A 22-year-old driver from Kafr Qasim was released without being questioned after allegedly striking a chareidi protester during demonstrations Thursday night at the Geha Junction area, prompting outrage among participants and organizers.

According to a report by Channel 14, the driver was released after requesting medical treatment and is expected to be summoned for questioning at a later date. Authorities said the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

The incident occurred during a protest against the arrest of yeshiva bochurim and the ongoing enforcement of military conscription policies affecting the chareidi community.

Witnesses said the driver passed through the area of the demonstration and struck a chareidi protester. Emergency personnel responded to the scene and transported the injured man to a hospital for treatment. His condition was later classified as moderate.

According to Magen David Adom, medical teams evacuated a 21-year-old man who was injured in what protesters described as an intentional vehicular attack near the Ganot Interchange area. The victim reportedly sustained moderate injuries near Mesubim.

Footage of the incident quickly spread online, drawing widespread attention and criticism over the handling of the case.

Police have not yet released findings regarding the circumstances of the incident, and the investigation remains active. As of Friday, the driver had not been formally questioned.

Following the demonstrations, Peleg Yerushalmi issued a statement indicating that the protests would continue and likely intensify.

“The demonstrations are not about to stop—on the contrary, they are expected only to intensify and expand,” the group said.

“The message of the thousands of protesters is clear: Leave the Torah learners alone, and there will be peace here. Continue to persecute them, and you will discover that life here will not return to what it was.”

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yechiel Moskowitz zt”l, a noted marbitz Torah, beloved rebbi, and accomplished talmid chochom, who was niftar at the age of 70.

For decades, Rav Moskowitz dedicated his life to the dissemination of Torah, inspiring generations of talmidim through his warmth, chochmah, and unwavering devotion to their aliyah. As a respected maggid shiur and rebbi at Yeshiva of Bayonne, he left an indelible mark on countless talmidim who benefited from his clear instruction, genuine care, and deep love of Torah. His shiurim reflected not only his vast knowledge but also his ability to connect with each talmid, encouraging them to strive for excellence in learning and avodas Hashem.

His entire life revolved around Torah and chessed. He was known for his humility, refined character, and readiness to assist anyone who sought his guidance. Whether in the beis medrash, at home, or in the community, Rav Moskowitz embodied the ideals he taught, serving as a living example of dedication to Torah and yiras Shamayim.

Rav Moskowitz’s extraordinary hasmadah was a quality that became recognized in the local batei medrash of Lakewood. Whether early in the morning, late at night, or during the brief intervals between his many responsibilities, he could invariably be found immersed in learning, utilizing every available moment for limud haTorah.

Rav Moskowitz married Mrs. Shoshana Moskowitz, daughter of Hagaon Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva of Philadelphia. Together, they established a remarkable bayis ne’eman b’Yisroel, building a distinguished family of bnei Torah and bnos Torah.

The levayah will take place on Sunday, tentatively at 2 p.m. at Bais Medrash Govoah. Final details will be announced once finalized.

Yehi zichro baruch.

A routine school outing took an unexpected turn when approximately 70 girls from a Monsey school found themselves navigating a massive drainage tunnel beneath Nyack, New York, before safely emerging from various manholes throughout the village, Matzav.com has learned.

The students, from Bais Yaakov Toras Imecha in Monsey, were participating in a school trip about 50 miles north of New York City when they entered a large drainage system near Nyack’s downtown area.

According to reports, authorities were alerted after a police officer noticed a large group of young girls climbing out of a manhole cover in an alley near a local restaurant. Additional students were reportedly seen emerging from other manholes in different parts of the village. Despite the unusual circumstances, all of the girls exited the drainage tunnel on their own and no serious injuries were reported.

The incident drew attention throughout the community as dozens of students unexpectedly surfaced from the underground drainage network after what officials described as an unauthorized excursion through the tunnel system.

Nyack Mayor Joe Rand said the girls had been visiting Memorial Park during the school trip when they discovered the entrance to the drainage tunnel and decided to explore it.

“They saw the channel, they saw the cave, and thought, let’s go take a look, let’s see what’s in there,” he said. “And they started walking, and they just kept walking and walking and walking.”

Speaking to CBS, Rand said the group traveled roughly a kilometer through the dark tunnel, navigating rocks and uneven terrain before eventually exiting safely near a local restaurant, much to the surprise of owner Matt Hudson.

“I was in my office when I heard kids chattering,” Hudson said. “I thought to myself, where is that coming from?”

Hudson said he was stunned when he discovered the girls climbing out of a drainage opening above a stream behind his restaurant.

“We looked, and it filled up with girls,” he said. “They were okay, but they were talking excitedly. They were happy to get out of there.”

While relieved that the incident ended safely, Mayor Rand stressed that the situation could easily have turned dangerous.

“Everyone was safe, and I’m so grateful for that. I’m grateful to the emergency responders,” Rand said. “But it was dangerous, they shouldn’t have done it. Because it could have rained this afternoon, and if it had rained, this thing becomes much more powerful, and the water could really build up.”

Following the incident, Rand said village officials would review safety measures around the drainage site and again urged residents and visitors to stay out of stormwater tunnels and drainage systems, which are not intended for public access.

For Hudson, the episode was unlike anything he had experienced in decades of business ownership.

“We’ve been here almost 36 years,” he said. “We thought we’d seen everything, but no, no, there are still some surprises here.”

SpaceX made history Friday with a spectacular stock market debut that pushed Elon Musk’s fortune past the trillion-dollar mark, making him the world’s first trillionaire and delivering the largest initial public offering ever completed. The blockbuster listing is also fueling expectations that other artificial intelligence giants could soon follow with record-breaking public offerings of their own.

The company’s shares began trading at $150, well above the $135 offering price, and ended the day at $161.11. By the closing bell, SpaceX was valued at more than $2 trillion, placing it ahead of many of America’s largest corporations and exceeding the combined market value of companies such as Walmart and General Motors.

The offering surpassed every previous IPO on record, overtaking the 2019 debut of Saudi Aramco, which entered public markets with a valuation of $1.7 trillion and raised more than $29 billion. SpaceX’s sale generated an unprecedented $75 billion, outpacing the combined proceeds of all U.S. IPOs conducted during the previous two years, according to Renaissance Capital.

The strong first-day performance also elevated Musk’s net worth to unprecedented levels. Already the richest person in the world, the 54-year-old entrepreneur saw his fortune soar beyond the trillion-dollar threshold, further expanding his financial power and global influence.

The IPO also produced enormous gains for investors close to Musk, including venture capital firms, private investment funds, and longtime associates. Thousands of employees who held equity in the company suddenly found themselves with millionaire status.

Musk spent the day at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas, where he celebrated the milestone alongside employees, investors, family members, and friends. Reflecting on the company’s early days, he remarked, “It is certainly hard to believe that a little company that started in a warehouse in El Segundo is now going public.” He added, “I gave SpaceX less than a 10 percent chance of succeeding at all.”

The successful launch onto public markets is expected to open the door for other massive offerings, particularly from artificial intelligence leaders OpenAI and Anthropic, both of which are reportedly approaching trillion-dollar valuations. If those companies follow through with public listings, 2026 could become one of the most remarkable years in Wall Street history.

Such developments would further cement the dominance of technology firms in the global economy, placing SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic alongside established giants including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, Apple, Netflix, and Meta.

For SpaceX, the IPO marked the culmination of more than two decades of growth. Musk established the company in 2002 with the ambitious goal of enabling humanity to become a multiplanetary civilization, a vision many initially viewed as unrealistic.

Over the years, however, SpaceX transformed the aerospace industry through the development of reusable rocket technology and expanded its reach with Starlink, its satellite-based internet network. Earlier this year, the company also acquired Musk’s artificial intelligence venture, xAI, which controls the social media platform X, creating an even broader technology conglomerate.

Throughout much of its history, SpaceX also served as a financial cornerstone for Musk’s wider business empire. The company provided him with loans and financial flexibility that helped support other ventures. That influence was reinforced by Musk’s overwhelming control of shareholder voting power through supervoting shares and other corporate mechanisms, which gave him approximately 85 percent of the voting rights before the IPO.

As part of the offering, SpaceX sold more than 555 million shares, representing slightly more than 4 percent of the company’s outstanding stock. The company and its underwriting team actively sought participation from both institutional investors and individuals, with retail investors accounting for roughly 22.5 percent of the offering, according to people familiar with the transaction.

SpaceX also pushed for accelerated inclusion in major stock indexes, a move that could eventually require large index funds to purchase significant amounts of its shares.

Analysts expect the stock to remain volatile in the near term. With relatively few shares available for trading and intense investor demand, the stock could experience sharp swings as the market adjusts. Over time, however, additional shares may enter circulation and enthusiasm could moderate.

J.P. Morgan analysts noted this week that recent IPOs have gained an average of 32 percent on their first trading day, but on average have fallen 26 percent below their debut prices after one year.

Daniel Hanson, a portfolio manager at Neuberger Berman whose fund owns approximately $200 million in SpaceX stock, credited the company’s leadership team for the speed and effectiveness of the IPO process.

“It’s exciting to see the team recognized by the public for what they have accomplished since their founding 24 years ago,” he said.

Despite investor enthusiasm, questions remain about the company’s finances and valuation. SpaceX disclosed in its IPO filing that it lost more than $4.9 billion last year, compared with a profit of $791 million in 2024, largely due to increased spending on artificial intelligence initiatives. Revenue, however, climbed 33 percent to $18.7 billion.

The company’s valuation now exceeds that of Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, even though Meta generated substantially larger revenue and profits. Meta reported $201 billion in revenue and $60.5 billion in profit last year while carrying a market value of just over $1.4 trillion.

SpaceX has said proceeds from the offering will be used to reduce debt and finance a series of ambitious projects, including orbital AI data centers, a manufacturing facility on the moon, and eventually human missions to Mars.

Although critics question whether those goals can be achieved, enthusiasm among Musk supporters remains strong. In New York, dozens of fans gathered outside the Nasdaq building in Times Square to witness the company’s public debut.

Among them was Zach Boucher, 45, who traveled overnight from California to attend the occasion.

Mr. Boucher said he was buying more than 2,200 SpaceX shares through Wells Fargo and was “never going to sell — I’m holding for the long term.”

Comparing the moment to some of the most significant investment opportunities in modern history, he added:

“This moment is “like getting in on the ground floor of GE or G.M., or being here when Microsoft opened,” he said.

The IPO generated a windfall not only for investors but also for Wall Street’s largest banks. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and 18 additional financial institutions served as underwriters and were expected to collect a record $550 million in fees.

The celebrations extended beyond SpaceX itself. Goldman Sachs transformed portions of its Manhattan headquarters into a space-themed venue complete with moon-rock-inspired desserts and a “mission control” brunch. JPMorgan and SpaceX commissioned artist Leo Villareal to create a large-scale celestial light display atop the bank’s headquarters.

Meanwhile, festivities at Starbase were expected to continue well into the evening, with company executives scheduled to address employees during a celebration and at least one nearby venue reserved for additional events honoring the company’s historic achievement.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that negotiations with the United States are progressing toward a final agreement, though key issues remain unresolved. He disclosed that the emerging framework is structured in two phases, with the controversial nuclear component intentionally deferred until the second stage.

Discussing the outcome of the recent conflict, Araghchi projected confidence about Iran’s position and argued that Tehran entered negotiations from a position of strength.

“The best time to end a war is when we hold the upper hand; we are truly victorious on the battlefield.”

He also highlighted the duration and intensity of the confrontation, portraying Iran’s resistance as a significant achievement.

“We stood against the world’s apparent superpower for 40 days.”

Addressing questions surrounding the ongoing negotiations, Araghchi said the public would receive a full explanation once discussions are completed, while emphasizing that the process has not yet reached its conclusion.

“The final agreement hasn’t been reached yet; if it is finalized, I promise to explain every single clause,” he stated, further clarified the structural sequencing of the emerging framework, “The agreement includes two stages, and we have moved the nuclear issue to the second stage.”

The foreign minister also reiterated Iran’s commitment to Hezbollah and other allied groups throughout the region, insisting that any end to hostilities must address multiple fronts rather than Iran alone.

“We will never leave Hezbollah in Lebanon alone, and the end of the war will also encompass Lebanon and all other fronts.”

Expanding on that point, Araghchi said Iran has made clear that any broader settlement must include developments in southern Lebanon as well.

“Ending the war in the agreement also means Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied areas in southern Lebanon, and we have stated this explicitly to the other side.”

Turning to the diplomatic provisions under discussion, Araghchi claimed the United States is prepared to formally acknowledge Iran’s sovereignty as part of the arrangement.

“In this agreement, the United States will state in writing that it respects Iran’s sovereignty.”

He added that the memorandum currently being negotiated reaches well beyond military matters and includes economic and financial issues as well.

“The memorandum of understanding includes the nuclear issue, sanctions relief, reconstruction, and blocked/frozen funds.”

Araghchi’s comments came after President Donald Trump told Axios reporter Barak Ravid on Friday that he believes a deal with Iran could be finalized as soon as this weekend or by Monday.

Later in the day, a senior administration official echoed that optimism, telling reporters that the two sides appear to be nearing the finish line.

“We do expect to be signing this agreement with Iran over the next few days. We assess it at 85%, but not 100%. We feel very good about the deal. We are not quite at the finish line but we are very close,” said the official.

The official outlined several major elements expected to be included in the agreement, among them the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of the American blockade on Iranian ports, and the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program. Under the proposed arrangement, Iran’s enriched nuclear material would be transferred to U.S. custody, destroyed, and removed from the country.

According to the official, Iran would receive substantial economic relief if it fulfills its obligations under the agreement.

The official stated that Iran would be “relieved of a lot of the economic pressures that they’ve been under for many, many years” if the country complies with the deal’s provisions. The official further stressed, “Those benefits only accrue if they actually deliver.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Friday that he remains optimistic a formal agreement with Iran could be completed within the next several days, suggesting a deal may be finalized over the weekend or by Monday.

Speaking with Axios reporter Barak Ravid, Trump indicated that negotiations continue to move forward and said he expects Iranian officials to publicly correct reports circulated by state-controlled media regarding the contents of the proposed agreement, which he previously said were inaccurate.

Trump’s remarks followed comments from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who suggested that a breakthrough between Washington and Tehran is closer than ever and signaled confidence that an agreement could soon be finalized.

“The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has never been closer. Pending its finalization, the media should refrain from entering speculation about its content,” Araghchi wrote in a post on social media.

He added that the Iranian government intends to release information about the agreement once all remaining details are completed.

“In line with our responsible and transparent approach, all details will be shared with the public in due course,” he added.

After reviewing Araghchi’s statement, Trump told Ravid that he viewed the message favorably and described it as “very positive”.

Additional signs of progress came from Pakistan, which has been serving as a mediator between the United States and Iran during the negotiations.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Friday that the two sides have reached agreement on the final language of a peace framework and are now focused on implementation.

“We can confirm that a final, agreed-upon text of the peace deal has been reached, and Pakistan is now working closely with both sides to finalize the next steps. Peace has never been this close as it is now.”

Sharif also accused opponents of the negotiations of attempting to undermine the diplomatic effort through false reports and misinformation.

“Amid ongoing intense mediation efforts by Pakistan, we are fully aware of an incessant misinformation campaign being waged by those who want to sabotage the peace deal,” he added.

A newly published editorial on the website of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is shedding light on how Tehran is seeking to portray the aftermath of its recent conflict with Israel and the United States. The article argues that Iran emerged from the war with enhanced strategic leverage and outlines what appears to be a new security doctrine centered on the Strait of Hormuz and deeper coordination with Hezbollah.

The commentary, published in the regime-affiliated online outlet Voice of Iran under the headline “A New Security Equation: From Hormuz to Beirut,” presents the war as a turning point that strengthened Iran’s position despite the damage it sustained during the fighting.

Throughout the piece, President Donald Trump is depicted as a leader whose rhetoric exceeds his actions. The editorial claims Trump “speaks more about his dreams than about realities” and portrays him as publicly threatening Iran while privately pulling back from confrontation.

According to the article, Washington has entered a “strategic deadlock” in which it is unwilling to make concessions to Tehran but lacks the ability to wage a broader conflict. The editorial contends that the United States has already expended its strongest leverage while Iran has gained new tools to advance its interests.

Central to the article’s message is the assertion that Iran intends to continue leveraging the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic pressure point while strengthening ties with Hezbollah and other regional proxy organizations.

According to the editorial, “Iran will not return to the prewar era — not regarding Hormuz, not regarding the U.S. military presence in the region, and not regarding the equation surrounding resistance groups.”

The article argues that the recent conflict expanded Iran’s opportunities to pursue its regional ambitions and specifically points to “control over the Strait of Hormuz” as a strategic advantage enhanced by the war.

The publication also suggests that relations between Iran and Hezbollah have entered a new phase marked by even closer integration.

The article states that the Lebanese group is now part of Iran’s “security equation” and declares that “defending Iran is equivalent to defending the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, and defending the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon is equivalent to defending Iran.”

It further describes Hezbollah as “an integral part of Iran’s national interests,” indicating that Tehran views the organization as a core component of its deterrence posture and regional security framework.

While the editorial reflects the Iranian regime’s own interpretation of events rather than an independent analysis, it offers a rare public look at how Tehran is framing the postwar landscape: one in which the Strait of Hormuz remains a powerful source of leverage, Hezbollah becomes more deeply woven into Iranian security planning, and the United States is portrayed as having lost strategic momentum.

The editorial opens by arguing that periods of war create confusion through competing narratives and conflicting reports, making it especially important, in the authors’ view, to present events from what they describe as Iran’s perspective rather than that of its adversaries. The piece says that media coverage should help readers understand the significance of events and distinguish between truth and misinformation.

It explains that Voice of Iran, an online publication associated with Khamenei’s website, was established during what it calls the Zionist regime’s 12-day war against Iran. The publication says its mission is to identify the most important developments amid a flood of information and present what it views as the true strategic position of the Islamic Republic. The editorial also dedicates its latest issue to Brigadier General Morteza Jamali of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who it says was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli missile strike.

Turning to President Trump, the article argues that his conduct during the conflict demonstrates a disconnect between public statements and policy decisions. It claims Trump “speaks more about his dreams than about realities” and alleges that while he publicly threatens Iran, he ultimately retreats when faced with what the authors characterize as credible Iranian deterrence. The piece summarizes its assessment of Trump’s approach as “Tough talk in words; retreat in action.”

The editorial goes on to argue that recent developments suggest the United States lacks the ability to sustain a large-scale military conflict with Iran. According to the article, the 40-day war exposed the limits of American power, leading the White House to conclude that it could neither force concessions from Tehran nor achieve its objectives through military means. The authors characterize this situation as a “strategic deadlock” and argue that, despite suffering damage during the conflict, Iran emerged with greater leverage because of strategic assets such as its position near the Strait of Hormuz.

The piece further contends that the United States has exhausted its most valuable pressure tools while Iran has gained new advantages. It claims American leaders expected a rapid victory but instead strengthened Iran’s position. The article argues that Tehran now has a clearer understanding of its path forward than Washington does and credits that outcome to what it describes as resistance on the battlefield.

According to the editorial, the war fundamentally altered the regional landscape. It insists that “Iran will not return to the prewar era — not regarding Hormuz, not regarding the U.S. military presence in the region, and not regarding the equation surrounding resistance groups.” The article argues that the conflict created new opportunities for Iran to shape regional security, economic, and geopolitical developments.

The authors further maintain that Iran’s relationships with Hezbollah and other allied groups will no longer resemble those that existed before the war. Instead, they argue, these ties will be strengthened and redefined by the realities that emerged during the conflict. Hezbollah, the editorial says, has become part of Iran’s broader security framework because its participation contributed both to Iran’s defense and to what the article describes as resistance to American and Israeli influence.

The editorial concludes by asserting that “defending Iran is equivalent to defending the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, and defending the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon is equivalent to defending Iran.” It portrays Hezbollah as “an integral part of Iran’s national interests” and argues that tools such as the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s ability to influence relations with Washington can be employed not only to advance Iranian interests but also to protect Hezbollah. The article closes by insisting that neither Iran nor its relationships with regional resistance movements will return to their prewar state, claiming that the conflict significantly expanded Tehran’s ability to shape regional security arrangements and deepen its ties with allied groups.

{Matzav.com}

MK Meir Porush issued a sharply worded statement Thursday evening following the vehicle incidents that occurred during chareidi protests on Highway 4 and elsewhere in central Israel, placing blame on Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg for what he described as a dangerous escalation.

Porush accused the legal establishment of creating the conditions that have fueled growing tensions surrounding the arrests of yeshiva bochurim and the broader confrontation over the status of Torah learners.

“Attorney Baharav-Miara and Justice Sohlberg, thank you for bringing this calamity upon the people of Israel,” Porush said in a statement.

The veteran UTJ lawmaker argued that chareidi representatives had repeatedly warned that continued arrests of yeshiva students and other measures directed at the Torah world would deepen divisions and intensify confrontations within Israeli society.

“We warned you again and again that your conduct would lead the people of Israel to a civil war, and you did not listen,” he said.

Porush concluded by calling for an immediate change in policy and urging decision-makers to reverse course before the situation deteriorates further.

“Come to your senses before it is too late,” he said.

The remarks came after a tense evening of demonstrations and traffic disruptions across central Israel, during which two people were injured in separate vehicle-related incidents. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the events, and officials have not determined whether either incident was intentional.

A looming shortage of aircraft parking space at Ben Gurion Airport could force airlines to scale back flights during the busy summer and Yom Tov travel season, potentially impacting as many as 2.4 million passenger bookings, according to Israel Airports Authority CEO Sharon Kedmi.

In remarks to Ynet, Kedmi warned that the continued presence of dozens of American cargo planes at both Ben Gurion Airport and Ramon Airport has created a severe capacity problem that could disrupt commercial aviation if a solution is not found in the coming days.

He said airlines are expected to be informed by June 16 that they should begin preparing contingency plans, including the possibility of canceling some scheduled flights during the peak travel window that includes the High Holiday period from September 11 through October 4.

According to Kedmi, the strain on airport infrastructure has been building steadily since February. He noted that roughly 70 aircraft are currently using Ben Gurion Airport for routine operations such as arrivals, departures, and refueling, while another 25 cargo planes remain stationed at Ramon Airport.

“As long as the US fleet does not leave Ben Gurion Airport and is not relocated elsewhere, we have no choice but to prepare for a situation in which airlines will have to cancel part of their scheduled flights,” Kedmi said.

He explained that at least 30 American cargo aircraft would need to be moved from Ben Gurion Airport in order to free sufficient space for the commercial flights already planned for the summer and Yom Tov season.

The shortage, he said, is no longer merely a future concern. Airport operations are already feeling the effects, with delays affecting arrivals and departures. In some cases, passengers have been forced to remain onboard aircraft for extended periods because no parking positions or boarding gates were immediately available.

Ben Gurion Airport is currently serving approximately 65,000 travelers each day. During the busiest weeks of the summer, that number is projected to climb to roughly 100,000 daily passengers.

Kedmi also revealed that talks held several weeks ago had fueled hopes that a potential understanding between the United States and Iran would result in the relocation of American military aircraft currently based in Israel. Those expectations faded when no agreement materialized, leaving the aircraft in place and the parking crunch unresolved.

He stressed that any eventual decision to cancel flights would rest with the airlines themselves, which would weigh both operational realities and commercial considerations. If reductions become necessary, the impact could be felt across the aviation sector, affecting both Israeli carriers and foreign airlines currently flying to Israel or planning to restore service.

{Matzav.com}

A remarkable discovery in Moscow has brought to light a long-lost manuscript of one of the greatest medieval Torah commentators, ending decades of uncertainty surrounding a work that scholars believed had vanished forever.

The find was made in the Russian capital’s State Library, where countless historical treasures confiscated during turbulent periods of European history have remained hidden for generations. The revelation comes at a time when Jewish life in Russia is experiencing a significant resurgence, with Torah institutions, yeshivos, and shuls flourishing across the country.

The historic manuscript was uncovered by researcher Yisrael Dubitsky during his work on the famed Ginzburg Collection, which is housed in the State Library. The document contains a Torah commentary authored by Rabbeinu Shmuel ben Meir, the Rashbam, one of the most distinguished figures among the Rishonim. A grandson of Rashi, the Rashbam was renowned for his emphasis on the straightforward meaning of the biblical text and his unique reliance on Hebrew grammar and syntax in explaining the Torah. In some instances, his interpretations differed from those of his illustrious grandfather.

The manuscript discovered in Moscow is known among scholars as “Manuscript No. 103” from the Jewish Theological Seminary of Breslau. It served as the primary source for the first printed edition of the Rashbam’s Torah commentary, which was published in 1881.

After that publication, however, the manuscript seemingly disappeared without a trace and was long considered irretrievably lost. Researchers now believe that following World War II, the document made its way into the Soviet Union, where it became absorbed into archival collections.

According to scholars, the manuscript remained hidden in plain sight for decades because it was mistakenly cataloged as a commentary by Rashi. The error was apparently caused by the absence of a title page, combined with the fact that the surviving text begins in the middle of Sefer Bereishis.

News of the discovery generated excitement among rabbanim and Chabad shluchim throughout Russia, who work under the leadership of Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Harav Berel Lazar shlita. Researchers and Torah scholars alike have described the find as one of great historical significance for the study of medieval biblical interpretation.

Reacting to the discovery, Rav Lazar reflected on its deeper significance.

“In a generation as spiritually impoverished as ours, we suddenly see such light revealed—light that deepens our understanding of Torah and gives us strength to live with the Torah, a Torah of life and a Torah of light that illuminates our lives. The Jewish people are not forsaken. From Above, we are being granted a special light to encourage us and give us the strength to continue spreading Torah everywhere and to every Jew.”

Rabbi Boruch Gorin, chairman of the Jewish Museum in Moscow and head of the L’Chaim publishing house, also expressed enthusiasm over the discovery, calling it a matter of importance for the entire Jewish world.

“We are following these developments with anticipation and great curiosity as we examine the findings more closely. Every word of our great Rishonim that comes to light is a reason for excitement, and we eagerly await the researcher’s full report to understand the magnitude of the treasure that has been revealed.”

As word of the discovery spreads throughout the Torah world, Jewish communities across Russia are celebrating what many see as far more than a scholarly breakthrough. For them, the reemergence of a manuscript thought lost for generations stands as a powerful symbol of the enduring vitality of Torah and the promise that its light can never be extinguished.

The remarkable find serves as a reminder that even after decades hidden away in forgotten archives, the words of the Rishonim continue to illuminate the Jewish people and inspire future generations.

Sen. Lindsey Graham expressed serious concerns Friday about reports describing a potential agreement with Iran, arguing that the terms being circulated would amount to a deeply flawed arrangement if they prove accurate.

The South Carolina Republican said he was encouraged by President Donald Trump’s rejection of Iranian media reports regarding the proposed framework and praised the administration’s efforts to weaken the Iranian regime through military and economic pressure.

“I am very glad to hear from President Donald Trump that Iranian media reports about the so-called deal are fake because the deal as described by Iran would be awful. President Trump and our military deserve a lot of credit for making Iran the weakest they’ve been since 1979 through a combination of highly effective military strikes and a crushing blockade. However, we must remember the Iranian regime has killed 42,000 of their own people for simply wanting a better life, and their leadership are radical religious Nazis.”

Graham said any future agreement should be measured against the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Obama-era nuclear accord that many Republicans viewed as fundamentally flawed. He specifically criticized reports suggesting Iran could receive a massive reconstruction package while the current regime remains in power.

“As to any potential deal, it must be compared to the JCPOA, and I am hopeful that it will be vastly different. The idea of a $300 billion reconstruction fund, given who is in charge of Iran, seems to be tone deaf. It would be akin to a Marshall Plan for Germany with the Nazis still in charge. That wouldn’t have been a good idea then, and any reconstruction fund that benefits this terrorist regime wouldn’t be a good idea now.”

The senator also emphasized what he views as the most important benchmark for any nuclear agreement, saying the administration must maintain its longstanding opposition to Iranian uranium enrichment.

“As to the Iranian nuclear program, President Trump’s red line has been no enrichment. I hope that holds – as it must.”

Graham further argued that allowing Tehran to continue enriching uranium was among the most significant shortcomings of the JCPOA and insisted that lawmakers should have the opportunity to examine and approve any future accord.

“Allowing Iran to enrich under the JCPOA was one of the major flaws of that terrible deal. As I’ve stated before, any deal with Iran must come to Congress for scrutiny and approval.”

{Matzav.com}

Degel HaTorah MK Uri Maklev said Thursday that his party was not responsible for the collapse of the latest effort to advance legislation regulating the status of yeshiva students, insisting that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu simply could not guarantee the votes needed to pass the measure.

In a wide-ranging interview with Avi Blum on Kol Chai’s main news program, Maklev addressed the proposed Basic Law on Torah Study, the arrests of yeshiva bochurim, relations with the Prime Minister, and the recent political battle over legislation concerning Torah learners.

Maklev offered his account of the events that led to the shelving of the legislation. According to him, Degel HaTorah never opposed the bill itself and never instructed Netanyahu not to bring it forward. Rather, he said, the process stalled because the Prime Minister was unable to demonstrate that he had a coalition majority to approve it.

“No one stood at the door and told him not to submit it,” Maklev said. “Did anyone tell him not to bring the bill to committee? If he wanted to move forward, he should have submitted it and advanced the process.”

Maklev explained that once it became clear Netanyahu could not provide assurances that the legislation would pass, the party’s rabbinic leadership instructed Degel HaTorah to distance itself from the coalition bloc and refuse to rely on future promises.

“The Gedolei Torah asked one simple question: Is there a commitment that a majority exists for this law, and is the Prime Minister prepared to guarantee that majority? The answer that came back after two days was that there was no such commitment and that significant difficulties remained in securing enough support.”

According to Maklev, Likud later suggested applying legislative continuity to the proposal and advancing it in the next Knesset, hoping a different coalition makeup would improve its chances. Degel HaTorah, however, viewed that as insufficient.

“We saw that perhaps there was a desire within Likud to continue business as usual and live on promises,” he said. “That is what led to the declaration that we are no longer committed to the bloc.”

Asked about reports that Netanyahu later renewed his willingness to promote the legislation but was rebuffed by Degel HaTorah, Maklev rejected that characterization.

According to him, even during the second round of discussions, Netanyahu did not provide a concrete commitment that the bill would pass, offering only optimism that support would materialize as the process moved forward.

“He came and said, ‘In the end there will be a majority, but there has to be a dynamic process,’” Maklev recounted. “There was no clear commitment. Ultimately, it was impossible to move forward with legislation based on statements like that.”

Blum pressed Maklev, suggesting that the party did not oppose the bill itself but simply never received assurance that it could actually be passed.

“Yes,” Maklev replied. “That is exactly the issue.”

He added that had Netanyahu formally submitted and advanced the legislation, Degel HaTorah would not have blocked it.

“We were not authorized to give anything in exchange for promises. He could have acted. No one told him not to submit the bill.”

Turning to the proposed Basic Law on Torah Study, Maklev acknowledged that the measure does not address the immediate fears facing yeshiva students and avreichim who worry about arrests and economic sanctions.

“That concern is constantly before us,” he said. “We have not taken our minds off the fear, the reality, the economic decrees, and the severe restrictions.”

Nevertheless, he argued that formal recognition of the value of Torah study carries both public and legal significance, even if it does not replace comprehensive legislation regulating the status of Torah learners.

“At a time when bnei Torah and the chareidi public are being targeted, maligned, and attacked, the very act of elevating the importance of Torah study is significant,” he said. “There is value in ensuring that recognition is reflected in legislation as well.”

Maklev emphasized that his priority remains comprehensive legal protections for yeshiva students and avreichim. He even expressed discomfort with the term “draft law,” preferring instead to call it a “regulation law.”

“The Basic Law on Torah Study was meant to be one component of broader legislation recognizing and regulating the status of Torah learners,” he explained. “Of course, the primary goal should have been the regulation itself.”

He said the intention remains to advance the Basic Law through all three Knesset readings rather than settling for preliminary approval. Maklev added that he recently consulted a legal expert involved in drafting the proposal years ago, who advised continuing to pursue it despite the current legal climate.

Addressing recent meetings between Prime Minister Netanyahu and UTJ chairman Moshe Gafni, Maklev insisted that Degel HaTorah has not restored its political commitment to the coalition bloc.

According to him, the party has deliberately avoided public meetings that could be used to create the impression of reconciliation or a return to full political partnership. Requests for highly publicized meetings, he said, were not approved by the Gedolei Torah.

At the same time, Maklev stressed that routine working relationships with the Prime Minister and government ministries continue because the chareidi public requires assistance on a wide range of daily issues.

“We have much work to do in the various ministries, in education, welfare, and many other areas,” he said. “These are working meetings and nothing more. We received instructions, and we are acting accordingly.”

He emphasized that meeting with Netanyahu should not be interpreted as a renewed political commitment to the coalition or any decision regarding future governments.

Reflecting on the lengthy negotiations over the legislation, Maklev said he remained involved because even a small chance of securing protections for Torah learners justified continued efforts.

“The price being paid by those who study Torah is simply too high,” he said. “That is why we could not abandon the process as long as there was still hope. But once it became clear that no real commitment existed to pass the law, we could no longer rely on vague assurances.”

Maklev argued that the episode demonstrates that Degel HaTorah did not derail the legislation. Rather, he said, the proposal collapsed because Netanyahu and the coalition failed to secure a workable majority.

“If they had placed a bill on the table and guaranteed its passage, Degel HaTorah would not have stood in its way,” he said.

Maklev also took aim at the Religious Zionist camp, arguing that it has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years.

“Religious Zionism has gone through a major upheaval, and they need to recover from it,” he said. “Most of the opposition, even within Likud, comes from people influenced by Religious Zionism. Edelstein, Illouz, Saada, Tur-Paz, Stern—look where they have ended up. Tur-Paz has been holding meetings against the chareidi public for years. There is no precedent for this.”

Commenting on the removal of MK Moshe Solomon from Knesset committees, Maklev delivered one of the interview’s sharpest remarks.

“There was no need for much explanation as to why he was removed from committee assignments,” he said. “Anyone who betrays Torah will ultimately betray his party as well. Everything they are saying about us today, they will eventually say about you. They incited them against the Torah world, and they were influenced by it.”

{Matzav.com}

The world of dayanus was plunged into mourning Thursday with the passing of Harav Nachum Sheinin zt”l, a longtime member of the Beis Din HaRabani HaGadol and former Av Beis Din of Tel Aviv. He was 89 years old.

Widely regarded as one of the leading and most respected dayanim of his generation, Rav Sheinin devoted decades to Torah, hora’ah, and public service, leaving an enduring impact on countless talmidim, colleagues, and members of the broader Torah community.

A distinguished alumnus of Yeshivas Ponevezh, Rav Sheinin developed into a prominent talmid chacham under the guidance of the yeshiva’s revered roshei yeshiva. His years in Ponevezh laid the foundation for a lifetime dedicated to Torah scholarship, judicial leadership, and communal responsibility.

For many years, he served as Av Beis Din of the Tel Aviv Rabbinical Court, where he became known for his mastery of complex halachic issues, particularly in difficult family law matters. He handled sensitive and challenging cases with exceptional wisdom, helping resolve numerous agunah situations and adjudicating intricate disputes with both precision and compassion.

In 2008, Rav Sheinin was appointed to the Beis Din HaRabani HaGadol, Israel’s highest rabbinical court, where he continued to serve with distinction until his passing.

Alongside his judicial responsibilities, Rav Sheinin served as Rav of the Heichal Moshe Yitzchak beis medrash in Bnei Brak and headed Kollel Tov HaTorah. Over the years, he taught thousands, delivered countless shiurim, and became a respected address for Torah guidance and halachic counsel.

He maintained close relationships with many of the leading Torah figures of the generation, including Maran Harav Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt”l, from whom he drew inspiration and guidance throughout much of his public career.

His levayah took place Thursday afternoon, departing from his beis medrash on Baal Shem Tov Street in Bnei Brak. He was laid to rest in the cemetery of Yeshivas Ponevezh.

The family is sitting shivah at their home on Rashi Street in Bnei Brak.

Yehi zichro baruch.

A fierce dispute erupted Thursday between chareidi parties and Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich after he decided at the last minute not to bring a funding package worth more than one billion shekels for new communities in Judea and Samaria to the cabinet for approval. Instead, the proposal will now be discussed at Sunday’s Security Cabinet meeting.

Associates of the finance minister said the decision stemmed from diplomatic concerns and international sensitivity surrounding settlement development. Chareidi political sources, however, argue that moving the matter from the government table to the Security Cabinet was also intended to reduce public scrutiny over both the source of the funds and their distribution.

The controversy follows a letter sent by United Torah Judaism chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf, who urged Smotrich to include the chareidi cities of Immanuel and Modiin Illit in the funding package. Goldknopf argued that there was no justification for excluding chareidi communities located in Judea and Samaria from the program. According to party sources, Smotrich declined the request.

A senior chareidi official sharply criticized the move, telling local media, “You killed and then inherited. Smotrich took more than a billion shekels for Judea and Samaria, including funds that had been frozen from the chareidi public, and instead of bringing the decision to a government meeting and facing criticism, he transferred it to the Security Cabinet under the pretext of diplomatic pressure.”

The official claimed that the move was designed to avoid a public debate over how the money is being allocated, why chareidi communities were left out, and why funds that had previously been removed from the Torah world and chareidi institutions are now being redirected elsewhere.

“This is an attempt to avoid a public discussion about how the money is being distributed, why the chareidi cities were excluded, and why funds taken away from the Torah world and chareidi institutions are now being directed to other purposes,” the source said.

The anger within the chareidi camp has also focused on a recent increase in funding for hesder yeshivos. According to sources in United Torah Judaism, Smotrich approved an increase in the funding formula for hesder institutions worth approximately 30 million shekels, even as chareidi yeshivos continue to contend with budget freezes and reductions.

Party officials argue that the decision reflects a pattern of favoritism toward institutions associated with Smotrich’s constituency while the chareidi educational system faces growing financial challenges.

“At a time when Gedolei Yisroel are traveling across the globe to raise money to sustain the Torah world, the finance minister is making sure to increase funding for the yeshivos identified with his own community,” the official said. “You cannot demand political partnership from the chareidim while systematically favoring the institutions and communities of one sector over another.”

{Matzav.com}

Shikma Bresler, one of the most prominent leaders of the protests against judicial reform, ignited a fierce backlash on social media Thursday night after sharply criticizing demonstrations by Peleg Yerushalmi activists that brought major roads across central Israel to a standstill.

Bresler took aim at the protests in a post on X, comparing the demonstrators to other groups she views as disregarding the rule of law.

“There is no difference between the chareidi factions of the government on the roads, for whom the law has no meaning, and the factions of the government in Judea and Samaria,” Bresler wrote.

She continued, “There’s no need to get angry. We need to understand who they are, what they want (a dark religious state), and then understand that we are fighting for the soul of the state.”

Her comments quickly drew criticism online, with many users pointing to her own role in organizing and supporting the anti-judicial reform protests, which frequently included major highway blockades, transportation disruptions, and demonstrations that paralyzed key traffic arteries throughout the country.

One commenter responded, “No, can you be any more lacking in self-awareness? You can be foolish, but to this extent? Did you forget Kaplan and what you did here?”

Another social media user wrote sarcastically, “Oh, so the left suddenly discovered the law? The same people who set the country on fire in Balfour and Kaplan are now preaching against blocking roads.”

A third response that gained significant traction online stated: “It’s unbelievable how much chutzpah this takes. Aren’t you the one who personally called for disrupting roads?”

Bresler’s remarks came amid a wave of Peleg Yerushalmi demonstrations held Thursday evening at several major locations throughout Israel. The protests were organized in response to the arrest of yeshiva students and their transfer to military authorities, leading to severe traffic congestion and road closures across the Gush Dan region and other parts of central Israel.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump sharply criticized Iran on Friday after Tehran suggested that key elements of a proposed peace agreement remain unresolved, insisting that Iranian officials are misrepresenting the status of negotiations and warning that the United States will not compromise on its core demands.

Trump’s frustration came after Iran’s foreign ministry stated that the country “had not reached a final conclusion” regarding any agreement. In response, the president described Iranian negotiators as “very dishonorable people to deal with” and cautioned that “they had better get their act together and fast!”

Reports from Iranian state media indicated that Tehran plans to continue discussions with Washington while seeking to preserve its uranium enrichment program. The reports also claimed Iran is unwilling to surrender oversight of the Strait of Hormuz and is demanding the release of $24 billion in frozen assets as “compensation” for losses suffered during the recent military campaign.

The president dismissed those reports outright, saying they were entirely inaccurate.

“What they said, including their weak and pathetic statement on having a deal, bears no relation to the truth,” the president wrote on Truth Social.

Trump said Thursday that negotiations had entered their final phase and asserted that Iran had agreed to terminate its nuclear weapons efforts. According to the president, an agreement could potentially be finalized and signed as soon as this weekend.

Throughout the talks, Trump has maintained that any agreement must permanently prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Iran, however, has presented a different interpretation of the draft accord. Officials in Tehran contend that the current language specifies that “Iran undertakes no new commitments” regarding nuclear weapons and that additional discussions on the issue would take place during a 60-day period after the agreement is signed.

Under the framework initially proposed by negotiators, the peace initiative was structured in two stages, with nuclear-related discussions scheduled for the second phase of the process.

The conflicting descriptions from Washington and Tehran have fueled uncertainty about the agreement, including how close it is to completion and what provisions it ultimately contains.

A senior administration official told The Post that the United States has identified five essential requirements that must be met before any deal is finalized.

According to the official, those conditions include the destruction of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, the dismantling of its nuclear infrastructure, withholding frozen Iranian funds until compliance is demonstrated, guaranteeing free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and ending Iranian financial support for terrorist organizations.

“This is what they have agreed to. This is a performance-based deal,” the official said.

A separate White House official told Fox News that negotiations are approaching the finish line and estimated that the agreement is roughly 75% complete.

“While this is tentative, we feel confident that we will be signing this in the next few days,” the official said.

Iran’s foreign ministry acknowledged that most of the agreement’s language has already been completed but argued that unresolved disputes remain.

“Textually, the text has almost been finalized in its major parts. The problem is that the contradictory positions of the United States have always caused turbulence and disruption in this process,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told Iranian state media.

{Matzav.com}

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu issued a forceful statement Friday following reports of an emerging agreement between the United States and Iran, declaring that Israel remains unwavering in its determination to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Speaking amid growing discussion about a US-backed diplomatic framework with Iran, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel’s position has not changed and that stopping Iran’s nuclear ambitions remains a top national priority.

“As long as I am the Prime Minister of Israel – Iran will not have nuclear weapons,” he said, adding that he and US President Donald Trump “are in full agreement on this issue.”

Netanyahu pointed to his decades-long campaign against Iran’s nuclear program, arguing that sustained international pressure has delayed Tehran’s efforts to acquire atomic weapons.

“For over 30 years, I have been at the forefront of the international struggle against Iran’s nuclear program. Were it not for this struggle, Iran would have long ago possessed atomic bombs to destroy Israel.”

The prime minister also warned that Iran’s broader objective remains the destruction of Israel and said his personal mission has been to prevent that outcome.

“Iran is working to destroy the Jewish state, and I am dedicating my life to preventing them from doing so.”

“As long as I am the Prime Minister of Israel, this will not happen.”

Netanyahu’s comments came one day after President Trump revealed that planned US military action against Iran had been suspended following progress toward a diplomatic understanding aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and launching a new round of nuclear talks.

Trump disclosed the development Thursday evening in a post on Truth Social, announcing that the scheduled strikes had been called off in light of commitments made by Iranian leadership.

“Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have, as President of the United States of America, cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The president said the framework had received broad backing from numerous regional and international stakeholders involved in the negotiations.

“Discussions and final points have been, in both concept and great detail, approved by all parties involved, including the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and others.”

While signaling optimism about the diplomatic effort, Trump made clear that pressure on Iran would continue until a final agreement is formally completed.

He stressed that “the naval blockade will remain in full force and effect until this transaction is finalized. The time and place of the signing will be announced shortly.”

Following Trump’s announcement, Netanyahu’s office released a statement confirming that the two leaders had spoken regarding the emerging understanding between Washington and Tehran.

“President Trump spoke this evening with Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding the memorandum of understanding (MoU) currently taking shape with Iran to enter into negotiations.”

The Prime Minister’s Office noted that although Israel is not directly participating in the proposed memorandum, Netanyahu welcomed Trump’s assurances regarding the objectives of any eventual agreement.

“Although Israel is not a party to the memorandum of understanding, the Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for President Trump’s commitment that the final agreement concluded at the end of negotiations will include the removal of enriched material, the dismantling of enrichment infrastructure, limits on missile production, and the cessation of Iran’s support for its regional terror proxies,” the statement added.

{Matzav.com}

Elon Musk crossed a historic financial threshold this week as soaring investor demand for SpaceX pushed the entrepreneur’s fortune beyond the trillion-dollar mark, cementing his status as the richest individual in history and underscoring the extraordinary confidence markets continue to place in his vision.

Few modern business figures have achieved the level of public recognition Musk commands. The entrepreneur has become as much a cultural phenomenon as a corporate leader, building a vast following online while transforming industries ranging from electric vehicles to space exploration.

His ascent has come during a period when skepticism toward billionaires and concerns about wealth concentration have intensified. Yet despite possessing a fortune unlike anything previously seen, Musk has maintained a devoted base of supporters, even without cultivating the everyman image associated with business icons such as Warren Buffett.

Supporters praise Musk’s blunt, unscripted style and willingness to challenge conventional thinking. Detractors, however, argue that his influence rivals that of a modern oligarch, pointing to governance concerns within his companies and criticizing his increasingly visible involvement in political debates.

Investor enthusiasm was on full display Thursday when SpaceX completed a blockbuster initial public offering that raised an unprecedented $75 billion. The offering highlighted Wall Street’s continued faith in Musk’s ventures. Before the IPO, Forbes estimated his fortune at approximately $780 billion, placing him far ahead of Alphabet co-founder Larry Page, the next wealthiest person on the list.

“The second richest person has been hovering around $300 billion, so about less than one-third of what Musk can potentially be worth tomorrow,” said Matt Durot, deputy editor at Forbes Wealth. “And only one other person, [Oracle founder] Larry Ellison, has ever been ⁠worth $400 billion.”

The bulk of Musk’s fortune is now tied to SpaceX, where his ownership stake is valued at roughly $866 billion. Combined with his holdings in Tesla and other enterprises, estimates from Forbes and Reuters indicate that his wealth will surpass $1.1 trillion once SpaceX shares begin trading publicly.

Although Tesla and SpaceX established Musk as one of the world’s most recognizable entrepreneurs, his influence expanded dramatically after he purchased Twitter in 2022 for $44 billion. Ownership of the platform provided him with direct access to hundreds of millions of users and amplified his voice on topics including immigration, government policy, free speech, and politics.

His growing political role has proven among the most divisive chapters of his career. Musk’s participation in President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency drew both praise and criticism. At the same time, Tesla faced mounting pressure overseas in 2025, as consumer boycotts and public demonstrations contributed to weakening sales in several markets.

Now 54 years old, Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa, to a South African father and Canadian mother. After earning a degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997, he embarked on a career that would eventually place him at the forefront of multiple industries.

His leadership at Tesla began in 2008, driven by a belief that electric vehicles could be both technologically advanced and highly desirable. Under his guidance, Tesla helped reshape consumer expectations and accelerate the worldwide transition toward electric transportation.

Industry analysts argue that Tesla’s success—and its trillion-dollar-plus valuation—forced traditional car manufacturers to take electric vehicles seriously. Many investors now believe Musk may be capable of achieving a similar transformation in fields such as artificial intelligence and commercial space travel.

Despite the excitement surrounding SpaceX, the company continues to require substantial capital, and much of its valuation depends on technologies whose long-term commercial potential remains years away from realization.

In addition to Tesla and SpaceX, Musk has launched or co-founded several other ventures, including Neuralink, which develops brain-computer interfaces, and The Boring Company, focused on transportation tunnels.

Throughout his tenure at Tesla, Musk has generated both admiration and controversy. Nevertheless, he is widely credited with turning the company into the most valuable automaker on the planet.

For years, executives at established automobile manufacturers doubted Tesla’s prospects, questioning whether a startup could successfully mass-produce electric vehicles while remaining profitable.

“He renewed the world’s respect for American ingenuity in automotive engineering,” said Bob Lutz, a former General Motors vice chairman.

At the same time, Tesla has periodically faced legal disputes and investor concerns connected to Musk’s leadership, including scrutiny over his 2018 compensation package, which at one point carried a value of $56 billion.

Musk’s far-reaching influence has inspired market observers to coin the term “Muskonomy” to describe the ecosystem of businesses surrounding him. That influence has also contributed to what many investors call the “Elon premium”—a phenomenon in which confidence in Musk himself drives valuations beyond what conventional financial models might justify.

“Much like Tesla, SpaceX is a bet on Elon Musk,” said Matt Kennedy, senior strategist at Renaissance Capital, a provider of IPO-focused research and ETFs.

“A market cap of $1.5 trillion-$2 trillion would certainly throw all traditional valuation methodologies out the window, and is instead best characterized as the ‘Elon Musk premium.'”

As Musk’s reach has expanded, so too have concerns about concentrating enormous influence in the hands of a single individual. Critics have questioned whether companies tied so closely to one personality face heightened governance risks and potential conflicts of interest.

Over the years, Musk has repeatedly found himself in public disputes with regulators, journalists, media organizations, short sellers, and fellow billionaires. Many of those confrontations have played out in real time across social media platforms, further reinforcing his reputation as one of business’s most unpredictable figures.

His partnership with President Trump followed a similar trajectory. After contributing heavily to Trump’s successful return to the White House and serving in a senior advisory capacity through the administration’s DOGE initiative, Musk emerged as one of the president’s most influential allies in the corporate world.

That alliance eventually deteriorated as disagreements over spending priorities and policy decisions escalated into a highly public feud. Although relations between the two have since improved, the episode underscored the increasingly intertwined nature of Musk’s business interests and political ambitions.

Despite those controversies, many investors remain focused on Musk’s record of turning ambitious concepts into highly successful enterprises, viewing his unconventional behavior as secondary to his achievements.

“Elon is the Edison of our time,” JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said during a recent conversation with Musk.

Dimon’s praise marked a striking shift from earlier years, when the two were engaged in a lengthy legal dispute. Reflecting on their improved relationship, the banking executive told CNBC that they had “hugged it out,” and praised Musk as “our Einstein.”

{Matzav.com}

A dramatic overnight confrontation in Ashdod ended with police releasing a yeshiva bochur who had been detained as an alleged draft evader, after dozens of chareidi protesters descended on the scene and demanded his immediate release.

The incident unfolded late Thursday night near the Big shopping complex in Ashdod. Police officers conducting a traffic stop pulled over a vehicle carrying several yeshiva students. During the inspection, officers discovered that one of the passengers had been classified by the IDF as a draft evader.

Police detained the bochur and summoned military police to take custody of him.

Within minutes, messages began circulating through chareidi communities under the headline “The kidnappers have arrived,” prompting a rapid mobilization. Dozens of protesters quickly gathered at the location, surrounding the officers and calling for the release of the yeshiva student.

As concerns mounted that the situation could escalate into a larger public disturbance and potentially block a major traffic artery at the entrance to the city, the officer in charge reportedly ordered the immediate release of the bochur and instructed that the checkpoint be dismantled.

Following the release, the protesters broke out into dancing, singing “Utzu Eitzah V’sufar,” celebrating what they viewed as a successful effort to prevent the transfer of the yeshiva student into the custody of the military police.

The crowd subsequently dispersed from the area without further incident.

{Matzav.com}

A remarkable moment of gadlus baTorah unfolded Thursday in a Lakewood, NJ home when Rav Yisroel Bunim Schreiber, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Nesiv Hadaas, demonstrated an astonishing command of Torah by recalling the entirety of Maseches Bava Basra from memory before a captivated audience.

The episode took place during the visit of the gedolim of Keren Olam HaTorah, who are currently traveling throughout America on behalf of the yeshivos and kollelim of Eretz Yisroel. While Rav Chaim Mordechai Ausband, Rosh Yeshiva of Ateres Shlomo, was visiting the home of Yanky Stern, a bochur approached him with a challenging question in learning. The inquiry was anything but simple. The bochur asked for a complete accounting of every machlokes between Rabbah and Rav Yosef found throughout Maseches Bava Basra.

Rather than answer the question himself, Rav Ausband directed it to Rav Schreiber, whose reputation as an exceptional baki is well known in the olam haTorah. What followed left those present in awe.

Rav Schreiber began mentally traversing the masechta, moving through the dafim one by one. As he progressed, he identified each machlokes between Rabbah and Rav Yosef, systematically working his way through the entire masechta without opening a Gemara or consulting any notes.

The extraordinary display of mastery transformed an ordinary visit into an unforgettable lesson in the depth and breadth of true Torah knowledge.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

The Kabolas Panim and Atzeres Tefillah took place on the grounds of Beth Medrash Govoha between Ninth and Tenth Streets, bounded by Clifton Avenue and Lexington Avenue. The men’s section was situated on the western side of the main event area, while a separate women’s section was located to the north. Entrances were available from both Clifton Avenue and Lexington Avenue, with designated access points for the public and separate entrances for rabbanim. Extensive security measures and road closures surrounded the event perimeter, with attendees directed by event staff and law enforcement personnel. Restroom facilities and emergency medical services stations were positioned throughout the area to accommodate the thousands who attended.

A unique and educational Torah event will take place this Sunday morning, June 14, when the Agudath Israel of America Torah Projects Commission presents a special shiur in Far Rockaway, New York, featuring Rav Amitai Ben David, acclaimed author of Sichas Chulin and a renowned expert in the practical and halachic aspects of shechitah.

The program will begin at 10:00 a.m. at Agudas Yisroel of Long Island, located at 1121 Sage Street in Far Rockaway, and is expected to attract Daf Yomi participants, bnei Torah, rabbanim, and members of the broader community seeking a deeper understanding of one of the most fascinating and practical areas of halachah.

What makes this event especially noteworthy is that the shiur will feature a live shechitah and treifos demonstration, offering attendees a rare opportunity to witness firsthand many of the concepts discussed in Maseches Chulin and related areas of Torah study. Through practical examples and real-life illustrations, participants will gain a clearer appreciation of the intricate halachos governing kosher slaughter and the examination of animals.

Organizers explain that the program is designed not only for Daf Yomi learners studying or reviewing the sugyos of Chulin, but also for anyone interested in understanding the halachic foundations behind the kosher food that appears on Jewish tables every day.

Rav Amitai Ben David has earned widespread recognition for his ability to present complex halachic subjects in a clear, engaging, and accessible manner. His sefer, Sichas Chulin, has become a highly regarded resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of shechitah and treifos.

The shiur, as mentioned, will take place at Agudas Yisroel of Long Island, 1121 Sage Street, Far Rockaway, New York, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

{Matzav.com}

OpenAI announced that it had shut down a series of accounts tied to Chinese influence operations that allegedly used ChatGPT to generate content aimed at shaping American discussions surrounding tariffs and the rapid expansion of AI data centers.

According to a report by Axios, the campaigns failed to gain meaningful attention online, but OpenAI said they offer a glimpse into how individuals connected to Beijing are testing artificial intelligence as a tool for amplifying divisions and contentious policy debates within the United States.

The company disclosed that investigators uncovered two separate efforts that relied on ChatGPT to create social media content, including posts, comments, and political cartoons focused on U.S. technology issues. One campaign, which OpenAI dubbed “Data Center Bandwagon,” produced material arguing that AI data centers were driving up electricity prices for American consumers. A second campaign, labeled “Tech and Tariffs,” generated content attacking the Trump administration’s tariff policies and criticizing America’s efforts to maintain leadership in advanced technology sectors.

“This was not a case of an influence operation creating a debate,” said Ben Nimmo, principal investigator on OpenAI’s intelligence and investigations team, in comments to reporters. “The debate existed already. This was an influence operation from China trying to interfere in it.”

While OpenAI said neither effort achieved significant reach or engagement, company officials noted that the data center operation appears to be the first known China-linked influence campaign to use OpenAI’s technology to inject itself into the ongoing public discussion over AI infrastructure and energy consumption.

Investigators believe the data center effort involved individuals connected to a Chinese government contractor. According to OpenAI, those users instructed ChatGPT to create comic strips and other content focused on power-grid capacity and rising electricity costs. The material was later distributed through what appeared to be fake accounts on X, often accompanied by links to legitimate news stories discussing the energy demands of large-scale data centers.

A separate operation, whose organizers could not be definitively identified, used ChatGPT to produce political cartoons critical of U.S. trade and technology policies. One image cited by OpenAI depicted President Trump wearing pants emblazoned with the American flag and the words “America First,” while holding a hammer marked “Tech Dominance” and striking a barrier labeled “Global Future.”

OpenAI said the campaigns illustrate how foreign actors may increasingly turn to artificial intelligence to quickly generate large volumes of content designed to influence debates over divisive political and economic issues. The company said its ability to detect and remove the accounts underscores both the growing sophistication of foreign information operations and the challenges facing AI companies seeking to prevent their platforms from being exploited for propaganda and influence campaigns.

{Matzav.com}

Federal authorities are investigating after the numbers “86 47” were discovered etched into a grassy section of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., just days before large crowds are expected to descend on the capital for a UFC event scheduled to coincide with President Donald Trump’s birthday.

The markings were spotted Thursday on a sizable patch of grass east of the World War II Memorial. Live webcam images captured the numbers cut into the discolored area, though officials have not yet determined when the damage occurred. Images taken of the same location on June 5 showed no sign of the message.

Although the carving was clearly visible from above, visitors at ground level had difficulty seeing it Thursday afternoon. Witnesses reported that emergency vehicles temporarily restricted access to the area around 1 p.m. while members of the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team landed nearby. According to a law enforcement source who spoke with CNN, the Secret Service will assist the U.S. Park Police if investigators identify a suspect.

Authorities are still working to determine exactly what caused the damage. A spokesperson for the Park Police said samples from the affected grass have been collected and are being analyzed. Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior issued a sharp condemnation of the incident, describing it as “deranged vandalism.”

“Any threat against the President is taken very seriously by the Department, and our U.S. Park Police will investigate this incident and hold those responsible accountable,” a department spokesperson said.

The phrase “8647” has circulated in some anti-Trump circles in recent years, while members of the administration have argued that the slogan amounts to a threat directed at the President.

The controversy surrounding the phrase intensified in April when the Department of Justice brought charges against former FBI Director James Comey after he shared a photograph on Instagram showing the numbers arranged with seashells.

The meaning commonly attributed to the phrase stems from the use of “86” as slang for eliminating, removing, or getting rid of something, while “47” is a reference to Trump’s status as the 47th President of the United States.

Investigators have not announced any suspects or motives in connection with the National Mall incident, and the inquiry remains ongoing as authorities work to determine who was responsible for the markings and when they were created.

President Donald Trump launched a blistering attack on Sen. Mitch McConnell on Thursday, portraying the retiring Kentucky Republican as embittered, disloyal, and undeserving of the praise he has received over the years for reshaping the federal judiciary.

Trump made the remarks during an Oval Office question-and-answer session following the signing of a proclamation rolling back fishing regulations enacted during the Obama administration. The exchange was broadcast live on Newsmax and the network’s streaming platform, Newsmax2.

The President was asked about the possibility that Senate Republicans could pursue a third budget reconciliation package, a proposal that has been floated as a vehicle for additional funding tied to the conflict with Iran, election-security measures connected to the SAVE America Act, and restrictions on transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.

Earlier this week, McConnell, who is stepping down at the end of his current term and will not serve in the next Congress, cast doubt on the idea during a Senate hearing.

“I think it’s safe to conclude there will not be another reconciliation bill, so it’s really not an option.”

Trump responded with a lengthy criticism of the former Senate Republican leader.

“McConnell is an angry man,” Trump said. “You know, he got thrown out of his position [as Senate GOP leader]. He’s an angry guy. You know, he should be very thankful to me because if I didn’t win, he wouldn’t have gotten to a point … I appointed the judges. He didn’t.

“He gets credit for appointing judges. He didn’t appoint anybody. I did. You know how I did? I won the election and then I picked judges, and the judges ended up getting approved and they said, oh, didn’t he do a good job?

“He didn’t do a good job. What the hell did he do? I won the election.”

The President also accused McConnell of undermining Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who succeeded him as Republican leader in the upper chamber.

“He’s an angry man who’s very disloyal to John Thune,” Trump said. “John Thune is a good man. He was a loyal worker for Mitch McConnell. He worked very hard. He was very loyal to him.

“I disagree with him a lot because Mitch McConnell gave so much money to Democrats. He gave them money. I had to go get the [border] wall money from the military [in Trump’s first term]. I just took it out of the military because that guy wouldn’t do anything.

“No, Mitch McConnell’s a bad guy. And I thought he was lousy at his job. But the only thing they gave him a lot of credit was for judges.

“But I’m the one that got the judges. You know why? I won the election. If I didn’t win the election, he wouldn’t have had any judges.”

The conversation then shifted to reports that the White House is preparing a supplemental funding request for Congress. While the Pentagon initially discussed a package approaching $200 billion to replenish weapons stockpiles and maintain military readiness, recent reports indicate the administration may ultimately seek between $80 billion and $100 billion.

Rather than address the details of the funding proposal, Trump turned his attention to Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, criticizing the Republican senator over her voting record.

Last month, Murkowski joined Sens. Susan Collins and Rand Paul in voting alongside Democrats to advance a measure aimed at preventing U.S. military action against Iran without congressional approval.

Trump argued that despite efforts by his administration to benefit Alaska, Murkowski has consistently opposed his agenda.

“But you have him. You have Murkowski,” Trump said. “I’ve done so much for Murkowski. And Murkowski is terrible. Terrible to us, terrible to the country. I almost feel guilty.

“I [have] probably done more for Alaska than any other state, not because of her, because it’s the right thing to do. She’s just an impediment. But she’s there. She probably will be a negative vote.”

{Matzav.com}

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Today, the New Jersey State Assembly removed language from a bill that would have jeopardized religious rights. The legislation had allowed individuals to sue anyone accused of interfering with their decision to obtain reproductive or gender-related health care services and seek damages for harm to their business or personal reputation, financial harm, or pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional harm.

Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey Office led opposition to the language, warning that its broad and undefined terms could expose rabbis, educators, counselors, schools, and parents to costly litigation for providing guidance or expressing views regarding gender-related medical procedures. In addition to working with legislators in both chambers, the Agudah issued an action alert urging residents across the state to contact their Assembly members and oppose the bill.

“We are grateful to the bill sponsors and legislative leadership for recognizing the serious concerns included in this provision and for addressing them,” Shlomo Schorr, Director of Legislative Affairs for Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey Office, said.

“The removal of this language is an important victory for religious liberty, free speech, and parental rights.

We especially thank the thousands of New Jersey residents who responded to our action alert and contacted their legislators to make their voices heard. Their advocacy helped ensure that constitutionally protected speech and religious expression will not be subjected to vague and potentially far-reaching civil liability.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, sharply condemned UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese on Thursday after she reportedly responded to the grieving mother of a victim murdered during Hamas’s October 7 massacre by telling her to “change medication.”

Danon highlighted the exchange in a public statement, accusing Albanese of displaying shocking insensitivity toward a bereaved parent.

“The mother of Carolin Bohl, a young German woman brutally murdered by Hamas on October 7, has posted about the extreme anti-Israel hostility she encountered at a film premiere in Berlin, where Francesca Albanese, the UN ‘Special Rapporteur,’ was the guest of honor,” Danon wrote.

According to Danon, Bohl’s mother shared the emotional pain she experienced at the event and described the atmosphere she encountered. He said Albanese’s response only deepened the hurt.

“After the bereaved mother shared her pain and experience, Albanese’s outrageous response was: ‘Change medication,’” he added.

Danon said the remark reflected what he described as a continuing pattern of conduct by the UN official.

“There seems to be no limit to Francesca Albanese’s moral decline,” said Danon.

Albanese has long faced criticism from Israeli officials and others who argue that her statements demonstrate a consistent anti-Israel bias. Most recently, several European foreign ministers rebuked comments she made during an Al Jazeera conference.

During that event, Albanese stated: “The fact that instead of stopping Israel, most of the world has armed, given Israel political excuses, political sheltering, economic and financial support … We who do not control large amounts of financial capitals, algorithms and weapons, we now see that we as a humanity have a common enemy.”

After the remarks generated controversy, Albanese denied that she had characterized Israel as humanity’s common enemy.

In a subsequent interview, she insisted that she “never, ever, ever said ‘Israel is the common enemy of humanity,'” and dismissed the criticism as “completely false accusations.”

Questions surrounding Albanese’s views on Israel have persisted for years. In 2022, previously uncovered social media posts drew widespread attention after she asserted that the “Jewish lobby” exerts control over the United States.

Albanese rejected claims that those comments were antisemitic, arguing that her words had been “mischaracterized.” Nevertheless, critics have continued to point to similar statements as evidence of longstanding hostility toward Israel.

Following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, scrutiny of Albanese intensified after she argued that the massacre should be viewed within a broader “context” and described it as a response to Israeli “aggression.”

More recently, in late March, Albanese leveled additional accusations against Israel, claiming the international community had granted the country “a license to torture Palestinians.” She further alleged that “torture has effectively become state policy” in Israel.

Her latest clash with the family of an October 7 victim has now sparked fresh outrage, with Danon and others arguing that the comments cross a line of basic human decency and further undermine her credibility as a UN official.

{Matzav.com}

The United States was reportedly only hours away from launching military strikes against Iran on Thursday night before President Donald Trump abruptly pulled back the operation, announcing instead that a new agreement with Tehran had been reached, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to NBC News.

Sources told NBC News that the military had already received direct orders to carry out the mission and was fully prepared to proceed. With roughly three hours remaining before the planned attack, forces were in position, Navy assets had adjusted their flight operations, and weapons had been loaded in anticipation of the strike order.

Despite Trump’s public warnings aimed at Kharg Island, officials said that strategic oil terminal was never included among the designated targets for Thursday’s operation. While the Pentagon has spent months developing extensive plans for possible strikes against, or even an invasion of, Kharg Island, those scenarios remained contingency options and were never approved for execution by the President.

Kharg Island has previously been targeted by American forces during earlier military conflicts. On Thursday morning, however, Trump escalated his rhetoric on Truth Social, declaring that the United States would hit Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT,” while also stating that American forces would soon be “taking Kharg Island” along with additional Iranian energy facilities.

One U.S. official told NBC News that Trump’s public comments regarding Kharg Island did not align “with any of the planning or action” that military commanders were actually preparing to carry out that evening.

Although defense planners had multiple military options available, officials said the precise targets and operational details for Thursday night’s mission were not finalized until after Trump’s morning social media post. Following that message, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed military leadership to craft a strike package that differed from the standard retaliation plans he had previously reviewed.

According to the officials, the final plan approved for Thursday bore a strong resemblance to the precision attacks American forces had already conducted the night before.

Several hours after publicly announcing the agreement with Iran, Trump addressed reporters in the Oval Office and indicated that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had signed off on the arrangement.

“I understand the answer is yes,” Trump replied when asked if Khamenei had given his approval to the agreement.

When questioned about why he believed the negotiations would succeed this time, Trump pointed to the pressure Iran had endured in recent weeks.

“Because they’ve taken a pounding. They’ve taken a pounding like very few people could take. And they want to make a deal a lot more than I do.”

The President also reiterated a key condition of the agreement, declaring, “Iran will, in no way, shape, or form, build a nuclear weapon or purchase a nuclear weapon.”

Additional details of the emerging agreement were reported by Al Arabiya, which said the framework includes a minimum 60-day extension of the ceasefire, efforts to clear naval mines, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international maritime traffic within 30 days.

The reported understandings would also permit Iran to resume oil exports while sanctions relief is reviewed in stages. The proposal further calls for continued nuclear negotiations during the ceasefire period and an end to hostilities across all active fronts.

At the same time, Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that the proposed Memorandum of Understanding is in advanced negotiations and is “nearly finalized.”

Iranian officials said mediating nations have spent recent hours attempting to resolve the remaining issues separating the two sides. Nevertheless, Tehran stressed that the agreement has not yet been formally completed or officially ratified.

According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said the Islamic Republic has demonstrated that it will not retreat from what it considers its “red lines.”

The report added that Iran has not yet made a final decision on whether it will ultimately accept the agreement.

{Matzav.com}

A day after the Knesset advanced the Basic Law on Torah Study, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri launched a blistering defense of the legislation, accusing Israel’s attorney general and Supreme Court justices of waging a campaign against the Torah world and forcing lawmakers to enshrine what he described as self-evident truths into law.

Speaking at a public event on Thursday, Deri argued that the new legislation, which recognizes the significance of Torah study to the Jewish people, should never have been necessary in the first place.

“The Basic Law on Torah Study that we passed yesterday states that Torah learners make a significant contribution to the Jewish people. Isn’t that obvious? Isn’t that self-evident?” Deri said.

He compared the need for such legislation to passing a law affirming the practice of bris milah.

“We never dreamed that we would have to legislate this. It’s like legislating a law about bris milah. It’s something so basic. What is our existence in this land if not because of the Torah? What sustained the Jewish people? Every child understands this.”

Deri reserved some of his harshest criticism for opponents of the legislation and for those who criticized his recent visit to yeshiva students being held in military detention facilities.

“There were those who attacked me: How dare I go visit the ‘draft dodgers’? Hashem have mercy! ‘Afra l’fumayhu’ (dust upon their mouths). Torah learners who sacrifice themselves for Torah study are ‘draft dodgers’? It’s all because of the wicked attorney general and the ‘supreme’ High Court judges who are persecuting the Torah world,” Deri charged.

Addressing criticism that Shas has neglected the needs of Israeli soldiers, Deri rejected the accusation and pointed to the large number of Sephardic families with relatives serving in the military.

“We don’t need anyone to teach us what soldiers are. How much we daven for them. Among us Sephardim, there isn’t a single person who doesn’t have a soldier somewhere in his family. Our movement, Shas, ranks third or fourth, if I’m not mistaken, in the number of double-envelope votes.”

Deri recounted a recent visit to a military prison, saying the experience reinforced his belief that support for Torah learning remains widespread among traditional Sephardic Israelis.

“When I visited the detainees in the military prison this week, I saw the staff of the soldiers there. I don’t need to guess how they vote. They’re all G-d-fearing, all Sephardim, lovers of Torah, people who respect Torah. You can see it on them.”

The Shas leader also expressed astonishment that some religious Zionist figures have become leading advocates for sanctions and enforcement measures against yeshiva students.

“I am amazed by those who wear a kippah on their heads and are leading the sanctions and persecution against the Torah world. Hashem have mercy! It’s impossible to understand. There is no explanation for it. How do they not understand what Torah learners are? As for the secular public, I am not surprised—they don’t know what Torah is.”

Deri said the passage of the Basic Law was intended as a public statement against what he views as growing hostility toward Torah scholars and yeshiva students.

“Therefore, yesterday we were obligated to make this protest. We passed the Basic Law on Torah Study, and with Hashem’s help we will pass it in the first reading, the second reading, and the third reading as well.”

He concluded by describing the arrests of Torah students as a spiritual danger for the Jewish people at a time when Israel faces threats on multiple fronts.

“The arrests of Torah learners are a great prosecution against the Jewish people,” Deri said. “When we are surrounded by enemies, when the Iranians and Hezbollah spend every day thinking about how to destroy the Jewish people, we need tremendous merits. We must stop all of this drift. We see so many miracles, and unfortunately there are those who do not appreciate Torah learners and instead persecute them.”

As Israel’s political system gears up for another election season and candidates position themselves as the country’s would-be saviors, Rav Tzemach Mazuz used his weekly shiur to deliver a pointed message about ambition, honor, and the limits of human effort.

Drawing on the lessons of this week’s parshah (in Eretz Yisroel), Parshas Korach, the Rosh Yeshiva connected the political maneuvering of the present day with timeless Torah teachings, offering a sharp critique of the relentless pursuit of power and what appeared to be a veiled jab at those determined to unseat Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at all costs.

“There is nothing better than peace,” Rav Mazuz began. “Soon the election season will be here, and everyone wants to ‘save’ the country. Everyone wants to be prime minister. But Shlomo Hamelech already taught us in Koheles: ‘Hevel havalim, amar Koheles, hevel havalim, hakol havel.’”

The Rosh Yeshiva then cited the words of Chazal in Maseches Yoma, “Bimkomcha yoshivucha, u’mishelcha yitnu lach,” along with the verse in Mishlei, “Al tiga l’ha’ashir.” The message, he explained, is that a person is obligated to make only a reasonable effort and then place his trust in Hashem.

“There is no need to exhaust oneself and struggle excessively,” Rav Mazuz said. “A person must make some hishtadlus, but beyond a limited amount of hishtadlus, nothing more is required. This is the tradition we have received from our rabbeim.”

To illustrate the dangers of chasing status and honor beyond what Heaven has allotted, Rav Mazuz cited a famous parable from the Gemara in Sanhedrin.

“This is what people say: ‘The camel went to ask for horns, and in the end they cut off the ears that it already had.’”

The Rosh Yeshiva elaborated on the Gemara’s imagery with a smile.

“Anyone who has seen a camel knows that it is a tall and impressive animal, but it has one deficiency—its ears are small. The camel said to itself, ‘I am much taller than the ox. If the ox has horns, then I deserve even larger and more beautiful horns.’ In the end, not only did it fail to receive the horns it wanted, but even the ears it already possessed were taken away.”

He then applied the lesson directly to human behavior.

“What is the lesson? A person thinks that what he has is not enough. He fights and struggles for more and more. What does he gain in the end? Not only does he fail to receive what he sought, but even what he already had can be taken from him.”

Rav Mazuz pointed to Korach as the classic example of someone whose ambition led to ruin. Although Korach was already enormously wealthy and held a position of great distinction as one of those entrusted with carrying the Aron, he was not satisfied.

“That tremendous greatness was not enough for him,” Rav Mazuz said. “He set his sights on the Kehunah Gedolah and sought to overthrow Moshe and Aharon. But what happened in the end? Not only did he fail to become Kohen Gadol, not only did he cease being among those who carried the Aron, he did not even remain alive. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed him, his family, and all his possessions. Nothing remained. In the end, Korach lost everything.”

Concluding his remarks, Rav Mazuz delivered what many listeners viewed as a timely message for politicians and public figures caught up in the current political climate.

“From here we learn that a person must be happy with his portion and with what he has,” he said. “A person should remember: If something truly belongs to you, Hakadosh Baruch Hu will bring it to you on a golden platter. One may—and indeed should—make hishtadlus. But one must not wage war for it.”

Thousands of Satmar chassidim gathered this week in Williamsburg for a major emergency assembly led by Rav Aharon Teitelbaum of Satmar, who delivered an impassioned address warning of what he described as a troubling decline in standards of kedusha and tznius and a widening cultural gap between generations.

A growing controversy has erupted in the United Kingdom after a policy group within the Green Party, led by a Jewish politician, began examining a proposal that could ultimately lead the party to support a ban on non-medical bris milah—a move that would directly affect both Jewish and Muslim communities across Britain.

The Green Party’s Health Policy Working Group (HPWG), chaired by Zack Polanski, is reportedly considering recommendations that would restrict parents from authorizing irreversible surgical procedures on children unless they are deemed medically necessary. If adopted, the proposal could pave the way for the party to endorse prohibiting bris milah.

According to a report in The Spectator, the working group launched an internal consultation asking party members whether parents should be permitted to consent to “an irreversible surgical procedure on a child only when it is medically necessary.” Participants in the survey were specifically asked to share their views regarding bris milah.

The debate echoes a similar controversy that emerged in Iceland in 2018, when the country became the first in Europe to advance legislation banning non-medical bris milah. That proposal sparked fierce opposition from Jewish and Muslim leaders, who argued that such a measure would infringe on religious freedom. While the Icelandic initiative received broad political support, comparable proposals elsewhere in Europe have often been championed by nationalist parties, including Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Sweden’s Sweden Democrats.

The report states that the working group’s policy officer urged party members to participate in the consultation, writing that “this would be a huge help in ensuring that the Green Party has an up-to-date health policy from this autumn.” The party’s annual autumn conference is scheduled for September, when a number of controversial policy proposals are expected to be debated.

The British Jewish newspaper Jewish News warned that adopting such a policy could undermine the Green Party’s growing support among Muslim voters, a constituency in which the party has made gains in recent years. Observers also noted that the proposal could create political difficulties in areas with sizable Orthodox Jewish populations, including London’s Hackney borough, where the Greens have achieved notable electoral success.

A spokesperson for the Green Party stressed that the proposal is not currently official party policy. The spokesperson explained that the party’s working groups consist of members who independently develop and evaluate policy ideas, and that any proposal can become official party policy only if it is approved by delegates at a party conference vote.

For now, the consultation remains under review, but its mere consideration has already generated significant concern among religious communities and renewed a broader debate over religious liberty and parental rights in Britain.

{Matzav.com}

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is preparing to release a highly anticipated podcast interview with Hunter Biden on Friday, offering what appears to be one of Biden’s most extensive public appearances since his father left office.

Newsom previewed the conversation Thursday by posting a short teaser on X, where he playfully welcomed his guest as “Presidential candidate Hunter Biden.”

Biden immediately joined in the joke.

“Here’s the deal. I’ll run, but only as your VP,” he told Newsom.

Explaining his mock interest in the job, Biden quipped that the vice president’s residence “is a lot cooler” than the White House.

The exchange came after Newsom referenced remarks made by President Donald Trump, who recently suggested Hunter Biden “could do well” in a 2028 presidential campaign while criticizing controversial Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner.

“I had to give you a break for just one day,” Biden joked to Newsom, alluding to the nonstop discussion surrounding the governor’s own potential White House ambitions.

In the 13-second preview clip released ahead of the episode, Biden declares: “They gave me a stage and I’m going to use it.” He then rattles off the names of several public figures with whom he has sparred, including Tucker Carlson and President Trump.

The discussion also reportedly touched on Platner, who has faced scrutiny over allegations involving toxic personal relationships and a reported Nazi tattoo. According to Politico, Biden defended the embattled candidate during the interview.

“If that’s the standard by which we are going to judge people, particularly people in elected office,” Biden told Newsom, “then I don’t think we’re going to have many people in elected office.”

The teaser quickly drew criticism online, with detractors mocking Newsom’s decision to feature a guest whose personal history has often attracted controversy.

“That’s a whole Lotta crack on one podcast…call it the Escobar files!!!” one social media user wrote.

“Is he going to talk about how he did drugs at the White House?” another commenter sarcastically asked.

Since President Biden’s departure from office, questions have persisted about Hunter Biden’s activities and public profile. In recent weeks, however, he has become increasingly visible, suggesting a renewed willingness to engage in public and political discussions.

Earlier this month, Biden celebrated seven years of sobriety through a series of social media posts. After a lengthy absence from X, he resumed posting in May and has frequently addressed criticism tied to his past struggles with substance abuse, including his long-running battles with crack cocaine and alcohol.

Those addictions became central to legal troubles that culminated in his 2024 conviction for falsely completing a federal firearm-purchase form regarding his drug use. He was also accused of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. Both matters were ultimately resolved through a pardon issued by his father.

Other recent posts have focused on political and media controversies, including criticism of CNN anchor Jake Tapper over his memoir and attacks on plans by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump to redevelop an abandoned island off the Albanian coast.

Questions about Biden’s finances have also resurfaced. The California Post recently reported that he has been living in Southern California while facing debts exceeding $20 million. According to the report, that total includes roughly $15 million to $17 million owed to a prominent Washington legal team, approximately $5 million owed to longtime associate Kevin Morris, and another $1 million tied to a former art dealer.

Financial controversies have followed Biden for years. Reports have alleged that he spent millions of dollars on drugs, luxury clothing, prostitutes, and cosmetic dental work, expenditures that reportedly became a source of friction during divorce proceedings with his ex-wife.

He has also remained a political liability at times because of issues connected to his infamous laptop, which fueled years of scrutiny over alleged conflicts of interest involving Ukraine and cast a shadow over his father’s presidency.

Despite the controversies, Newsom appears unfazed by the criticism and may benefit from the attention generated by the interview. The California governor is widely viewed as a potential contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.

Observers have increasingly pointed to Newsom’s podcast, This Is Gavin Newsom, as evidence that he is refining his public messaging and building a national profile ahead of any future campaign.

The show has amassed more than 250,000 YouTube subscribers and generated at least 10 million views. Individual episodes generally attract audiences ranging from tens of thousands of viewers to nearly 160,000.

One reason the podcast has drawn attention is Newsom’s willingness to host ideological opponents, including conservative commentators Charlie Kirk and Ben Shapiro, a strategy that has sparked criticism from some fellow Democrats.

Newsom has repeatedly rejected suggestions that the podcast is primarily a political vehicle, insisting that his motivation is personal growth rather than campaign preparation.

“I’m doing this selfishly because I want to learn. I want to get better in life, not just politics. And if I’m better in life, I’ll be better in politics,” the governor told Politico.

{Matzav.com}

The leadership of the Association of Hesder Yeshivas has issued a formal letter to heads of Hesder institutions across Israel, reiterating its opposition to mixed-gender combat service and clarifying its position regarding the enlistment of Hesder students into the IDF’s Armored Corps.

In the letter, members of the association’s council explained that following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the issue, they have been actively engaged in efforts aimed at preventing situations in which female combat soldiers serve alongside male soldiers committed to observing halacha.

The council said these initiatives have been coordinated with a broad spectrum of rabbinic leaders from the religious Zionist community, including roshei yeshiva of advanced Torah institutions and rabbanim who lead pre-military academies representing various segments of the national-religious public.

They noted that numerous discussions have been held in recent weeks, during which they consistently conveyed their belief that men and women serving together in frontline maneuvering combat units is incompatible with the religious commitments of soldiers who adhere to halacha.

Council members also stated that they remain in ongoing communication with senior IDF officials in an effort to create a framework that would allow observant soldiers to serve in the Armored Corps while maintaining their religious standards.

“We will make every effort to enable the enlistment of our students into the Armored Corps in the upcoming draft without harming their values,” they wrote.

The rabbis further sought to distance themselves from reports circulated in recent days, stressing that a letter publicized in the media concerning enlistment to the Armored Corps did not originate from the council and does not reflect its official position.

“The letter that appeared in the media in recent days regarding enlistment to the Armored Corps is not a letter from the council,” adding that the publication of such a letter contradicts their position.

The statement bore the signatures of the roshei yeshiva who serve on the Council of the Association of Hesder Yeshivas.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told a visiting group of Christian leaders that their backing of Israel is rooted in faith and biblical principles, not political considerations, as they gathered in Jerusalem for a conference dedicated to confronting rising antisemitism.

Addressing members of the International Christian Embassy during the emergency gathering, Huckabee emphasized that Christian support for the Jewish state is based on Scripture and God’s covenant with the Jewish people.

“The reason we stand with Israel is not political, but because of God’s promise to Abraham,” Huckabee said during remarks to members of the International Christian Embassy who are in Israel for an emergency conference focused on combating antisemitism.

Huckabee also highlighted Israel’s remarkable ability to withstand repeated threats from adversaries that vastly outnumber it in both population and military resources.

“The amazing thing is that a tiny, tiny country of 10 million people wins over and over again when its existence is threatened by those who have 10 times the population, many times the military budget. And yet, it not only survives. It thrives,” he said.

He attributed that success to what he described as a divine promise dating back nearly four millennia.

“So what’s the secret? The secret is that 3,800 years ago, God said to Abraham, I’m going to create a people. And you are him. And I’m going to put you where you belong, and I’m going to give you a purpose,” Huckabee added.

Responding to reports alleging hostility toward Christians in Israel, Huckabee said his own decades of experience in the country have painted a very different picture.

“I have been visiting this country for 53 years. I cannot think of a warmer welcome I could have received, not just from the government officials, but from the people on the streets and everywhere I go in this country,” he said.

Huckabee said he continues to be struck by the friendliness and acceptance he encounters throughout Israel despite being open about his evangelical Christian beliefs.

“I am amazed at the reception that people show me, knowing full well that I am an evangelical Christian who believes in the Bible. It does not offend people,” Huckabee added.

{Matzav.com}

Emergency crews and hazardous materials specialists were called to Yerushalayim’s Mekor Baruch neighborhood after four young children suddenly became ill, with initial concerns that exposure to a dangerous substance may have been involved.

The incident prompted a response from Israel Fire and Rescue Services after reports were received that several children had suffered dizziness and lost consciousness. A specialized hazardous materials monitoring team was dispatched to the scene to investigate the possibility that toxic substances may have played a role.

The four children—a one-year-old boy, a one-year-old girl, a three-year-old boy, and a three-year-old girl—were transported to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center after experiencing weakness and other symptoms.

Firefighters conducted tests inside the building where the incident occurred in an effort to determine whether any hazardous materials were present. Authorities said the circumstances surrounding the episode remain under investigation.

Hadassah Medical Center later reported that the children consist of two pairs of siblings, with each pair including a one-year-old and a three-year-old child. According to the hospital, the children had been playing in a garden near their residence before becoming ill.

Hospital officials said the children arrived at the pediatric emergency department exhibiting drowsiness, weakness, and signs of lethargy. Medical and nursing staff immediately began a series of examinations to determine the cause of their condition.

Doctors said all four children are now fully conscious and are being accompanied by their parents. They will remain hospitalized for observation while testing continues.

Magen David Adom said it first received a call at 5:52 p.m. reporting that two children had become ill near a residential building in the Mekor Baruch neighborhood. A second call was received at 6:39 p.m. reporting that two additional children at the same location were experiencing similar symptoms.

Paramedics treated the children at the scene before transporting all four to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital. Authorities have not yet determined what caused the children to become ill, and the investigation remains ongoing.

{Matzav.com}

Francesca Albanese, a United Nations investigator who has frequently been accused of anti-Israel bias, is facing widespread condemnation after responding dismissively to the mother of a young woman murdered in Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

The controversy erupted after Sonja Bohl-Dencker, whose daughter was killed during the massacre, described feeling intense hostility toward Israel while attending an event in Berlin honoring Albanese. Her remarks drew attention in Germany and beyond, prompting a response from the UN official that quickly sparked outrage.

Bohl-Dencker’s daughter, Carolin Bohl, a 22-year-old German fashion student and model, was among those murdered by Hamas terrorists during the assault on Kibbutz Nir Oz.

In an interview with the German newspaper Die Welt, Bohl-Dencker recounted attending a film screening in Berlin in March at which Albanese was the central guest. She described the atmosphere at the gathering as deeply unsettling.

“I have never been in a room where I felt so much hatred,” Bohl-Dencker said. “Everywhere keffiyehs, terrible slogans and sheer hatred against everything connected with Israel.”

After a social media post highlighted the grieving mother’s comments, Albanese replied with a brief message that immediately ignited criticism: “Change medication.”

The remark attracted even greater scrutiny because of legal filings connected to Albanese’s own challenge against sanctions imposed by the United States. According to court documents submitted in that case, Albanese and members of her family sought medical treatment for conditions they said were brought on by the stress of the sanctions. The filings state that Albanese was treated for gastric ulcers, while her husband suffered from insomnia and severe anxiety.

Albanese has long been a polarizing figure because of statements critics say demonstrate a pattern of hostility toward Israel. Among the incidents drawing criticism were remarks delivered at an Al Jazeera conference that prompted rebukes from several European Union foreign ministers.

“The fact that instead of stopping Israel, most of the world has armed, given Israel political excuses, political sheltering, economic and financial support … We who do not control large amounts of financial capitals, algorithms and weapons, we now see that we as a humanity have a common enemy.”

Following the backlash, Albanese denied that she had characterized Israel as humanity’s common enemy.

She later stated that she “never, ever, ever said ‘Israel is the common enemy of humanity,'” and described the allegations against her as “completely false accusations.”

Questions surrounding Albanese’s views on Israel have persisted for years. Critics frequently point to social media posts uncovered in 2022 in which she asserted that the “Jewish lobby” exerts control over the United States.

At the time, Albanese rejected claims that her comments about the “Jewish lobby” were antisemitic, arguing that they had been “mischaracterized.” Nevertheless, controversy surrounding her statements about Israel has continued.

Since the Hamas massacre of October 7, Albanese’s comments have drawn even greater attention. She argued that the attack should be understood within a broader “context” and portrayed it as a reaction to Israeli “aggression.”

Earlier this year, Albanese again provoked criticism when she accused Israel of systematically abusing Palestinians.

In late March, Albanese claimed that the world has given Israel “a license to torture Palestinians,” alleging that “torture has effectively become state policy” in Israel.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration announced Thursday that federal authorities have located approximately 146,000 unaccompanied migrant children who entered the United States during the Biden administration and were later placed with sponsors, while officials say close to 300,000 children have yet to be found.

The figures were revealed during a press briefing at the Justice Department in Washington by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Officials said the number of children successfully located has risen dramatically from roughly 22,000 identified last summer.

“We found 146,000 kids so far — 146,000 kids. We still have nearly 300,000 missing,” Mullin said.

Mullin sharply criticized the previous administration’s management of unaccompanied minors, arguing that failures in oversight and monitoring resulted in hundreds of thousands of children effectively disappearing after being released into the country.

“When we start digging into these cases, and you start hearing the absolute horrific things that took place underneath the Biden administration, either true neglect at best and criminal at worst, to allow 450,000 kids to go missing throughout this country,” Mullin said.

Administration officials said that more than half a million unaccompanied migrant children crossed the southern border and entered the United States during the Biden administration without a parent or legal guardian accompanying them.

After arriving in the country, the minors were placed under the supervision of the Department of Health and Human Services before eventually being released to sponsors residing in the United States.

The Trump administration has made tracking down those children a major priority, directing multiple federal agencies to work together to determine where they are living and whether they are being properly cared for.

Officials declined to offer specifics about the methods used to locate the 146,000 children or provide a timeline for finding those who remain unaccounted for. They also did not disclose additional details regarding the condition or circumstances of the children who have already been identified.

A sophisticated cyber scam targeting supporters of Adirei HaTorah has been revealed after fraudsters created a deceptive look-alike website designed to solicit donations from unsuspecting members of the public.

According to Adirei HaTorah, the organization became aware on Wednesday of a targeted effort to impersonate the organization through a fraudulent website that closely resembled its official online presence. The fake site was reportedly used in conjunction with emails and text messages sent to potential donors in an attempt to redirect contributions.

Organization officials said they immediately launched an emergency response, working closely with cybersecurity experts and law enforcement authorities to contain the threat and protect the public.

“B’Siyata D’Shmaya, the fraudulent website has been successfully disabled and the payment processor has frozen the scammer’s account,” the organization said in a statement.

While the investigation remains ongoing, Adirei HaTorah emphasized that the breach appears to have been limited in scope. According to preliminary findings, the information accessed consisted only of certain names, email addresses, and phone numbers that were subsequently used to distribute fraudulent emails and text messages directing recipients to the fake website.

Officials stressed that there is currently no indication that the perpetrators gained access to the organization’s financial infrastructure, donor records, or sensitive payment information.

“Importantly, there are no indications that the malicious actor gained access to any of Adirei HaTorah’s financial systems or overall donor database, or that any financial information was compromised,” the statement noted.

The organization credited the rapid shutdown of the operation to the coordinated efforts of cybersecurity professionals, community members, and media outlets that quickly spread warnings about the scam.

“We extend our sincere appreciation to the many professionals and community members who immediately stepped forward, worked tirelessly, and helped identify and shut down this scam within hours of its launch,” Adirei HaTorah said. “We are also grateful to the media outlets that helped responsibly publicize the warning and alert the public. Mi K’Amcha Yisrael.”

In light of the incident, Adirei HaTorah issued several reminders to help community members protect themselves from future fraud attempts.

The organization said that all official text messages will originate exclusively from the phone numbers 848-261-8251 or 732-800-1524. In addition, all official email correspondence will clearly identify Adirei HaTorah as the sender and will be distributed only through the organization’s authorized communication channels.

Donors were also urged to verify that they are visiting the organization’s official website, www.adireihatorah.com, before making any contribution.

Adirei HaTorah further advised anyone who receives a suspicious email, text message, donation request, or website link purporting to represent the organization not to engage with it and to report it immediately.

Despite the attempted attack, organization officials emphasized that critical systems remain secure and that additional safeguards are being implemented to strengthen protections going forward.

“We remain committed to safeguarding you and your information and will continue implementing additional security measures to help prevent similar incidents in the future,” the organization said.

{Matzav.com}

All are asked to daven and recite Tehillim on behalf of Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveitchik after he was rushed back to the hospital on Thursday amid his recovery from major heart surgery.

The sudden hospitalization has sparked widespread concern among thousands of talmidim, admirers, and members of the broader Torah community, who have been closely following the Rosh Yeshiva’s condition in recent weeks.

Rav Avrohom Yehoshua underwent a complex heart procedure last week following serious cardiac complications. After the surgery, there were signs of improvement, and just a few days ago he was discharged from the hospital to continue recuperating at his home in Yerushalayim.

However, concerns mounted on Thursday when the Rosh Yeshiva experienced a significant setback in his recovery. Sources close to the family reported that he began experiencing cardiac-related symptoms and was transported urgently to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Yerushalayim for immediate treatment.

The development came in the midst of what had appeared to be a promising rehabilitation process following the successful surgery.

Family members and those close to the Rosh Yeshiva are asking the public to continue storming the heavens on his behalf during this critical time.

His name for tefillah is Rav Avrohom Yehoshua ben Ettil.

{Matzav.com}

A new chapter in the ongoing tefillah campaign for the recovery of mekubal Rav Chizkiyahu Dov HaKohein Kook unfolded this week after one of his talmidim reported a striking dream in which the Rav allegedly asked that additional tefillos be offered on his behalf at Kever Rochel.

The development follows Monday night’s massive tefillah gathering at the Kosel HaMaaravi, where gedolei Yisroel, talmidim, and members of the public gathered to cry out for the recovery of the renowned Tiveria tzaddik.

According to the talmid, who served as the chazzan during the gathering at the Kosel, Rav Kook appeared to him in a dream later that night.

The talmid recounted that the Rav thanked him for the uplifting tefillos that had been recited but requested that a similar tefillah gathering be held at Kever Rochel as well.

According to the account, Rav Kook indicated in the dream that he remains in need of continued rachamei Shamayim and has not yet emerged completely from danger. He therefore asked that additional tefillos be organized at Kever Rochel.

Following the widely discussed dream, Rav Kook’s talmidim announced that a public tefillah gathering would be held at Kever Rochel for his complete recovery. Participants are being urged to add tefillos for Rav Chizkiyahu Dov ben Shoshanah HaKohein and include him among the other ill members of Klal Yisroel.

The renewed tefillah initiative comes as family members continue to report both encouraging developments and ongoing concerns regarding the Rav’s condition.

As previously reported, during a recent interview on the program Hafuch Al Hafuch with Rav Moshe Ben Lulu, Rav Gedaliah Kook shared an extensive update on his father’s medical status. He described significant improvement over recent weeks after a prolonged and difficult medical ordeal that had deeply concerned the Rav’s many followers.

According to Rav Gedaliah, several major bodily systems that had ceased functioning have resumed operation. “The kidneys have resumed functioning, dialysis has been removed, and breathing has returned independently for much of the day.”

At the same time, he emphasized that one critical concern remains.

“We need great miracles regarding the Rav’s consciousness,” he said.

While there have been notable signs of improvement, Rav Kook has not yet regained full consciousness. Family members report that he occasionally appears to respond slightly to beloved niggunim or particularly emotional tefillos, but that the road to full recovery remains uncertain.

His followers continue to call upon the public to intensify tefillos and acts of merit on behalf of Rav Chizkiyahu Dov ben Shoshanah HaKohein for a complete and speedy recovery.

{Matzav.com}

Jerry Seinfeld delivered a brief but pointed response Wednesday night after an anti-Israel social media personality confronted him outside Madison Square Garden following the Knicks’ dramatic NBA Finals victory.

The 72-year-old comedy icon was making his way through the crowd after Game 4 when influencer FinesseFave approached him with a microphone and camera, attempting to draw him into a political exchange.

“What up, Seinfeld? What up? Can we get a ‘Free Palestine’?” said the streamer, FinesseFave, sticking a mic in the face of the Jewish actor and writer.

Seinfeld laughed at the request and responded with a short remark before continuing on his way.

“It doesn’t exist,” he said, before walking away.

Matzav.com cannot post the actual clip because it contains profanities.

The video quickly spread online after FinesseFave posted it to his TikTok account, where he has approximately 180,000 followers.

FinesseFave later shared the video with his 180,000 TikTok followers, along with the caption, “Clown hasn’t been relevant in decades anyway.”

The encounter was the latest in a string of confrontations involving Seinfeld amid ongoing anti-Israel demonstrations and activism directed at public figures who have voiced support for Israel.

One notable incident occurred in May 2024, when Seinfeld delivered the commencement address at Duke University.

In May 2024, he was booed, and dozens of students walked out as the comedian gave the commencement speech at Duke University.

Just weeks afterward, another disruption took place during one of his stand-up performances in Virginia.

Two weeks later, he was interrupted on stage by an anti-Israel protester who jumped up and yelled, “Free Gaza” during a standup show in Norfolk, Virginia, TMZ reported.

Audience members quickly turned against the protester, loudly supporting Seinfeld as security moved to restore order.

The audience responded by booing the heckler and chanting, “Jerry! Jerry!” as another bystander got the protester in a headlock before security ushered the man out.

Seinfeld responded from the stage with characteristic sarcasm.

“This is exciting. I like this. I like a little Jew hate to spice up the show,” Seinfeld joked darkly from the stage as the heckler was evicted.

Although the protester was removed, interruptions reportedly continued throughout the evening.

The show continued, but protesters interrupted Seinfeld a further eight times throughout the 90-minute set.

The comedian has also been confronted several times in New York City during the past year.

Seinfeld has also faced abuse on the streets of his native New York, with two high-profile incidents in 2025.

One episode took place outside Radio City Music Hall, where a content creator appeared to ask for a photograph before turning the interaction into a political stunt.

In February 2025, an influencer asked Seinfeld for a selfie outside Radio City Music Hall, before instead recording himself saying “Free Palestine” while filming the comedian.

Seinfeld declined to engage.

Seinfeld responded by saying, “I don’t care about Palestine,” before walking away.

A few months later, another activist targeted him as he departed Madison Square Garden following a Knicks playoff game.

And while leaving the Garden after a Knicks game in May 2025, a vile protester filmed themselves telling Seinfeld he supports the genocide of babies in Gaza.

The comedian answered with a quick one-liner before getting into his vehicle.

“Only you,” Seinfeld quipped, as he got into his car.

Demonstrators have also appeared outside several of Seinfeld’s live performances this year.

His standup shows have faced continual picketing this year, with protesters branding him a “genocide apologist” ahead of his appearance in Aurora, Illinois, in January, as the Jamia Times reported at the time.

Wednesday’s confrontation came after Seinfeld watched one of the most memorable games in Knicks history from celebrity row at Madison Square Garden.

Seinfeld, star of the eponymous iconic ’90s sitcom, was sitting on celebrity row at Madison Square Garden as the Knicks completed a record 29-point comeback against the San Antonio Spurs to take a 3-1 lead in the series.

With the victory, New York moved within one win of ending a championship drought that stretches back more than five decades.

The Knicks are on the brink of their first NBA Championship since 1973 if they beat the Spurs in Texas on Motzoei Shabbos, with tipoff at 8:30 p.m.

{Matzav.com}

A major US surveillance authority is on the verge of expiring after lawmakers failed Thursday to advance a temporary extension, setting off a high-stakes confrontation between Congress and President Trump over his decision to install Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.

The breakdown has raised the possibility that Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, one of the government’s most important foreign intelligence tools, could lapse when it expires at midnight Friday. The dispute centers on Trump’s refusal to nominate a permanent replacement to lead the nation’s intelligence community.

Trump has continued to back Pulte, who currently serves as a federal housing finance regulator, despite criticism that he lacks the qualifications traditionally associated with the intelligence post. Democrats have argued that they will not support a renewal of the surveillance authority unless Trump withdraws Pulte and submits a permanent nominee for Senate consideration.

Efforts to pass a short-term extension collapsed in the House, where nearly all Democrats joined a number of Republicans in voting against the proposal. Attention now shifts to the Senate, although prospects for salvaging the measure before the deadline appear increasingly uncertain.

If the authority expires, intelligence agencies could face new restrictions on their ability to monitor foreign targets overseas. The timing is particularly sensitive as the United States prepares to host World Cup events and approaches celebrations marking the country’s 250th anniversary.

“We can’t let them extort us,” Trump said of Democrats.

The president has defended his decision to keep Pulte in the role temporarily and has asked lawmakers for additional time to select and confirm a permanent intelligence chief. Trump has also indicated that he wants Pulte to begin reducing the size and scope of intelligence agencies.

As the deadline approaches, both parties have accused the other of jeopardizing a surveillance program that many national security officials regard as critical to protecting the country.

“We’re going to ask every member here to do the right thing,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. “We cannot allow that to go dark.”

Democratic leaders formally announced their opposition to the extension, arguing that Pulte’s background does not satisfy statutory requirements calling for substantial national security experience.

“The apparent motivation for his elevation is the demonstrated willingness of Bill Pulte to search government databases for alleged dirt on President Trump’s chosen political enemies,” Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and the leadership team said in a joint statement. They said there is a path to reauthorizing FISA, “but it will require enacting meaningful reforms.”

Republican lawmakers have spent much of the week pressing Trump to move quickly on a permanent nominee. Despite those efforts, the president has maintained that he requires additional time to complete the selection process.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Republican leaders have “made our views known” to the White House.

The vacancy arose following the departure of Tulsi Gabbard. Trump has said he is evaluating five potential candidates for the position.

According to Johnson, the White House views Pulte’s tenure as a temporary assignment focused on restructuring the intelligence bureaucracy.

Johnson said the president has made it very clear that Pulte will serve a “very short term — a sort of renovation role” to help the Office of the Director of National Intelligence be “renovated and downsized.”

That explanation has done little to ease concerns among House Democrats.

In a letter to Trump, Intelligence Committee Democrats led by Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes described Pulte as a “uniquely poor choice” even for an interim appointment.

Critics from both parties have cited not only Pulte’s lack of intelligence experience but also actions taken during his tenure at the Federal Housing Finance Agency. He has been associated with criminal referrals tied to allegations of mortgage fraud involving several public officials whom Trump has publicly criticized, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff, and Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook.

“He has distinguished himself only as someone who will do or say anything to stay in your good graces,” Himes and the other lawmakers wrote, “qualities that are precisely the opposite of what our nation needs.”

Section 702 gives agencies including the CIA, NSA, and FBI authority to collect communications involving foreign targets located outside the United States without obtaining traditional warrants.

Although privacy concerns have led lawmakers in both parties to push for restrictions over the years, Congress had recently appeared close to agreement after negotiators developed a bipartisan compromise to renew the authority.

One of the architects of that compromise, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, said the controversy surrounding Pulte has now become a major obstacle to passage.

Warner said Pulte’s appointment to replace Gabbard is “a live hand grenade” disrupting the process.

The Virginia Democrat has proposed allowing the surveillance authority to continue temporarily only if Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas serves as acting chief during that period.

Meanwhile, Republican Sens. Tom Cotton and Chuck Grassley warned the administration that the surveillance authority may soon expire and urged officials to prepare accordingly.

The administration should prepare “for a potential significant gap in foreign intelligence collection,” they wrote in a letter.

Following widespread criticism of Pulte’s temporary elevation, Trump indicated last week that he does not intend to nominate him permanently. Nevertheless, opponents continue to insist that Pulte should be removed immediately and replaced by a nominee who can win Senate confirmation.

Despite that pressure, Trump announced Tuesday that Pulte would assume the acting role sooner than originally planned, beginning June 19.

Among the names being discussed as a possible permanent replacement is Pete Hoekstra, the US ambassador to Canada and a former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. According to a person familiar with the discussions, the White House has contacted Hoekstra about the position and conversations remain ongoing.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Tim Kaine believes momentum is building behind an effort to require President Trump to end US military involvement in Iran, saying he is nearing the number of Republican votes needed to pass a war powers resolution in the Senate.

The Virginia Democrat said supporters of the measure are encouraged by recent developments and believe they may soon secure enough bipartisan backing to move the legislation forward. The proposal seeks to halt American participation in a conflict that has now entered its 15th week.

“We think we can have a narrow win,” Kaine said. “I don’t have one absolutely pinned down, but I think I’m close.”

The legislation relies on the War Powers Act of 1973, a law designed to limit prolonged military engagements without congressional approval. If enacted, it would direct the president to withdraw US forces from the conflict absent specific authorization from Congress.

Kaine and other Democrats contend that lawmakers, not just the White House, should have a decisive voice in determining whether American troops remain engaged in hostilities involving Iran.

The effort has already attracted support from four Republican senators. Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana voted to advance the measure out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Despite those gains, supporters face an uphill climb.

Even if the resolution passes the Senate, it would still have to clear the Republican-controlled House before reaching President Trump’s desk. Trump would be widely expected to veto the measure, creating another major obstacle.

To override a presidential veto, the Constitution requires two-thirds support in both chambers of Congress—a threshold that currently appears far out of reach.

Many Republicans continue to strongly support Trump’s approach toward Iran and oppose any effort to constrain the administration’s military options.

Sen. John Cornyn argued that now is not the moment to reduce pressure on the Iranian regime.

“I want President Trump to finish the job,” Cornyn told The Hill. “I’m very dubious about any agreement that you’d get with this radical regime because they won’t abide by it.”

Cornyn also expressed skepticism that Tehran would honor future commitments, warning against allowing Iran to retain strategic leverage over the Strait of Hormuz or maintain access to enriched uranium that could eventually support a renewed nuclear weapons effort.

Other Republican senators have characterized the proposal as more symbolic than substantive.

Sen. Todd Young of Indiana questioned what advocates of the resolution envision happening if American forces are ordered to leave the region immediately.

“All I can think of are the dangers associated with immediate withdrawal,” Young said.

The dispute reflects a broader debate in Congress over its constitutional authority regarding military action. As the conflict has continued beyond the 60-day period referenced in the War Powers Act, lawmakers have increasingly questioned the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch.

Opponents of the resolution, however, argue that limiting the president’s authority during an active international confrontation could weaken America’s position and send the wrong signal to adversaries.

The debate unfolds as Trump continues to increase pressure on Tehran through a combination of military operations, economic measures, and diplomatic demands. The president has repeatedly warned Iranian leaders that they will “pay the price” if they continue delaying negotiations.

For now, Democrats appear to be making incremental gains in their effort to build bipartisan support. Nevertheless, Trump’s strategy toward Iran continues to command significant support among Republicans who believe maintaining maximum pressure remains the most effective way to protect US interests and prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump announced Thursday that he has called off planned military strikes against Iran after receiving what he described as a finalized proposal from Tehran aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and launching formal nuclear negotiations.

In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump said the Iranian proposal had received approval from the country’s top leadership and that diplomatic efforts had reached a critical breakthrough.

“Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have, as President of the United States of America, cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening,” he said.

Trump added that negotiations had progressed to the point where all major participants had agreed to the core framework and final details of the arrangement.

“Discussions and final points have been, in both concept and great detail, approved by all parties involved, including the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and others. The Naval Blockade will remain in full force and effect until this Transaction is finalized — Time and place of the signing to be announced shortly.”

The announcement followed a report first published by The New York Post indicating that Iran had delivered a final draft agreement to Qatari mediators on Wednesday evening.

His announcement came after The NY Post first reported Iran had submitted a final draft of an agreement to Qatari mediators on Wednesday night.

Later Thursday, Trump told The Post that the long-anticipated understanding with Tehran was essentially complete and that the remaining details were largely procedural.

President Trump on Thursday told The Post the long-awaited agreement to begin nuclear negotiations with Tehran is “all wrapped up,” following his announcement that he had called off planned strikes on Iran.

“It’s pretty much all wrapped up,” he said in a brief phone call with The NY Post.

The development marks a dramatic shift after weeks of military escalation and growing speculation that the United States could target Iran’s strategic Kharg Island energy hub. Instead, attention has now turned toward a diplomatic process that could reopen negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program while preserving the existing US naval blockade until a final agreement is signed.

It comes after we first reported Iran had finalized and submitted a draft memorandum of understanding to Qatari mediators on Wednesday night.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump dramatically raised the stakes in the conflict with Iran on Thursday, declaring that the United States could take control of Kharg Island — the critical hub through which most Iranian oil exports pass — while also signaling uncertainty about whether such a move would ultimately occur.

In a Truth Social post issued Thursday morning, Trump suggested the US could seize Kharg Island and other key energy assets as military operations against Iran intensified for a third consecutive night following the downing of an American Apache helicopter.

“At some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets, much like we have with Venezuela,” Trump wrote on Truth Social after 8 a.m.

“The United States will be hitting Iran… VERY HARD TONIGHT.”

Less than an hour later, however, Trump appeared to leave the door open to other options during an interview on “Fox & Friends,” declining to commit to such a dramatic military step and leaving Tehran uncertain about Washington’s intentions.

“I don’t know that America has the stomach for it, to be honest with you. You’re gonna make a fortune, but I don’t know that America has the stomach,” Trump told the TV program.

“I think they’d like to see us come home, but we did it with Venezuela. Venezuela has worked out great for everybody.”

Since April 13, US naval forces have maintained a blockade around Iran’s ports. American officials argue that Iran’s oil distribution system depends heavily on infrastructure that continuously routes crude oil to Kharg Island, making it difficult for Tehran to halt those flows.

Trump acknowledged that public support for a ground operation may be limited even as he emphasized America’s military advantage while seeking to pressure Iran into finalizing a peace framework.

“I’m not sure the country has the appetite” for a land mission — despite saying there could be one as he tries to strong-arm Iranian officials to finalize a memorandum of understanding to end the war.

“They are finished. We can walk in there tomorrow,” Trump taunted on Fox.

“We could take soldiers. I don’t want to have boots on the ground, but if I wanted to, we could put a small group of soldiers and take over the whole place. They’re finished.”

The president also suggested that his willingness to reach an agreement has diminished as the conflict has dragged on.

“I’d like to get a deal now less than three or four weeks ago.”

The recent shootdown of a US Apache helicopter by an Iranian drone has complicated diplomatic efforts, although officials on both sides continue to indicate that negotiations remain underway. Sources familiar with the discussions say there is broad agreement in principle that Iran would ultimately dismantle its nuclear weapons program.

Even as talks continue behind the scenes, Iranian leaders have maintained a confrontational public stance. Senior officials sharply criticized the latest round of American airstrikes, which resumed despite a cease-fire that had held uneasily for roughly two months.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi tweeted Tuesday: “Leave our region if you want to be safe. History of the Persian Gulf has many chapters on dire fates of intruding outsiders.”

Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament and a top peace negotiator, wrote: “We prefer the language of diplomacy, but we speak other languages far more fluently. Break your commitments, and we’ll switch to what we speak best. You ride the horse you saddled!”

Although Trump has previously considered striking Kharg Island during Operation Epic Fury, he has thus far stopped short of targeting the heart of Iran’s petroleum industry, viewing its long-term economic viability as an important factor in any postwar settlement.

American attacks resumed Tuesday night after the helicopter was shot down over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran retaliated by launching missiles toward US military installations in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait.

The two sides had been operating under a fragile cease-fire reached on April 8, but Trump dismissed that arrangement Wednesday evening, calling it “the most violated cease-fire in the history of the world.” He subsequently ordered military operations to resume, accusing Iran of repeatedly testing American restraint.

During the pause in fighting, Iran disrupted commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, causing concern among global energy markets because roughly 20% of the world’s seaborne oil supply passes through the strategic waterway.

In response, Trump directed the US military to impose a naval blockade aimed at increasing economic pressure on the Iranian regime.

According to US Central Command, American forces intercepted another vessel Wednesday night that attempted to breach the blockade, marking the third such confrontation this week.

Officials said the tanker, operating in the Gulf of Oman, repeatedly ignored commands issued by US military personnel before being disabled.

CENTCOM reports that nine vessels have been disabled since the blockade began, while 135 ships have been diverted from restricted areas. At the same time, 42 humanitarian shipments have been allowed to proceed.

Trump also touted what he described as a major success in protecting international oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

“Today, I am pleased to announce that this effort has resulted in more than 100 MILLION Barrels of Oil making its way through the Strait, and into the Open Market,” Trump crowed on Truth Social. “More than 200 Commercial Ships have safely traveled through the Strait. This wildly successful effort is because the UNITED STATES of AMERICA CONTROLS the Strait of Hormuz — NOT Iran.”

“Their military is defeated, and their economy is lost. It’s over for Iran!”

Despite repeated assertions from the White House that an agreement is within reach, significant obstacles remain. Chief among them is Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, much of which is believed to be stored deep underground in fortified facilities.

Experts estimate that Iran possesses roughly 1,000 pounds of uranium enriched to 60% purity, placing it only a short technical distance from weapons-grade material.

The country is also believed to maintain substantial reserves of uranium enriched to lower levels, including large quantities at 20% purity and below.

The Iranians claimed to have enough 60% enriched uranium to manufacture 11 nuclear bombs, special envoy Steve Witkoff claimed shortly after the start of Operation Epic Fury, Feb. 28.

{Matzav.com}

Iran fired a new wave of missiles at three key American partners in the Middle East early Thursday, escalating regional tensions after US forces carried out another round of military strikes against Iranian targets.

The Islamic Republic launched attacks toward Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait, marking the second consecutive day that those countries have come under fire following American military action against Tehran.

All three nations host US military personnel and facilities. While Iranian missiles were aimed at areas connected to American operations, no US service members were reported injured.

According to a military source who spoke with The Post, US Central Command successfully intercepted the incoming threats and prevented any strikes from reaching American installations.

Jordanian authorities said their air defenses shot down 20 Iranian missiles headed toward a region where US troops are stationed. No casualties were reported.

Kuwait temporarily shut down its airspace as a precautionary measure for several hours, though officials did not provide details regarding any possible damage.

In Bahrain, officials reported limited civilian impacts from the attack. The Interior Ministry said debris from interception efforts damaged homes and vehicles and injured an 11-year-old girl.

The missile barrage followed a major overnight US military operation. According to US Central Command, American forces conducted roughly four hours of strikes that concluded shortly before sunrise in Iran.

CENTCOM said the operation focused on degrading the regime’s “military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air defense sites.”

A source familiar with the campaign said the strikes concentrated on radar installations and missile facilities located along Iran’s coastline.

Residents reported hearing blasts in several locations, including Tehran, Bandar Abbas, and other areas near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard later acknowledged damage to multiple sites, saying a manufacturing facility, a military installation, and a Guard base outside Tehran had been struck.

During the operation, President Trump told Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst that the US military launched 49 Tomahawk missiles against targets inside Iran. He also said American aircraft struck radar networks and air-defense positions around the Persian Gulf.

Trump further asserted that Iranian officials had privately appealed for the bombing campaign to stop while he monitored developments from the White House Situation Room. He warned that the attacks would intensify if Tehran failed to accept a US-backed peace framework, pledging to “bomb the s— out of them tomorrow night.”

Although Trump has repeatedly indicated that a diplomatic breakthrough may be within reach, the latest exchange of attacks has underscored how far apart the two sides remain on several key issues.

One of Washington’s primary demands is that Iran surrender its stockpile of nearly 1,000 pounds of highly enriched uranium. US officials believe much of the material remains hidden in underground facilities following last year’s strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites.

Iran has refused to relinquish the uranium reserve and is simultaneously seeking sanctions relief. Tehran is also demanding access to frozen financial assets before any final agreement is completed, a proposal Trump has rejected.

Another major sticking point involves Hezbollah. Iranian officials insist that any settlement ending the conflict must also halt fighting between the Lebanese terror group and Israel, a condition Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has refused to accept.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continued behind the scenes. A Qatari delegation that had been conducting mediation talks in coordination with the United States departed Tehran on Thursday morning, according to an official familiar with the negotiations who spoke anonymously.

Pakistan also weighed in on the growing crisis, expressing alarm over the escalation and urging both Washington and Tehran to honor the cease-fire that officially took effect on April 8.

That cease-fire has been repeatedly tested in recent weeks. Speaking to Yingst on Wednesday night, Trump described it as “the most violated cease-fire in the history of the world.”

{Matzav.com}

The Pentagon was placed under lockdown Thursday after building safety systems detected a potential air-quality threat, prompting officials to order workers in the affected area to shelter in place while emergency crews investigated the situation.

Emergency responders from Arlington County Fire and EMS were dispatched to the military headquarters after what authorities described as a hazardous materials incident. The agency announced the response in a message posted on X.

“ACFD units, including our Hazardous Materials Team, are currently operating at the Pentagon in support of PFPA’s Hazmat Team during a hazardous materials incident,” it said.

According to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, the alert was triggered after internal monitoring systems identified an issue involving the building’s air quality, leading officials to take precautionary action.

“The Pentagon has sophisticated systems to ensure the safety of the building and its occupants,” Parnell said. “Those systems have detected an air quality issue necessitating precautionary measures until we determine its significance.”

He emphasized that established emergency procedures were immediately activated while authorities worked to determine the source and severity of the concern.

“The Department is executing standard protection protocols, including a shelter-in-place order for the affected area. Response teams are in place and ready to support building occupants,” he added.

The Pentagon, regarded as one of the most heavily protected government facilities in the United States, is equipped with extensive safeguards designed to identify airborne threats and prevent contaminants from spreading throughout the structure.

Its distinctive five-sided layout, consisting of multiple concentric rings connected by hallways, enables officials to isolate specific sections of the building while allowing the remainder of the facility to continue operating. This design helps protect the approximately 26,000 people who work there without requiring a full evacuation.

As investigators seek to determine what caused Thursday’s alert, attention has turned to the Pentagon’s advanced detection and containment infrastructure, known as Pentagon Shield, which was developed over many years.

The Pentagon Shield initiative was created in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks as part of a broader effort to defend the nation’s largest government office complex against chemical, biological, and radiological dangers.

According to publicly available technical documents, the system relies on an extensive network of sensors combined with computer-based modeling technology to identify potentially dangerous airborne substances and monitor their movement throughout the building.

“Building ventilation systems can be adjusted in real time to minimize air infiltration,” researchers wrote in a 2007 overview of the program.

Should a hazardous material be detected, officials can rapidly modify airflow patterns, seal off specific areas, and restrict the movement of air between corridors, reducing the likelihood that contaminants spread beyond the affected zone while emergency personnel assess the threat.

{Matzav.com}

As protests continue over the detention of bnei yeshivah and demonstrators arrested at recent anti-draft rallies, two personal stories have emerged that supporters say highlight the human toll of the ongoing arrests.

One of the detainees, R’ Nosson Start, a Breslover avreich, was informed while in custody that his first child had been born. Start was arrested during a protest held outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Noam Solberg in Alon Shevut and has remained behind bars since his arrest.

According to information obtained by the news outlet Emes, the new father received the news of his son’s birth while still in detention.

Family members and supporters say that despite the joyous occasion, authorities did not approve his release. They claim that either the court or the Israel Prison Service refused to allow him temporary freedom, leaving him to celebrate the birth of his firstborn while incarcerated.

A second case involves another detainee from the same protest who was scheduled to celebrate his vort Tuesday evening at the old Beis Yaakov Hall. Because he remained in custody, he was unable to attend the event, and family members were forced to postpone the celebration.

Meanwhile, legal proceedings related to the protests continue.

Earlier in the day, the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court extended the detention of three suspects accused of involvement in a break-in at the Beit Shemesh police station, ordering that they remain in custody until Thursday.

Two of the suspects acknowledged participating in the protest but denied taking part in any break-in. A third suspect, Meir Rabinovitz, son of mekubal Rav Gamliel Rabinovitz, denied any involvement whatsoever and reportedly requested that investigators examine his cellphone location data in an effort to prove he was at home when the incident occurred.

Attention is now turning to today’s court hearings, when 51 of the 65 individuals arrested that night are expected to appear once again before a judge after spending a full week in detention.

The court is expected to decide whether to extend their incarceration further or release them under various conditions.

{Matzav.com}

A major legal challenge was filed Thursday morning with Israel’s Supreme Court against new eligibility requirements in the government’s subsidized housing program, Dira B’Hanachah, with petitioners arguing that women and children are being unfairly penalized because of a spouse’s military status.

The petition, submitted against the Israeli government, the Israel Land Council, and the Ministry of Construction and Housing, marks the latest battle over policies affecting families of draft-eligible chareidi men.

Filed by attorney Rivka Dagan on behalf of the organizations Emes L’Yaakov B’Yisrael and Shmurah, the 352-page petition includes an urgent request for a temporary injunction that would block implementation of the new rules before the program’s eleventh lottery round. Registration for that lottery is currently scheduled to close on June 22, 2026.

At the heart of the case is a decision by the Israel Land Council conditioning a married woman’s eligibility for discounted housing on the military status of her husband if he is classified as draft-eligible and has not resolved his military status.

Petitioners: Women Are Being Treated as Extensions of Their Husbands

The organizations behind the petition argue that the policy constitutes a serious violation of equality principles and undermines the independent legal status of married women.

According to the filing, the decision treats a woman “as an appendage of her husband” rather than as an independent legal entity. The petition further argues that the policy effectively creates a “marriage penalty” imposed exclusively upon married women.

The petitioners contend that a single, divorced, or otherwise unmarried woman would remain eligible for the housing benefits without restriction, while marrying a man with a particular military status automatically disqualifies her from receiving the same assistance.

Reliance on Personal Responsibility Principle

The petition cites numerous legal precedents in an effort to demonstrate that Israeli courts traditionally uphold the principle of personal responsibility, even in cases involving far more serious matters.

Among the examples cited are tax-law rulings in which the Supreme Court recognized the right of spouses to establish separate financial arrangements and receive tax benefits independently of one another.

The petitioners argue that if the legal system preserves the separate legal identities of spouses in tax matters, it should certainly do so when dealing with access to affordable housing.

Comparison to Terrorist Home Demolition Cases

In one of the petition’s more unusual arguments, the organizations compare the policy to judicial rulings involving the demolition of terrorists’ homes.

The petition notes that even in national security cases, courts generally require an individualized examination of the impact on family members who played no role in the underlying conduct. The petitioners therefore argue that there is no justification for imposing a broad economic sanction on a wife and her children because of the actions or status of her husband.

Claims of Hasty Decision-Making

The petition also argues that the policy was adopted too quickly and without sufficient professional review.

According to the filing, the decision was approved less than a month after a Supreme Court ruling on the issue and was implemented without a comprehensive evaluation of its potential consequences.

The petition further claims that professional officials within multiple government ministries warned in advance about problems associated with the measure.

According to the organizations, the Finance Ministry acknowledged that the purpose of the policy was to reduce household income as a form of pressure, while the Economy Ministry cautioned against harm to third parties. The Ministry of Construction and Housing itself allegedly warned that denying eligibility under the new rules could face serious legal challenges in court.

Request for Immediate Relief

As part of the legal action, the organizations are asking the Supreme Court to issue an immediate interim order allowing women to register for the eleventh housing lottery without being subject to the new restrictions.

They are also requesting that the registration deadline be frozen until the legal dispute is resolved.

As an alternative, the petition proposes creating an individualized review process that would allow women to establish independent eligibility—including through proof of separate financial arrangements—rather than being automatically disqualified based solely on their spouse’s military status.

{Matzav.com}

A growing controversy involving religion in the public sphere has erupted in Herzliya after allegations surfaced that a city council member took a pair of tefillin and other sacred items belonging to a chareidi resident, leading to a police complaint and a heated public debate.

At the center of the incident is Yesh Atid city council member Daniel Tchertok, who, according to a report by Channel 14, was captured during an altercation in which he allegedly removed tefillin and religious articles from a local resident.

According to the report, the resident is known in the city for distributing Jewish educational pamphlets at various intersections and soliciting donations from passersby. The resident claims that following the incident, a formal complaint was filed with police.

The report further alleges that Tchertok initially denied involvement in the incident but later offered a different explanation, saying that his actions were connected to his opposition to what he views as religious coercion in public spaces.

The owner of the tefillin expressed outrage over the incident and questioned how such conduct could be justified.

“Is this the way to act? Like this?” he asked. “To steal people’s belongings? Because you don’t want people to hear them… This person has been harassing me for more than two years. He constantly tells me, ‘Get out of here,’ ‘Leave here,’ ‘This is a secular city, don’t come near here.'”

The video footage and accompanying allegations quickly spread online, generating widespread discussion on social media and prompting numerous users to sharply criticize the council member’s alleged conduct.

As public attention intensified, questions were also raised about what critics described as inconsistencies in Tchertok’s explanation of the incident.

Daniel Tchertok did not provide a response to Channel 14’s request for comment regarding the allegations.

{Matzav.com}

MK Gadi Eisenkot said he is prepared to sit in a coalition with chareidi parties, but only if they accept what he described as three fundamental principles, while also cautioning against a repeat of a situation in which a prime minister leads the country despite heading a relatively small party.

Speaking on Ynet’s political podcast 120 VeAchat, hosted by Moran Azulay, Eisenkot presented himself as a leading figure within the opposition camp and discussed national security, coalition politics, and the future shape of Israel’s government.

Addressing the Iranian threat, Eisenkot argued that Israel missed an opportunity to respond more forcefully during Iran’s first direct missile attack on the Jewish state.

Asked what he would have done had he been prime minister during an Iranian missile barrage, Eisenkot replied: “I would have carried out what I proposed to Netanyahu in April 2024, during the first Iranian attack. I proposed a parallel strike while the missiles were on their way here. He blocked it and ultimately accepted someone else’s opinion. That was the strike that the National Security Minister described as a ‘dradleh.’ It was the only time in recent years that I could justify his actions.”

Turning to coalition-building and the role of the chareidi parties, Eisenkot said Israeli politicians spend too much time discussing whom they refuse to work with rather than identifying potential areas of agreement.

“It is better to talk about what we are willing to do rather than what we won’t do, because otherwise you end up with candidates saying, ‘We won’t sit with the chareidim,’ ‘We won’t sit with the Arabs,’ ‘We won’t sit with Ben Gvir,’ ‘We won’t sit with Smotrich,’ and ‘We won’t sit with the Likud under Netanyahu.’ Apparently they intend to form a coalition with the Baloch or the Freemasons. In the end, this is Israeli politics.”

Discussing efforts to unite the opposition, Eisenkot revealed that he had attempted to create a broad political alliance that would include multiple parties.

“I worked to build a super-party with two accompanying parties—Liberman on one side and Golan on the other. When that effort failed, I moved to Plan B, under which four parties would run separately.”

He also appeared to direct criticism toward Naftali Bennett, arguing that the next prime minister should come from the largest party in the bloc rather than from a smaller faction.

“As for who should lead the bloc, it is highly desirable that the candidate for prime minister receive the broadest support possible. Certainly not someone who heads a party with six or eight seats. In my view, that is not democratic. It is neither proper nor desirable. We already had that experience, and it should not be repeated.”

Asked directly whether Bennett could again seek the premiership without leading the largest party, Eisenkot suggested that Israelis have largely rejected that model.

“The Israeli public delegitimized the previous situation, even though the change government under Bennett was a reasonable, good government. It would be preferable not to repeat it, especially in light of the realities of recent years. It is preferable to have a large party at the center and a coalition that is as broad as possible.”

When questioned about his political identity, Eisenkot rejected conventional ideological labels.

“I am a man of the State of Israel who deeply believes in the idea of statesmanship. I view myself as a security hawk. I suggest that people go back to my farewell ceremony as chief of staff, when Netanyahu listed my achievements—our achievements, of course—and praised me for the use of force throughout the Middle East. Today he sends his emissaries to attack me for the very things he praised me for then.”

Eisenkot also outlined his vision for a new draft law, arguing that the events of October 7 fundamentally changed the national conversation.

“On October 7, everything changed, and a law must be passed based on four principles: 1. Service for everyone—chareidim and Arabs—whether military or national service. 2. The arrangement between the Likud and Agudas Yisroel is null and void, and authority should return to a professional body that determines who receives exemptions. 3. The State of Israel must dramatically reward regular and reserve soldiers while imposing penalties and sanctions on draft evaders. 4. The State of Israel should permit exemptions for 3% of each annual class. Ben-Gurion did this during the War of Independence, and it can be done now.”

Asked about his relationship with Arab lawmakers Ahmad Tibi and Ayman Odeh, Eisenkot said he does not maintain political ties with them but evaluates all parties according to the same standards.

“I do not have political relations with them. I prefer to discuss issues rather than individuals. Therefore, when I am asked about the Arab parties, I give the same answer that I give regarding the chareidi parties: I will sit with anyone who accepts three principles—Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, the values of the Declaration of Independence, and the obligation of military or national service.”

{Matzav.com}

A fighter in the IDF’s Chashmonaim Brigade has provided a rare glimpse into the unit’s operational activities in Yehudah and Shomron, speaking about nighttime raids, weapons seizures, and the unique challenges of serving as a chareidi soldier. He also addressed the ongoing debate over chareidi enlistment and explained why he believes chareidi soldiers benefit from having chareidi commanders.

Corporal Y., a fighter currently enrolled in the brigade’s squad commanders course, spoke with Kikar HaShabbos about both his military training and the operational missions carried out by participants in the course.

According to the soldier, the training program incorporates active operational duty alongside classroom and field instruction.

“As part of the course, we spend two weeks engaged in operational activity. We carry out offensive and defensive missions, search for weapons, and participate in the arrest of wanted suspects,” he explained.

He noted that much of the brigade’s work takes place after dark in order to maximize the element of surprise.

“Most of the activity in Yehudah and Shomron takes place at night in order to create an element of surprise. Before every mission, we carefully plan the route, the arrival, and all stages of execution, and then we head out at night to carry it out.”

Describing the types of assignments the troops encounter, he said many operations involve intelligence-driven missions focused on locating hidden weapons and apprehending wanted individuals.

“We receive information about weapons hidden along roads or inside villages, as well as suspects wanted for questioning, and we act accordingly,” he said.

The soldier also reflected on his operational service before entering the commanders course. He said that he served with his battalion along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, first at the Zarit outpost and later at the Magen Yoav position.

“We were stationed at outposts in the sector and carried out disruption operations against Hezbollah activity directed toward Israel, as well as searches for weapons in the area,” he said.

Asked whether the public debate surrounding chareidi enlistment reaches soldiers in the field, he acknowledged that the topic does arise but said it is not a dominant issue among his fellow servicemen.

“There is some discussion among the guys, but in the end everyone does what his rav tells him to do. I spoke with my rav and he recommended that I enlist, so I enlisted.”

The fighter said he generally avoids walking around in uniform when off base, but added that his encounters with the public have largely been positive.

“When people meet me personally, the reactions are generally positive,” he said.

One of the subjects he emphasized most strongly was the importance of developing chareidi leadership within the brigade. He explained that during his training he was initially commanded by officers from the Religious Zionist community and later by chareidi commanders.

“In the end, a chareidi soldier needs a chareidi commander. There are many small things and nuances that a chareidi commander understands because he is familiar with the world from which the soldiers come,” he said.

Looking ahead, the soldier expressed interest in continuing along the command track and eventually assuming greater leadership responsibilities.

“Right now I want to become a squad commander, and later perhaps attend officers’ training as well. I would like to command recruits from the moment they arrive in the army until they become fighters.”

Concluding the interview, he offered a brief request to the public.

“Pray for us that we succeed.”

{Matzav.com}

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi launched a vigorous defense of his controversial communications reform during a wide-ranging interview with Kikar HaShabbos, rejecting allegations that the proposal would increase chilul Shabbos, attacking Israel’s legal establishment, and urging chareidi coalition partners not to be intimidated by the courts or the Attorney General.

The interview focused on several of the most contentious issues currently facing the government, including the communications reform bill, concerns about Shabbos observance, the draft law crisis, and the role of the Supreme Court and Attorney General in shaping public policy.

“The Panic Channels Are Going Crazy”

At the outset of the interview, Karhi addressed the mounting criticism directed at him as the legislation approaches final votes in the Knesset. According to the minister, the opposition stems primarily from economic interests and a desire by established media organizations to preserve their dominance.

“First of all, as we get closer to the finish line, and with Hashem’s help prepare to bless the completed work, everyone is going crazy,” Karhi said. “All the monopolies that currently control public consciousness and dominate public opinion—the panic channels—are unwilling to allow the market to open up. They don’t want other voices to be heard. They don’t want Kikar HaShabbos to receive a channel, or i24 to be able to broadcast on cable and satellite. They want to continue controlling public opinion, and that’s why they’re panicking.”

Karhi further claimed that media interests are actively working within the chareidi community to build opposition to the legislation.

“According to reports, they’re setting up campaign headquarters and even recruiting chareidi public relations people to hang pashkevilim against me. As if they need to teach me what Torah is, or what it means to protect our heritage and values. Anyone who follows my work sees how committed I am to these issues, and we’re already facing votes tomorrow.”

“A Complete Falsehood” Regarding Shabbos Concerns

The minister was asked directly about allegations that the new government streaming application intended to replace the Idan Plus system would facilitate and fund chilul Shabbos and the broadcasting of sporting events on Shabbos.

Karhi forcefully rejected the claims and argued that the reform would actually reduce chilul Shabbos.

“Today, the Idan Plus system costs the state 40 million shekels annually. That system requires technicians to maintain it around the clock, including on Shabbos. We are eliminating that. It will become an internet platform, like any government website or chareidi website whose servers remain operational on Shabbos, but without technicians actively desecrating Shabbos.”

He also pointed to specific language included in the legislation.

“We explicitly included in the law that sporting events of public significance will not be broadcast live on the application during Shabbos or Jewish holidays. Show me another piece of legislation where someone had the courage to include a legal definition of the beginning and end of Shabbos and Yom Tov. In addition, the annual cost to the state will drop from 40 million shekels to only two or three million.”

Addressing concerns about inappropriate content, Karhi insisted the law contains safeguards.

“There will be no obscene broadcasts on the application—period. We included language in the law making such content prohibited for any registered content provider.”

He added that discussions are ongoing with representatives of the chareidi parties and MK Avi Maoz to further strengthen content restrictions.

“We are working together on amendments that will define the content even more clearly. The regulator will be able to prevent channels that offend public sensitivities or promote religious conversion from appearing on the application, and those rules will be subject to oversight by the Knesset Economics Committee.”

Karhi also emphasized what he sees as one of the reform’s major benefits.

“This law will reserve ten free channel slots on all platforms for new news outlets. It will allow additional media organizations to obtain a channel free of charge and not remain dependent on monopolies.”

The minister further claimed that, according to reports he has heard, chareidi public relations professionals have been hired by Channel 12’s Keshet network to oppose the reform because established broadcasters wish to preserve their dominance.

Keshet strongly denied the allegation, stating: “There is absolutely no truth to this.”

Draft Law Crisis: “The Attorney General Is Hurting the Children of Torah Learners”

The second portion of the interview focused on the draft law dispute and economic sanctions affecting the chareidi public, including daycare subsidy issues.

Karhi strongly defended the chareidi parties while launching a sharp attack on Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and the legal system.

“The Attorney General isn’t sitting on the sidelines rubbing her hands together in satisfaction—she is actively intervening,” Karhi charged. “In her eyes, anyone who learns Torah deserves to be mistreated. She harms the children of Torah learners more than the state harms the families of terrorists or crime families. Their goal is to bring down the government and create division among us.”

The minister also discussed the government’s approval of the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study.

“This is legislation that will neutralize the damage being done regarding daycare subsidies. Once there is a Basic Law establishing that Torah study stands alongside equality as a constitutional value, it becomes impossible to use the courts to undermine it. Of course, no one suggested that grants for someone serving 400 days in combat should be identical to someone who did not serve, but this law will protect basic rights.”

“Don’t Go to Lavan the Aramean for a Blessing”

Concluding the interview, Karhi appealed directly to the chareidi parties, urging them not to allow concerns about legal opposition to dictate their legislative agenda.

“I view the chareidi factions as our natural and genuine partners. Some chareidi lawmakers are waiting to receive approval from the legal advisers and the Supreme Court—and in my view that’s like going to Lavan the Aramean to ask for a blessing.”

He argued that legal officials are fundamentally opposed to the coalition’s goals.

“Their objective is exactly the opposite. They enjoy the turmoil. We need to stand up to them and make it clear: You do not determine policy.”

Karhi concluded by citing a well-known statement by the late Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin.

“As Yitzchak Rabin once said, ‘I am not afraid of the Supreme Court justices. They will rule according to the laws that we enact.’ That’s exactly what we need to do.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sparked immediate controversy Wednesday after declaring, “I love the inflation,” while responding to questions about a new government report showing a significant increase in consumer prices.

Speaking with reporters, Trump dismissed concerns about the latest inflation figures and argued that the economic data remained encouraging despite the ongoing conflict with Iran.

“No, I love it. The numbers were great,” Trump said when asked if he was concerned about the latest data, which showed the consumer price index rising to 4.2 percent over the past 12 months — with an increase of 0.5 percent in May alone, according to the Labor Department.

The president then elaborated on his remarks, linking rising energy prices to recent U.S. military actions targeting Iranian assets.

“I love the inflation,” the president continued, noting how the U.S. recently took out millions of barrels of oil and 22 ships from Iran. “That’s why oil is $85 dollars a barrel.”

Trump acknowledged that the conflict has created economic headwinds but insisted that national security concerns had to take precedence over short-term economic considerations.

He argued that the American economy had reached unprecedented heights before the war began and maintained that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons was a more pressing priority.

“We had just hit the highest stock market in history, highest 401k’s in history,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “Everything was going well, and I said I hate to do this to you guys but Iran’s going to have a nuclear weapon very soon. We have to go and attack.”

The inflation report released by the Labor Department showed that energy costs continued their upward climb in May. According to the data, energy prices rose 3.9 percent during the month after increasing 3.8 percent in April and 10.9 percent in March.

Despite the latest surge in prices, Trump and senior administration officials have continued to predict that inflation and fuel costs will decline sharply once hostilities in the Middle East subside.

For now, however, the outlook remains uncertain. Although a ceasefire remains technically in place, continued exchanges and military activity have fueled concerns that instability in the region could persist for the foreseeable future.

Trump’s critics have seized on several recent comments he has made regarding the economy during the conflict, including previous remarks indicating that concerns about Americans’ personal finances were not at the forefront of his thinking while negotiating with Iran. His latest comments about inflation are likely to add further fuel to that debate as economic concerns continue to weigh on voters.

{Matzav.com}

Former Israeli chief rabbi Rav Yitzchak Yosef delivered pointed remarks Wednesday night that appeared to criticize the Chassidishe Agudas Yisroel faction of United Torah Judaism for opposing a previous version of legislation regulating the status of bnei yeshivah, suggesting that the current wave of arrests might have been avoided had the bill been enacted.

Expressing frustration over the failure to pass the legislation, Rav Yosef said: “It’s a great shame that the law regulating the status of yeshivah students was not passed last month when the Likud had already agreed to cooperate. We agreed, and others in the chareidi parties opposed it. Perhaps that is why we are seeing all these arrests.”

The former Rishon Letzion’s comments come amid what many are describing as an unprecedented wave of arrests of yeshivah bochurim in recent days. Under a new policy attributed to Police Commissioner Danny Levy, police have reportedly been transferring detained bnei yeshivah to military authorities.

His remarks touched on a longstanding debate within the coalition regarding legislation addressing the draft status of yeshivah students. While Shas and Degel HaTorah had indicated a willingness to advance the proposed legislation, Agudas Yisroel, led by MK Yitzchak Goldknopf, opposed the bill, largely due to concerns over the inclusion of enlistment targets and potential sanctions.

Meanwhile, the Knesset today gave preliminary approval to the Basic Law: Torah Study, a measure viewed by some as an alternative approach to addressing the legal status of bnei yeshivah. According to Rav Yosef, however, the earlier draft law could have prevented the current arrest campaign.

The former Rishon Letzion’s comments highlight the growing disagreement among the chareidi parties over how best to confront the draft crisis. While Shas and Degel HaTorah believed it was preferable to secure legal protections for yeshivah students even if compromises were required, Agudas Yisroel maintained that it was better to wait for legislation that more fully addressed its concerns.

It should be noted that last year Rav Yosef made headlines when he instructed yeshivah students to disregard draft notices sent by the military.

“I said that if a draft order arrives—tear it up, tear it up, throw it into the toilet and flush the water,” he said at the time in a direct and unequivocal instruction.

{Matzav.com}

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer launched a sharp attack on the Trump administration Wednesday after new government data showed inflation continuing to climb, arguing that rising prices are placing increasing pressure on American families.

According to figures released by the Labor Department, the Consumer Price Index rose 4.2 percent over the past 12 months, including a 0.5 percent increase during May alone.

Reacting to the report on the Senate floor, Schumer said the latest numbers confirm what many Americans are already experiencing in their daily lives.

“This morning’s inflation numbers reaffirm what the American people already know: Trumpflation is getting worse and worse with no end in sight,” the Democratic leader said in a Wednesday speech from the Senate floor.

Schumer pointed to rising fuel prices linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, as well as what he described as declining public confidence in the administration’s economic stewardship.

“Let’s be clear, Republicans aren’t just failing to address the affordable crisis, they’re making it worse. Actively making it worse,” he said.

Energy markets have experienced significant volatility since military operations involving Iran began. International benchmark Brent crude oil, which traded near $70 per barrel before the conflict escalated, has climbed dramatically and at one point surpassed $100 per barrel. By Wednesday afternoon, Brent was trading at approximately $93 per barrel.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Wednesday that shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz had increased substantially. The strategic waterway, a critical route for global oil shipments, has faced major disruptions during the conflict, placing additional strain on energy markets worldwide.

President Trump has faced growing criticism over rising consumer costs during the conflict. Public concern about economic conditions has also been reflected in polling. A CNN survey conducted in May found that the president’s approval rating on economic issues had fallen to 30 percent, the lowest level recorded during his administration.

Trump has previously stated that he does not “think about Americans’ financial situations” while negotiating with Iran. He also drew criticism Wednesday when asked about the latest inflation report and responded, “I love the inflation.”

The remark quickly generated backlash from critics, who interpreted it as an endorsement of rising prices.

Trump later clarified his statement in comments to The New York Post, explaining that he was referring to the fact that inflation had not risen as much as some analysts expected.

“The numbers are going to be phenomenal because what’s showing is that despite the fact that we’re in a war, the numbers are much lower than anticipated, and when we’re out of that war, the numbers will be at lower numbers than they were even before it started,” Trump told the outlet.

House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the president’s remarks, arguing that critics had misunderstood what Trump intended to say.

Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Johnson said Trump’s comment had been taken “totally out of context.”

“What he was saying is it’s going to be great to have that number and compare it to what comes next,” the GOP leader told reporters. “When we get these situations resolved, that’ll be a fun thing to consider and compare.”

{Matzav.com}

A unique and educational Torah event will take place tonight, Thursday night, June 11, when the Agudath Israel of America Torah Projects Commission presents a special shiur in Passaic, New Jersey, featuring Rav Amitai Ben David, acclaimed author of Sichas Chulin and a renowned expert in the practical and halachic aspects of shechitah.

The program will begin at 8:00 p.m. at Adas Yisrael, located at 585 Broadway in Passaic, and is expected to attract Daf Yomi participants, bnei Torah, rabbanim, and members of the broader community seeking a deeper understanding of one of the most fascinating and practical areas of halachah.

What makes this event especially noteworthy is that the shiur will feature a live shechitah and treifos demonstration, offering attendees a rare opportunity to witness firsthand many of the concepts discussed in Maseches Chulin and related areas of Torah study. Through practical examples and real-life illustrations, participants will gain a clearer appreciation of the intricate halachos governing kosher slaughter and the examination of animals.

Organizers explain that the program is designed not only for Daf Yomi learners studying or reviewing the sugyos of Chulin, but also for anyone interested in understanding the halachic foundations behind the kosher food that appears on Jewish tables every day.

Rav Amitai Ben David has earned widespread recognition for his ability to present complex halachic subjects in a clear, engaging, and accessible manner. His sefer, Sichas Chulin, has become a highly regarded resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of shechitah and treifos.

The shiur will take place at Adas Yisrael, 585 Broadway, Passaic, New Jersey, beginning at 8:00 p.m.

The program is sponsored by Meal Mart.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of members of the Peleg Yerushalmi and the Eidah HaChareidis are expected to take part today in large-scale demonstrations at several key locations throughout central Israel, following the decision to transfer 17 yeshivah bochurim arrested during protests outside the home of Deputy Supreme Court President Justice Noam Solberg to military prison. The protests are expected to cause significant disruptions to major transportation routes across the region.

The arrests stemmed from demonstrations held outside Justice Solberg’s residence, and protest organizers say the transfer of the detainees to military custody marks a dramatic escalation in what they describe as the authorities’ campaign against Torah learners.

In a statement issued shortly before midnight, Peleg Yerushalmi declared: “In the last hour, the police completed the transfer of the 17 draft-resisting yeshivah students arrested during the Solberg events to military prison. In doing so, the Israel Police has crossed yet another red line and has effectively announced a severe escalation in the obsessive persecution being waged by state authorities against Torah learners.”

The statement continued: “Tomorrow we will all go out to a determined and uncompromising struggle on behalf of the honor of Torah and its students, with a clear cry that will be heard throughout the country.”

Peleg Yerushalmi sources said the recent transfer of detainees from the Solberg protests to military authorities is expected to significantly intensify the protest campaign and broaden the scope of demonstrations nationwide. Organizers announced that protests will take place during the afternoon at several strategic transportation hubs in central Israel.

“Masses of bnei Torah and those who fear the word of Hashem will flock to the protest sites to participate in a mighty outcry and a firm, uncompromising protest against the severe assault on the honor of Torah and its students and against the continued persecution of yeshivah students,” organizers stated.

According to instructions circulated by protest leaders, demonstrations will be held simultaneously at four primary locations: near Nitzan Prison in Ramle for participants from Beit Shemesh and southern Israel; at the Russian Compound in Yerushalayim; near Hadarim Prison on Highway 4 between Ra’anana and Netanya for residents of the north and Sharon region; and in the Abu Kabir area for participants from Bnei Brak and central Israel.

In a rare move, Eidah HaChareidis officially joined the protest effort. Members of the Badatz of Eidah HaChareidis, headed by Rav Moshe Sternbuch, called upon followers to “go out in protest and wage a war of resistance with mesirus nefesh at the gates of the various prisons throughout the country in order to stop the destroyer.”

Following the directive, all Eidah HaChareidis-affiliated kollelim were closed yesterday, and large numbers of avreichim joined demonstrations that had already begun at several locations.

An Eidah HaChareidis statement declared that “in light of the authorities’ attempt to hand over dozens of bochurim and avreichim to military prison, every individual is obligated to participate in protests and a war of resistance with mesirus nefesh at the gates of the various prisons throughout the country.”

The Vaad HaHatzalah L’Hatzalas Olam HaTorah also issued a strongly worded statement, vowing to continue the struggle.

“We will stand with all our strength as a fortified wall against the disgraceful hunt being conducted against the Torah world. The dictatorial attempt by the authorities to break the spirit of the demonstrators through fictitious arrests, stun grenades, batons, knee strikes, severe violence, and now even the involvement of the Shin Bet, will not deter us from the struggle against the persecution of Torah learners in Eretz Yisroel.”

The statement added: “The Jewish People survived for thousands of years against forces greater and more threatening than you. We will survive this battle as well—and we will outlast you too.”

{Matzav.com}

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

In Parshas Shelach, we study the saga of the meraglim, one of the most tragic episodes in the Torah. The Jewish people, who had experienced Yetzias Mitzrayim, Krias Yam Suf, and the many nissim in the midbar, were poised to enter the land promised to their forefathers. The journey from Mitzrayim was nearly complete. Yet, instead of moving forward with confidence, the nation was overcome by fear, and an entire generation lost the opportunity to enter the Land.

They sent meraglim to scout out the land, and the meraglim returned with a frightening report. They reported facts as they saw them. Much of what they said was true. The cities were fortified. The inhabitants were powerful. The challenges were real. But their mission was a historic failure, for which we still pay the price until this very day. At the root of their failure was that they viewed everything during their mission through a lens of negativity.

Where they should have seen opportunity, they saw danger. Where they should have seen Hashem’s promise, they saw obstacles. Where they should have seen a land flowing with milk and honey, they saw imposing giants and fortified cities they believed they would not be able to capture.

Yehoshua and Koleiv saw the same landscape, the same cities, and the same giants as the other ten shluchim. Yet, they came to an entirely different conclusion. While the other meraglim focused on obstacles, Yehoshua and Koleiv focused on possibilities.

Where the meraglim saw reasons for despair, Yehoshua and Koleiv saw reasons for confidence. Most importantly, while the other meraglim measured the situation according to human limitations, Yehoshua and Koleiv viewed it through the prism of emunah, through the knowledge that Hashem had promised this land to them and told them that it was good. For centuries, the bnei Avrohom, Yitzchok and Yaakov had looked forward to meriting entry into the land.

The difference between them was not what they saw. The difference was how they saw it.

This lesson that we learn from this sorry experience extends far beyond the events of the desert. Life presents each of us with challenges, disappointments, and uncertainties. Every day, each of us is presented with a choice. We can choose to focus on what is wrong, on what we lack, and on the difficulties we face, or we can focus on what is right. We can look for the good, and recognize and appreciate blessings. We can see problems or we can see the opportunities that are hidden in every situation.

The negative approach is often easier. Complaints come naturally. Criticism requires little effort. Finding fault in people and circumstances can become a habit. But the Torah teaches us through the story of the meraglim that such a mindset can distort reality itself. When a person constantly searches for what is wrong, that is all he sees.

This applies not only to how we view events, but also to how we view other people. Every person has shortcomings. Every person makes mistakes. If we search for faults, we will certainly find them. And if we search for virtues, strengths, and the goodness that exists within every Jew, we will find that as well.

Everything that occurs is guided by Hashem. Even when we do not understand His plan, we know that He is directing the world with wisdom and kindness. The meraglim saw challenges and assumed disaster. Yehoshua and Koleiv saw those same challenges and trusted that Hashem’s purpose was ultimately for their benefit.

Positivity does not mean pretending that difficulties do not exist. The Torah does not ask us to ignore reality. Rather, positivity means refusing to allow difficulties to define reality. It means recognizing challenges while also recognizing Hashem’s ability to help us overcome them. It means viewing challenges as nisyonos, placed there to test us and provide impetus for self-improvement and aliyah.

A positive person lives a fundamentally different life than a negative one.

Negative people tend to become trapped by their circumstances. Every setback becomes a disaster. Every disappointment becomes a reason for discouragement. Every challenge appears larger than it really is. Their focus on problems drains their energy and clouds their judgment.

Positive people are not immune to difficulties, but they approach them differently. Because of their emunah and bitachon, they know that solutions are always possible and they search for them. Because they ask for and anticipate Hashem’s help, they maintain hope despite the situation. Their outlook gives them the strength to persevere where others give up.

This is true in our relationships as well.

When we focus on the faults of others, resentment grows. Every interaction becomes an opportunity for criticism. Small imperfections become magnified until they overshadow all the good that exists.

But when we make an effort to notice the strengths of others, our relationships flourish. A spouse feels appreciated. A child gains confidence. Friends feel valued. Communities become stronger. Looking for the good in people often brings out the good in them.

Many of the greatest leaders possessed this ability. They saw potential where others saw weakness. They recognized greatness hidden beneath flaws. They understood that encouragement accomplishes far more than constant criticism.

Positivity also transforms the way we experience life itself.

Every person receives countless gifts from Hashem each day—health, family, friendships, opportunities, and innumerable acts of Divine kindness. We can either focus on the good we have or on what is missing, what we would like to have but do not. By focusing on what is not good, we become downcast and sad, and we lose sight of the good that we have.

A positive perspective creates gratitude. Gratitude creates happiness. And happiness creates the emotional strength needed to navigate life’s inevitable challenges.

The Chovos Halevavos teaches that recognizing Hashem’s kindness is one of the foundations of avodas Hashem. A person who constantly notices blessings naturally develops a deeper appreciation for Hakadosh Boruch Hu, Who provides for them. Positivity is not merely a personality trait. It is a powerful form and indication of spiritual growth. The more Torah and mussar a person learns, the more spiritual he becomes, the closer he feels to Hashem, and the more he appreciates His goodness and kindness.

The consequences of the meraglim were so severe because their negativity did not remain confined to their own hearts. It spread throughout the camp. Fear became contagious. Discouragement became contagious. Despair became contagious. The people listened to them and became saddened, bemoaning their fate as they fretted about the future. Chazal (Taanis 29a) recount that Hashem chastened them for crying senseless tears and declared that He would give them something to cry about for generations to come. Indeed, we are still crying over the churban until this day. We are still suffering because of the sin of the meraglim.

My old friend, Rav Mordechai Simcha zt”l, was always a fountain of bright and witty comments. As a play on his name, he would often say, “Simcha is contagious.” Indeed, it is. Optimism is also contagious, as are confidence and bitachon. One person’s positive outlook can inspire an entire family, a community, or even a generation.

Take Reb Shalom Mordechai Rubashkin, for example. His faith inspired Klal Yisroel and still does. He had every reason to give up and accept his fate, and very few rational reasons to think that he would ever achieve vindication and freedom. Yet, because of his deep-seated emunah, he was able to view his situation differently. He viewed what he was going through as a nisayon, not as a fait accompli, and Hashem rewarded him. Klal Yisroel rejoiced with him when his faith was rewarded. His experience still serves as a chizuk to people experiencing periods of nisayon not to become traumatized and to maintain their faith that Hakadosh Boruch Hu is directing everything min haShomayim.

In every situation, we have a choice. We can be like the meraglim, searching for reasons why things cannot succeed. Or we can be like Yehoshua, Koleiv, and ehrliche Yidden throughout the ages, searching for reasons to trust, to hope, and to move forward.

The Torah’s message is not that life is easy. It is that life looks very different when viewed through the eyes of a maamin.

When we train ourselves to see the good in people, we become kinder. When we train ourselves to see the good in circumstances, we become stronger. When we train ourselves to see the good in our lives, we become happier. And when we train ourselves to see Hashem’s hand behind everything that happens, we discover a deeper sense of peace and purpose.

The meraglim saw giants and lost heart. Yehoshua and Koleiv saw Hashem and found courage.

Their lesson continues to guide us today: Look for the good. Focus on the blessings. Believe in the possibilities. Trust in Hashem. Very often, what we find depends on what we are looking for.

Gedolim often possessed an extraordinary ability to see the good in situations and in people where others saw only problems. Famous are the stories about Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev. He was renowned for always finding merit in people.

Typical is the story told about the baal ha’agolah who was greasing the wheels of his wagon while wearing his tallis and tefillin. Most people would have been shocked by the apparent lack of respect. Rav Levi Yitzchok, however, looked heavenward and said, “Ribbono Shel Olam, see how precious Your children are. Even while occupied with their work, they refuse to separate themselves from mitzvos.”

Others saw a fault. He saw a virtue.

That was not naïveté. He was choosing to focus on what was admirable rather than what was lacking.

There are plenty of practical examples.

Two people lose a business opportunity. One spends months dwelling on what might have been. He becomes bitter and discouraged. The other is disappointed as well, but he believes that if Hashem closed one door, another will open. He moves forward and eventually discovers opportunities that he would never have found otherwise.

The external event is identical. The internal response changes everything.

The same is true in family life. A parent can focus on a child’s weaknesses and spend years being frustrated. Or he can focus on the child’s strengths and help the child blossom. Every experienced educator knows that children often become what others believe they can become. Positivity does not merely change how we see people. It changes how they see themselves.

We are currently in the season of Siddur and Chumash parties. I merited attending Chumash parties for two of my grandchildren recently, one last Sunday and one this Sunday. The pride the rabbeim took in their young charges was evident as they exuded positivity and joy, and the children, in turn, shone as they sang their songs, reviewed pesukim, and rose in their crowns to accept their Chumashim.

The confidence of the rebbi is reflected in the children, just as the light of the sun is reflected by the moon, brightening and casting light upon a dark night. Positivity and optimism are what enable us to succeed and thrive in a world that contains much darkness and sorrow.

Positivity is not simply about feeling happier. It is about seeing the world more accurately. The negative person sees only the obstacle and misses the opportunity. He sees the flaw and misses the virtue. He sees only today’s difficulty and misses tomorrow’s blessing. The positive person sees the challenge as well, but he also sees Hashem’s hand guiding events toward a purpose he may not yet understand.

We live in a time of hester, when Hashem is hidden, and we do not always see the brocha, but we must know that it is there and that we are not alone.

The meraglim were not ordinary people. Chazal teach that they were distinguished leaders, “roshei Bnei Yisroel.” Their failure reminds us that intelligence and greatness alone do not guarantee proper perspective. A person can be knowledgeable, accomplished, and sincere, yet still allow fear, bias, and negativity to distort his view of reality.

Yehoshua and Koleiv possessed something invaluable: the ability to see beyond the immediate nisayon and focus on the larger picture. They understood that the question was not whether there were giants in the land, but whether Hashem had promised them the land. With that attitude and perspective, everything else fell into place.

That remains one of the great challenges of life. We often become consumed by the “giants” in front of us—the problems, setbacks, worries, and uncertainties. We can spend so much time analyzing the obstacles that we lose sight of the blessings, opportunities, and Hashgocha Protis surrounding us.

A positive outlook rooted in emunah does not deny the existence of giants. It simply remembers that Hashem is bigger than the giants.

I have written previously about the time I was visiting my rebbi, Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveitchik, and he inquired about the welfare of one of his talmidim. I told him, “Es geit em shver. He has it hard.” He quickly responded, “Bei di Ribono Shel Olam, iz gornit shver. Nothing is hard for Hashem.”

That has to be the way we view and deal with times of nisayon, when things are rough.

The meraglim foresaw tough battles ahead that could not be won. Thus, they saw a land that could not be conquered. Yehoshua and Koleiv did not let what they saw impress or frighten them, because they knew that bei di Ribono Shel Olam, iz gornit shver.

Yehoshua and Koleiv saw a future that could be achieved. Their vision built the future of Klal Yisroel. The people who leave the deepest impact on their families, communities, and friends are often those who have learned this lesson well. They are the ones who encourage rather than criticize, who look for strengths rather than weaknesses, who search for solutions rather than dwell on problems, and who remind others that no situation is beyond Hashem’s help.

In a world where negativity often comes easily, choosing to see the good may be one of the greatest forms of avodas Hashem. It allows us to appreciate Hashem’s blessings and face life’s challenges with confidence and serenity.

We do not merely live according to the world we see. To a large extent, we live according to the way we choose to see it. May we merit to view the world with the eyes of Yehoshua and Koleiv—eyes of faith, gratitude, optimism, and trust in Hashem.

Most of us are not going to be sent to scout a land before conquering it. But every day, we “spy out” the circumstances of our own lives. We look at our families, our communities, our finances, our health, our challenges, and our future. Then we decide what those facts mean.

The meraglim looked at facts and concluded, “We cannot do it.”

Yehoshua and Koleiv looked at the same facts and concluded, “With Hashem’s help, we can.”

That distinction exists in every generation.

The meraglim were not punished for seeing giants. There really were giants. They were punished for allowing the giants to become the whole story. They were punished for seeing themselves and their abilities as grasshoppers, “k’chagovim hoyinu b’eineihem.” They saw the obstacles and lost sight of Hashem. Yehoshua and Koleiv also saw the obstacles, but they saw them in the context of the larger reality of Hashem’s promise, Hashem’s protection, and Hashem’s plan.

Negativity often works the same way. It takes a difficulty and turns it into the entire picture. Positivity does not ignore the difficulty. It places it in its proper perspective.

Another angle is that negativity tends to be self-fulfilling. The generation that said, “We cannot enter the land,” ultimately did not enter the land. Yehoshua and Koleiv, who believed they could, did.

A person who constantly says, “I can’t,” “It won’t work,” or, “Nothing ever changes,” often stops trying. A person who says, “This is difficult, but with siyata diShmaya it can be done,” will persevere until he succeeds.

Positive people often feel better, accomplish more, build stronger relationships, inspire others, and navigate hardships more effectively because they are not paralyzed by pessimism. For someone who knows that Hashem runs the world, that He loves His children, and that everything He does has purpose, optimism is not wishful thinking. It is a natural consequence of faith.

The meraglim looked at Eretz Yisroel and asked, “How can we possibly succeed?”

Yehoshua and Koleiv looked at Eretz Yisroel and asked, “If Hashem wants us there, how can we not succeed?”

Those two questions continue to shape the way people approach life today.

The situation in Eretz Yisroel is not simple. There are many problems, both internal and external. The Torah community is being targeted as never before and finds itself in a matzav nora, a terribly serious situation.

Gedolei Yisroel traveled from there this week to inspire and appeal to us to join them in their battle for Torah, to believe, to contribute, and to have the positivity and fortitude of faith, of emunah and bitachon, to do what we can to overcome the darkness of golus, and know that if we withstand the nisayon, we will merit the geulah sheleimah bekarov.

{Matzav.com}

In a dramatic late-night vote, the Knesset approved legislation that will fundamentally restructure Israel’s police oversight system by transferring the Police Internal Investigations Department (Machash) into the Justice Ministry as an independent body. The bill passed its second and third readings by a vote of 43-39.

The legislation represents a sweeping reform of Machash, the agency responsible for investigating criminal allegations against police officers, significantly altering its authority and institutional status.

Under the newly approved law, Machash will operate as an independent entity within the Justice Ministry with its own separate budget. The department will retain authority to investigate and prosecute police officers for criminal offenses, including relatively minor violations. The legislation also establishes a new process for appointing the department’s director through a dedicated search committee.

The reform further creates the position of Commissioner for Coordination of Police Investigations, who will be empowered to resolve disputes between Machash and other investigative or prosecutorial bodies and, when appropriate, order the transfer of cases between agencies.

Separation from the State Attorney’s Office and Attorney General

One of the most significant provisions of the law removes Machash from direct oversight by the Attorney General and State Attorney’s Office in criminal matters. Authorities currently exercised by those offices in cases handled by Machash will now be transferred to the department’s director. Appeals of decisions to close cases will be submitted to the newly created coordination commissioner.

At the same time, Machash will continue to be subject to the general policy directives of the Attorney General and State Attorney, except in situations where those directives would grant authority to an outside body. The legislation also includes provisions aimed at fully civilianizing the department and addresses access by Machash personnel to police information systems.

Saada: “A Day of Good News for the People of Israel”

MK Moshe Saada, who sponsored the legislation, celebrated its passage and described it as a landmark reform.

“Today we are carrying out a reform. This is a day of good news for the entire people of Israel, as we correct the law enforcement system. There will no longer be criminals serving within the legal system, there will no longer be people above the law. In the State of Israel, everyone will be equal before the law.”

Saada added: “There is no dispute today that Machash is not functioning properly and must undergo change. This system has strayed from its moral course. The law will restore public confidence in the justice system.”

Reports Highlighted Longstanding Problems

The explanatory notes accompanying the bill cited a series of reports issued in recent years, including findings by the State Comptroller, annual reports from the Public Defender’s Office, and a government-appointed committee report published in February 2025 examining Machash. According to the proposal, those reports identified significant shortcomings in the handling of police misconduct cases.

The majority opinion of the government committee emphasized concerns stemming from Machash’s subordination to the State Attorney’s Office and the close working relationship between prosecutors and police. The committee therefore recommended removing the department from prosecutorial oversight and establishing it as an independent body.

Recent high-profile investigations conducted by Machash have kept the agency in the public spotlight. As previously reported, the department recently arrested a police officer and two relatives, including a reserve colonel, on suspicion of involvement in a planned murder plot. Separately, prosecutors filed charges against a traffic police officer accused of fabricating traffic citations without ever encountering the motorists involved.

Ben Gvir: “Machash Will No Longer Be Under the Attorney General’s Control”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir welcomed the legislation’s approval and argued that it strengthens Israeli democracy.

“Machash Law is an important law that strengthens the values of the State of Israel as a democratic state, and I congratulate MK Moshe Saada on its passage. Over the past three years, the dismissed Attorney General turned Machash into a private police force designed to intimidate police officers and combat soldiers.”

Ben Gvir added: “It is very good that Machash will no longer be under the control of a woman without restraints, who stops at nothing to achieve her goals—the intimidation of our police officers and fighters.”

{Matzav.com}

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Drivers and public transportation passengers across central Israel are being warned to prepare for major traffic disruptions on Thursday, as large-scale demonstrations by Peleg Yerushalmi against the arrest of bnei yeshivah coincide with three major concerts expected to draw tens of thousands of attendees.

The demonstrations, scheduled for Thursday afternoon, are expected to cause significant disruptions along key transportation routes throughout the Gush Dan region and surrounding areas.

At the same time, enormous crowds are expected to converge on several major entertainment venues. Singer Omer Adam is scheduled to perform at Ramat Gan Stadium, Eyal Golan will appear at Bloomfield Stadium, and Ben Tzur will perform at Petach Tikvah’s HaMoshavah Stadium. Heavy congestion is anticipated beginning in the afternoon on major highways and at nearby train stations.

Transportation officials expect the heaviest traffic to affect Highway 4, the Geha Interchange, the Ayalon Highway, Derech Namir, Derech HaShalom, the Jabotinsky corridor, and major access roads leading into Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak, Petach Tikvah, and southern Tel Aviv.

In response to the expected surge in travel demand, Israel Railways announced a substantial expansion of service. The plan includes additional trains to destinations around the country, extended routes for existing rail lines, and increased staffing and operational readiness at the Bnei Brak and Petach Tikvah Kiryat Aryeh stations.

Authorities are urging motorists and commuters to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, and consider using public transportation whenever possible as the region braces for one of its busiest transportation days in recent months.

Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that the United States and Israel do not always see eye-to-eye on regional issues, emphasizing that while the two allies remain close partners, the Trump administration will ultimately pursue what it believes serves American interests best, particularly as negotiations with Iran continue.

The comments came during an interview with CBS News, where Vance discussed the sometimes-complicated relationship between Washington and Jerusalem amid the ongoing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu, look, he governs a country that has obviously been a very close partner of the United States. But, even when we’ve been close partners, sometimes we have interests that are perfectly aligned and sometimes we have interests that are misaligned,” Vance told Robert Costa in an interview airing this week on “CBS Sunday Morning” and of which excerpts were released on Wednesday.

Vance described Netanyahu as a leader focused on advancing Israel’s interests, while stressing that President Trump is equally committed to advancing the priorities of the American people.

“Sometimes that means we’re on the same page and sometimes it means that we’re not,” Vance said, adding that “where that diverges, we, unfortunately for the Israelis, have to choose the side of the American people, which we always do.”

Asked whether Netanyahu had made mistakes in his handling of issues involving the United States and the Iranian crisis, Vance indicated that the Israeli prime minister’s decisions have not always been perfect.

“He’s certainly gotten some things wrong,” stated Vance, who chose not to elaborate on specific errors, noting that such discussions “are better left in private.”

Despite those differences, Vance emphasized that cooperation between the two governments remains strong.

“But what I would say is that he’s been a good partner,” Vance said. “We’re gonna keep on working together. But where interests diverge, the United States is gonna pursue the best interests of our nation, and that’s how it’s gonna be.”

The vice president’s remarks come after weeks of public messaging from Trump underscoring that negotiations with Tehran will be directed by Washington and that Israel must recognize the president’s determination to chart his own course in seeking an agreement.

In additional excerpts from the interview released earlier this week, Vance said the administration believes it is nearing a long-term agreement aimed at preventing Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon, though he cautioned that a final breakthrough could come quickly or could still take months to complete.

“Right now, I feel that we are in a position to get a deal that is good for the United States economically and that really does deal with the Iranian nuclear program, not just now, not just while Donald Trump is president, but for the long term, to where my kids can say when they’re adults, ‘Iran is not going to have a nuclear weapon,'” Vance said.

He expressed confidence that the administration is making significant progress toward that objective.

“That’s the goal of the policy. And I think we’re very close to achieving that goal. But we still got some wood to chop. We’re going to keep doing it,” he added.

Vance delivered a similar message during an appearance on Fox News Monday evening, again emphasizing that while the United States and Israel share many strategic goals, American policy toward Iran will ultimately be guided by what Washington believes is best for the United States.

“The Israelis and the United States, we have a lot of shared interests. But we also have some situations where our interests diverge, and I think where the president has been very clear here is that while Israel obviously has some objectives that it has, the United States’ main objective in Iran is to ensure that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon,” Vance said.

He argued that recent developments have created an opportunity to pursue a lasting solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.

“Over the last year and a half, we’ve created the space necessary where the president believes – and I think he’s right – that we can get a long-term settlement to Iran’s nuclear issue,” Vance stated.

Vance concluded by making clear that the administration’s strategy will proceed regardless of whether Israeli leaders fully embrace it.

“Now, Israel may like that, they may not like that, but fundamentally, we think this is in the best interest of the United States of America,” he said, adding that Washington will continue pursuing that goal because “that’s what the president of the United States was elected to do.”

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Ilhan Omar is continuing to push back against allegations surrounding her financial disclosures, even as Republicans increase pressure for a formal review of her finances and ties to a massive pandemic-era fraud scandal.

Questions about the Minnesota Democrat’s finances escalated after public disclosure reports appeared to show a dramatic decline in her estimated net worth. One filing placed her wealth in a range of approximately $6 million to $30 million, while a subsequent disclosure listed assets estimated at only about $18,000 to $95,000.

The controversy has drawn the attention of House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, who has publicly encouraged the House Ethics Committee to examine both Omar’s financial disclosures and any possible connections she may have had to the ‘Feeding Our Future’ scandal, a fraud case that federal authorities say cost taxpayers roughly $250 million.

When asked about reports suggesting she is facing an Ethics Committee investigation, Omar rejected the claim outright.

“No,” Omar told Fox News Digital, laughing, when asked if she is under an Ethics Committee investigation. “No. We go over this all the time.”

She was also questioned about continued scrutiny regarding the reported discrepancy in her financial filings and the possibility that her disclosed net worth had dropped by nearly $29 million.

“There’s also the possibility that it might rain on this sunny day,” Omar replied.

Republican efforts to increase scrutiny of Omar have extended beyond Congress. Last month, Vice President JD Vance announced that the Justice Department would launch an investigation into allegations involving the congresswoman as part of the administration’s newly created anti-fraud task force.

Omar has consistently denied any knowledge of wrongdoing connected to the Feeding Our Future organization, which claimed to provide meals to needy children during the COVID-19 pandemic while allegedly carrying out a massive fraud scheme.

Federal prosecutors have described the case as one of the largest pandemic-related fraud operations ever uncovered. According to reporting by The Associated Press, the Justice Department called it the “single largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the country.” Aimee Bock, who led the nonprofit organization at the center of the case, was sentenced to 42 years in prison for her role in orchestrating the scheme.

Republicans have also focused on Omar’s sponsorship of the MEALS Act, legislation included in federal pandemic-relief efforts. Critics argue that the measure expanded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s waiver authority in ways that created opportunities for fraud. They contend that the legislation weakened oversight mechanisms designed to verify participation in federal nutrition programs and contributed to conditions that allowed the fraud to flourish.

In earlier comments to Fox News Digital, Omar disputed those claims, arguing that the operational rules governing the program were established under President Donald Trump’s Agriculture Secretary, Brooke Rollins.

Although Omar continues to dismiss suggestions that she is the subject of an Ethics Committee inquiry, Republican lawmakers appear determined to continue pressing for a formal investigation into both her financial disclosures and allegations tied to the fraud case.

{Matzav.com}

Florida Republicans scored a significant legal win on Wednesday when the state’s Supreme Court ruled that newly drawn congressional districts can be used in this year’s midterm elections, boosting GOP efforts to protect and potentially expand their narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The lawsuit challenging the map was brought by a group of voters who argued that the new district boundaries violated Florida’s constitutional ban on partisan gerrymandering. They asked the court to block the revised map and require the state to use the congressional districts employed in the last election.

In a 6-1 ruling, the Florida Supreme Court rejected the request for an emergency injunction. The justices did not address the underlying legal questions, instead concluding that the case must continue working its way through lower courts before they can intervene.

Republicans currently control 20 of Florida’s 28 congressional seats. Political observers say the new districts, approved after a special legislative session and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, could position the GOP to gain as many as four additional seats in the upcoming election.

The ruling also removes uncertainty for prospective candidates as the state approaches Friday’s filing deadline for participation in Florida’s Aug. 18 congressional primaries.

Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier celebrated the outcome, describing it on social media as a “complete and total victory.”

Opponents of the map reacted with anger but pledged to continue pursuing the case through the courts, even if a final resolution does not arrive until after multiple election cycles.

“The Florida Supreme Court’s failure to stop this brazen partisan power grab is not only an assault on democracy, but an abdication of its duty to the people of Florida,” said Genesis Robinson, executive director of Equal Ground, a community organizing group that sued.

Florida is among several Republican-controlled states that have revisited congressional boundaries between census cycles as part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump and GOP leaders to maintain control of the House in November.

State lawmakers approved the new congressional map on April 29, the same day the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana. Although the ruling had not yet been issued when DeSantis called the special legislative session, his administration anticipated that outcome.

Officials in the governor’s office have maintained that race played no role in the creation of the map presented to lawmakers. One notable change redraws a South Florida district that the administration said had originally been designed to help elect a Black member of Congress in accordance with the federal Voting Rights Act.

Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment, adopted by voters in 2010, not only prohibits partisan gerrymandering but also bars the drawing of districts in ways that weaken the electoral influence of racial or language minorities. The amendment further requires districts to remain compact and, when practical, follow existing political and geographic boundaries.

In guidance provided to legislators, DeSantis General Counsel David Axelman argued that the racial provisions of the Fair Districts Amendment conflict with the U.S. Constitution. Axelman contended that if those provisions are unconstitutional, then the entire amendment—including its anti-gerrymandering protections—cannot stand.

Lawyers representing state officials advanced similar arguments before the Florida Supreme Court. They also maintained that altering district boundaries at this stage would create significant election-related complications and that there was insufficient time to revert to the previous map.

In court filings, attorneys for the state praised the new districts, calling them “cause for celebration” during America’s 250th anniversary. “Perhaps for the first time in Florida’s history, the State has a truly colorblind map; a map that refuses to assault the dignity of men and women by color-coding them,” their court filing said.

Attorneys challenging the map countered that the districts were intentionally designed to favor Republicans. In their filings, they described the plan as “among the most extreme partisan gerrymanders enacted in any state over the past half-century.”

According to attorney Chris Shenton, who represents Common Cause and other groups opposing the map, the changes disproportionately affect Democratic voters. He noted that 82% of voters currently living in Republican-held districts remain in the same districts under the new map, while only 41% of voters in Democratic-held districts remain within their previous district boundaries.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration is moving rapidly to build the president’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, with newly disclosed federal planning documents revealing an ambitious goal of finishing the massive structure within the next two to three years.

Records released by the National Park Service indicate that the White House intends to keep construction underway for up to 20 hours each day throughout the year, operating two separate 10-hour shifts. Industry professionals told The Washington Post that such an intensive schedule is rarely seen on federal projects that are not responding to emergencies.

By accelerating the construction process, administration officials hope to ensure the monument is completed before President Trump leaves office.

The proposed arch would rise at Memorial Circle, the prominent traffic circle adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery, and would represent one of the most dramatic changes to the capital’s landscape during Trump’s presidency.

Planning documents show that the structure would be built using concrete covered with granite rather than being carved entirely from natural stone, a technique experts say could significantly reduce construction time compared with many of Washington’s historic memorials.

“He’s obviously in a hurry to try to get this all done before he leaves office,” University of Maryland architecture professor Matthew Bell told the Post. “Most of the major monuments in D.C. are stone.”

According to Park Service filings, the project would require several massive cranes during construction, including one reaching roughly 320 feet and another approaching 300 feet in height.

The location has also drawn attention because it lies beneath an active flight corridor used by aircraft arriving at and departing from Reagan National Airport.

As a result, the Federal Aviation Administration is evaluating the impact the towering monument could have on air traffic. In an initial assessment released last week, the agency said the structure would need flashing red warning lights visible to pilots during nighttime operations. FAA officials confirmed Tuesday that their review has not yet been completed.

Administration representatives have stated that construction will move forward as soon as all regulatory approvals are secured.

“The Triumphal Arch in Memorial Circle is going to be one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but throughout the world,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement.

Trump has repeatedly championed the monument as a centerpiece of America’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations. The proposal has already won approval from the Commission of Fine Arts, and the National Capital Planning Commission could take up the matter for final consideration as soon as next month.

Opposition to the project remains strong among a number of preservation organizations and veterans groups, many of whom argue that the monument would permanently alter the character of the area surrounding Arlington National Cemetery.

Several military veterans have already gone to court in an effort to stop the project, contending that the new structure would fundamentally change the experience of visiting the nation’s most revered military cemetery.

The Society of Architectural Historians has likewise voiced objections to the proposal.

In a recent letter sent to the National Capital Planning Commission, the group’s conservation committee argued that the arch “threatens to negatively impact the historic and architectural context of its setting, disrupts views to existing significant historic monuments, and runs counter to decades of design and preservation guidance for this area that has been prepared by none other than the applicant itself.”

As part of the approval process, the National Park Service last week launched a 10-day public comment period, allowing members of the public to weigh in before construction begins. Feedback may be submitted online or by email through June 15.

Administration officials have pledged that the public will receive a minimum of two weeks’ notice before any construction activity starts at the site.

{Matzav.com}

Protests over the arrest and planned transfer of yeshiva students to military authorities intensified Wednesday afternoon after the Eidah Hachareidis took the unusual step of ordering all of its kollelim closed and directing its members to join demonstrations taking place across Israel.

In a statement issued on behalf of the members of the Eidah Hachareidis Badatz, headed by Rav Moshe Sternbuch, the organization called on the public to take part in what it described as a determined campaign against the authorities’ efforts to transfer yeshiva students and avreichim to military prisons.

The statement declared that “in light of the authorities’ attempt to hand over dozens of bochurim and avreichim to military prison, every individual is obligated to participate in protests and an all-out battle with mesirus nefesh at the gates of the various prisons throughout the country in order to stop the destruction.”

Following the directive, all Eidah Hachareidis kollelim reportedly suspended learning activities, and large numbers of avreichim joined demonstrations already underway in several locations, including Yerushalayim.

The protests began earlier in the day, led primarily by members of Peleg Yerushalmi, with demonstrations taking place near the Russian Compound in Yerushalayim and in the Abu Kabir area.

The immediate catalyst for the protests was the decision by authorities to transfer 19 yeshiva bochurim arrested during the disturbances outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg to military custody.

According to notices distributed by Peleg Yerushalmi organizers, demonstrations were held simultaneously at four major locations: near Nitzan Prison in Ramle for residents of Beit Shemesh and southern Israel; at the Russian Compound in Yerushalayim; near Hadarim Prison along Route 4 between Ra’anana and Netanya for residents of the north and Sharon region; and in the Abu Kabir area for participants from Bnei Brak and central Israel.

In Yerushalayim, confrontations broke out between demonstrators and police. Protesters accused officers of using excessive force to disperse crowds, including the deployment of stun grenades.

Police, however, said demonstrators attacked officers, threw objects, and refused repeated orders to disperse.

In a statement, police said, “Police forces, together with Border Police, riot-control units and special operations personnel, acted to clear the roads and push back those involved in the disturbances, using crowd-control measures including stun grenades and mounted police. Forces continue to operate in the area in order to restore order and keep major traffic routes open.”

The latest protests follow last week’s demonstration outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, when dozens of protesters gathered outside the residence, smashed windows, damaged the entrance to the home, and destroyed flower pots and planters. More than 70 people were arrested during that incident after large police forces were dispatched to the scene.

A sharp internal dispute erupted within the Religious Zionism Party after Finance Minister and party chairman Betzalel Smotrich removed MK Moshe Solomon from all Knesset committees on which he serves as a representative of the faction, following Solomon’s vote against the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study.

The disciplinary measure came after Solomon broke with the party line during a Knesset vote earlier in the day, opposing legislation that the faction had agreed to support at this stage of the legislative process.

Sources close to Smotrich said the move was prompted by what they viewed as a blatant breach of party discipline. According to party officials, Solomon did not object during faction discussions in which members agreed to support the bill in its current reading. The party’s position was to back the legislation while working later in the legislative process to remove a controversial provision equating Torah learners with active IDF servicemen. After Solomon voted against the measure despite that agreement, party leaders decided to impose immediate sanctions by stripping him of his committee assignments.

Solomon refused to retract his vote or apologize, insisting that his decision was driven by deeply held convictions that outweighed political considerations.

In a statement posted on X, Solomon confirmed the move against him.

“I was informed a short time ago that the Religious Zionism faction and its chairman have decided to remove me from membership on all Knesset committees,” he wrote. “It pains me that this decision was made. I am part of Religious Zionism, and I will remain part of Religious Zionism.”

The lawmaker said he has consistently expressed the same position since the start of the war and believes he is representing the values of the public that elected him.

“In my view, and as I have said everywhere since the outbreak of the war, I represent the values of Religious Zionism and those who sent us. Of course there are disagreements—whether over the interpretation of a law, political conduct, or public policy decisions. But I am convinced that my colleagues in Religious Zionism also would not have wanted this bill brought to a vote, and they believe they are representing our public.”

Solomon emphasized that while he remains loyal to the faction and its collective decisions, he also sees himself as accountable to the broader public.

“I am loyal to the faction and to joint decisions. At the same time, I am a public servant. I cannot betray my conscience. I cannot look into the eyes of bereaved families from our Religious Zionist community and vote in favor of a law that says there is no need to combine Torah and military service.”

He said that accompanying the funerals of numerous students and graduates of hesder yeshivos, higher yeshivos, and pre-military academies during the war left a lasting impression on him.

“As I accompanied dozens of students and graduates of hesder yeshivos, higher yeshivos, and pre-military academies to burial throughout the war, I promised myself that I would not take part in what I see as such an eternal moral wrong. If this is the price I have to pay, then so be it. I accept the decision of the party chairman, and I hope I will be able to change the faction’s position in the future.”

He concluded his statement by citing the Talmudic teaching: “Those who are insulted but do not insult others, who hear their disgrace and do not respond, who act out of love and rejoice in suffering—about them the verse says: ‘And those who love Him shall be as the sun when it goes forth in its might.’”

{Matzav.com}

A heated diplomatic dispute erupted at the United Nations after Colombian President Gustavo Petro used a Security Council address to draw comparisons to Nazism, prompting fierce condemnation from Israeli officials who accused him of distorting Holocaust history and fueling antisemitic rhetoric.

Petro’s appearance before the Security Council drew immediate criticism from Israel, with officials objecting both to the content of his remarks and to the UN providing a platform for what they described as inflammatory rhetoric.

During his speech, the Colombian leader repeatedly referenced Nazi Germany while discussing current international issues, including migration and the conflict in Gaza. His comments came just days after he generated controversy by posting “Heil Hitler” on X, drawing widespread condemnation from critics around the world.

Addressing the Security Council, Petro declared: “That’s what makes missiles rain down on people, on babies. 20,000 people have been killed in Gaza. Those numbers cannot be hidden. And that is the real red thread of what I’m going to say here: We’re going back to the era of the Nazis.”

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, responded with a sharply worded statement condemning both Petro’s remarks and the broader use of Nazi analogies in contemporary political discourse.

“The United Nations Security Council was not created to serve as a stage for bizarre ideological rants and the dangerous distortion of Holocaust history. Giving legitimacy to rhetoric that recklessly manipulates the memory of Nazism dishonors the victims of the Holocaust and undermines the credibility of this institution. There is a profound moral difference between serious diplomatic debate and the casual, repeated abuse of Nazi comparisons for political provocation. When world leaders invoke Hitler and Goebbels to attack political opponents or democratic states, they erode the historical truth of the Holocaust and fuel dangerous antisemitic discourse. Pedro – You should be ashamed of your remarks!”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also lashed out at the Colombian president, accusing him of antisemitism and of repeatedly diminishing the significance of the Holocaust through such comparisons.

“The disgraced outgoing President of Colombia is a stain on his great nation. This antisemite is systematically trivializing the memory of the Holocaust. He is a communist that ruined his great country. Soon, he will be history.”

{Matzav.com}

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sharply escalated his criticism of Israel on Wednesday, claiming that Israeli military operations in Syria and Lebanon now pose a threat to Turkey itself and warning against any further moves in the region.

Speaking about developments across the Middle East, Erdoğan declared, “We see comprehensive initiatives led by Israel in the Mediterranean, and no one should pursue adventures there.”

He accused Israel of destabilizing the region and broadened his criticism beyond the current conflicts, asserting that “Israel’s aggression threatens the entire world.” Erdoğan further warned that any harm to Turkish interests would draw a forceful reaction from Ankara, saying, “If the rights of Turks or Turkish-Cypriots are harmed in the Middle East – our response will be unequivocal and strong.”

The Turkish leader also emphasized what he described as Turkey’s wider strategic responsibilities in the region. “Turkey’s security does not begin in Hatay, but also in Aleppo, Damascus and Beirut. We will not tolerate any ‘fait accompli’ in our brotherly nations, and we will not turn a blind eye to aggression against them.” Referring to comments made in Israel regarding a “Greater Land of Israel,” Erdoğan added, “If Allah wills, we will never allow that.”

His remarks appeared to be linked to a report published last December by the Greek news outlet TA NEA, which claimed that Israel, Greece, and Cyprus have been discussing the establishment of a joint military framework in the eastern Mediterranean.

According to the report, the proposed alliance would consist of approximately 2,500 personnel, along with naval assets, combat aircraft, and supporting infrastructure. The force would reportedly operate from facilities in Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, including deployments on the Greek islands of Rhodes and Karpathos.

The report further stated that Israel and Greece would each contribute roughly 1,000 troops, while Cyprus would provide another 500 personnel. It also alleged that both Israel and Greece would assign an air force squadron to the initiative.

Prime Minister Netanyahu responded forcefully to Erdoğan’s accusations, issuing a statement condemning the Turkish leader.

“The antisemitic dictator Erdoğan – who is committing genocide against the Kurds, supports the Hamas terrorist organization, oppresses his own people and imprisons political rivals – is the last person who can lecture the State of Israel on morality.”

Netanyahu added that Israel would continue its military efforts against regional threats.

“The State of Israel and the IDF, the most moral army in the world, will continue to take forceful action against Iran and its proxies, which threaten the Middle East and the entire world.”

Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar also blasted Erdoğan, accusing him of hypocrisy and warning against any confrontation with Israel.

“The tyrant Erdoğan, whose hands are covered in blood, must be held accountable for his crimes and not preach morality to the only democratic state in the Middle East. If he dares to test us – his fate will be worse than that of the dying Iranian regime.”

The exchange comes amid increasingly hostile rhetoric from Turkish officials toward Israel. In recent days, Turkey’s Interior Minister, Mustafa Çipçi, delivered remarks at a conference of the ruling party in which he predicted that Turkey would eventually gain control of Jerusalem.

Drawing parallels to recent geopolitical developments in the region, Çipçi declared, “As we saw the liberation of Damascus, Aleppo and Karabakh, so, with Allah’s help, one day we will see the liberation of Jerusalem as well.”

{Matzav.com}

The United States escalated its military campaign against Iran on Wednesday evening, launching another round of strikes after President Trump signaled that further action was imminent unless Tehran returned to meaningful negotiations over a broader peace agreement.

Announcing the operation, U.S. Central Command confirmed that additional attacks had begun under orders from the president.

“U.S. Central Command [CENTCOM] forces began launching additional self-defense strikes today at 5:15 p.m. ET against multiple targets in Iran at the Commander in Chief’s direction,” the Tampa, Fla.-based combat command said in a statement on X.

“The strikes are in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression.”

Military officials did not immediately release details regarding the locations targeted, the extent of the damage, or whether there were any casualties.

The latest strikes followed a day of heightened regional tensions after Iran launched attacks against Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait, all countries that host American military personnel. The operation also came one day after Washington carried out its first wave of attacks in response to an Iranian drone shooting down a U.S. Army helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier Wednesday, the U.S. military reported taking action against a commercial tanker accused of violating the American blockade of Iranian ports along the strategically vital waterway. According to CENTCOM, a U.S. aircraft disabled the Palau-registered tanker M/T Settebello by targeting its engine compartment. The vessel became the eighth merchant ship put out of operation by American forces in waters surrounding Iran.

Capt. Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesman, said an American aircraft fired “precision munitions” into the engine room of the Palau-flagged vessel M/T Settebello, making it the eighth merchant vessel disabled by US forces in waters off Iran.

India’s government later reported that three Indian crew members aboard the tanker were unaccounted for following the strike, while 21 others were safely rescued. New Delhi’s statement did not reference either the United States or the maritime blockade.

According to Hawkins, U.S. forces issued warnings to those aboard the vessel before opening fire.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday afternoon, Trump made clear that additional military action was on the way while again urging Iran to accept a deal that would eliminate its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

“We’re going to hit them again hard today,” Trump told reporters at the White House Wednesday afternoon before urging Iran to sign a peace deal that would include them giving up ambitions of acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Defense officials echoed the president’s message, emphasizing that American military operations would continue.

“CENTCOM will be busy tonight because President Trump said we will be hitting Iran hard — and we will be,” War Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters in Florida.

Hegseth argued that Tehran still had an opportunity to reach an agreement but had repeatedly failed to follow through.

“Iran has a chance to make a good deal, a great deal, to codify what they said they’ve been willing to do, and they haven’t been willing to do it,” he added.

He also warned that the administration’s patience had run out.

“As President Trump said, they’ve been tap, tap, tapping [the US along on making a deal] … instead, they are going to have tap, tap, tap, bombs dropping on key facilities in Iran from the United States of America.”

Iran’s government responded defiantly. Addressing the United Nations Security Council, Tehran’s ambassador rejected any suggestion that pressure or military threats would force concessions.

“Iran has never negotiated under threats and pressure and will never submit to pressure or question,” Tehran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, told the Security Council.

Despite the military escalation, diplomatic efforts have not completely ceased. After discussions with American officials, a Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Wednesday to continue mediation efforts, according to a source familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity.

At the center of the dispute remains Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Washington insists that Tehran must surrender the material, which experts say is only a short step away from weapons-grade enrichment, even though Iranian officials continue to maintain that their nuclear program serves peaceful purposes.

Iran, however, has refused to relinquish the uranium reserves and is demanding significant sanctions relief. Tehran is also seeking access to frozen assets before any final agreement is completed, a condition Trump has firmly rejected.

With both sides maintaining sharply different positions, prospects for a breakthrough remain uncertain. Trump expressed frustration Wednesday in a Truth Social post, accusing Iran of dragging out the process.

He wrote that Iran was taking “too long to negotiate a deal” and “now they will have to pay the price!!!”

Complicating matters further, Tehran has insisted that any agreement ending the conflict must also halt hostilities involving its ally Hezbollah and Israel. Israel, however, has moved in the opposite direction, expanding military operations against the Lebanon-based terror organization.

{Matzav.com}

Nir Hefetz, a former spokesman for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, claimed that President Donald Trump would not be disappointed if a different leader were to take office in Israel, arguing that attitudes toward Netanyahu within Trump’s inner circle have changed significantly.

Speaking in an interview with 103FM, Hefetz was asked about Trump’s recent remarks regarding the possibility of another Netanyahu candidacy, in which the president said he was unsure whether Netanyahu even wanted to continue serving as prime minister. Hefetz said those comments reflect a broader shift in Washington’s view of the Israeli leader.

According to Hefetz, “Trump’s close circle has for quite some time viewed Netanyahu as a major problem,” adding that during his years in the Prime Minister’s Office, communications with senior American officials were handled by only a handful of trusted advisers.

Reflecting on those discussions, Hefetz said, “During my time, the only people on calls like these were Ron Dermer, who served either as diplomatic adviser or ambassador to the United States, and at times whoever was serving as national security adviser. Sometimes both advisers would participate in the calls. Sometimes it was literally two ears and four eyes, however you want to describe it.”

Hefetz also addressed the possibility of a future leadership change in Israel and suggested that Trump would have little objection to such a development.

“Trump won’t shed a tear if Gadi Eisenkot is Israel’s prime minister six months from now — to put it mildly, he won’t shed a tear,” Hefetz said.

Toward the end of the interview, Hefetz was asked whether he believes relations between Trump and Netanyahu have deteriorated. He responded that he is convinced they have.

“Yes. I’m certain of it. Quite a while ago I said that I identified the beginning of the deterioration in their relationship on the day Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner stood in Hostages Square after the deal. When Witkoff mentioned Netanyahu’s name, the crowd booed. I looked at their faces, and they smiled.”

Hefetz’s comments come amid growing discussion about Israel’s political future and ongoing questions surrounding Netanyahu’s plans ahead of the next national election.

{Matzav.com}

A 30-year-old Israeli citizen was arrested in Thailand on suspicion of using local nominees to acquire land on the island of Koh Phangan in violation of Thai laws restricting foreign ownership of real estate.

According to Thai authorities, the suspect was taken into custody Tuesday at the airport on the island of Koh Samui as part of a broader investigation into alleged schemes designed to conceal foreign ownership of land through the use of Thai citizens serving as nominal shareholders.

Police allege that the Israeli held shares in a company established through an accounting firm that allegedly arranged for Thai nationals to act as proxy shareholders. Authorities claim that land on Koh Phangan was purchased through the company and that the suspect intended to build a private vacation home on the property.

The arrest occurred shortly after the suspect re-entered Thailand. Officials said a regional court in Koh Samui had issued an arrest warrant for him on May 21. During an initial interview with investigators, the suspect reportedly acknowledged that he was the individual named in the warrant.

Authorities further allege that he left Thailand before investigators were able to carry out additional searches connected to the case.

The arrest forms part of a large-scale operation targeting similar arrangements throughout the Koh Phangan area. Thai law enforcement agencies have been investigating networks suspected of using local citizens as fronts to circumvent restrictions on foreign ownership of land.

As part of the ongoing crackdown, authorities issued 45 arrest warrants in mid-May. To date, 27 suspects have reportedly been taken into custody.

Police said the investigation remains active and is examining the possible involvement of the accounting firm as well as Thai nationals who allegedly served as nominee shareholders in the transactions.

{Matzav.com}

The Peleg Yerushalmi faction launched a series of emergency demonstrations across Israel on Wednesday following plans to transfer 19 yeshivah students classified as draft evaders to the military police after their release from custody in connection with the disturbances outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg.

The protests were organized after authorities moved forward with efforts to hand over the detainees, who had been arrested during the unrest near Sohlberg’s residence and are now facing transfer to military jurisdiction.

In a statement issued by the Committee for the Preservation of the Torah World, which is affiliated with Peleg Yerushalmi, organizers called on “bnei Torah and all those who fear the word of Hashem” to immediately join widespread demonstrations against what they described as “the extradition process to the army for the crime of learning Torah.”

Demonstrations were held at four primary locations around the country, including outside Nitzan Prison in Ramle, near the Russian Compound in Yerushalayim, adjacent to Hadarim Prison, along Route 4 between Ra’anana and Netanya, and in Abu Kabir.

Peleg Yerushalmi leaders warned that if the detainees are ultimately transferred to military custody, the protests are expected to intensify dramatically in the coming days. Organizers declared that “the country will burn — everywhere, at all times.”

Over the past hour, clashes were reported between demonstrators and police at several locations. In Abu Kabir, protesters reportedly attempted to block roads and engaged in disturbances, while in Yerushalayim police said dozens of demonstrators gathered near the Russian Compound in an effort to prevent vehicles transporting the detainees from leaving the nearby detention facility.

Police said reinforced forces were deployed to the area and were operating “in order to disperse those involved in the disturbances.”

Additional confrontations were reported near the Russian Compound as police worked to clear demonstrators from the area and maintain access for prisoner transport vehicles.

The Eidah Hachareidis also announced its participation in the protests. In a statement, representatives said that, under the directive of the ga’avadim and members of the Badatz of the Eidah Hachareidis headed by Rav Moshe Sternbuch, the public was being called upon to take part in protests outside prisons throughout the country in opposition to the transfer of bochurim and avreichim to military detention facilities.

The statement described the effort as an obligation upon every individual and called for a determined campaign, conducted with mesirus nefesh, to prevent the authorities from carrying out the transfers.

Following the directive, all Eidah Hachareidis kollelim reportedly closed during the past hour, with large numbers of avreichim joining the demonstrations across the country.

{Matzav.com}

Visitors to Meron will now benefit from a newly completed restroom complex located near the main entrance to the tziyun of the tanna Rav Shimon bar Yochai, following the inauguration this week of a modern and fully accessible facility designed to serve the hundreds of thousands who visit the site annually.

The project, which took years of planning and construction to complete, was spearheaded by the Ministry of Religious Services under the leadership of Director-General Rabbi Yehuda Avidan. It was carried out in cooperation with the Safra Foundation in Israel, represented by Yair Turnheim, as well as the regional planning authorities and the Committee of Five responsible for overseeing the Rashbi site.

The new structure is part of a broader effort to upgrade infrastructure and visitor services throughout the holy site and is intended to provide a significantly improved experience for the large crowds that travel to Meron throughout the year.

Designed to accommodate the needs of the many visitors who frequent the site, particularly during peak periods, the facility replaces the temporary restroom system that had previously operated near the tziyun. Dozens of spacious, modern, and fully equipped restroom stalls have been installed to provide a more comfortable and dignified experience for worshippers and guests.

As part of the initiative, extensive infrastructure work was carried out and the surrounding area underwent substantial improvements. The project forms part of an ongoing campaign to enhance accessibility, visitor services, and overall conditions at the site.

The location of the new facility was selected following consultation with the late Gaon Rabbi Dovid Shmidel and representatives of Asra Kadisha, who carefully evaluated several potential locations around the holy site before identifying the final location.

Special attention was also given to the needs of kohanim. In addition to the general improvements, the structure was built using a system of kipin al gabei kipin to ensure accessibility for kohanim, and a dedicated pathway was created connecting the facility to the existing route designated for kohanim. Halachic oversight was provided by representatives of Asra Kadisha and members of the Committee of Five headed by Rav Shmuel Rabinovitch, Rav of the Kosel and the holy sites.

The new building was also specifically designed to meet modern accessibility standards, making it easier for individuals with disabilities and those with mobility challenges to visit the tziyun throughout the year.

Officials described the project as another important milestone in the continuing effort to improve conditions in Meron and expand the site’s infrastructure for the benefit of the many mispallelim and visitors who come to the holy site.

{Matzav.com}

A growing debate over how Likud will select its next Knesset slate has placed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at the center of a major internal battle, with reports indicating he is considering several significant changes to the party’s candidate-selection process ahead of the next election.

According to a report in Israel Hayom, Netanyahu and senior party officials are currently evaluating three primary options for determining Likud’s future Knesset list, a decision that could reshape the party’s internal balance of power.

Under the first proposal, the traditional primary system would be scrapped entirely and replaced by a selection committee. The committee would reportedly include local government leaders and other prominent figures affiliated with Likud and would be tasked with assembling the party’s candidate list.

A second option would preserve the primary system while substantially expanding the chairman’s authority to reserve spots on the slate for candidates of his choosing. The third alternative would leave the current system untouched, allowing primaries to proceed exactly as they do today.

One senior Likud minister predicted that the party will ultimately retain the primary process, although he believes Netanyahu will seek broader powers to place candidates on the list. “The grassroots won’t easily give up their right to choose,” he said.

Others within the party argue that meaningful reforms are necessary if Likud hopes to strengthen its electoral prospects. According to one senior faction official, “Likud must improve the quality of its candidate roster. Without significant personnel changes, the party could lose valuable votes in the next election.”

The political debate is unfolding alongside a parallel legal dispute over the party’s rules and procedures.

Likud Comptroller attorney Shay Galili has reportedly prepared a draft legal opinion stating that any effort to abolish the primary system would require broad approval from party members.

The draft further suggests that a major expansion of the chairman’s appointment powers could also face legal obstacles. According to the opinion, candidates cannot simply be inserted onto the slate without first participating in the party’s standard selection process.

Meanwhile, concerns regarding organized and financially supported party registrations continue to loom over the discussion. The issue has previously drawn scrutiny from the State Comptroller and remains a source of tension within the party.

Some Likud officials warn that if allegations regarding funded memberships are substantiated, the primary results could be significantly affected and new internal power centers could emerge.

“If the concerns materialize, independent power blocs could develop within Likud,” one party source said. “This is a direct threat to the stability of the faction and to the party’s ability to form and manage a stable coalition.”

{Matzav.com}

MK Meir Porush, chairman of the Shlomei Emunim faction, issued a passionate call Tuesday night for greater unity among the leaders of the chareidi parties, warning that the Torah world is confronting one of the most difficult periods in its history.

Speaking before community leaders in Bnei Brak, Porush described the current challenges facing the chareidi community as unprecedented in the decades since the establishment of the State of Israel.

“Almost no day passes without being worse than the one before it,” Porush said. “The chareidi community has not faced problems this severe since the founding of the state.”

Porush argued that the growing crisis surrounding the status of bnei yeshivah and the Torah world demands cooperation and coordination among all segments of the chareidi leadership.

According to Porush, the attorney general has assumed an outsized role in shaping policy, while government officials continue to follow her lead on key issues affecting the chareidi public.

“The attorney general has taken control of everyone, and they are all being dragged along behind her,” he said. “At a time like this, unity is required. Klal Yisrael is in distress. If we do not know how to unite and take the proper actions, then chas v’shalom what could happen. Our message is simple: let us come together.”

Porush delivered the remarks during a sheva brachos celebration attended by prominent community leaders in Bnei Brak. The event was hosted by the Shlomei Emunim faction in honor of the wedding of the daughter of Deputy Mayor Yossi Yaakovowitz.

The call for unity comes just days after a similar appeal by Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, who urged the leadership of United Torah Judaism to establish a joint operations center to coordinate efforts in addressing the ongoing draft crisis affecting the Torah community.

“Let us join hands, establish a joint headquarters, and work together on all the practical steps and the management of this struggle in order to achieve real results for the Torah world,” Deri said in his appeal last week.

Deri proposed launching broad public-relations and advocacy initiatives aimed at strengthening support for bnei yeshivah and ensuring that every yeshivah bochur can walk proudly despite the current challenges.

He expressed confidence that the current atmosphere would not last indefinitely.

“What is happening in the streets right now is only a temporary period of hester panim,” Deri said. “Very soon, things will return to their proper place.”

{Matzav.com}

Electronic cigarettes were long promoted as a safer substitute for traditional tobacco products, but a major new scientific review is raising fresh concerns about the dangers of vaping. Researchers now say e-cigarettes may significantly increase the risk of serious lung disease, challenging years of claims that they represent a harmless alternative to smoking.

The findings, published in the respected journal NPJ Primary Care Respiratory Medicine, come from a large-scale meta-analysis that combined data from 17 separate studies involving more than 4.3 million individuals. The research identified a strong association between e-cigarette use and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a progressive and irreversible illness that causes long-term inflammation and narrowing of the airways.

According to the analysis, people who currently use e-cigarettes face a 47.3% greater likelihood of developing COPD than those who have never vaped. Even more alarming, former users showed a 76.6% increased risk, suggesting that damage caused by vaping may continue long after a person quits.

The study comes amid growing concern over smoking and vaping rates in Israel. While approximately one-fifth of the general population smokes, estimates within the chareidi community are significantly higher, reaching between 30% and 40% in some segments of the population. Health advocates say the widespread availability of vaping devices has further intensified the problem, particularly among yeshivah students and younger users.

In many chareidi yeshivos, vaping has become socially accepted even in batei medrash, including among individuals who would never consider smoking a conventional cigarette indoors.

In response to mounting concerns, a government committee recently recommended introducing tighter controls throughout the tobacco and vaping supply chain. Proposed measures include a licensing framework, a computerized tracking system, and new legislation that would authorize authorities to confiscate illegal tobacco products. Regulators are also evaluating restrictions on the size, appearance, and design of vaping devices.

At the same time, existing anti-smoking laws already empower municipal leaders and local inspectors to enforce smoking restrictions in public areas. Revenue generated through fines is transferred directly to local authorities. As part of a nationwide reporting initiative, municipalities were required to submit enforcement statistics for 2025.

The latest figures show growing participation in the reporting process. Ninety-two local authorities submitted enforcement reports for 2025, compared with roughly 80 for 2024 and just 50 for 2023. Despite the increase in reporting, the total number of citations issued nationwide remained largely unchanged, rising only slightly from 11,605 in 2024 to 11,692 in 2025.

The data also reveal significant disparities in enforcement from one municipality to another. Jerusalem led the country by a wide margin, issuing 4,240 fines through a force of 440 smoking-enforcement inspectors. Haifa and Tel Aviv also ranked among the most active municipalities. Haifa handed out approximately 2,500 fines with only 40 inspectors, while Tel Aviv-Jaffa recorded 1,320 citations during 2025.

By contrast, enforcement in some large cities was far more limited. Rishon Lezion, one of Israel’s largest and wealthiest municipalities, issued just 120 fines, a figure viewed as unusually low relative to its population size.

Several municipalities reported no enforcement activity whatsoever. Ashdod and Ness Ziona recorded zero fines during the year, indicating no meaningful enforcement of smoking regulations. Similar results were reported in Herzliya, Ra’anana, Ramat Hasharon, Mevasseret Zion, and Yokneam Illit. In Rosh Ha’ayin, only a single citation was issued throughout the year, while Rehovot reported just 10 fines.

Public health officials also highlighted persistent exposure to secondhand smoke. According to the data, 28.9% of the Jewish population and 48.5% of the Arab population are regularly exposed to passive smoking.

The human toll remains substantial. On average, 33 Israelis die every day from illnesses linked to smoking, accounting for nearly one-quarter of all deaths nationwide.

A separate study examining smoking-related mortality found that approximately 12,386 deaths in Israel during 2022 could be attributed to smoking, representing about 23% of all deaths in the country. While the overwhelming majority were tied to active smoking, passive smoke exposure also contributed significantly. Researchers noted that the figures represent an increase compared with findings from a similar study conducted in 2014.

{Matzav.com}

A growing dispute has emerged between leading hesder yeshivos and the IDF following the military’s decision to move forward with plans to integrate female soldiers into maneuvering armored units.

Prominent roshei yeshivah from the Religious Zionist community announced that they will no longer recommend service in the Armored Corps for their talmidim, arguing that the planned changes create serious halachic concerns.

For many years, graduates of hesder yeshivos have served in large numbers in combat units, command positions, and frontline military roles, with many paying a heavy personal price during Israel’s recent wars and security operations.

The latest controversy centers on an IDF program, expected to begin in the coming months, that would place female combat soldiers in maneuvering armored units in accordance with a Supreme Court ruling.

Under the proposed framework, male and female soldiers would serve together in combat roles involving extended operational activity, tank deployment, and missions under demanding field conditions.

In a letter signed by leading roshei yeshivah from major hesder institutions, the rabbanim expressed strong opposition to the initiative.

“We, the heads of hesder yeshivos whose students are serving on the front lines, view with great concern the Supreme Court’s decision requiring the IDF to integrate female combat soldiers into maneuvering armored units. After careful consideration, we have concluded that service in the Armored Corps is prohibited according to halachah, and therefore we will not send our students to serve in the Armored Corps beginning with the next draft cycle.”

The rabbanim stated that concerns and objections had been raised repeatedly with military officials in recent months by both yeshivah leaders and prospective soldiers but, according to them, those concerns were not adequately addressed.

They warned that continued disregard for their position could significantly reduce the number of hesder yeshivah graduates entering the Armored Corps.

According to a senior military official quoted by Ynet, the situation presents a difficult challenge for the IDF.

“From an operational standpoint, the equation created by the Supreme Court ruling is clear: a handful of female combat soldiers each year versus giving up dozens of combat soldiers in every draft cycle. If the rabbis’ threat is carried out, it will be impossible to do both. We have already seen the consequences in the Artillery Corps, and we cannot afford for a similar situation to develop in the Armored Corps while simultaneously meeting the court’s requirements. The Supreme Court has placed us in an impossible position.”

The controversy also drew a sharp response from opposition leader Yair Golan, chairman of The Democrats party.

“This letter is a disgrace. Women will serve wherever they choose and in every role where the IDF needs them. Everyone will perform full military service, including Religious Zionists and chareidim, and no sector will dictate conditions to the state. The IDF is the national army of the people, not a sectoral militia.”

The remarks prompted a pointed response from MK Yaakov Asher of United Torah Judaism, who argued that the Religious Zionist community is now confronting many of the same pressures long faced by the chareidi community.

“Smotrich, Solomon, Rav Meidan, and the entire chorus that has so enjoyed attacking the chareidim over the past period. As I have said many times recently: You are a target exactly like us, if not more. Keep drilling holes in the ship, and afterward don’t come with complaints. Understand that they do not distinguish between ‘chareidim’ and ‘religious.’ We are ‘draft dodgers’ — you are ‘messianics’!”

{Matzav.com}

More than two and a half years after the devastating collapse that shocked the neighborhoods of Meah Shearim and Bais Yisrael, the Yerushalayim District Attorney’s Office has filed an indictment against a contractor accused of causing the death of a Mir Yeshivah bochur through negligence.

The indictment, filed Tuesday, charges 49-year-old contractor Iman Hamad of eastern Yerushalayim with causing death by negligence in connection with the collapse that claimed the life of Yitzchok “Itzik” Steinberger z”l.

In a significant development, authorities have simultaneously closed the case against the property owner, concluding that there was no basis for criminal charges and fully clearing him of any wrongdoing in the tragic incident.

Construction Failures Allegedly Led to Disaster

According to the indictment, submitted by attorney Ronit Shentzer Yaakobi of the Yerushalayim District Attorney’s Office, renovation and expansion work at the aging residential structure was carried out in a dangerously negligent manner despite having received the necessary building permits.

Prosecutors allege that the contractor erected concrete forms on only one side of a newly constructed wall, while relying on the old existing wall to support the opposite side of the pour.

As a result, according to the indictment, the aging structure was unable to withstand the enormous weight and pressure of the fresh concrete. The weakened wall ultimately collapsed, sending tons of concrete and debris crashing into an adjacent room.

The tragedy occurred during the month of Teves 5784 at a building on Rechov Baal Shem Tov.

At the time of the collapse, Yitzchok Steinberger z”l, a 25-year-old talmid of Yeshivas Mir, was asleep in his bed.

The wall collapsed directly onto the room, trapping the bochur beneath the rubble.

Rescue Workers Encountered Horrific Scene

Investigators determined that massive quantities of wet concrete and construction materials poured into the room, nearly completely covering the bochur.

Hatzalah, Magen David Adom, and other emergency personnel who rushed to the scene described an exceptionally difficult rescue effort.

According to reports from the time, rescuers were forced to insert their hands into freshly poured concrete in an attempt to reach and extract Yitzchok z”l.

Despite desperate efforts by emergency crews, he suffered catastrophic head injuries and severe crushing wounds. He was later niftar from his injuries at the hospital.

Prosecution Alleges Series of Serious Safety Violations

The indictment outlines what prosecutors describe as numerous significant failures in the execution of the construction project.

Among the allegations is that the contractor failed to properly assess the load created by the concrete pour and neglected to verify whether the existing structure was capable of supporting the added pressure.

Prosecutors further claim that he failed to install proper support forms on both sides of the wall, contrary to accepted construction and engineering standards.

In addition, the indictment alleges that the entire volume of concrete was poured at once and at excessive speed, rather than in stages that would have allowed the structure to stabilize and reduced the risk of collapse.

The tragedy occurred during a complex renovation project in one of Yerushalayim’s oldest and most densely populated neighborhoods, where construction work often requires extraordinary caution due to the age and condition of the buildings.

Warnings Reportedly Issued Before Collapse

According to reports published after the disaster, local residents had raised concerns about conditions at the construction site and had reportedly contacted municipal authorities responsible for dangerous structures.

Those warnings were allegedly issued months before the collapse occurred.

Nevertheless, the work continued until the fatal accident.

The decision to indict only the contractor follows a lengthy investigation lasting more than two years. During that time, several individuals were questioned, including suspects investigated for offenses related to negligence and construction activities allegedly carried out despite concerns raised by professionals.

The case will now proceed in the Yerushalayim District Court.

The tragedy cast a pall over the broader Torah and chesed communities. Yitzchok z”l was the son of longtime ZAKA Tel Aviv volunteer Reb Simcha Steinberger and the grandson of the well-known baal chesed Reb Moshe Steinberger.

The ongoing battle over the draft law, the status of bnei yeshivah, and government funding for Torah institutions spilled into the corridors of the Knesset on Tuesday, as a tense confrontation erupted involving Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and senior chareidi lawmakers.

According to political commentator Michael Shemesh, an unusual incident unfolded when Baharav-Miara was making her way through the Knesset accompanied by security personnel.

In an apparent effort to avoid unnecessary confrontations and allow her to leave the area quickly, members of the Knesset Guard reportedly opened a side exit that is ordinarily closed to the public.

The move drew an immediate reaction from MKs of Degel HaTorah who were present at the scene and who have been among the attorney general’s fiercest critics amid ongoing disputes over issues affecting the Torah world.

According to the report, MK Yitzchak Pindrus noticed the unusual arrangement and shouted toward Knesset security personnel, questioning the decision.

“Who gave her permission to leave through there?” Pindrus reportedly called out.

Moments later, Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni joined in with a sharply sarcastic remark reflecting the growing hostility between chareidi political leaders and the attorney general.

“Be grateful,” Gafni reportedly said. “Earlier they brought her through my office, but don’t worry — we washed the place after she passed through.”

The exchange comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions between chareidi parties and Baharav-Miara over a range of issues, including the draft status of yeshivah students, legal challenges involving Torah institutions, and broader disputes between the government and the attorney general’s office.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF and Israel Security Agency (ISA) announced that a joint operation carried out in northern Gaza last Sunday successfully eliminated two senior Hamas operatives who played central roles in the terrorist group’s financial infrastructure.

According to Israeli officials, the strike targeted Khader Jamasi, who oversaw Hamas’ money-transfer apparatus, along with his deputy, Muhammad Harazin. Both men were deeply involved in managing and distributing funds on behalf of Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip.

Israeli intelligence assessments indicate that during the course of the war, the pair facilitated the movement of tens of millions of dollars to Hamas’ military wing through an extensive network of currency exchange businesses operating across Gaza.

The transferred funds were used to sustain Hamas’ terrorist activities, including paying operatives, maintaining the organization’s military capabilities, and financing attacks against both IDF personnel and Israeli civilians.

The two operatives are the latest members of Hamas’ financial leadership to be eliminated. Over the past year, Israeli forces have also targeted and killed other key figures involved in the organization’s monetary operations, including senior operatives Firas Mashharawi and Ihab Khrizim.

Following the operation, the IDF emphasized that measures were taken to reduce the possibility of civilian casualties during the strike.

“Prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance.”

The military also stressed that Israeli forces remain positioned in the area under the terms of the ceasefire arrangement and will continue responding to security threats as necessary.

“IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat.”

{Matzav.com}

Tensions are rising ahead of anticipated demonstrations by Peleg Yerushalmi supporters, as organizers prepare for renewed protests surrounding the military trial of yeshivah bochur Dovid Petrov, the son of Rav Eliezer Petrov, rosh yeshivah of Maalos HaTorah and a prominent figure within the movement.

As preparations intensify, an audio message distributed through the movement’s emergency hotlines reveals unusual concern among organizers and includes a series of strict instructions aimed at maintaining control of the demonstrations.

A central theme of the message is a forceful effort to distance the movement from last week’s incident in which protesters blocked railway tracks near the Ganot Junction area.

In the recording, organizers stress that entering the tracks was not an organized action and warn participants in the strongest possible terms against repeating such behavior.

“Anyone who thinks it is permissible to go down and block Israel Railways tracks should know that this is certain death. Under no circumstances should anyone go onto the tracks.”

Organizers also reportedly instructed participants not to film or circulate footage of similar incidents, expressing concern that such material could cause significant damage to the protest movement.

The emergency directives come amid heightened scrutiny following several controversial incidents in recent weeks, including the break-in at the home of Deputy Supreme Court President Justice Noam Sohlberg, which drew widespread condemnation, including from chareidi political leaders.

‘Golden Rules’ for Demonstrators

Beyond the warning regarding railway tracks, organizers distributed what they described as a series of “golden rules” for those planning to participate in upcoming protests.

Participants were instructed not to attend demonstrations alone and instead to arrive in organized groups.

The guidelines also urged protesters to avoid confrontations or provocations involving police officers or civilians and encouraged participants to carry recording devices and cameras.

“Our strength is in our unity,” organizers declared in the concluding message, while emphasizing that demonstrators should follow only the directives issued by the Vaad LeHatzalas Olam HaTorah.

The instructions appear aimed at preserving discipline within the demonstrations and preventing incidents that could escalate into uncontrolled violence while police closely monitor developments.

In recent weeks, Peleg Yerushalmi supporters have held a series of protests over the arrest and imprisonment of yeshivah students in military facilities. Demonstrations have included gatherings outside Prison 10 and protests at major intersections across the country, some of which ended in clashes with security forces.

Focus Turns to Petrov Trial

The immediate catalyst for the expected demonstrations is Wednesday’s military court hearing involving Dovid Petrov, who is facing proceedings on charges related to draft evasion.

Many observers view the case as another flashpoint in the ongoing tensions between the Torah world and the defense establishment, raising concerns that additional protests could follow the court’s decision.

Several high-profile incidents have already occurred in recent days. Authorities arrested three suspects in connection with a break-in at a police station in Beit Shemesh, while a chareidi avreich was recently detained at the Tunnels Checkpoint on suspicion of involvement in demonstrations outside Justice Sohlberg’s home.

Police officials have repeatedly stated that they will not tolerate attacks on state institutions or symbols of government authority.

At the same time, leaders of the Vaad LeHatzalas Olam HaTorah have made clear that the protest campaign will continue until what they describe as the persecution of lomdei Torah comes to an end.

Nevertheless, the unusually detailed instructions issued to demonstrators suggest that organizers are increasingly concerned that uncontrolled incidents could undermine the broader protest effort.

With police on heightened alert and the Petrov ruling expected Wednesday, attention is now focused on whether the coming days will bring a wider wave of demonstrations or a more restrained and carefully managed response.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump signaled Wednesday that additional American military action against Iran could be imminent, warning that Tehran will “have to pay the price” for what he described as prolonged delays in reaching a peace agreement.

During a phone conversation with Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst, Trump said he is “getting close to ordering new strikes against Iranian power plants and bridges,” indicating that critical infrastructure could soon become a target.

The president also accused Iran of failing to negotiate in good faith, alleging during the call that the regime was “tapping the United States along when it comes to the negotiating process.”

The remarks came shortly after Trump issued a forceful message on Truth Social, where he vowed retaliation following Monday’s downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.

“They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!” Trump wrote in a thunderous post Wednesday morning, after stating that the country’s military infrastructure and leadership were in disarray.

He continued by portraying Iran’s armed forces as severely weakened.

“Iran’s Military is a complete and total mess. Much of it, like their Navy and Air Force, doesn’t even exist anymore – They have been completely defeated. Iran is all talk and no action. The Bully of the Middle East is DEAD!!! ” he added.

Trump also shared additional details from the dramatic helicopter incident, describing the survival of the two Apache pilots as a “miracle.”

According to the president, an Iranian drone struck the helicopter and became wedged between the two aviators. Although the drone ignited, it did not detonate.

Repeating Trump’s account, Yingst said, “And these pilots very quickly, within seconds, because they’re flying very low, take the helicopter down into the sea,” Yingst explained, recalling what the president told him.

In what officials described as a first for the U.S. military, the pilots were reportedly recovered roughly two hours later by an unmanned maritime drone, according to U.S. Central Command.

The helicopter’s destruction prompted a swift American military response. On Tuesday evening, U.S. forces launched what officials called “self-defense strikes” against Iranian targets.

According to Fox News, Trump said he authorized overnight attacks aimed at airfields, radar installations, and air-defense systems that Iran had attempted to restore during the recent ceasefire period.

The network reported that U.S. forces “took out about 55% of what they [Iran] were even able to rebuild,” the outlet said, citing Trump.

Iran responded Wednesday by launching drones and missiles at military installations in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait, broadening the regional confrontation.

Despite the escalating exchanges, Trump had maintained until Wednesday that diplomacy remained possible, saying negotiations with Tehran were in their “final throes” and that an agreement could potentially be reached within “two to three days.”

Iran, meanwhile, appealed to neighboring Gulf states to help halt the American and Israeli military campaign, warning that further attacks could follow if they failed to act.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry argued that regional governments bear responsibility for preventing their territory from being used in operations against the Islamic Republic.

According to CBS News, Iranian officials said those countries have a “legal and moral responsibility … to prevent the US military and Israel from using their territory or facilities to plan, organize, execute or support hostile actions against Iran.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump disclosed striking new information about the survival of two U.S. Army Apache helicopter pilots who escaped death after an Iranian attack drone became embedded in their aircraft during a mission over hostile territory.

In comments relayed by Fox News on Wednesday, Trump described the incident as nothing short of miraculous. According to the president, an explosive-laden drone struck the helicopter and became lodged between the two pilots while the aircraft was flying at low altitude. Although the helicopter burst into flames, the drone failed to detonate.

“At any moment it could have exploded,” Trey Yingst told the network after speaking with Trump, who called the harrowing incident “a miracle.”

Yingst recounted the president’s description of the ordeal, saying, “And so we’re trying to take down the helicopter with the drone lodged into this gunship without it exploding. There was a lot of heat inside the cockpit of this helicopter, and ultimately these two pilots were able to take it down into the sea,” he said, quoting the president.

Despite the severe damage, the crew successfully ditched the approximately $40 million helicopter in the water, avoiding what could have been a catastrophic explosion.

The rescue that followed marked a historic first for the U.S. military. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, the stranded pilots were located and assisted by an unmanned maritime vessel.

The craft, identified as a 24-foot AI-powered Saronic Corsair autonomous surface vessel, located the aviators after they spent roughly two hours in the waters off the coast of Oman.

The robotic boats are capable of carrying payloads of up to 1,000 pounds and can travel at speeds approaching 40 miles per hour.

Military officials said the pilots were eventually transferred to safety, where a rescue helicopter later hoisted them from the vessel and completed the extraction.

Following what Trump described as Iran’s “unjustified” downing of the helicopter, the United States launched a series of retaliatory military operations against Iranian targets, raising tensions and putting pressure on the fragile ceasefire that had been in place for roughly two months.

While emphasizing that Washington was not seeking a broader war, Trump told an ABC News reporter that a response was necessary.

“This is a response to what they did with our helicopter last night, and I believe the response should be very strong, very powerful, and that’s what this one is,” he said.

U.S. Central Command characterized the operation as a defensive action rather than an escalation of the conflict.

“CENTCOM forces began launching self-defense strikes against Iran at 5 p.m. ET today at the Commander in Chief’s direction, in response to yesterday’s downing of a US Army Apache helicopter,” the combatant command said Tuesday.

”The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression,” it added, suggesting that the operation is limited and is not intended to spark a return to daily war with Tehran.

Sources familiar with military planning told The Post that the American strikes are expected to concentrate on facilities and assets near the Strait of Hormuz, including locations believed to be used for launching or storing drones and other weapons systems.

Iran, however, has disputed suggestions that the helicopter was intentionally targeted. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Iranian officials maintained that the aircraft was not “deliberately” shot down.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a central figure in ongoing diplomatic negotiations, indicated that the incident may have been accidental.

{Matzav.com}

A deeply emotional scene unfolded this week in Kibbutz Be’eri as demolition crews razed the final remaining house in the community’s Kerem neighborhood, the longtime home of the Sharabi and Askapa families.

The demolition marked another painful chapter in the ongoing effort to rebuild communities devastated by the October 7 massacre. Heavy machinery moved into the neighborhood on Sunday and brought down the last structure still standing in the area.

Before the Hamas attack, the neighborhood had been a peaceful and vibrant corner of the kibbutz, surrounded by greenery and family life. In the aftermath of the massacre, however, it became a landscape of destruction, with piles of broken concrete, twisted metal, and debris serving as reminders of the devastation left behind.

Among those present was Eli Sharabi, who has become a symbol of resilience and loss in the wake of the tragedy.

On October 7, Sharabi’s wife, Lianne, and their daughters, Noiya and Yahel, were murdered in their home during the Hamas assault. During the same attack, his brother, Yossi Sharabi, was kidnapped and taken to Gaza. After weeks in captivity, Yossi was ultimately murdered by Hamas terrorists.

Standing beside the ruins, Sharabi watched as bulldozers destroyed the last physical remnant of the home where his family had lived. It was a final farewell to the walls that had once held the memories, laughter, and warmth of his loved ones.

Photographer Yarden Rokach documented the emotional moments and later shared a series of powerful images from the demolition.

“On Sunday, they demolished the last house in the Kerem neighborhood of Be’eri — the home of the Sharabi family and the Askapa family. A green paradise that became ruins of broken concrete and dust. Memories filled with light mixed with profound darkness. It was a day when the air ran out of my lungs. And yet, as always, the one who gave all of us strength was the one and only Eli.”

The photographs quickly resonated across Israel, drawing an outpouring of emotion from people throughout the country.

Singer Hanan Ben Ari was among those who reacted to the images.

“Eli, your tears break my heart, and Yarden’s photographs capture these moments in an extraordinary way.”

Many others flooded social media with messages of support, encouragement, and prayer.

Commenters praised Sharabi’s strength and dignity despite the unimaginable losses he has endured, expressing hope that he will find comfort and healing in the years ahead.

Others voiced prayers that, from the ashes of destruction and heartbreak, Sharabi will be able to rebuild his life and experience renewed blessing, while the memory of his wife, daughters, and brother continues to accompany him always.

{Matzav.com}

A growing dispute has erupted between the Bnei Brak municipality and Israel Police over planned road closures surrounding the city during a series of major concerts by singer Omer Adam at nearby Ramat Gan Stadium.

City officials sent an urgent letter Tuesday to the commander of the Dan District Police, demanding that authorities find immediate transportation solutions rather than shutting down key access routes leading to the Soferim neighborhood.

The confrontation comes as tens of thousands of concertgoers are expected to arrive at the stadium each evening over the coming days. According to estimates, roughly 40,000 spectators are anticipated nightly, prompting police to implement extensive traffic-control measures throughout the area.

Under the traffic plan released by police, major roads surrounding the neighborhood will be subject to extensive closures during both the arrival and departure periods of the events.

According to the published guidelines, numerous thoroughfares will be closed between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., with additional restrictions imposed from 10:30 p.m. until midnight as crowds leave the stadium.

Among the roads expected to be affected are the Mivtza Kadesh Bridge, the Raul Wallenberg–Shitrit intersection, portions of Shitrit Street, the Em HaMoshavot corridor, and sections of Maccabim Street in Bnei Brak. Additional closures are planned at the Abuchatzira–Lehi intersection in Bnei Brak and along Ben-Gurion Boulevard in Ramat Gan.

Municipal officials argue that the closures would effectively sever the primary routes leading into the Soferim neighborhood, leaving hundreds of local families with severely limited access to their homes.

Residents have expressed particular frustration because the transportation difficulties come just days after the inauguration of a new bridge that was intended to prevent exactly this type of disruption.

The recently completed bridge, which connects Derech Em HaMoshavot with Rechov Lehi in Bnei Brak, was designed to provide a direct transportation link for the Soferim neighborhood and ease congestion during large events at the stadium.

However, despite the public dedication ceremony and official announcements surrounding the project, the bridge has not yet been opened for regular vehicular traffic due to unresolved issues involving outside agencies.

As a result, residents remain dependent on the older roads that are now scheduled to be closed, adding to growing frustration throughout the neighborhood.

Municipality: ‘We Stand Shoulder to Shoulder With Residents’

Bnei Brak officials issued a forceful statement backing the residents’ complaints and insisting that alternative arrangements must be found.

“The municipality stands shoulder to shoulder with the residents in their justified struggle,” city officials said.

“We are working intensively with all relevant authorities to bring about the full and immediate opening of the new bridge as quickly as possible, and we will not accept road closures that harm the quality of life of Bnei Brak residents and turn them into hostages.”

The dispute highlights the increasing tension between the logistical and security requirements involved in managing a massive public event and the needs of local residents seeking normal access to their homes.

Attention is now focused on whether police and transportation officials will develop an alternative traffic plan that can accommodate the large crowds expected at the concerts while minimizing disruption to residents of the Soferim neighborhood.

{Matzav.com}

By Efraim Mendelson

I’ll get straight to the point. Our neighborhoods have become more dangerous. We are facing a public safety emergency. And no, this isn’t about crime, although that’s worrisome too.

Not long ago, being on the sidewalk didn’t require constant alertness for fast-moving vehicles whizzing by. But times have changed. Today, people of all ages are zooming down sidewalks and streets on electric scooters and bikes, many with little to no experience operating them.

Everyone understands why driving a car has a minimum age requirement and only comes after training, testing, and licensing. This ensures competent drivers, safe roads, and adherence to traffic laws. But when it comes to e-scooters, it’s the wild west. Though sidewalk use is prohibited under New York law, and there are official speed limits, the regulations are weakly enforced. This creates a menace to pedestrians and turns our walkways into danger zones.

Aside from frequently crashing into pedestrians on sidewalks, e-scooters pose other hazards as well. Bumps, potholes, and broken asphalt can all cause loss of control and falls. Even when using designated bike lanes (which are mostly one-way), riders sometimes travel against traffic. This can lead to collisions with pedestrians crossing the street who aren’t expecting bikes or scooters from the wrong direction. Others leave designated areas and weave through traffic, endangering both themselves and motorists. Sadly, many adults ride recklessly as well and also get into accidents, but the risk is greater among children, who are even less prepared to operate these vehicles safely.

Yes, the pressure is real. Your child may beg for that scooter, insisting that all of his or her friends have one. But would you give your toddler a knife or allow them to cross the street alone, even after repeated cries and pleas? This is no different. A parent’s first obligation is safety, which often requires tough love. Also, bear in mind that if a child on an e-scooter injures themselves or someone else (or worse, G-d forbid), the parent who purchased it or permitted its use bears the ultimate moral responsibility.

If your child already has one, you need to ask yourself some tough questions about their safety and your role in it. If you’re an adult who rides on sidewalks or disregards designated lanes and traffic rules, you need to take a hard look in the mirror. Pikuach nefesh comes before the entire Torah. Repeatedly jeopardizing one’s life and the lives of others, or allowing a child to do so, can lead to devastating consequences, and calls into question one’s entire frumkeit.

Don’t wait for a tragedy to start taking responsibility. Act now, before an accident leads to a lifetime of regret!

The chairman of Israel’s Central Elections Committee, Deputy Supreme Court President Justice Noam Sohlberg, ruled Tuesday that a campaign video featuring Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu may no longer be distributed, finding that it improperly used a state-owned facility for political purposes.

The decision came after the committee accepted a petition filed by the organization Lawyers for Good Governance, which challenged the use of the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv as the backdrop for political campaign material.

At the center of the case was a video published on May 19, 2026, through the prime minister’s personal social media accounts. The footage was filmed inside the historic Ben-Gurion House, located within the heavily secured Kirya military compound.

The petitioners argued that the production violated Section 2A of Israel’s Election Propaganda Law, which prohibits candidates and political parties from using government or public property to gain a political advantage during an election campaign.

‘Attempt to Influence Voters’

Justice Sohlberg sided with the petitioners, determining that the content of the video clearly crossed the line into political campaign activity.

In his ruling, Sohlberg wrote that the video highlighted the prime minister’s achievements and performance in the diplomatic and security arenas in a manner designed to influence voters ahead of the election.

According to the decision, the message presented in the video was intended to showcase Netanyahu’s leadership and accomplishments for electoral purposes, placing it squarely within the category of prohibited campaign material.

Sohlberg further emphasized that Ben-Gurion House within the Kirya is a state-owned public asset that exists solely for the official duties of the prime minister.

As such, he ruled that neither the facility itself nor its historic symbolism may be used to advance a personal or party political campaign.

Exclusive Access Violated Principle of Equality

Another factor cited in the ruling was the unique location of the filming site.

The court noted that Ben-Gurion House is situated inside a closed military base that is inaccessible to other candidates and political parties.

Because only the sitting prime minister could gain access to the facility, Sohlberg concluded that the filming created an unfair advantage over competing candidates.

The ruling described the situation as an improper exploitation of exclusive access to a restricted military installation, undermining the principle of equality that is meant to govern election campaigns.

As a result of the decision, a temporary injunction previously issued in the case was converted into a permanent order.

Netanyahu and the Likud Party are now prohibited from continuing to publish or distribute the video on any media platform.

In addition, the prime minister and Likud were ordered to jointly pay 7,500 shekels in legal costs to the organization that filed the petition.

As Israel’s political system increasingly shifts into election mode, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is reportedly working behind the scenes to engineer a renewed partnership between Itamar Ben Gvir and Betzalel Smotrich, amid growing concern that Smotrich’s party may fail to clear the electoral threshold.

According to a report Tuesday evening by Channel 12 political analyst Amit Segal, Netanyahu fears that if Smotrich’s faction falls short of the minimum vote requirement, a significant number of right-wing votes could be lost, potentially costing the right-wing bloc its parliamentary majority and jeopardizing his ability to remain in power after the next election.

The report states that Netanyahu has been promoting a plan under which Ben Gvir and Smotrich would once again run together on a joint list, while receiving guaranteed spots for their representatives on the Likud slate.

According to Segal, Netanyahu has offered two reserved positions as part of the proposal, though the arrangement could come at the expense of places previously expected to be allocated to allies of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. Under the reported plan, Sa’ar ally Ze’ev Elkin would have to compete for his place on the list rather than receive a guaranteed slot.

The proposal reportedly calls for what Netanyahu describes as a technical merger only, allowing Ben Gvir and Smotrich to campaign together in order to maximize right-wing votes while retaining the option of separating again after the election.

Under the framework being discussed, each party leader would receive a guaranteed placement within Likud’s broader electoral structure, while an additional representative from their camps would be included on the list of what is expected to remain the largest party in the right-wing bloc in the next Knesset.

The effort reflects mounting concern within the coalition over recent polling that has shown uncertainty regarding Smotrich’s ability to cross the electoral threshold on his own. Should his party fail to enter the Knesset, the loss of those votes could significantly damage the right-wing camp’s chances of forming the next government.

While neither Netanyahu, Ben Gvir, nor Smotrich has publicly confirmed the details of the reported proposal, the initiative highlights the increasingly intense political maneuvering taking place as parties begin positioning themselves for a potentially high-stakes election campaign.

Israel’s Attorney General has reportedly authorized the Israel Tax Authority to conduct a covert investigation into UTJ chairman MK Yitzchok Goldknopf, who previously served as Minister of Housing, according to a report Tuesday evening by journalist Avishai Grinzeig of i24NEWS.

According to the report, a review conducted by the Tax Authority found that Goldknopf declared ownership of 13 real-estate properties as of 2022. However, investigators allegedly identified at least three additional properties that were not included in the reported holdings.

The report further claimed that the Tax Authority examined several unusual transactions involving Goldknopf and members of his family.

Among the transactions cited was the sale of a large apartment by a Bais Yaakov-affiliated nonprofit organization identified with Goldknopf to his granddaughter at a price allegedly below market value. According to the report, investigators are examining claims that the family relationship was not disclosed during the transaction. The report further alleged that the granddaughter later transferred ownership of the apartment to her parents as a gift.

Another transaction highlighted in the report dates back to 2015. According to the allegations, Yisrael Goldknopf, a son of Yitzchak Goldknopf, transferred half ownership of an apartment to his father as a gift. The report states that Goldknopf later sold the property.

The report also alleged that Tax Authority officials examined claims of unpaid taxes related to certain transactions, asserting that payment was allegedly made only after the matter was identified by authorities.

In addition, questions were reportedly raised regarding the sources of funding used to purchase some of the properties. However, according to the report, investigators did not reach a definitive conclusion on that issue.

Grinzeig further reported that intelligence information reviewed by authorities included allegations that, while serving as Housing Minister, Goldknopf raised issues during professional meetings with municipal officials concerning kindergartens operated by the educational network he previously founded and managed, and which is currently run by his son.

According to the report, those discussions may have conflicted with the terms of Goldknopf’s conflict-of-interest arrangement.

Despite the findings outlined in the report, it was stated that the Attorney General has not instructed authorities to question Goldknopf under caution at this stage.

Both the Israel Tax Authority and the Attorney General’s Office declined to comment on the report.

In response, the office of UTJ chairman MK Yitzchok Goldknopf said that several of the allegations had already been published and examined in the past, and that no wrongdoing had been found.

Goldknopf’s office further stated that the apartment in question belongs to his granddaughter and has no connection to him, while dismissing the allegations involving his son Yisrael as entirely baseless.

The statement also rejected claims that taxes were paid late, asserting that no inquiry had ever been received from tax authorities regarding the matter.

Regarding the financing of the properties, Goldknopf’s office said that all purchases and funding sources were fully documented and conducted in accordance with the law.

Addressing allegations related to discussions involving the Bais Yaakov network, Goldknopf’s office dismissed the claims outright, describing them as “complete nonsense.”

{Matzav.com}

ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith launched a sharp attack on President Trump Tuesday, criticizing the extensive security measures and traffic disruptions surrounding Trump’s appearance at Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden and mocking the president over videos that appeared to show him dozing off during the game.

Trump attended the highly anticipated matchup at MSG, where he was seated in a luxury suite alongside Knicks owner James Dolan. Footage that circulated on social media appeared to show the president sitting with his eyes closed during portions of the contest.

Addressing the videos on ESPN’s “First Take,” Smith ridiculed the president’s appearance and questioned why he attended the game if he was not actively watching it.

“And guess what he was doing during the game, ladies and gentlemen. Go online, look at the videos,” Smith said on ESPN’s “First Take.” “I’m not going to accuse him of snoring because I wasn’t in earshot. The brother wasn’t awake.”

Smith then compared the images to Trump’s long-running criticism of President Joe Biden, arguing that the president opened himself up to the same kind of ridicule.

He pressed on, saying that if it was so important for the president “to be there, why did you look like you were asleep? Didn’t you call out former President Joe Biden, ‘Sleepy Joe’? Well, what should we call you. Because you weren’t awake.”

The veteran broadcaster also jokingly blamed Trump for interfering with the Knicks’ pursuit of their first NBA championship since 1973, noting that the president, a lifelong New Yorker from Queens, understands how much such a title would mean to the city.

“He knows exactly what New Yorkers have been through and he didn’t care,” Smith continued.

Smith also focused on the logistical headaches caused by the presidential visit, describing widespread complaints from fans and residents who encountered road closures and heightened security around the arena.

The New York Police Department had announced enhanced security measures before the game because of Trump’s attendance.

“From 6th Avenue to 9th Avenue, you had people complaining about how hectic it was, because this barricade, this blockage, this wall that was being built by folks for the garden because of the climate that existed,” he said. “Somehow, some way, it was there to protect him.”

The remarks came one day after Trump responded to Smith during a postgame exchange with reporters. Trump was asked about Smith’s earlier joking claim that he would blame the president if the Knicks lost the game.

While describing Smith as a “nice guy,” Trump suggested the commentator lacked the intellectual credentials necessary for a presidential campaign and argued that Smith did not possess a “high IQ.”

Smith responded forcefully on Tuesday, challenging Trump’s assessment and accusing the president of avoiding a direct conversation with him.

“You wanna talk about IQ,” Smith said the following day. “I could put my IQ against yours. I got something even better — I could ask you why you been running from me for the past year since I asked you to talk to me. I could ask you to debate me since you think you’re that dude. We could go a myriad of ways.”

Despite his criticism, Smith acknowledged Trump’s earlier compliment and suggested that the president’s comments had crossed a line.

He added that he appreciated Trump calling him a “nice guy, till you tug at me a little bit, then after that I’ve got to show my other side.”

Trump also encountered a mixed reception from the Madison Square Garden crowd. During the playing of the National Anthem, some fans could be heard booing as the president appeared on arena screens.

Later, speaking with reporters, Trump brushed off the reaction and offered praise for the league despite acknowledging its political leanings.

He said he considers the NBA “a little left-wing,” but added that it remains “great entertainment.”

Meanwhile, the Knicks will have little time to dwell on their Game 3 defeat, as they are scheduled to host the Spurs once again Wednesday night in a crucial NBA Finals rematch in New York.

{Matzav.com}