The first 100 days of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration have been defined by a push for massive tax increases and a rapid retreat from several of his most prominent campaign promises, leaving both supporters and critics questioning the direction of his mayoralty.
Despite campaigning on a platform of heavily taxing the wealthy to fund a variety of city programs, the socialist mayor has introduced proposals that would exact a combined `$23 billion in new taxes, with significant portions threatening middle-class New Yorkers.

Initially claiming a budget shortfall of 12 billion, later revised down to 5.4 billion, Mamdani shocked many by threatening a 9.5 percent across-the-board property tax increase if his proposals to “tax the rich” were not met. The property tax hike, which would affect an estimated three million residential units owned by New Yorkers earning an average of $122,000 a year, was projexted to generate 3.7 billion annually. Facing swift backlash from the public and the City Council, the mayor has since largely stopped mentioning the proposal.
In Albany, Mamdani’s administration has circulated a wish list of tax hikes that require state approval. These include a controversial plan to slash the estate tax exemption threshold from $7 million down to just 750,000, while raising the top rate from 16 percent to 50 percent. Critics warn this measure would heavily burden middle-class families whose homes often sell for well over the new six-figure threshold, generating an estimated $`4 billion a year for the city.

The mayor is also seeking a two percent income tax hike for New Yorkers earning `$1 billion or more, alongside corporate tax increases to 10.8 percent for financial firms and 10.62 percent for non-financial companies. While Democratic leaders in the state legislature have shown symbolic support, Governor Kathy Hochul has voiced opposition, citing fears of driving wealth and businesses out of the state.

Beyond taxation, the mayor’s first three months have been characterized by a sharp pivot away from his progressive campaign promises.
A heavily promoted pledge to open five city-owned grocery stores to provide wholesale prices has yet to materialize. Instead, the administration has proposed $70 million for the city’s Economic Development Corporation merely to scout locations and build the stores.
Similarly, Mamdani’s promise to create a $1.1 billion Department of Community Safety to replace police with social workers on non-violent 911 calls has fallen short. It has been reduced to a “Mayor’s Office of Community Safety” staffed by two people with a $260 million budget.
On public safety and quality-of-life issues, the realities of governing have forced further reversals:

Law Enforcement: Mamdani campaigned on disbanding the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group (SRG) and abolishing the department’s gang database. Today, both remain operational, with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch defending their use. Mamdani recently noted the SRG remains under “active conversation.”

Homeless Encampments: After promising to end his predecessor’s practice of clearing homeless encampments, Mamdani reversed course following severe winter storms that resulted in at least 29 outdoor deaths. The city has now returned to clearing encampments, provided workers attempt to move individuals into housing for seven consecutive days first.

Housing Vouchers: Seeking to capitalize on progressive anger against former Mayor Eric Adams, Mamdani promised to drop lawsuits blocking the expansion of the CityFHEPS housing voucher program. Once in office, he formally filed an appeal to keep the anti-expansion lawsuit alive.

Libraries: Mamdani pledged to allocate 0.5 percent of the city’s budget to the library system and end the practice of using it as a budget negotiating tactic. He instead slashed library funding by `$30 million in his preliminary budget, allocating only 0.39 percent.

The IDF confirmed on Friday that troops have eliminated more than 1,400 Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon since the current conflict escalated on March 2. Included in that total are hundreds of operatives from the terror group’s elite Radwan Force.

The military noted significant progress in its ongoing operations in southern Lebanon, having dismantled approximately 4,300 pieces of Hezbollah terror infrastructure and seizing more than 1,000 weapons during ground maneuvers.

In the past 24 hours alone, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck 120 Hezbollah sites in the south to neutralize immediate threats to ground troops.
However, a noticeable operational pause has taken place in the Lebanese capital. More than 24 hours after the IDF issued a fresh evacuation warning for Beirut’s southern suburbs – a known Hezbollah stronghold – no strikes have been carried out.

The delay coincides with mounting diplomatic pressure from Washington. On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly appealed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to scale back Israeli strikes in Lebanon, the Times of Israel reported Friday. The American administration is reportedly seeking to prevent the collapse of a fragile ceasefire agreement with Iran.

While the IAF continues its campaign against Hezbollah targets throughout Lebanon, the overall intensity of the strikes has been slightly reduced compared to previous days.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s health ministry, which typically does not distinguish between terror operatives and civilians, stated that over 1,800 people have been killed since the hostilities escalated, claiming that over 300 were killed on Wednesday alone.

Islamabad was placed under an extensive lockdown on Friday, as Pakistan prepares to host high-stakes talks between the United States and Iran set to begin later in the day. Authorities blocked major roads with shipping containers and barbed wire, while deploying heavy security forces across the capital ahead of the expected arrival of delegations.

The area surrounding the Serena Hotel, where the talks are scheduled to take place, was sealed off in a radius of more than 2 miles. The hotel was cleared of guests and placed under government control, with checkpoints, patrols, and access restrictions extending across the city. Even hiking trails in the hills overlooking Islamabad were closed, while officials declared public holidays in the capital to limit movement.

The United States delegation is expected to be led by Vice President JD Vance, while Iran’s team is headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Pakistani officials confirmed the talks will focus on stabilizing a fragile ceasefire and addressing broader regional tensions, including disputes tied to the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing military activity.

The negotiations mark a major diplomatic push by Pakistan, which has positioned itself as a mediator amid escalating tensions. Analysts warned the effort carries significant risk, with one noting that Pakistan has “publicly invested political capital in mediation; if talks collapse, it risks being seen as overpromising and underdelivering.”

The buildup to the talks included the arrival of an advance U.S. security team earlier in the week, as authorities intensified preparations.

Iran-linked hacking group “Handala” claimed this morning it breached devices of former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and released thousands of alleged sensitive images and videos.

The group said it collected over 19,000 files, including footage of military briefings, base visits, and undisclosed meetings, including with Jordanian General Yousef Huneiti and U.S. CENTCOM commander Michael Kurilla.

Some personal materials, including family photos and ID cards, were also leaked, with no immediate response from the IDF as concerns grow over repeated cyber breaches targeting senior Israeli officials.

The IDF announced Wednesday that Tuval Yosef Lipshitz, 20, a Golani Brigade soldier from Beit She’an, was killed during combat in southern Lebanon.

Five additional soldiers were wounded in the same clash with Hezbollah terrorists and evacuated to hospitals.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday evening that Israel will begin direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible,” even as US President Donald Trump pressed him to scale back military operations. According to NBC News, Trump urged Netanyahu in a phone call to reduce strikes on Lebanon to prevent the fragile ceasefire with Iran from collapsing. The talks are expected to begin next week under full American auspices, with a focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations.

Despite the pressure, Israel continued its largest bombing campaign in Lebanon since the start of the Iran war, alongside additional strikes on Thursday at slightly reduced intensity. The IDF said it targeted weapon depots, rocket launchers, and Hezbollah headquarters in southern Lebanon. Earlier, Netanyahu stated that Israel “will continue to strike Hezbollah wherever necessary,” underscoring the gap between diplomatic efforts and battlefield operations.

US Vice President JD Vance said Israel had agreed to “check itself” in Lebanon to support negotiations with Tehran. However, a core dispute remains unresolved: whether the US-Iran ceasefire applies to the Hezbollah front. Israel and Washington have rejected that interpretation, maintaining that operations against Hezbollah are not restricted by the truce.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the campaign delivered a decisive blow. “Operation Eternal Darkness was a very powerful blow to Hezbollah, leaving it stunned and confused by the depth of the penetration and the scale of the strike. More than 200 terrorists were eliminated yesterday, bringing the number of those eliminated in this campaign to over 1,400, more than double the number in the Second Lebanon War,” Katz said. He added that Hezbollah is “pleading for a ceasefire,” while outlining plans for a new Israeli security zone extending to the Litani River.

International pressure mounted throughout the day. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that “the severity with which Israel is waging war there could cause the peace process as a whole to fail.” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, “We hope that the ceasefire will be fully implemented on the ground, including in Lebanon,” while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that the agreement has a “regional dimension.” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned Israeli actions are putting the ceasefire under “severe strain.” Additional statements from France, Britain, Italy, Spain, and China echoed calls to include Lebanon in the truce.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah resumed rocket fire toward northern Israel, with the IDF reporting approximately 3,000 projectiles launched from south of the Litani River since March 2, highlighting the ongoing escalation even as diplomatic efforts move forward.

A report revealed today that Hungary offered to share intelligence with Iran following the 2024 Hezbollah pager explosions that wounded thousands across Lebanon.

According to leaked transcripts, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told Iran’s Abbas Araghchi that Hungarian intelligence had already made contact and would share “every possible document” from its investigation.

Separate leaked audio also suggested Hungary offered Russia sensitive EU-related documents, highlighting growing concerns over Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s alignment with Moscow and Tehran.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday evening that Israel is preparing to enter direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible,” with the primary goals of disarming the Hezbollah terror organization and establishing a comprehensive peace agreement between the two nations.

The diplomatic development follows significant international pressure and occurs on the heels of the most intensive wave of Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon since the current conflict escalated.

While Lebanese officials have advocated for a ceasefire prior to any talks, Jerusalem has maintained that negotiations will take place while military operations continue.

“In light of Lebanon’s repeated appeals to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Prime Minister Netanyahu stated. He emphasized that the discussions will focus heavily on disarming Hezbollah and fostering peaceful relations.
Addressing the displaced residents of northern Israel, Netanyahu provided reassurance that military pressure will not cease during the preliminary talks. “There is no ceasefire in Lebanon,” he said, adding that Israel will “not stop until we restore your security.”

According to Israeli officials, the initial meetings are scheduled for next week at the State Department in Washington, D.C.

The delegations are reportedly set as follows:
Israel’s will be led by Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States. (Former minister Ron Dermer is not currently slated to lead the talks due to internal disagreements regarding whether to link the fight against Hezbollah with a broader ceasefire with Iran).

The Lebanese delegation will be led by Nada Hamadeh-Moawad, Lebanon’s Ambassador to Washington. Michel Issa, the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, will head the American delegation.

A source within the Israeli security cabinet told the Times of Israel that Jerusalem expects Lebanon to remove Hezbollah-affiliated ministers from its government as an initial confidence-building measure.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated that a ceasefire leading to direct negotiations is “the only solution” for his country, noting that the Lebanese proposal is gaining international traction. Furthermore, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam directed security forces to ensure that weapons in Beirut are held exclusively by legitimate state institutions. Netanyahu publicly praised this call to demilitarize the Lebanese capital.

Hezbollah, however, has firmly rejected the prospect of direct negotiations. The terror group’s representatives reiterated demands for an Israeli withdrawal and a complete cessation of hostilities.

The push for negotiations is heavily influenced by a fragile, Pakistan-brokered ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Both Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Hezbollah have asserted that this truce encompasses Lebanon; a claim firmly rejected by both Washington and Yerushalayim.

Following Wednesday’s intensive airstrikes in Lebanon, which drew international condemnation, U.S. President Donald Trump requested that Prime Minister Netanyahu scale back the military campaign. Trump confirmed in an interview that he asked the Prime Minister to “low-key it” to prevent the collapse of the broader Iranian ceasefire agreement. U.S. officials reportedly expressed concern over the scale of the strikes, prompting direct intervention from U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Despite the diplomatic maneuvering, the security situation remains highly volatile. Shortly after the negotiation announcements, sirens sounded across central Israel and parts of the south due to a Hezbollah missile attack launched from Lebanon.

Alerts were activated in Tel Aviv, surrounding towns, and the southern coastal city of Ashdod, confirming earlier warnings from the Home Front Command that the terror group might attempt to strike deeper into Israeli territory as pressure mounts.

A fragile two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran is showing significant signs of strain ahead of negotiations in Pakistan, while Israel concurrently pushes forward with plans for direct talks with Lebanon. Despite the diplomatic maneuvering, intense cross-border fire continues to threaten the region.

The Pakistan-brokered truce between Washington and Tehran – which came just hours before a deadline where U.S. President Donald Trump threatened attacks on Iran’s power plants and the destruction of “a whole civilization” – is already facing steep hurdles.

Washington has accused Tehran of breaching promises regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Daily shipping traffic through the critical waterway has plummeted to less than 10% of its historical average since the start of the war. In the first 24 hours of the truce, only one oil products tanker and five dry bulk carriers passed through.

President Trump expressed deep dissatisfaction late Thursday, stating on social media that Iran is doing a “very poor job” of allowing oil through. “That is not the agreement we have!” he wrote.
Complicating the upcoming talks in Islamabad, Iran released a 10-point proposal on Wednesday outlining its terms for a permanent settlement.

The demands include maintaining Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of Iran’s right to nuclear enrichment, the lifting of all sanctions, and an end to the war against Hezbollah in Lebanon. In a separate regional development, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement denying any connection to recent drone strikes targeting Gulf Arab states.

A core point of contention threatening the U.S.-Iran talks is the status of Lebanon. Iran and Pakistani mediators assert that Lebanon is explicitly included in the truce. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that violations of the truce in Lebanon would bring severe consequences, while

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam personally phoned Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to praise Islamabad’s mediation and explicitly ask him to ensure Lebanon’s inclusion in the ceasefire to prevent further Israeli strikes.

However, the U.S. and Israel remain adamant that military operations against Hezbollah are not covered. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stressed Wednesday night that the agreement does not include Lebanon and that all parties are well aware of this fact.
“I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn’t,” U.S. Vice President JD Vance told reporters. “We never made that promise… If Iran wants to let this negotiation fall apart, in a conflict where they were getting hammered, over Lebanon… that’s ultimately their choice.”

In Yerushalayim, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced instructions for the cabinet to pursue direct negotiations with Lebanon aimed at disarming Hezbollah and securing a historic peace agreement. According to a report by the Kan public broadcaster, officials in Jerusalem believe a deal with Lebanon can be finalized before the upcoming Knesset elections, currently slated for October.
Mr. Netanyahu praised the recent military successes, stating, “Our significant achievements both in Iran and against the axis of evil have brought about a historic change in Israel’s standing in the region. They have also led to changes in our relations with countries we did not have relations with before.”

Despite the push for talks, the Prime Minister clarified that military pressure will continue. “There is no ceasefire in Lebanon,” he declared. The intense Israeli operations earlier in the week drew international scrutiny; Lebanese authorities claimed over 300 people were killed in Wednesday’s strikes—without differentiating between combatants and civilians—while Israel confirmed it had eliminated over 200 Hezbollah terrorists.

On the ground, Hezbollah continues its daily barrages. Early Friday morning, sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and surrounding cities. The IDF reported that one missile was intercepted while another fell in an open area, with b’chasdei Shamayim no injuries reported. The day prior, Hezbollah fired over 50 rockets toward northern Israeli communities, and an Iranian missile reportedly fell in the Jordan Valley. In response, the IDF struck 10 Hezbollah rocket launchers and reportedly eliminated the nephew of the Hezbollah chief.

The diplomatic atmosphere surrounding the Islamabad talks was further poisoned by severe antisemitic remarks from Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, who referred to Israel as a “cancer” and wished for its destruction in a social media post.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and the Prime Minister’s Office swiftly condemned the comments. “Israel views these blatant antisemitic blood libels very gravely from a government claiming to ‘mediate peace,'” Mr. Sa’ar stated, noting that Israel will continue to defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction.

In a positive development for Israeli travel amidst the conflict, British Airways announced it will resume service to Israel beginning July 1, becoming the first airline to declare a return to the route since the outbreak of the war with Iran.

​WASHINGTON In a dramatic move to pull the Middle East back from the edge of total conflict, US President Donald Trump has announced a two-week ceasefire with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

​The President confirmed in a Truth Social post that he has ordered a halt to the regular strikes and the “destructive force” that was slated for deployment tonight, opting instead for a 14-day window to finalize a diplomatic breakthrough. This suspension is strictly conditional: Iran must guarantee the “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING” of the Strait of Hormuz to avoid a resumption of hostilities, Trump said.

​Citing a breakthrough 10-point proposal and successful mediation by Pakistani leadership, Trump declared that the U.S. has already “met and exceeded” its primary military objectives, clearing the path for a definitive peace agreement.

US President Donald Trump said he is delaying a planned large-scale bombing campaign against Iran for two weeks, adding that Washington has agreed to a temporary ceasefire with Tehran, contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

“Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” Trump writes on Truth Social, less than two hours before his 8 p.m. deadline for Iran to reopen Hormuz and agree to a US proposal for ending the war was set to expire.

“This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East,” Trump writes.

Trump says the US has received a detailed proposal from Tehran that could form the foundation for negotiations.

“We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate.”

He adds that most major disputes between the two sides have already been resolved, and that the pause will allow time to finalize a comprehensive agreement.

“Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated,” he adds.

Trump concludes by expressing optimism that a long-standing conflict is nearing resolution.

“On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution,” Trump says.

Iranian state-affiliated media reported early Tuesday that an early morning airstrike targeting a nearby building severely damaged the Rafi Nia Synagogue in central Tehran. While authorities blamed an Israeli strike, there has been no independent confirmation of the claim.

Footage from the scene showed Sifrei Kodesh being removed from the debris as senior Jewish figures, including Iran’s leading Rabbi Younes Hamami Lalehzar and parliamentary representative Homayoun Sameh, inspecting the ruins. Sameh noted that “the Zionist regime did not spare this community during the Jewish holidays” and reported that Sifrei Torah were buried under the rubble.

Homayoun Sameh described the Rafi Nia Synagogue as one of the community’s “oldest and most sacred synagogues”

Jewish community figures sharply criticized the attack, stating, “From the enemy, no other ‘gift’ could be expected for the holiday”.

In an official statement, the community condemned the “brutal attacks carried out by the American-Israeli enemy against our beloved homeland”. Vowing total support for the government, they declared, “We will stand by the people and the regime until our last breath to defend our homeland”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hosted Rabbonim from the country’s major cities at his office in Kyiv in honor of Pesach, marking the fifth Pesach since the Russian invasion began in 2022.

During the gathering, which was organized by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU), the Rabbonim presented the president with a package of matzos baked in Dnipro. They also gifted him a historic new Ukrainian-language translation of the Torah, the first of its kind.

The hour-long meeting focused heavily on the Yom Tov’s central theme of freedom. According to an attendee, the discussion centered on the fight against evil, the victory of light, and the hope that Pesach symbolizes. Notably, the president eschewed contemporary political grievances; making no mention of U.S. President Donald Trump or Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom he has strained relationships and hasn’t spoken to in over a year. Instead, he emphasized that both Ukraine and Israel are praying for freedom and victory over the “axis of evil.”

Reflecting on the meeting, President Zelensky released the following statement: “On the occasion of Passover, I met with rabbis from Ukrainian cities and representatives of Jewish communities. Passover is about the triumph of freedom. This is exactly what all of Ukraine is fighting for today. I thanked the Jewish community for standing united with us in this struggle – for supporting people, helping communities, and praying for our state. I am grateful for a special gift – the first Torah translated into Ukrainian and printed at a Kharkiv bookstore that the Russians tried to destroy.”

An FJCU source noted to reporters that the reception was originally scheduled for Sunday, March 29, a date corresponding with the birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Harav Menachem Mendel Schneerson, zt”l. The event was ultimately rescheduled due to President Zelensky’s diplomatic visit to Jordan in the Middle East last week.

As the deadline hour approaches, Tehran rejects a temporary truce and counters with sweeping demands Washington will not accept; the President celebrates a historic rescue mission while warning of catastrophic escalation

President Donald Trump strode to the White House podium on Monday in a mood of barely contained triumph, flanked by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine — but even as he celebrated one of the most audacious combat rescues in American military history, the clock was ticking toward a Tuesday evening deadline that could tip the U.S.-Iran war into a far more devastating phase.

The press conference, called primarily to mark the successful recovery of two U.S. Air Force crewmen shot down over Iranian territory last week, was quickly overtaken by the looming diplomatic crisis: Iran had officially rejected a ceasefire proposal brokered by Pakistan, and Tehran’s state news agency IRNA reported that Iran had conveyed to Pakistani intermediaries its insistence on a permanent end to the war rather than any temporary pause. The response set the stage for what Trump threatened could be a sweeping assault on Iran’s civilian infrastructure beginning Tuesday night.

Trump opened the conference with an extended account of what he called “one of the largest, most complex, most harrowing combat searches ever attempted by the military.” An American F-15E Strike Eagle had gone down deep inside Iran on Thursday night during Operation Epic Fury. Both crewmembers ejected and survived. The pilot, designated “Dude 44 Alpha,” was recovered within hours in a daylight operation involving A-10 Warthogs, Jolly Green helicopters, and Air Force Special Warfare airmen flying seven hours over hostile territory under fire.

The weapons system officer — “Dude 44 Bravo,” described as a “highly respected colonel” — was a more harrowing case. Injured, he evaded capture for nearly 48 hours, scaling cliff faces while bleeding, treating his own wounds, and transmitting his location through a personal emergency beacon. The CIA, using what Ratcliffe described as “unique capabilities” including a deception campaign to mislead Iranian searchers, eventually spotted movement on a mountainside from 40 miles away and confirmed the officer’s location.

A second rescue mission involving 155 aircraft — including four bombers, 64 fighters, and 48 refueling tankers — descended on his position under cover of darkness on Easter Sunday and extracted him with no American fatalities.
“Shot down on a Friday, hidden in a cave all of Saturday, rescued on…Sunday,” said Hegseth. “A pilot reborn. God is good.”

Trump acknowledged that not everyone in the military had supported either rescue attempt. “There were military people that said you don’t go into the heart of a very powerful military,” he said. “Hundreds of people could have been killed.” He said he overruled the dissenters. “I decided to do it.”

The President was visibly moved describing the moment the contingency aircraft — brought in when the primary transports bogged down on a muddy, impromptu airstrip deep in Iran — landed and extracted the team with textbook precision. “Boom, boom, boom,” he said. “Right after another, like genius.”

Beneath the ceremony, the diplomatic picture was deteriorating rapidly.

A draft proposal formulated by Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey calling for a 45-day ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz had been sent to both Iran and the U.S. The framework, sometimes referred to as the “Islamabad Accord,” was described as a last-ditch effort ahead of Trump’s deadline. Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, was reported to have been in contact throughout the night with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as negotiators worked to avert catastrophe.

But Iran’s response, when it came, was a rejection. According to the official IRNA news agency, Iran delivered its response to the U.S. proposal via Pakistan, rejecting a ceasefire and underscoring the need for a permanent conclusion to the war. The response outlined 10 provisions, including ending regional hostilities, lifting sanctions, and supporting reconstruction efforts.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei called the earlier 15-point U.S. proposal “excessive, unusual and illogical,” and said Tehran was seeking “an end to the war and to prevent its recurrence.” He added that any diplomatic talks are “absolutely incompatible with ultimatums, crimes, and threats to commit war crimes,” a reference to Trump’s threat to bomb Iranian infrastructure.

A source familiar with the details told The Jerusalem Post: “The gaps are very significant.”

When asked about the Iranian response at the press conference, Trump acknowledged it without satisfaction. “They made a proposal, and it’s a significant proposal,” he said. “It’s not good enough, but it’s a very significant step.”

He confirmed the Tuesday evening deadline stands. “They have till tomorrow at 8:00 Eastern Time,” he told reporters. “After that, they’re going to have no bridges, they’re going to have no power plants. Stone ages.”

At the center of the impasse is the Strait of Hormuz, which Iranian forces have kept closed or threatened since the war’s opening weeks. Trump warned that attacking civilian infrastructure was something he hoped not to have to do, but added that he believed the Iranian public was willing to suffer more bombing in order to gain freedom, citing what he described as intercepted communications from Iranian citizens pleading for continued strikes.

When asked whether such targeting might constitute a war crime, Trump was direct: “No. I hope I don’t have to do it.”

Legal experts quoted in multiple outlets have warned that strikes on power plants and bridges with no direct military function would violate international law and U.S. military doctrine. Iranian officials, for their part, accused Trump of threats to commit atrocities. A spokesman for Iran’s president, Seyyed Mehdi Tabatabai, called Trump’s rhetoric a reaction of “sheer desperation and anger,” and said the Strait of Hormuz “will open when all the damage caused by the imposed war is compensated through a new legal regime.”

Iran’s 10-point counteroffer — a permanent ceasefire, full sanctions relief, reconstruction guarantees, and a new framework governing the Strait — represents terms the United States has shown no willingness to entertain. Mediators are attempting to work on partial confidence-building measures, but sources told Axios that the two core issues — the Strait and Iran’s uranium stockpile — are not ones Iran will fully concede in exchange for a 45-day pause.

Iranian mediators have made clear they do not want a situation “where there is a ceasefire on paper but where the US and Israel can attack again whenever they want to,” the Jerusalem Post reports.

Ranging widely during the conference, Trump took aim at NATO — calling it “a paper tiger” — for declining to join Operation Epic Fury, and listed South Korea, Japan, and Australia alongside European allies as countries that had failed to provide meaningful support. “They said, ‘Sir, we’d rather wait till you win,'” he said of British overtures. “I don’t need help after we win.”

He defended the military campaign’s scale, noting that U.S. forces had conducted more than 10,000 combat flights over Iran in 37 days and struck more than 13,000 targets. He credited the destruction of Iranian radar, air defenses, and naval capacity, though he acknowledged the Strait’s closure remained a vulnerability that airpower alone cannot easily resolve. “All you need is one terrorist with a truck full of water mines,” he said.

Trump expressed a measure of optimism about the changed Iranian political landscape following what he described as “regime change” — emphasizing that he considers the current Iranian leadership less radical than its predecessors — but warned that he would not allow any Iranian government to obtain a nuclear weapon.

He connected the current campaign to his first-term withdrawal from the Obama-era nuclear deal and the 2020 killing of General Qassem Soleimani, which he portrayed as foundational to the current military position.

“If I didn’t terminate the Obama Iran nuclear deal, they would have had a nuclear weapon,” he said. “Israel would have been extinguished. Large portions of the Middle East would have been extinguished.”

Axios reported that the chances for reaching a partial deal in the next 48 hours are “slim,” but that this last-ditch effort may be the only chance to prevent a dramatic escalation that would include massive strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure and potential retaliation against energy and water facilities in Gulf states.
As of Monday evening, the diplomatic channel remains Pakistan, the sole intermediary with lines open to both sides. A White House official said Trump had not signed off on the mediators’ 45-day proposal, describing it as “one of many ideas,” and confirmed the military operation was continuing apace.

The two rescued airmen were back on American soil. The two governments were farther apart than the framework documents suggest. And by Tuesday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, the world will know whether the gap proved bridgeable — or whether Operation Epic Fury enters its next, and most destructive, chapter.

As first reported by Belaaz, President Trump just hosted a Pesach greeting event with Frum Jewish community leaders, including Moshe Dovid Nigerman of Satmar Williamsburg, Chaim Dovid Swibell of Agudah, Antisemitism Envoy Yehuda Kaploun, Moshe Margeretten and Mayor Spitzer from New Sqaure / Skver, at the White House.

An attendee tells Belaaz that the meeting focused on strengthening relationships with the Jewish community and discussing the topic of redemption

Belaaz is also told that during the meeting with the Jewish leaders, President Trump spoke at length about him freeing R’ Shalom Mordechai Rubashkin. The discussion came up after Tzedek founder Reb Moshe Margaretten thanked President Trump for the First Step Act and criminal justice overall. President Trump then put on Ivanka and Jared Kushner on speaker phone when the discussion of criminal justice came up. Trump told Jared and Ivanka that he is hosting Jewish leaders for Passover.

Rabbi Soleveichik gave a speech about Pesach with all the others chiming in.

Yisroel Meir Spitzer, the Mayor of New Square, gave special regards from the to the President from the Skverer Rebbe.

Two senior Iranian leaders — including one of the country’s top spies and the head of its undercover forces — were killed in overnight airstrikes on the capital, Tehran, state media and Israel’s defense minister said Monday, shortly before the Islamic Republic rejected a Pakistani-brokered ceasefire deal.

Israel and the United States carried out a wave of strikes on the regime, killing more than 25 people.

The joint strikes successfully targeted Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi, the head of intelligence for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Khademi was effectively Number two within the IRGC, one of the few senior commanders who managed to survive multiple waves of Israeli and American targeting over the past year. He oversaw an intelligence apparatus that repeatedly failed to detect or prevent major Israeli and US operations, exposing deep vulnerabilities inside Iran’s security system. Khademi was deeply involved in attempts to penetrate US systems, including efforts to breach the Pentagon.

The second high-ranking official was Ashgar Bakeri, leader of the Revolutionary Guard’s undercover unit in its expeditionary Quds Force, the Israel Defense Forces said. Bakeri was directly involved in recruiting agents across the Middle East and orchestrating attacks against American targets in Iraq and Syria, including operations that led to US casualties.

The elimination of two high-profile targets by Israel is the latest in a series of attacks aimed at wiping out the Iranian military and political leadership. On March 16, Ali Larijani, head of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, was killed in an Israeli airstrike, just days after he issued a warning to President Trump. Larijani had told Trump he could be “eliminated” if the US-Israeli bombings of Iran didn’t cease. The 67-year-old had been acting as Iran’s de facto leader since the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Feb. 28 in the early hours of Operation Epic Fury.

In tandem with the targeting of military personnel, the IDF has continued a widespread assault on Iranian infrastructure:

Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said earlier that the IDF has been instructed to continue striking with full force the national infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime.

A second petrochemical facility in Iran, the Marvdasht Petrochemical Complex, was targeted by a US-Israeli attack, Iranian media reports.

The Fars news agency reports that a fire that sparked at the complex was brought under control, and no casualties were caused.

Earlier, Israel confirmed striking Iran’s largest petrochemical facility in Asaluyeh.

Over the weekend, Israel also struck petrochemical facilities in southern Iran.

Amidst the military operations, discussions regarding a potential ceasefire have emerged, though a diplomatic breakthrough remains stalled by firm opposition from Tehran.

Pakistani Proposal: The Pakistani-brokered plan emerged from intense overnight contacts and proposes an immediate ceasefire, followed by negotiations on a broader peace settlement to be concluded within 15 to 20 days.

US Stance: US President Donald Trump will speak about a Pakistani ceasefire proposal at a press conference at 1 p.m. local time (8 p.m. in Israel). A White House official states that this is one of many ideas, and Trump has not signed off on it, adding that Operation Epic Fury continues. Additionally, Washington was not ready for a permanent ceasefire.

Iran has sent to Pakistan its response to the U.S. proposal to end the war, IRNA reports. Tehran’s response, which consists of ten paragraphs, rejects a ceasefire, and includes a set of demands, including an end to conflicts in the region, a protocol for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, reconstruction, and lifting sanctions.

Meanwhile, a senior Iranian official earlier told Reuters that Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as part of a temporary ceasefire, nor would it accept deadlines or pressure to reach a deal.

In a related development, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi discussed the Iran conflict and other developments in a call Monday.

The names of four people murdered in a Haifa home by an Iranian missile on Sunday night were released Monday evening.

Vladimir Gershevich and his wife Lena (nee’ Ostrovsky) Hy’d, both in their 80s, their son Dmitry Gershevich Hy’d, 40, and a Philipina woman named Lucille-Jean, 30.

Mrs. Gershevich, a veteran voice coach, taught at the Nissan Nativ acting school in Jerusalem and spent three decades shaping the careers of actors. In a statement cited by Kan, the Israeli Actors Association said she “nurtured generations of actors with dedication, professionalism and foremost a great love for the work and for her students,” as it mourned her death.

In a harrowing night of terror, millions of citizens across Israel were awakened by sirens and forced into bomb shelters as Iran launched multiple waves of heavy missiles targeting the northern, central, and Yerushalayim regions.

While b’chasdei Hashem air defense systems intercepted many of the projectiles, direct hits and falling shrapnel caused immense devastation, tragically claiming two lives in Haifa and leaving several others in serious condition.

The widespread barrage, which unfolded over the course of four terrifying hours on Sunday night into early Monday morning, marks a severe escalation in regional hostilities.

The most devastating impact of the night occurred in the northern port city of Haifa, where a direct hit severely damaged a residential building. Following agonizing, night-long rescue efforts by emergency teams, two individuals trapped beneath the rubble were tragically located lifeless.

As of early Monday morning, rescue personnel remain at the scene, continuing their frantic and complex search efforts to locate two other individuals who are still missing.

Throughout the north, alarms blared across Haifa, the Carmel region, the Galilee, and Wadi Ara. At least one of the Iranian missiles reportedly carried a fragmentation warhead. Emergency firefighting teams responded to over ten scenes of destruction where interception fragments caused significant damage to property and infrastructure, setting several vehicles ablaze.

Earlier in the night, four individuals in the north sustained light injuries.

The central region absorbed a heavy blow during a subsequent wave of attacks, with alarms echoing from the Sharon area down to the Shfela. Over 20 crash sites were identified across Gush Dan, leaving a trail of destruction in major population centers.

In Petach Tikva, a 34-year-old woman sustained serious injuries when her vehicle was struck by heavy shrapnel. Magen David Adom (MDA) paramedic Noam Dahan, who arrived at the scene, recounted: “We saw a vehicle with shattered windows. Inside was a conscious 34-year-old woman suffering from serious bodily injuries from the impact. We provided life-saving medical treatment and evacuated her to the hospital in serious condition.”

In Tel Aviv, the impacts caused significant structural damage. A man was moderately wounded by shrapnel, and another sustained light injuries from shattered glass.

The sudden and overwhelming nature of the alarms also resulted in indirect casualties as residents raced to protected areas. MDA teams handled numerous calls of individuals injured on their way to shelters.

In Tel Aviv, a woman was found unconscious and in critical condition outside of a public shelter. Emergency personnel estimate that she collapsed or was severely injured while attempting to reach safety during the sirens. Several others across the country were treated by medical personnel for severe shock and anxiety.

The unprecedented assault was carried out in at least three distinct waves, with the initial barrages launching over a dozen heavy missiles, some carrying cluster munitions. The first wave triggered sudden alarms in the Yerushalayim and Dead Sea areas; regions where advance warning had not initially been activated.

While the first wave of projectiles was largely intercepted by Israel’s air defense arrays, subsequent waves saw missiles bypass the defense systems, falling into open areas and populated neighborhoods.

Fifteen Israelis were injured, including a woman in serious condition, after a barrage of missiles was fired from Iran toward central Israel, triggering sirens across the region early Monday.

Magen David Adom Director General Eli Bin reported that emergency personnel treated multiple victims following the attack. In Petah Tikva, a 34-year-old woman sustained a serious chest injury from interception shrapnel. MDA medics and paramedics provided initial medical treatment at the scene before transporting her to Beilinson Hospital.

A spokesperson for Beilinson Hospital confirmed that the woman was brought to the trauma room and is currently listed in moderate-to-serious condition.

In Tel Aviv, a 30-year-old man suffered minor injuries to his limbs from shattered glass. He was treated by MDA personnel and evacuated to Ichilov Hospital.

Hatzalah and MDA teams responded to multiple impact sites in both Petah Tikva and Tel Aviv, securing the areas and scanning for additional casualties.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television channel reported that three were killed and three others were wounded in an Israeli Air Force strike on Mashara in the Lebanon Valley.

Rescue forces on Sunday night continue racing to reach four people trapped beneath a collapsed residential building in Haifa, hours after an Iranian missile struck the city. The four — an elderly couple, their 40-year-old son and their caregiver — have not made contact since the impact, and officials say there are serious fears for their lives.

The missile directly hit the lower level of a terraced residential structure, causing multiple floors above to collapse downward. Emergency teams say the unique structure of the building has made access to the trapped victims especially difficult, with large sections of debris blocking direct entry points.

Rescuers are using heavy engineering equipment to carve a “tunnel” through the rubble in an effort to reach the missing. At the same time, operations are being slowed by concerns that the missile’s warhead may still be intact. Police Commissioner Danny Levy said, “It is possible that the missile did not explode,” raising fears that hundreds of kilograms of explosives could remain buried at the scene.

Authorities evacuated nearby buildings as bomb disposal units examined the site alongside rescue crews. A senior MDA medic described arriving to “a multi-story building that had been hit” with “extensive destruction,” adding that teams were forced to move large concrete slabs by hand in the initial stages of the rescue.

Residents described a powerful blast that shook the area. “It was a huge explosion, a crazy blast. It was clear this was an impact,” said one witness. Another added, “We heard something flying, and very quickly there was a massive explosion.”

On Erev Pesach, doctors at Hadassah Ein Kerem carried out a rare, life-saving robotic surgery on a 70-year-old woman, allowing her to recover in time for the Seder. The patient remained fully awake throughout the procedure, listening to Chassidish music — including the song “V’Afilu Be’Hastara” — as surgeons operated.

The woman had suffered a pelvic fracture after a fall and was bedridden for a month, enduring severe pain. Her condition deteriorated as she developed pneumonia due to prolonged immobility. “Any movement or bending of the body was impossible,” said Prof. Josh Schroeder, who led the procedure, describing a situation that had become life-threatening.

Doctors determined that general anesthesia posed too great a risk due to her respiratory condition. Instead, they opted for spinal anesthesia, numbing only the lower body while keeping her awake. “It is very rare to perform major pelvic surgery while the patient is awake,” Schroeder said.

The operation was performed using the Israeli-developed Mazor robotic system and lasted just 20 minutes, compared to several hours for a standard procedure. During the surgery, the medical team played the patient’s chosen Chassidic music and even joined in. “Throughout the surgery, we enjoyed the music she chose, and we even sang ourselves,” Schroeder said.

By that same evening, the woman was already able to sit up in bed for the first time in weeks and take part in the Seder. Her family described the recovery as a real Ness that came just in time for Yom Tov.

Despite the ongoing war and the state of emergency in the city, Kyiv’s Jewish community marked Passover this year with a series of events held around the city, led by Chief Rabbi and Chabad Shaliach Rabbi Yonatan Markovitch and his son Rabbi Ariel Markovitch . The initiative aimed to reach every Jew in Kyiv, wherever they might be, despite the complex and challenging reality.

Central Seders were held at the Jewish Community Center “ Beit Menachem “ and at the “Or Avner Perlina” school, with hundreds of participants families, young people, and the elderly who gathered to celebrate the Festival of Freedom together. At the same time, a special Seder was held for Jewish detainees at the Lukyanivka detention facility.

In addition, matzah and holiday kits were distributed to Jewish prisoners in correctional facilities throughout Ukraine, ensuring they too could observe the holiday. The Jewish community of Kyiv also distributed hundreds of food packages and matzah to local Jewish residents, with the assistance of the JRNU organization.

Senior officials from the Office of the President of Ukraine attended the holiday events organized by the JCC Beit Menachem, including Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov and his deputy Iryna Mudra, who is also a member of the Jewish community.

President Volodymyr Zelensky received matzah from the Chief Rabbi ahead of the holiday and conveyed a special message of greeting to the community through him. A particularly emotional moment was recorded when Jewish soldiers on active duty were granted short leave and arrived to participate in the Seders with the community for the first time since the outbreak of the war.

“This year, more than ever, we understood how important it is to reach every Jew, no matter where they are,” said Rabbi Yonatan Markovitch, Chief Rabbi of Kyiv. “Passover is a holiday of freedom, but also of unity and responsibility for every Jew. In the complex reality we are living in, seeing the community come together people arriving, singing together, and strengthening one another gives us the strength to continue, despite the difficult circumstances.”

Photo credit: jcc Kiev

As thousands of Jewish families poured into the Sunshine State for the Pesach holiday, volunteer safety and rescue organizations moved quietly into position alongside them — ready to respond. That readiness was tested more than once over Yom Tov, as Shomrim and Chaverim volunteers mobilized for multiple missing-person searches.

On the second night of Pesach, a 10-year-old girl — part of a family visiting from Eretz Yisrael — went missing in the Orlando area. The child spoke no English, compounding the urgency of the search.

“The family reached out right away,” Sholem Klein, coordinator of RNSP Shomrim (Rockaway Nassau Safety Patrol), who was among the responders on the scene, told Belaaz. “We mobilized members from all different neighborhoods. They came out, we did a couple of searches, a couple of perimeters of the area — and we found her after about an hour.”

The girl had wandered off in an unfamiliar area, disoriented in surroundings she did not know. B’chasdei Hashem she was found unharmed.

It was not an isolated incident. In a separate case just days earlier, a 16-year-old from the Tri-State area who was spending Pesach in South Florida went missing and was not located for approximately 12 hours. A widespread search was launched, spanning the South Beach and Surfside areas, with multip Hatzolah units mobilized. The teenager was, bechasdei Hashem, found unharmed.

What made the response possible was the unusual breadth of coverage that volunteer organizations had established across the state this Pesach. Klein noted that Shomrim had deployed more than 100 members throughout Florida, stretching from Miami and South Beach northward toward Orlando — a corridor spanning some four hours of driving.
“We have spread out from South Beach towards Orlando,” Klein said. “We have over 100 members altogether.”

Coordinating such a vast geographic spread required careful division of responsibilities. Klein worked in tandem with leaders of many other volunteer organizations, including Sol Itzkowitz, coordinator of Bergen County Chaverim.

Itzkowitz echoed the safety message that both organizations have been communicating to families throughout the holiday. “Always watch your children,” he said, “and report anything suspicious. If you see something, say something.”

Klein said the organizations plan to maintain their presence through the remainder of Yom Tov. “We’re going to be here for the rest of the Yom Tov,” he said. “If anyone goes missing or needs help, we are here.”

In addition to responding to emergencies, the organizations also distributed safety materials to the Jewish community ahead of and during the holiday, including guidance on what to do in crowded public areas and tourist attractions.

The operations also involved coordination with local law enforcement, with Klein noting ongoing communication with officials in the Surfside and Miami-Dade areas. A meeting with county officials was also being arranged to review safety protocols for the Jewish community’s presence in the region.

The IDF is set to present a plan this week to the political echelon to establish a new security zone in southern Lebanon, including the widespread destruction of villages along the border. The proposal would prevent residents from returning to frontline areas where Hezbollah terrorists operated near Israeli communities, creating a long-term buffer between the two sides.

According to military sources, the plan calls for a 2–4 kilometer (1.2–2.5 mile) security strip inside Lebanon, where structures and infrastructure would be systematically demolished. “We will establish a security strip 2–4 kilometers from the Lebanon border,” officials said. “We will destroy dozens of Lebanese villages along the front line and prevent residents from returning.” The IDF is also expected to build a new line of outposts and maintain control over the area for years.

LMilitary officials said disarming Hezbollah is currently “not an objective of the campaign,” though later clarifications stressed it remains a longer-term aim. The focus, instead, is on physically pushing threats away from Israeli border communities.

The plan builds on earlier statements by Defense Minister Israel Katz, who said Israel intends to establish a Gaza-style buffer zone in southern Lebanon and suggested that “all homes” in frontline villages could be destroyed. However, the IDF’s current presentation appears more operationally defined, highlighting a gap between political rhetoric and military planning. The proposal will require legal approval before implementation.

Pesach is all about story telling! You heard that right.

There is so much stress that goes into the preparation for Pesach…

Making sure we get rid of all the Chametz, turning the kitchen over at the right time so that we don’t have to have 3 extra weeks of Pesach, and at the same time knowing that we have enough time to get all the food prep done in time for the Chag.

There is buying all the ingredients that we need to make all the food that’s Kosher L’Pesach. (So much of which we will never use again after these eight days.)

Then there is the balance between Pesach preparation and spring cleaning. Although it’s nice to have the house spic and span without a speck of dust to be found, it’s important to remember the distinction between the two, and what we NEED to get done versus what we WANT to get done.

At the end of the day, (quite literally) we all come into the same Pesach, no matter how overwhelming or calm your Pesach preparation was.

We go to shul to Daven, and then as we all know so well, WE RUSH HOME to put on our Kittel and start the Seder. Once we all sit down for the seder, THAT’S WHEN THE STORY TELLING STARTS.

The Pesach Seder is not about Tefilah (Though connecting and talking to Hashem is always important) The Seder is about VEHIGADITA LEVINCHA. A father telling over to his son (Sippur Yetzias Mitzrayim).

The Seder is supposed to be interactive. In fact, almost everything we do at the Seder is to keep the kids asking questions. We want them to be engaged and curious as we talk about all of the Nissim we experience.

The Hagadah talks about the four sons. The Wise, the Wicked, the Simple, and the One Who Does Not Know How to Ask. A message that’s important to remember is that we are supposed to tell it over to ALL FOUR SONS.

No matter where our sons are emotionally or spiritually. No matter their struggles in life, so much so, that they can be a Tzadik or a Rashah (In our eyes, because who are we to truly judge a person and their journey.) they should all be at our Seder, and we should be telling them ALL about the miracles.

The Seder is a lot about UNITY AND ACCEPTANCE.

Let’s not get caught up in if we approve every choice and decision that our sons have made.
Let’s not make the focus of the Seder about saying every word of the Hagadah (like a kinnus and turning Pesach into Tisha B’Av)
LET’S TELL OVER THE STORY
LET’S TALK ABOUT ALL THE MIRACLES
LET’S COME TOGETHER AS A FAMILY
Let’s create traditions that our sons can give over to their sons. Ones in which they look forward to Pesach as it comes up, and they look forward to PASSING OVER to the generations to come.

Wishing you all a Chag Kosher V’Sameach
Eli Weinreb, LCSW

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a formal Passover greeting to Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar, with the message published by the Kremlin and set to be read at the opening of the central public Seder in Moscow’s Marina Roscha synagogue.

In the letter, Putin emphasized the history and morality of the holiday. “This important and respected holiday recalls central events in the history of the Jewish people and their aspiration for freedom,” he wrote. “It symbolizes the victory of unity, goodness, and justice.”

He also praised the role of Jewish communities across the country. “It is encouraging to see that the Jewish community in Russia leads a rich and multifaceted life, pays constant attention to preserving family values and educating the younger generation, and takes an active part in charity and acts of kindness,” he said, referring to the hundreds of thousands of Jews living throughout Russia.

Putin further highlighted the broader societal role of the community, writing: “Russia’s Jews, relying on the rich spiritual heritage of their ancestors, set a worthy example of mutual understanding and fruitful cooperation between religions and peoples.” He added that Jewish communities also take part in socially significant patriotic, educational and enlightenment initiatives alongside other faith groups.

The message comes as Jewish communities across Russia complete extensive preparations for Pesach, with logistical support coordinated from Moscow to enable Seders nationwide. Community networks, many led by Chabad, have worked in recent days to ensure that Jews across the country can celebrate the holiday in accordance with tradition.

The IDF said Tuesday it has completed preparations for Pesach, with thousands of soldiers set to hold Seder nights inside active combat zones in Gaza and southern Lebanon for a third consecutive year. The military said it distributed more than 106 tons of matzah, tens of thousands of Haggadot and thousands of specially prepared food packages ahead of the holiday.

According to the IDF’s Logistics and Technology Directorate, troops will receive tailored “Seder Night for the Fighter” kits designed for field conditions, alongside Kosher-for-Pesach food supplies adapted for combat operations. Air force personnel are also being equipped with “Boost in the Skies” packages containing protein and energy supplements to support extended missions.

The Military Rabbinate has prepared Haggadot suited for operational settings and deployed unit Rabbis to help lead Seders on the front lines. The IDF said the effort is intended to allow soldiers to observe the holiday even while operating deep inside enemy territory.

The preparations come after widespread complaints during Passover 2025, when families of soldiers in Gaza reported food shortages and limited supplies reaching troops. Responding to the criticism, officials in the logistics branch said the military has adjusted its planning for this year. “We learned lessons and improved,” the IDF said.

A 13-year-old girl in Melbourne, Australia, was charged today, Tuesday, with 52 offenses after police said she shouted antisemitic remarks, threw eggs and drove a stolen car toward Jewish families, who narrowly avoided being hit, police announced.

Police said the incidents took place over several days last week across multiple suburbs, including a near-hit targeting Jewish families, along with additional hit-and-run and reckless driving incidents involving stolen vehicles.

Two other girls were also arrested, while the main suspect faces charges including endangering life, theft and hate-based offenses.

In a statement by the Adass Yisroel Kahila provided to Belaaz, it said: “The Kehilla have been in communication with the police in regards to today’s incident. The police have responded that they are aware of the people and expect a swift resolution. They described them as general trouble makers who act terribly in a range of areas and environments. The Senior Sergeant who was on duty tonight has been communicating with the Kehilla and will join tomorrow for the Hachnosas Sefer Torah imyh. They have committed significant Police resources bh.”

The Knesset approved on Monday evening, in its second and third readings, a controversial bill allowing for the imposition of the death penalty for terrorists.

The measure passed by a vote of 62-48, with one member absent.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and MKs from his coalition voted in favor of the law. Yisrael Beyteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman, who was not present for the first round of naming Knesset members, voted in favor during the second round. Conversely, members of the Degel Hatorah party voted against the measure, joining opposition members such as National Unity Chairman Benny Gantz and his faction member, Hili Troper. Noam Chairman MK Avi Maoz was not present for the vote.

The proposed law would allow judges to impose the death penalty by a simple majority instead of the unanimous ruling currently required, and would remove the right to appeal. It would not be applied retroactively, including to those responsible for the October 7 massacre, who are being addressed under separate legislation.

The legislation, submitted by the Otzma Yehudit party, creates a distinction between regions. In Yehudah and Shomron, the death penalty will be the “default” for murder offenses under terrorist circumstances. Unanimous consent of the judges will no longer be required, and there will be no possibility of pardon or commutation by the commander-in-chief.

Within the Green Line, the court can only impose the death penalty or life imprisonment on someone who intentionally causes the death of a person with the aim of harming the state. The Minister of Defense will have the authority to determine whether a terrorist from Yehudah and Shomron is tried in a military or civilian court.

According to the approved wording, executions will be carried out by hanging. The sentence will be executed by a guard appointed by the Commissioner of the Prison Service (IPS), whose identity will remain strictly confidential and who will be granted full criminal immunity.

Convicted terrorists will be placed in a separate, isolated detention facility. They will be barred from physical visits; meetings with lawyers will be restricted to visual contact only. The execution must be carried out within 90 days of the sentence following an automatic appeal process. The execution will be attended by the prison director, a judicial authority representative, an official inspector, and a representative from the terrorist’s family.

Since the establishment of the State, the legal system has refrained from utilizing capital punishment, which theoretically existed for treason and aiding the enemy. Only one person has been executed by a civilian verdict in Israel’s history: Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in June 1962.

The bill’s initiator, MK Limor Son Har-Melech (Otzma Yehudit), delivered an emotional address, noting she serves as an emissary for thousands of bereaved families.

“I carry with me the memory of my husband, Hashem yikom damo, the gaze of the terrorists who shot at us in cold blood, and the voice of my beloved children who grew up in a reality of immense emptiness,” Son Har-Melech stated. “For years, we have experienced a vicious cycle of terror, imprisonment, release in reckless deals, and the return of human monsters to murder Jews. And today, my friends, this cycle has been broken.”

National Security Committee Chairman MK Zvika Fogel (Otzma Yehudit) framed the law as an essential wartime necessity. “The State of Israel is facing unparalleled evil and hatred,” Fogel said. “This law is not a law of revenge or rage, but of the responsibility of a state towards its citizens… We are not bloodthirsty and do not seek to kill, we are a people who sanctify life… This law is part of a set of changes and another layer on the path to winning the War of Rebirth.”

Opposition to the bill took various forms. MK Gilad Kariv (Labor) delivered a harsh rebuke from a secular-liberal perspective, condemning the move as an “immoral, unJewish and undemocratic” law.

Despite Otzma Yehudit’s framing of the bill as a tool strictly against Arab terrorists, officials told Kan news that the wording of the law could also apply to Jews.

Because the legislation defines the capital offense as terrorism aimed at “denying the existence of the state,” legal experts warn it could easily be weaponized by a hostile secular justice system against Jewish citizens.

The Knesset approved on Monday evening, in its second and third readings, a controversial bill allowing for the imposition of the death penalty for terrorists.

The measure passed by a vote of 62-48, with one member absent.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and MKs from his coalition voted in favor of the law. Yisrael Beyteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman, who was not present for the first round of naming Knesset members, voted in favor during the second round. Conversely, members of the Degel Hatorah party voted against the measure, joining opposition members such as National Unity Chairman Benny Gantz and his faction member, Hili Troper. Noam Chairman MK Avi Maoz was not present for the vote.

The proposed law would allow judges to impose the death penalty by a simple majority instead of the unanimous ruling currently required, and would remove the right to appeal. It would not be applied retroactively, including to those responsible for the October 7 massacre, who are being addressed under separate legislation.

The legislation, submitted by the Otzma Yehudit party, creates a distinction between regions. In Yehudah and Shomron, the death penalty will be the “default” for murder offenses under terrorist circumstances. Unanimous consent of the judges will no longer be required, and there will be no possibility of pardon or commutation by the commander-in-chief.

Within the Green Line, the court can only impose the death penalty or life imprisonment on someone who intentionally causes the death of a person with the aim of harming the state. The Minister of Defense will have the authority to determine whether a terrorist from Yehudah and Shomron is tried in a military or civilian court.

According to the approved wording, executions will be carried out by hanging. The sentence will be executed by a guard appointed by the Commissioner of the Prison Service (IPS), whose identity will remain strictly confidential and who will be granted full criminal immunity.

Convicted terrorists will be placed in a separate, isolated detention facility. They will be barred from physical visits; meetings with lawyers will be restricted to visual contact only. The execution must be carried out within 90 days of the sentence following an automatic appeal process. The execution will be attended by the prison director, a judicial authority representative, an official inspector, and a representative from the terrorist’s family.

Since the establishment of the State, the legal system has refrained from utilizing capital punishment, which theoretically existed for treason and aiding the enemy. Only one person has been executed by a civilian verdict in Israel’s history: Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in June 1962.

The bill’s initiator, MK Limor Son Har-Melech (Otzma Yehudit), delivered an emotional address, noting she serves as an emissary for thousands of bereaved families.

“I carry with me the memory of my husband, Hashem yikom damo, the gaze of the terrorists who shot at us in cold blood, and the voice of my beloved children who grew up in a reality of immense emptiness,” Son Har-Melech stated. “For years, we have experienced a vicious cycle of terror, imprisonment, release in reckless deals, and the return of human monsters to murder Jews. And today, my friends, this cycle has been broken.”

National Security Committee Chairman MK Zvika Fogel (Otzma Yehudit) framed the law as an essential wartime necessity. “The State of Israel is facing unparalleled evil and hatred,” Fogel said. “This law is not a law of revenge or rage, but of the responsibility of a state towards its citizens… We are not bloodthirsty and do not seek to kill, we are a people who sanctify life… This law is part of a set of changes and another layer on the path to winning the War of Rebirth.”

Opposition to the bill took various forms. MK Gilad Kariv (Labor) delivered a harsh rebuke from a secular-liberal perspective, condemning the move as an “immoral, un-Jewish and undemocratic” law.

Despite Otzma Yehudit’s framing of the bill as a tool strictly against Arab terroriss, officials told Kan news that the wording of the law could also apply to Jews.

Because the legislation defines the capital offense as terrorism aimed at “denying the existence of the state,” legal experts warn it could easily be weaponized by a hostile secular justice system against Jewish citizens

Thousands of elite U.S. paratroopers began arriving in the Middle East Monday, signaling a major buildup of American military capabilities. The deployment comes as President Donald Trump weighs his next moves in the ongoing conflict with Iran, even as he confirms that high-level diplomatic negotiations are currently active.

Officials confirmed Monday that thousands of soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division, based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, have begun touching down at undisclosed locations in the Middle East. This deployment follows the arrival of approximately 2,500 Marines over the weekend, adding to a growing contingent of sailors and Special Operations forces already positioned in the theater of operations.

The newly arrived units include elements of the division’s headquarters, a brigade combat team, and essential logistics and support personnel.
While the administration has not officially ordered a ground incursion into Iranian territory, sources indicate the buildup is intended to “expand options.” Military analysts suggest that these forces could be utilized for several strategic purposes, including potential operations to seize Kharg Island, the critical hub responsible for 90% of Iran’s oil exports.

In parallel to the military buildup, President Trump confirmed that the United States is engaged in direct negotiations with a prominent figure within the Iranian regime. Speaking to the New York Post, the President identified Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, as the primary conduit for recent discussions.

Ghalibaf, who has long-standing ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has been the subject of intense speculation as Washington’s preferred contact. President Trump noted that the next few days would be pivotal in determining the viability of these talks.
“I’ll know in about a week whether Ghalibaf is someone the U.S. can truly work with,” the President stated.

Previously, U.S. officials had been tight-lipped regarding the identity of their Iranian interlocutor, with the President half-joking that publicly naming an individual in the regime could place them in immediate mortal danger.

The dual track of massive military deployment and high-stakes diplomacy underscores the administration’s “maximum pressure” approach. By positioning elite paratroopers within striking distance of Iran’s economic lifelines while simultaneously maintaining a dialogue with Ghalibaf, the White House appears to be forcing the regime to choose between a negotiated settlement or a significant escalation of hostilities.

As the 82nd Airborne settles into its new positions, the world looks toward Washington and Tehran to see if the “one week” window for negotiations will yield a breakthrough or if the drumbeat of war will grow louder.

The Kosel this morning, Momday, before the Netz minyan.

Due to heightened security restrictions amid the ongoing war with Iran, only 50 people are permitted to enter the Kosel Plaza each morning on a first-come, first-served basis.

Melbourne’s Jewish Community witnessed a rare milestone on Sunday as the Adas Yisroel Kehila member, Rav Moshe Benedict, completed a 22-year journey to write his own Sefer Torah. This monumental project, which began over two decades ago, required immense discipline; R’ Moshe dedicated time every single morning after Davening to write the Sefer Torah. His work was only briefly interrupted for six months during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the lack of access to a Mikvah.

Today, Sunday, just a few days before Pesach, a large Hachnosas Sefer Torah took place on the streets of Melbourne, Australia, with over 1000 participants, including international guests and senior police officials, who escorted the new Torah to its temporary Shul, which is being used after the main Shul was damaged in a 2025 firebombing.

It is the first Torah the Shul has received since it was originally established, an Askan in the community tells with Belaaz.

R’ Moshe Benedict is described as a choshuve yungerman who balances his time between learning Torah in the morning and evening and working in the afternoons.

The completion marks a historic first for the Adas Yisrael community, as R’ Moshe is the first local to write and gift a Torah to the Shul.

The event, arranged by the dedicated volunteers of Chavivim Melbourne, turned the streets into a beautiful maamad of simcha and kavod haTorah. Local Rabbanim and community members, led by the baal hasimcha’s father, R’ Yitzchok Benedict, a prominent figure in the Chevra Kadisha and the longtime President of the Talmud Torah,

Following the Hachnosas Sefer Torah, there was a formal Seudah with 250 guests, where Gaavad Melbourne, Hagaon Rav Shlomeh Kahan Shlit’a, gave divrei bracha and expressed hakaras hatov for how far the community has come.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) changed how it counts antisemitic crimes over the weekend under Mayor Zohran Mamdani, lowering reported figures for February after a sharp spike in January. Anti-Jewish incidents had jumped 182% in Mamdani’s first month in office, with 31 reports compared to 11 the year prior.

Under the new system, incidents are only counted after being investigated and confirmed as hate crimes by the department’s task force. That shift immediately reduced the official total, with February recording 21 antisemitic crimes, 10 fewer than in January. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended the move, saying, “In my opinion, what we should be reporting on is confirmed instances of hate crimes.”

The change has also reshaped the broader trend. As of mid-March, police reported 69 antisemitic crimes for the year compared to 58 during the same period last year, a 19% increase that appears far less dramatic than January’s spike. By excluding unconfirmed complaints, the new method presents a more limited picture of reported incidents.

Critics say the revised approach obscures the scale of the problem. “We’re all watching the manufacturing of propaganda in real time,” said Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz. Former NYPD detective Michael Alcazar added, “It’s textbook fudging the numbers,” warning the shift makes it appear authorities are addressing hate crimes without full transparency.

Without full complaint data, the true scope of antisemitic incidents remains unclear.

Hundreds of Israeli travelers were stranded at Aqaba’s King Hussein International Airport on Sunday morning, after Arkia abruptly canceled multiple outbound flights following a sudden policy shift by Jordanian authorities.

The airline said Jordan had stopped approving certain flights operated with European aircraft, despite those flights having received prior authorization. The move immediately disrupted routes to destinations including Bangkok, Athens, and Budapest, catching Israeli officials off guard and halting part of the alternative aviation network built during the war.

Conditions at the airport deteriorated rapidly as delays mounted. “There is no Arkia representative here or any other Israeli representation, there is no water or food here. People are in complete despair sitting on the floor and children are crying,” one stranded passenger told N12. Travelers reported missing connecting flights and losing thousands of dollars on hotels and onward travel.

Israeli officials and security authorities are in contact with their Jordanian counterparts in an effort to restore approvals and resume flights. In the meantime, contingency plans are underway, with some passengers being rerouted through Taba in Egypt or transferred to alternative flights, including via Larnaca.

The Aqaba route had become a key workaround as wartime restrictions sharply limited departures from Ben-Gurion Airport. The disruption adds further strain to already fragile travel options, compounded by Egypt’s recent decision to double the Taba crossing fee to $120 per passenger, alongside an additional ₪120 fee on the Israeli side.

An emergency lawsuit seeking a temporary injunction to postpone the Town of Surfside’s mayoral runoff election due to a scheduling conflict with Pesach was filed in Miami-Dade County on Friday.

The runoff election between former Mayor Shlomo Danzinger and Vice Mayor Tina Paul, is currently scheduled for April 7. This date coincides with the final day of Chol Hamoed Pesach and Erev Yom Tov.

“The right to vote and the right to religious observance are both fundamental, and the government cannot needlessly force citizens to sacrifice one to exercise the other,” Rabbi Mark Goldfeder, CEO of the National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC), told Belaaz. “Moving this election by one week is a minimal burden on the town and a major protection for the rights of every affected voter. This should be an easy call.”

The lawsuit, filed by NJAC and GS2 Law PLLC on behalf of Chabad of Surfside, Rabbi Zalman Lipskar, United Orthodox Synagogues of Surfside, and six registered voters, seeks to move the election to April 14. Surfside has an estimated 2,500 Jewish residents out of a total population of 5,700, with approximately 35 percent of the Jewish population identifying as Orthodox.

“The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, and no citizen should ever be forced to choose between their faith and their franchise,” NJAC Litigation Counsel David Benger said. “A one-week postponement costs the Town nothing and guarantees that every eligible voter in Surfside, regardless of religious observance, can participate in choosing their next mayor.”

The complaint alleges violations of the Florida Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the Free Exercise Clause of the First and Fourteenth Amendments, and the Equal Protection Clause.

The petition also cites a public letter from outgoing Mayor Charles Burkett, which the lawsuit argues is evidence that the election date does not operate in a neutral environment and reflects an anti-Jewish bias. According to the complaint, Burkett characterized the Jewish community’s voting bloc as “frightened and misled religious voters” who “vote in lockstep,” framing the election as a contest between the Jewish community’s “25%” and “the remaining 75%,” and urging non-Jewish voters to “overcome the fearmongering.”

Robert Garson of GS2 Law PLLC stated that the lawsuit pushes back against a message that a community’s faith disqualifies it from participating in democracy.

“This is precisely the kind of case lawyers should take pro bono, where a community is effectively being told: your faith disqualifies you from participating in democracy,” Garson said. “That is not just wrong, it is unconstitutional. We are here to make sure that message is rejected, clearly and decisively.”

The petition notes that the neighboring Town of Bay Harbor Islands unanimously moved its own April 2026 municipal election to April 14 to avoid the exact same Pesach conflict, and that Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois have established precedents for accommodating observant Jewish voters.

A network of roughly 500 organizations with an estimated $3 billion in combined annual revenue helped organize Saturday’s nationwide “No Kings” protests, according to a Fox News Digital investigation.

The report found that the demonstrations were coordinated by a mix of mainstream progressive groups and more radical socialist and communist organizations, some of which openly promoted a message of “revolution.”

Indivisible, a Democratic-aligned advocacy group, was listed as a lead organizer for the main march in St. Paul, Minnesota. At the same time, investigators identified the involvement of organizations tied to tech billionaire Neville Roy Singham, who has funded a network of activist groups promoting socialist ideology.

These groups – including the radical Party for Socialism and Liberation, the People’s Forum, the ANSWER Coalition and CodePink – mobilized supporters across the country, with some explicitly encouraging participants to use the protests to advance long-term revolutionary goals.

In Minnesota, activists were seen preparing large quantities of protest signs ahead of the demonstrations, many bearing slogans such as “NO KINGS. NO WAR.” Similar organizing efforts took place nationwide, with coordinated messaging encouraging participants to turn the protests into broader political movements.

Some activist communications urged supporters to “get our revolutionary message in front of them” and use the protests to build momentum beyond a single day of demonstrations.

In New York City, a group of protestors were seen parading with communist flags, openly proclaiming “there is only one solution, conmunist revolution.”

The report also noted that these groups often operate within larger protest coalitions, allowing them to reach wider audiences and expand recruitment efforts during high-profile national events.

Demonstrations were held in major cities across the United States, with various factions bringing their own political messaging, ranging from opposition to U.S. foreign policy to broader critiques of capitalism and government authority.

The IDF said on Motzoei Shabbos that it is close to completing its campaign targeting Iran’s key military production sites, as waves of airstrikes continued to hit Tehran and other strategic locations across the country.

Military officials assessed that within days, nearly all “critical” components of Iran’s defense industry will have been struck. IDF spokesman Effie Defrin said, “within a few days” the military would finish targeting all of the “critical” assets of Iran’s military production industries.

“This means we will destroy most of the military production capabilities, and it will take the regime a long time to restore them,” he said.
According to the IDF, roughly 70 percent of Iran’s military industry targets have already been hit since the start of the war, with that number now approaching 90 percent of key facilities involved in producing weapons that pose a threat to Israel.

Iran’s defense infrastructure spans a wide network of military bodies and private firms responsible for producing ballistic missiles, air defense systems, naval weaponry, cyber capabilities, and surveillance technology, including satellites.

As part of the latest wave of strikes, the Israeli Air Force targeted the headquarters of Iran’s Marine Industries Organization in Tehran. The facility is responsible for the research, development, and production of naval weapons and vessels, including both manned and unmanned systems.

The IDF said the strike, carried out with intelligence from the Naval Intelligence Division, dealt a significant blow to Iran’s ability to manufacture advanced maritime weaponry.
Additional strikes were reported across Tehran later on Saturday, with the military confirming that dozens of regime infrastructure sites were hit in what it described as an “extensive” operation.

The latest operations come days after the IDF confirmed the killing of IRGC Navy commander Alireza Tangsiri in an earlier airstrike, marking another major setback to Iran’s naval capabilities.

Meanwhile, a report from Saudi outlet Al Arabiya said an Iranian nuclear scientist, Mohammed Reza Kia, was killed in a strike in northern Iran several days ago. According to the report, Kia, who specialized in nuclear physics and atomic engineering, was killed together with his wife in the Kiashahr district. An IRGC commander and a Basij paramilitary commander were also reportedly killed in the same strike.

On the American side, Vice President JD Vance indicated that the conflict may soon begin winding down. Speaking on “The Benny Show,” he said the war would continue for “A little while longer,” emphasizing that the goal is to “neuter” the Islamic Republic “for a very, very long time.”

He added that the U.S. has “accomplished the vast majority of our military projects,” suggesting that many of Washington’s objectives have already been achieved.

“The president’s going to keep at it for a little while longer to ensure that once we leave, we don’t have to do this again for a very, very long time,” Vance said.

Addressing concerns over rising gas prices, Vance described the spike as temporary, saying, “We’re not interested in being in Iran a year down the road or two years down the road. We’re taking care of business. We’re going to be out of there soon, and gas prices are going to come back down.”

As the war enters its second month, Israeli and U.S. officials appear increasingly confident that their military campaign has significantly degraded Iran’s capabilities, even as strikes continue across the country.

In an “Open Letter to the Jewish Community” written by Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun and shared exclusively with Belaaz, the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism for the U.S. Department of State addresses the rise in global antisemitic violence and outlines a new strategy for Jewish safety ahead of Pesach.

Here are the key takeaways:

Failure of the Status Quo: The letter states, “The results speak for themselves: incidents keep climbing. In other words, the status quo is a failure.” It specifically lists “more conferences, more NGOs… fighting hate through dialogue” as the methods that have not worked.

The “Passover Model”: It compares the current situation to the Israelites in Egypt, noting that “the threat was collective. So was the salvation.” It explicitly calls for a “unified, unapologetic defense” and says the community doesn’t need “more seminars or cringe-worthy slogans.”

Political Stance: The letter uses the exact phrase “reject the toxic politicization pushed by the radical left” and identifies “radical Islamism” and “ideologues who hate the Jewish faith” as primary threats to be confronted.

The bill, led by Reb Moshe Margaretten of the Tzedek Association and AIVF, aims to alleviate the financial burden on couples struggling with infertility.

At a press conference in Washington D.C. on Thursday, members of Congress, the Tzedek Association team, and Dr. Josh Klein, Advisory board member of Americans for IVF, gathered to reintroduce the HOPE ACT. The bipartisan legislation, led by Reb Moshe Margaretten of the Tzedek Association and AIVF, aims to mandate insurance companies to cover infertility treatments.

Republican Congressman Zack Nunn and Jewish Democrat Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz spearheaded the reintroduction, seeking to alleviate the financial burden on couples struggling to achieve the dream of having a child.

If passed, it would mark a significant step in making infertility treatments more accessible.

Minutes after a Tel Aviv delivery, Iranian missile sirens forced medics and parents to flee to a public shelter with a minutes-old baby

A Magen David Adom team delivered a baby at a home in Tel Aviv on Thursday morning, moments before an Iranian ballistic missile siren forced an emergency dash to shelter. The newborn, delivered on a living-room sofa, was carried outside within minutes as the alert sounded across central Israel.

The baby’s father, Nikola, had called MDA as his wife Violet went into labor. Dispatcher Aharon Cohen guided him over the phone until a mobile intensive care unit arrived, led by paramedic Dr. Gal Rosen and EMTs. The team completed the delivery at the scene, reporting both mother and baby in stable condition.

Within minutes, sirens cut through the scene. Rosen, wearing a ballistic vest and helmet, grabbed the newborn and ran with the family to a nearby public shelter.

“In the very next moment, once it was safe, I handed him straight to his father,” Rosen said. “Seeing a half-hour-old baby in a public shelter, surrounded by a family full of blessings and joy, is something you don’t forget.”

The parents described the moments after the birth as chaotic but controlled. “It was not a simple experience. Just a few minutes after the birth, the siren caught us and we went down to the protected area. The team functioned amazingly, calmed us down and took care of us in the best way possible.”

The U.S. Treasury Department announced that President Donald Trump’s signature will appear on U.S. paper currency, specifically the $100 bill, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.

Trump will be the first ever sitting president who’s signature will be featured on U.S. currency, replacing the Treasurer’s signature for the first time in 165 years.

The new bills are expected to be printed in June, showcasing Trump’s signature alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s.

A brother and sister, Alen Zheng and Ann Mary Zheng, were indicted Thursday in connection with a suspicious package believed to be an explosive device found outside the visitor center at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida on March 16. MacDill serves as headquarters for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which is leading the operation Epic Fury against Iran.

MacDill Air Force Base in Tanpa, Florida

The brother Alen Zheng, accused of actually planting the device, has fled to China and faces charges including attempted damage to government property by explosion and possession of an unregistered destructive device.

His sister, Ann Mary Zheng, was arrested by the FBI in Tampa. She is charged as an accessory after the fact and with tampering with evidence by allegedly hiding or damaging a vehicle linked to the case.

MacDill Air Force Base

FBI Director Kash Patel praised the investigation, stating no one who targets U.S. military facilities or service members will escape justice.

Axios reports Pentagon plans range from seizing strategic islands to deep strikes on nuclear sites

The Pentagon is developing a range of military options for a potential “final blow” against Iran, according to a report published Thursday by Axios, as U.S. officials warn escalation could follow if diplomatic efforts collapse. The plans include both ground operations and a massive bombing campaign aimed at forcing a decisive end to the war.

Officials outlined four primary scenarios under consideration. These include seizing or blockading Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub, targeting Larak Island, which helps control the Strait of Hormuz, capturing the disputed Abu Musa island and nearby territory, or intercepting Iranian oil shipments in the region.

More aggressive options include ground operations deep inside Iran to secure highly enriched uranium stored at nuclear facilities. However, officials say a large-scale airstrike campaign could be used instead to neutralize those sites without committing troops. Officials described the scenarios as hypothetical.

Still, the administration signaled readiness to escalate. “The President doesn’t bluff and he is ready. Iran shouldn’t miscalculate again… any violence beyond this point will be because the Iranian regime… refuses to come to a deal,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday. Reinforcements, including fighter jets and thousands of troops, are also being deployed to the region.

Iranian officials have responded with warnings of their own. Speaker of parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said “Iran’s enemies, with the support of a country in the region, are preparing an operation to occupy one of Iran’s islands,” adding that any such move would trigger “relentless attacks” on regional infrastructure.

A new study suggests wine carries lower health risks than beer or hard liquor.

According to a March 19 news release from the American College of Cardiology, researchers analyzed UK Biobank data from over 340,000 British adults between 2006 and 2022. Participants were grouped by alcohol type and intake levels, with wine linked to the lowest risk of death.

Iran on Wednesday rejected a U.S. ceasefire proposal aimed at halting the ongoing war, saying it will only agree to end the conflict on its own terms and timeline. Iranian officials described the American framework as “not positive,” signaling opposition to a temporary pause while leaving open the possibility that it remains under review.

“Iran does not accept a ceasefire. Fundamentally, entering such a process with those who have violated their commitments is not logical,” a source told the semi-official Fars News Agency. The outlet added that “Only if those objectives are achieved would an end to the war — not merely a ceasefire — be possible,” underscoring Tehran’s rejection of a limited de-escalation.

According to Iranian state-linked reports, Tehran has outlined five conditions for ending the war: a full halt to what it described as “aggression and assassinations,” guarantees against future conflict, defined war reparations, a complete end to fighting across all fronts including Iran-backed groups, and international recognition of its authority over the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. proposal, conveyed through Pakistan, included a 15-point framework aimed at de-escalation. It reportedly offered partial sanctions relief, limits on Iran’s missile program, and a rollback of nuclear activities under international monitoring, alongside a temporary ceasefire of about one month to allow negotiations.

Suspects held after four Hatzola Northwest ambulances torched in Golders Green, as investigators probe possible Iran-linked group

British police arrested two men on Wednesday in connection with the arson attack on ambulances belonging to Hatzola in north London earlier this week. The suspects, aged 45 and 47, were detained on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and remain in custody for questioning.

The attack took place early Monday in Golders Green, a neighborhood with a large Jewish population. Four ambulances belonging to Hatzola Northwest were set on fire, with oxygen cylinders inside the vehicles exploding and damaging a nearby apartment building.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, called the arrests “an important breakthrough in the investigation.” Police said surveillance footage suggests at least three individuals were involved, and efforts are ongoing to identify additional suspects.

Authorities are also examining a claim of responsibility posted online by a group with suspected links to Iran. The group has reportedly claimed involvement in other attacks targeting Jewish sites in Europe.

Police have not classified the incident as terrorism, and investigators say it remains too early to determine whether a foreign state played a role.

BNEI BRAK – Seven people were injured and hospitalized following an Iran ballistic missile attack on central Israel, during which a cluster bomb warhead hit a residential building in Bnei Brak.

A 23 year old man is in moderate condition, MDA says, after he was hit by shrapnel.

Six others, including an infant are in good condition.

An Jewish-Israeli man was arrested today, Tuesday, at Egypt’s Taba airport after putting on Tefillin while waiting for a flight.

Another Jewish traveler was reportedly warned by authorities for learning Gemara at the airport.

Israeli officials intervened, and the detained passenger was later released and allowed to board a different flight.

Many are leaving the country via Egypt to catch international flights, as strict security restrictions and flight disruptions at Ben Gurion Airport continue amid the ongoing war with Iran.

U.S. officials said Tuesday that Iran has deployed naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, placing global oil shipments at risk as tensions in the region continue to escalate. According to a CBS News report citing American officials, at least a dozen mines have been identified in the critical maritime corridor.

The explosives were identified as Iranian-made Maham 3 and Maham 7 limpet mines, typically attached to vessels or placed in shipping lanes. Officials said the mines were likely deployed using small boats capable of carrying multiple devices, positioning them directly along routes used by commercial tankers.

The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply, making any disruption a significant global economic threat. The presence of mines could allow Iran to restrict or control passage through the narrow waterway, raising the risk of confrontation with international shipping and naval forces operating in the area.

The development follows repeated Iranian threats in recent days to mine the Gulf and potentially shut down the Strait if attacked. U.S. forces have already targeted Iranian maritime assets linked to minelaying operations, as part of a broader effort to maintain open navigation through the region.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged President Trump this week to continue the war against Iran until the regime is toppled, according to a New York Times report citing U.S. officials on Tuesday.

MBS reportedly pushed for strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure and even suggested U.S. ground forces seize key sites, warning Iran will remain a long-term threat and could continue targeting Saudi Arabia and global shipping.

Despite publicly backing diplomacy, Gulf states including Saudi Arabia and the UAE are now considering joining U.S. and Israeli strikes, as fears grow over both Iran’s capabilities and the risks of a failed Iranian state.

The State Attorney’s Office has indicted two brothers from Beitar Illit and Beit Shemesh on serious security charges after allegedly maintaining contact with Iranian agents, in a case made public Tuesday by Walla. Prosecutors accuse the pair of contact with a foreign agent and passing information to the enemy.

According to the indictment, the main defendant established contact with an Iranian handler via Telegram in August after being offered money. The brothers allegedly received more than NIS 100,000 in exchange for information, though much of the material they provided was fabricated.

Investigators say the defendant built an elaborate deception using artificial intelligence tools, including ChatGPT, Grok, and Gemini. He allegedly posed as a future Unit 8200 soldier, created fake conversations, forged documents, and even generated AI images to convince the handler of his credibility.

The indictment states that the defendant supplied supposed intelligence on a future Israeli-American strike in Iran and compiled lists of strategic targets using Google Maps. In one case, he fabricated a narrative about an Iranian citizen, who was later arrested and interrogated before being cleared. The defendant also passed along claims that “We received a date” for a potential operation.

“The indictment is outrageous,” the defendant’s lawyer said. “These are two patriotic Zionist brothers who sought to trick the Iranians.” He added that “the state should award them the Israel Prize for their contribution to the nation’s security.”

U.S. Vice President JD Vance held a phone conversation this morning with Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu, Barak Ravid reports.

The discussion reportedly focused on initiatives to begin negotiations with Iran, including the key elements of a potential deal to bring an end to the ongoing war.

Aviation expert points to runway coordination failure after Air Canada jet struck fire truck, as investigators probe air traffic control decisions

The deadly plane crash at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night that killed two pilots and injured dozens could have been avoided, according to an aviation expert who pointed to a critical runway coordination failure. The collision occurred just before midnight when an Air Canada Express flight from Montreal struck a fire truck on the runway, as federal investigators opened a probe into the incident.

The aircraft had been cleared to land when the emergency vehicle was allowed to cross the same runway while responding to a separate incident. “Once that aircraft was cleared to land … It owned that runway,” said Mary Schiavo, a former U.S. Department of Transportation inspector general, describing the sequence as a clear procedural breakdown.

Schiavo said the crash likely stemmed from a failure between tower and ground control coordination. “So clearly they either did not coordinate, or they did and were just wrong,” she said, adding: “There’s just no way around that.” The plane was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members at the time of the collision.

Air traffic control audio captured moments of confusion, including one controller saying, “I messed up,” as the situation unfolded. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation.

The crash forced the closure of LaGuardia Airport into Monday afternoon and led to hundreds of cancellations. Schiavo warned the incident may reflect broader systemic issues, calling it “another case of the FAA simply not doing their job.”

NEW JERSEY – Newark Liberty International Airport’s air traffic control tower was evacuated Monday morning after a burning smell was detected from an elevator, leading to a ground stop.

The FAA confirmed there was no fire and that operations are being shifted to a backup tower. As a result, flights are delayed.

President Donald Trump said Monday morning on Truth Social that Washington held “very good and productive” talks with Iran over the past two days and ordered a five-day postponement of planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure. The announcement came just hours before the U.S. deadline tied to Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz.

On Saturday, Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum warning Iran to allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its energy sector. Iranian officials responded Sunday with threats targeting Gulf shipping routes and regional energy infrastructure.

Trump wrote that the discussions were aimed at a “complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East,” adding that he had instructed the U.S. military to delay strikes “for a five day period,” contingent on continued progress.

Despite Trump’s claims, Iranian officials and state-linked media denied that any negotiations were taking place. Tehran described the move as a “retreat,” asserting Trump had “backed down” and was “buying time.” Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said, “The battle continues… and another defeat for the devil. Trump and the United States have once again been defeated.”

Minutes before the announcement, Oman’s Foreign Minister said the country is working to secure safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz, where it has previously mediated between Washington and Tehran. Markets reacted quickly, with oil prices falling about 8% and U.S. stock futures rising.

An Air Canada flight from Montreal crashed into a rescue truck on LaGuardia Airport’s Runway 4 Sunday night!, killing both pilots and seriously injuring two Port Authority cops.

The incident occurred at around 11:40 p.m. when the plane struck the truck responding to a separate incident. Emergency vehicles swarmed the scene, and images showed the plane’s front smashed and tilting.

100 passengers were on the plane including a number of Yidden with no confirmed injuries BH.

The crash reportedly happened amid poor visibility due to the rainy weather.

Released audio shows air traffic controllers shouting ‘stop stop stop’ before the crash.

Mossad chief Barnea believed the organization could spark an uprising in Iran and topple the Regime just a short time after the war would start, the New York Times reported Sunday.

According to the New York Times, Prime Minister Netanyahu adopted Barnea’s plan, presented it to US officials and convinced President Trump. However, senior US and Israeli officials doubted it would actually work.

Another report claims that the Mossad gave PM Netanyahu a plan for sparking an uprising, which has yet to be materialized. That report claims that the US isn’t supportive anymore of a Kurdish proxy force.

U.S. President Donald Trump said today that he expects to visit Israel to receive the Israel Prize during the upcoming Independence Day ceremony in Jerusalem, confirming the planned trip in an interview with Channel 14. Asked whether he intends to arrive soon to accept the award, Trump responded: “Yes, it seems so.”

The visit would mark a rare moment in which a sitting or former U.S. president receives Israel’s highest civilian honor, elevating this year’s Independence Day ceremony into a major diplomatic and symbolic event. Israel’s Independence Day is one of the country’s central national holidays and traditionally includes a state ceremony in Jerusalem.

Israel decided to award Trump the Israel Prize in a special category recognizing his contribution to Israel and the Jewish people. He was informed of the decision during a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida in December, when Education Minister Yoav Kisch joined by phone and told him the prize committee had reached a “historical decision” to grant the honor. Trump responded at the time that it was a “great honor, really amazing being the first one outside of Israel,” but did not formally commit.

The initiative was later advanced by Kisch, who sent an official invitation to the White House approximately six weeks ago as preparations for the ceremony moved forward. With Trump now signaling he expects to attend, the event is taking shape as a high-profile international moment.

During the same interview, Trump sharply criticized President Isaac Herzog over his handling of Netanyahu’s trial, asking: “Won’t your weak president give him a pardon?” He claimed Herzog had previously indicated he would act, saying: “He told me many times, not just once, that he would give him a pardon, and he lied to me.” Trump added: “He is a weak and pathetic man. He is not a leader.” He further accused Herzog of using the issue as leverage, saying: “He is using the pardon issue and hanging it over Bibi’s head.”

Missiles hit Dimona, Arad, Tel Aviv and the north in past 24 hours, causing mass casualties, displacement, and renewed pressure on Israel’s air defenses

Overnight into Sunday, Israel faced one of its most intense impacts, with one person killed in a northern strike and hundreds wounded in Iranian missile attacks across the country. Hospitals reported 175 people treated in the southern impact zones alone, while the Health Ministry said 303 individuals were hospitalized nationwide over the past day. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “This has been a very difficult evening in the battle for our future.”

The first major strike hit Dimona late Saturday night, where a ballistic missile caused widespread destruction in a residential neighborhood. Around 60 people were injured, most lightly, as dozens of homes, a kindergarten, and a local clubhouse were damaged. Authorities evacuated 485 residents who could not return home. Among the wounded was a 12-year-old boy in serious condition who underwent surgery.

A short time later, a second missile struck Arad, causing a larger casualty event. Initial emergency reports counted 84 injured, later rising to approximately 115, including several in serious condition. Roughly 20 buildings were damaged, and 150 families were displaced. Arad Mayor Yair Maayan said, “Three buildings are now designated for demolition.” Officials assessed the strike involved a large single warhead.

Strikes continued into Sunday morning, when a projectile from Lebanon hit near Kibbutz Misgav Am, killing one person and igniting vehicles. “We arrived at the scene and saw two vehicles on fire. During firefighting operations, we identified a man in the driver’s seat. He had no signs of life, and we were forced to declare his death,” MDA medics said. In central Israel, a separate missile carrying a cluster warhead wounded 15 people in Tel Aviv.

The strain on Israel’s medical system was evident as Soroka Medical Center declared a mass casualty event. The IDF Home Front Command tightened restrictions across southern regions, suspending schools and limiting gatherings. The military acknowledged interception failures, saying, “The air defense systems operated but did not intercept the missile. We will investigate the incident and learn from it,” while Iran claimed the strikes targeted security-related sites in the Dimona area.

WASHINGTON – President Trump said Saturday he may deploy ICE agents to U.S. airports if Democrats “don’t immediately sign an agreement” to make them “free and safe again.”

Trump wrote that ICE agents would carry out security operations “like no one has ever seen before,” including the “immediate arrest of all illegal immigrants who have come into our country.”

He added there would be “heavy emphasis on those from Somalia,” while accusing Democratic officials and Rep. Ilhan Omar of responsibility for security issues in Minnesota.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed Moscow’s support for Iran, calling it a “loyal friend and reliable partner” amidst ongoing US and Israeli strikes. This statement marks one of Russia’s first public shows of support for Iran since the conflict began three weeks ago. ¹ ² ³

Putin’s comments come as reports emerged that Moscow had considered limiting intelligence sharing with Tehran in exchange for US concessions on Ukraine. Additionally, Putin had proposed transferring Iran’s enriched uranium to Russia to de-escalate tensions, but the idea was rejected by the Trump administration. ⁴

Follow-up questions:

1. What implications does Putin’s statement have for Russia-Iran relations and the ongoing conflict?
2. How might the US and Israel respond to Putin’s reaffirmation of support for Iran?

MOSCOW Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Moscow remains a “loyal friend and reliable partner” to Iran as it faces ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes.

The statement marked one of Russia’s first public shows of support since the war began three weeks ago, even as reports emerged Moscow had considered limiting intelligence sharing with Tehran in exchange for U.S. concessions on Ukraine.

Putin also recently proposed transferring Iran’s enriched uranium to Russia to de-escalate tensions, but the idea was quickly rejected by the Trump administration.

Former FBI Director and special counsel Robert Mueller died Friday night at age 81, his family announced Saturday.

Mueller led the high-profile investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, concluding in 2019 that Moscow acted to benefit Donald Trump.

The cause of his death was not immediately disclosed, though he had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

Tensions escalated tonight in southern Israel after Iranian ballistic missiles struck the cities of Dimona and Arad, leaving a trail of destruction.

The combined casualty toll currently stands at 115, including 11 seriously injured and 20 moderately hurt.

Aerial footage of the scene in Arad shows the devastating impact of the missiles, with debris scattered everywhere.

The city has been declared a mass casualty event, with emergency services working to respond to the crisis.

According to reports, the wounded toll in Arad alone stands at 80, among them at least 7 in serious condition, including children.

The Soroka medical centre is treating the injured, with medical staff working around the clock to provide care.

Israel condemned the attacks, blaming Iran for the escalation. “This is a grave escalation, and we will respond accordingly,” said an Israeli official.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir held an assessment with senior officers after the Iranian ballistic missile attacks. Zamir approved strikes across all fronts tonight and instructed the team to continue investigating the incidents and draw lessons from them.

The meeting included Operations chief Maj. Gen. Itzik Cohen, IAF chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, and Home Front Command chief Maj. Gen. Shai Klapper, per the IDF.

The Trump administration is weighing plans to seize or blockade Iran’s Kharg Island to force Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported this morning.

The island handles about 90% of Iran’s oil exports, and officials said a potential operation would likely follow weeks of additional U.S. strikes to weaken Iranian defenses, with thousands of Marines already being deployed to the region.

U.S. officials stressed no final decision has been made, warning a ground operation could expose troops to significant risk and may not guarantee Iran reopens the critical global oil shipping route.

Shrapnel from an Iranian missile fell in Jerusalem’s Old City, landing not far from the Kosel and Har Habayit.

Miraculously, Baruch Hashem no injuries were reported despite the close proximity to the impact.

Israeli police are securing the area and investigating the incident.

The attack is part of a recent escalation, with Jerusalem itself facing increased ballistic missile fire from Iran.

The IDF released footage of a Home Front Command team working on scene at the site of the Shrapnel impact in the Old City as they investigate.

President Trump said earlier today, Friday, that the United States wants to talk to Iran but there’s nobody to talk to.

President said while speaking at the White House: “Their leaders are all gone. The next set of leaders are all gone and the next set of leaders are mostly gone — We have nobody to talk to, and you know what? We like it that way.”

On Friday, Russia summoned Israel’s Ambassador over an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon that impacted right near a Russian state TV journalists.

Israel’s Ambassador Oded Joseph was told by the Russian Foreign Ministry that Moscow expects a thorough investigation into the strike and assurances from Israel to prevent future attacks near journalists.

In an uplifting ceremony, Maran, Posek Hador, Hagaon Harav Moshe Shterenbuch shlit”a, handed out envelopes withKimcha Depischa to the 180 Avreichim enrolled in Kollel Teshuvos Vehanhagos that he heads. Rav Shterenbuch explained his personal concern by telling a spine-tingling story that he heard about eighty years ago from Hagaon Rav Yechezkel Abramsky Zatzal, a story that reveals the extent of the responsibility one has at every step when it comes to the great mitzvah of Tzedakah.

In the middle of Pesach preparations, there was the inauguration of the distribution set-up for Kimcha Depischa of Posek Hador, Hagaon Rav Moshe Shterenbuch shlit”a, with him personally handing out the much needed support for Pesach to the 180 avreichim of the Teshuvos Vehanhagos kollel. The current distribution is just the opening shot of a broad set-up that Rav Shterenbuch initiates every year, which includes supporting hundreds of avreichim who are his students, additional support to all the rabbonim and the morei tzedek of the Eidah Charedis, along with support to the Rebbis of his yeshiva in Beit Shemesh, and a tremendous amount of aid to many tzedakah funds in Eretz Yisroel and abroad.

Particularly in this immense project, what was very notable was Rav Shterenbuch’s insistence on standing himself and giving the envelopes to the avreichim who are close to his heart, whom he draws close to himself as if they were his own sons, especially since beforehand he had given a halachic discourse at the end of the zman. Those present at the time did not avoid asking the Rov why the Rav wasn’t saving himself the trouble, especially when one considers the heavy load that he carries these days, which includes, among other things, writing letters to the greatest Tomchei Torah of the Torah world.

Rav Moshe replied with an amazing story he heard from the gaon Reb Yechezkel Abramsky ZATZAL, a story that provides one with a different outlook on the meaning of every mitzvah – even the tiniest one: “Hagaon Rav Yechezkel Abramsky, told me that he was once in Vilna, and he went to see the ledger of the Chevra Kadisha, and saw that there was a story written there about the wife of the Gra (the Vilna Gaon, who Reb Moshe himself is a grandson of), who used to go with a friend of hers to gather money for tzedakah for the needy people of Vilna. At one point they made an agreement that whoever dies first of the two of them will come to the other in a dream to tell her what happens in the Next World, the Olam Haemes, and how the ultimate din is handled there.

Years went by, and the friend has passed away first. After a while she appeared in a dream to the Gra’s wife, saying that it was impossible to describe how important every little deed of ours is in the Next World, and she does not have permission to reveal what goes on there, but since she had promised faithfully, she was permitted to tell one detail. And then she said: ‘Do you remember when we were on a certain street in Vilna, and we saw a poor man on the other side of the street, and I motioned to him to cross the street and I will give him some money, and I gave it to him and he was happy. You should know that in Shamayim they accused me of not making the effort to cross the street to earn the mitzvah of going to the poor man rather than having him come to me, because that showed a degree of belittlement of the mitzvahs; the depth of the din is fearsome.’ In the morning, the Gra’s wife told the Gra of her dream. The Gra called in the Chevra Kadisha people, so that they will hear her story and write it down in their ledger so that it will be seen for generations and people will give some thought to the depth of the din.

They wrote there ‘Upon the order of the Gra we are bringing her story.’ Rabbi Abramsky zt”l added to me that since then, whenever he mails money to a needy person or to an institution, he doesn’t send a messenger to the post office as he used to do, rather, he takes the trouble to go himself and place it in a mailbox, so as not to miss the Zchus of physically performing the mitzvah of tzedakah.”

The moving message from the Posek Hador shlit”a was clear and sharp: When it comes to the mitzvah of tzedakah there is no substitute for the personal labor, and every small effort is calculated and measured. For Rav Sheterenbuch, the personal distribution is not only a technical act of giving money, but a rare opportunity to perform a mitzvah perfectly, with one’s body and no regard for personal honor, no concessions allowed.

In the coming days the Rov will distribute more money to needy families and avreichim, as part of the greater program, among them “tamchin deoraisa” to hundreds of rabbonim and poskim, special distributions to the rabbonim of his yeshiva in Beit Shemesh, and further activity to many tzedakah funds.

New survey released Thursday shows Israelis still report high life satisfaction during the war years, even as worry, anger and distrust rise sharply.

Israel ranked eighth worldwide in the World Happiness Report 2026 released Thursday, maintaining its position from last year despite nearly three years of war and national upheaval since the October 7 attacks. The ranking, based on a three-year average of life-evaluation surveys conducted by Gallup, gave Israel a score of 7.187.

Finland again topped the global ranking with a score of 7.764, followed by Iceland, Denmark, Costa Rica, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands. Luxembourg and Switzerland rounded out the top ten. The report evaluated 147 countries, with Afghanistan ranking last, preceded by Sierra Leone, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Botswana.

One of the most striking findings relates to young Israelis. Those under 25 rank third globally among their peers, trailing only Serbia and Costa Rica. By comparison, young Americans ranked 60th and Canadians 71st. Other Israeli age groups also scored highly, placing around 11th globally on average.

At the same time, the report paints a more complicated picture of the country’s emotional climate. Indicators measuring worry, sadness and anger surged dramatically, with Israel jumping from 119th place before the war to 39th today. Public trust indicators also deteriorated: Israel ranked 107th in perceived corruption and 88th in freedom of choice, reflecting growing public frustration.

“The result of Israel in this year’s happiness report does not cancel out the psychological and social cost of the war, but rather highlights the gap between Israeli resilience and the difficult emotional reality of everyday life,” said Anat Fanti, a happiness policy researcher at Bar-Ilan University. “The rise in indicators of worry and anger and the erosion of public trust make clear that resilience does not mean immunity.”

Pentagon and intelligence leaders say operations are intensifying and outline Washington’s military objectives as the conflict with Iran enters its third week.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday there is no fixed timeline for ending the war with Iran, stressing that the decision will ultimately rest with President Donald Trump as the conflict entered its nineteenth day. “Ultimately, it will be the president’s decision when we say, ‘We’ve achieved what we need to on behalf of the American people to ensure our security,’” Hegseth said during a Pentagon briefing.

Hegseth said U.S. forces have already struck more than 7,000 targets across Iran since the campaign began, hitting missile infrastructure, naval assets, and other military facilities. When asked how long the war could last, he declined to offer a timeline. “We wouldn’t want to set a definitive time frame on that,” he said, adding that the United States is “winning decisively, and on our terms.”

Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff overseeing the campaign, indicated the pace of operations is continuing to increase rather than slow down. “We will continue major combat operations,” Caine said during the same briefing. “We continue to get busier.”

At the same time, U.S. intelligence officials suggested Washington’s goals in the war are narrowly focused on degrading Iran’s military capabilities rather than targeting its leadership. Testifying before Congress, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Israeli and American objectives are not identical. “The objectives that have been laid out by the president are different from the objectives that have been laid out by the Israeli government,” Gabbard said, explaining that U.S. strategy centers on destroying Iran’s ballistic missile launch capability, missile production infrastructure, and elements of its navy.

Taken together, the remarks from Washington’s top defense and intelligence officials suggest the campaign is still intensifying rather than winding down, with no defined timeline for when the conflict may end.

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA tells Face the Nation during an interview on Wednesday that a lot of Iran’s nuclear program has “survived,” despite US-Israeli attacks.

“A lot has survived. they have the capabilities…”

Grossi claimed that military operations alone cannot destroy them and the only option is to go back to negotiations.

Watch full interview below.

FULL INTERVIEW: Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), spoke with @margbrennan this morning. Watch the full interview below: pic.twitter.com/lsVz90Xqxg

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) March 19, 2026

Israel’s carrier EL AL has issued an urgent update, that due to a new Home Front Command directive slashing passenger capacity on outbound flights to the United States by 50%, roughly 130 per flight, approximately half of currently booked passengers are expected to receive cancellation notices, an EL AL spokesperson tells Belaaz.

Affected travelers will receive full refunds or vouchers. The airline said it is also halting assignment of additional passengers to these routes for now.

No changes are anticipated for inbound flights from the US to Israel.

In a statement, EL AL apologized for the disruption and says it will adjust quickly if guidelines change to restore more capacity. This follows ongoing security measures at Ben Gurion Airport after a few planes were damaged by Iran missile shrapnel amid regional tensions.

Belaaz is saddened to sahre the news that R’ Yitzchok Dovid Vann z”l, a 64 year old Yid from Bloomingburg, NY, was tragically killed tonight after a fire broke out in his Upstate home.

B”H, three Sifrei Torah in the house were saved from the devastating fire,

Hatzolah responded to the scene and removed the Sifrei Torah, which reportedly remained undamaged

Misaskim and Chesed Shel Emes were on scene assuring propper kavod hameis.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Viznitzer Rebbe of Yerushalayim, Rav Eliezer Hagar, was involved in a accident while arriving at the Kever of his father in Monsey in honor of the Yahrtzeit

Belaaz is told that the Gabai drove into a truck and moments later the Rebbe was picked up by another vehicle to continue his journey to the Tzion

• One of the Rebbe’s family members tells Belaaz that the accident was minor, the Rebbe was not injured and was left the scene without needing medical treatment.

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Truth Social following Israel’s strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field and Iran’s retaliatory attack on Qatar’s LNG facilities.

Trump stated the U.S. had no prior knowledge of Israel’s action, describing it as Israel “violently” hitting “a major facility known as South Pars Gas Field in Iran” out of anger over recent Middle East events. He noted the strike targeted only a lighter, smaller section and emphasized Qatar was not involved.

“I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long term implications that it will have on the future of Iran,” Trump wrote.

He added: “Israel will not be attacking the South Pars gasfield unless Iran ‘unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar’. In such a scenario, the US, ‘with or without the help or consent of Israel, will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before’.”

Israel’s transportation authority is reducing passenger numbers on departing flights from Ben Gurion airport after Iranian missile shrapnel damaged 3 private jets over the past several days, one of which caught fire.

Starting tonight, Wednesday, passenger numbers will be capped at 130 per flight, with 1,500 passengers to be offloaded from upcoming flights.

Meanwhile: El Al has canceled 25,000 flights, citing security concerns and government restrictions. Affected destinations target major European cities like London, Paris, and Berlin. Passengers are being offered full refunds or vouchers for future flights.

El Al says the situation is being closely monitored, with further assessments scheduled for the weekend. The airline says it is prioritizing passenger safety amidst the escalating tensions.

Attack on South Pars energy infrastructure suggests Israel may be targeting the economic backbone of the regime Netanyahu has urged Iranians to challenge.

Explosions and fires struck petrochemical and gas facilities tied to the massive South Pars field near the southern city of Asaluyeh on Wednesday. The field produces roughly 70% of Iran’s natural gas, making it one of the most critical pillars of the country’s economy. Hours earlier, Defense Minister Israel Katz signaled that the war could be expanding, saying, “The intensity of the strikes in Iran is increasing. Even today there will be significant surprises across all arenas that will escalate the war we are fighting.”

Reports from Iranian outlets described multiple blasts around petrochemical and refinery facilities in the area during the early afternoon. Fires were reported at parts of the complex, and several operational phases of the field were reportedly shut down as emergency crews attempted to contain the damage. Israeli media quickly linked the strike to Israel’s expanding campaign against Iranian targets.

The strike could represent a new stage in the escalation of the conflict. Wars of this type often climb an informal “escalation ladder”: beginning with targeted assassinations of senior figures, expanding to military and security infrastructure, and eventually reaching strategic national assets that sustain the state itself.

Targeting energy infrastructure carries a different kind of pressure. Iran’s oil and gas sector underpins much of the country’s economy, and disruptions can ripple through energy production, government revenue, and daily life for ordinary citizens. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already publicly encouraged Iranians to challenge the regime, arguing that change must ultimately come from within the country, with the U.S. and Israel’s support. Against that backdrop, strikes on the regime’s economic backbone could signal an effort not only to weaken Iran militarily, but also to intensify internal pressure on the government in Tehran.

The IDF said Wednesday that it thwarted roughly half of a planned Hezbollah rocket barrage overnight, after identifying preparations for a large coordinated attack toward northern Israel. Military officials said the terror group intended to launch around 100 rockets but ultimately fired about 40 short-range rockets along with UAVs and mortars after Israeli forces disrupted several launchers.

According to the IDF’s summary of the attack, most of the fire was directed toward the northern border area. Several surface-to-surface missiles were also launched toward the Samaria region and the Hadera area, while UAVs were sent toward the Western Galilee and the Golan Heights. Israeli officials said many of the rockets were intercepted, fell in open areas, or landed inside Lebanon.

Military officials say Hezbollah has shifted to a new pattern of operations in recent weeks. Instead of constant fire, the organization now prepares a larger barrage every few days in an attempt to pressure Israel’s home front. The IDF estimates that Hezbollah still possesses thousands of short-range rockets but says roughly 60% of launches fall short and land inside Lebanese territory.

Israeli intelligence also says Hezbollah has changed how it deploys its launch systems. Fighters have dismantled mobile launchers and dispersed them across Shiite villages and residential compounds, rather than concentrating weapons in large depots. The change complicates Israeli intelligence tracking but also limits Hezbollah’s ability to produce the large synchronized barrages it previously attempted.

Overnight, the Israeli Air Force also struck dozens of fuel stations in southern Lebanon and near the city of Tyre that the military says are linked to Hezbollah’s financial network. Israeli ground forces continue advancing in southern Lebanon to remove threats to northern communities, and the IDF says more than 500 Hezbollah terrorists have been hit so far in the campaign.

Magen David Adom (MDA) says that following the most recent missile fire toward Israel, first responders searched multiple impact sites.

Photo: MDA

Tragically, two people, a man and a woman, were killed by shrapnel in Ramat Gan.

Another man in Bnei Brak was hospitalized after he sustained light injuries.

Iranian cluster munitions were seen in the skies over central Israel at the time of the attack.

Belaaz will provide further updates when available.

Footage from the scene

Footage from the scene

President Trump tells reporters he can end the Iran war this week but he won’t.

“It will be wrapped up soon’, Trump said.

President Trump said this during an exchange with Fox News White House reporter. Trump said “Yeah, sure” to Fox News’ Peter Doocy. He quickly added, “I don’t think so,” signaling no immediate end despite claims Iran’s military is “decimated” by U.S.-Israeli strikes.

Trump said the war will end “soon” instead.

Senior Israeli officials reportedly told Channel 13 that Iran is interested in reaching an agreement in the coming days to put an end to the war which is now in its 17th day.

The United States has eliminated Abu Ali al-Askari, a senior commander in the Kataib Hezbollah (KH) militia in Iraq, considered the number 2 leader in the organization.

Al-Askari’s elimination is seen as a significant blow to Hezbolla-Iran operations, which have targeted US forces and interests in Iraq. Kataib Hezbollah is an Iran-backed militia and a component of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

The Kuwaiti “Al-Jarida” reports that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was secretly flown to Moscow for surgery due to severe injuries he sustained from the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly offered treatment, and Khamenei underwent a “successful” operation.

According to the report, Iranian officials approved the move, citing lack of adequate medical facilities in Iran amid ongoing strikes. The operation’s secrecy and lack of public appearance have sparked speculation about Khamenei’s condition and potential power vacuum.

The IDF released new footage of F-35I fighter jets making their way to carry out airstrikes in Iran.

In a secret letter obtained by Kan News, the Hamas terror organization sent a note to Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, urging Iran to “activate all fronts”, escalate attacks on Israel and the US through Hezbollah, Houthis, Iraq, Syria militias. The letter mocks Gulf states as “weak.”

According to the report, Hamas also noted that it has no intention to disarm.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry shared the letter on X, saying: “Proof the Palestinians betray their Arab brothers.”

NYPD officers arrested a suspect after he punched a 55-year-old Brooklyn man in the face during a dispute on the downtown C/E subway platform at NYC’s 34th Street-Penn Station on Saturday night.

An argument broke put when the victim accidentally bumped into the suspect, who then struck him and fled. The man stumbled around for about five minutes before collapsing unconscious. He was found unresponsive just before 7 p.m., rushed to Lenox Hill Hospital where he was unfortunately pronounced dead.

A medical examiner is working to determine the cause of death, and the investigation continues with charges pending.

Terrorist Ayman Muhammad Ghazali (41), who rammed a vehicle into Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, on Thursday March 12, had deep Hezbollah family ties.

Ghazali has been on the FBI watch list since 2019, per the New York Post.

The IDF confirmed today, Sunday, that his brother, Ibrahim Muhammad Ghazali, was a Hezbollah commander killed in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon on March 5, just a week before the attack.

Ibrahim oversaw weapons operations in Hezbollah’s Badr Unit, which launched hundreds of rockets at Israeli civilians during the war.

Ayman Ghazali, a Lebanese-born naturalized U.S. citizen (since 2016), drove into the synagogue, exchanged fire with security injuring a guard, and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The FBI calls it a targeted attack on the Jewish community; children and staff were safely evacuated.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said today that “an antisemitism epidemic is raging” in the Netherlands after an overnight explosion damaged a Jewish school in Amsterdam in what local officials called a deliberate attack.

An explosion early Saturday, damaged the outer wall of a Jewish school (Cheder/Rosh Pina) in Amsterdam. A group claiming to be the “Islamic Movement of Right-Wing Youth” posted an unverified video on X showing the blast and claimed responsibility.

Amsterdam Mayor, Femke Halsema, has reported that an explosion at a Jewish school was a targeted attack against the Jewish community.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema also said that the blast caused minor damage but no injuries, and Dutch authorities said security would be increased at Jewish institutions across the city.

Senior Israeli sources revealed to Ynet that Iran has launched a massive overseas terror campaign targeting Jews and Israelis since the war erupted, unleashing a staggering surge in attempted attacks. The sources added that the Mossad is actively pursuing these cells worldwide in an attempt to thwart them.

President Trump said on Saturday that he hopes countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain will send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as the U.S. pushes to break Iran’s blockade of the key oil route.

Trump also warned that, in the meantime, the United States will be bombing the shoreline significantly and said the strait will soon be “open, safe and free.”

Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi early Sunday addressed the Iranian underground “Immortal Guard” network inside Iran, calling on them to intensify targeted, intelligent strikes against the regime’s repressive forces now that external help has arrived.

Pahlavi stressed that “his is NOT a call for street demonstrations yet.”

In the video message, he praise the anti regime cells’ bravery over the past three months, and reminded them Trump’s promising “help was on the way” is finally here. The exiled Crown Prince urged them to wear down the “exhausted oppressors” and to clear the path for millions to eventually flood the streets.

At the very beginning of the ongoing war, Reza Pahlavi released a video message, urging Iranians to stay prepared, remain patient, and wait for his signal to flood the streets in unity. He promised them the decisive call would come when the time was right, and it seems that the moment has now come.

Polls show 80% of Iranians oppose Iran’s terrorist regime. Combined with mass protests and potential backing from U.S.-Israeli strikes, this could create a real opportunity to topple the government ‘once and for all’.

A fire broke out overnight, Sunday, at a Shul in the Central Israel city of Ramleh, causing significant damage to the building.

Israeli authorities are currently investigating the incident as a possible arson attack. The fire originated in a food distribution warehouse located in the rear of the Shul.

Baruch Hashem the Sifrei Torah were rescued safely and undamaged.

After the incident, Police Commander Efi Tashuva stated: “All avenues of investigation are being explored, and we will work quickly and professionally to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

🇺🇸 — IDENTIFIED: The 6 U.S. service members killed in the refueling plane crash in Iraq:

Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, from Mooresville, Indiana.

Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, from Wilmington, Ohio.

Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, from Columbus, Ohio.

Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, from Auburn, Alabama.

Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, from Covington, Washington.

Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, from Bardstown, Kentucky.

These service members were part of a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq last week while supporting operations against Iran.

Axios reported today that France has proposed a plan to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that would require Lebanon to recognize Israel and enter direct talks with Jerusalem, with the U.S. and France backing the process.

According to the report, Lebanon has accepted the proposal as a basis for talks, while Israel and the U.S. are still reviewing it, and the framework would also require Lebanon to commit to disarming Hezbollah and preventing attacks on Israel from Lebanese territory.

The proposal would reportedly pair those steps with an Israeli withdrawal from areas captured in the current war, followed by talks on a permanent non-aggression pact and eventual border agreement as well.

The U.S. State Department’s ‘Rewards for Justice’ program announced Friday that it is offering up to $10 million for information on 10 senior Iranian figures it described as “IRGC key leaders,” including Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

The other leaders include Ali Larijani, Eisa Qasem, Mohammad Reza Naqdi, and Hossein Salami, accusing them of directing terrorism and attacks on Americans.

The IDF said today that an Israeli Air Force fighter jet was nearly shot down over Iran during the war, but the attempted interception failed and the mission was completed successfully.

The military said the aircraft came close to being hit, but credited the pilot’s alertness and professionalism with preventing the strike from succeeding. The IAF said the incident was investigated and lessons were learned.

Starting Monday, March 16, EL AL’s special flights from Tel Aviv to NY for stranded Americans will most likely be at full capacity to accommodate the high demand, the airline announced.

Passengers with canceled flights will be contacted and offered placement at no extra cost, EL AL said in a statement.

EL AL added that it is prepared to expand the Flight Schedule.

Incident in the Jordan Valley sparked confrontation after officers and female soldiers were initially denied entry to base hosting the Charedi Netzah Yehuda unit

An unusual confrontation occurred this week at Camp Tirzah in the Jordan Valley after officers and female reservists from a combat reserve battalion were initially denied entry to the base, where soldiers from the Chareidi Netzach Yehuda Battalion were present. The incident took place while the area was under ongoing rocket and missile alerts, according to Channel 12.

The reserve battalion had been ordered to redeploy to the Jordan Valley. After hours of gathering equipment and moving the force, the first troops arrived at the base gate and were told that female officers and reservists with the battalion headquarters could not enter. About seven women were in the unit.

According to officials involved in the incident, attempts by the battalion’s deputy commander and battalion commander to clarify the decision and reverse it were unsuccessful. A heated argument developed between the incoming battalion leadership and the base command. At one stage the gate was closed, and the verbal confrontation nearly escalated into a physical altercation.

The IDF said the incident was due to a coordination failure during a rapid redeployment. “Following a situational assessment, a rapid force rotation was carried out in the sector. Due to time constraints, the battalion’s arrival at Camp Tirzah was not properly coordinated, and entry to the camp was initially allowed only for the company whose arrival had been coordinated in advance.”

The military said the battalion had been directed to the base by its brigade but that the headquarters personnel were initially blocked due to the lack of coordination. “After discussions between commanders on the ground, which included an explanation of defensive procedures and sleeping arrangements on the base, entry was permitted for the headquarters personnel, both male and female, while maintaining the lifestyle of all soldiers stationed at the base,” the IDF said, adding that lessons would be learned from the incident.

According to reports from Ynet and Israel Hayom citing sources, US President Donald Trump wants to swiftly conclude the ongoing war in Iran and has given Israel one week to wrap up operations.

This comes amid mounting pressure on Trump from far-right Republicans and anti-Israel voices like podcasters Tucker Carlson and Joe Rogan, who have criticized the conflict as a betrayal of “no more wars” promises and spiking gas prices due to disrupted oil flows.

With midterm elections looming, fears of voter backlash and economic fallout appear to be driving the push for president Trump calling for a rapid exit, despite Israel’s stated intent to pursue longer-term objectives like regime change and removing the IRGC threat.

The reports remain unconfirmed by official US or Israel statements, as President Trump has offered mixed signals on timelines in recent days.

New York City saw pothole complaints surge this year after major winter storms, with more than 11,300 reports filed so far, a 33% increase from the same period in 2025.

Nearly half of the complaints came from Queens alone, where more than 5,000 calls were made about damaged roads.

Officials say freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall worsened road damage and that potholes are typically filled within two days, though more than a quarter of reported potholes remain unresolved across the city.