency medical transportation and overnight supervision. Some of those programs have previously been linked to a major fraud case in the Twin Cities area.

An administration official said Medicaid reimbursements for Minnesota will remain on hold until “further investigation is completed” into potential improper billing practices.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration announced a broader review of Medicaid payments, pausing certain future disbursements to multiple states while investigations were underway. In January, social-services funding was temporarily frozen for five Democrat-led states, including Minnesota and New York. The latest move, however, goes further by affecting claims that have already been submitted for reimbursement.

Separately, the administration is introducing a new policy that will block additional companies from newly enrolling in Medicare’s reimbursement system for durable medical equipment.

Federal officials reported that last year durable medical equipment billing carried an error rate of roughly 20%, amounting to about $1.5 billion in questionable charges. Of that total, approximately $1 billion is believed to involve fraudulent claims, according to officials.

The temporary freeze on new enrollments is intended to give regulators time to scrutinize companies already participating in the program and remove those engaged in improper conduct.

While the Minnesota Medicaid action centers on a Democrat-led state, officials noted that problems tied to Medicare equipment billing are largely concentrated in Republican-led states. One official pointed to elevated levels of suspected fraud in South Florida and in Harris County, Texas.

During his State of the Union address, Trump said Vance would oversee a nationwide campaign to combat misuse of federal benefit programs.

“I am officially announcing the war on fraud to be led by our great vice president, JD Vance,” Trump said, predicting, “we will actually have a balanced budget overnight. It will go very quickly. That’s the kind of money you’re talking about.”

{Matzav.com}

Federal agents returned to the Arizona residence of Nancy Guthrie on Wednesday, spending several hours combing through the property before determining whether her family would be permitted to move back in, sources told The NY Post.

The latest search indicates that the probe into the 84-year-old’s disappearance has stalled, as she has now been missing for 25 days and investigators have not publicly identified any suspects in the perplexing case.

Agents arrived at Guthrie’s Tucson home early Wednesday and remained at the upscale property for more than two hours as part of what sources described as a final review of the scene.

According to those familiar with the investigation, authorities were believed to be checking for any remaining evidence that may have been missed during earlier searches before potentially clearing the house for the Guthrie family’s return.

Guthrie — the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie — was first reported missing on Feb. 1 after she failed to attend church services that morning.

Video obtained from her doorbell camera showed a masked individual — or possibly two different individuals, as some observers have suggested — lingering outside her front door on the night investigators suspect she was abducted.

The footage shows the person carrying a black Ozark Trail Hiker backpack and attempting to obscure the camera’s view with tree branches.

Later that morning, on Feb. 1, Guthrie was officially reported missing.

Residents of the Catalina Hills neighborhood subsequently told authorities that they had noticed a suspicious young man spending time on the street near Guthrie’s home in the weeks before she vanished.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply criticized Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib following their conduct during his State of the Union address Tuesday night, suggesting the two lawmakers “should be institutionalized” over what he described as disruptive behavior.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump reacted to the scene in the House chamber, taking aim at the two members of the progressive “Squad” caucus.

“When you watch Low IQ Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, as they screamed uncontrollably last night at the very elegant State of the Union, such an important and beautiful event,” Trump began on Truth Social.

He continued with harsher language in the same post.

“They had the bulging, bloodshot eyes of crazy people, LUNATICS, mentally deranged and sick who, frankly, look like they should be institutionalized,” he added.

Trump went on to question their fitness for office and called for their removal.

“When people can behave like that, and knowing that they are Crooked and Corrupt Politicians, so bad for our Country, we should send them back from where they came — as fast as possible.”

During the address, Tlaib (D-Mich.) was seated in the House chamber wearing a “[Curse] ICE” pin on her lapel. She and Omar (D-Minn.) repeatedly interrupted and heckled the president throughout portions of the speech before leaving the chamber prior to its conclusion.

{Matzav.com}

Dozens of demonstrators took to the streets of Yerushalayim on Wednesday evening following a rally protesting the arrest of yeshiva students over military conscription, blocking a major roadway and prompting police to use crowd-control measures, including a water cannon.

The protest followed a large gathering organized by the Eidah HaChareidis against what participants referred to as the “conscription decree.” After the rally concluded, groups of protesters moved onto Chaim Bar-Lev Boulevard, where they blocked traffic and clashed with police forces at the scene.

Demonstrators obstructed the roadway with their bodies, and some descended onto the nearby light rail tracks. During the unrest, trash bins and metal barriers were dragged into the center of the street in an apparent effort to halt traffic and disrupt normal activity in the area.

Yerushalayim District police units were dispatched to the scene and worked to disperse the crowd. Police said officers used crowd-dispersal methods in order to restore public order, push back those involved in the disturbances, and reopen the roads that had been blocked.

In a statement, a police spokesperson emphasized that “The Israel Police will act to allow protest and freedom of expression for every citizen, but will not allow a breach of public order, blocking of roads, and disruption of daily life.”

As a result of the events, heavy traffic congestion was reported along Chaim Bar-Lev Boulevard and surrounding streets. Drivers were advised to seek alternate routes.

{Matzav.com}

Two days before New York’s biggest snowstorm in a decade began, forecasters were still unsure how much snow would fall. One traditional US model had consistently predicted a major hit, while newer artificial intelligence systems weren’t so certain.

The long-running Global Forecast System, or GFS, signaled the storm would be a whopper for much of the Northeast. Because of lingering skepticism about the GFS’ past performance – and the fact that it stood alone in predicting massive impacts – many forecasters waited until Friday afternoon before declaring the possibility of more than a foot of snow for parts of New York.

The totals reported by the US National Weather Service have been staggering: Central Park saw nearly 20 inches, one of its biggest snowstorms on record. On Long Island, snowfall measured at more than two feet.

Forecasting powerful winter storms is a distinctive challenge, scientists said. Unlike hurricanes, which form at sea and spend days barreling toward land, nor’easter storms often build and strike the East Coast within 24 hours. Providing advance warning for this week’s storm meant forecasting where incoming waves of cold air and moisture would land and interact with a streak of low pressure in the jet stream, days in advance.

So far, AI models haven’t made that task much easier, said Bob Oravec, a senior branch forecaster for the US Weather Prediction Center in Maryland.

“There’s no perfect model yet,” Oravec said. “That’s the problem.”

In the US, storm warnings and alerts are issued by the National Weather Service and redistributed by commercial forecasters. A local office in Upton, New York, was responsible for safety advisories spanning New York City and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut. Forecaster David Stark said staff waited to issue the first alerts until Friday due to lingering uncertainty about the storm’s path.

“We don’t like to put out warnings early and give a false sense of alarm if it’s not needed,” Stark said.

While the GFS – developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a federal science agency – was ultimately correct about the storm’s impacts on New York City, scientists said it overstated the threat in parts of the Mid-Atlantic and was slightly off on the storm’s duration.

Those mixed results are giving forecasters pause as the GFS now sees the possibility of another significant storm early next week.

At times, the GFS has predicted heavy wintry precipitation in the Northeast beginning early next week. A similar signal has been picked up by a traditional European forecast model, which is generally considered the best of its kind. But as of Tuesday morning, a powerful new European AI model sees a lower threat.

Though the models may continue to shift in the coming days, Columbia Climate School researcher Andrew Kruczkiewicz said he’s watching how forecasters prioritize AI predictions before warning the public about incoming storms.

“We’re so trained to think anything AI is better,” said Kruczkiewicz. “Even if models are considered better or high quality, decision-making is not necessarily simplified.”

(c) 2026, Bloomberg

President Donald Trump touted a program during his State of the Union address Tuesday that created investment accounts for children born during Trump’s second term seeded with $1,000 per child from the federal government.

Republicans created the program, officially dubbed “Trump accounts,” through the GOP tax-and-spending law last summer.

“Tax-free investment accounts for every American child. This is something that’s so special,” Trump said during the speech.

He claimed the accounts “could grow to over $100,000 or more” by the time the child turns 18 years old.

Here’s what you need to know about the program:

Young children are eligible
Children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, are eligible for the accounts, which are a type of traditional IRA that allows for investments in index funds.

They must be U.S. citizens and have a valid Social Security number. The account would receive a one-time contribution of $1,000.

Children born before Jan. 1, 2025, but who are not yet 18 years old can also open accounts, but they would not receive the federal seed money.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that families had already applied to open some 3 million accounts, though the program doesn’t officially begin until this summer.

How they work
Parents can file to open the accounts beginning this tax filing season using IRS Form 4547, named for Trump’s presidential terms.

The authentication process begins in May, and the administration says the seed money would be available in accounts July 4. The child would own the account, while the parent can act as a custodian until they turn 18.

Withdrawals would be taxable until they reach retirement age, unless the beneficiary is using the money for education, a first-time home purchase, birth or adoption costs, or medical expenses.

Who can contribute
In addition to the federal seed money, any adult can contribute to the accounts up to $5,000 annually.

Employers can also contribute to their employees’ children’s accounts up to $2,500 per year per employee as part of the $5,000 annual limit.

But states, local governments and nonprofit organizations can also contribute to the accounts, and doing so does not count toward the annual cap.

Trump calls on billionaires and companies to give
Late last year, the administration called upon ultra-wealthy people to donate to the program.

Dell Technologies founder and CEO Michael Dell and his wife, Susan, have said they would contribute $6.25 billion.

Billionaire investor Ray Dalio has said he would contribute $250 per account for babies in his home state of Connecticut, an approximately $75 million donation.

BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, as well as BNY, Charles Schwab, SoFi and Charter Communications have also announced programs to match employees’ contributions to the accounts.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post

President Donald Trump, in his State of the Union address Tuesday night, suggested a major new retirement benefit for tens of millions of American workers, embracing an economic policy that proponents say could bolster the federal retirement safety net.

Speaking to congressional lawmakers, Trump pledged to extend to private-sector workers the same type of retirement plan already available to federal employees. He also said the government would kick in up to $1,000 per year to their accounts, presumably in matching benefits. Roughly 54 million workers in the private sector have no workplace retirement benefits and do not benefit from stock market gains, according to research cited by the Economic Innovation Group, a Washington-based think tank, as part of what some experts have termed a “retirement crisis” in America.

“Half of all of working Americans still do not have access to a retirement plan with matching contributions from an employer,” Trump said. “To remedy this gross disparity, I’m announcing that next year, my administration will give these often forgotten American workers – great people, the people that built our country – access to the same type of retirement plan offered to every federal worker. We will match your contribution with up to $1,000 each year.”

The announcement was celebrated by Trump supporters as a major new economic policy heading into the 2026 midterm elections, but critics pointed out some problems with Trump’s pledges, and are skeptical it will substantially boost savings for working-class Americans.

The most obvious challenge is that it’s not clear how much Trump can do on his own. Under existing authorities, the administration can create portable retirement accounts – modeled on the Thrift Savings Plan used by federal employees – and make them available to workers who currently lack a workplace plan. But the government cannot compel employers or workers to automatically enroll, nor can it unilaterally appropriate funds to provide a universal $1,000 match to all eligible workers.

Instead, the administration can facilitate take-up of a benefit that already exists. The bipartisan Secure 2.0 bill, signed by President Joe Biden in 2022, created a “Saver’s Match” – a federal contribution of up to $1,000 annually for qualifying workers who put $2,000 in an eligible retirement account. One problem has been that many eligible workers have had nowhere to put their contributions. Trump’s executive action could create additional account infrastructure, but eligibility would still be constrained. Only workers who make less than $25,000 per year, or roughly $41,000 for couples, are eligible.

More impactful would be if Trump’s comments spur congressional action. A White House official suggested that the administration will support bipartisan legislation to automatically enroll eligible workers in federal accounts, provide the $1,000 federal match for low- and moderate-income workers, and make those accounts portable across jobs. One bill is backed by a coalition that spans Charles Schwab, AARP, DoorDash and Uber.

White House economist Kevin Hassett has backed a similar kind of approach. Of the more than $200 billion in annual income tax expenditures related to retirement savings, less than 1 percent flows to workers in the bottom income quintile, according to the Economic Innovation Group. This would move some of those benefits down the income distribution.

“Since we’ve had the 401(k) system this has always been the problem: A huge share of the workforce has not been participating and doesn’t have access to these benefits. Closing that gap is a big first step,” said John Lettieri, co-founder of the Economic Innovation Group. “It’s a long-run exercise to get people into the market, engaged in long-term savings and investment behavior with matching benefits. That’s a proven way of building wealth over time, including for low-income savers.”

That said, there are reasons to doubt that even the legislation being debated in Congress would do much to increase retirement security for low-income workers. Low-income Americans often do not have enough to live on already, much less an extra $2,000 per year to put into retirement accounts, said Matt Bruenig, founder of the People’s Policy Project, a left-leaning think tank.

The Survey of Consumer Finances suggests that fewer than 12 percent of people who earn below $43,000 save for retirement.

“Almost no low-income people have retirement accounts. This is not because they are disallowed from having them,” Bruenig said. “It’s because they can barely pay their bills. Nothing in the president’s plan changes that.”

(c) 2026, The Washington Post

A heavy cloud of mourning descended upon the Vizhnitzer kehillah in Montreal with the news of the petirah of Rav Asher Greenfeld zt”l, who served for four decades as the rav and av beis din of Vizhnitz in Montreal. He was 82.

The levayah is scheduled to take place today at 5:30 p.m. at Beis Medrash Imrei Chaim-Vizhnitz in Montreal. His aron will be brought to Eretz Yisroel, where the levayah will be held on Friday. He will be laid to rest in the Vizhnitzer beis hachaim in Bnei Brak.

Rav Greenfeld was a living symbol of hasmadah and unwavering shteiging in Torah. His vast bekius and iyun in Shas and poskim, acquired during his formative years in the great yeshivos and refined throughout his life, established him as a respected talmid chochom and marbitz Torah who raised many talmidim. He was renowned as a peh mapik margoliyos, an exceptional darshan who illuminated aggadah and maamarei Chazal with sweetness and clarity, inspiring his listeners with depth and warmth.

In every fiber of his being, Rav Greenfeld was a devoted chassid, deeply connected b’lev v’nefesh to the holy chain of Vizhnitzer tzaddikim. The fire of chassidus burned within him in his tefillos and hanhagos, and he served as a living example of total hisbatlus to the tzaddikei hador.

Beyond his gadlus baTorah, Rav Greenfeld possessed an expansive Jewish heart that beat constantly for others. He was a true baal chesed, tirelessly assisting almanos, yesomim, and brokenhearted individuals. His tzedakah was most often given quietly, with extraordinary sensitivity to the kavod of the recipient. Those close to him would say that there was no lack that did not find an address by him and no tear that did not find comfort.

Rav Greenfeld was born on the fourth of Adar in 1944 into a home steeped in Torah and mesirus nefesh. He was named after his grandfather, Rav Asher of Ober-Epsach. From his earliest years, he was bound with a deep spiritual kesher to the Vizhnitzer dynasty.

As a young child living with his family in Switzerland, he merited a rare experience when the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, the Imrei Chaim, came to raise funds for the establishment of Kiryat Vizhnitz in Bnei Brak. The Rebbe stayed in the Greenfeld family’s modest two-room apartment. Despite the cramped quarters, Rav Greenfeld’s father, Reb Baruch Greenfeld, joyfully gave up an entire room for the Rebbe, while the family crowded together for two weeks. That mesirus nefesh and hiskashrus were etched into the young boy’s soul and shaped the course of his life.

Rav Asher merited to sit on the Rebbe’s lap during that visit. The Rebbe remarked with affection that when he himself had been young, he sat on the lap of Rav Asher of Ober-Epsach, saying, “When I was small and you were big, I sat on your knees; now that you are small and I am big, you sit on mine.”

In his bochur years, Rav Greenfeld learned at Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin in Bnei Brak. He was distinguished by his diligence and refinement, but above all by his deep hiskashrus to his rabbeim. He did not miss a single tish of the Imrei Chaim and later forged a particularly close bond with the Rebbe’s son, the Yeshuos Moshe, who served as rav of the neighborhood at the time.

Rav Greenfeld was among the select few who remained after the tish to participate in the late-night bateh conducted by the Yeshuos Moshe in the shul, where he absorbed the inner teachings of chassidus and the depth of Aggadah. Over time, he became one of the Rebbe’s closest and most trusted talmidim. The Yeshuos Moshe would say affectionately that the name Asher was an acronym for “Ratzon Avinu Shebashamayim.”

In 1986, at the behest of the Yeshuos Moshe, Rav Greenfeld undertook a great shlichus: to relocate to Montreal and lead the developing Vizhnitzer kehillah there. With remarkable hisbatlus and mesirus nefesh, he accepted the mission, initially traveling alone and leaving his family in Eretz Yisroel during the first year.

In Montreal, he founded the kollel that became the vibrant spiritual heart of the community. For 40 years he stood at its helm, teaching Torah and raising generations of talmidim. In addition to serving as rosh kollel, he functioned as rav of the kehillah, guiding his flock with chochmah, tevunah, and an ayin tovah.

His relationship with the members of the kehillah was personal and heartfelt. From small children to respected elders, each felt a genuine closeness to him. He loved every Yid with sincerity, and that love was returned in full.

Upon the histalkus of the Yeshuos Moshe in 2012, Rav Greenfeld was shattered with grief. Yet even in his pain, he demonstrated complete hisbatlus to the continuation of the dynasty’s leadership, publicly affirming his allegiance to the new Rebbe and strengthening the kehillah with clarity and resolve.

Rav Greenfeld was held in high esteem by gedolei Yisroel of his generation. He maintained close ties with Rav Shmuel Wosner and with the Skverer Rebbe, who received him with special honor. He was often welcomed for extended yechidus, where they discussed Torah, stories of tzaddikim, and matters of chizuk hadas.

His mastery of Torah was extraordinary. Shas Bavli and Yerushalmi were clear to him, as were Tanach and the words of Chazal. He delved deeply into Toras hachassidus and pnimiyus haTorah, extracting pearls of machshavah and guidance. His drashos combined depth, clarity, and fiery hislahavus, making him one of the most sought-after speakers among Vizhnitz chassidim. He addressed major gatherings, including global hisvaaduyos and memorial asifos honoring his Rebbe.

Rav Greenfeld was equally known as an amud hachesed. Large sums of tzedakah passed through his hands and were distributed quietly. When the kollel faced financial crisis, he once mortgaged his private home to ensure the avreichim could continue learning without worry. For him, personal assets were merely tools in the service of Klal Yisroel.

Each year before Pesach, he organized extensive maos chittim distributions for dozens of families, ensuring that the assistance was given with maximum discretion and dignity. At fundraising events, after delivering stirring words, he would often conclude with a gentle smile and declare by example, contributing a substantial amount himself to encourage others.

Rav Greenfeld leaves behind a dor yesharim, children and grandchildren who are engaged in Torah, chinuch, and askonus.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

An Israeli woman of Turkish descent who had recently completed her military service was detained in Turkey on allegations of “service in a foreign military” and later released following diplomatic efforts involving Israeli officials and assistance from the United States.

The young woman had traveled to Turkey to visit her parents when she was taken into custody. According to reports, Islamist groups in the country publicized her personal details and filed a complaint with authorities, urging them to block her from leaving Turkey.

She was held for several days before authorities decided to transfer her to house arrest.

Channel 12 reported that Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stepped in shortly after her detention, acting swiftly and coordinating parallel efforts to obtain support from the U.S. administration. Both sides worked to marshal the necessary channels to secure her release.

After sustained behind-the-scenes activity, the woman was released in what was described as a discreet and dramatic operation. She was placed on a flight back to Israel through a third country and accompanied by Israeli representatives during her return.

{Matzav.com}

The New York Times did not feature President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on the front page of its Wednesday print edition, instead leading with other domestic and international stories.

Although the paper’s well-known slogan proclaims it publishes “All the News That’s Fit to Print,” the most prominent headline across the top of the page focused on technology and global supply chains: “Reliance on Taiwan Chip Endangers U.S. Economy.”

Also displayed prominently on the upper portion of the front page was a large photograph of a Ukrainian soldier accompanying a report on the ongoing war with Russia, along with coverage of developments in Mexico following the death of cartel leader Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.”

The only clear reference to the president appeared in a smaller sub-headline connected to the Mexico article, which included the name “Trump,” just hours after he had delivered a nationally televised address to Congress.

Additional front-page stories included “Epstein Sought Customs Perks For Private Isle,” focusing on late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein; “They’re for ICE, But Go NIMBY on Warehouses,” examining opposition to the Department of Homeland Security’s use of warehouse facilities for illegal immigrants; and “A.I. Literacy Test: Don’t Let It Think for You.”

Another eleven articles were previewed at the bottom of the page, none of which addressed Trump or his speech.

The absence of coverage stood in contrast to the length and breadth of Trump’s Tuesday night remarks, which lasted more than an hour and outlined his administration’s priorities on border security, economic performance, energy production and America’s standing abroad.

During the address, Trump pointed to what he called record improvements in immigration enforcement, asserting that unlawful border crossings had dropped sharply since his return to office.

He reiterated his demand for stricter immigration measures and greater resources for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, drawing sustained applause from Republican lawmakers present in the chamber.

Turning to the economy, Trump cited higher wages, slowing inflation and a rallying stock market as proof that his policies are working.

He attributed those developments to tax reductions, regulatory rollbacks and increased domestic energy output, which he said have encouraged investment and bolstered the strength of the U.S. dollar.

On foreign affairs, the president reaffirmed support for Israel, described ongoing efforts to help end the war in Ukraine and emphasized a doctrine of “peace through strength” aimed at deterring adversaries including China and Iran.

While television networks and cable news channels led their coverage with highlights and analysis of the speech — and critics rapidly fact-checked portions of it — the Times’ choice not to prominently feature the address drew reaction from conservative commentators online.

Backers of the president argued that overlooking a State of the Union speech reflects what they see as a pattern of media bias against Trump and his policies.

Others responded that print newspapers frequently emphasize investigative reporting and international developments on their front pages, particularly when speeches receive widespread digital and broadcast attention.

{Matzav.com}

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he came close to having Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib removed from the House chamber after they repeatedly interrupted President Donald Trump during his State of the Union speech.

In an interview with Fox News, Johnson described the outbursts as inappropriate and said he weighed whether to take disciplinary action as the disruptions unfolded.

“It was shameful, really. I came this close to stopping them; we could have probably ejected them from the floor. [But] I thought, let their actions speak for themselves,” he tells Fox News.

During the address, Omar and Tlaib repeatedly shouted at Trump from the chamber floor, accusing him of dishonesty and responsibility for American deaths. They called him a “liar” and alleged that he had “killed Americans.”

Johnson said that while he ultimately chose not to intervene, the option of removal was seriously considered.

“If they’d gone a step further, we probably would have ejected them,” Johnson says. “But I think it was good for them to be there. I think it’s good for the American people to see the shame that they’ve brought upon their parties and upon themselves. And what a stark contrast between them and between the Republican Party.

“We’re on the right side of common sense, on law and justice, on security and American dominance and strength, and the Democrats stand for exactly the opposite of all that.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Vice President JD Vance cautioned Iran to treat Washington’s warnings of possible military action “seriously,” speaking one day after President Donald Trump used his State of the Union address to outline what he described as escalating dangers posed by Tehran.

In an interview with Fox News, Vance said the administration’s preference remains a diplomatic resolution but stressed that the president retains additional options if talks fail.

According to Vance, Trump intends to pursue a negotiated outcome first. However, he emphasized that the president also has the authority to act militarily if necessary.

“You can’t let the craziest and worst regime in the world have nuclear weapons,” says Vance.

He added that the administration is prepared to ensure Iran does not obtain nuclear arms. “The president has a number of other tools at his disposal to ensure this doesn’t happen. He’s shown a willingness to use them, and I hope the Iranians take it seriously in the negotiations tomorrow because that’s certainly what the president prefers.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana awarded Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi the newly created Medal of the Knesset in recognition of what he described as Modi’s “significant contributions to the State of Israel and the Jewish people,” following the Indian leader’s address to the Israeli parliament.

Ohana presented the medal after Modi spoke before the Knesset plenum, where he highlighted the growing partnership between New Delhi and Yerushalayim and emphasized expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.

According to the Knesset spokesperson’s office, Modi was chosen for the honor because he “significantly strengthened the ties between India and Israel and deepened the strategic cooperation between the countries.”

The statement further noted: “During his tenure, cooperation in the fields of security and technology expanded, including joint security technological developments, innovation and cyber. He worked to deepen the political and cultural connection, and strengthened Israel’s position as India’s central partner in the Middle East.”

Calling the ceremony a milestone event, Ohana said, “This is a historic moment for the Knesset and for the entire State of Israel.” He added, “The awarding of the decoration to Prime Minister Modi expresses our deep appreciation for his work to create a strategic alliance between Israel and India. His policy is an expression of a courageous, consistent and sincere friendship with the State of Israel, and of a firm stand by its side even in complex and challenging times.”

During his remarks, Modi pointed to the economic potential of both nations. He stated that India “will soon be among the top three economies globally,” while noting that “Israel is a powerhouse of innovation and technology leadership.”

“We are committed to expanding trade, strengthening investment growth and promoting joint infrastructure development,” he said, adding that the two countries “are working hard to negotiate an ambitious Free Trade Agreement. It will unlock the vast untapped potential in our trade relationship.”

India’s government announced that negotiations on a proposed India-Israel free trade agreement had begun in New Delhi on Monday. Officials said total merchandise trade between the two nations reached $3.62 billion in 2024-2025.

Modi also referenced Israel’s influence on Indian agriculture, saying that “India’s parliamentary debates of the 1950s are witness to their admiration for Israel’s effort to develop agriculture in the desert. The Kibbutz movement of Israel inspired our leaders.”

“Israeli expertise in precision irrigation and water management has already transformed agricultural practices in India,” he said.

He further revealed a new step in parliamentary cooperation, telling lawmakers: “I’m happy to inform this august house that the Indian parliament has set up a parliamentary friendship group for Israel.”

Addressing what he described as shared values between the two civilizations, Modi pointed to “philosophical parallels” between Jewish and Hindu traditions. “The [Jewish] principle of Tikkun Olam speaks of healing the world. In India, [the Sanskrit phrase of] Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam affirms that the world is one family. Both ideas… ask societies to act with compassion and moral courage,” he said.

“Judaism emphasizes halacha, guiding everyday conduct through law and practice,” he continued, while “Hindu philosophy speaks of Dharma, the moral order that shapes duty and right action. In both traditions, ethical life is lived through action, and faith is expressed through conduct.”

Modi concluded by underscoring the broader impact of the bilateral relationship. “Our strong partnership not only serves national interests, but also contributes to global stability and prosperity. Let us ensure that the friendship between India and Israel remains a source of strength in an uncertain world,” he said.

He ended his speech with the rallying calls “Am Yisrael Chai” and “Jai Hind,” meaning “Long live India,” prompting sustained applause and chants of “Modi! Modi!” from members of the packed chamber.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Police in Bnei Brak and Ramat Gan carried out a pre-Purim enforcement operation targeting the illegal sale of fireworks and explosive devices, arresting three suspects and seizing dozens of prohibited pyrotechnic items.

As part of operational preparations for the upcoming Yom Tov of Purim, officers, together with additional enforcement agencies, conducted a focused effort to uphold laws banning the sale and distribution of dangerous toys and explosive materials.

During the operation, three individuals were taken into custody on suspicion of selling and possessing banned items. Authorities confiscated dozens of pyrotechnic products, including firecrackers, fireworks and other explosive devices.

Police stated that officers from the Dan District, working in coordination with municipal enforcement and security units, will continue firm action to prevent and combat criminal activity, maintain public order, address “quality of life” offenses and noise disturbances, and provide a swift and professional response to any unusual incident, while also strengthening residents’ sense of personal security.

Law enforcement officials also urged the public to refrain from using firecrackers and similar explosives, citing consideration for combat veterans living among the community and the need to prevent panic and anxiety, particularly during this sensitive security period.

“Israel Police wishes the public a happy Purim and calls on everyone to remain vigilant. In any case of suspicion regarding individuals, vehicles or suspicious objects, contact the 100 emergency hotline to enable a rapid and effective response,” police said in a statement.

{Matzav.com}

This past Shabbos, the city of Stamford, Connecticut, was transformed into a migdalor of Torah with the hosting of the 30th annual Dirshu Convention. The massive Maamad was held this year under the banner of three decades of Harbotzas Torah, bringing together thousands of Chavrei Dirshu who traveled from across the United States and North America.

The town was filled with thousands of Yungeleit, maggidei shiur, members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, and prominent Roshei Yeshiva. They gathered for a Shabbos of spiritual elevation at the “Armon” hotel complex, which was entirely dedicated to the convention. To accommodate the overwhelming demand, the Marriott hotel—located a 40-minute walk away—was also chartered for the overflow of attendees. The main tefillos and gatherings took place in a massive, magnificent tent erected in the hotel courtyard to serve as the central Heichal HaTefillah. 

The participants were zocheh to bask in the presence of Gedolei U’Meorei HaDor shlit”a, who made the effort to attend and provide chizuk to the lomdei Torah.  Among the Gedolim gracing the event were:

Horav Yeruchem Olshin shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva of Beis Medrash Govoha, Lakewood. Horav Yitzchok Sorotzkin shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva of Telshe and Mesivta of Lakewood. Horav Dovid Goldberg shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva of Telshe. Horav Hillel David shlit”a, Rav of Kehal Shaarei Torah. Horav Yechiel Michel Steinmetz shlit”a, Dayan of Skver Boro Park. Horav Chaim Mordechai Ausband shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva of Ateret Shlomo, who traveled from Eretz Yisrael as a special guest. 

Dozens of other Rabbonim and Dirshu representatives from across America and Europe also attended the Maamad. Throughout the Shabbos, various Shiurei Iyun and Halacha were delivered, with marei mekomos distributed to the Chavrei Dirshu for in-depth preparation. The Nasi and founder of Dirshu, Horav Dovid Hofstedter shlit”a, also addressed the massive crowd. Additionally, specialized panels and sessions were held for maggidei shiur to discuss methods for deepening Halacha knowledge among bnei Torah. 

On Motzei Shabbos, a vital Chinuch panel addressed burning contemporary issues, including maintaining the independence of traditional Chinuch from external interference. The panel featured Rav Ausband, Horav Eitan Feiner shlit”a (Rav of Kehal Tifereth Israel), and Horav Shlomo Cynamon shlit”a (Rav of Kehal Bnei Torah and Rosh Kollel Dirshu of Flatbush)

The convention culminated in a festive Melave Malka open to the wider public, featuring stirring words from the Gedolim. The evening became a powerful display of Kiddush Shem Shamayim, as the throngs of Chavrei Dirshu united in a rikud of simcha and a shared mission to further increase the learning of Torah.

In a move with far-reaching implications for the kedushah and hanhagas hamakom at the Kosel, Knesset members voted 56–47 on Wednesday in favor of the preliminary reading of legislation granting the Chief Rabbinate full authority over tefillah arrangements at all areas of the Kosel.

The proposal immediately drew fierce criticism from “progressive” and leftist Jewish organizations, which denounced the measure as “patronizing and antisemitic.”

The bill, introduced by Noam MK Avi Maoz, seeks to counter last week’s ruling by the High Court of Justice requiring the state to proceed with upgrading the egalitarian plaza at the Kosel. That area, referred to as Ezras Yisroel, has been designated for non-Orthodox prayer services. The long-delayed renovation was part of the so-called Kosel compromise approved by Netanyahu’s government roughly a decade ago, which envisioned a pluralistic prayer platform at the site.

Under the new legislation, the two Chief Rabbis of Israel would be granted ultimate authority over Jewish holy sites, including Ezras Yisroel, and any activity conducted in opposition to their directives — such as non-Orthodox prayer services — would be defined as a “desecration.”

Current law stipulates that desecrating a holy site is punishable by up to seven years in prison.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu canceled a session of the Ministerial Committee for Legislation in what was seen as an effort to avoid official government backing of the bill and potential backlash from Diaspora Jewry. In the end, Netanyahu allowed coalition members to vote according to their own judgment. Several Likud lawmakers, among them Yuli Edelstein and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, did not participate in the vote.

After the bill cleared its preliminary stage, Maoz hailed the legislation as safeguarding the kedushas hamakom and said it would “unify the Jewish people, both those in Israel and those in the Diaspora.”

Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who also holds the religious services portfolio, voiced strong support for the proposal and urged swift passage in order to “put an end to the High Court’s interference in the management of the Kosel.”

The Shas party welcomed the bill, describing it as a necessary stand against “attempts to desecrate and violate the rules of the place that have been practiced for generations.” United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni framed the measure as a defeat for the Reform Movement, which he labeled “the destroyers of the Jewish people.”

According to a Telegram post by Channel 12 journalist Amit Segal, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir told members of his Otzma Yehudit faction that the bill would strengthen Jewish control over Har Habayis. However, the legislation itself makes no mention of Har Habayis, which, despite its centrality in Yiddishkeit, is not formally defined under Israeli law as a Jewish holy site.

Following the vote — which now sends the bill to committee for further deliberation ahead of the three readings required for final passage — progressive Jewish leaders issued strong statements condemning the move as an affront to non-Orthodox Jews and Diaspora communities.

Anna Kislanski, CEO of the Israeli Movement for Progressive Judaism, declared that the bill is “patronizing and antisemitic.” She added, “The State of Israel is about to criminalize non-Orthodox Jewish prayer at the Western Wall. What hypocrisy. If such a law were to be passed in the United States, Australia or Britain, and prevent Jews from holding their prayers under threat of imprisonment for up to seven years, the State of Israel would immediately launch a fierce fight against antisemitism.”

The Women of the Wall organization described the Knesset vote as a “black day for the Jewish people,” asserting that the State of Israel had “divorced Diaspora Jewry and declared outright that they are not welcome and are not accepted in the home of the Jewish people.”

The group further warned that a government prepared to imprison women for reading from the Torah at the Kosel is “taking giant strides toward becoming Iran.”

Democrats MK Gilad Kariv, himself a Reform rabbi, sharply criticized the bill, stating: “Avi Maoz’s crazy law approved in a preliminary reading turns anyone who disobeys the Chief Rabbinate into a criminal who must be thrown in jail.” He added, “We will not allow Avi Maoz and Binyomin Netanyahu to spit in the face of our brothers around the world, who, while they are dealing with an unprecedented wave of antisemitism, are being stabbed in the back by the government and the coalition.”

World Zionist Organization Vice Chairman Yizhar Hess, formerly CEO of the Masorti movement, echoed those concerns. “Today’s approval of moving forward with legislation to imprison Jews who pray at the Egalitarian Kotel will always be remembered as a dark day in the history of Zionism and the nation-state of the Jewish people,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro is accusing Apple CEO Tim Cook of misleading the administration about shifting iPhone manufacturing out of China and into the United States, arguing that similar assurances were made during President Trump’s first term and never fulfilled.

In an interview with Miranda Devine on “Pod Force One,” set to air Wednesday, Navarro sharply criticized Cook’s approach to tariffs and overseas production. He described the Apple chief as “the king of evading tariffs.”

“We let him get away with it in the first term, because he promised he would basically bring his iPhone production here — or out of China — and he lied through his teeth,” said President Trump’s senior counselor on trade and manufacturing.

Navarro suggested that the pattern is repeating itself under Trump’s current term. “And he’s doing it again. That’s quite par for the course,” Navarro also claimed.

Devine pressed Navarro on whether American industry is seeing a revival during Trump’s second term, pointing out that Apple maintains facilities in the United States and has announced plans to grow its domestic operations.

Navarro dismissed the idea that Apple is leading a manufacturing comeback. “Not with Apple. I mean, they’re going to India, and to me, that’s not a whole lot better than being in China,” Navarro fired back. “But, that’s the exception, I think, that proves the rule.”

President Trump has also publicly criticized Cook — at times referring to him as “Tim Apple” — over the company’s decision to expand production in India rather than bring more operations back to American soil.

Last May, Trump warned Apple that it could face a 25% tariff if it failed to relocate production to the United States. Analysts have estimated that an iPhone built entirely in America could carry a price tag as high as $3,500.

Shortly after returning to the White House, Apple unveiled plans to invest $500 billion in U.S.-based projects.

In February 2025, the company announced it would enlarge its footprint “in Michigan, Texas, California, Arizona, Nevada, Iowa, Oregon, North Carolina, and Washington” and construct “a new factory in Texas.”

At the time, Apple said the initiative would create as many as 20,000 jobs in the United States.

“Apple is deeply committed to the future of American manufacturing, and we’re proud to significantly expand our footprint in Houston with the production of Mac mini starting later this year,” Cook also said in a Tuesday statement.

“We began shipping advanced AI servers from Houston ahead of schedule, and we’re excited to accelerate that work even further.”

Over the past year, Apple’s pledged investment in the United States has climbed to $600 billion.

The company has also committed that by the end of 2026, all new “cover glass for iPhone and AppleWatch” will be manufactured at a facility in Kentucky.

The administration’s tariff strategy recently faced a legal setback when the Supreme Court ruled against the use of certain emergency authorities to impose import duties. Still, Navarro indicated that the White House has alternative tools at its disposal.

The court, in a 6-3 decision, found that Trump overstepped his authority by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to levy tariffs aimed at correcting trade imbalances.

“It did strike down the IEEPA tariffs, the emergency tariffs — it did not strike down [Sections] 232, 301, 122, 338, all the different powers that the president has been delegated by Congress and can use.”

Navarro has long criticized Apple’s reliance on Chinese manufacturing, once describing the company’s overseas production strategy as “the longest-running soap opera in Silicon Valley.”

Reiterating his argument on “Pod Force One,” Navarro underscored what he sees as the broader impact of the administration’s trade policy.

“I mean, we have, Miranda, this is like mind boggling,” he said on “Pod Force One.”

“We have $18 trillion of new investment pledged since the tariffs and because of the tariffs,” he added. “I mean, as President Trump has said, you don’t pay the tariffs if you produce here.”

{Matzav.com}

President Trump used his State of the Union address Tuesday night to warn that Iran has built missiles capable of striking American bases in Europe and the Middle East and is pursuing weapons that could eventually reach the United States, while also confirming that diplomatic talks with Tehran remain underway.

Speaking before a joint session of Congress, Trump sharply criticized Iran’s leadership and outlined what he described as escalating threats from the regime. “This is some terrible people,” Trump told lawmakers in reference to the Tehran regime, which rejected what it called “big lies” from the president. “They’ve already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they’re working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America.”

The president said that even after U.S. forces carried out airstrikes in June on three significant Iranian nuclear facilities, Tehran continues to push forward with its atomic ambitions. According to Trump, the Islamic Republic is attempting to restart its nuclear program “all over … and are, at this moment, again pursuing their sinister ambitions.

“We are in negotiations with them,” Trump went on. “They want to make a deal but we haven’t heard those sacred words: ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon.’”

Another round of negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials is scheduled for Thursday in Geneva, Switzerland. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who is leading the American delegation, drew attention last month when he told Fox News that Iran was “probably a week away from having industrial-grade bomb-making material.”

During his address, Trump also cited reports alleging that Iranian authorities killed 32,000 people during a violent crackdown on nationwide protests that erupted in December and January over the country’s struggling economy.

That number has circulated widely on social media but has not been echoed by major Western governments or international human rights organizations.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency, which gathers information through contacts inside Iran, reported Monday that slightly fewer than 6,500 demonstrators had been killed, with an additional 11,744 cases “under review.”

Referring to the unrest, Trump said: “Just over the last couple of months with the protests, they’ve killed at least, it looks like 32,000 protesters, 32,000 protesters in their own country,” the president said Tuesday night. “They shot them and hung them. We stopped them from hanging a lot of them with the threat of serious violence.”

Iran swiftly rejected the president’s claims. Esmail Baghaei, a spokesman for the country’s foreign ministry, characterized Trump’s comments as part of a “disinformation and misinformation campaign” Wednesday, saying: “Whatever [the US is] alleging in regards to Iran’s nuclear program, Iran’s ballistic missiles, and the number of casualties during January’s unrest is simply the repetition of big lies.”

Ahead of the speech, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with congressional leaders at the White House to discuss possible military options involving Iran.

Following that briefing, lawmakers from both parties expressed unease about the prospect of renewed conflict in the region. “This is serious, and the administration has to make its case to the American people,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told reporters following the briefing, without elaborating on its contents.

“I’m very concerned,” added House Intelligence Committee vice chairman Jim Himes (D-Conn.). “Wars in the Middle East don’t go well for presidents, for the country, and we have not heard articulated a single good reason for why now is the moment to launch yet another war in the Middle East.”

Earlier this year, on Jan. 2, Trump warned that Iran would face bombing if it executed anti-government demonstrators. A planned strike was later put on hold after Tehran said it would cancel 800 scheduled executions, and subsequent discussions between the two sides have centered on Iran’s nuclear activities.

Meanwhile, Trump has directed two U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups to move into the region, positioning them in case military action becomes necessary.

Although the president has voiced support for regime change in Iran, it remains uncertain whether any potential American military operation would be designed to remove the country’s leadership, either by targeting senior officials or by weakening the government to pave the way for its collapse.

Earlier this week, the White House pushed back on reports claiming that Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had cautioned Trump about the dangers of becoming entangled in a prolonged conflict in the Middle East.

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Candace Owens is facing fierce criticism after promoting a forthcoming video series focused on Erika Kirk, the widow of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The preview has triggered widespread outrage, with critics accusing Owens of exploiting a grieving widow and escalating an already bitter feud.

Owens, 36, released a teaser on X for a project titled “Bride of Charlie.” The trailer begins with news footage covering Charlie Kirk’s assassination last September, then transitions to clips of Erika Kirk, 37, in the months following his death.

The preview includes pointed excerpts of Erika, who assumed the role of CEO of Turning Point USA after her husband’s killing. It also contains references to “Zionists” and Israel, adding to the controversy surrounding the production.

The trailer concludes with an image of Erika depicted wearing a crown.

Erika Kirk is scheduled to attend Tuesday’s State of the Union address as a guest of President Trump.

The trailer’s release Monday prompted immediate and emotional reactions from prominent commentators.

“Pure, unadulterated, …evil. Who in God’s name would put a woman whose husband was brutally assassinated in front of the entire world through this? I am so upset by this, I am just so deeply sorry Erika and her family have to be put through this,” media pundit Meghan McCain wrote on X.

Daily Wire founder Ben Shapiro also branded Owens as “evil” in a 10-minute video he shared on X.

“What would Charlie have to say about this? And what would he think of his so-called friends who can’t summon the courage to say it for him?” Seth Dillon from the Babylon Bee wrote on X.

When asked about the backlash, a spokesperson for Owens told The Post: “We have no comment. The series will speak for itself, and you can watch the premiere episode [Wednesday].”

In a separate statement later provided to The New York Post, the spokesperson dismissed the criticism.

“LOL. There isn’t any backlash outside of the Zionist bubble—which has no influence. People are excited to watch, and we are looking forward to presenting what we’ve discovered about Mrs. Kirk,” the spokesperson said.

Neither Turning Point USA nor Erika Kirk has publicly responded to the announcement of the series.

Since Charlie Kirk’s death at age 31, Owens has repeatedly made controversial allegations about his widow, with tensions intensifying even after the two reportedly met at a summit in December.

The renewed dispute unfolds as Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk, recently lost an attempt to remove senior prosecutors from his case.

Robinson, 22, is charged with aggravated murder in connection with the September 10 shooting at Utah Valley University in Orem and could face the death penalty if convicted.

His defense team argued that the Utah County Attorney’s Office should be disqualified from handling the prosecution because one of the prosecutor’s daughters was present in the audience when Kirk was shot. A judge rejected the request, allowing the office to remain on the case.

{Matzav.com}

Ahead of Purim, the rabbonim of Yerushalayim’s Ramot neighborhood have released a strongly worded public letter warning residents — particularly teenagers — against disorderly conduct that has disrupted the Yom Tov in recent years. The letter includes a clear and absolute prohibition on blocking roads and interfering with buses, as well as on using firecrackers and small explosives. The rabbonim describe such actions as theft from the public and a danger to human life.

The statement urges parents and community leaders to take responsibility and prevent a repeat of past incidents. The rabbonim note with concern that in previous years, individuals deliberately obstructed traffic and harassed bus drivers, actions that ultimately led to a complete suspension of public transportation services in the neighborhood.

They write that a troubling pattern of reckless behavior on the roads has developed, including humiliating drivers and acting violently, which resulted in halted bus service and harm to many residents. The rabbonim point out that last year the situation escalated to a total shutdown of transportation due to these actions, which they warn can amount to life-threatening danger.

Their ruling is presented as unequivocal and grounded in halacha. They make clear that there is absolutely no permission to stand in the streets and disrupt traffic. Anyone who does so, they write, is stealing from and harming the public in a way that cannot be repaid. They emphasize that the joy of Purim does not override responsibility toward the broader community and that obstructing public services constitutes a serious violation.

The letter also addresses the common use of firecrackers and other small explosive devices during Purim celebrations. The rabbonim warn that causing panic or frightening others is forbidden and can sometimes result in real physical injury or damage. They call on young people to channel their holiday excitement into positive expressions of joy, increased unity and proper fulfillment of the mitzvot of the day.

The letter is signed by several leading rabbonim of the neighborhood, including Rav Moshe Druck of Ramot Bais, Rav Menachem Mendel Fuchs of Kiryat Shomrei HaChomos, Rav Yisrael Guelman of the Shaarei Tevunah community and Rav Mordechai Dovid Fliegelman.

{Matzav.com}

Amid ongoing legal uncertainty following the expiration of the draft law, the Vaad HaYeshivos has issued an unusual and strongly worded letter to roshei yeshiva and roshei kollel across Eretz Yisroel, warning that most yeshiva students between the ages of 17 and 28 may be barred from leaving Israel during the upcoming Pesach break unless their status is properly arranged.

According to the notice, if no new legislation is passed regulating the status of bnei yeshiva before the Nissan bein hazemanim period, the majority of students in that age bracket will not be permitted to exit the country.

The Vaad clarifies that any student seeking to travel abroad must contact its offices in advance for an individual review of his status, in order to avoid distress or potential complications at border control. However, due to the rapidly changing legal situation, an early check will not remain valid indefinitely. Students are therefore instructed to conduct their status verification no more than two weeks prior to their scheduled departure.

Beyond the issue of travel, the Vaad HaYeshivos emphasizes the heightened personal responsibility of every bochur and avreich during this sensitive period.

The letter stresses that although there is currently no formal legislative framework in place, this does not lessen the binding principles under which the “Toraso umnaso” designation was granted. The Vaad warns that once new legislation is enacted, authorities may review whether students maintained compliance with the established criteria, and future status determinations could depend on that record.

The central focus of the directive is the strict maintenance of uninterrupted study and the avoidance of any outside engagement beyond full-time Torah learning within the yeshiva framework. Any deviation — including extended travel abroad beyond what had previously been permitted — could, according to the attached legal opinion, lead to significant and potentially irreversible complications in the future.

In closing, the Vaad HaYeshivos calls upon institutional leaders to communicate these instructions clearly and precisely to their talmidim and kollel members in order to prevent serious consequences during this particularly delicate period.

{Matzav.com}

Jeremy Corbyn is facing sharp criticism after circulating allegations that the Israel Defense Forces harvested organs from the bodies of Palestinian Arab women, claims that Israeli officials have strongly denied and labeled a “wild blood libel,” according to a report by the Jewish News.

The controversy erupted after Corbyn posted a video from the Instagram account of the We Are The Peace organization. In the video, he described a message he said he received from the director of Gaza’s Al Shifa hospital “last Thursday or Friday.”

Corbyn relayed that the hospital director claimed the IDF had delivered between 60 and 70 boxes allegedly containing the skulls of Palestinian Arabs as well as the bodies of women from whom organs had been removed.

Reacting to the allegations in the video, Corbyn said, “It’s hard to describe this,” before adding, “That is what is happening to the people of Palestine.”

The IDF swiftly rejected the accusations. Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, who serves as an international spokesperson for the military, rebuked Corbyn for amplifying what he described as “a wild blood libel” and urged greater responsibility in verifying information before sharing it publicly.

“IDF soldiers haven’t been anywhere near the Shifa hospital in months! Jeremy Corbyn’s claims are completely false,” Shoshani stated.

He further emphasized that the IDF operates in accordance with international law and strict internal guidelines that forbid such actions. Shoshani also noted that any transfer of bodies back to Gaza is carried out in coordination with international bodies, including the Red Cross.

Al Shifa hospital has been the focus of intense scrutiny and disputed narratives since Israel launched its military response to the October 7 Hamas attacks. Israeli authorities have alleged that the hospital functioned as a Hamas command and control center. Its director, Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, was detained in Israel for seven months in connection with those allegations, though he has denied any ties to Hamas.

Corbyn, who led the UK Labour Party from 2015 until 2020, stepped down after the party suffered its most severe electoral defeat since 1935. He has since established a new political movement together with former Labour MP Zarah Sultana.

Throughout his political career, Corbyn has drawn sustained criticism for his positions on Israel. While serving as Labour leader, he generated widespread controversy after referring to Hamas and Hezbollah as his “friends”. Though he initially declined to retract those remarks, he later distanced himself from them.

Members of Britain’s Jewish community have long expressed alarm over what they describe as Corbyn’s associations with various extremist figures and groups, including far-right Holocaust deniers, an antisemitic Christian cleric and Islamist terrorist organizations.

Following the release of a report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which documented numerous instances in which Labour’s leadership under Corbyn was found to have minimized, dismissed or failed to properly address complaints of antisemitism by Jewish party members — and in some cases intervened to shield political allies — Corbyn was suspended from the party.

In November 2022, Labour permanently barred Corbyn from standing as a party candidate. In the most recent general election, he ran for office as an independent candidate.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Religious Services Ministry announced Tuesday that elections will be held next month to appoint a chief rabbi for Tel Aviv–Yafo, bringing to an end an eight-year period during which the city has not had a rabbi serving in the position.

The move comes after approval by the Tel Aviv City Council plenum, paving the way for the long-delayed vote. The election has been scheduled for Thursday, March 26, 2026 (8 Nissan 5786). On that day, the electing body will convene at the Tel Aviv Religious Council building on Uri Street to select the rov who will guide the city in the years ahead. Polls will be open from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., followed immediately by the counting of votes.

The election process is being overseen by an independent professional committee headed by Rabbi Yaakov Zamir, a retired judge of the Supreme Rabbinical Court. The committee’s work is being coordinated by its secretary, Tzuriel Porat.

Twenty candidates initially submitted their candidacies. Eighteen were approved by the election committee and will compete for the position. They are: Rabbi Oshri Moiel, Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Lau, Rabbi Ben Zion Shmuel Avidan, Rabbi Ram Moshe Raavad, Rabbi Zevadia Nissim Cohen, Rabbi Natan Nachman Zeidman, Rabbi Aryeh Levin, Rabbi Amos Chai Shoshan, Rabbi Dov Berkowitz, Rabbi Yitzchak Mordechai Bar Ze’ev, Rabbi Chaim Amsalem, Rabbi Eldad Yona, Rabbi Shimon Nissim Lagarsi, Rabbi Eldar Sami Levy, Rabbi Uziel Moshe Berkowitz, Rabbi Tomer Portal Biton, Rabbi Ben Zion Algazi and Rabbi Barak Cohen.

Religious Services Ministry Director-General Yehuda Avidan said following the decision that the ministry worked to ensure a democratic, transparent and dignified selection process befitting a major Israeli city. He thanked Rabbi Yaakov Zamir for chairing the committee and said the goal is to appoint a rabbi who will unite the city’s diverse communities and serve as a spiritual address for all sectors of the population.

{Matzav.com}

The New York City Police Department released surveillance images Tuesday in an effort to identify several men accused of hurling snow and ice at officers in Washington Square Park, an incident that unfolded just hours after Mayor Zohran Mamdani described those involved as “kids” and suggested they should not face criminal charges.

According to police, two uniformed officers responded Monday to reports of a large and unruly gathering in the Lower Manhattan park. During the response, two men allegedly “intentionally struck the police officers multiple times with snow and ice in the head, neck and face, causing injuries,” the NYPD said.

Authorities stated that emergency medical services transported the officers to Northwell Greenwich Village Hospital, where they were listed in stable condition. The suspects fled before officers could detain them.

The NYPD confirmed that the two primary suspects are being sought on charges of assault on a police officer, which constitutes a felony under New York law.

At a press briefing Tuesday afternoon, Mamdani characterized the episode as something less severe, saying the situation “looked like kids at a snowball fight,” despite a police image showing an individual with facial hair holding what appeared to be a large, packed snowball.

Later, police officials indicated that the individuals believed to be involved were estimated to be between 18 and 20 years old.

Investigators subsequently released additional photos of two more men suspected of participating in the confrontation.

Sergeants Benevolent Association President Vincent Vallelong told Fox News Digital that “many” of the individuals under scrutiny are “believed to be NYU students.”

A spokesperson for New York University, Joseph Tirella, told Fox News Digital that the school has found no evidence linking any NYU students to the incident.

“We have enormous appreciation for the NYPD officers who keep our community safe,” Tirella said. “Assaulting police officers is a serious offense.”

Police described the first suspect as having a “light complexion” and said he was last observed wearing a black jacket, black ski mask, and black sweatpants with white stripes.

The second suspect was described as having a “dark complexion” and was reportedly last seen wearing a green jacket over a blue sweatshirt, blue gloves, and partial facial hair.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran for mayor last year, criticized Mamdani’s response, saying the mayor, “who has a history of calling the police ‘racist, evil, wicked and corrupt’” had “set the tone.”

“Words have consequences,” Cuomo wrote on social media. “We are seeing that in the growing disrespect for law enforcement — just as we’ve seen it in the rise in antisemitism. Real leaders understand that. This mayor does not. @NYCMayor must denounce this at once.”

Vallelong also said that those responsible for throwing snow and ice at officers had “cross[ed] a clear line.”

“[Officers] are tasked with maintaining public safety in crowded public spaces, often while facing hostility simply for wearing the uniform,” Vallelong wrote. “When individuals choose to turn a park into a launching ground for attacks on police, they cross a clear line. Today it is snowballs. Tomorrow it could be rocks, bottles, or worse.”

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the episode “disgraceful” and “criminal,” adding that detectives are actively investigating the matter.

As of Tuesday afternoon, police had not announced any arrests in connection with the snow-throwing incident.

{Matzav.com}

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[Video below.] President Donald Trump used his State of the Union address to take aim at New York City’s leadership while offering surprisingly cordial words for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, blending criticism of Democratic policies with praise for the mayor personally as he outlined Republican priorities ahead of the midterm elections.

During his nearly two-hour speech at the U.S. Capitol, Trump referenced Mamdani directly, repeating a line he has used for months to describe the democratic socialist mayor.

“The new communist mayor of New York City, I think he’s a nice guy, actually” Trump said in the middle of his nearly two-hour speech at the U.S. Capitol. “I speak to him a lot. Bad policy, but nice guy.”

Trump has frequently labeled Mamdani “a communist,” though the two men met amicably in the Oval Office in November. Since taking office, Mamdani has largely refrained from publicly sparring with the president. City Hall did not immediately issue a response Tuesday night, but the mayor has previously said that he regularly exchanges text messages with Trump.

The president sharpened his criticism later in the speech, accusing Democrats such as Mamdani of applying inconsistent standards when it comes to identification requirements. Trump pointed to a New York City emergency snow shoveling initiative that requires workers to present two forms of identification and a Social Security card before receiving payment, contrasting that with Democratic opposition to voter ID mandates.

“Yet they don’t want identification for the greatest privilege of all, voting in America,” Trump said.

Under current New York law, residents must provide proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote, though they are not required to show identification at the polls when casting a ballot.

Trump’s renewed push for a nationwide voter identification requirement drew a standing ovation from Republican lawmakers, one of many moments of sustained applause as he revisited core elements of the GOP platform. He reiterated his calls to curb illegal immigration, described sanctuary cities such as New York as “deadly,” and highlighted the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” last year.

With congressional control at stake in the upcoming midterm elections, Trump also emphasized proposals aimed at reducing living expenses. He argued that Democrats in Washington contributed to rising costs and are now campaigning on “affordability,” a term that has been central to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s legislative program over the past two years and a key theme in Mamdani’s 2025 mayoral campaign.

The president said he had signed an executive order prohibiting Wall Street investment firms from purchasing single-family homes and urged Congress to codify the restriction into law.

“We want homes for people, not for corporations,” the president said. “Corporations are doing just fine.”

New York lawmakers also made their own statements through the guests they invited to the address. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer brought a union ironworker from Long Island to attend the speech. Other members of the state’s delegation selected guests reflecting their policy priorities, including Rep. Dan Goldman, who invited a Lutheran pastor known for advocating on behalf of immigrants held in detention facilities in lower Manhattan.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries remained seated for most of the address. Several Democrats opted not to attend at all, among them Reps. Jerry Nadler and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who joined dozens of colleagues in boycotting the speech.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] President Donald Trump used his 2026 State of the Union address Tuesday night to highlight what he described as sweeping economic improvements, strengthened border enforcement and renewed American influence abroad, while also addressing tensions with Iran as his administration weighs possible military action.

Speaking for nearly two hours before a joint session of Congress, Trump reviewed his first year back in office, emphasizing domestic achievements and outlining his administration’s approach to key foreign policy challenges, particularly in the Middle East.

Opening his remarks on an upbeat note, Trump declared, “Our nation is back- bigger, better, stronger, and richer than ever before!”

He continued by looking ahead to the country’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations. “This July 4th, we will mark two and a half centuries of liberty and triumph, progress and freedom in the most incredible and exceptional nation ever to exist on the face of this earth – and you’ve seen nothing yet… this is the Golden Age of America,” he added.

Turning to economic matters, Trump sharply criticized President Joe Biden’s tenure, asserting that inflation had reached historic highs under the prior administration. “The Biden administration and its allies in Congress gave us the worst inflation in the history of our country. But in 12 months, my administration has driven core inflation down to the lowest level in more than 5 years – and in the last 3 months of 2025, it was down to 1.7%.”

He pointed to housing costs as further evidence of improvement. “Mortgage rates are the lowest in 4 years, and falling fast – and the annual cost of the typical new mortgage is down almost $5,000 dollars just since I took office.”

Recalling his address to Congress a year earlier, Trump contrasted what he described as a nation in turmoil with what he portrayed as a dramatically improved landscape today. “When I last spoke in this chamber 12 months ago, I had just inherited a nation in crisis. Today, our border is SECURE, our spirit is RESTORED, inflation is PLUMMETING, incomes are RISING FAST, the economy is ROARING, our enemies are SCARED, our military and police are STACKED, and America is RESPECTED again – perhaps like never before.”

He also highlighted investment figures, comparing them to those under Biden. “In four long years, the last administration got less than $1 trillion dollars in new investment in the United States… In 12 months, I secured commitments for more than $18 trillion dollars pouring in from all over the globe.”

On trade policy, Trump reiterated his long-standing support for tariffs, suggesting they could eventually reduce reliance on income taxes. “As time goes by, I believe that tariffs, paid for by foreign countries, will, like in the past, substantially replace the modern-day system of income tax, taking a great financial burden off the people that I love.”

Adopting a celebratory tone, the President remarked on what he characterized as a string of victories. “We are winning so much that we really don’t know what to do about it. People are asking me, ‘Please, please, Mr. President, we are winning too much, we can’t take it anymore, we are not used to winning,'” stated Trump, who added, “I say, ‘No, no, no, you are going to win again, you are going to win big.'”

On immigration and election policy, Trump urged lawmakers to pass new restrictions. He called for legislation preventing states from issuing commercial driver’s licenses to illegal aliens and advocated barring illegal aliens from voting in federal elections. He also pressed for voter ID requirements and tighter limits on mail-in ballots.

During his speech, Trump referenced New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, labeling him a “Communist” while noting that he remains in communication with him. The President said Mamdani “speaks a lot” with him and described him as a “nice guy” who has “bad policies.”

Addressing foreign affairs, Trump asserted that his administration had brokered the end of eight conflicts early in his term, including hostilities between Israel and Iran as well as the war in Gaza. He expressed appreciation for his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and his adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner for their roles in negotiating a ceasefire in Gaza.

According to Trump, the agreement resulted in the return of every hostage, both living and deceased, even though “nobody thought it was possible.”

Describing the recovery efforts, Trump said, “Believe it or not,” continued Trump, “Hamas worked along with Israel, and they dug, and they dug, and they dug. It’s a tough thing to do, going through bodies all over – sometimes passing up 100 bodies for each one they found. Tough job. And, uh, they finally got it back to 27. And then they found all 28.”

The President also revisited last June’s U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, stating they had “obliterated” the country’s nuclear capabilities. However, he claimed that Tehran has since killed more than 32,000 protesters and is seeking to revive its nuclear program, while developing missiles capable of reaching Europe and potentially the United States.

“We’re in negotiations with them. They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words, ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon’. My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain: I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror to have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let that happen.”

He concluded that portion of his remarks with a warning and a show of strength. “No nation should ever doubt America’s resolve. We have the most powerful military on earth – hopefully, we seldom have to use it,” continued the President.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] President Donald Trump has established a new modern-era benchmark for the longest State of the Union address, exceeding the duration of President Bill Clinton’s 2000 speech.

The State of the Union serves as the president’s yearly message to Congress and the American public, functioning both as a report on the administration’s progress and a roadmap for future priorities. During Tuesday night’s address, Trump concentrated heavily on economic issues and emphasized what he described as the beginning of a national “golden age.”

“After just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before,” Trump declared from the dais Tuesday evening.

Clinton’s Jan. 27, 2000, address lasted approximately 1 hour, 28 minutes, and 49 seconds and had long been recognized as the longest televised State of the Union under modern recordkeeping.

Trump surpassed that mark shortly before 10:40 p.m. Tuesday night, officially moving into first place for length among modern addresses.

Ahead of the speech, Trump had signaled it would be extensive, telling reporters, “It’s going to be a long speech because we have a lot to talk about.”

Tuesday’s event marked the first official State of the Union of Trump’s second term. Earlier, in March 2025, he delivered a joint address to Congress that functioned in much the same way but was not formally designated as a State of the Union because it came early in his term.

That March 4, 2025, address lasted roughly 1 hour, 39 minutes, and 32 seconds—longer than Clinton’s 2000 address—though it did not count as an official State of the Union under traditional classification.

Clinton’s final State of the Union in 2000 focused on the economic expansion and budget surpluses of the late 1990s, while outlining proposals on education, healthcare, Social Security, and climate change for the coming century.

“My fellow Americans, each time I prepare for the State of the Union, I approach it with great hope and expectations for our nation. But tonight is special—because we stand on the mountaintop of a new millennium. Behind us we see the great expanse of American achievement; before us, even grander frontiers of possibility,” Clinton said in his final State of the Union speech.

Historical trends indicate that modern presidents tend to deliver far longer State of the Union addresses than those given in earlier decades. During the 1960s and 1970s, many speeches ran under an hour, whereas contemporary addresses frequently extend well beyond that timeframe.

President Richard Nixon delivered the shortest average State of the Union speeches at approximately 35 minutes. By contrast, Trump’s first term featured some of the lengthiest, with an average runtime of about 80 minutes.

Trump has consistently delivered extended speeches throughout his political career, from lengthy campaign rallies to major presidential appearances.

For instance, he spoke for two hours and two minutes at the 2019 Conservative Political Action Conference. He also holds the record for the longest presidential nomination acceptance speech, delivering a 93-minute address at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, surpassing his previous 75-minute acceptance speech in 2016.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

[Videos below.] President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night was marked by sharp confrontations with Democratic lawmakers, as tensions flared over his comments on immigration and allegations of fraud.

As the president spoke about what he described as a fraud investigation involving members of the Somali community in Minnesota and broader concerns about illegal immigration, Democratic members of Congress interrupted with shouts from the chamber.

Trump fired back at his critics, declaring that Democrats should be “ashamed.”

‘You should be ashamed!” Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., could be seen shouting back at the president.

“Liar!” Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., yelled at one point.

As the address continued, both Tlaib and Omar grew increasingly vocal in their objections, repeatedly interrupting Trump’s remarks.

“You have killed Americans!” Omar and Tlaib yelled.

Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., was also seen calling out toward the president during the speech.

Meanwhile, Rep. Norma Torres, D-Calif., displayed a sign featuring photographs of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti — two U.S. citizens who were killed by immigration agents in Minneapolis in January.

In early January, Trump cited an ongoing fraud investigation in Minneapolis as justification for sending approximately 3,000 immigration officers into the state.

During Tuesday’s address, Trump said “Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota remind us that there are large parts of the world where bribery, corruption, and lawlessness are the norm, not the exception.”

WATCH:

More than a dozen states filed suit Tuesday against the Trump administration, contesting its decision to scale back federal vaccine recommendations for children and arguing that the move unlawfully endangers public health.

In their complaint, the states contend that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention jeopardized children’s safety when it revealed last month that it would no longer advise universal immunization for all children against influenza, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, certain strains of meningitis, and RSV.

The updated policy, which drew objections from segments of the medical community, now limits recommendations for those vaccines to specific high-risk populations or situations in which physicians and families engage in what is termed “shared decision-making.”

According to the states — among them Arizona and California — the revised guidance disregards decades of established medical standards and will force state governments to allocate additional resources to guard against potential disease outbreaks.

“The health and safety of children across the country is not a political issue,” said Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, at a news conference. “It is not a culture war talking point.”

Neither the CDC nor the Department of Health and Human Services immediately issued a response to inquiries regarding the legal challenge.

The lawsuit intensifies a broader dispute between Democrat-led states and President Donald Trump’s administration concerning shifts in federal public health policy under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has reduced staffing levels across federal public health agencies, decreased financial support for scientific research, and revised federal recommendations on matters including fluoride and other health-related issues.

Last year, Kennedy removed all members of a federal vaccine advisory panel and appointed new members of his choosing, a move that Tuesday’s filing claims violated the law.

The legal action follows an initiative launched months earlier by the Democrat governors of California, Washington state, and Oregon to coordinate their own vaccine guidelines. Those governors argued that the Trump administration was putting public health at risk by injecting politics into the CDC’s work.

While states possess the legal authority to mandate vaccinations for students attending public schools, federal guidance from the CDC has traditionally played a significant role in shaping state-level vaccination requirements.

{Matzav.com}

Ghazi Hamad, a senior figure in the political bureau of the Hamas terrorist organization, has dismissed demands from Israel and the United States that the group relinquish its weapons.

Speaking in an interview with the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Hamad indicated that the question of disarmament cannot be easily settled, citing what he called “many sensitivities.” He further stated that attempts to pressure the organization into surrendering its weapons are “disrespectful to the efforts of the mediators.”

A Palestinian Arab source told the newspaper that the disagreement over the issue remains at a standstill. The source argued that objectives Israel did not accomplish during more than two years of fighting will not be achieved now, and said the immediate focus should be ending the “aggression and the withdrawal of Israeli occupation.”

An Egyptian source also addressed the matter, saying Hamas’s disarmament has come up in discussions that include Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, and the “technocrat committee.” The source expressed optimism that understandings could still be reached, particularly in light of US President Donald Trump’s determination to see his political initiative succeed.

According to the newspaper, analysts believe that Israeli warnings about potential military steps to strip Hamas of its weapons are intended as psychological pressure ahead of upcoming Knesset elections.

Hamas has consistently rejected calls to disarm, despite Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza requiring the organization to give up its arms. The group maintains that its arsenal serves as “self-defense against the occupation.”

Senior Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal recently reiterated the organization’s position in response to Trump’s appeal for disarmament, declaring, “As long as our people are under occupation, talk of disarmament is an attempt to turn our people into victims, to make their elimination easier and to facilitate their destruction at the hands of the Israeli side, which is armed with every international means of warfare.”

{Matzav.com}

President Trump will address a joint session of Congress tonight for his first State of the Union address since returning to the White House just over one year ago. It’s an opportunity for the president to tout his agenda and shape his party’s messaging ahead of this year’s midterm elections.

The president is expected to begin at 9 p.m. ET., and if history is any indication, prepare for a long night. Last year, in what was technically not a State of the Union speech, Trump addressed Congress for over 90 minutes, breaking records as the longest joint address in at least 60 years.

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An El Al plane traveling from Tel Aviv to New York was compelled to head back to Israel over the past day after running into dangerous weather conditions while crossing the Atlantic.

Roughly eight hours after departure, the flight crew chose to return when officials at Newark Airport temporarily shut down operations because of extreme weather, resulting in altered landing directives. Under the updated conditions, the aircraft could not complete a safe landing.

With reports pointing to a strengthening storm system battering the U.S. East Coast, the pilots decided to fly back to Ben Gurion Airport, placing passenger safety above all other considerations.

Following the disruption, a spokesperson for Arkia said the airline’s flights were also experiencing delays as crews awaited an improvement in weather conditions. The company said it is closely monitoring the situation in New York and remains in constant contact with airport authorities to ensure passenger safety.

At the same time, hundreds of Israeli travelers have been stranded in hotels amid significant snowfall in New York, and there is still no definite schedule for when departures and arrivals will return to normal.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Yitzchok Yosef, the former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, ruled this week that residents of the Ramot neighborhood of Yerushalayim should once again read the Megillah on the 15th of Adar, in accordance with the custom observed throughout Yerushalayim.

During his weekly shiur, Rav Yosef addressed the annual halachic questions that arise ahead of Purim regarding the city’s boundaries and the proper date for Megillah reading in outlying neighborhoods. He clarified that areas such as Ramot are considered fully part of Yerushalayim for this purpose.

In his remarks, Rav Yosef highlighted the efforts of Yerushalayim Deputy and Acting Mayor Tzvika Cohen, who arranged for several caravans to be placed in open areas in order to create a continuous residential link between Ramot and the main urban expanse of the walled city.

According to halachah, for a distant neighborhood to be regarded as part of a walled city with respect to reading the Megillah on the 15th of Adar, there must be an unbroken residential continuity. The placement of the caravans establishes that continuity, thereby ensuring that residents of Ramot can celebrate Purim and fulfill the mitzvah of Megillah reading on the fifteenth, in line with the ruling of Rav Ovadia Yosef.

In previous years, Cohen worked together with Yerushalayim Mayor Moshe Lion to resolve the issue of residential continuity. The solution, approved by professional authorities, involved positioning caravans in the open spaces between Ramot and neighborhoods already contiguous with Yerushalayim, thereby formally establishing Ramot’s status as one of the city’s neighborhoods.

The continued placement of the caravans at the initiative of the deputy mayor ensures that this year as well, thousands of Yerushalayimresidents will be able to observe the mitzvos of Purim properly, with Ramot residents celebrating on the 15th of Adar together with the rest of Yerushalayim.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Chief Rabbinate has directed retailers to pull several imported food products from store shelves after uncovering significant irregularities in their kashrus representations. The Rabbinate’s Kashrus Fraud Division released an update detailing what it described as serious deficiencies and misleading labeling involving dairy, fish and meat items sold in major food chains.

One case involves long-life whole milk containing 3.7% fat, sold in one-liter cartons and manufactured in Belgium by Solarec. The product is imported by Euro Dairies Europe (Gold Frost) Ltd. of Yavne. The packaging carries a claim that the milk is Chalav Yisrael under the supervision of Badatz Beit Yosef and with the approval of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. However, a review conducted by the Rabbinate’s Import Department determined that the product never received such approval. Authorities have therefore ordered that the milk be immediately removed from shelves and returned to the importer.

In a separate matter, officials identified a significant concern with “100% smoked cod liver in fish oil,” packaged in 115-gram containers. The item is produced in Iceland and brought into Israel by G. Willifood International Ltd. Although the packaging indicates that the product is kosher with the approval of the Rabbinate and under the supervision of the private kashrus organization OU, the Import Department had denied authorization for production batches beginning in January 2025.

Addressing the issue, the Rabbinate stated that “the refusal to approve the fish product stems from a lack of essential details regarding parasite treatment, as well as the absence of clarification as to whether the required close supervision was maintained concerning bishul Yisrael.”

Concerns were also raised in the meat sector. Inspectors discovered a labeling discrepancy involving frozen beef shank No. 8 produced by Marcovif in Argentina and imported and distributed by Tnuva. During an on-site review, officials found that the outer red weighing label described the meat as kosher-chalak, while the stamp directly on the meat indicated only kosher, without the chalak designation.

“In light of this discrepancy, which constitutes misleading a consumer who is careful about a specific level of kashrus, the Rabbinate has instructed that these products be returned to Tnuva in order to prevent the continued halachic stumbling block of marketing meat that does not correspond to its external kashrus declaration,” the Rabbinate said.

Following the announcement, the Kosharot organization issued its own response urging heightened awareness. “We call upon the general public and kashrut supervisors to pay attention to the details of the kashrut update and to remain vigilant when purchasing imported products marketed contrary to the kashrut procedures of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, in order to avoid, G-d forbid, any halachic mishap.”

{Matzav.com}

Rav Dov Landau voiced sharp criticism over the practice of screening girls during seminary (high school) admissions based on aptitude and “suitability,” even when they and their families are regarded as spiritually exemplary.

During a conversation that was recorded and later circulated, a questioner described the situation: “Girls who are outstanding in spirituality, their families are outstanding in spirituality, but the girls are not the most brilliant.”

Rav Landau responded pointedly: “What is this? Yeshivos?”

The questioner continued, noting that “the major seminaries don’t want them.”

Rav Landau reiterated: “What is this, yeshivos?!”

At that point, a grandson present added, “Yes! It’s terrible and awful. He is right.”

Rav Landau concluded emphatically: “It will not be kli gever al isha,” invoking the Torah prohibition of adopting inappropriate models from the opposite gender, in a clear rejection of applying yeshiva-style academic selectivity to girls’ seminaries.

The remarks come against the backdrop of ongoing tensions surrounding seminary admissions in Yerushalayim. At the beginning of the current academic year, a major dispute erupted when the municipality imposed student placements on several seminaries. In response, a number of institutions delayed opening the school year for days.

Subsequently, at Rav Landau’s personal request, an agreement was reached to open two additional ninth-grade classes at the Beis Yaakov Teachers Seminary (“the old seminary”) in Yerushalayim. The move ensured placements satisfactory to all girls who had remained at home without assignments.

In a personal letter to the seminary’s director, Rabbi Yisrael Levin, Rav Landau wrote that “the cry of the students is piercing and it is impossible to stand aside,” instructing him to open the additional classes. Following that intervention, Rav Landau directed that the school year begin in all ninth-grade classes throughout the city’s seminaries once the arrangements were finalized.

{Matzav.com}

In the wake of the recent arrest of several yeshiva bochurim by Israeli military authorities for the “offense” of learning Torah, the senior posek, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, penned a special letter of chizuk addressed to the bochurim who were taken into custody.

The letter was written to strengthen the detained bochurim, as well as their parents and families, many of whom are anxious and uncertain about what lies ahead. Rav Zilberstein framed the painful events within the timeless perspective of Chazal, emphasizing that everything unfolds with precise hashgachah from Shamayim.

At the beginning of the letter, Rav Zilberstein wrote:

“To the dear bochurim who were taken to prison because of Torah learning, and to all the bochurim and their parents who are worried and do not know what tomorrow will bring: In Maseches Berachos (61b) it is stated that once the wicked government decreed that Klal Yisroel should not engage in Torah study. Pappus ben Yehuda came and found Rabbi Akiva publicly assembling gatherings and learning Torah. He said to him: Akiva, are you not afraid of the government?”

The letter continues with the well-known mashal brought in the Gemara:

“He said to him: I will tell you a parable. To what is this comparable? To a fox walking along the riverbank who saw fish… He said to them: Why are you fleeing? They said to him: Because of the nets that men bring against us. He said to them: Would you like to come up onto dry land and dwell together, you and I, just as my ancestors dwelled with your ancestors? They said to him: Are you the one they call the cleverest of animals? You are not clever, but foolish. If in the place of our life we are afraid, in the place of our death all the more so. So too, we—now that we sit and engage in Torah, about which it is written ‘For it is your life and the length of your days’—if we go and neglect it, how much more so. It was not many days before they seized Rabbi Akiva and imprisoned him, and they also seized Pappus ben Yehuda and imprisoned him with him. Pappus said to him: Who brought you here? He replied: Fortunate are you, Rabbi Akiva, that you were seized for matters of Torah; woe to Pappus who was seized for idle matters.”

Rav Zilberstein then elaborated on the identity of Pappus and the deeper lomdus underlying the exchange.

“Who was Pappus?” Rav Zilberstein wrote. “The Vilna Gaon explains that he was among the gedolei hador, for he addressed Rabbi Akiva simply as ‘Akiva,’ implying that he was his colleague. If so, there was a genuine halachic discussion here—whether one is permitted to be moser nefesh for the sake of publicly gathering kehillah gatherings for limud haTorah. At first glance, Pappus seems correct, for we are commanded to give up our lives only for the three cardinal aveiros, and not for limud haTorah b’rabim.”

In concluding, Rav Zilberstein cited the explanation of the Birchas Shmuel:

“The Baal Birchas Shmuel explained that Pappus, too, understood that one must be moser nefesh for limud haTorah. Even though nothing is more beloved before the Ribbono Shel Olam than Rabbi Akiva and his chaveirim when they are alive in this world and learning Torah, nevertheless the continuity of Torah learning is the kiyum of the entire Torah. For if the young goats are not taught, there will be no mature rams—meaning that without transmitting Torah to the next generation, there is a bitul of the entire Torah. For that, one must be moser nefesh. This is a simple and clear matter.”

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said he has encouraged President Donald Trump to act decisively against Iran’s leadership, arguing that the current moment presents a rare strategic opening that should not be squandered. In an interview with CNBC, Cruz described what he believes is a historic opportunity for sweeping geopolitical change if hostile regimes collapse and are replaced with governments aligned with the United States.

“We are at a moment where, in the next six months, we could realistically see the regimes in Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba all fall, and we could see them replaced with governments that want to be friends with America,” he stated.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2026338689215766914

While acknowledging the risks involved in such dramatic shifts, Cruz stressed the magnitude of the potential outcome. He conceded that “there are a thousand ways that can go wrong,” but he emphasized, “if that happened, that would be the biggest geopolitical shift since the fall of the Berlin Wall.”

Cruz said he spoke with the President last week and argued that Iran’s government is in a uniquely vulnerable position following its loss in the 12-Day War with Israel in June 2024. “They’re teetering. There are real-world consequences to losing a war.”

He explained that he urged Trump to capitalize on what he sees as a fleeting chance to weaken or remove the ruling clerical leadership in Tehran. “What I’ve urged the President is: Do not miss this opportunity. If the Ayatollah is removed from power, it will make America much safer,” he said. “This is the leading state sponsor of terrorism in the world. The Iranian regime is responsible for murdering hundreds of American servicemen and women. They fund terrorism all over the world. So, What I’ve urged the president is, number one, support the protesters and arm the protesters. Let the people of Iran have the ability to overthrow their government.”

Cruz also suggested that limited U.S. military action could be imminent, though he made clear he does not anticipate a large-scale ground deployment. He said that “there’s a very real possibility we will see potentially in a matter of days limited strikes. What we’re not going to see is boots on the ground.”

Earlier Tuesday, former State Department official Aaron David Miller speculated that President Trump could use his State of the Union address to announce military action against Iran.

“Rubio briefing Congress hours before SOTU, delaying his trip to Israel from Saturday to Monday, wouldn’t surprise if Trump announces beginning of strikes against Iran in speech,” Miller wrote.

“No President has ever announced the start of military conflict in a SOTU. Why would they? That’s reason enough for Trump to do it,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

What a busha.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani characterized Monday’s confrontation in Washington Square Park as a “snowball fight,” even as police officials confirmed that several NYPD officers were injured and required hospital treatment for facial cuts after being struck while responding to a disturbance call.

According to an NYPD spokesperson, officers were dispatched to the park following reports of a large, unruly crowd. While attempting to manage the situation, multiple officers were hit in the head with snowballs.

After the incident, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch issued a statement condemning what occurred, calling the conduct “disgraceful” and “criminal,” and confirming that detectives have opened an investigation.

When questioned about the matter during a press conference Tuesday, Mamdani said he had watched footage of the encounter and maintained that “it looked like kids at a snowball fight.”

The mayor further indicated that he does not believe those involved should be charged with assaulting a police officer.

Authorities confirmed that, as of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the episode.

Police unions, however, sharply rejected the mayor’s characterization. The Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA) told Fox News Digital that while “some people” may attempt to dismiss the incident as “college hijinks or harmless kids throwing snowballs,” deliberately hurling objects at uniformed officers engaged in official duties amounts to assault.

“We cannot condemn strongly enough the recent disgraceful and dangerous attacks on NYPD Police Officers while responding to a 911 call in Washington Square Park,” SBA president Vincent Vallelong wrote in a statement. “The behavior of the people throwing the snowballs, many of whom are believed to be NYU students, was reckless and unlawful, and put the lives and safety of others at risk.”

Vallelong said those responsible for throwing snow and ice at officers “cross[ed] a clear line.”

“[Officers] are tasked with maintaining public safety in crowded public spaces, often while facing hostility simply for wearing the uniform,” he wrote. “When individuals choose to turn a park into a launching ground for attacks on police, they cross a clear line. Today it is snowballs. Tomorrow it could be rocks, bottles, or worse.

“No worker in this city should be subjected to having objects thrown at them while they do their job — least of all the men and women who run toward danger to protect others. This conduct emboldens further disorder and undermines respect for the rule of law.”

Vallelong also questioned why the mayor, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and NYU leadership had not forcefully denounced the incident.

“We call on city leadership, prosecutors, and the courts to treat these incidents with the seriousness they deserve,” he wrote. “… The members of the NYPD will continue to serve and protect every New Yorker — even those who show them disrespect. But they deserve the full support of city officials and the public when they are so brazenly attacked.”

The Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York likewise blasted the events as “unacceptable and outrageous.”

“This is the environment that NYC police officers are up against,” the association wrote in a statement. “Our police officers are being treated for their injuries, but the case CANNOT end there. The individuals involved must be identified, arrested and charged with assault on a police officer. And all of our city leaders must speak up to condemn this despicable attack.”

The Detectives’ Endowment Association also criticized those who targeted officers in the park.

“What we saw in Washington Square Park today was not harmless fun — it was a deliberate, outrageous, and dangerous attack on uniformed police officers,” the group’s President Scott Munro wrote in an X post. “The Detectives’ Endowment Association is calling on Mayor Mamdani and District Attorney Bragg to ensure every individual responsible for this illegal behavior is prosecuted. No free pass. No get out of jail free card.”

“Make no mistake: detectives will do what they always do,” he added. “They will identify those involved and they will apprehend them. Our men and women in blue deserve to be safe. They deserve to be protected. And they deserve to be respected. They earn it every single day.”

Although Mamdani did not directly address accusations that dismissing the incident was “an overreaction,” he later posted a message on social media urging respect for law enforcement.

“I’ve seen the videos of kids throwing snowballs at NYPD officers in Washington Square Park. Officers, like all city workers, have been out in a historic blizzard, keeping New Yorkers safe and cars moving. Treat them with respect. If anyone’s catching a snowball, it’s me,” Mamdani wrote.

Political leaders, including Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, also pressed the mayor to unequivocally condemn the attack.

“This is disgraceful,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., wrote on X. “@NYCMayor and every elected official in our city should denounce this juvenile attack on our #NYPD. Back the blue and hold those who disrespect them accountable.”

Cuomo added that Mamdani, “who has a history of calling the police ‘racist, evil, wicked and corrupt’” had “set the tone.”

“Words have consequences,” Cuomo wrote on social media. “We are seeing that in the growing disrespect for law enforcement — just as we’ve seen it in the rise in antisemitism. Real leaders understand that. This mayor does not. @NYCMayor must denounce this at once.”

Former NYPD Chief of Department John Chell also condemned the episode, calling it a “f—ing disgrace,” and noting that the officers “were outnumbered — yet stood tall the best they could.”

He said he expects a firm response from City Hall.

“Tomorrow morning at about 0800 hours the @NYPDnews better be in full force in Washington Square Park and other parks in full force,” he said in another post. “Let me be clear — if one snowball hits a cop, there should be very forceful arrests – make it legally painful.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara informed the Israeli High Court of Justice on Tuesday that the government’s failure to revoke personal economic benefits from yeshiva students obligated to enlist constitutes a “lapse,” arguing that the lack of sanctions contradicts prior court rulings and harms both the army’s needs and the principle of equality in bearing the burden of service.

In her response to petitions questioning why no sanctions have been imposed on members of the chareidi community who received draft orders but did not report for service, Baharav-Miara wrote: “The government has not formulated a plan to revoke personal economic benefits from those evading service, despite the fact that personal and economic sanctions against draft evaders from the chareidi public have proven effective. This lapse contradicts the High Court’s ruling, harms the needs of the army, and undermines equality in the burden of service.”

At the outset of her submission, the Attorney General emphasized that the respondents recognize their obligation to take effective personal enforcement measures against individuals who were issued draft orders and failed to appear. Such enforcement, she wrote, is necessary to ensure equal application of the draft requirement to the entire public. This includes both criminal proceedings and the development of an effective, equitable, and proportionate government enforcement policy that incorporates complementary economic-civilian measures against evaders, in accordance with the principles established in the relevant High Court ruling.

Baharav-Miara noted that, in recognition of this duty, IDF authorities have for some time been working to enforce the draft requirement on members of the chareidi community through continued implementation of the army’s enlistment plan and increased enforcement efforts. As part of this process, draft appearance orders were gradually issued to all eligible chareidi draft candidates, marking what she described as a milestone enabling equal enforcement. Following the issuance of these orders, the “enlistment chain” began, eventually leading to a significant increase in the number of draft-eligible individuals who completed the summons process, many of whom were later formally designated as draft evaders.

At that stage, she explained, authorities are able to take personal enforcement steps using tools available to the military, including arrests at border crossings and coordinated enforcement and arrest operations in civilian areas, subject to coordination with Israel Police.

According to updated data cited in the filing, implementation of the army’s enforcement plan and what she described as unprecedented outreach efforts have led to an increase in the number of chareidi recruits compared to the corresponding third of the previous recruitment year. Military officials estimate that during the first third of the 2025 recruitment year (July–October 2025), approximately 1,100 chareidi recruits enlisted.

However, the Attorney General stressed that the upward trend remains far from meeting the army’s operational needs or satisfying the value of equality. She therefore underscored the importance of expanding the measures that led to the increase, including strengthening and refining enforcement tools, with particular emphasis on personal enforcement steps.

She further wrote that the government must, without delay, formulate an effective enforcement policy that fully utilizes available tools and economic sanctions, including revocation of personal financial benefits. According to professional officials in the Finance Ministry, such measures are expected to have a particularly significant impact on enlistment numbers. These officials assess that combining enforcement actions with economic sanctions would increase incentives to enlist, enhance deterrence against draft evasion, and lead to further growth in recruitment figures.

In addition, Baharav-Miara stated that, in the view of government professionals, the expectation within the chareidi sector that legislation will be passed effectively granting exemptions from service and canceling criminal and disciplinary proceedings against those declared evaders currently serves as a negative incentive for enlistment. Absent such expectations, she argued, enforcement efforts would likely yield even higher results.

She also highlighted the significance of the IDF Chief of Staff’s July 2025 decision to issue blanket summons orders to all draft-eligible members of the chareidi public and to shorten the time frame for declaring an individual a draft evader.

According to assessments by professional officials in the army and various government ministries, the use of personal sanctions—such as detention and arrest at border crossings—is a vital tool in strengthening the standing army and combating draft evasion. These measures, she wrote, have a substantial deterrent effect and prompt eligible recruits to regularize their status.

She explained that only after a draft-eligible individual is formally declared an evader—following exhaustion of all summons procedures—can authorities initiate proactive enforcement actions or pursue disciplinary or criminal proceedings, depending on the circumstances. With the broad issuance of summons orders and adjustments made to the enlistment process that shortened the timeline to evader designation, those personal sanctions now apply to a larger group of draft-eligible individuals, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of draft enforcement.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran is eager to reach an agreement with the United States but continues to stop short of explicitly renouncing its pursuit of nuclear weapons, a sticking point he highlighted just hours before delivering his State of the Union address.

The President made the remarks during a meeting at the White House with television anchors from several major networks, where he discussed themes expected to feature prominently in his speech.

“Iran wants to make a deal more than I do, but they just say the sacred phrase, we won’t build nuclear weapons,” the President told the anchors, as quoted in The Hill.

A day earlier, Trump dismissed media reports claiming that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine had cautioned him against proceeding with a potential strike on Iran. The President pushed back on the characterization and rejected suggestions that he was facing internal resistance over military options.

In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump also denied reports that he was weighing limited strikes against Iranian targets. At the same time, he reiterated his warning to Tehran that failure to reach an agreement would carry serious consequences, stating that if a deal is not made, “it will be a very bad day” for them.

As tensions continue to simmer, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, cautioned that any military action against his country would have far-reaching effects.

“We call upon all nations committed to peace and justice to take meaningful steps to prevent further escalation,” Gharibabadi said during a speech at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

He further warned that an attack would not remain confined to the targeted state, stressing that those who initiate or back such measures would ultimately be held accountable for the fallout.

{Matzav.com}

The State of the Union is tonight, and President Donald Trump is scheduled to give his diagnosis on how the country is doing one year into his second term.

The nation’s attention will be on the president, but the audience may be where the action happens.

Not too long ago, members were expected to watch the speech respectfully. They could clap or stand to express approval, but otherwise had to be quiet. Increasingly, members of Congress are using the speech as a platform for their own political stances and making themselves the main characters of the night.

When one Republican, Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina, shouted “You lie!” at President Barack Obama during a 2009 address before a joint session of Congress, it was a national scandal. The House voted to formally reprimand Wilson in a bipartisan move.

In 2006, Beverly Young, the wife of then-Rep. Bill Young of Florida, was ejected from the House chamber ahead of President George W. Bush’s State of the Union for wearing a T-shirt supporting the Iraq War. Cindy Sheehan, an anti-war protester, was arrested at the same speech for wearing a T-shirt protesting the war.

Not for yelling. Not for interrupting. For a T-shirt. (The U.S. Capitol Police chief said later that he regretted removing the women from the chamber.)

Those norms are changing. In recent years, there have been a variety of theatrics that make calling the president a liar look positively quaint. Jeers and boos are the norm. Former representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) caused President Joe Biden to pause his speech in 2024 by shouting the name of nursing student Laken Riley, who had been killed by an undocumented immigrant.

In 2023, she repeatedly screamed “liar” during his address when he said some Republican lawmakers wanted to sunset Social Security, and she was hardly the only one. Reps. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and Eli Crane (R-Arizona) joined her on their feet, and a chorus of Republicans booed the president in an attempt to drown him out.

Democrats have also used the speech to express disapproval in ways that have become more visible over time. During his first address to Congress as president in 2017, Democratic congresswomen wore white in homage to the women’s suffrage movement and in rebuke of Trump’s sexist comments. Dozens of Democratic congresswomen have continued to wear white since.

Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi dramatically tore up Trump’s speech in 2020 from the dais, later telling reporters it was “a manifesto of mistruths.” During last year’s speech, several Democrats simply left the chamber.

Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was removed from the House floor last year for yelling “you have no mandate to cut Medicaid” while waving his cane, after which he was censured, with 10 Democrats joining all Republicans.

Many Democrats are uneasy with the outbursts like Green’s, fearing they distract from the party’s more measured formal rebuttal after the speech (this year given by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger). House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told his fellow Democrats this year to either be quiet or don’t come.

“The two options that are in front of us, in our House, is either attend with silent defiance, or to not attend, and send a message to Donald Trump in that fashion, which will include participation in a variety of different alternate programming,” Jeffries said during a news conference last week.

Several Democratic lawmakers are planning to speak at a “People’s State of the Union,” organized by left-leaning advocacy groups on the National Mall.

For reporters who sit in the chamber, watching the audience is often the biggest part of the job. Where we sit, high up behind the dais, we can’t see (and often can’t hear) the president but have a clear view of almost every seat on the floor. Not everything we notice is dramatic enough to make the headlines, but members’ behavior does give us an insight into where they stand on policy.

It’ll be interesting to watch how pro-free-trade Republicans react to Trump’s rhetoric on tariffs, a topic he’s almost certain to bring up tonight following the Supreme Court’s ruling last week that shot down much of his trade policy.

Trump is also weighing a strike on Iran, building up the U.S. military presence near the country. If he engages in an extended operation in Iran, he would be going back on a major promise made in his campaign: that he wouldn’t engage in new wars or nation building. We’ve already seen a scattering of Republicans voice opposition to an attack on Iran. Will more refuse to clap tonight?

Expect tonight’s speech to be long – Trump said it would be “because we have so much to talk about.” In case you missed it, Amber Phillips of The 5-Minute Fix newsletter (you can sign up here) wrote about what’s on Trump’s mind ahead of tonight’s speech. Be sure to follow our team’s coverage from the chamber tonight.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post

A veteran former State Department official said Tuesday that President Donald Trump may use his State of the Union address to reveal the start of US military action against Iran, an unprecedented move that would mark a dramatic escalation in tensions.

Aaron David Miller, a longtime diplomat who is now a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, raised the possibility in a post on X hours before the president’s scheduled speech.

“Rubio briefing Congress hours before SOTU, delaying his trip to Israel from Saturday to Monday, wouldn’t surprise if Trump announces beginning of strikes against Iran in speech,” Miller wrote on X today (Tuesday).

He added, “No President has ever announced the start of military conflict in a SOTU. Why would they? That’s reason enough for Trump to do it,”

Miller previously served as an adviser on Arab-Israeli negotiations to six Secretaries of State between 1988 and 2003.

President Trump is set to address a joint session of Congress at 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday night.

The speculation follows Trump’s forceful rejection on Monday of media reports claiming that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine had cautioned him against launching a strike on Iran.

In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump also pushed back against reports suggesting he was weighing limited military action against the Islamic Republic. He reiterated that Tehran faces severe consequences if it fails to reach an agreement with Washington.

“Numerous stories from the Fake News Media have been circulating stating that General Daniel Caine, sometimes referred to as Razin, is against us going to War with Iran. The story does not attribute this vast wealth of knowledge to anyone, and is 100% incorrect,” wrote Trump.

He continued, “General Caine, like all of us, would like not to see War but, if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won. He knows Iran well in that he was in charge of Midnight Hammer, the attack on the Iranian Nuclear Development. It is a Development no longer, but rather, was blown to smithereens by our Great B-2 Bombers. Razin Caine is a Great Fighter, and represents the Most Powerful Military anywhere in the World. He has not spoken of not doing Iran, or even the fake limited strikes that I have been reading about, he only knows one thing, how to WIN and, if he is told to do so, he will be leading the pack.”

Trump also dismissed broader coverage of a possible confrontation as inaccurate and politically motivated.

“Everything that has been written about a potential War with Iran has been written incorrectly, and purposefully so. I am the one that makes the decision, I would rather have a Deal than not but, if we don’t make a Deal, it will be a very bad day for that Country and, very sadly, its people, because they are great and wonderful, and something like this should never have happened to them,” stated Trump.

{Matzav.com}

Five Israeli yeshiva bochurim were arrested and transferred to Israeli military police custody over the past 24 hours, according to the Notnim Gav organization, which assists families and provides legal support to detainees. The arrests, some of which took place late at night and involved Israel Police officers, have sparked protests in Yerushalayim.

According to the organization, a bochur from Yeshivas Ateres Yaakov in Beit Shemesh was arrested at approximately 2:00 a.m. Family members claimed that 12 military police officers arrived at the home, six of whom entered the apartment, conducted a search, and left the residence in disarray. The bochur is receiving legal assistance from the Chayei Olam organization and was sentenced to 20 days in military detention. Another yeshiva bochur was also reportedly sentenced to 20 days.

In a separate case, a bochur described as a “prosecution draft evader” was transferred at 4:00 a.m. by police to military police authorities in Beit Shemesh. Both detainees are being represented by attorneys Shlomo Hadad and Itai Cohen on behalf of the Hatzalah LaAchim organization.

Another yeshiva bochur was arrested this morning at Ben Gurion Airport and is receiving legal representation from attorney Shlomo Hadad on behalf of Notnim Gav.

In addition, a further arrest took place yesterday at the IDF induction center in Tel Hashomer. According to the organization, the bochur had arrived with exemption documents after being absent for only three days. He was also sentenced to 20 days in military detention and is being represented by attorney Shlomo Hadad on behalf of the organization.

Amid the arrests, demonstrators blocked Rechov Shivtei Yisrael in Yerushalayim in recent hours. Police forces are operating at the scene to manage traffic. As of now, no additional arrests have been reported during the protest.

{Matzav.com}

The state of Maryland is suing to stop the Department of Homeland Security from turning a warehouse into an immigration detention facility.

DHS paid more than $100 million for a commercial warehouse near the town of Williamsport, Maryland, in January as part of a nationwide effort by the Trump administration to dramatically expand its detention capacity. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could potentially use as many as two dozen such sites across the country as “mega centers” for detaining immigrants.

According to a lawsuit filed by Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, the Williamsport facility is to be outfitted with 1,500 beds.

“Defendants have run roughshod over federal law and trampled on the state’s interests,” in their pursuit of the project, Brown wrote.

A DHS spokesperson said the facilities would be “very well-structured” and built to the agency’s detention standards.

“Every day, DHS is conducting law enforcement activities across the country to keep Americans safe,” the spokesperson said. “It should not come as news that ICE will be making arrests in states across the US and is actively working to expand detention space.”

Brown accused the government of violating federal law by failing to prepare an environmental impact statement for the project, and for not considering alternatives. Construction could negatively impact local waterways and wildlife, Brown said, and the facility could overwhelm sewer lines once fully operational.

The site could also lead to traffic congestion, increased burdens on law enforcement and emergency services, Brown said. The attorney general also pointed to the risk of disease outbreaks and sanitation concerns based on reported conditions in other ICE facilities.

Maryland is asking a federal judge to vacate the purchase of the warehouse and declare the agencies’ actions unlawful. Brown seeks a court order halting any construction or conversion of the facility already taking place.

Lawmakers from Arizona are pushing back on similar plans for an ICE warehouse conversion west of Phoenix. In a post on the social media platform X, Representative Greg Stanton, a Democrat, said the acquisition of the building in Surprise, Arizona, did not go through the normal procurement process involving the Government Services Administration.

“They didn’t tell anyone they were doing this,” Stanton said, “and they paid cash money for this facility.”

(c) 2026, Bloomberg

A young child in Lakewood, NJ was rescued alive yesterday after being completely buried under heavy snow when a bulldozer clearing the streets inadvertently pushed large piles of snow on top of a snow igloo in which he was playing.

The frightening incident unfolded during snow removal operations following one of the region’s most intense winter storms. The child had been inside a snow structure he had built when a large bulldozer operator, unable to see the igloo, pushed a massive accumulation of snow directly over it. Within moments, the child was entirely covered.

Family members soon realized the boy was missing, triggering an immediate and frantic search. Relatives and neighbors began combing the area, fearing the worst as precious minutes ticked by.

For two hours and forty-five agonizing minutes, the search continued as rescuers worked desperately to locate him beneath the deep snow. The urgency intensified as the realization set in that he may have been trapped without air under the heavy accumulation.

Finally, after nearly three hours, the child was located and pulled from beneath the snow. In what family members described as nothing short of a neis, he was found alive and rescued.

“It’s a neis,” a Chaveirim members told Matzav.com. “Nothing short of it.”

Emergency responders evaluated the child at the scene.

The incident left the family and local residents shaken but deeply grateful, as they reflected on what could have ended in tragedy.

{Matzav.com}

New York City will not dismantle homeless encampments during one of the most severe snowstorms in its history, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Monday, even as many people living on the streets declined repeated offers of shelter.

The powerful winter system, known as Winter Storm Hernando, brought a fresh challenge for Mamdani’s administration. His handling of a major January storm drew sharp criticism after it spiraled into a deadly crisis during his opening weeks in office.

“The blizzard is a time when our focus should be not on physical infrastructure, but on people and on getting them indoors,” Mamdani argued during a news conference over Winter Storm Hernando.

The earlier storm resulted in 19 deaths across the city, many linked to hypothermia, fueling accusations that City Hall had failed to move vulnerable residents into safe housing quickly enough.

Just days ago, Mamdani had shifted course on his prior stance against dismantling homeless encampments, announcing that the city would resume clearances but provide individuals with seven days’ notice before any action was taken.

During the current storm, outreach teams helped 79 people enter shelters while snowfall totals approached two feet, according to the mayor. He emphasized that none of those placements were forced.

Still, some individuals remained outside despite the dangerous conditions. On the Manhattan Bridge pedestrian walkway, several tents were buried in snow on the Manhattan side as FDNY personnel, NYPD officers, and a private ambulance crew checked on those inside.

“I’m alright,” one man said, shaking his head as responders peeled back the tarps.

An FDNY EMT said the man had rejected appeals made in both English and Spanish.

“We can’t remove them. People have the right to be homeless in New York City,” the EMT said.

Two NYPD officers remained nearby while outreach workers attempted to persuade those sheltering in tents to relocate, but the man was not taken from the scene.

Police officials said officers made contact with 130 homeless individuals during the storm, and 127 declined offers to enter shelters. Only two agreed to accept city assistance.

Although outreach staff did not compel anyone to leave the streets, police did carry out one involuntary removal after determining the person posed a danger to themselves, according to a department spokesperson.

Under city policy, officers may remove someone against their will if they are considered a threat to themselves or others, though emergency medical technicians lack authority to enforce such removals.

These involuntary transports are distinct from broader encampment clearances, commonly referred to as “homeless sweeps.”

Both policies were heavily debated during January’s storm, when Mamdani faced intense backlash over the 19 outdoor deaths while maintaining that involuntary removals should remain a measure of last resort.

City officials said outreach teams accompanied by licensed clinicians conducted 33 involuntary removals between Jan. 19 and Feb. 10, encompassing the prior storm and the following cold spell.

During that same period, NYPD officers carried out 52 removals, according to a police spokesperson.

As of Monday, the mayor said there had been no confirmed fatalities connected to the latest blizzard.

“We are not aware of any deaths related to this blizzard on our city streets or in public areas,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

The Washington Post reports that the United States has amassed an unprecedented concentration of military power in the Middle East, including roughly one-third of its active naval fleet, a deployment that would allow Washington to carry out anything from limited, targeted strikes to a wide-ranging bombing campaign against Iran.

The report comes amid recent claims that elements within the U.S. military establishment oppose a potential strike on Iran being considered by President Donald Trump. According to the Post’s counter-report, however, the scale and scope of the current buildup signal that the administration now has a full spectrum of operational options at its disposal.

According to the report, the U.S. military has assembled forces sufficient to sustain either a prolonged military campaign or a series of focused, limited strikes. Contrary to earlier reports suggesting a short, five-day intensive assault, the Post indicated that the American forces currently positioned in the region could support a broader and more significant operation.

Dana Stroul, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, told the newspaper that the massive concentration of forces gives President Trump the ability to implement virtually any operational decision, ranging from limited missions to an extensive kinetic campaign.

Defense analysts cited in the report assessed that the military assets now in place point to preparations for a multi-day air operation, though not one that would include a ground invasion.

The scale of the U.S. military presence in the region is considered one of the largest in more than two decades, rivaling levels seen in the lead-up to the Iraq War in 2003.

The buildup follows the conclusion of a second round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran on February 17 that ended without a breakthrough, as well as President Trump’s warnings that Iran could face military action if no agreement is reached to curb its nuclear ambitions.

While Tehran has maintained that an agreement remains achievable but requires additional time, Washington has accelerated its force deployments beyond the reinforcements observed prior to American strikes last June.

Flight tracking data and satellite imagery cited in the report show that more than 150 aircraft have been transferred to bases in the Middle East and Europe since the collapse of negotiations.

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrived Monday off the coast of Crete carrying dozens of aircraft, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is currently stationed off the coast of Oman.

The arrival of the Ford underscores that approximately one-third of the United States’ active naval vessels are now concentrated in the Middle East region.

Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base has become a central hub for U.S. forces. Satellite images from Friday reportedly showed more than 60 aircraft stationed there, including F-35 fighter jets used to neutralize air defense systems.

At the same time, more than half of the recently deployed aircraft have landed at bases in Europe. Experts cited in the report explained that positioning aircraft in Europe places them outside the range of Iranian missile systems, reducing their vulnerability while preserving the ability to rapidly move personnel and equipment as needed.

The reinforcements also include the deployment of one-third of the U.S. fleet of E-3G Sentry airborne early warning aircraft, as well as F-22 fighter jets stationed in the United Kingdom and F-16 aircraft positioned in Portugal.

U.S. defense officials confirmed the large-scale deployment but declined to provide specific operational details for security reasons. Military analysts noted that the emerging strategy appears designed to enable swift, high-intensity action while minimizing the risks of severe retaliatory strikes.

{Matzav.com}

At the conclusion of Monday’s shiur kloli at Ponovezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, Rosh Yeshiva Rav Dovid Levy addressed thousands of talmidim, calling on them to reinforce the well-established Purim learning sedarim observed in the yeshiva each year.

The shiur klali focused on a sugya in the second perek of Maseches Bava Basra, a weighty discussion involving the laws of tumah and taharah. During the shiur, Rav Levy cited a foundational teaching from his rebbi, Harav Shmuel Rozovsky zt”l, regarding the parameters of tumah in cases involving less than the minimum shiur.

Following the shiur, the Rosh Yeshiva delivered special remarks in anticipation of Purim. Continuing the longstanding tradition instituted at Ponovezh by Rosh Yeshiva Harav Gershon Edelstein zt”l, the yeshiva prepares unique learning frameworks for both the night of Purim—immediately after the reading of the Megillah—and for Purim day itself.

As part of these sedarim, thousands of bochurim sit and learn Torah for extended, uninterrupted hours, filling every available seat throughout the batei medrash and the various wings of the yeshiva. The sight, observers say, is awe-inspiring, with no empty spaces in the botei medrash, reminiscent of the atmosphere on the night of Shavuos. The sedarim are organized by Rav Shimon Margulies, a close associate of the Rosh Yeshiva, and conclude with a large public tefillah led by the yeshiva’s nosi, Rav Eliezer Kahaneman, together with the entire student body.

In his remarks, Rav Levy referenced the Rambam’s teaching that although all the moadim will be nullified in the future era of Moshiach, the days of Purim and Megillas Esther will never be annulled. From this, he said, it is evident that Purim is an exceptionally elevated time, and it would be a loss to squander it on trivial matters such as excessive drinking and the like. Instead, he urged the bochurim to devote the day to vigorous and enthusiastic Torah study, as is customary in the yeshiva, where extended sedarim known as “Kimu V’Kiblu” are held. Through these sessions, he explained, the talmidim symbolically accept the Torah anew each year with love and willingness.

The Rosh Yeshiva further emphasized that especially in these times—when “our enemies have raised their heads” and seek to uproot Torah from Klal Yisrael and restrict the yeshiva world—it is incumbent upon the bochurim to publicly demonstrate their unbreakable bond with Torah. That connection, he said, must remain firm without interruption—even on Purim itself.

Concluding his address, Rav Levy expressed hope that from Ponovezh, the light of Torah on Purim would radiate throughout the entire yeshiva world, and that in turn the influence would return to Ponovezh. Just as waves travel from place to place, he said, so too should the voice of Torah spread from one makom Torah to another, strengthening dedication and diligence in Torah study during these especially auspicious days of Purim.

{Matzav.com}

Feb. 24 marks four years since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine — an assault widely expected at the outset to conclude within days but which has instead evolved into one of Europe’s bloodiest wars since World War II.

Putin’s move to attack a sovereign neighboring state upended long-standing international norms and has resulted in immense human and physical devastation. The war has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, left millions wounded, and reduced large swaths of Ukrainian cities and infrastructure to ruins.

Because both Moscow and Kyiv tightly control the release of battlefield data, establishing precise casualty figures remains impossible.

Still, independent assessments paint a grim picture of the scale of the conflict:

• Combined military casualties — including those killed, injured, or missing — are estimated to reach as many as 1.8 million. Of that total, Russia is believed to have suffered about 1.2 million casualties, including up to 325,000 fatalities, while Ukraine’s losses are estimated at roughly 500,000 to 600,000, with as many as 140,000 dead.

• Ukrainian government data indicates that approximately 55,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed, with many others either wounded or unaccounted for.

• Civilian suffering has also been severe. The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission reports at least 14,999 civilian deaths and more than 40,600 injuries in Ukraine since 2022, though the actual numbers are widely believed to be higher.

• At least 763 children are among the civilian dead, and 2025 has proven to be the most lethal year yet for non-combatants since the war began.

Altogether, even conservative tallies suggest that the total number of dead and wounded on both sides approaches or surpasses two million — underscoring the enormous human cost of the war.

Numerous diplomatic initiatives and international summits have failed to produce a durable ceasefire.

In August 2025, President Donald Trump welcomed Putin to Alaska for a much-anticipated summit focused on ending the fighting.

Those discussions concluded without an agreement to halt hostilities. Reports afterward indicated that Russia’s demands — including territorial concessions and formal recognition of annexed areas — were deemed unacceptable by Ukraine and its Western allies.

Moscow also continued to insist that Ukraine be denied meaningful security guarantees from the United States, NATO, or leading European powers.

Following the summit, Russian forces intensified their campaign, carrying out ongoing drone and missile attacks against Ukrainian cities, power systems, and other civilian infrastructure.

Just in the past week, Russia unleashed a large-scale wave of drones and missiles aimed at energy facilities and residential districts in several Ukrainian regions, killing and injuring civilians and highlighting the ongoing instability.

Ukraine, increasingly exasperated by stalled negotiations, has answered with expanded strikes inside Russian territory, targeting military and industrial assets in an effort to undermine Moscow’s war-making capabilities.

Human rights groups, U.N. observers, and independent investigators have documented numerous alleged breaches of international humanitarian law during the conflict:

• Russian forces have been accused of deliberately striking civilian sites, including hospitals, schools, electrical grids, and housing complexes — actions that run afoul of the Geneva Conventions.

• Episodes such as the April 2025 airstrike in Sumy, which killed 35 civilians, including children, and wounded 129 others, have been cited as evidence of indiscriminate attacks.

• The International Criminal Court has issued war crimes charges and arrest warrants for Putin and senior Russian officials, including allegations related to the unlawful deportation of children and other offenses, emphasizing the seriousness of the accusations tied to the war.

Many analysts describe repeated attacks on civilian and non-military targets as clear violations of accepted rules of armed conflict and, in some cases, as war crimes.

Policy experts caution that without stronger backing from the United States and its allies, the conflict could settle into a prolonged and destructive stalemate.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, along with numerous Western security specialists, argues that Russia will press forward militarily unless it faces sustained pressure on the battlefield and through diplomacy, calling on Washington to maintain defensive assistance and leadership.

Recent analysis suggests that the war’s consequences extend well beyond Ukraine’s borders.

Zelenskyy has portrayed Putin’s campaign not merely as a regional war but as a trigger for broader global instability comparable to the early stages of a Third World War, urging more robust guarantees from the United States and NATO to deter further escalation.

As the war enters its fourth year, Putin’s original calculation — built on expectations of a rapid triumph and divided Western resolve — has not materialized.

Instead, the conflict has settled into a grinding deadlock that continues to take lives, destroy communities, and alter the security landscape of Europe.

The international community looks on, with hopes that renewed unity and determination from the United States and its partners might yet help Ukraine achieve a just resolution — one that ends the violence and ensures accountability for those responsible.

{Matzav.com}

A judge in Utah is set to determine Tuesday whether the local prosecuting team should be barred from handling the case against the man accused of killing conservative figure Charlie Kirk, after it emerged that the daughter of a senior prosecutor witnessed the shooting.

Earlier this month, Utah County District Court Judge Tony Graf convened a hearing to consider a motion filed by attorneys for Tyler Robinson, who argue that lawyers from the Utah County Attorney’s Office should be taken off the case due to a potential conflict of interest.

According to the defense, the 18-year-old daughter of a high-ranking prosecutor was present when the fatal shooting occurred on September 10.

They contend that the office’s move to pursue capital punishment less than a week after the killing reflected a “strong emotional reaction” by Chad Grunander, a deputy county attorney whose daughter notified him of the shooting through a series of text messages.

Grunander took the stand and rejected the claim that his daughter’s involvement influenced the office’s decision. He testified that prosecutors sought the death penalty only after concluding that the evidence against Robinson was strong enough to support it.

“We felt there’s simply no conflict here,” Grunander told the Provo, Utah, court during a Feb. 3 hearing.

Court proceedings and filings have not addressed who would assume responsibility for prosecuting the case if Judge Graf rules that Grunander and his colleagues must step aside. Defense attorneys have previously asked that the Utah Attorney General’s Office respond to their allegations of a conflict, rather than the Utah County Attorney’s Office.

Robinson, 22, had been training to work as an electrician. Authorities allege that he fired a single shot from a rooftop, killing Kirk while the conservative activist was engaged in a debate with students at Utah Valley University in Orem as part of a nationwide campus tour.

Kirk was widely recognized for energizing young voters who contributed to President Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election. His killing, carried out before a large crowd, underscored what many have described as a disturbing rise in political violence across the country.

Robinson faces charges of aggravated murder, tampering with a witness, and obstruction of justice. He is not expected to enter a plea until after a preliminary hearing that is currently anticipated to take place in mid-May.

{Matzav.com}

The family of Nancy Guthrie, the missing 84-year-old mother of “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie, announced Tuesday that they will offer a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to her recovery or an arrest.

In a tearful video message 24 days after Nancy Guthrie disappeared, Savannah Guthrie said the family realized their mother may no longer be alive but still hoped to bring her home. Guthrie pleaded for anyone with morsels of information to come forward so the family “can either celebrate a glorious miraculous homecoming or celebrate the beautiful, brave and courageous and noble life that she has lived.”

“We need to know where she is,” she said in the video. “We need her to come home.”

The high-profile case has drawn intense interest from people across the world who have followed closely as investigators sought to uncover evidence, news reports surfaced about purported ransom notes, and Savannah Guthrie and her siblings pleaded for help. It took nearly two weeks for federal officials to describe a suspect they were pursuing. Even then, after expansive searches through the remote Catalina Foothills neighborhood of Tucson where Nancy Guthrie resided, there were no signs of her.

Savannah Guthrie said Tuesday that her family would also donate $500,000 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which helps families put in the same position as them. On Instagram, Guthrie wrote that the reward would be subject to the same criteria as the FBI’s $100,000 reward, paid for information that leads to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery or an arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.

“We’re hoping that the attention that has been given to our mom and our family will extend to all the families like ours who are in need,” Savannah Guthrie said.

Guthrie, 84, spent the evening before she disappeared at the home of her daughter, Annie, for a game night. She returned home around 9:45 p.m., Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said at a news conference.

The next day – Feb. 1 – her family realized she was missing and called 911 around noon. A sprawling search ensued.

By nightfall, word had spread that the mother of the “Today” show host had disappeared, kicking off a storm of media coverage. In several Instagram videos, Savannah Guthrie and her two siblings pleaded with their mother’s captor and said they would pay for her return. They also asked the public to pray and to report any useful information to law enforcement. They told their mother they loved her.

The White House and President Donald Trump pledged support for the investigation. Thousands of calls flooded the FBI’s tip line. But the case remained at a standstill.

Then, on Feb. 10, the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Office revealed they had recovered footage from Guthrie’s doorbell camera. They released photos and video showing an “armed individual” wearing a ski mask and backpack walking up to the front door. That night, the sheriff’s office said they had detained and questioned someone in the case but released the man soon after. The office later told reporters in an emailed update that it had executed two search warrants and was processing evidence from those searches but did not specify where they happened.

Two days later, officials described the person seen in the doorbell camera footage as a suspect – a man around 5 feet 9 inches tall with an average build. He wore a black 25-liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack in the video from the doorbell camera, according to the FBI.

After that description went public, tips kept pouring in. Authorities again searched the area around Guthrie’s home and recovered additional evidence, including multiple gloves that were sent for lab analysis. On Tuesday, the sheriff’s office said that there were no DNA matches found in federal records for a sample from the gloves found closest to Guthrie’s house, about two miles away.

Investigators are also attempting to locate Guthrie’s pacemaker, according to the sheriff’s department, and are working with Walmart, which sells the same model of backpack the suspect was seen wearing. Detectives canvassed local businesses to show owners the doorbell camera footage in case someone recognized the suspect.

Over the weekend, as the investigation neared its third week, Savannah Guthrie made another plea.

“It is never too late to do the right thing, and we are here,” she said in the video, directly addressing a possible captor. “We believe, and we believe in the essential goodness of every human being, and it’s never too late.”

Days earlier, Savannah Guthrie published another post on Instagram. But instead of an address to her mother’s potential abductors or a request for help, this one was a home video.

In the footage, Nancy Guthrie and her then-young children could be seen picking flowers and giggling.

“Our lovely mom,” Savannah Guthrie wrote in the caption. “We will never give up on her. Thank you for your prayers and hope.”

(c) The Washington Post

[Photos and videos below.] An Israel-to-JFK flight that was unexpectedly diverted to Detroit turned into a powerful display of achdus and chesed, as members of the Detroit Jewish community mobilized within hours to provide passengers with kosher food and emergency assistance.

The flight, originally scheduled to land at JFK Airport in New York, was rerouted to Detroit due to unforeseen circumstances, leaving dozens of passengers stranded far from their intended destination. With little notice and limited airport food options that met kosher standards, the situation quickly became challenging for the frum travelers.

Enter Daniel Greenbaum, owner of Metropolitan Dry Cleaners, who immediately began coordinating a community response. Working together with the owners of Jerusalem Pizza and members of Hatzalah Detroit, Greenbaum helped organize a large-scale food delivery to the airport to ensure that every passenger in need would be taken care of.

Within a short time, cars were packed and dispatched to the airport loaded with an extraordinary amount of food and supplies. The shipment included 65 large pizza pies, 8 gluten-free pies, and several vegan and cheeseless pies to accommodate a range of dietary needs. In addition, volunteers prepared and delivered 150 individually plated orders of fries and 50 tuna and egg sandwiches.

Several cases of water and Snapple were also included to make sure passengers had drinks after hours of unexpected delay.

Community members described the effort as seamless and inspiring. Volunteers worked quickly to prepare, pack, and transport the food, transforming what could have been a stressful and uncomfortable ordeal into a moment of genuine ahavas Yisroel.

Hatzalah Detroit members were also on hand to assist with any medical or emergency needs, ensuring that passengers had access not only to food but to support and reassurance as well.

What began as a routine international flight disruption became an unforgettable example of how a Jewish community—no matter the city—steps up instantly when fellow Yidden are in need.

Passengers expressed deep appreciation for the outpouring of support, many noting that after a long and uncertain travel interruption, the sight of cars arriving filled with hot kosher food was both comforting and uplifting.

{Matzav.com}

[Videos below.] The Police Benevolent Association is urging authorities to make arrests and pursue charges after a group was filmed throwing snowballs at NYPD officers Monday in Lower Manhattan.

The incident occurred during a pre-arranged snowball fight gathering at Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village. Video circulating online shows several individuals trailing uniformed officers, shouting at them and hurling snowballs as the officers made their way toward a police van.

Police officials confirmed that the encounter is under review. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch condemned the conduct in a post on social media, writing, in part, “The behavior depicted is disgraceful, and it is criminal. Our detectives are investigating this matter.”

Staten Island Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis also spoke out, calling for public officials to respond. “This is disgraceful. @NYCMayor and every elected official in our city should denounce this juvenile attack on our #NYPD. Back the blue and hold those who disrespect them accountable.”

The Police Benevolent Association said those involved should be identified and charged, arguing that attacks on officers — even if involving snowballs — cannot be dismissed as harmless behavior. Detectives are continuing to investigate the incident.

WATCH:

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth quipped Sunday that if there is ever a spike in pizza deliveries near the Pentagon, it might simply be him placing large orders to mislead online observers who monitor such activity as a predictor of major world events.

Appearing on Fox News, Hegseth was asked about the “Pentagon Pizza Report,” an account on X that tracks ordering patterns at pizzerias located near the Pentagon and other key military facilities. The account analyzes Google Maps “popular times” data under the theory that unusually high late-night demand may signal that senior officials are working extended hours in response to unfolding military developments.

Hegseth acknowledged he is familiar with the account and joked about deliberately disrupting its conclusions.

“I’ve thought of just ordering lots of pizza on random nights just to throw everybody off,” he said Sunday on Fox News. “Some Friday night when you see a bunch of Dominos orders, it might just be me on an app, throwing the whole system off so we keep everybody off balance. We look at every indicator.”

The Pentagon Pizza Report focuses on spikes in evening activity at restaurants near U.S. military headquarters, suggesting that sudden increases could indicate heightened operational tempo or pending action abroad.

On June 12, for instance, hours before reports emerged of Israel launching a major strike on Iran, the account noted a sharp rise in activity at four pizza establishments close to the Pentagon around 7 p.m., interpreting it as a sign that top officials remained on site to monitor events.

“As of 6:59 p.m. ET nearly all pizza establishments nearby the Pentagon have experienced a HUGE surge in activity,” the account posted on X that evening.

Although the United States initially said it did not take part in the first wave of attacks against Iran, it later entered the 12-day conflict. On June 22, U.S. forces carried out strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities in an operation known as Midnight Hammer.

Hegseth maintained that Pentagon officials are conscious of publicly available tracking methods and take them into account.

“There’s a reason Midnight Hammer worked, because we understood open sourced, we understand classified ways in which the public and others are trying to watch movements and in sensitive ways, we control for a lot that,” he said.

Launched in August 2024, the Pentagon Pizza Report is part of a longer-standing public fascination with pizza deliveries as a barometer of military activity, a pattern observers have noted since the 1980s.

In January 1991, Frank Meeks, who owned 43 Domino’s locations in the Washington area, told the Los Angeles Times that pizza delivery patterns sometimes reveal more than official briefings.

“The news media doesn’t always know when something big is going to happen because they’re in bed, but our [pizza] deliverers are out there at 2 in the morning,” Meeks said.

He recalled that on Aug. 1, 1990, the CIA placed an order for 21 pizzas — a one-night record at the time — just hours before Iraqi troops moved into Kuwait, setting off the Gulf War.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] In an emotional radio interview, internationally acclaimed Jewish singer Gad Elbaz disclosed a deeply personal secret he carried unknowingly for nearly four decades. Speaking live on Kol Chai Radio in Israel, Elbaz revealed that until recently he had never undergone a bris milah, a discovery that led him, at age 39, to undergo the procedure and formally enter the covenant of Avrohom Avinu.

The stunning revelation has sent ripples through the Jewish music world. Elbaz, known for performing on major stages around the globe and widely seen as a symbol of connection to Jewish heritage and tradition, told listeners: “I was uncircumcised my entire life.”

In a heartfelt conversation with radio host Menachem Toker, Elbaz described the moment he accidentally discovered that he had not been circumcised as an infant. “At age 39, I had a bris milah after I discovered that they did not circumcise me when I was born,” Elbaz told a stunned Toker.

WATCH:

The singer spoke candidly about the shock and emotional turmoil that accompanied the revelation, as well as the medical and spiritual journey he undertook to correct what he described as a lifelong omission. Undergoing the procedure as an adult, he said, was both physically and emotionally challenging, but ultimately transformative.

According to Elbaz, performing the mitzvah marked the closing of a profound personal circle and reshaped his understanding of his identity. He said the experience gave renewed meaning to the songs and tefillos he has sung throughout his extensive career, infusing them with a deeper sense of personal connection and spiritual authenticity.

{Matzav.com}

Member of Knesset Meir Porush delivered a sharp speech in the Knesset plenum on Monday evening, accusing opposition leaders of relentlessly targeting bnei Torah and the chareidi community and branding them as part of what he called a “Losers Government.”

Speaking from the podium, Porush said he wanted to use his limited speaking time to address what he described as a pressing issue.

“I want to use the few minutes at my disposal,” Porush began, “to speak to you about another important issue. ‘The Losers Government.’ Yes, what you heard. Today, two governments are serving in Israel — the elected government and the ‘Losers Government.’ You are familiar with the term ‘shadow government’ from Britain? Here, we have the ‘Losers Government’ — people whose only common denominator is failure.”

Porush continued by elaborating on his remarks.

“‘The Losers Government’ is made up of members from various parties, some currently serving as Knesset members and some aspiring to serve. What they all have in common is that they served in the previous government and failed — just as losers fail. The members of the ‘Losers Government’ are many, and I will list the main ones in alphabetical order so as not to offend anyone.”

He then proceeded to name: “Naftali Bennett, Yair Golan, Yoaz Hendel, Avigdor Lieberman.”

Porush also criticized additional political figures who, he said, were undecided about joining what he termed the “Losers Government.”

“There are also those still deliberating whether they want to be members of the ‘Losers Government,’ such as Gadi Eisenkot and Benny Gantz, who have one foot here and one foot there. What distinguishes the members of the ‘Losers Government’? They have nothing genuine to offer the citizens of Israel. So what is their solution to justify their tenure? Incitement, division, hatred, and more of the same.”

He added that competition among them was intense.

“Lieberman wants to send us to the garbage dump, Lapid wants to strip us of the right to vote, Hendel wants us thrown out of our workplaces, and Bennett is a genius — he knows what we don’t know. If he just publishes multi-billion-shekel plans, all the chareidim will run to vote for him, just as he surely explained in his booklet ‘How to Defeat a Pandemic.’”

In closing, Porush said: “In the meantime, the losers are competing among themselves over who is the bigger loser, and the battle is tough — every day a new poll is published in which a different loser leads the race for who is closest to the electoral threshold. The head of the opposition who spoke here a few hours ago usually wins that race for the threshold. Dear losers, let me give you a spoiler — it won’t help you. Tommy Lapid tried this. It worked for a few short years, but it ended in disappointment. It’s a shame for you.”

{Matzav.com}

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that advancing Russia’s nuclear triad remains an “absolute priority,” outlining his government’s approach to its strategic weapons program during remarks tied to Defender of the Fatherland Day, according to media reports.

Speaking at a ceremony in which he presented state honors to military officers involved in the war in Ukraine, Putin highlighted efforts to reinforce the country’s nuclear capabilities, the Moscow Times reported.

During his address, Putin pointed to Russia’s nuclear triad — the three-part system designed to deliver nuclear weapons by land, sea and air — which is intended to guarantee a viable second-strike capacity in the event of a nuclear confrontation.

He characterized the continued development of the system as “an absolute priority,” adding that it “guarantees Russia’s security and ensures effective strategic deterrence and a balance of forces in the world.”

Putin also said Russia would keep bolstering its army and navy, “taking into account developments in the international situation, based on combat experience gained,” referencing lessons drawn from the ongoing war with Ukraine.

He further stated that Moscow plans to “significantly” upgrade the capabilities of other military branches, enhancing their operational readiness, flexibility and capacity to function under even the most demanding conditions.

“And, of course, we will accelerate the development of advanced systems for the armed forces,” he added.

The comments follow Russia’s decision on Feb. 5, 2023, to suspend participation in the New START Treaty, the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between Moscow and Washington.

The treaty had placed caps on the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems each side could maintain.

Despite halting its formal participation, Russian officials have previously indicated they intend to continue managing their strategic nuclear arsenal in what they described as a “responsible” manner and to adhere to previously agreed-upon limits.

Putin’s statements came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine marked the start of a far broader global conflict, saying the Russian leader had effectively launched “World War III.”

“I believe that Putin has already started it. The question is how much territory he will be able to seize and how to stop him… Putin will not stop at Ukraine,” Zelenskyy told the BBC in an interview Feb. 23.

Zelenskyy described the war as part of what he sees as Putin’s larger effort to impose a “different way of life” on the international community.

“Stopping Putin today and preventing him from occupying Ukraine is a victory for the whole world,” he said.

When asked whether Ukraine might relinquish control of the contested Donbas region as part of a negotiated settlement, Zelenskyy cautioned that Moscow could rebuild its military power within “no more than a couple of years” and initiate another offensive.

“Where would he go next? We do not know, but that he would want to continue [the war] is a fact,” Zelenskyy said.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rebbetzin Leah Rila Meisels a”h, wife of Rav Yekusiel Yehuda Meisels zt”l, Gaavad of Kehillas Yereim of Sea Gate, Brooklyn. She was 98 years old.

For decades, the rebbetzin stood devotedly at the side of her illustrious husband as he spread Torah to multitudes and led the community. Known for her exceptional warmth, she merited to become related by marriage to many of the leading rebbes and rabbanim in Eretz Yisroel and around the world. Those who knew her recount that she received every visitor — from gedolei hador to the poor who knocked at her door — with a radiant countenance and genuine kindness.

Acquaintances describe her as a remarkable figure of hachnosas orchim and chesed. She quietly distributed large sums of tzedakah without seeking recognition, often ensuring that no one would ever know the source of the assistance. She served as a pillar of strength for both her family and the broader community and merited to see upright and distinguished generations continuing in her path.

The rebbetzin is survived by eleven children, all prominent rabbanim and admorim serving with distinction across the globe.

Her sons include: Rav Yisroel Shlomo Meisels, Av Beis Din of Limanov; Rav Dovid Dov Meisels, rav hatzair of Sea Gate and author of the seforim “Otzar HaShabbos”; Rav Yisroel Moshe Meisels, Av Beis Din of Alesk; Rav Pinchos Mordechai Meisels, Dayan in Sea Gate; and Rav Shmuel Zev Meisels, Av Beis Din of Yismach Moshe in Kiryas Yoel and son-in-law of the Satmar Rebbe. Among her sons-in-law are prominent admorim and rabbanim, including the Dushinsky Rebbe; Rav Yisroel Eliezer Unsdorfer, Rav of Kehillas Reishis Chochmah in Montreal; Rav Yisroel Meisels, Av Beis Din of Uhel-Williamsburg; Rav Yisroel Horowitz, Av Beis Din of Kinyan Torah in Flatbush; Rav Avrohom Yehuda Lowy, Av Beis Din and Rosh Yeshiva of Tiferes Eliezer; and Rav Avrohom Anshel Schorr, Av Beis Din of Klausen.

The levayah took place at Kehillas Yereim of Sea Gate in Brooklyn and proceeded to the Satmar cemetery in New Jersey for kevurah.

Yehi zichrah boruch.

{Matzav.com}

A four-year-old boy in Israel was rushed to the hospital after suffering from severe abdominal pain and repeated vomiting. Following a series of comprehensive examinations, doctors discovered that he had swallowed eight small magnets.

The child arrived at Bnai Zion Medical Center with his parents after complaining of intense stomach pain and frequent vomiting. After undergoing thorough testing in the Pediatric Emergency Department, physicians identified the cause of his symptoms.

Dr. Liat Yaniv, a senior physician in the Pediatrics Department at Bnai Zion Medical Center, noted that the vomiting occurred without diarrhea and was an unusual color — findings that raised concern for a serious gastrointestinal issue. An urgent imaging scan revealed magnets lodged in the small intestine, along with evidence of an intestinal blockage.

In consultation with Dr. Raouf Naser, a pediatric gastroenterology specialist, the toddler was referred for surgical intervention. He underwent emergency surgery performed by Dr. Daniel Dubin, Deputy Head of the Pediatric Surgery Department at Bnai Zion Medical Center, together with Dr. Yair Ben Shmuel, a senior pediatric surgeon. Dr. Omar Abu Ras served as the senior anesthesiologist during the procedure. Surgeons successfully removed eight magnetic balls from the child’s small intestine.

The toddler was subsequently hospitalized in the Pediatric Surgery Department for continued monitoring and treatment and was discharged home several days later.

Dr. Yaakov Genizi, Head of the Pediatrics Department at Bnai Zion Medical Center, warned of the significant dangers posed by swallowed magnets. “They can attach to one another through the intestinal wall and cause blockage, tissue death, and even perforation of the intestine,” he cautioned. “Parents are urged to keep magnets and small parts out of reach of children.”

{Matzav.com}

Newly surfaced details in the investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie indicate that at least one image captured by her Nest doorbell camera was recorded on a different day than the others, suggesting the masked suspect may have visited the property prior to her suspected abduction on Feb. 1. A source familiar with the probe confirmed the development to Fox News Digital on Monday.

According to the source, one of the images released by the FBI does not match the date of the remaining footage, pointing to the possibility that the individual surveyed the residence in advance. The source declined to identify the specific date of the earlier image, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told Fox News that the information about the differing date did not originate from him.

Investigators have at various times asked neighbors to review their home surveillance footage from the entire month of January, specifically the night of Jan. 11, and also the period between Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, when Guthrie is believed to have disappeared.

ABC News was the first to report that the suspect may have scouted the property earlier, citing unnamed sources.

Jason Pack, a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent, said the apparent advance visit suggests the crime was deliberate rather than spontaneous.

“That’s sophistication. That’s the hallmark of someone who thought about this before they acted. And it matters significantly from a legal standpoint, because premeditation and planning elevate the severity of what investigators are looking at,” Pack said. “The suspect in this case may have thought they were being careful. But appearing twice on camera while trying to avoid identification isn’t careful. That’s exposure. And right now, investigators are working very hard to close that gap.”

The disclosure also implies that the information recovered by the FBI and Google from the camera system extended beyond the final event stored in the device’s memory.

According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Guthrie’s doorbell camera went offline at 1:47 a.m. on the night she was taken. Roughly 25 minutes later, at 2:12 a.m., another camera on the property detected a person but failed to record any footage.

Initially, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department directed inquiries to the FBI. After publication of the initial report, however, the department released a statement clarifying that no timestamps had been publicly disclosed in connection with the Nest images.

“We are aware that doorbell images released earlier in the investigation depict a suspect in different stages of attire, including with and without a backpack,” the PCSD said in a statement. “There is no date or time stamp associated with these images. Therefore, any suggestion that the photographs were taken on different days is purely speculative.”

Prior to this clarification, experts had raised questions about whether the masked individual shown in the images was the same person, noting differences in clothing and the absence in some images of a backpack and holstered firearm that appeared in others.

{Matzav.com}

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By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld

Posuk yud zayin in Perek chof heh in Chumash Devarim tells us that we should remember what Amalek did to Bnei Yisroel. That is why we have the mitzvah of Parshas Zachor, to be leined for all to hear.

The Gemara in Brachos, daf mem zayin, amud bais, brings down a story about Reb Elazar, who came to Shul and found that there were only nine people for the minyan. Reb Elazar freed his Eved Knani, Tevi, who then completed the minyan. The Gemara questions how he was allowed to do that, if Reb Yehuda says that one who frees his slave is oiver an aseh that one should keep an Eved Knani forever. The Gemara answers that since minyan is a mitzvah of a rabim, it therefore was allowed.

The Rosh in siman chof says that the mitzvah of a rabim is stronger than a regular mitzvah because the posuk says “Venikdashti” amongst Klal Yisroel, the source for a minyan. This premise will hold true even if it is for a mitzvah deRabbanan, like to hear kedusha or borchu; nevertheless, it will be doche a mitzvah deOraysa of a private person not to free a slave. The Rosh concludes that this must be the case because the Gemara is not speaking in a situation where the tzibbur was laining Parshas Zachor, which is min haTorah. So we see that this point, of a tzibbur being stronger, applies even if one is just doing a mitzvah deRabbanan.

The Trumas Hadeshen, based on this Rosh, says in siman kuf ches that the mitzvah of Parshas Zachor is to listen to it with a minyan. Therefore, if one has only one of the following options—either hearing Zachor with a minyan, or Krias Hamegillah with a minyan—one should choose Zachor with the minyan, since the mitzvah is min haTorah. The Shulchan Aruch in siman kuf mem vov, seif bais, concurs.

The Pri Chodosh in seif koton bais asks: Where did the Rosh learn this halacha, that one needs a minyan for the reading of Zachor? In addition, why don’t we find that a person has a chiyuv to hear any of the other mitzvos of zechiros (for example, remembering Yetzias Mitzrayim or Maaseh Miriam) betzibbur?

The Hagahos Peulas Sachir on the Sefer Maaseh Rav for the Gra says that the chiyuv of tzibbur for Amalek will come as a result of the shita of the Yereim in siman taf lamed heh, who holds that the mitzvah of erasing Amalek is not a mitzvah for every private person, but rather a mitzvah on the tzibbur under a king. With this in mind, it makes sense that we should read the parsha of Amalek betzibbur, to remind us that this is a tzibburdige din.

There are many poskim who disagree and say you do not need a minyan; however, according to the Rosh, we can understand why we need a minyan.

Let us hope we are zocheh to the tzibbur and the king Moshiach to wipe out Amalek.

President Donald Trump will step before Congress on Tuesday night to deliver his State of the Union address, using the nationally televised platform to argue that his first year back in office has been a success, even as political headwinds build ahead of November’s pivotal midterm elections.

The annual address arrives at a moment of heightened political tension. After a year marked by rapid policy moves and sweeping executive actions, the 79-year-old Republican faces growing scrutiny from critics and fresh challenges that could shape the trajectory of his second term.

Among the developments reportedly frustrating the president are recent opinion surveys showing sagging approval numbers — figures he has publicly brushed aside — and a Supreme Court decision overturning his signature tariff program, a central element of his economic strategy.

The optics of the evening add another layer of drama. Trump will speak before the very justices who invalidated the tariff policy, including two whom he appointed to the bench. Following the ruling, he sharply criticized the court, calling members of it “fools.”

Control of Congress hangs in the balance this fall. Should Democrats reclaim either chamber, Trump could face significant legislative gridlock for the remainder of his term and renewed talk of impeachment, potentially setting the stage for a third such effort against him.

Despite those risks, the president is expected to project confidence. His speech is likely to blend a forceful defense of his administration’s record with a clear pivot toward the upcoming midterm campaign.

“It’s going to be a long speech because we have so much to talk about,” Trump said at the White House on Monday.

He also rejected the legitimacy of unfavorable polling data, labeling as “fake” surveys such as a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll released Sunday that pegged his approval rating at 39 percent.

Democrats, meanwhile, are preparing visible counterprogramming. Some lawmakers plan to boycott the address, while others intend to stage silent protests during the speech. The address itself is required under the Constitution, which directs that the president shall “from time to time give to the Congress information of the State of the Union.”

Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota announced she would not attend, saying Trump uses such appearances to “spread lies – not to mention they’re long and boring.”

The speech follows a year in which Trump has expanded executive authority, aggressively confronted political adversaries and advanced a high-profile domestic agenda, while pursuing a more disruptive approach to international affairs.

On immigration, Trump is expected to highlight what his administration describes as substantial progress in reducing illegal crossings at the southern border. He has frequently pointed to enforcement actions along the Mexican border as evidence of a crackdown.

Yet public opinion appears divided. While many voters support tougher immigration policies in principle, some surveys indicate discomfort with large-scale enforcement raids. Protests over those operations in January were linked to unrest that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens.

Economic policy will also feature prominently. The president plans to argue that inflation has eased under his watch and to promote what he has repeatedly called a “Golden Age” of American prosperity.

Still, he faces skepticism from voters who remain concerned about rising living costs. Many critics have tied those pressures to the tariff policies that were later struck down by the Supreme Court, complicating his economic message.

Internationally, observers will be listening closely for signals regarding Iran. A significant U.S. military buildup in the region has intensified pressure on Tehran to reach a nuclear agreement, raising speculation about potential military action if negotiations falter.

State of the Union speeches have historically served as platforms for major foreign policy initiatives. In 2003, George W. Bush used his address to lay the groundwork for military action in Iraq, underscoring the significance of the moment.

As tradition dictates, attention will also focus on the guests seated in the House gallery. Lawmakers from both parties often invite individuals whose stories align with their political messages.

Trump has extended an invitation to the U.S. men’s ice hockey team, which captured Olympic gold in Italy with a 2-1 victory over Canada — the program’s first such triumph since 1980.

However, according to U.S. media reports, the women’s team declined an invitation from the president. The development followed remarks Trump made in a call with the men’s team in which he joked that he would be impeached if he failed to invite the women as well.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said tonight that California Gov. Gavin Newsom has “just dropped out of the Presidential Race,” despite the fact that Newsom has made no such announcement and has not formally declared a 2028 campaign.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump asserted that the California governor had exited the contest,  writing “Wow! Gavin Newscum just dropped out of the Presidential Race!!! President DJT,” a statement that conflicts with Newsom’s own public comments. Although Newsom has long been viewed as a potential White House contender, he has neither confirmed nor ruled out a future bid in recent months.

Speculation about Newsom’s national ambitions has circulated for several years. In 2021, he flatly rejected the idea, saying he had “sub-zero interest” in seeking the presidency. More recently, however, his rhetoric has softened. In a June 2025 interview with The Wall Street Journal, Newsom said “it’s a path that I could see unfold,” while stressing that he had not made any immediate plans. His expanded national presence — including a widely covered CNN speech criticizing Trump’s decision to deploy military personnel to Los Angeles — has only intensified talk about his political future.

Newsom has remained active in national debates and has continued to challenge Trump directly, including publicly correcting what he described as false statements made on Truth Social. Those posts included accusations that California was harboring a “drug cartel” and claims regarding Walmart’s business operations, both of which Newsom disputed. The two have repeatedly sparred in public settings, including at the 2024 Munich Security Conference, where Newsom accused Trump of fostering an “age of authoritarianism”

Political observers say Newsom’s recent activity suggests a deliberate effort to build a broader national profile. Larry Sabato, who directs the University of Virginia Center for Politics, characterized one of Newsom’s recent comments as a “home run,” arguing that it effectively positioned the governor’s opposition to Trump as part of a larger defense of democratic norms. At the same time, a December 2024 survey found that more than half of California voters believe Newsom is more focused on potential presidential ambitions than on governing the state.

For now, Newsom has not provided a clear answer about whether he intends to pursue the presidency in 2028. His office has declined to clarify his shifting tone or respond directly to Trump’s latest assertion.

{Matzav.com}

The Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, Rav Yisroel Hager, held an emotional seudas hodaah on Monday night at his residence in the moshav of Ora, commemorating 26 years since he survived a devastating car accident near the entrance to Yerushalayim. The gathering was combined with a fundraising initiative on behalf of the Vishnitzer community’s Kimcha D’Pischa campaign in Elad.

Prominent supporters of the chassidus, who contributed substantial sums toward providing Pesach necessities for families in need, were seated around the Rebbe’s table for the special occasion.

Also in attendance was the Rebbe’s son-in-law, the Vishnitzer Rebbe of Beit Shemesh, who addressed the assembled chassidim. In his remarks, he reflected on the many kindnesses of the Ribbono Shel Olam over the years and spoke of the ongoing gratitude felt by the community.

Rav Yaakov Mordechai Hager, Av Beis Din of Vishnitz in Elad, delivered heartfelt words, his voice breaking with emotion. He offered a tefillah that Hashem have mercy on the impoverished and downtrodden, and that the chassidim merit to soon see the Rebbe restored in full strength and splendor.

Throughout the tish, lively singing filled the room, with the Rebbe strongly encouraging the melodies, especially during the singing of “Yesh Borei Olam.” He later expanded on divrei kodesh inspired by the elevated atmosphere.

In deeply moving remarks, the Rebbe recounted the details of the accident and the miraculous chain of events that led to his rescue. He reviewed the sequence of those days and expressed gratitude for the many individuals who stood by him and assisted during that critical period.

The Rebbe also spoke with visible emotion about the hospital visit of Rav Shmuel Wosner, who came to see him shortly after the accident.

At the conclusion of the gathering, following Birchas Hamazon, the benefactors approached to receive a special gift in honor of Pesach, presented as a token of appreciation for their steadfast support of the chassidus’s charitable efforts.

{Matzav.com}

A wave of hate mail targeting chareidi members of Knesset has been recorded in recent days, against the backdrop of heated public debate over the draft law and rising anger toward the chareidi sector.

One of the letters, published by journalist Yaakov Hershkowitz in Yisroel Hayom, included extreme and offensive language. It stated: “You chareidim — all of you are bloodsuckers. Evaders of military service. Parasites and leeches. Despicable liars.”

The letter was reportedly sent to several chareidi MKs and reflects the escalating rhetoric surrounding the issue of military exemptions. According to aides, this was not an isolated incident but part of an ongoing pattern of similar letters being delivered to Knesset offices.

Staff in the lawmakers’ offices said they continue to act as emissaries of their rabbinic leadership and choose to ignore what they described as “background noise.” However, they acknowledged that the phenomenon is troubling and appears to be intensifying.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump Organization is expanding into Australia with plans to develop a major hotel and residential tower on the Gold Coast, marking the company’s debut project in the country.

Eric Trump revealed that the company will construct what he described as the tallest building in Australia, unveiling the Trump International Hotel & Tower Gold Coast as its inaugural Australian development. “I am so proud to announce what will soon be the tallest building in Australia — Trump International Hotel & Tower Gold Coast,” Eric wrote in a post on X. “This marks our first venture into Australia — an extraordinary country in every respect — and I couldn’t be more excited to help shape its iconic skyline forever.”

In an official statement, the Trump Organization said it has partnered with Altus Property Group to introduce the new project, formally announcing the launch of Trump International Hotel & Tower, Gold Coast. According to the release, the development will include a 285-room luxury hotel carrying the Trump name and serving as the centerpiece of a planned 91-story skyscraper.

“This landmark development reinforces The Trump Organization’s ongoing commitment to expanding its portfolio of luxury residential, hospitality, and golf projects globally,” the press release says.

Project details outlined in the announcement indicate that, in addition to the hotel, the tower will house 272 upscale residential units. The statement further explains:

The Trump International Hotel & Tower, Gold Coast will feature a 285-room luxury hotel bearing the trademark Trump logo, anchoring the 91-storey development. The project will also include 272 luxury residential apartments, a three-level podium with an exclusive Beach Club, and over 3,400 sqm of premium commercial, retail, and dining space, revitalizing the central Surfers Paradise precinct.

In a separate statement, Trump said the development demonstrates the company’s “unwavering commitment to delivering world-class luxury experiences.”

Altus Property Group Founder and Chief Executive David Young also welcomed the collaboration, emphasizing the project’s significance. “Trump International Hotel & Tower, Gold Coast will be a truly unique offering in the Australian market, bringing the prestige and allure of a world-class luxury brand,” Altus Founder and Chief Executive David Young said in a statement. “Altus Property Group is proud of its track record in delivering landmark developments across Australia, and our expertise ensures this project will be an outstanding success.”

{Matzav.com}

Hamas has altered the way it brings weapons-related materials into the Gaza Strip, abandoning its previous reliance on tunnels and trucks in favor of a maritime method designed to evade detection.

According to a report by Kan News, the terror group is now using specially designed containers that travel beneath the surface of the sea. The shift reportedly takes advantage of rough winter waters, which can make monitoring more difficult.

Under the updated approach, smugglers reportedly deposit the cargo roughly five miles off the coast of Sheikh Zuweid in the southern Gaza Strip. From there, ocean currents moving at approximately two knots carry the submerged containers overnight. Within 10 to 14 hours, the shipments are said to reach the coastal areas of Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis.

The report states that the smuggling network is divided into multiple teams. Some cells operate out of Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula, while others function along Gaza’s coastline. These groups reportedly use diversionary tactics, including launching UAVs to distract and overwhelm IDF surveillance and interception systems.

By adopting this underwater transport system, Hamas is believed to be importing key components used in rocket manufacturing, including parts intended to improve the range, precision, and stability of its projectiles.

The development is seen as part of Hamas’s broader attempt to rebuild and maintain its military capabilities despite operational constraints and ongoing countermeasures.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is reviewing whether to authorize military action against Iran as diplomatic discussions are set to resume in Geneva, while his top military adviser has cautioned that such a move could carry serious consequences, including the danger of a drawn-out conflict.

According to Axios, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine has told Trump and senior national security officials that launching a campaign against Iran could expose the United States to significant risks, among them the possibility of becoming mired in a prolonged war. The report cited five individuals who either participated in or were briefed on high-level internal meetings.

Axios reported that Caine has not urged the president to carry out a strike, though he would carry out any directive ultimately issued. One person familiar with the discussions described him as a “reluctant warrior” when it comes to Iran, noting that his stance differs from his backing of the mission targeting Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. While Caine was said to have strongly supported the Venezuela operation, two sources indicated he has taken a more measured approach regarding Iran, viewing the stakes as higher and the risks of escalation and American casualties as more substantial.

Another individual with direct insight into Caine’s perspective told Axios that the chairman does not oppose a military campaign outright but is “clear-eyed and realistic” about the chances of success and the potential chain of events that could follow the start of hostilities. A senior official, however, rejected the suggestion that Caine had expressed doubt about military action.

Joint Staff spokesman Joe Holstead told Axios that in his role as an adviser, the chairman outlines “a range of military options” and includes “secondary considerations and associated impacts and risks,” providing that guidance privately. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a written statement that Caine is a “talented and highly-valued” member of Trump’s national security team and that the president listens to “a host of opinions” before determining what course best serves U.S. national security.

Axios also reported that Caine has recently been “the only military leader” briefing President Trump on the escalating tensions with Iran. The outlet noted that U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper has not participated in the Iran-focused meetings convened by Trump and has not spoken directly with the president since the standoff began in early January. A senior administration official confirmed that Trump has not communicated with Cooper during that time. By comparison, Cooper’s predecessor, Gen. Erik Kurilla, had provided briefings to both Trump and President Joe Biden on Iran-related matters, the report said.

Behind the scenes, senior officials have been debating how to handle the confrontation with Tehran and what the consequences of each potential path might be. Several advisers have urged caution, although one person familiar with the deliberations said the president has recently shown a leaning toward approving military action. Another source said Trump has insisted that his envoys continue diplomatic efforts to ensure all options are “exhausted” before he reaches a final decision. Those briefed on the meetings said none of the participants has supported sending ground troops or undertaking a “boots on the ground” operation.

At 3:11 p.m. on Monday, President Trump on Truth Social:

Numerous stories from the Fake News Media have been circulating stating that General Daniel Caine, sometimes referred to as Razin, is against us going to War with Iran. The story does not attribute this vast wealth of knowledge to anyone, and is 100% incorrect. General Caine, like all of us, would like not to see War but, if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won. He knows Iran well in that he was in charge of Midnight Hammer, the attack on the Iranian Nuclear Development. It is a Development no longer, but rather, was blown to smithereens by our Great B-2 Bombers. Razin Caine is a Great Fighter, and represents the Most Powerful Military anywhere in the World. He has not spoken of not doing Iran, or even the fake limited strikes that I have been reading about, he only knows one thing, how to WIN and, if he is told to do so, he will be leading the pack. Everything that has been written about a potential War with Iran has been written incorrectly, and purposefully so. I am the one that makes the decision, I would rather have a Deal than not but, if we don’t make a Deal, it will be a very bad day for that Country and, very sadly, its people, because they are great and wonderful, and something like this should never have happened to them.

Vice President J.D. Vance has voiced concern during internal discussions that military action could pull the United States into a wider confrontation. One source told Axios that Vance has questioned the operational complexity and potential fallout, while another said he has been laying out arguments “on both sides” so the president can weigh the full picture. The same source added that Vance is not “outright opposed” to a strike.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to two sources, has not taken a firm public stance either for or against military action, instead “sitting on the fence.” Although Rubio has traditionally been seen as hawkish on Iran, Axios reported that his recent focus has shifted more heavily toward matters involving Venezuela and Cuba.

Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva on Thursday for another round of indirect negotiations brokered by Oman. Axios reported that both advisers have encouraged Trump to hold off on military action for the time being, arguing that further diplomacy could strengthen Washington’s position before any irreversible step is taken.

Speaking to Fox News over the weekend, Witkoff said Trump has been “frustrated” and “curious” that Tehran has not “capitulated” despite mounting U.S. military pressure, while cautioning that such descriptions might exaggerate the president’s stance. Witkoff also warned that Iran could be “a week away” from converting its highly enriched uranium into “industrial-grade bomb-making material,” a development he said would sharply reduce the remaining space for diplomacy.

Beyond the administration, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has been among the most vocal advocates for military action. In remarks to Axios on Saturday, Graham said he was frustrated that some of Trump’s advisers were counseling restraint and opposing strikes. He also spoke directly with the president on Sunday, urging him not to postpone military measures.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has likewise pressed for strikes. Axios reported that since meeting with Trump about ten days ago, Netanyahu has grown concerned that the United States may ultimately decline to act militarily. A U.S. source who met with Netanyahu last week told the outlet that the prime minister left his discussion with Trump unsure whether he had persuaded the president. “Is he still with us?” Netanyahu asked, the source said.

A senior administration official summarized the internal dynamic, telling Axios, “Everyone has a job to do and does their job. Rubio isn’t figuring out what planes to fly. Caine isn’t worrying about diplomatic fallout. The decision to strike, when and how or if at all, has not been made.”

{Matzav.com}

Tensions between United Torah Judaism and Shas have spilled into the open, after Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni sharply criticized Shas leader MK Aryeh Deri for unilaterally reclaiming the chairmanship of the Knesset Health Committee.

Speaking during a United Torah Judaism faction meeting on Monday, Gafni accused Deri of breaking a coordinated agreement among the chareidi parties. According to Gafni, the factions had reached a clear understanding to withdraw together from coalition roles and to maintain a unified legislative boycott, including joint decisions on “what goes up and what does not.”

Gafni said the purpose of the agreement was to preserve a united front in negotiations with the government on issues central to the chareidi public, foremost among them the draft law.

However, he charged that Deri deviated from that consensus. “Suddenly he decides unilaterally to return to the chairmanship of the Health Committee. He decides on his own,” Gafni told fellow faction members.

Gafni further revealed that in a prior meeting with the prime minister, Deri had emphasized to him, “I do what Gafni says.” In light of that statement, Gafni asked pointedly: “Suddenly when it comes to jobs he decides on his own. Now it no longer matters what Gafni says?”

Within chareidi political circles, Shas’s move is being interpreted as an effort to retain key parliamentary positions during a period of political strain and to avoid losing influence over sensitive areas such as the health system. By contrast, Degel HaTorah officials argue that unilateral steps weaken the bargaining position of the chareidi factions vis-à-vis the coalition and signal internal division.

The dispute comes at a particularly delicate moment, as the draft law controversy and ongoing tensions with the High Court continue to cast uncertainty over coalition stability.

{Matzav.com}

New York City, still reeling from a historic blizzard, is bracing for additional snowfall in the coming days after a storm that has already secured a place among the 10 largest winter events ever recorded in the city.

By this afternoon, snowfall in Central Park had reached 19.7 inches, surpassing the 19 inches recorded during the January 2011 blizzard, which previously stood as the ninth-largest snowstorm in city history.

The powerful system, driven by a bomb cyclone that struck from Sunday into Monday, delivered the most significant snowfall the city has experienced in over a decade.

Within the five boroughs, Staten Island reported the single highest total so far, with 24.1 inches measured in the Grasmere neighborhood, according to the National Weather Service.

Brooklyn also saw substantial accumulation. Sheepshead Bay recorded 22.5 inches, while Williamsburg and Crown Heights followed closely behind with 21.1 and 21 inches, respectively.

In Manhattan, Washington Heights led the borough with 22.1 inches of snow measured to date.

Queens’ highest total was logged at LaGuardia Airport, where 22.2 inches were recorded.

The Bronx saw the least accumulation among the boroughs, with 14.8 inches measured in Co-Op City.

Beyond city limits, snowfall totals were even higher in some areas. Lynbrook in Nassau County on Long Island reported 24 inches, while Babylon in Suffolk County tallied 29.5 inches as of the latest reports.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said public schools will reopen Tuesday after students were granted a three-day weekend due to the storm.

The mayor added that some neighborhoods could receive an additional 2.5 inches of snow by tonight as the system continues to move through the region.

{Matzav.com}

Police raided an apartment in Bnei Brak that had been converted into a drug laboratory, seizing large quantities of narcotics and arresting two suspects, authorities said.

The operation took place yesterday on Dangur Street, where detectives discovered what they believe was a facility used for the cultivation and production of illegal drugs. Inside the apartment, officers found 156 cannabis plants with a total gross weight of 31 kilograms. In addition, a substance suspected to be cocaine, weighing 10 grams gross, was located in a vehicle connected to the case.

Two suspects — a 25-year-old resident of Bnei Brak and a 24-year-old from Rehovot — were arrested and taken in for questioning at the local police station. Following their interrogation, both were remanded in custody. A court has extended their detention until February 26, 2026.

Meanwhile, Tel Aviv District Commander Chief Superintendent Chaim Sargarof signed an order yesterday to shut down the apartment for 30 days, through March 23, 2026.

{Matzav.com}

Mexico mobilized its army, air force and elite security units — backed by intelligence assistance from the United States — to eliminate Nemesio Rubén “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the powerful head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, in a sweeping weekend operation that officials described as unprecedented in scale.

The coordinated assault brought together ground troops, aircraft and a specially trained National Guard force focused on combating cartel violence. Oseguera, a former police officer who had a $15 million US bounty placed on him, had long led what authorities consider the most formidable criminal organization in the country.

Over the years, Oseguera built a heavily armed force around him. At his luxury compound in the state of Jalisco, security personnel reportedly maintained rocket launchers and other advanced weaponry to defend the property.

After dominating Mexico’s criminal underworld for years, Oseguera’s organization had amassed military-grade firepower, making a conventional law enforcement operation unfeasible.

In a prior raid on a CJNG stronghold, authorities discovered a cache that included numerous automatic machine guns, grenade launchers and rocket-propelled grenades — weapons similar to those used in 2015 to bring down a military helicopter.

Investigators also determined that Oseguera’s estate contained armored vehicles and heavy weapons more commonly associated with an organized military force than a criminal syndicate.

In advance of Sunday’s operation, Mexican officials received assistance from the US Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel (JITF-CC), a unit established last month to analyze and map cartel networks operating along the border.

President Trump has made dismantling Mexico’s drug cartels — which serve as a primary source of fentanyl and other narcotics entering the United States — a central focus of his administration.

Brigadier Gen. Maurizio Calabrese, who leads the task force, explained that the unit applied experience gained from counterterrorism campaigns against groups such as al Qaeda and Islamic State to track cartel infrastructure.

“The cartels operate differently than al Qaeda or ISIS, different motivations, which makes it even more important for us to identify entire networks so that we can disrupt and dismantle (them),” Calabrese told Reuters.

After Trump formally classified Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations last year, the task force gained authority to deploy military tools and surveillance resources in monitoring trafficking networks.

Ultimately, US analysts assembled a comprehensive targeting dossier on Oseguera, identifying his presence in the rural community of Tapalpa.

Although specific intelligence contributions from JITF-CC have not been publicly detailed, the agency’s website outlines its mission as seeking to “identify, disrupt, and dismantle cartel operations posing a threat to the United States along the U.S.-Mexico border.”

Mexico’s Security Ministry confirmed that US officials supplied “supplementary information” to support the mission, though planning and execution were directed by Mexico’s central military intelligence command.

According to Mexico’s Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla, part of the intelligence effort involved tracing an associate connected to one of Oseguera’s romantic partners, ultimately leading authorities to the cartel leader’s secluded compound in the mountains.

Trevilla said that when the woman departed the property, Oseguera and his armed entourage stayed behind inside the complex.

Once preparations were complete, Mexican special forces advanced on the compound Sunday. As security personnel attempted to escape into the surrounding forest, they opened fire on the approaching troops.

The Mexican troops “returned fire,” killing four cartel members in the shoot out, with Oseguera and three other gangsters dying from their wounds during an air transport, according to the security ministry.

Air Force aircraft and rapid-response National Guard teams provided additional support, enabling federal forces to swiftly subdue the gunmen and secure the property.

News of El Mencho’s death triggered violent retaliation by cartel factions across Mexico, with roadblocks erected on key highways and vehicles set ablaze.

Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order in Puerto Vallarta, a resort city west of Tapalpa, as unrest spread throughout the state.

Mexico Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch reported that at least 25 National Guard members were killed during the wave of violence in Jalisco, along with a prison guard and a state prosecutor’s office agent.

{Matzav.com}

Knesset Poised for Showdown Over Kosel Authority

A new dispute has erupted within the World Zionist Organization, as members of the religious-Orthodox bloc issued a sharp protest after a public statement was released in the name of the entire executive without their consent and contrary to their position.

The internal clash comes as the Knesset prepares to debate a bill that would grant the Chief Rabbinate full authority over all sections of the Kosel.

The controversy within the WZO follows last week’s incident at the Kosel, when police detained Women of the Wall activist Tami Gottlieb and issued her a restraining order barring her from the plaza after disturbances during Rosh Chodesh davening. The order was later shortened by a court ruling.

In the wake of that episode, several members of the WZO executive sought to publish a statement expressing support for Gottlieb, who also serves as a member of the organization’s executive. Representatives of the religious bloc objected strongly and refused to sign onto the statement. They have now released a counter-declaration, expressing what they describe as pain and protest over the original announcement, which they say was issued without their approval and does not reflect their position.

According to the Orthodox representatives, the statement fails to represent the will of the majority of voters in the most recent Zionist Congress elections. They argue that the results demonstrated a clear Orthodox majority across most major Jewish communities worldwide.

“Except for one or two countries,” Rabbi Pesach Lerner of the Eretz HaKodesh slate told Kikar HaShabbat, “in all the major countries around the world, in the United States and throughout Europe, there is a strong and clear majority of religious Orthodox voters who supported religious slates over the Reform slates. Despite this, representatives of the Reform and Conservative movements have the audacity to demand and publish statements as if they speak on behalf of world Jewry, when it has been demonstrated in the clearest possible way that the majority is Orthodox.

“It is time that we stand firm and state clearly: The majority of world Jewry supports the Orthodox position and seeks to preserve the voice of Torah and halachah in Eretz Yisroel. The Reform movement has no right to speak in the name of world Jewry.”

The WZO storm is unfolding against the backdrop of renewed legislative efforts in the Knesset. Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced Sunday that he intends to vote in favor of a bill that would place all parts of the Kosel, including the Ezras Yisroel section, under the full authority of Israel’s two chief rabbis.

“A few minutes ago, I received the announcement from the Government Secretariat that the meeting of the ministerial committee [for legislation] had been canceled. Since there is no government stance on this matter, I plan to vote for the bill. I urge all MKs, especially those in the coalition, to join me and send a clear message to the High Court: Enough is enough,” Levin said after Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu canceled a scheduled meeting of the Ministerial Committee for Legislation.

The prime minister reportedly acted amid concerns over potential backlash from Diaspora organizations. Coalition whip Ofir Katz later stated that members of the coalition would be free to vote according to their conscience, and a spokesman for Netanyahu said he had “allowed freedom of voting.”

The bill, sponsored by MK Avi Maoz, is intended to counter a recent High Court ruling requiring the state to move forward with upgrading the egalitarian prayer plaza, a step rooted in the Kosel compromise approved nearly a decade ago. Maoz’s proposal would grant the Chief Rabbinate ultimate authority over all activity at the site and define any action contrary to its directives, including non-Orthodox prayer services, as a “desecration.”

Maoz declared that he would bring the bill for a preliminary reading and called “upon all members of the Knesset to stand up and vote for the integrity of the Kosel and against the High Court.”

Shas, United Torah Judaism, and Otzma Yehudit issued a joint statement that they “will support the Kosel law that will be put to a vote on Wednesday. It was so in the past, and it will be so now.” The Religious Zionism party similarly announced that it would back the legislation, stating that it would “ensure the integrity of the Kosel and preserve its sanctity.”

Within the WZO, members of the Orthodox bloc insist that their stance reflects the authentic voice of the majority. In their formal protest, they stated that they were pained by what they called an unnecessary provocation that harmed the sanctity of the Kosel, while reiterating that every Jew has the right to daven at the holiest site of the Jewish people, provided that it is done in accordance with halachah and the longstanding status quo under the guidance of the Chief Rabbinate.

“We, members of the Zionist Executive on behalf of the religious-Orthodox factions, hereby express protest and pain over the statement that was published, contrary to our position, and purportedly in the name of all members of the executive following the provocation carried out at the Kosel plaza by executive member Tami Gottlieb,” the statement reads.

“The Western Wall is a most significant Jewish symbol. We respect the right of every Jew to pray there in accordance with halachah and Jewish tradition, while maintaining the status quo that has been in place for decades and the directives of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, which was founded by Rav Avrohom Yitzchok Hakohein Kook. This is the position of millions of Jews in Israel and throughout the world, and we seek to express it clearly.

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

{Matzav.com}

Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri on Monday sharply condemned the arrest of a 28-year-old yungerman from Be’er Sheva, accusing authorities of persecuting Torah students under the enforcement of Israel’s military draft laws.

Speaking during his party’s weekly faction meeting, Deri criticized the detention of the married kollel member, who is the father of a child with special needs and whose wife is currently pregnant. The man was reportedly arrested for failing to report for service under the Security Service Law, a move that Shas officials described as a “persecution of Torah learners.”

“What cruelty and wickedness to arrest a 28-year-old avreich, with a pregnant wife and a child with special needs, and throw him into prison for the crime of studying Torah,” Deri told fellow party members. “The world should be shocked by the persecution of Torah learners. We must not become accustomed to this.”

Deri also linked the arrest to what he described as a spiritually sensitive period for the nation, arguing that such actions carry broader consequences. “How much accusation and judgment this brings upon the people of Israel precisely during the difficult period we are in,” he said.

His remarks come amid heightened political tensions surrounding efforts to regulate the status of yeshiva students and their exemption from military service. Chareidi parties have warned against stricter enforcement measures and have placed responsibility on both political and defense officials for the current situation.

{Matzav.com}

Assuta Hospital in Tel Aviv’s Ramat Hachayal neighborhood has launched a new underground medical facility designed to hold roughly 200 patients, aiming to guarantee uninterrupted treatment during times of heavy missile fire.

The subterranean complex is intended to serve as a receiving center for patients transferred from public hospitals that lack sufficient fortification, allowing medical services to continue even under serious security threats.

Alongside the underground expansion, Assuta Medical Center Ramat HaHayal continues to operate reinforced above-ground operating rooms. During Operation Rising Lion, patients were moved to these protected surgical suites to undergo extended and complicated procedures.

Until now, the Ministry of Health’s standard policy during emergencies has been to shut down private medical institutions. However, insights gained from the Swords of Iron War and Operation Rising Lion prompted a reassessment of that approach.

Over the past two months, teams have worked intensively to equip the underground levels with the necessary infrastructure, including systems for medical gases, electricity, and communications, enabling a rapid shift to full inpatient hospitalization if required.

Dr. Shani Brosh, Head of the Medical Division at Assuta Medical Centers, emphasized: “In the past month or two, there has been very intensive activity. An agreement was signed, a contracting company was appointed, and infrastructure for medical gases, electricity, and communications was built to allow a move to underground complexes on the day of an order. Today, the infrastructure is in place and can accommodate about 200 hospitalized patients on behalf of other hospitals that do not have fortification.”

Assuta Medical Centers CEO Gidi Leshet said the project reflects a broader effort to strengthen Israel’s emergency preparedness. “Maintaining continuity of care as part of the health system’s emergency framework is a national mission, and part of our purpose – and we are proud to take part in its implementation.”

{Matzav.com}

Following circulating claims that the state intends to take control of rooms located above the tefillah areas at the gravesite of the Tanna Rav Shimon bar Yochai in Meron, the so-called “Committee of Five,” which oversees management of the holy site, issued an official public statement this evening rejecting the allegations and outlining its plans for the space.

The committee, which operates with the guidance and blessing of leading Torah authorities, addressed reports suggesting it planned “to transfer the roof of the tomb to government control,” firmly dismissing the assertions. In its letter, the body stated unequivocally that “there is no truth to these claims, and they are baseless rumors being spread by interested parties.”

The statement further explained that the rooms in question “were built with supreme sanctity by the holy Rav Avraham Galanti, may his merit protect us, and were originally designated for Torah study and prayer for the use of all who come to the holy site of Meron.” According to the committee, the initial purpose of these rooms was to serve the broader public of worshippers and learners visiting the sacred location.

However, the committee noted that in practice, “these rooms are currently held by a number of individuals for lodging and family hospitality purposes, and at times are even rented out to others for overnight stays.” It emphasized that such use is inconsistent with both the original intention of the space and the needs of the wider public.

In light of the growing number of mispallelim and the increasing demand for additional davening areas, the committee stated that its request is “to return the rooms to public possession so that they may be used for Torah and tefillah for the benefit of all visitors to the site.”

Concluding its letter, the committee expressed regret over the spread of misinformation, writing that “we regret that interested parties are spreading falsehoods and rumors that have no basis, misleading the public and harming unity surrounding the management of the holy site.”

The committee stressed that it will continue to act “with responsibility, transparency, and while preserving the sanctity of the kever of Rav Shimon bar Yochai, may his merit protect us,” for the benefit of the entire public.

{Matzav.com}

The Knesset’s Health Committee has sounded the alarm over fruits and vegetables brought into Israel from the Palestinian Authority, citing data showing that a significant portion of tested produce contains prohibited pesticides associated with severe health risks, including cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

At a recent session led by MK Limor Sohn Har-Melech, committee members reviewed figures indicating that approximately 15,000 tons of agricultural goods from the Palestinian Authority enter Israel annually. Testing conducted between 2015 and 2022 revealed that between 27% and 40% of sampled produce exceeded permitted pesticide thresholds, with contamination rates increasing over time.

Dr. Ziva Hamma of the Ministry of Health outlined the findings in detail. According to the data presented, 50% of cucumber samples, 49% of tomato samples, and 66% of hot pepper samples were found to be contaminated. Particularly troubling was the discovery that 14% of samples contained neurotoxic organic phosphorus compounds, substances known to endanger fetal and infant development and to elevate the likelihood of Parkinson’s disease. In addition, 13% of the produce tested contained a combination of more than five different pesticides in a single item, creating potential harm to the liver, kidneys, and nervous system.

Although existing rules mandate that imported produce be held until laboratory results confirm compliance with safety standards, the committee heard that contaminated goods were frequently released to the market before testing was completed. Amos Zuarets, the Health Coordinator for the West Bank, acknowledged that the Civil Administration had placed greater emphasis on preserving shelf life and supporting the Palestinian economy than on health protections — a policy he said shifted only after the events of October 7. He indicated that within eight months, a new policy will ensure that all produce is withheld from sale until it receives confirmed clearance from safety tests.

MK Amit Levi sharply rebuked both government ministries and the Civil Administration, arguing that lenient enforcement over the years contributed to avoidable illnesses. He called on members of the public who believe they were harmed to seek accountability and cautioned that the problem may be compounded by an increase in unsupervised smuggling of agricultural products.

In response to the concerns, the Ministry of Health and the Civil Administration outlined a series of corrective steps. These include establishing a digital registry of authorized farmers, conducting inspections in the fields before goods cross into Israel, expanding sampling at border crossings, and imposing substantial fines on those who violate regulations.

Concluding the session, Sohn Har-Melech issued a direct appeal to consumers: “Nearly half of imported produce is contaminated with substances that threaten health, yet some prioritize profit over the safety of Israeli citizens. Check carefully where your fruits and vegetables come from and choose supervised Israeli produce.”

{Matzav.com}

The White House seized on Team USA’s dramatic Olympic hockey victory over Canada to take a swipe at former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, reviving a past social media post after the Americans captured gold.

In a thrilling overtime finish at the Milan Cortina Winter Games on Sunday, the United States defeated Canada 2-1 to claim its first men’s Olympic hockey gold medal in 46 years. The winning goal came off the stick of Jack Hughes, who sealed the victory in overtime and ended the decades-long championship drought.

Following the triumph, President Donald Trump placed a congratulatory call to the team to mark the achievement.

The celebration extended beyond the ice. The official White House X account resurfaced a message Trudeau had posted last year after Canada defeated the United States in the 4 Nations Face-Off. At the time, Trudeau had written, “You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game.”

On Sunday, the White House reposted that statement and paired it with an image of a bald eagle standing atop a Canadian goose, signaling a pointed response to the earlier remark.

Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III also weighed in, sharing Trudeau’s previous message alongside a photo of himself holding an American flag and adding the caption, “We took your game.”

Hughes scored the decisive goal after receiving a cross-ice pass from Zach Werenski, sending the crowd in Milan into a frenzy and thrilling viewers across the United States who tuned in early Sunday morning.

Speaking after netting the game-winner, Hughes expressed pride in representing the country. “This is all about our country right now.”

“I love the USA,” he said. “I’m so proud to be American today.”

“I love my country; I love my teammates,” he added.

“That’s American hockey right there,” said Hughes.

“That’s a great Canadian team, but this means so much. We are such a team.”

Among those in attendance was FBI Director Kash Patel, who watched the game from the stands in Milan and later joined the team in its postgame celebration. Patel, an avid hockey enthusiast and amateur player himself, took part in the locker room festivities.

Video circulating online shows Patel celebrating with the players, drinking and spraying beer before pounding on a table and having a gold medal placed around his neck.

Patel later addressed media attention over his presence in the locker room, posting on X: “For the very concerned media — yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys — Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth,” Patel wrote.

{Matzav.com}

The Israeli Competition Authority announced Monday that it plans, pending a formal hearing, to levy a financial penalty of NIS 109,623,501 against El Al over alleged violations of competition law.

In addition to the corporate fine, the authority is weighing personal sanctions ranging from NIS 449,000 to NIS 548,000 against two senior executives at the airline.

According to the regulator, El Al declined to allow Arkia to use its aircraft maintenance hangars, despite a long-term agreement under which Arkia leases those facilities from El Al. Beginning in August 2024, amid the “Iron Swords” war, El Al repeatedly rejected Arkia’s requests for access. The authority said the justifications provided were inadequate and that the airline conveyed the impression that the existing agreement remained in effect, even as access was denied.

El Al holds a dominant position in Israel’s passenger aircraft hangar sector and competes directly with Arkia on numerous international routes. During the war, as many foreign carriers curtailed flights to and from Israel, domestic airlines became the primary players in the market. The authority noted that blocking Arkia’s access to hangars could have led to flight delays or cancellations, forced the leasing of replacement aircraft, and exposed the company to financial losses and reputational damage — expenses that might ultimately have been passed on to travelers.

The regulator stated that El Al’s conduct amounted to an unreasonable refusal to provide a service within a market in which it holds monopoly power, constituting an abuse of that status in breach of the Economic Competition Law. Before any final determination is made, El Al and the two executives will be given the opportunity to present their case at a hearing.

El Al pushed back against the allegations in a statement, saying: “We disagree with the claims in the authority’s letter. El Al always acts according to the law, including competition law. We are convinced no wrongdoing occurred. Throughout the war, El Al assisted other Israeli airlines far beyond legal requirements, out of solidarity and commitment to passengers, and continues to provide services-including hangars-to Arkia wherever possible.”

{Matzav.com}

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu used a special Knesset session Monday evening to deliver a stern warning to Iran’s leadership, declaring that any direct attack on Israel would trigger a response beyond anything Tehran could anticipate.

Speaking during a plenary debate convened by the opposition with 40 signatures, Netanyahu said Israel has made its position unmistakably clear to the Iranian regime.

“I have clarified and sent a message to the Ayatollah regime that if they make perhaps the gravest mistake in their history and attack the State of Israel, we will respond with force they cannot even imagine,” Netanyahu declared.

The prime minister stressed that the country is facing a volatile and sensitive period and urged unity rather than political infighting. He said Israel stands ready for any development and called on the public and political leadership to rally together, particularly as the holiday of Purim approaches.

He added, “We are in complex times, we are prepared for any scenario. This is not the time for debate. In those days, on the eve of Purim, as in this time, we need to close the ranks of the people and stand shoulder to shoulder. I am confident in our strength and in our warriors. When we stand together – we achieve great things. On the eve of Purim, we will stand together – and with God’s help we will ensure the eternity of Israel.”

Opposition leader Yair Lapid responded by addressing the prospect of a military confrontation with Iran, signaling that despite deep political divisions, he would support decisive action if necessary.

“There is a good chance that we are facing a campaign in Iran. If this campaign comes – and it must come – we will all put everything aside. All differences of opinion will be put into deep freeze, until the crisis passes. As in the past, I will mobilize for Israel’s PR and strengthen Israel’s international status. As with the previous attack, I will go wherever necessary, from CNN to the British Parliament, and tell them: ‘You know that I am the leader of the opposition, you know that Netanyahu and I are rivals, but Iran must be attacked with all force, the rule of the ayatollahs must be overthrown.'”

However, Lapid also delivered a pointed rebuke to Netanyahu over the October 7 massacre, arguing that the events of that day would ultimately define the prime minister’s legacy.

“What will define you in history is October 7th. I understand the attempt to write a different history – it won’t work, it doesn’t work that way.” He continued: “No success, no failure, will resonate in the national memory like the October 7th massacre. Let’s be clear – the word is massacre.”

Yisrael Beytenu chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman likewise directed sharp criticism at Netanyahu, branding him the “Prime Minister of October 7” and holding him personally responsible for the Hamas attack.

“This was a massacre on your watch,” Lieberman lashed out. “This is the most terrible massacre in the history of the state, and you are the main culprit in it.”

Lieberman also referenced Netanyahu’s written response to the state comptroller, contending that it omitted crucial decisions made years earlier. He pointed specifically to a 2014 cabinet meeting in which he says he urged decisive military action against Hamas.

“You wrote a 50-page answer, but you forgot about the cabinet meeting on November 13, 2014,” Lieberman recalled. “At that meeting, I demanded to begin a large-scale operation to eradicate Hamas, and you decided on a ceasefire over my head, and proposed a policy of arrangement and transferring money from Qatar to Hamas.”

He went on to cite his resignation as defense minister in 2018, which he said stemmed from similar disagreements over policy toward Hamas.

“On November 14, I resigned from my position and said that a ceasefire with Hamas is surrender to terrorism. I tried dozens of times to reach that protocol, and I was prevented from reaching it, but don’t worry – we will get there.”

Lieberman concluded by questioning the government’s handling of the current war effort and challenging its claims of success.

“What is happening now, where is the complete victory? Why is there reconstruction of the Gaza Strip? Why is the State of Israel providing electricity, water, fuel and trucks every week?”

{Matzav.com}

Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman directly accused Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of bearing primary responsibility for the October 7 massacre, describing him as “the main guilty party in [the October 7] massacre” and asserting that it was “the largest and most terrible massacre in the history of the Jewish people after the Holocaust.”

Lieberman delivered the remarks during a “40-signatures” debate in the Knesset plenum, a monthly parliamentary procedure that allows lawmakers to require the prime minister to appear and respond after collecting the necessary number of supporting signatures on a petition.

In his address, Lieberman criticized a 55-page document Netanyahu recently published outlining his responses to State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman as part of the comptroller’s now-suspended probe into the October 7 attack. Lieberman argued that the document left out key details, including a November 2018 cabinet meeting at which, he said, he had “demanded to begin a large-scale operation to eradicate the Hamas regime.”

According to Lieberman, Netanyahu omitted the episode from his testimony because “you want to escape from responsibility and rewrite history.”

Rather than pursuing decisive action at the time, Lieberman charged, Netanyahu chose to facilitate the transfer of Qatari funds to Hamas in an effort to maintain calm. He further claimed that in the period leading up to the assault, Netanyahu had sought “to increase the money that is transferred every month to Hamas in the Gaza Strip.”

Continuing his criticism, Lieberman said, “You created a zone of immunity for terrorists when you pledged never to attack Qatar again. Thanks to you, the Qataris won a defense agreement from the United States that no country in the world has.” He concluded with a pointed rebuke: “Where is the total victory? You promised us total victory, you brought total disgrace.”

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge in Florida has ruled that the second volume of special counsel Jack Smith’s final report examining Donald Trump’s handling of classified materials at Mar-a-Lago will remain sealed and not be made public.

In a decision issued Monday, US District Judge Aileen Cannon determined that the portion of Smith’s report dealing with the classified documents investigation cannot be released. Cannon had previously dismissed the criminal case Smith filed against Trump prior to his return to office, and her latest ruling represents another legal victory for Trump in preventing the public disclosure of the special counsel’s conclusions.

Before departing his role in early 2025, Smith submitted a two-part final report to then-Attorney General Merrick Garland. The first volume, which focused on Trump’s alleged attempts to challenge the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, was made public before Trump reentered the White House. However, the second volume — addressing the classified documents case in South Florida — remained under seal following legal challenges brought by Trump and others charged in the matter.

In her 15-page opinion, Cannon wrote that “it is certainly not customary” for a prosecutor whose case was thrown out to later be allowed to “publicly disseminate large swaths of discovery generated in the case.”

She further stated, “The Court strains to find a situation in which a former special counsel has released a report after initiating criminal charges that did not result in a finding of guilt, at least not in a situation like this one, where the defendants contested the charges from the outset and still proclaim their innocence.”

Cannon, who ruled in 2024 that Smith’s appointment as special counsel was unlawful, criticized the preparation of the report itself, asserting that it ran counter to her prior orders ending the work of his office in connection with the classified documents investigation.

“The Court need not countenance this brazen stratagem or effectively perpetuate the Special Counsel’s breach of this Court’s own order,” she wrote.

At the same time, Cannon rejected a motion from two former co-defendants of Trump seeking to have the report destroyed altogether.

In response to the ruling, Trump’s personal attorney, Kendra Wharton, praised the decision, saying Cannon was correct to “permanently prohibit the release of Volume II of Jack Smith’s illegal report,” and adding that “all fruit of Smith’s poisonous tree should be treated accordingly and should never see the light of day.”

Despite the ruling, the question of public access to the second volume — often referred to as Volume II — remains the subject of ongoing appellate proceedings initiated by government transparency advocates.

One such organization, American Oversight, criticized Cannon’s decision, saying it “continues a troubling pattern of decisions that shield the president from public scrutiny and place secrecy above the public’s right to know.”

“American taxpayers funded this investigation, and they have a right to know what their government uncovered, particularly on matters of national security,” said Chioma Chukwu, the group’s executive director, in a statement.2

{Matzav.com}

American military refueling and transport aircraft were seen at Ben Gurion Airport as Washington expanded its force posture across the Middle East during heightened tensions with Iran, Times of Israel reports.

The refuelers and cargo planes touched down at Israel’s primary international airport within the past 24 hours, according to flight activity observed in the area.

Israeli officials did not issue any statement regarding the presence of US military aircraft at the civilian airport. It remained unclear whether the planes were stationed there for an extended period or were making a brief stop as part of broader regional operations.

Data compiled by the Military Air Tracking Alliance, a group of roughly 30 open-source researchers who monitor military and government aviation movements, indicated that since mid-February more than 85 aerial refueling tankers and upwards of 170 cargo aircraft had entered the region. The influx came as US President Donald Trump weighed potential military steps concerning Iran.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said that any Iranian strike against Israel would amount to the gravest error in Tehran’s history, warning that Israel would retaliate with overwhelming force if attacked.

Addressing the Knesset plenum during a “40-signatures” debate, Netanyahu stated that Israel stood at an unprecedented position of strength. “The pact with the United States has never been closer,” he declared.

In what appeared to be a pointed signal to Iran, Netanyahu emphasized that his working relationship with US President Donald Trump was stronger than ever, and that cooperation between the Israel Defense Forces and the US military had reached new heights.

At the same time, he cautioned lawmakers that the country was navigating a complicated and demanding period. “we are in very complex and challenging times,” he said.

Referring directly to Tehran, Netanyahu warned that if the Iranian regime “makes perhaps the most serious mistake in its history,” and attacks Israel, “we will respond with strength that it can’t even imagine.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply criticized the Supreme Court on Monday following its 6-3 decision last week invalidating his broad tariff program, ruling that he did not have authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose the sweeping trade measures.

In its Friday opinion, the high court overturned lower court decisions and concluded that IEEPA does not grant the president the power to enact tariffs, delivering a significant blow to a central element of Trump’s trade strategy.

Responding in a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump contended that the ruling could ultimately strengthen his hand in dealing with foreign governments, even as he denounced both the logic and tone of the majority opinion.

Trump wrote: “The supreme court (will be using lower case letters for a while based on a complete lack of respect!) of the United States accidentally and unwittingly gave me, as President of the United States, far more powers and strength than I had prior to their ridiculous, dumb, and very internationally divisive ruling.”

He maintained that the decision highlighted other authorities he believes he can still use, stating, “For one thing, I can use Licenses to do absolutely ‘terrible’ things to foreign countries, especially those countries that have been RIPPING US OFF for many decades, but incomprehensibly, according to the ruling, can’t charge them a License fee – BUT ALL LICENSES CHARGE FEES, why can’t the United States do so?”

Trump continued, “You do a license to get a fee! The opinion doesn’t explain that, but I know the answer!”

Addressing tariffs again, Trump argued that the ruling leaves intact other forms of trade penalties and enforcement tools. He wrote, “The court has also approved all other Tariffs, of which there are many, and they can all be used in a much more powerful and obnoxious way, with legal certainty, than the Tariffs as initially used.”

He directed sharp criticism at the majority of the justices while praising three members of the court, declaring, “Our incompetent supreme court did a great job for the wrong people, and for that they should be ashamed of themselves (but not the Great Three!).”

Trump broadened his critique beyond trade policy, suggesting the court could rule in ways he believes would benefit foreign nations. He claimed, “The next thing you know they will rule in favor of China and others, who are making an absolute fortune on Birthright Citizenship, by saying the 14th Amendment was NOT written to take care of the ‘babies of slaves,’ which it was as proven by the EXACT TIMING of its construction, filing, and ratification, which perfectly coincided with the END OF THE CIVIL WAR.”

He added, “How much better can you do than that? But this supreme court will find a way to come to the wrong conclusion, one that again will make China, and various other Nations, happy and rich.”

Despite the legal setback, Trump signaled he intends to continue pursuing his trade agenda, concluding, “Let our supreme court keep making decisions that are so bad and deleterious to the future of our Nation – I have a job to do.”

The court’s ruling on tariffs triggered fresh volatility in global markets and left U.S. trading partners seeking answers about the administration’s next move.

{Matzav.com}

Hamas will be given an ultimatum to disarm “in the coming days,” and if it refuses, Israel will receive international legitimacy and U.S. backing to act on its own, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Monday.

The Israel Defense Forces “is already preparing for this and drawing up plans,” Smotrich told the Kan Reshet Bet radio station. He added: “At the political level, we have held several discussions to refine those plans.”

Smotrich said that if Hamas fails to accept the ultimatum, the IDF would reconquer Gaza beyond the ceasefire-instituted Yellow Line, under which the Israeli military already controls around half of the Strip.

“There are currently two or three alternatives that we are examining to determine which is the most appropriate,” the Cabinet minister said.

Israel has “not given up on destroying Hamas,” he said, explaining that Israel is merely giving U.S. President Donald Trump “a chance to do it his way” before returning to fighting in the enclave.

Asked about Trump’s intention to deploy an International Stabilization Force to Gaza, Smotrich said the foreign troops would if necessary leave “very quickly and allow the IDF to enter,” adding that the move would only be taken in full coordination with the Trump administration.

However, the minister emphasized, the Jewish state is not expecting foreign soldiers to be deployed to the Gaza Strip anytime soon.

“In the end,” Smotrich predicted, the Israel Defense Forces “will conquer the Gaza Strip and establish Jewish settlement there.”

Trump told the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace on Thursday he believes Hamas will lay down its weapons under his plan, warning that the terrorist organization will be “very harshly met” if it refuses to do so.

Several senior Hamas leaders, including Khaled Mashaal and Musa Abu Marzouk, have rejected key parts of Trump’s peace plan in recent weeks, including disarmament, despite having agreed to the terms in October.

“The war in Gaza is over,” the U.S. president said. “Hamas has been, I think, they’re going to give up their weapons, which is what they promised. If they don’t, it’ll be, you know, they’ll be harshly met, very harshly met.”

A new Palestinian police force

The Board of Peace’s high representative for the Gaza Strip, Nickolay Mladenov, told the meeting that a new Palestinian police force will “ensure that all [terrorist] factions in Gaza are dismantled and all weapons are put under the control of one civilian authority.”

Mladenov, who is set to meet with the European Union’s top diplomats on Monday, stressed that reconstruction would only begin after the “demilitarization and decommissioning of all weapons in Gaza.”

Under Trump’s plan, reconstruction is envisioned to start in the Strip’s southernmost city of Rafah, where 100,000 homes are to be built for 500,000 people, in addition to $5 billion in infrastructure.

Soldiers from the IDF’s 7th Armored Brigade completed operations to secure the area along the Yellow Line in Rafah following some three months of continuous counter-terror raids in the area, the army said on Monday.

The troops, working with the Yahalom elite combat engineering unit, killed “dozens” of terrorists hiding underground while dismantling “hundreds” of infrastructure sites, including a terror tunnel complex approximately 0.6 miles long that contained hideouts and weapons.

The IDF is “operating in the area in accordance with the ceasefire framework and will continue to operate to secure the area along the Yellow Line and remove any immediate threat,” the military added.

On Sunday, the 188th Armored Brigade’s combat team killed a terrorist who crossed the Yellow Line in southern Gaza and approached them “in a manner that posed an immediate threat,” the IDF said on Monday.

“Immediately after the identification, the soldiers eliminated the terrorist in order to remove the threat,” according to the army, which described the attempt to cross the truce line as “yet another violation.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News on Dec. 30 that a different future for the Gaza Strip was still possible “if we disarm Hamas, whether with an international force or by any other means, adding, “If it can be done the easy way, fine. And if not, it’ll be done another way.”

The Palestinian terrorist organization, which murdered some 1,200 people, primarily Jewish civilians, during its Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border assault, still has around 20,000 operatives and 60,000 rifles, Netanyahu revealed.

“That’s what disarmament means—got to take all these rifles, take them away from them, and break up those terror tunnels that they have, still hundreds of kilometers of terror tunnels,” the premier told Fox News.

Mashaal, during a speech at an anti-Israel conference in Istanbul on Dec. 6, said that Hamas would not lay down arms, declaring that “a thousand statements are not worth a single projectile of iron.” JNS

New York City awoke today to a standstill after a powerful bomb cyclone blanketed the region with heavy snowfall, leaving roads buried and more accumulation forecast before the storm moves out later in the day.

Snow continued to fall before sunrise, with Staten Island reporting more than 13 inches, Mott Haven in the Bronx measuring a foot, and both Flatbush and Washington Heights recording over 11 inches, according to the latest figures released by the National Weather Service.

In neighboring New Jersey, Freehold in Monmouth County — situated squarely in the storm’s path — saw totals reach 19 inches, Fox Weather reported.

The snowfall intensified early Monday, pounding areas from New York through Massachusetts at rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour.

The National Weather Service described travel as “nearly impossible.”

“The combination of heavy snowfall and strong winds will continue to produce blizzard conditions along the Northeastern Seaboard,” the weather service said Monday. “Sharply reduced visibility will make travel extremely treacherous across these areas.”

The system, officially designated Winter Storm Hernando, is forecast to keep dropping snow through much of Monday, with some parts of the tri-state region potentially reaching 20 inches before the storm tapers off later in the evening.

Powerful wind gusts reaching up to 60 miles per hour accompanied the blizzard, cutting electricity to more than 250,000 residents along the East Coast, including upwards of 100,000 customers in New Jersey alone.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency covering all five boroughs, Long Island, and multiple additional counties across the state.

Officials in New Jersey implemented a statewide emergency declaration as well.

New York City streets were largely deserted except for sanitation trucks and plows after a travel ban — issued through an emergency cellphone alert Sunday night — took effect at 9 p.m. and is set to remain in place until noon Monday.

Public transportation throughout the region has been heavily disrupted. All NJ Transit operations were halted, while the Long Island Rail Road and New York City subway system reported cancellations, delays, and altered service, agency officials said.

Air travel was also severely impacted nationwide. According to flight tracking service FlightAware, more than 5,500 flights were scrapped on Monday, and an additional 9,000 experienced delays. Airports serving New York City and Boston were among the hardest hit.

The storm prompted the closure of New York City public schools, marking what Mayor Zohran Mamdani described as the “first old-school snow day since 2019” following criticism over a remote-learning decision during the previous storm.

With the city still dealing with fallout from its last major winter weather crisis, officials mobilized additional workers to assist with snow removal. Some crews began shoveling late Sunday to get ahead of the initial wave of accumulation, Mamdani said.

A blizzard warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. Monday.

{Matzav.com}