IDF forces are tightening pressure on dozens of Hezbollah terrorists believed to be trapped inside an underground complex in southern Lebanon’s strategic Ali Taher ridge, cutting water supplies and working to prevent equipment and supplies from reaching them, Ynet reports.

The terrorists remain barricaded inside the underground infrastructure and have not yet been defeated or forced to surrender. Lebanese reports say they have attempted to bring equipment and supplies into the complex using drones, prompting Israeli forces to isolate the area and block resupply efforts.

Israeli forces are maintaining surveillance and fire control over large portions of the area. In some sections, Israel is relying on observation and the ability to strike targets rather than keeping troops physically present, allowing the IDF to use airstrikes against parts of the complex while limiting the exposure of soldiers operating on the ground.

The Ali Taher ridge is a strategically significant area near Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, overlooking portions of the border region. Israeli forces have been operating there amid continued tensions with Hezbollah despite ceasefire arrangements intended to halt fighting between Israel and the terror group.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to the operation Sunday but provided few details, saying: “In recent days Israel has acted forcefully in Lebanon, eliminating terrorists, including on the Ali Taher ridge. Netanyahu said. “I can’t elaborate on it. We are in the midst of a very important operation. We are working with careful judgment and prudence.”

The operation follows an escalation in the area last month, when Hezbollah launched an explosive-laden first-person-view drone at an Israeli military engineering vehicle in southern Lebanon. The drone struck the vehicle during an Israeli patrol on the Ali Taher ridge, with no injuries reported.

Israel responded with a major operation against Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure near Beaufort Castle. The IDF said Israeli forces destroyed tunnels in the area using approximately 700 metric tons of explosives, producing a powerful blast that could be felt across the border in northern Israel. Residents in communities in the Galilee Panhandle were advised beforehand to leave their windows open over concerns that the force of the explosion could shatter glass.

The IDF has maintained only limited control over the surrounding area, with Israel’s military presence in Lebanon further complicating efforts to deal with the underground complex. Israeli officials have refrained from taking more extensive action at the site because of diplomatic sensitivities surrounding military operations in Lebanon.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is moving to reshape the Likud slate ahead of the primaries, with people close to him saying his latest moves are partly aimed at settling scores over an alleged attempt by senior Likud figures to remove him from power in the aftermath of October 7, Channel 12 reported Tuesday.

The story centers on Economy Minister Nir Barkat and former senior Likud figure Yuli Edelstein, who Netanyahu’s circle suspects separately spearheaded efforts to replace him as the party was plunging in the polls following October 7. The plan was extraordinary: rather than force new elections, Likud lawmakers would use a constructive no-confidence vote in the Knesset to replace Netanyahu while keeping the government in Likud hands.

Edelstein reportedly concluded that uniting lawmakers behind a single replacement would be difficult and proposed heading a unity government for a limited period, followed by Likud primaries in which he himself would not be permitted to run. Channel 12 said numerous Likud MKs were aware of the discussions, with some aligned with Barkat, others with Edelstein, and still others willing to consider joining only if they themselves led the effort.

But the attempted revolt never got off the ground. Without relying on Arab MKs, the organizers needed 13 Likud lawmakers. Edelstein met at the time with Minister Chaim Katz, who strongly opposed the initiative and became one of the figures instrumental in stopping it. Once Netanyahu learned of the effort, he summoned a series of ministers and MKs and succeeded in blocking it, while the subsequent expansion of the coalition further ended the initiative.

Nearly three years later, Netanyahu’s circle believes it is time to settle the account.

Netanyahu announced Monday that successful high-tech entrepreneur Oren Dobronsky would receive a reserved spot on the Likud slate and pledged that he would serve as a minister — placing him squarely in the type of economic role associated with Barkat. “Those around Netanyahu are convinced that Barkat acted at the time to bring Netanyahu down — and now is the time to settle the score,” a source close to Netanyahu told Channel 12.

Hours later, Likud announced that its secretariat would be asked to approve reserved positions for Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Defense Minister Israel Katz and Chaim Katz. According to a source close to Netanyahu, Chaim Katz is being rewarded both for helping Netanyahu secure the reserved slots in his capacity as chairman of the Likud Central Committee and for his central role in preventing the alleged post-October 7 revolt.

Channel 12 reported that Dobronsky’s placement may be only the beginning. Netanyahu is expected to strengthen additional candidates who could push Barkat further down the Likud primary list, including Eli Cohen, Ofir Katz and Amichai Chikli.

“The Netanyahus know everything,” a Netanyahu associate told Channel 12. “As far as they are concerned, Nir Barkat was the one who led it — and worse, it almost succeeded.”

Likud officially denied that Dobronsky’s placement was connected to political revenge, saying Netanyahu chose him because he is a successful high-tech entrepreneur whose experience can help lead Israel’s economy. Barkat’s office also welcomed the move, calling Dobronsky’s addition an “excellent decision” that strengthens Likud and the entrepreneurial forces within the party.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The United Arab Emirates is embarking on a massive expansion of its natural gas infrastructure, investing billions of dollars to increase production and develop alternative export routes as instability threatens some of the Persian Gulf’s most important shipping lanes.

ADNOC Gas, the Abu Dhabi government-owned energy company, has announced a development plan worth more than $8 billion as the UAE seeks to dramatically expand its role in global energy markets.

The move comes following the UAE’s decision to withdraw from OPEC, freeing the country from the production quotas imposed by the oil-producing alliance and giving Abu Dhabi greater flexibility to increase its energy output.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the UAE is now moving aggressively to capitalize on that independence by expanding both oil and natural gas production.

Oil and natural gas production are closely linked because significant quantities of gas can be produced alongside crude oil. Under OPEC production restrictions, limits on the UAE’s oil output also effectively restricted the amount of associated natural gas available for processing and sale.

With those restrictions removed, Abu Dhabi expects substantially larger quantities of gas to become available.

Under the expansion plan, ADNOC Gas intends to construct a major new natural gas processing facility in Habshan, home to the country’s largest gas complex, while also developing an advanced export terminal in Ruwais.

The facilities will process raw natural gas into higher-value products for sale in both domestic and international markets.

The latest investment brings the total amount committed to the broader development program to approximately $13.2 billion.

ADNOC Gas is also positioning itself to capitalize on rapidly increasing global electricity demand, particularly as artificial intelligence data centers, cloud computing infrastructure and other energy-intensive technologies consume growing amounts of power.

The company has raised its earnings forecast for 2030 to more than $12 billion, with CEO Fatima Al Nuaimi saying the company aims to increase profits by approximately 60%.

However, company officials acknowledged that reaching those targets will depend heavily on improved security and stability in the Persian Gulf.

Regional fighting has already taken a significant financial toll.

ADNOC Gas reported second-quarter net profit of $665 million, down sharply from $1.39 billion during the same period last year.

The company attributed much of the disruption to conditions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, the strategically vital waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies normally pass.

Shipping through the strait has reportedly been severely disrupted since the outbreak of the war with Iran, complicating energy exports and underscoring the UAE’s vulnerability to maritime chokepoints.

As a result, Abu Dhabi is investing billions of dollars not only in production capacity but also in pipelines and alternative export infrastructure designed to bypass potentially dangerous shipping routes.

For decades, OPEC production quotas played a major role in determining how much crude member countries could bring to market, helping the organization influence global oil prices.

The UAE increasingly viewed those restrictions as an obstacle to expanding production and maximizing its enormous energy reserves.

Its departure from OPEC represented a significant economic and geopolitical shift, allowing Abu Dhabi to pursue its own production strategy without being constrained by quotas negotiated with other oil-producing nations.

The latest investments demonstrate how the UAE intends to use that flexibility — expanding oil and gas production, building alternative export routes and positioning itself as an increasingly independent global energy powerhouse.

With demand for electricity soaring and geopolitical risks threatening traditional shipping corridors, Abu Dhabi is betting that massive new infrastructure investments can simultaneously increase its energy exports and reduce its exposure to future disruptions in the Persian Gulf.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A new U.S. military intelligence assessment has concluded that Iran’s strategic priority has shifted away from its nuclear program and toward the Strait of Hormuz, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the assessment, NBC News reports.

The assessment represents a significant change in how U.S. officials currently view Tehran’s priorities, placing the strategically vital waterway ahead of the nuclear program that has long dominated concerns surrounding Iran.

The shift comes as U.S. military officials have warned President Donald Trump about the enormous risks involved in attempting to take control of the Strait of Hormuz. Officials have told the president that such an operation would be lengthy, costly and deadly, with no guarantee that the United States would ultimately succeed.

The assessment underscores the growing importance of the Strait of Hormuz in the ongoing confrontation with Iran, as Washington weighs its options and military leaders caution about the potential consequences of trying to seize the critical waterway.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

After 17 years without formal relations, Israel and Venezuela are opening a new chapter — weeks after an Israeli humanitarian delegation, including ZAKA volunteers, deployed to the country following a devastating earthquake.

ZAKA welcomed the announcement by Israel’s Foreign Ministry, headed by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, that consular relations between Israel and Venezuela are being renewed and an official coordination channel is being established between the two countries.

Less than a month ago, an Israeli humanitarian mission arrived in Venezuela in the aftermath of the powerful earthquake that struck the country. The delegation included ZAKA personnel, members of the IDF Home Front Command and other Israeli professionals who worked alongside local authorities on rescue, assistance and identification efforts.

ZAKA’s contingent was led by Rabbi Yosef Garmon, commander of ZAKA South America.

According to the organization, the Israeli humanitarian operation was warmly received by Venezuelan government officials and became one of the most significant channels of communication between the two countries at a time when no formal diplomatic relations existed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu highlighted the broader significance of the mission at the time, saying it was “rebuilding the ruins and also the relations.”

ZAKA CEO Tzvi Hassid said the volunteers entered Venezuela with one objective: helping people in need.

“Less than a month ago, members of ZAKA’s International Division were operating in Venezuela to do what we know how to do better than anything else — save lives, assist victims, and give final dignity to those who did not survive. We did not go there to talk about politics or diplomacy. We went there as human beings to fellow human beings.

“Today, as the countries announce the opening of a new chapter in their relations, we are proud to know that the large ZAKA family was there at the moment when a bridge of humanity, compassion and solidarity was being built.”

Baruch Nidam, director of ZAKA’s International Division, said the deployment illustrated how humanitarian efforts can transcend diplomatic barriers.

“Our activity in Venezuela proved once again that the language of saving lives is an international language. ZAKA personnel from South America operated in a country that had no relations with Israel for 17 years, and on the ground worked shoulder to shoulder with local professionals with one goal — to assist the victims and their families.

“Today, as relations between the countries reopen, we look back with pride at those volunteers who operated there during the most difficult moments. Alongside their professional capabilities, they brought the Israeli spirit of mutual responsibility, accountability and respect for human dignity.

“For us, this is the true meaning of ZAKA’s International Division: to be there when we are needed, anywhere in the world, and to extend a hand even when diplomatic bridges do not yet exist. Those bridges are first built by people.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A 24-year-old Lakewood yungerman who learns in BMG is in critical condition and in need of tremendous yeshuos after drowning in a swimming pool on Sunday.

The family is asking the public to increase their tefillos and daven for Daniel Baruch Ben Hadassa Orit for a complete refuah sheleimah.

A special gathering for tefillah will take place tonight at Bais Medrash Ozer Yonah, located at 124 Gudz Road in Lakewood. Maariv will be held at 9:00 p.m., followed by Tehillim.

The name Baruch was added. Please daven for Daniel Baruch ben Hadassa Orit for a complete refuah sheleimah.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A new YouGov poll has found growing opposition to Israeli immigration in Britain, with nearly half of respondents saying they want fewer Israelis or no Israelis at all allowed to immigrate to the United Kingdom.

According to the survey, 23% of Britons said immigration from Israel should be reduced, while another 24% said no Israeli immigrants should be admitted at all.

Combined, 47% of respondents favored either reducing or completely stopping Israeli immigration. That represents an increase of eight percentage points from 39% in 2016.

The poll examined how British attitudes toward immigration from various countries have changed over the past decade, including differences between those who voted Remain and Leave in the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Among Remain voters, opposition to Israeli immigration increased significantly. In 2016, 27% said they wanted fewer or no immigrants from Israel. That figure has now risen to 41%.

Among Leave voters, attitudes remained virtually unchanged. In both 2016 and 2026, 52% said Britain should accept fewer or no Israeli immigrants.

The survey also examined attitudes based on how respondents voted in Britain’s 2024 general election.

The highest levels of opposition to Israeli immigration were found among Reform UK and Green voters, with approximately 52% to 53% saying they wanted fewer or no immigrants from Israel.

Among Labour and Conservative voters, the figure was in the mid to high 40% range. Liberal Democrat voters registered the lowest level of opposition, at approximately 41%.

Israel was not the country facing the highest opposition to immigration in the survey.

Russia topped the list, with 58% of respondents saying they wanted fewer or no Russian immigrants. Pakistan followed at 52%, Nigeria at 48%, Israel at 47%, Egypt and India at 44%, and Turkey at 43%.

The findings show that British attitudes toward Israeli immigration have become considerably more negative over the past decade, particularly among voters who previously supported remaining in the European Union.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The U.S. military is developing a new generation of underwater nuclear-powered charging stations designed to keep autonomous submarines, sensors and other military systems operating on the ocean floor for years without surfacing for maintenance or refueling.

The initiative, known as DEPTHS, is backed by millions of dollars in initial funding and is intended to solve one of the most persistent problems in undersea warfare: keeping unmanned systems powered during long-duration missions far beneath the surface.

According to a report by Autoweek, the Pentagon is exploring the use of compact nuclear batteries that could be stationed on the seabed and operate continuously for decades.

The technology would rely on strontium-90, a radioactive material produced as nuclear waste and stored in U.S. government facilities.

As the material decays, it continuously produces heat. New power-conversion technology would use that heat to generate electricity far more efficiently than earlier systems, allowing the military to build smaller and more powerful energy sources.

Current autonomous underwater vehicles and sensors are limited by battery life. Once their batteries are depleted, the military must either recover the systems or deploy ships and crews to replace or recharge their power sources — an expensive and logistically complicated process.

The Pentagon’s goal is to create underwater docking stations where unmanned submarines and robotic systems could autonomously arrive, connect, recharge and return to their missions without ever surfacing.

The effort comes as the United States increasingly focuses on competition with China in the Pacific, where both countries are investing heavily in undersea surveillance, autonomous systems and other technologies designed to monitor activity across vast maritime areas.

China has reportedly been working to expand sophisticated surveillance infrastructure along portions of the Pacific seabed, increasing the strategic importance of long-endurance American underwater systems.

Zeno Power, the company developing the nuclear power technology, has leased a secure nuclear facility in California where it plans to begin assembling the systems.

The company aims to demonstrate a working model and begin delivering the first underwater charging stations to the U.S. military by 2027.

Radioactive power systems are not new, but traditional designs have generally been large and heavy while producing relatively modest amounts of electricity.

Recent advances in power conversion and engine efficiency could make it possible to create far more compact systems capable of generating substantially greater power.

Unlike solar, wind or conventional fuel-based systems, nuclear batteries do not require sunlight, fuel deliveries or surface infrastructure, making them particularly suited for the extreme conditions found on the deep ocean floor.

If successful, the DEPTHS program could dramatically extend the endurance of America’s unmanned underwater fleet, allowing submarines, robots and sensors to remain hidden and operational for years at a time.

The technology could become increasingly significant as military competition between Washington and Beijing expands from the surface of the Pacific Ocean to the seabed below.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump has settled, at least for now, on a new strategy toward Iran: intensifying economic pressure while holding off on additional military strikes, as diplomatic efforts remain stalled and Tehran refuses to meet U.S. demands.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Trump has adopted a wait-and-see approach that would give financial sanctions and the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports more time to inflict economic damage. Aides have shown Trump statistics detailing the devastating effects of existing sanctions, arguing that tightening penalties and cutting off Iranian oil sales could prove the most effective way to force the regime to capitulate.

Trump, for now, appears to have embraced that approach, telling aides he prefers not to order additional strikes. “They have no money,” Trump told reporters Monday. “Iran is broke, totally broke.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei dismissed the strategy, saying it would not succeed and accusing Washington of being incapable of diplomacy. “The real risk is that American politicians, clinging to this bad habit, will instead strangle their own remaining chances of a less humiliating exit from a crisis of their own making,” Baghaei said.

Trump has privately raised the possibility of declaring victory in the war if Iran fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz, even without reaching a nuclear agreement. He has also recently told senior aides that U.S. intelligence capabilities would likely detect attempts by Tehran to rebuild nuclear facilities struck by the United States last year or to covertly build a nuclear weapon.

At the same time, Trump has not abandoned the possibility of military action. U.S. officials told the Journal that he could change course again, particularly if Iran responds aggressively. Officials believe the current pause in strikes could also help calm volatile energy markets.

Trump has instructed U.S. representatives to put his latest proposal to Iran “fully into text, and all future negotiations,” while continuing to insist that Iran must accept restrictions preventing it from enriching uranium. Iran has rejected that demand.

The administration is also focused heavily on energy prices. Officials believe increased oil production could cushion the economic effects of the conflict and reduce Tehran’s leverage. Vice President JD Vance said the U.S. intends to continue pressuring Iran while simultaneously pushing as much oil and gas as possible onto the market to lower American energy prices.

“And if not, that’s fine, too, we’re just going to keep on applying the pressure we can apply, and getting as much oil and gas out of the Middle East so that Americans can enjoy lower gas and energy prices,” Vance said.

“We’re in the middle of the game,” he added.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Persian Gulf energy producers are increasingly concluding that Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz could become a permanent reality, threatening to disrupt their oil and gas exports and global energy supplies for the foreseeable future. Despite deep opposition to an emerging arrangement that would formalize Iranian oversight of ships entering the Persian Gulf, regional governments increasingly see it as preferable to renewed war between the United States and Iran, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The dilemma has left some of the world’s most important energy-producing countries with few good options. Gulf officials fear that another round of military escalation could expose their oil, gas, water and other critical infrastructure to Iranian attacks, while accepting the proposed arrangement would effectively concede Tehran an unprecedented degree of influence over one of the world’s most important shipping routes.

Negotiations aimed at reopening the strait have stalled in recent days. Iran has demanded financial relief and restrictions barring American and Israeli warships from the waterway, while the United States has rejected an agreement that would allow Tehran to impose obstacles on international shipping. Gulf states, meanwhile, increasingly believe they cannot guarantee the strait will remain completely open and safe and may have little choice but to accept some Iranian demands.

The disruption has already dramatically reduced oil traffic. Crude exports through the Strait of Hormuz fell to roughly 2.2 million barrels a day last week, compared with about 8.5 million barrels a day a month earlier, according to commodities-data provider Kpler. Gulf governments are also resigned to the possibility that any agreement over Hormuz would leave Iran’s missile program and its support for allied militias around the region intact.

Gulf countries have been scrambling for alternatives, including expanding pipelines toward the Red Sea and Gulf of Oman, increasing oil-storage capacity and moving some ships through Hormuz near Oman with their location beacons switched off. The United Arab Emirates had managed to restore oil exports to prewar levels by combining overland routes around Hormuz with vessels slipping through the strait, but those gains have increasingly been threatened by Iranian attacks. ADNOC said 16 of its ships have been struck since the war began, including four hit by missiles or drones during the past week.

Even routes designed to bypass Hormuz have proven vulnerable. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have attacked shipments of Saudi oil transported across the Arabian Peninsula to the Red Sea, while a drone attack on a Mediterranean port in Egypt set two ships ablaze, including a U.S. gas-storage tanker. The incidents have reinforced concerns among Gulf governments that alternative export routes cannot fully eliminate Iran’s ability to disrupt the region’s energy trade.

Iranian officials have also threatened throughout the conflict to strike regional energy infrastructure if President Donald Trump follows through on threats to escalate militarily. In recent days, Tehran has warned that it could target energy facilities across the Gulf. Regional officials acknowledge that both energy and water infrastructure remain highly vulnerable and could become targets designed to disrupt supplies and pressure Washington.

For Gulf governments, the emerging calculation is increasingly stark: accepting greater Iranian influence over Hormuz is deeply undesirable, but another major war that could further choke energy exports, damage critical infrastructure and drive away foreign investment may be even worse.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Just weeks before the Yomim Noraim, the Religious Services Ministry announced Tuesday that holy sites across Eretz Yisroel are set to close to visitors at the end of August, after the Supreme Court froze funding needed to continue their operation, Ynet reports.

The closures would take effect just a week and a half before Rosh Hashanah, during a period when tens of thousands traditionally travel to kivrei tzaddikim and other holy sites for Selichos and tefillah ahead of the Yomim Noraim.

Religious Services Ministry Director-General Yehuda Avidan warned in a letter to Yisrael Deri, deputy director-general of the National Center for the Development of Holy Places, that without an approved source of funding, the organization cannot continue operating. Avidan said that unless a solution is found by the end of August, operations at the national center, including at the various holy sites, will be halted at the beginning of September.

The crisis follows a Supreme Court decision last week freezing funding transfers approved by the Knesset Finance Committee for religious needs and Chareidi education networks. Justice Alex Stein cited procedural flaws in the committee’s discussion and ruled that the transfers should remain frozen until the matter can be considered by a three-justice panel.

Among the frozen allocations is NIS 33 million designated for the operation and management of major holy sites, including Kever Rochel Imeinu in Beis Lechem, the tziyun of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in Meron, Kever Shmuel Hanavi and Kever Dovid Hamelech in Yerushalayim.

Unless the funding dispute is resolved in the coming weeks, the sites could be shuttered precisely as Klal Yisroel enters the Yomim Noraim season and thousands prepare to visit them for tefillah.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Three crew members aboard a commercial cargo ship were killed Tuesday after a ballistic missile fired by the Iranian-backed Houthis struck the vessel as it traveled through the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The victims were identified as two Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian national who were aboard the vessel when the missile scored a direct hit.

Initial reports indicate that the ballistic missile was launched by Houthi forces from Yemen’s eastern Taiz province before striking the commercial vessel in the key international shipping corridor.

The deadly attack represents another escalation in the Houthis’ ongoing campaign against commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb region.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime passages, connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serving as a critical route for international commerce.

Repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks against vessels traveling through the region have disrupted global shipping and forced some commercial operators to reroute vessels away from the Red Sea.

Tuesday’s deadly strike underscores the continuing threat posed to civilian sailors and international maritime traffic as the Iranian-backed group maintains its attacks on vessels passing near Yemen.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Lebanon’s parliament voted Tuesday to abolish the death penalty, replacing capital punishment with life imprisonment and hard labor in what the country’s justice minister described as a “historic step.”

The legislation makes Lebanon the first Arab country to formally abolish the death penalty in law, according to a report by Ynet.

A majority of lawmakers in Lebanon’s 128-member parliament supported the measure, with Hezbollah reportedly the only parliamentary faction to oppose it.

Lebanon has effectively maintained a moratorium on executions since 2004, when the country last carried out a death sentence. However, capital punishment remained part of Lebanese law and courts continued to hand down death sentences in dozens of cases.

Those sentences were either not carried out or were subsequently commuted to other forms of punishment.

Lebanese Justice Minister Adel Nassar hailed parliament’s approval of the legislation as a “historic step.”

Human rights organizations also welcomed the decision.

Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the move marked a definitive break with what he described as a cruel punishment that should never have been imposed.

Under the newly approved legislation, death sentences will instead be replaced with life imprisonment accompanied by hard labor.

However, questions remain over precisely how the new punishment will be implemented. Several lawmakers reportedly acknowledged that the conditions and definition of the enhanced hard-labor provision remain unclear.

Lebanon’s notoriously overcrowded and underfunded prison system could also complicate implementation of the new sentences.

The landmark vote comes as Lebanese lawmakers simultaneously debate a proposed general amnesty law that could reduce sentences or potentially lead to the early release of certain prisoners.

That proposal has generated opposition from families of Lebanese soldiers and security personnel who were killed or wounded by Islamist organizations.

Hezbollah opposed abolishing the death penalty on the grounds that lawmakers should first approve the proposed amnesty legislation.

The terror group reportedly argued that the combination of the two laws could ultimately result in punishments being reduced too significantly for individuals convicted of attacking Hezbollah members.

Despite Hezbollah’s objections, parliament approved the abolition, formally removing capital punishment from Lebanese law after more than two decades without an execution.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Avida Bachar lost his wife, his 15-year-old son, and one of his legs in Hamas’s massacre on Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, 2023.

Like many other left-wing Israelis, he also no longer holds left-wing views about his Arab neighbors. But Bachar went a step further than many others, realizing that his former political views were not only faulty but came at the expense of his fellow Jews. Bachar even said that it’s fortunate that the October 7 massacre happened at Be’eri and not in Gush Etzion, saying: “I would have said, ‘Why do they live there?’ I might have said, ‘They deserve it.’ I would have said all the worst things in the world.”

In an interview with 103FM on Monday, Bachar addressed the Peace Council’s plan for the Gaza Strip.

“I look at what is happening close to my home [on Kibbutz Be’eri],” Bachar said. “Close to me means four kilometers from the fence. Hamas continues to build up its strength. They are talking here about some kind of agreement that supposedly leaves Hamas disarmed. That is not going to happen.”

“We lack the determination to understand that we simply don’t want them there. That’s all. We need to reach the point where we are determined that we don’t want them there, and we should say it every day.

“We need to start pushing with all our strength and tell the world to take them, because they cannot remain here. I want October 7 to be remembered as a Nakba for them—that they no longer have the land, that it is no longer theirs, that it’s over.

He added, “So there is a Yellow Line. In the next massacre, chalila, they’ll drive another three minutes, or a minute and a half, on the way to Be’eri and the Gaza border communities. And tomorrow it could happen in Tel Aviv as well. That’s the real problem. We aren’t getting anywhere.”

He addressed the understandings between U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Gaza. “President Trump respects determined people. What do the Iranians have? Insane determination. I wish we had the determination to tell the world that the Arabs in Gaza cannot remain there. Not even one.

“If we were determined, it would happen. If we don’t believe in our ability to bring about this change, then what will happen? The entire world wants it to remain in Israel’s hands, and Israel isn’t doing anything about it. It gets massacred again and again, and I’m tired of being in this middle ground.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Israel’s Health Ministry announced Tuesday that a traveler who recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo has been placed in isolation after developing symptoms that raised suspicion of Ebola.

Officials stressed that the case has not been confirmed and that, at this stage, it remains only a suspected case.

The individual returned to Israel several days ago and subsequently sought medical attention after developing a fever.

The patient is being treated under isolation conditions at Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva in accordance with established medical protocols and preparations made by the healthcare system for a potential Ebola case.

Tests are currently being conducted to determine whether the individual is infected with the virus, with results expected within the next 24 hours.

An epidemiological investigation is also underway to identify potential contacts and assess whether any additional precautions are necessary.

The Health Ministry said it has been closely monitoring developments in Africa in recent months following Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

Israeli health authorities have also conducted preparedness assessments to ensure hospitals and other parts of the healthcare system are equipped to respond appropriately should an Ebola case be identified.

The ministry reiterated its recommendation that Israelis avoid nonessential travel to areas experiencing active Ebola outbreaks, particularly affected regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

Those who must travel to such areas are advised to obtain individualized guidance from a travelers’ health clinic before departure.

The Health Ministry also issued instructions for travelers returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo or Uganda, particularly those who visited areas with active Ebola transmission.

Anyone who develops a fever or other unusual symptoms within 21 days of returning is being instructed to remain at home, avoid contact with other people and contact the Health Ministry’s Kol Habriut hotline by telephone.

Callers should immediately inform health officials that they recently traveled in an area experiencing Ebola cases so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

The Health Ministry again emphasized that the hospitalized traveler has not been diagnosed with Ebola and that the case remains under investigation pending laboratory results.

Officials said additional updates will be provided to the public and medical professionals as necessary.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, is reportedly planning a private family trip to Syria and Lebanon next month accompanied by NYPD officers, drawing criticism over the potential risks to the officers assigned to protect her.

According to a report cited by the New York Post, Duwaji is expected to depart on September 20 for a family visit to the two Middle Eastern countries.

Both Syria and Lebanon are currently subject to the U.S. State Department’s highest-level “Do Not Travel” advisories due to significant security risks.

A City Hall spokesperson, Dora Pekec, told the New York Post that NYPD officers would accompany Duwaji at the department’s request. Duwaji reportedly traveled without police protection during a trip last month.

A source familiar with the details said the upcoming journey is private and is not connected to any official work on behalf of New York City.

The prospect of NYPD personnel traveling with Duwaji to countries covered by severe U.S. travel warnings has sparked criticism from political figures who argue that the arrangement could unnecessarily endanger the officers.

Former New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism, criticized the plan, arguing that sending NYPD officers into countries considered dangerous by the U.S. government could put their lives at risk and potentially make them targets.

Hikind also argued that Duwaji would likely receive local protection while visiting the countries and questioned why New York City police officers should be required to accompany her.

Duwaji, a 29-year-old Syrian-American artist, has previously drawn controversy over her outspoken pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel views and her activity on social media.

Her online activity has faced scrutiny over posts and other content related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including controversial past remarks for which she reportedly apologized in April.

Mamdani has previously defended his wife from public scrutiny, arguing that she is a private individual who should not be forced into the political spotlight because of his position.

The reported security arrangements for the September trip are nevertheless likely to fuel further debate over the responsibilities of the NYPD in protecting the mayor’s immediate family during private international travel, particularly to countries under the most severe U.S. travel advisories.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petirah of Rabbi Neal Harris Z”L, a longtime pillar of Jewish life in Hunter, New York, and a dedicated Hatzolah volunteer.

For decades, Rabbi Harris played an instrumental role in maintaining and strengthening Jewish life in Hunter, a Catskills community that has drawn generations of families, Roshei Yeshiva and Yidden from across the spectrum.

Rabbi Harris served as the Gabbai of the Hunter minyan and was regarded by many as far more than that. Those who knew him described him as, in many ways, the unofficial Rav of Hunter Mountain — the person people turned to for practical advice, assistance and guidance.

He worked for many years at Yeshiva University and maintained a close relationship with Washington Heights Hatzolah, where he took numerous calls and assisted with logistics and the organization’s relationship with the YU community. He was also a longtime volunteer with West Side Hatzolah.

In Hunter, Rabbi Harris owned a bed-and-breakfast where he hosted countless guests over the years. His home became a gathering place for the community, with regular Shabbos Kiddushim held on his back porch. Over the past year, he also opened his home and property to host the local minyan.

Rabbi Harris was also deeply involved with the historic shul on Main Street in Hunter, which dates back to 1906. He devoted himself to ensuring the shul remained active, helping visitors find a minyan and a place for Shabbos while handling many of the day-to-day needs of the community.

Rabbi Joel Stern, Washington Heights Hatzolah Coordinator, remembered Rabbi Harris as a close friend who was relied upon for his “level-headed practical advice” on both community and Hatzolah matters.

The Levaya will take place Wednesday at 10:00 AM at Riverside Memorial Chapel, 180 West 76th Street in Manhattan.

Following the Levaya, the Aron will be taken to Hunter. The procession is expected to pass through Tannersville and make a brief stop at Rabbi Harris’ home before continuing to the Kol Anshe Yisroel section of Maplewood Cemetery on Route 23A for the Kevurah.

Yehi Zichro Baruch.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Elon Musk is reportedly spearheading an extraordinarily ambitious project in Texas to construct a massive semiconductor manufacturing facility that could become the largest building in the world by floor area.

The proposed facility, dubbed “Terafab,” is a joint project involving Tesla and SpaceX and is planned for southeastern Texas.

According to reports, the complex could encompass approximately 100 million square feet — roughly 9.3 million square meters — making it more than five times larger than the building currently recognized as the world’s largest by floor area.

For comparison, the New Century Global Center in Chengdu, China, encompasses approximately 18.9 million square feet, or about 1.76 million square meters.

Musk has described the planned Texas facility as being on track to become the largest building on Earth “by far,” while also predicting that the enormous complex will be exceptionally beautiful.

But the scale of the building is only one component of the project.

According to journalist Loredana Harsana, a key feature of Terafab would be its vertically integrated manufacturing model.

Rather than dividing various stages of semiconductor production among multiple facilities and locations, the factory is intended to bring logic-chip manufacturing, memory production and advanced packaging operations together under a single roof.

The facility would be designed for large-scale production of advanced artificial intelligence chips, with the chips potentially intended for applications both on Earth and in space.

The project, however, could depend heavily on financial incentives from the State of Texas.

According to the report, eight applications for tax incentives have been submitted involving local school districts. The applications reportedly seek a 10-year limitation on maintenance and operating taxes covering approximately 48% of the estimated value during each phase of the development.

The State of Texas would cover the remaining difference through its JETI economic development program.

The company has reportedly warned that without the incentives, the project would not meet the required minimum investment threshold and could instead be relocated to Arizona.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has expressed strong support for the massive development.

According to Abbott, the first phase alone is expected to involve an investment exceeding $16.8 billion and could create approximately 3,000 new jobs.

Despite the enormous proposed scale of the facility and support from Texas officials, Tesla and SpaceX have not yet announced an official date for construction to begin.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Antisemitism is becoming increasingly prevalent across social media platforms, with new studies warning that recommendation algorithms and systems designed to maximize engagement may be helping hateful content reach audiences who never actively searched for it.

Antisemitic messages, conspiracy theories and Holocaust denial can now spread rapidly to enormous online audiences, raising concerns that such material is increasingly moving from fringe corners of the internet into mainstream social media feeds.

A European Union survey published in January 2026 found that 61% of Europeans consider online antisemitism a problem in their country — an increase of 10 percentage points compared with 2018.

Additionally, 47% of Europeans surveyed said they believe antisemitism in their country has increased over the past five years.

Some of the most striking findings involve Instagram.

A study published in July by the Center for the Study of Antisemitism at the Combat Antisemitism Movement found that antisemitic material was nearly seven times more likely to appear among the most-viewed videos posted by certain Instagram aggregator accounts compared with other content.

Another study released by the organization in March examined Instagram’s recommendation system and alleged that its algorithms were actively directing users toward antisemitic material.

According to the researchers, users did not necessarily have to search for antisemitic posts to encounter them. Instead, recommendations generated by the platform could lead users toward increasingly hateful material.

The Anti-Defamation League has also warned this year about the spread of antisemitism and extremist content on Instagram.

In a report, the ADL argued that changes to Meta’s content-moderation policies have contributed to an environment in which extremists can more easily distribute hateful material.

Holocaust denial and distortion remain another major concern.

Research conducted by UNESCO and the United Nations examined Holocaust-related content circulating across social media and warned about the continuing dissemination of false information and distortions of the historical record.

Taken together, the findings suggest that online antisemitism is no longer confined to posts deliberately distributed within extremist communities.

Researchers warn that recommendation systems — combined with algorithms that reward provocative material capable of generating views, comments and shares — can potentially amplify antisemitic content and expose much larger audiences to it.

For ordinary social media users, one of the most concerning findings is that exposure does not necessarily require actively seeking out hateful material.

In several of the studies, recommendation mechanisms themselves were identified as part of the pathway through which antisemitic content reached users.

The data does not suggest that every social media user will encounter antisemitism. However, researchers say it illustrates a significant shift in how quickly hateful ideas can spread online.

Material that once might have remained confined to extremist circles can now potentially reach massive audiences within a short period of time, allowing antisemitic rhetoric, conspiracy theories and Holocaust distortion to become increasingly embedded in mainstream online discourse.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

YWN regrets to inform you of the sudden Petira of HaRav Tzvi Zev Berger Z”L, a Dayan of the Sanz-Klausenburg Kehilla in Boro Park, who was tragically niftar at the age of 43 after failing to wake from his sleep while vacationing in Switzerland.

The sudden Petira has sent shockwaves through the Sanz-Klausenburg Kehilla and the broader Boro Park community.

Levaya details will be published as they become available.

Yehi Zichro Baruch.

(YWN World Headquarters –  NYC)

An overdue and exhausted hiker was safely assisted off Indian Head Mountain in Hunter NY on Monday evening after a lengthy hike left him struggling to continue along slippery terrain.

The hiker had set out at approximately 12:00 p.m. and ultimately overestimated the route he had planned to complete. After slipping and falling twice on slippery rocks, he became hesitant to continue on his own and reached out to Chaverim of Rockland, which is known for having one of the region’s most experienced and well-equipped search-and-rescue teams.

With just 5% battery remaining on his cellphone, the hiker was able to communicate his situation and location.

Several Chaverim of Rockland Search and Rescue Team members who were already in the area immediately responded, along with additional team members from several surrounding areas who headed toward Indian Head Mountain to assist with the rescue effort.

The members reached the hiker and assisted him through the difficult terrain, ultimately bringing him safely off the mountain.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that Russia used North Korean-made ballistic missiles in a deadly attack on the Zaporizhzhia region that killed six people and wounded 20 others.

Zelensky said the attack included North Korean ballistic missiles alongside guided aerial bombs, highlighting what he described as the growing military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.

“The city was attacked by North Korean ballistic missiles,” Zelensky wrote on X.

The Ukrainian leader made the comments as Kyiv vowed to continue carrying out long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory.

Ukraine recently confirmed a strike targeting oil industry infrastructure in the Siberian city of Tobolsk, part of an effort to increase pressure on Moscow and demonstrate that continuing the war will carry consequences far beyond the front lines.

Zelensky said Ukraine intends to conduct additional strikes deep inside Russia, arguing that Moscow must be made to understand that reaching a peace agreement is necessary.

The Ukrainian president also warned that Russia has received another shipment of ballistic missiles from North Korea.

According to Zelensky, Moscow is additionally preparing to receive a force of as many as 50,000 North Korean troops to support Russia’s war effort.

Zelensky warned that the expanding military partnership between Russia and North Korea extends beyond the war in Ukraine, saying cooperation between the two countries — including the joint development and battlefield use of weapons — poses a direct threat to countries in Asia.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen revealed Tuesday that Israeli intelligence operatives had repeatedly reached Iran’s heavily protected Fordow nuclear facility in the past, saying the missions were aimed at developing a detailed understanding of the site.

Speaking at the Galilee Conference, Cohen discussed Iran’s nuclear program and the American strike on Fordow, while offering a rare glimpse into the extent of Israel’s familiarity with the underground nuclear facility.

“We toured the Fordow nuclear site many times in order to understand the site,” Cohen said.

Cohen did not elaborate on when the alleged visits took place, how Mossad personnel reached the facility, or what operations were conducted there.

Addressing the U.S. attack on Fordow, the former Mossad director expressed strong satisfaction with the operation, describing the American bombing of the facility as the fulfillment of a goal he had hoped to see achieved for years.

“The bombing of the site by the Americans is the realization of all my dreams,” Cohen said.

At the same time, Cohen addressed Iran’s enrichment of uranium to 60%, stressing that the enrichment level does not mean Tehran already possesses a nuclear weapon.

“Sixty percent enriched uranium is still far from a bomb,” Cohen said.

Cohen made the remarks during the Galilee Conference, held under the banner “Bringing Security Back to the North.” The gathering brought together decision-makers, municipal leaders, security officials and other public figures for discussions on regional resilience, employment, the future of northern communities and security challenges facing the region.

Fordow, an Iranian uranium enrichment facility buried deep beneath a mountainous area, was targeted by U.S. forces during the conflict with Iran.

Following the strike, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization claimed that the facility had sustained only “limited” damage.

Behrouz Kamalvandi, deputy chief and spokesman for Iran’s atomic agency, said at the time that some equipment and materials had been removed from Fordow before the attack, arguing that the facility did not suffer extensive damage and that there were no concerns about contamination.

Kamalvandi also addressed damage to Iran’s Natanz enrichment complex, claiming that most of the damage there occurred in above-ground sections. He said that because much of the facility is underground, only a limited amount of leakage occurred inside the complex and did not spread outside.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Einav Zangauker, the mother of released hostage Matan Zangauker and one of the leading figures in the campaign for the return of the hostages, accused Democrats party chairman Yair Golan on Monday of breaking a promise to reserve her a spot on the party’s electoral list.

“I upheld my commitments and did not consider other options, such as participating in the primaries,” Zangauker wrote. “I fulfilled my side of the agreement, and unfortunately Golan decided otherwise.”

Golan responded: “Einav, you are dear to my heart. I greatly appreciate and value you — the courage, determination and strength with which you led a struggle that saved lives. I know my decision disappointed you, and I am deeply sorry for that. It was my decision, and I take full responsibility for it and for the pain it caused you.”

Golan said he decided not to use his authority to reserve a spot on the list, out of respect for the decision of the Democrats’ 113,000 members and confidence in the slate they selected. He added that other candidates who had been considered for reserved spots received the same message from him: there would be no reserved slots.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

An Israeli official says the United States is sharply increasing pressure on Israel to move forward with a 15-point plan for Gaza, triggering what the official described as “difficult talks” between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior members of the U.S. administration.

According to the official, Israel is now firmly opposed to any partial or gradual demilitarization of the Gaza Strip and is demanding that Hamas be completely disarmed before Israel agrees to additional withdrawals or moves forward with the next stage of the plan.

The official told Channel 12 that Netanyahu initially did not fully understand the severity of the American pressure but has since aligned himself with Israeli officials opposing the proposal and placed a “complete veto” on the current approach.

Israel had previously agreed to a pilot program in Rafah that would establish an area free of Hamas control. However, the official said Israel has since reversed its position, arguing that agreeing to such a framework in the first place was a mistake.

“There is no such thing as gradual disarmament,” the official said. “First, Hamas must be completely disarmed, and only afterward can we discuss the next stage.”

The official stressed that Israel is also rejecting proposals that would see Gaza demilitarized one area at a time, with Israeli forces conducting localized withdrawals as individual areas are cleared.

Israel, he said, is demanding the complete demilitarization of the Gaza Strip and will not accept a framework involving isolated demilitarized zones or piecemeal withdrawals.

Nikolay Mladenov, director-general of the Peace Council, presented a different position in an interview with Channel 12, saying the plan does not require steps to be completed before implementation begins on the ground. According to Mladenov, Israeli withdrawals would occur gradually and in accordance with progress on demilitarization.

“We will dismantle [weapons] area by area,” Mladenov said.

Despite the growing disagreement with Washington, the Israeli official cautioned against actions that could unnecessarily inflame tensions with the Trump administration.

Regarding targeted killings in Gaza, the official said Israel should avoid carrying out a large number of assassinations or other dramatic operations that could be viewed as deliberately provoking the Americans.

“The goal is not to ignite the situation,” the official said, adding that Israeli officials must “tighten their belts” and ensure that no actor on the ground acts independently in a way that could jeopardize the diplomatic process.

Separately, the official addressed Iran, saying Israel views the current situation — in which Tehran remains under intense economic pressure while no meaningful negotiations are taking place — as highly favorable.

The official also confirmed reports that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had threatened to resign, saying the mounting economic pressure on Iran is increasingly weighing on his government.

According to the official, if the current conditions continue for another two or three months, Iran could approach what he described as a breaking point.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Rebel Likud MK Dan Illouz submitted his resignation from the Knesset to Speaker Amir Ohana on Tuesday morning.

The resignation comes after Illouz announced that he is joining Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu party to prevent “adding another vote for the draft evasion laws advanced by Netanyahu, Goldknopf, and Deri.”

Illouz added: “As long as I served in the Knesset, I worked to block this legislation, which contradicts Likud’s stated values. Netanyahu failed and didn’t take responsibility and must go home. The place for members of the Zionist right is no longer in a Likud that has lost its way, but in Yisrael Beiteinu.”

He will be replaced in the Knesset by the next person on the Likud list, Shabtai Katash, a Chabad chassid, attorney and real estate entrepreneur who will become the first Chareidi Knesset member representing Likud. He won the Chareidi slot in the party primaries in 2022.

Katash learned at the Tomchei Temimim yeshivos in Lod and Kfar Chabad. He previously served as a member of the Lod City Council, where he held the tenders portfolio, and also served as chairman of the city’s Religious Council.

Katash has also served as secretary of the yishuv of Neria, a member of the Central Elections Committee, and a Likud activist, serving as a member of the Likud Central Committee and the secretariat of the party’s Georgian Forum. He holds a bachelor’s degree in law, received semicha from the Chief Rabbinate, and volunteers for ZAKA.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced that progress has been made in negotiations with Israel, arguing that diplomacy offers Lebanon a far better path than the devastating consequences of continued warfare.

Aoun said Israeli attacks on Lebanon have decreased since the signing of a framework agreement between the two countries, contributing to improved conditions and allowing more Lebanese citizens to spend the summer in their homeland.

In unusually pointed remarks challenging longstanding rhetoric surrounding Lebanon’s conflict with Israel, Aoun rejected the notion that territory or rights lost through force can only be recovered through force.

“We always hear slogans saying that what was taken by force can only be returned by force, but the facts on the ground have proven that this statement has no validity,” Aoun said.

The Lebanese president said residents of southern Lebanon deserve an opportunity to live peacefully and remain on their land rather than repeatedly being drawn into wars conducted in their name for what he described as “objectives that are not Lebanese.”

His comments appeared to underscore an effort to prioritize Lebanese national interests and negotiations over another round of destructive fighting.

Aoun nevertheless stressed that there remains broad agreement inside Lebanon regarding the country’s demands, including a complete Israeli withdrawal, the return of Lebanese prisoners and the reconstruction of areas damaged by fighting.

“We will not allow Israel to remain on even one centimeter of our land, nor will we allow any of its soldiers to remain on our territory,” Aoun declared.

The remarks signal that while significant disputes between Israel and Lebanon remain unresolved, Beirut sees negotiations as a preferable avenue for addressing them rather than returning to full-scale conflict.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Israeli Embassy in Vienna issued a call to the public on Monday night asking for assistance in finding two Israeli citizens who were visiting the city.

Mali and Liel Yahalomi, an Israeli mother and daughter, were last seen in Vienna on Friday, August 7. Since then, family members have lost contact with them.

The embassy requests that anyone with information contact the Austrian police or the Israeli Embassy in Vienna on the emergency hotline at +43-676-3672304.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

There is widespread anger in the Chareidi community following the arrest of Moshe Steiner, a Bnei Brak resident who learns at a yeshiva on the moshav of Beit Meir.

Steiner was summoned Monday to the Lahav 433 offices to give testimony. After being questioned by investigators, he was informed that the questioning was over and that he was free to leave.

However, as soon as he walked out of the station and into the parking lot, he realized he was the victim of a planned ambush: Military Police officers were waiting for him and arrested him on the spot for “draft dodging.”

He was later sentenced to 20 days in military prison.

The incident was prominently featured Tuesday morning on the front page of Yated Ne’eman under the headline: “New Low in the Persecution of Torah: Yeshiva Bochur Arrested by Deception.”

His arrest is a violation of a directive issued by the Israel Police commissioner Danny Levy—that Chareidim designated as draft dodgers who come to police stations to receive civilian services or give testimony will not be arrested to avoid harming the public’s cooperation with law enforcement.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A Syrian court sentenced in absentia ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad along with his younger brother to death on Tuesday for crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria’s 14-year conflict that left about half a million people dead.

Also sentenced to death in the same case was Assad’s maternal cousin Atef Najib for leading the crackdown in the southern province of Daraa that led to the uprising and later the civil war.

Amid tight security, Najib stood inside a cage wearing a prisoner’s uniform as the judge read the sentence.

Assad and his brother Maher fled to Russia after insurgents marched into Damascus in December 2014.

Najib was later detained and became one of the highest-ranking officials to be put on trial.

Najib is a former Syrian army brigadier general who was head of the Political Security Branch in southern Syria’s Daraa province under Assad in 2011.

(AP)

Medical teams at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa are fighting to save the life of Dolev, a 26-year-old IDF soldier from Karmiel who was seriously wounded during a deadly battle in southern Lebanon, Channel 14 reported Monday.

According to the report, the soldier is currently hospitalized in the intensive care unit, sedated and on a ventilator. His family, who have remained at his bedside since he was wounded, issued an emotional appeal to the public to daven for the refuah sheleimah of Dolev ben Atara.

Dolev was injured last week during an operation in the village of Majdal Zoun in Lebanon, approximately six to eight kilometers from Israel’s northern border. The force entered a building to search it as part of clearing and security operations, but the building turned out to be booby-trapped. A powerful explosive device exploded, and the blast led to part of the building collapsing on the soldiers.

The company commander, Maj. (res.) Harel Birenstock Hy”d, and combat medic Master Sgt. (res.) Tamir Vaknin Hy”d, were killed in the explosion. Four other soldiers from the same force were seriously wounded, including Dolev.

Immediately following the incident, rescue and medical forces from the Northern Command and the Israeli Air Force were dispatched to the scene. Operating under difficult conditions and under fire, they worked to evacuate the soldiers and casualties as quickly as possible by helicopter to hospitals in Israel.

Upon Dolev’s arrival at Rambam Medical Center, he immediately underwent a series of lifesaving treatments. His condition is currently serious and stable, but critical.

The family is asking the public to continue davening for the refuah sheleimah of Dolev ben Atara b’toch sha’ar cholei Yisrael.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 111 people and injuring hundreds. Rescue teams and volunteers worked throughout the night in a race against time to locate survivors.

One of the cities rattled by the quake was Cali, southwest of Bogotá, where Meir Partush runs “Bayit Yehudi,” which provides a range of services for the local Jewish kehilla.

Partush told B’Chadrei Chareidim that the Jewish kehilla suffered extensive damage. “In our kehilla, there are families who, Hashem Yeracheim, lost their homes. Baruch Hashem, there were no injuries or loss of life, but there is tremendous property damage. The kehilla itself was also damaged. A wall collapsed onto the roof of the shul and caused damage, and ceilings came down in some of the rooms.”

Throughout the night, the Bayit Yehudi staff treated numerous Jews, some of whom had been left homeless. “It’s not easy,” Partush said. “Homes collapsed and there is immense damage. The people here are not wealthy. The kehilla is not a rich, well-established community, so we rely on donations and help from Jews abroad. ”

Partush said that one of the first things he did Tuesday morning was contact hostels where Israelis and other travelers were staying to make sure they were safe.

“I also called the Israelis themselves to make sure no one had been hurt,” he said. “As of this moment, we have no information about any Jew who was injured or killed, chas v’shalom. We have suffered tremendous property damage throughout the city, but it seems that is the extent of it.”

“What’s happening right now is that non-Jews are also approaching us, asking for assistance, whether it’s with food, or water, or help repairing their homes,” he said. “We provide help to anyone who approaches us.”

Partush explained that Bayit Yehudi serves as an address for any Jew who comes to Cali. “We have a shul here, and we provide kosher food. If, chas v’shalom, something happens to an Israeli traveler or a Jew who needs help, we accompany him to the hospital or police station if necessary. The concept is similar to Chabad’s activities, but we established Bayit Yehudi to provide these services because there is no Chabad House here. We operate the center with donations.

“We also have a local kehilla with three tefillos a day, shiurim and educational activities for the children in the city.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Israel has taken delivery of the INS Drakon, the sixth and most advanced submarine built for the Israeli Navy.

The submarine was handed over in recent days at the TKMS shipyard in Kiel, Germany, in a small ceremony held without media presence and without an official announcement from either Israel or the German company.

According to Germany’s MarineForum naval publication, the INS Drakon departed the shipyard several days ago and sailed through the Bay of Kiel, flying the Israeli flag for the first time.

It is expected to arrive in Israel later this summer, after which it will undergo an induction process and complete preparations for operational service in the Israeli Navy.

The INS Drakon is the sixth and final submarine in Israel’s Dolphin program and the third of the upgraded Dolphin 2 class, following the INS Tanin and INS Rahav. Its cost is estimated at approximately €550 million, or about $634 million, making it the most expensive submarine ever acquired by the Israeli Navy.

Construction began in 2012, but Israel subsequently decided to make substantial design modifications and incorporate additional capabilities. The changes required alterations to the hull, internal systems and sail, significantly extending the construction process. Delivery was initially planned for 2025 but was ultimately completed this year.

At approximately 73 meters long, the INS Drakon is significantly larger than the 68.6-meter INS Tanin and INS Rahav. Its submerged displacement is estimated at approximately 2,400 tons, making it the largest submarine built in Germany since World War II.

The submarine is equipped with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system based on fuel-cell technology, allowing it to operate without relying on an external air supply. The system enables the submarine to remain submerged for extended periods, reducing its risk of detection and allowing it to operate at greater distances.

At the submarine’s naming ceremony in November 2024, the IDF said the Drakon incorporates “unique systems and groundbreaking technologies that expand the IDF’s range of capabilities in various arenas.” Details of its systems, weapons and operational range remain classified.

IDF spokesperson

“The INS Drakon will be a cornerstone in ensuring the security of the State of Israel,” Israeli Navy Commander Maj. Gen. David Saar Salama said at the ceremony. “Seen and unseen, it will operate in distant and unknown waters for extended periods. It is a submarine that provides an additional force multiplier to the capabilities and strength of the Israeli Navy, the IDF and the State of Israel in confronting complex challenges at the most important strategic level for the State of Israel.”

The submarine’s enlarged structure — particularly its unusually large sail — has fueled speculation in foreign defense media that it incorporates additional launch systems and capabilities for special operations. Neither Israel nor Germany has confirmed those assessments or disclosed details of the weapons carried aboard the submarine.

IDF spokesperson)

Beyond strike missions, Israel’s Dolphin-class submarines are used for intelligence gathering, reconnaissance and covert operations in distant theaters. Security experts also attribute a key role to the submarine fleet in maintaining Israel’s strategic deterrence, particularly in the face of the Iranian threat.

The INS Drakon also serves as a bridge between Israel’s existing Dolphin-class fleet and the Navy’s next generation of submarines. In 2022, Israel signed an agreement with TKMS for three new Dakar-class submarines at an estimated total cost of approximately €3 billion, with the German government expected to finance roughly one-fifth of the deal.

The three Dakar-class submarines are expected to begin arriving in Israel in 2031 and will gradually replace the INS Dolphin, INS Leviathan and INS Tekuma, which entered service in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The delivery of the INS Drakon therefore completes a submarine procurement program that began more than three decades ago, while also marking the beginning of Israel’s transition to the next generation of its undersea fleet.

Dr. Ehud Eilam, a national security expert and former Defense Ministry researcher, told Fox News that maintaining a continuous Israeli submarine presence at sea is a critical component of the country’s deterrence and ensures that Israel retains the ability to retaliate even if its home front and military infrastructure suffer severe damage.

According to Eilam, if an Iranian attack were to damage the IDF’s strategic capabilities, submarines already deployed at sea and on alert would remain capable of operating. Submarines docked at the Haifa naval base could potentially be struck and rendered inoperable, making a continuous submarine presence at sea particularly important.

Israel’s Dolphin-class fleet is used for intelligence and reconnaissance missions throughout the Mediterranean. According to foreign reports, the submarines are also believed to provide Israel with a “second-strike” capability — the ability to retaliate following a devastating attack on the country and thereby preserve its strategic deterrence.

Eilam assessed that the INS Drakon’s larger dimensions may reflect Israel’s desire to broaden its operational capabilities, potentially including longer-range missiles capable of reaching targets in Iran while the submarine remains in the Mediterranean.

Such a capability could reduce the need for Israeli submarines to approach Iran’s coastline, which would require passage through the Suez Canal and could be dangerous or impossible under certain scenarios. The alternative route around the African continent would be considerably longer.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

In a statement issued at 1:15 a.m. Tuesday, the Likud party announced that its Secretariat will be asked to approve reserved spots on the party’s Knesset slate for Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, and Likud Central Committee Chairman Chaim Katz, in addition to the spots allocated for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s own selections.

The announcement, which caught senior party members by surprise, sparked an uproar within Likud Tuesday morning, with ministers and MKs sharply criticizing the move and accusing party leaders of circumventing primary voters and pushing incumbent lawmakers further down the slate.

One Likud minister told Walla: “It’s an absolute disgrace on the highest level — a hostile takeover of the movement by party operatives, insane corruption.” Another Likud MK called the move “a disgrace and a power grab.”

Likud said in its statement that “the party court ruled last week that the defense minister, who in any event was expected to secure a place near the top of the slate, should receive a reserved spot in order to allow him to focus on the country’s security needs rather than engage in politics at this time.”

The party added that “Sa’ar will receive a reserved slot as part of the merger agreement between his party and Likud, while Chaim Katz will receive a spot by virtue of his position as chairman of the Likud Central Committee.”

Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman defended the move Tuesday morning, telling Kan Reshet Bet: “Gideon Sa’ar is part of an agreement that has to be honored, and Yisrael Katz is serving as defense minister and I believe he would have finished high on the slate anyway. As for Chaim Katz, I’m not getting into other people and why they are receiving spots.”

Behind the scenes, however, senior Likud officials said Netanyahu has a clear political objective behind the move: to “lock down the top of the slate.”

Despite the announcement, Likud sources said Tuesday morning that the chances of the reserved spots for the “two Katzes” ultimately winning approval from the party Secretariat are very low.

The move requires the approval of the Likud Secretariat, which includes incumbent MKs who stand to be directly harmed by the decision and are expected to fight to block it. The Secretariat also includes dozens of members close to MK David Bitan, who opposes the move.

A fierce internal political battle is expected within Likud in the coming days, with the party’s August 17 primaries just days away. Approximately 142,000 Likud members are eligible to vote.

Tensions within the party intensified after the Tel Aviv District Court on Monday overturned a Likud Central Committee decision that would have allowed incumbent ministers and MKs to compete for district slots. The ruling means that they will all have to compete on the national slate, raising the possibility that as many as half of Likud’s current Knesset faction could fail to secure realistic spots for the next Knesset.

Likud officials said Tuesday morning that Yisrael Katz is expected to receive a spot between Nos. 6 and 10 on the slate, while Chaim Katz would be guaranteed a spot no lower than No. 18.

These placements would be in addition to the eight reserved spots Netanyahu has been granted among the top 30 places on the slate—Nos. 3, 5, 9, 11, 15, 18, 26 and 29.

The late-night announcement came just hours after Likud revealed Netanyahu’s first personal selection: businessman Oren Dobronsky, who will receive the No. 11 spot. Dobronsky, the founder of a chain of hummus restaurants in Silicon Valley and known for his appearance on the Israeli version of “Shark Tank,” is expected to focus on advancing artificial intelligence in the Israeli economy.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The Tel Aviv District Court on Monday rejected a petition challenging a Likud party court ruling that bars sitting Likud lawmakers from competing for district-reserved slots in the party primaries.

Last week, the Likud court accepted petitions against a proposal that had narrowly passed at the party convention about a week earlier. That proposal would have allowed current MKs, ministers and deputy ministers to compete in the district races.

The ruling is a setback for incumbent Likud lawmakers who supported Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reserved-slot proposal and had hoped to advance alongside it a mechanism that would give them an easier path through the district contests.

The district representatives in the Likud primaries will be eligible for spots 27, 28, 30 and 31 on the party list. Following the ruling, those positions will now be filled only by new faces.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In a response that sparked outrage, Haifa Deputy Mayor Fakher Biadsy responded Monday to the public uproar about accounts from the families of soldiers wounded in combat of alleged mistreatment and neglect by Arab medical staff at Rambam Hospital.

Without conducting an investigation into the veracity of the claims, Biadsy chose to characterize the allegations against the medical staff as “racism.”

“I condemn every expression of racism and incitement against medical staff and support the responsible and sensible position of hospital administrations and the medical teams themselves,” Biadsy wrote. “We must strengthen the voices seeking to preserve coexistence and the delicate fabric of trust and relations between Jewish and Arab staff members, and between them and the patients — Jews and Arabs alike.”

“We must not allow short-term political interests to harm a system on which we all depend. The Arabic language is not a threat.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Israeli officials are increasingly concerned that a new defense agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan could develop into an alliance directed against Israel, with fears that Egypt could eventually join the emerging bloc, Ynet reports.

“This agreement troubles us. This is an alliance aimed against Israel,” a senior Israeli official said of the defense agreement signed over the weekend in Mecca. Reports following the signing have suggested Egypt could become the next country to join the bloc.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the agreement is effectively modeled on NATO’s Article 5, under which an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. Fidan said the alliance would also include a ministerial committee and a general secretariat headquartered in Saudi Arabia.

The senior Israeli official said the agreement reflects a broader regional shift following the weakening of the Shiite axis. “The Shiite axis has weakened, and for a long time we have seen the Sunni axis getting stronger,” the official said, pointing to Israel’s need to strengthen relationships with Greece and Cyprus, together with India and the United Arab Emirates. “Israel needs a massive force-building program,” the official added.

Turkey and Egypt were singled out as particular concerns. “The story of Turkey and Erdogan is dangerous,” the official said. “We would not be surprised if the Egyptians join the ‘Mecca Alliance.’ This alliance is aimed against Israel. Who do you think they are doing this against? Allow me to be skeptical when they say it is really aimed at Iran.”

The agreement was signed Friday during a meeting in Saudi Arabia between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Dubbed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, the pact follows nearly a year of negotiations among the three countries.

Following the agreement, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif directly invoked Israel, calling on the Muslim world to “unite to confront the common threat posed by Israel.”

“Israel poses a threat to all of us,” Asif said. “Islamic countries must adopt a coordinated approach to confront this threat.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump was secretly moved off Air Force One and flown out of Turkey aboard a smaller military aircraft last month as part of an extraordinary deception operation triggered by a credible Iranian assassination threat, while journalists and some White House staff were deliberately left believing the president remained aboard the iconic presidential jet, The Washington Post reports.

The highly classified operation unfolded on July 8 as Trump prepared to leave Ankara following a NATO summit with world leaders. The departure came one night after U.S. forces renewed military strikes against Iran at Trump’s direction following the collapse of negotiations aimed at ending the months-long war between Washington and Tehran.

In full view of television cameras, Trump arrived at the airport in his limousine, climbed the stairs of the legacy blue-and-white Air Force One and waved before disappearing inside. What happened minutes later was concealed from virtually everyone outside the operation.

According to a U.S. official and other material reviewed by The Post, Trump and several aides exited from a door on the opposite side of the aircraft and stepped into an airport catering truck normally used to load food and supplies. The truck’s container was hydraulically lowered before the vehicle drove away from Air Force One and toward a nearby Air Force C-32A, a modified Boeing 757.

Trump was then secretly transferred onto the smaller aircraft. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth boarded the C-32A separately using external stairs, an effort designed to make the flight appear routine, and traveled aboard the plane with Trump to Britain.

Meanwhile, members of the White House press corps and some White House staff boarded the legacy Air Force One believing Trump was traveling with them. White House personnel instructed journalists to close their window shades before departure. A U.S. official described the presidential 747 as a “decoy.”

Trump’s true location was concealed from the American public and even many senior U.S. officials for hours. The smaller aircraft carrying the president flew to Britain under the unremarkable military call sign “Reach 18,” or “RCH18,” rather than Air Force One, and systems that would have allowed the aircraft to be easily tracked publicly were switched off.

The deception extended to the aircraft carrying the press. Public flight-tracking information reviewed by The Post showed the legacy presidential jet initially appearing near Istanbul without a listed call sign before taking the “AF1” designation during the flight despite Trump not being aboard.

A U.S. official said a credible threat involving Iran triggered the operation. Concerns about Iranian plots targeting Trump and other American officials have intensified amid the war and Washington’s role in the killing of Iranian military and political leaders.

The operation came only days after Trump began using the newer Boeing 747-8 provided to the United States by Qatar. That aircraft had undergone hundreds of millions of dollars in upgrades before being fielded by the Air Force in July, but The Post reported that it does not contain some of the defensive countermeasures available on the legacy Air Force One.

The Qatari-provided aircraft departed Turkey first on July 8. Trump’s secret C-32A and the decoy Air Force One subsequently headed for Britain’s Mildenhall air base. The C-32A arrived at approximately 10:20 p.m., with the legacy Air Force One landing several minutes later at approximately 10:29 p.m.

It remains unclear precisely how Trump transferred from the C-32A back to the legacy presidential aircraft after landing in Britain. At approximately 10:56 p.m., however, Trump appeared before television cameras descending the external stairs of the legacy Air Force One, maintaining the public appearance that he had arrived aboard that aircraft.

After greeting U.S. service members, Trump boarded the newer presidential 747-8 shortly after 11 p.m. for the trip back to Washington, with the press and staff also transferring aboard.

During the return flight, Trump spoke with journalists for approximately 15 minutes. Asked why reporters had been ordered to close their window shades in Turkey, Trump replied that it was “because you’re probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleaze bags that we have to deal with.”

Trump said there is a “threat all the time” against his life and that he is “number one” on Iran’s “list.”

“But if I go, you go. Right?” Trump told the reporters. “Perhaps someday you want to change professions.”

The White House has continued publicly describing Trump as having departed Turkey aboard the legacy Air Force One. Asked by The Post about the operation, White House communications director Steven Cheung did not address the secret transfer, instead defending the security of the newer presidential aircraft. The Pentagon referred questions to the White House, while a Secret Service spokesman did not respond.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The International Atomic Energy Agency is expected to remove nuclear material stored at a clandestine site in Syria after the Trump administration reached understandings with Syria and Israel, in an effort to secure the material and prevent a potential escalation involving Israel, Syria and possibly Turkey, Axios reports.

The facility, known as “Site 99,” was used by the Assad regime to store nuclear material connected to the Al-Kibar nuclear reactor project. Two Israeli officials said the material was part of that project, while a U.S. official said it included yellowcake, a powder produced from uranium ore that can later be further processed and eventually enriched as part of the nuclear fuel cycle, along with other residue and “leftovers” from Al-Kibar.

The material cannot be used for a nuclear weapon, but it could be used for a “dirty bomb,” in which conventional explosives disperse radioactive material to contaminate an area. Israeli officials said the IDF bombed the entrances to Site 99 shortly after the fall of the Assad regime to prevent access to the facility.

For more than a year, U.S. and Israeli officials have discussed how to handle the site. Israel made clear to the Trump administration that it would not tolerate the nuclear material remaining there and threatened to strike the facility again if the material was not removed or if there were signs Syria was attempting to access it. A U.S. official said that despite Israel’s concerns, it was never on the verge of bombing the site.

The U.S. and Israel ultimately agreed that the best approach was to secure the Syrian government’s cooperation in removing the material. When Washington raised the matter with Syrian officials, they said they had not known nuclear material was stored at the site. “Very few people in the U.S., Israel and Syria were aware of this,” a U.S. official said.

Several weeks ago, Israeli monitoring detected movements around Site 99 that raised suspicions that Syria’s new government was reneging on understandings and attempting to access the nuclear material. Israeli officials were also concerned that Turkey was helping Syria obtain the material. The Trump administration asked Israel not to take action and brought the IAEA into the process.

Three weeks ago, the IAEA and Syrian government signed an agreement to remove the nuclear material. The operation remains underway, and the material has not yet been removed. “We think everybody is happy with the result. Hopefully we will be able to kick off the removal process soon and end it before the end of the year,” a U.S. official said.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israel’s defense establishment has detected an acceleration in Syria’s efforts to rebuild its air force, including the recruitment of new pilots, renewed flight training and the first exercise involving Syrian fighter jets since the fall of the Assad regime, Kan News reported Monday evening.

The developments come one year and eight months after the collapse of the Assad regime and the IDF’s declaration that it had destroyed the Syrian Air Force. Israeli officials have recently identified Syrian efforts to recruit new pilots and conduct training using trainer aircraft and helicopters. During the past 24 hours, Syria also carried out its first exercise involving Sukhoi fighter jets in the north of the country.

Under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria is receiving support from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Russia, France and other countries in the region. Despite ongoing discussions over a potential future security agreement with Israel, the Israeli defense establishment is closely monitoring developments that could threaten Israel’s freedom of action in Syrian airspace.

Israel’s primary concern is the possibility of Turkey establishing a significant presence in neighboring Syria, including the deployment of air-defense systems.

“We are monitoring developments in Syria and sharing our concerns with the United States,” an Israeli security official said.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The next round of talks between Israel and Lebanon is being delayed amid growing tensions between the two countries, Kan News reported Monday evening.

Lebanon is refusing to hold another round of talks in the near future in protest over the failure to expand the withdrawal zones. Israel, meanwhile, has complained to the United States about the activity of the Lebanese army, alleging that it is operating in coordination with Hezbollah.

On Friday, Hezbollah launched an explosive drone toward IDF forces in the Ali Taher Ridge area, north of Beaufort. No injuries or damage were reported. Despite the incident constituting a violation of the ceasefire, the IDF Spokesperson chose not to inform the public about it.

According to IDF assessments, the drone launch was part of an effort by Hezbollah to help terrorists escape from the area. Hezbollah operatives are attempting to extract terrorists who are staying in an underground route in the Ali Taher Ridge area.

The latest round of talks between Israel and Lebanon began earlier that same week. Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji was completely excluded from the talks because of his hardline positions against Hezbollah.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli authorities demolished a record 536 illegally constructed Palestinian structures in Yehuda and Shomron during the first half of 2026, according to new data released Monday by the Civil Administration’s Inspection Unit.

The figures show a significant increase in enforcement against unauthorized Palestinian construction, particularly in Area C, over the past several years.

According to the report, 250 illegal structures were demolished during the first six months of 2022. That number declined to 201 during the same period in 2023 before climbing to 310 in 2024.

Demolitions increased sharply again in 2025, reaching 443 during the first six months of the year.

During the first half of 2026, authorities carried out 536 demolitions — the highest number recorded for the six-month period.

The Settlement Administration says the stepped-up enforcement has also prompted another development: an increasing number of Palestinians are reportedly demolishing unauthorized structures themselves rather than waiting for Israeli enforcement teams to arrive.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also serves as a minister in the Defense Ministry with responsibility for the Settlement Administration, said the numbers demonstrate a deliberate change in Israeli government policy.

“For years, the State of Israel stood idly by in the face of the ‘Salam Fayyad Plan,’ whose goal was to create facts on the ground and force the establishment of a Palestinian state through the takeover of state lands and the systematic mass construction of buildings in Area C,” Smotrich said.

Smotrich said the current government has undertaken what he described as a “revolution” in Yehuda and Shomron, combining the expansion of Jewish communities with increased enforcement against illegal Palestinian construction.

“Since the beginning of this government’s term, we have led a revolution in Judea and Samaria — both by establishing 104 new communities and 160 farms that safeguard more than one million dunams of state land, and by simultaneously declaring an uncompromising war against the illegal Arab takeover,” he said.

Smotrich credited personnel from the Civil Administration’s Inspection Unit for the increased enforcement, saying that for the first time the number of demolitions has surpassed the number of newly constructed illegal Palestinian structures.

“The hard work by the Inspection Unit personnel is bearing fruit, and for the first time there are more demolitions than new illegal Arab construction,” Smotrich said.

“And this is only the beginning — every illegal structure will be removed.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Iranian authorities announced a broad series of senior military appointments on Monday, including a new commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei reshuffled leadership across the country’s armed forces, IRGC and Basij.

Khamenei announced six senior appointments. Ali Abdollahi was named commander of the armed forces, with Kioumars Heydari appointed as his deputy. Ahmad Vahidi was formally appointed commander of the IRGC, while Mostafa Izadi was named his deputy.

Ali Azmaei was also appointed commander of the IRGC Navy, while the leadership of the Basij was placed under Ayatollah Hossein Taeb.

Taeb previously served as commander of IRGC intelligence and was removed from that position in 2022 after a series of failures. The Kan News update notes that he failed to prevent Israeli operations inside Iran and was unsuccessful in carrying out retaliatory attacks against Israelis in Turkey and other locations.

The appointments represent a significant reshuffling of senior command positions across several of Iran’s most important military and security bodies, with new leadership installed in the armed forces, IRGC, IRGC Navy and Basij.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Trump administration is preparing an executive order that would significantly reshape federal guidance on childhood vaccinations, including a review of which vaccines are administered to children and how they are scheduled, The Washington Post reports.

Under the draft order, the Health Department’s Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines would be directed to propose changes within 90 days. The panel would assess the timing and sequencing of core childhood vaccines and recommend adjustments to the existing schedule where appropriate.

The draft also calls for consideration of splitting combination vaccines into separate shots administered at different appointments. In addition, it would direct officials to examine whether childhood vaccines should be recommended on different schedules for boys and girls.

Another provision calls for research into alternatives to aluminum-based vaccine adjuvants, which are ingredients used to help produce an immune response.

The proposed order would also instruct officials to examine whether links between childhood vaccines and autism have been properly studied.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Colombia’s new government has formally recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, declaring that Israel’s continued control of the strategic territory is essential to its national security amid persistent instability across the Middle East.

“Given the persistent regional instability in the Middle East and considering the strategic importance of the Golan Heights to Israel’s security, the Government of Colombia recognizes Israeli sovereignty over this territory, as well as Israel’s right to protect itself against external threats,” Colombia’s Foreign Ministry said.

Bogota further stated that “maintaining Israel’s control and sovereignty over the Golan Heights is an essential component of its national defense and its ability to protect and safeguard its citizens.”

The announcement marks a significant shift in Colombia’s policy and comes shortly after the country’s new government also decided to move its embassy to Jerusalem.

The United States recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019, when President Donald Trump signed a proclamation reversing decades of previous U.S. policy. Israel captured the strategic plateau from Syria during the 1967 Six Day War and extended Israeli law to the territory in 1981.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar met Colombia’s incoming president, Abelardo de la Espriella, in Barranquilla on August 6, one day before his inauguration.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

An Israeli company is facing a lawsuit seeking approximately NIS 2 million in damages after a cellphone-tracking system purchased by the Mexican government for roughly $1 million was allegedly plagued by serious hardware and software failures that rendered it unusable.

According to a report by Calcalist, Mexico’s justice authorities returned the system to local intermediary Comercializadora Antsua after experiencing repeated problems with equipment supplied by Petach Tikvah-based Israeli surveillance technology company Septier.

The Guardian Septier system was purchased in a deal valued at approximately $1 million, or roughly 18 million Mexican pesos.

Reports by Mexico’s attorney general cited frequent disconnections, reception problems and battery performance that allegedly fell approximately 50% short of the manufacturer’s commitments.

During field testing in police vans, the system reportedly failed to locate targets even from distances of only several dozen meters.

It also allegedly lost targets in areas with large concentrations of cellular antennas and repeatedly required technicians to shut the equipment down and restart it.

Antsua claims that the technical failures went beyond poor performance and placed security personnel operating the equipment in the field at risk.

Following problems with the first system delivered in April 2019, Septier supplied a replacement system the following month, according to the report. The replacement, however, allegedly experienced additional failures during field tests and was also deemed unusable.

Antsua has since launched legal proceedings against Septier in Israel, seeking approximately NIS 2 million in compensation for the lost transaction and other alleged financial damages.

Attorney Benny Baratz, who represents Septier, told Calcalist that the company had received the lawsuit and would review the allegations before responding through the legal process.

“The company has received the lawsuit, will study it, and will respond in court at the appropriate time,” Baratz said.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A new Channel 12 poll published Monday shows Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party emerging as the largest faction if elections were held today, winning 24 seats, one more than in the previous poll. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud falls to 22 seats, placing second.

Naftali Bennett’s Beyachad rises to 15 seats, Yair Golan’s Democrats to 11, Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu to 10, and Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit to 8. United Torah Judaism, led by Yitzhak Goldknopf, remains at 8 seats, Shas holds at 7, and Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism receives 5. Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am each receive 5 seats.

Several parties remain below the 3.25% electoral threshold. The Zionist Home of the Reservists, led by Hili Tropper and Yoaz Hendel, receives 2.7%; Balad receives 1.6%; Gilad Erdan’s right-wing party receives 1.3%; and Benny Gantz’s Blue and White receives 0.8%.

The anti-Netanyahu bloc remains at 70 seats, including 60 seats for Zionist opposition parties and 10 for the Arab parties, while the current coalition parties receive 50 seats.

In the prime minister suitability question, Eisenkot leads Netanyahu 40% to 35%, with 19% saying neither and 7% saying they do not know. Bennett also moves ahead of Netanyahu for the first time in several months, leading 37% to 35%, while Netanyahu leads Liberman 38% to 24%.

The poll also found that 63% of respondents believe U.S. President Donald Trump currently determines Israel’s security policy, compared with 25% who say Netanyahu does. Asked whom they trust most to manage relations with Trump, 39% chose Netanyahu, 17% Eisenkot, 16% Bennett and 7% Liberman.

On Gaza, 64% said Israel should continue military operations against Hamas despite U.S. pressure to move toward ending the war, while 25% said Israel should not. On Iran, 36% said Israel should attack Iran alone against the backdrop of Trump preparing to announce an end to the war with Iran, while 44% opposed such an attack and 20% said they did not know.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump responded to Iran’s demand for compensation over damage sustained during the past five months of war by announcing that the United States will make its own compensation demands from Tehran.

Trump said the war began amid efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and noted that compensation had not previously been raised during negotiations or meetings between the two sides.

“That’s an interesting idea,” Trump wrote, saying he would now demand compensation from Iran for Americans killed or seriously wounded by roadside bombs and in conflicts involving Tehran during the era of former Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.

Trump specifically cited the families of those killed in the attack on the USS Cole, as well as the families of thousands of others killed in combat.

The president expanded his demand to include the families of protesters killed inside Iran. “Compensation should be paid to the families of the hundreds of thousands of innocent protesters that Iran has killed over the last 50 years,” Trump wrote, adding that 52,000 people had been killed during the past five months.

Trump said the demand would be formally raised in future talks with Tehran. “I have instructed my representatives to strongly make this demand in any future negotiations,” he wrote.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In recent days, a broad initiative involving Chareidi communities has been taking shape behind the scenes, seeking to organize as an ideological influence group within the Likud and bring together Chareidi Likud members from across different communities and groups, Kikar H’Shabbat reported on Monday.

The initiative, which began operating several months ago under the name “Chareidi Kehilati,” represents a significant change in the way Chareidim organize within the ruling party.

Until now, there were numerous different Chareidi groups within Likud, but they primarily looked after their own interests. Now, however, a large group belonging to the “modern Chareidi” community has begun joining the ruling party by the hundreds and thousands, with a clear goal: to look after the interests of working or modern Chareidim, or however else they may be defined.

The heads of the new ideological group are Simcha Bernstein and Yisrael Schweibel, well-known public activists who were previously identified with Degel HaTorah. Their stated goal is to place the real needs of the Chareidi public — such as state-Chareidi schools, girls’ education, employment and other issues — at the top of the agenda, while maintaining clear and unequivocal political support for the right-wing bloc led by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Kikar HaShabbat has learned that a series of quiet meetings have been held in recent weeks in several communities ahead of the primaries, and that numerous communities across the country have joined or are expected to join the initiative.

More than 1,000 Likud members who had previously registered as party members have already joined the new organization.

Kikar also learned that the group is operating according to a community-based “matching” model, under which each community recruits its members and acquaintances who are already registered Likud members and brings them into the initiative.

The initiative represents the first attempt of its kind to create a unified ideological Chareidi influence group within the Likud that will work on behalf of the entire Chareidi public rather than only specific groups.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Israel’s Defense Ministry is reassessing how the country prepares and arms itself for future wars, with officials examining elements of China’s industrial defense model as concerns grow over the ability of even the United States to maintain sufficient weapons supplies during prolonged conflicts.

According to an internal Defense Ministry document obtained by N12, officials are studying principles from China’s military-industrial buildup, with a particular focus on industrial resilience, secure supply chains and the ability to maintain a steady flow of weapons during an extended war.

The review comes amid lessons learned from recent conflicts and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to provide Israel’s defense establishment with an additional NIS 350 billion over the coming decade.

The document, prepared by SIBAT, the Defense Ministry’s International Defense Cooperation Directorate, is titled “China’s Technological and Industrial Policy.”

According to the report, one factor driving the reassessment is disappointment with the American model and questions over its ability to meet weapons requirements during a prolonged conflict.

“As is clearly evident from the war in Ukraine, and to a large extent also from the war against Iran, the great-power struggle of the coming decade will not be decided solely on the battlefield or by the size of the military,” the document states.

Instead, officials argue, countries will increasingly be judged by their ability to maintain industrial resilience and secure supply chains capable of providing their militaries with sufficient weapons for a drawn-out war.

President Donald Trump addressed concerns over U.S. weapons stockpiles over the weekend, saying America maintains nearly unlimited supplies of certain types of ammunition, while acknowledging that stocks of some other weapons have declined.

The Israeli document argues that China has moved ahead of the United States in several areas related to preparations for a potential future conflict.

According to its authors, Beijing has built a powerful system integrating industry with political and military objectives, describing it as a “powerful hybrid system that mobilizes the market in favor of its political and military goals.”

Israeli officials also acknowledge significant drawbacks to the Chinese approach, including the potential for wasted resources and reduced innovation.

However, the document argues that the sheer scale of China’s industrial base provides Beijing with a major strategic advantage and allows it to continue influencing the rules of the global economic and military competition.

The emerging Israeli approach would place “resilience before efficiency” at the center of defense planning, marking a potential departure from the Western model that traditionally emphasizes efficiency and cost reduction.

“The West can no longer rely on free-market mechanisms against a Chinese hybrid system that subordinates the market to the goals of the party,” the document states.

While Israel is not engaged in a direct confrontation with China, SIBAT officials reportedly believe the number of potential battlefronts and the variety of threats Israel could face require a fundamental reassessment of the country’s weapons strategy.

The document therefore recommends examining selected principles associated with the Chinese model as Israel prepares for the possibility of prolonged wars in which maintaining domestic production capacity and uninterrupted weapons supplies could prove decisive.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A security controversy has erupted in Britain after components manufactured in China and installed aboard unmanned Royal Navy vessels were found transmitting data to an IP address in China, according to a report in The Telegraph.

The cameras were installed aboard K3 Scout unmanned vessels used by Britain’s Royal Marines. According to the report, Chinese-made components inside the cameras were quietly transmitting so-called “heartbeat” signals — routine data used to indicate that a system is connected and functioning — to an IP address located in China.

The fleet, estimated to have cost approximately £12 million, has reportedly been in use by the Royal Marines since March.

After the security issue was discovered, Britain’s Ministry of Defence disconnected the cameras from the internet.

The vessels were supplied by British defense contractor Kraken Technology Group, which reportedly purchased the cameras from a third-party supplier that had provided assurances regarding their security.

A defense source familiar with the matter described the discovery as a serious failure in the vetting of components and said confidence in the platform had been damaged.

“This is a serious failure to check the origin of the components, and we have lost confidence in the platform,” the source said.

The unmanned vessels are reportedly expected to play a role in a future British program aimed at protecting freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.

Concerns have also been raised that personnel with high-level security clearances at the Special Boat Service headquarters may have been exposed to the cameras because they allegedly continued operating even when the vessels themselves were switched off.

The British Ministry of Defence, however, said there is no evidence that sensitive information or system data was transmitted outside the United Kingdom, stressing that information security is taken extremely seriously.

Kraken also said that following a comprehensive review of the fleet, it is confident that no sensitive information was shared.

Meanwhile, Conservative opposition officials are calling for an urgent review of military equipment to determine whether other Chinese-made components or systems may be embedded in British defense hardware.

The demands come amid broader concerns over Chinese espionage and influence efforts, which have previously prompted warnings from Britain’s MI5 security service.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israel has reportedly asked for the remains of Jews buried in Lebanon to be transferred to Israel as part of ongoing negotiations between Jerusalem and Beirut over a broader permanent agreement.

According to a report Monday in the Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, Israeli negotiators raised the issue of numerous Jewish graves in Beirut and Sidon belonging to people whose relatives now live in Israel.

The request was reportedly raised during discussions concerning Lebanese prisoners being held by Israel following the war in Lebanon.

Lebanon is seeking the release of Lebanese detainees, while Israel reportedly proposed incorporating the transfer of Jewish remains into what it described as a “civilian prisoner exchange deal.”

Under the reported proposal, Israel would release some of the Lebanese detainees while excluding Hezbollah operatives, and Lebanon would permit the remains of Jews buried in the country to be transferred to Israel.

A separate report by Saudi Arabia’s Asharq News said recent negotiations in Rome included a “legal” track focused on Lebanese prisoners held by Israel, distinct from discussions concerning captured Hezbollah terrorists.

The Saudi outlet described the atmosphere surrounding those discussions as “positive.”

Lebanon was once home to a substantial Jewish community with roots stretching back centuries. Unlike most Arab countries, Lebanon’s Jewish population initially grew following Israel’s establishment in 1948 and eventually reached approximately 10,000.

The community subsequently declined dramatically, falling to only several hundred by the 1970s. Today, no more than a few dozen Jews are believed to remain in Lebanon.

The reported request comes as Israel and Lebanon continue U.S.-mediated negotiations aimed at reaching a broader arrangement following the recent war.

During negotiations in Washington in June, the sides agreed to a framework that reportedly includes the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces in areas currently controlled by Israel.

The process is expected to begin in designated “pilot zones” before potentially expanding to additional areas.

Israel and Lebanon held their seventh round of U.S.-mediated negotiations last week as efforts continue to reach a long-term agreement governing security along the border and the future of southern Lebanon.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday launched Israel’s national artificial intelligence program, declaring that the country intends to establish itself as a global AI powerhouse and capitalize on what he described as a brief but historic window of opportunity.

Netanyahu unveiled the initiative alongside Brig. Gen. (res.) Erez Askal, head of Israel’s National Artificial Intelligence Directorate.

According to Netanyahu, the program is aimed at strengthening Israel’s position at the forefront of rapidly developing artificial intelligence technology while harnessing AI to drive economic growth and benefit the Israeli public.

“We are in a historic window of opportunity, but it is a very short one,” Netanyahu said.

“The future is not waiting for us; we are creating it.”

The initiative comes as governments and technology companies around the world race to expand their artificial intelligence capabilities, with AI increasingly viewed as a critical component of economic competitiveness, national security and technological leadership.

Israel, already home to a major technology sector and numerous companies involved in artificial intelligence, is seeking to leverage that foundation as competition in the field accelerates worldwide.

Netanyahu said the national program would seek to position Israel among the world’s leading AI powers while translating technological advances into greater prosperity for the country’s economy and its citizens.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Prof. Mitch Schwaber, the director of Israel’s Health Ministry’s National Center for Infection Control, described a disturbing incident that revealed the BBC’s commitment to lies regarding reports on Israel rather than objective reporting.

Speaking in an interview with Kan Moreshet Radio, Schwaber said that a senior BBC reporter contacted him for a briefing for a special report on the health situation in Gaza. Since he was well aware of the BBC’s slanted reporting on Israel, Schwaber asked the reporter how he could ensure that the information he would provide would be published accurately.

Schwaber presented the reporter with six examples of false BBC reporting,  including four “errors” concerning health-related issues and two additional cases that he said involved journalistic negligence.

“I told him if you are really going to do this report and you want my help, then I want to know how you can assure me that this won’t be another case where you publish incorrect information that has real consequences for Israel,” he said.

“The reporter decided not to respond and to give up on the interview,” Schwaber said. “I haven’t heard from him since.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is promoting Jewish attorney Will Scharf, a close White House ally who has become a familiar presence alongside the president, to one of the administration’s most influential legal positions.

Scharf, currently serving as White House Staff Secretary, will become White House Counsel and Assistant to the President effective September 1.

He will replace David Warrington, who is departing the administration to return to the private sector.

Trump announced the appointment on Truth Social, praising Scharf’s legal abilities and noting that he previously represented Trump before the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Will is tough, strong, and smart! He also loves our Country and respects the LAW,” Trump wrote, adding that Scharf “will do an excellent job” in his new position.

Scharf, 40, has served as White House Staff Secretary since Trump returned to office in January 2025.

In that position, Scharf has been responsible for managing and coordinating documents and other materials reaching the president, including executive orders, memoranda, speeches, briefings and legislative proposals.

Scharf has also become an increasingly recognizable figure in recent months through his frequent appearances alongside Trump during executive order signings in the Oval Office.

During many of those appearances, Scharf has stood beside the president and explained the substance and purpose of executive actions to reporters and cameras.

His promotion places him in a significantly more powerful legal position inside the administration. As White House Counsel, Scharf will serve as a central legal adviser to the presidency and play a major role in navigating legal issues confronting the White House.

Scharf has been a longtime Trump ally and previously served on the president’s legal team, including representing Trump in litigation before the Supreme Court.

His elevation to White House Counsel further solidifies his position as one of Trump’s most prominent legal advisers inside the administration.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A suspected fraud scheme at the Israel Electric Corporation involving approximately NIS 5 million was uncovered after a months-long covert investigation became public over the weekend.

Investigators from the Coastal District Fraud Unit arrested several suspects, including the main suspect in the case, a resident of Kafr Manda, an Arab town in the Lower Galil.

Police had been investigating the suspected scheme covertly for several months, gathering evidence of an alleged sophisticated fraud operation within the company. During the investigation, suspicions emerged that several Israel Electric Corporation employees were involved.

According to police suspicions, the main suspect worked with company employees to unlawfully arrange the payment of other individuals’ electricity debts in exchange for financial benefits.

The investigation entered its public phase over the weekend, when investigators arrested several suspects. On Sunday, a court granted a police request to extend the main suspect’s detention for a second time, ordering him held for an additional four days to allow investigators to carry out further investigative measures.

The investigation remains ongoing.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Foreign airlines are steadily returning to Israel after months of sharply reduced service at Ben Gurion Airport, with dozens of carriers already back in operation and several major airlines — including Delta and United — preparing to resume flights in the coming weeks.

The gradual return marks a significant expansion in flight options for Israelis following an extended period in which foreign carriers dramatically reduced or suspended service to the country.

Some airlines resumed operations shortly after the start of Operation “Lion’s Roar,” while others returned throughout the spring and summer.

HiFly was among the carriers operating during the earlier period, continuing to provide long-haul flights for Arkia. Bulgarian carrier Electra Airways began operating flights for Arkia in April, while Romania’s FlyLili later began operating Arkia flights to Vienna.

Additional carriers returned during April. ALK Airlines began operating Athens flights for Blue Bird, while Tus Airways resumed service to Larnaca and Rome before adding Paphos and Prague.

Uzbekistan Airways also returned, while Etihad Airways and Ethiopian Airlines resumed their Israel routes. Red Wings restarted service to Moscow.

Greek airlines gradually followed. Sky Express returned in April, while Aegean resumed flights to Athens and subsequently restored service to Rhodes, Larnaca and Heraklion.

FlyOne, Belavia, Cyprus Airways, Azimuth and other carriers also resumed operations.

The trend continued in May, with Romania’s TAROM, Azerbaijan Airlines, Centrum Air and Smartwings returning to Ben Gurion Airport. Trade Air, Hello Jets and European Air Charter also began operating flights on behalf of Israeli airlines.

One of the most significant returns came on May 28, when Wizz Air resumed service to Israel. LOT Polish Airlines followed several days later, while Austrian Airlines and Bulgaria Air returned in early June.

The list continued to grow over the summer. Italian carrier Neos returned in June and later began operating Arkia’s New York flights. Uzbekistan’s Qanot Sharq also resumed service, while Air Europa restarted flights in late June.

July brought another major wave of returning airlines, with airBaltic, Lufthansa and ITA Airways resuming flights on July 1. Air France followed on July 3, while Eurowings later returned with service to Hamburg and Düsseldorf.

Swiss resumed flights on August 1, followed by Condor on August 2. Condor’s return marked its first service to Israel in decades. Brussels Airlines resumed operations on August 5.

More airlines are now preparing to return.

Animawings is expected to resume service to Bucharest with three weekly flights, while two major U.S. airlines are scheduled to restore service in September.

Delta Air Lines is expected to resume its New York route on September 6, while United Airlines is scheduled to return to Ben Gurion Airport on September 8 with service to Newark.

The return of the American carriers is expected to significantly increase options for travelers between Israel and the United States, particularly following months of limited nonstop service between Israel and the New York area.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The following is an unedited press release submitted by Satmar Williamsburg to YWN:

Rabbi Zalman Leib Teitelbaum warns against branding the mayor an antisemite and urges observant Jews to follow the Torah’s guidance for life in exile:

NEW YORK — August 9, 2026 — Grand Rebbe of Satmar Rabbi Zalman Leib Teitelbaum strongly condemned the campaign of attacks against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during his major annual address marking the yahrzeit—the anniversary of a person’s passing as observed on the Jewish calendar—of Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, the founding Grand Rebbe of Satmar.

Addressing one of the largest and most significant annual gatherings of the Satmar community, the Grand Rebbe warned that the rhetoric being directed against Mayor Mamdani by members of the Jewish community violates the traditional Torah approach to relations with government and risks dangerously provoking hostility toward Jews.

“Recently, we have witnessed a terrible provocation against the nations by heimishe Yidden—through the incitement against the Mayor of New York City,” the Grand Rebbe declared.

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Invoking the Prophet Jeremiah’s instruction to the Jewish people to seek the peace of the city in which they live and to pray on its behalf, the Grand Rebbe emphasized that observant Jews must conduct themselves according to the Torah’s guidance for Jewish life in exile.

“We must remember that we are in exile,” he said. “The Prophet Jeremiah instructed the Jewish people: ‘Seek the peace of the city to which I have exiled you, and pray to Hashem on its behalf.’ An observant Jew must follow the Torah’s path and accept the decree of exile.”

The Grand Rebbe specifically condemned efforts to denounce Mayor Mamdani and brand him an antisemite.
“To denounce the mayor and brand him an antisemite constitutes a true provocation against the nations,” he said. “As though the provocation against the nations taking place in Eretz Yisroel were not enough, they are now bringing it here to the United States as well.”

He concluded by urging Jewish families to guard their homes against publications and messages influenced by Zionist ideology.

The remarks were delivered on the 47th yahrzeit of Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, who reestablished the Satmar community in the United States following the Holocaust and became one of the most influential Orthodox Jewish leaders of the twentieth century. Opposition to Zionism and adherence to the traditional Torah principles governing Jewish life in exile were central foundations of his teachings.

The Grand Rebbe’s address represents one of the clearest and most forceful condemnations to date of the attacks directed at Mayor Mamdani from within segments of the Orthodox Jewish community.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Sen. Bernie Sanders is calling on Democratic Party leaders to end super PAC participation in Democratic primaries, arguing that the fundraising groups have created what he described as a “corrupt system.”

In a letter shared with CBS News, Sanders addressed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin. He argued that billionaire-funded super PACs are spending enormous sums to influence Democratic primaries despite, in his view, having no particular interest in seeing Democrats win.

Sanders pointed to the Michigan Senate race, where Democratic candidate Haley Stevens received more than $50 million in outside support, including $30 million from AIPAC. Sanders wrote that AIPAC is now reportedly planning to spend “tens of millions” to support Republican Mike Rogers, the opponent of Abdul El-Sayed in the general election.

“What is particularly obscene is not only the outrageous amount of money coming into Democratic primaries from billionaire-funded super PACs, but the reality that these special interests have no particular desire to see Democrats win,” Sanders wrote.

He also called for a constitutional amendment to repeal Citizens United, legislation allowing public financing of elections, and an immediate Democratic Party ban on super PAC participation in primaries.

“I urge you to take action and make clear that the Democratic Party will no longer maintain this corrupt system,” Sanders wrote, adding that “the time to act is now.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Senior officials on President Donald Trump’s Peace Council are pushing back against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s public rejection of a 15-point Gaza framework, arguing that Israel is already complying with the agreement in practice.

According to the officials, the key measure is not what Israeli leaders are saying publicly, but what is actually taking place on the ground.

“We are looking at the actions in practice, less at the statements and declarations,” the officials told Ynet. “In practice, Israel has stopped the targeted killings and is maintaining the ceasefire.”

The officials claimed that despite Netanyahu’s repeated statements rejecting the 15-point document, Israel’s actions are consistent with its provisions.

“In practice, Israel is implementing the 15-point agreement,” the officials said. “The IDF is positioned along the original Yellow Line — 53% of the Gaza Strip — and there are no outposts or forces beyond the Yellow Line. Israel is implementing the 15-point document, even though verbally it rejects it.”

The officials added that Israel would benefit diplomatically if its public statements more closely reflected its actions on the ground.

“It would of course be preferable for Israel if its declarations matched its actions in practice, and it would enjoy the diplomatic advantage of its compliance with the terms of the agreement,” they said.

Netanyahu, however, has publicly and repeatedly rejected the 15-point document.

“Israel rejects the 15-point document,” Netanyahu said several days ago. “I heard people saying, ‘You didn’t say it.’ So here I am saying it again: Israel rejects the 15-point document. The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed.”

Netanyahu also stressed that Israel’s demand for Hamas to disarm means the complete removal of its weapons, rather than a partial or symbolic disarmament.

“When I say disarming Hamas, that means the heavy weapons, the less-heavy weapons — all the weapons,” Netanyahu said. “We are talking about real disarmament, not fictitious disarmament.”

The prime minister said Israel remains in discussions with the United States over the issue, adding that some American proposals are acceptable to Israel while others are not.

“We know how to stand up to these things,” Netanyahu said. “We proved it in the past, and we are proving it today as well.”

Netanyahu added that the IDF would continue acting against threats to Israeli troops and civilians.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian revealed that he recently held a seven-hour meeting with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, describing the lengthy discussion as “very good.”

Pezeshkian disclosed details of the meeting while speaking with political party leaders and activists at Iran’s Interior Ministry, saying his conversation with Khamenei lasted seven consecutive hours and covered a range of pressing issues facing the country.

According to Pezeshkian, much of the discussion centered on the economic hardships facing Iranian citizens, including employment, housing and the impact of continued economic sanctions. The two also discussed ways for the government and the Iranian public to confront the country’s economic challenges.

Pezeshkian said Khamenei placed particular emphasis on maintaining national unity and cohesion, while warning against what he described as attempts by Iran’s enemies to create divisions within the country.

“There may be disagreements inside the house, but outwardly we will speak with one voice so that our enemies know that Iran stands firmly in defense of its independence,” Pezeshkian said.

Addressing Iran’s ongoing economic difficulties, Pezeshkian acknowledged the frustrations facing ordinary citizens and pledged that his government would continue working to address them.

“If you see shortcomings and difficulties, know that we feel ashamed, but we will do our utmost to serve you and solve the problems,” he said.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

An extraordinary display of Hashgacha Pratis unfolded at Camp Chazon in the French mountains after a fire tore through one of the camp’s dormitories — while every single camper and staff member was safely away from the premises.

A group of 60 bochurim from England were staying in a chalet in the French mountains. Yesterday, they traveled to Switzerland to visit Glacier 3000. Upon their return, they discovered that one of the dormitories had caught fire and was completely engulfed in smoke.

The hashgacha was striking.

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For the first time in two weeks, the entire camp — nearly 80 people including all staff — were out of the building on the trip. Not a single person was injured or harmed.

It also occurred on the final day of camp, meaning accommodation only needed to be arranged for one night. In addition, the camp had already been largely cleared and cleaned, which helped prevent the fire from spreading further.

Remarkably, none of the other buildings — including the beis hamedrash — were affected at all.

And most incredible of all: although the fire destroyed almost everything in its path, nearly every pair of tefillin was miraculously saved, left untouched on beds that were otherwise burned to a cinder.

Chasdei Hashem!

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israel’s Health Ministry and Magen David Adom have issued a request to the public for blood donations due to a significant shortage of blood supplies, particularly Type O blood.

Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar Siman Tov said: “We need to regularly replenish the blood supply, and I call on the public to come and donate.”

“If more than three months have passed since your last donation, come and donate again. Donating blood is a simple act that saves lives, and it is part of our mutual responsibility and the responsibility we all share, both in routine times and in emergencies.”

Potential donors can click on the MDA website or call 03-530040 for more information.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Syrian internal security forces announced that they captured an ISIS cell in the city of Khan Arnabah in the Quneitra Governorate in southern Syria on Sunday, Kan News reported.

The city is located just a few kilometers from the Israeli border in the Golan Heights.

According to the report, Syrian internal security forces said in a statement that the cell was involved in collecting weapons, transferring explosive devices and equipment for manufacturing explosives, as well as carrying out other activities to facilitate the movement of ISIS terrorists.

The captured cell numbered nine terrorists, including its leader, Musab Khalil al-Sheikh, who is known by the nickname “al-Sini.”

Last month, Syria thwarted an attempt to smuggle weapons and missiles across the border with Iraq. According to the authorities, an investigation into the incident found that the weapons were intended to reach Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Syrian security forces stopped the smuggling operation when they intercepted a truck loaded with weapons near the Iraqi border. Syria’s Interior Ministry said that the truck contained 150 explosive drones, long-range missiles, and anti-tank missiles.

In June, IDF soldiers eliminated the members of a terrorist cell in the security zone in southern Syria who were believed to be on the way to Israel to carry out a mass attack.

As YWN reported on Sunday, the IDF has established nine military positions in Syria in recent months with the aim of preventing hostile elements from operating in the area or infiltrating Israel.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

An unusual incident occurred over the weekend on an Arkia flight from Amsterdam to Israel, after it was discovered while the aircraft was already taxiing toward the runway that one of the passengers on board did not have a ticket for that flight. As a result, the aircraft was forced to return to its parking position at the airport.

Eran, a passenger on the flight, told Mako that during preparations for takeoff, the pilot informed the passengers that the aircraft would have to return to the gate. He said the flight attendants later explained that there was a security incident involving a passenger who had boarded without the proper ticket.

According to Eran, security personnel arrived at the aircraft shortly afterward and removed the passenger.

“Within a few minutes, security personnel arrived and took him off the plane,” Eran said. “How is it possible for someone without a ticket to reach the boarding gate, get past the flight attendants during the final check before boarding, and sit down on a plane about to take off for Israel? This is not a routine delay, but a serious security failure that requires an investigation and clear explanations.”

Eran added that the passengers were not given a clear explanation of what was happening during the incident.

“We were not given proper information, and we did not receive clear answers to our questions,” Eran said. “People were stressed. There was a feeling that some of those involved did not understand the seriousness of the incident or the distress of hundreds of passengers who had been confined inside the aircraft for a long time.”

After the passenger was removed from the aircraft, the flight did not immediately depart. A technical malfunction was subsequently discovered on the plane, resulting in an additional delay before takeoff.

Arkia said in a statement: “During preparations for the departure of an Arkia flight from Amsterdam to Tel Aviv, while conducting a passenger count before takeoff, it was discovered that one passenger had mistakenly boarded the aircraft while holding a ticket for another flight.

“The passenger, who had no luggage with him, had undergone all screening and security procedures at Amsterdam Airport. As soon as the mistake was discovered, he was removed from the aircraft and transferred to the flight for which he was booked.

“We emphasize that the technical malfunction subsequently discovered on the aircraft, which caused the plane to return to the gate before departing again following repairs, was entirely unrelated to the passenger incident. These were two completely separate incidents.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The new right-wing parties recently formed by Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein and Chili Tropper and Yoaz Hendel fail to cross the electoral threshold, Kan News reported on Sunday evening, citing a poll conducted by the Kantar Institute.

The poll shows the Likud and Yashar, led by Gadi Eisenkot, tied at 23 seats each. Yair Golan’s Democrats party and Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu party secure 10 seats each, while Otzma Yehudit, UTJ and Shas receive eight seats each.

The Ra’am Party secures six seats, and the Religious Zionist party and Hadash-Ta’el each take five seats.

As for suitability for prime minister, Netanyahu continues to lead Bennett by 41% to 31%, virtually unchanged from the previous poll. Netanyahu, however, widened his lead over Eisenkot from four percentage points in the previous poll to seven, with 41% saying Netanyahu is more suitable to serve as prime minister compared with 34% for Eisenkot.

In a head-to-head matchup between Bennett and Eisenkot, the Yashar chairman leads with 31%, compared with 20% for Bennett. The 11-point gap is half the 22-point margin between the two candidates in last week’s poll.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Officials in a Middle Eastern country advised officials in another country to reach an agreement with Israel in order to “lull it to sleep,” while simultaneously preparing for a large-scale military confrontation against it, Kan News revealed on Monday morning, citing a foreign source.

According to the report, during talks between the sides, the officials told their counterparts that they should reach an agreement with Israel in order to violate it afterward, while continuing their preparations for war.

Journalist Roi Kais, who presented the report, noted that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar adopted precisely the same approach, lulling Israel to sleep by signaling that he was prepared for “quiet in exchange for quiet,” while at the same time preparing the plans for the October 7 massacre.

The revelation raises troubling questions about whether Israel, in a post-October 7 world, is once again falling for the “conceptzia” of reaching peace with its neighbors.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

In a first boost for the new party founded by former Likud MKs Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein, former Beit Shemesh Mayor Aliza Bloch announced Monday morning that she is joining the party.

Bloch’s announcement follows several weeks of talks with Erdan and Edelstein, as well as discussions with figures from other parties. She is the first prominent public figure to officially join the new party, which has yet to be named.

Last week, it was reported that Likud attempted to prevent Bloch from joining the new party by offering her a reserved spot on the party’s Knesset slate. Bloch rejected the offer, while her talks with Erdan and Edelstein continued, culminating in an agreement over the past day.

Her decision comes four days after Erdan and Edelstein announced the formation of their new party, which has made the hatred of Chareidim in the guise of “military enlistment for all” the center of its platform.

At the party’s launch, Erdan stressed that it would not provide the 61st seat needed to form a narrow government — whether headed by Binyamin Netanyahu or Gadi Eisenkot. He said the party is intended “for right-wing voters who voted for the coalition and do not want to continue perpetuating draft evasion, and for right-wing voters in the opposition who do not want a left-wing government.”

A new poll published by Kan News on Sunday evening indicates that the new parties established by Erdan and Edelstein and Yoaz Hendel and Chili Tropper would not pass the threshold if elections were held today.

Meanwhile, Channel 13 journalist Michael Shemesh reported that Naftali Bennett approached Erdan several months ago to explore the possibility of political cooperation.

Erdan declined to meet with Bennett, and no meeting ultimately took place. According to the report, Erdan’s refusal stemmed from his opposition to the former “change government” and his reservations about cooperating with parties that had participated in it.

Bennett’s office responded: “Former Prime Minister Bennett is working and will continue to work to create a Zionist government so that together we can fix Israel.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

In recent days, the IDF has halted proactive strikes in the Gaza Strip, shifting from a policy of offensive operations to one of near-total restraint.

The report comes after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced during Sunday’s security cabinet meeting that Israel is rejecting the Peace Council’s 15-point plan for Gaza, declaring that the IDF will not withdraw from the Strip until Hamas has been fully and genuinely disarmed. Channel 12 later reported that Trump administration officials were not concerned by Netanyahu’s declaration, viewing his remarks as driven by election considerations and noting that Israel has, in practice, refrained from carrying out strikes in Gaza for the past five days.

Commanders told Ynet that any operation beyond the Yellow Line — even opening fire on armed terrorists — now requires approval from the highest levels, with some strikes requiring direct authorization from the IDF Chief of Staff. Senior officers and soldiers said that while targeted killings had previously been carried out on a daily basis thanks to broad operational freedom, the Gaza Strip has now been almost completely quiet.

The shift marks a significant departure from the IDF’s previous policy, under which troops, guided by military intelligence, carried out daily targeted strikes against terror targets.

“There were targeted killings here every day, sometimes several times a day,” one officer said. “We were hunting them down. They felt hunted and kept moving from place to place, but because we were constantly pursuing them, many operational opportunities arose. When you don’t have to seek approval from too high up the chain of command, you can act quickly and take advantage of those opportunities. Now it’s quiet. There’s nothing happening.”

Officers emphasized to Ynet, however, that the new policy does not place IDF troops in Gaza in immediate danger, since forces remain authorized to respond immediately to threats. Battalion commanders on the ground can eliminate any immediate threat to their forces without waiting for higher-level approval.

Nevertheless, an officer interviewed for the report warned against the shift to a static posture, saying Hamas is likely to exploit the quiet to rebuild its capabilities. He compared the situation to the period in Lebanon following Operation Northern Arrow, when IDF forces enjoyed broad freedom of action against Hezbollah before the “ceasefire” took effect.

“We were constantly firing at Hezbollah terrorists there, and we had freedom of action until Operation Roaring Lion. It’s true that the situation was different because they had been pushed back, but in terms of the use of fire, we were routinely striking them without coming under fire ourselves. The same was true in Gaza. Now that has changed.”

Soldiers stationed in Gaza told Ynet that the enemy quickly recognizes and exploits changes in the IDF’s operational behavior.

“They see what’s happening. They’re not stupid. After months of constantly hearing strikes, suddenly everything is quiet. They understand that something has changed,” one officer said. “I assume they’ll start rebuilding things they wanted to rebuild but couldn’t while the strikes were continuing. The terrorists haven’t disappeared. They’re trying to adapt to the new situation.”

Another officer serving in Gaza said: “No one is under any illusion that Hamas is going to disarm. It’s only a matter of time before something happens — tunnels, weapons transfers or something else — and then we’ll return to the previous approach.”

In addition, although IDF troops remain authorized to respond to threats within the Yellow Line, the rules of engagement there have also changed.

“We are stunned by the recent change in the rules of engagement,” a reserve officer told Ynet. “Going from the straightforward order to neutralize any enemy who crosses the Yellow Line toward us to a suspect-arrest procedure that ends with a shot to the legs is the beginning of a slippery slope.”

“The command has become complacent and believes Hamas is deterred, but we can see them reorganizing, and we know that the crossings of the Yellow Line are part of a systematic effort to test our deployment. The enemy has the intent, the means and the ability to carry out significant offensive operations.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Ukraine has purchased 70 U.S.-made M39 ATACMS ballistic missiles and 12 M270 multiple launch rocket systems from Turkey as part of a major weapons package that also includes tens of thousands of cluster munitions.

The planned transfer was disclosed in a U.S. State Department report published in the Congressional Record on August 6. The documents were submitted to Congress on August 3, beginning a mandatory 15-day review period before U.S. authorization for the re-export can take effect.

Because ATACMS and the M270 systems are American-made, Washington’s approval is required before Turkey can transfer them to Ukraine.

Congress does not need to hold a separate vote approving the transaction. Unless both chambers pass a joint resolution blocking the transfer during the 15-day review period, U.S. consent will automatically take effect.

With the House currently in recess until August 31 and the Senate until September 14, the congressional review window is expected to expire without lawmakers taking action to stop the transfer.

The package includes 70 M39 ATACMS missiles, an early variant of the Army Tactical Missile System capable of carrying a cluster warhead, along with 12 M270 tracked multiple launch rocket systems.

Ukraine is also set to receive 2,524 unguided 227mm M26 rockets equipped with DPICM cluster warheads.

Another 47,000 M509A1 203mm cluster artillery shells are included for use with heavy artillery systems such as the Soviet-designed 2S7 Pion and the U.S.-made M110 self-propelled howitzer.

The weapons transfers are expected to be handled by Turkish, Bulgarian and American defense and logistics companies acting as authorized exporters.

The acquisition would provide Ukraine with a significant new stockpile of long-range missiles and heavy munitions as Kyiv continues its war against Russia and seeks to replenish weapons expended during years of fighting.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Saudi Arabia hosted the International Nuclear Science Olympiad for the first time in the Middle East, bringing together 120 students and scientific experts from 19 countries for a program focused on nuclear science and technology.

The competition, held in Jeddah, included studies in nuclear physics, radiation protection, peaceful applications of radiation, and practical training involving nuclear measurements and experiments.

The event comes weeks after Saudi Arabia received approval to move forward with the construction of a nuclear reactor, drawing additional attention to the Kingdom’s rapidly developing nuclear ambitions.

Twelve of the 19 participating countries were Muslim-majority nations, including two countries bordering Israel — Jordan and Syria. Turkey and Pakistan, which have strengthened security ties with Saudi Arabia, also participated.

The full list of participating countries included Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mongolia, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand and Turkey.

The International Nuclear Science Olympiad was approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2024.

According to the IAEA, the competition is intended to promote the safe and peaceful use of nuclear technologies, encourage young people to pursue careers and education in nuclear science, and foster innovation in nuclear applications.

The event also provided participants with hands-on scientific training, including nuclear measurements, alongside theoretical instruction.

Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the competition comes as Riyadh continues expanding its involvement in nuclear technology and pursuing plans for a domestic civilian nuclear program.

The Kingdom has repeatedly maintained that its nuclear ambitions are focused on peaceful purposes, including energy production, while developments surrounding the program continue to receive close attention across the Middle East.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Quebec government has revoked the operating licenses of three Belz educational institutions in Montreal: a kindergarten, Talmud Torah, and yeshiva ketana, serving approximately 600 students, shortly before the start of Elul zman.

Authorities said the decision followed a series of educational and safety deficiencies identified during inspections. Among the issues cited were a shortage of qualified teachers who speak English or French, failure to meet required instructional hours in mandatory subjects, use of unapproved educational materials and deficiencies involving emergency exits.

Surprise inspections also reportedly found students spending school hours in areas used for davening, classrooms without teachers and staff members who spoke neither French nor English. The girls’ educational institutions are continuing to operate normally but remain under supervision.

The institutions reject the allegations and have sought an injunction from Quebec’s administrative court, arguing that the decision was based on “incorrect factual assumptions, inconsistent analysis and a disproportionate measure.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Artificial intelligence is no longer limited to analyzing genetic code. A new study shows that AI models can design entirely new viral genomes, with researchers successfully creating functioning viruses capable of reproducing inside bacteria.

Researchers from Stanford University and the Arc Institute used AI models to generate approximately 700,000 candidate genetic sequences. Of those, 16 ultimately became functioning viruses.

The study, published in the journal Science and reported by The New York Times, was deliberately restricted to viruses that cannot infect humans, animals, plants or fungi.

Researchers used the Evo 1 and Evo 2 AI models, which were trained on trillions of nucleotides, the basic building blocks of DNA. The models were subsequently trained using approximately 15,000 viruses from a family that includes Phi X-174, a tiny virus that infects E. coli bacteria.

From the roughly 700,000 sequences generated by the AI models, researchers selected 285 candidates they considered particularly promising. Scientists then produced their DNA and introduced it into bacteria.

Sixteen of the designs successfully developed into functioning viruses capable of reproducing.

According to the study, the newly designed viruses were at least as viable as Phi X-174, while some reproduced more rapidly than the naturally occurring virus.

Researchers say the technology could eventually have beneficial applications, including advancing genetic therapies, studying genomes and developing new tools to combat harmful bacteria.

At the same time, the breakthrough raises significant questions about the potential risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems capable of designing biological material.

The researchers emphasized that the experiment did not involve viruses capable of infecting humans and was specifically limited to bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria.

Still, the ability of an artificial intelligence model to generate genetic sequences that can be physically produced and become functioning, self-replicating viruses demonstrates how rapidly AI capabilities in biology are advancing.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Pentagon is pressing U.S. defense companies to sharply accelerate weapons production and delivery as the war with Iran continues to deplete American munitions stockpiles, according to a Defense Department memo obtained by The Washington Post. Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg told industry leaders they have 21 days to submit plans for substantially faster delivery schedules and increased production of critical weapons systems.

“Years-long development cycles are not acceptable,” Feinberg wrote. “We must dramatically accelerate our program schedules and expand our production capacity now.” The Pentagon is also asking companies to identify investments and facility expansions that could support higher and sustained order volumes, with Feinberg telling industry leaders to demonstrate their willingness to “put skin in the game.”

The scale of U.S. weapons use during the Iran war has intensified the pressure. The report says that during the first month alone, the U.S. fired more than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles and more than 1,000 Patriot and THAAD interceptors, while the Army used more than 1,300 tactical ballistic missiles during the opening weeks of fighting. A CSIS analysis cited in the report estimated that the global Patriot missile inventory fell from roughly 2,200 before the war to fewer than 827, while the THAAD inventory declined from 452 to fewer than 278.

The Pentagon has also been working with both traditional defense contractors and newer Silicon Valley companies. Officials have held meetings with representatives from companies including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Anduril and Palantir, while separate framework agreements have been pursued to expand missile production and acquire lower-cost weapons.

A major obstacle remains funding. Many of the Pentagon’s framework agreements are not final purchase contracts and require congressional appropriations before they can become binding orders. The broader effort is tied to a $1.15 trillion defense spending bill that remains stalled in Congress. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the Feinberg memo and said it is part of an effort to rebuild the U.S. defense industrial base and will help shape the fiscal 2028 budget.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Concrete plants established along the Gaza border to help seal Hamas tunnels are reportedly being transferred from Israeli control to full American management and funding, marking another expansion of the U.S. role in Gaza.

The facilities, located near Nahal Oz and Kerem Shalom, were established in recent months and have been operated by private contractors on behalf of Israel’s Defense Ministry.

The plants were built to produce the large quantities of concrete needed to seal underground tunnels discovered by IDF forces in Gaza, including tunnels still being located in areas along the Yellow Line.

According to a report by Army Radio correspondent Doron Kadosh, responsibility for the facilities is now being transferred to the U.S. command center in Kiryat Gat, which will assume responsibility for both their management and financing.

Contractors currently operating the concrete plants have reportedly been informed by Israel’s Defense Ministry that their employer will soon effectively become the United States.

The move raises questions about whether the facilities will continue to be used exclusively for sealing tunnels or could eventually be redirected toward reconstruction projects inside Gaza.

Neither Defense Minister Israel Katz’s office nor the Defense Ministry has commented on the report.

The development comes amid a growing American role in postwar arrangements for Gaza. Recent steps have included Israeli approval for a multinational force to operate in Gaza and a green light for reconstruction work to begin in Rafah.

Kadosh noted that the transfer of the concrete plants, when viewed alongside those developments and increased U.S. involvement in Israeli policy regarding Gaza, could indicate a broader shift in responsibility for developments inside the enclave.

The report also comes against the backdrop of President Donald Trump’s previous statements about the United States taking a major role in Gaza and its future, with Washington increasingly involved in security, reconstruction and diplomatic arrangements surrounding the territory.

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Tensions between Israel and the United States are deepening as Washington presses Israel to move toward ending active fighting in Iran, Lebanon and Gaza, Channel 13 reported.

Israeli security officials have protested to the political leadership in recent days over a demand that, while not explicitly included in the framework, has emerged in discussions between Israel and the United States: to halt targeted killings and moderate IDF operations in the Gaza Strip.

The United States wants Israel to end the fighting on all three active fronts. That message was also conveyed by U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper during his weekend visit to Israel. A senior IDF officer told Channel 13 that the American message to the military is to “move toward closing all three fronts.”

Regarding Iran, the IDF has told its American counterparts that Israel intends to preserve the option of acting if intelligence indicates that Iran is continuing to advance toward a nuclear capability or rebuild its ballistic missile array.

In Lebanon, the Americans want the IDF to withdraw from additional positions in the security zone in the south of the country. In Gaza, Washington wants to see progress and the deployment of the multinational force, which currently includes several hundred troops from Morocco and Uganda.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the opening of Sunday’s Cabinet meeting that “Israel rejects the 15-point document,” and said the IDF would not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is fully disarmed.

“The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed, and when I say Hamas is disarmed, that means the heavy weapons, the less-heavy weapons, all the weapons. Real disarmament, not fictitious disarmament,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israel is now discussing the issue with the Americans.

Netanyahu said the Americans have ideas, some of which Israel accepts and some of which it does not, and stressed that the IDF will continue thwarting threats against Israeli forces and civilians.

On Iran, Netanyahu said he greatly appreciates President Donald Trump and the historic partnership with the United States against Iran’s attempts to arm itself with nuclear weapons. “With an agreement or without an agreement, as long as I am prime minister, Iran will not have nuclear weapons,” he said.

Addressing Lebanon, Netanyahu said Israel has operated forcefully there in recent days, eliminating terrorists, including in the Ali Taher Ridge area, and said Israel remains engaged in an important operation to eliminate threats.

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Israel is considering Switzerland as a possible country to provide a civilian force to supervise implementation of a future agreement with Lebanon, i24NEWS reported, citing sources familiar with the negotiations.

Senior Swiss officials have held several meetings in Jerusalem and Washington in recent months, including in February, as Switzerland has emerged as one of the leading candidates for a supervisory role.

During the latest round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in Rome, Israeli officials made clear that there would be no expansion of the existing buffer zone before examining how the current zones function. Israel also rejected several other possible supervisory arrangements, including Turkish or Qatari involvement, and said international courts in The Hague would not be acceptable for overseeing implementation of the agreement.

Switzerland is being considered in part because Swiss Ambassador to Israel Simon Geissbühler has strong relations with Israel’s political leadership, while Switzerland also maintains close ties with the Lebanese government. Sources involved in the talks said Switzerland has a proven record as an independent country in similar missions and is viewed as an option Israel could accept.

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U.S. law enforcement authorities reportedly thwarted multiple credible threats targeting soccer superstar Lionel Messi during the 2026 World Cup, including alleged plots involving explosives and assault rifles.

According to a Spanish media report citing leaked classified documents from an FBI joint investigation file, authorities confronted several serious threats against prominent players during the tournament, with Argentina captain Messi among the primary targets.

One of the most serious incidents reportedly occurred ahead of Argentina’s match against Jordan in Dallas. Authorities received an anonymous warning call claiming that three individuals were traveling toward the stadium armed with improvised explosive devices and AR-15-style rifles.

The caller allegedly threatened to attack police officers and players from both teams while specifically identifying Messi as the primary target.

Another major security scare occurred surrounding Argentina’s match against Egypt in Atlanta.

According to the report, an individual posted a threat on X claiming he intended to enter the stadium as a suicide bomber carrying four explosive devices and assassinate Messi.

Police also received an anonymous call claiming that three explosive devices had been planted inside trash cans around the stadium. Additional security personnel and canine units were deployed to conduct extensive searches of the complex.

The reported threats were not limited to Messi.

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was also reportedly targeted by credible threats during the tournament. Authorities arrested a suspect on June 16 at the Houston hotel where Portugal’s national team was staying.

French referee François Letexier was also subjected to an extraordinary wave of threats, reportedly receiving more than 6,000 death threats through his personal WhatsApp account during the tournament.

The incidents highlight the massive security operation surrounding the 2026 World Cup and the challenges facing U.S. authorities tasked with protecting some of the world’s most recognizable athletes amid threats against players, officials and tournament venues.

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The Trump administration has revoked the security clearance of former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, accusing him of disclosing classified information to the media about Air Force One, The Washington Post reports.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Kendall was being stripped of access to classified information and of his ability to hold any sensitive position following what he described as an “unauthorized disclosure of classified information regarding Air Force One’s capabilities.” Parnell added that safeguarding classified information is a “non-negotiable duty.”

Kendall, who served as Air Force secretary under President Joe Biden and previously held a senior Defense Department post during the Obama administration, denied revealing classified information and said he is considering his legal options. “I’ve been extremely careful to not say anything that could be classified, and as far as I know I have not said anything classified,” he told The Post. “So far no one has told me what I’m supposed to have revealed.”

Kendall had recently spoken to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal about the Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar that President Donald Trump is using as his official presidential aircraft. He told the Times he was “surprised to see this plane used outside the U.S.” given how quickly it was modified after being transferred to the United States, and told the Journal he was skeptical that the aircraft had been fully equipped with the security features Trump said it would have.

The White House said last month that Trump would tentatively return to using an older Air Force One while the Qatari-gifted aircraft underwent unspecified “additional upgrades and enhancements,” which were expected to take about a month.

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Israel and the United States have dramatically intensified their financial campaign against Hezbollah, targeting the terrorist organization’s banking network, smuggling routes and sources of Iranian funding in an effort to cripple its ability to finance both military operations and its extensive social-services network.

When fighting between Israel and Hezbollah resumed in March, some of Israel’s first targets were not rocket launchers or tunnels but financial institutions. Israeli fighter jets destroyed more than 10 branches of Al-Qard Al-Hassan, the financial institution that effectively served as Hezbollah’s banking system in Lebanon.

Additional strikes targeted currency-exchange businesses allegedly used by Iran to transfer funds to Hezbollah, as well as gas stations that generated revenue for the terrorist organization.

The campaign has been accompanied by close coordination between Israel, the Trump administration and the Lebanese government aimed at cutting Hezbollah off from its financial lifelines.

According to U.S. State Department estimates, Iran has historically provided Hezbollah with approximately $700 million annually, representing a significant portion of the organization’s budget. Tehran reportedly attempted to increase its support as Hezbollah faced enormous expenses from the ongoing conflict.

The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria in late 2024 dealt another major blow to Hezbollah by disrupting key land-based smuggling routes previously used to move weapons and money from Iran into Lebanon.

Iran subsequently sought alternative methods of transferring money, including through Beirut’s international airport. According to The New York Times, U.S. and Israeli officials said Iranian diplomats transported suitcases containing large amounts of cash aboard civilian flights.

Following warnings from Washington and Jerusalem, the Lebanese government took a series of significant steps to restrict the flow of Iranian money. Direct flights from Iran to Beirut were suspended, airport personnel considered close to Hezbollah were removed, and security officers coordinating with the United States were deployed.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also warned Iranian officials that Lebanon would not tolerate interference in its internal affairs.

At the same time, the Trump administration pushed for reforms within Lebanon’s financial system. Lebanon’s central bank governor, Karim Souaid, has moved to remove individuals linked to Hezbollah, increase oversight of money-transfer companies and tighten scrutiny of Lebanon’s cash-based economy, which Hezbollah has allegedly exploited for money laundering.

With access to conventional banking channels increasingly restricted, Hezbollah has reportedly become more dependent on informal hawala networks operating through countries including the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Iraq. Increased international scrutiny, however, has made those channels more difficult to use.

The financial pressure is now reportedly affecting Hezbollah’s support base within Lebanon’s Shiite community.

Hezbollah operates an extensive network of hospitals, schools and welfare programs, but the organization is increasingly prioritizing its military budget as available resources decline.

Hezbollah spokesman Youssef al-Zein acknowledged that the organization has completely frozen compensation payments previously promised to hundreds of thousands of displaced residents and families whose homes were destroyed during the fighting. Families had previously been promised payments of between $12,000 and $14,000.

While salaries for Hezbollah operatives and full-time fighters are reportedly still being paid in most cases, supporters have complained that medical assistance and reconstruction commitments have been suspended.

Hezbollah is now attempting to find alternative sources of cash, including establishing companies involved in gold trading and selling gold reserves and foreign-held gold.

The efforts come after Israeli strikes reportedly destroyed a significant portion of Hezbollah’s foreign-currency and gold reserves.

Despite Hezbollah’s history of adapting to financial pressure, the combined Israeli, American and Lebanese measures have reportedly left the terrorist organization facing one of the most severe financial crises in its history.

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The IDF is continuing its investigation into the deadly explosion in Majdal Zoun that killed two Israeli reservists, with the military increasingly assessing that the Hezbollah explosive device responsible for the blast was planted before the ceasefire took effect.

The fallen soldiers were Maj. Harel Birenstock, 34, from Nokdim, and Master Sgt. Tamir Vaknin, 33, from Eilat. Both served in the 2855th Battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade’s 55th Reserve Brigade.

According to a Ynet report, the IDF believes the explosive was an older Hezbollah device that had been planted before the ceasefire but remained undiscovered.

The military is now conducting an extensive investigation into how the explosive went undetected, particularly because IDF forces had been operating in and around the structure where the blast occurred for several weeks.

Despite the assessment that the device was planted before the ceasefire, the IDF has classified the deadly incident as a serious violation of the agreement. Military officials said that the killing of Israeli soldiers by an explosive device during the ceasefire constitutes a violation regardless of when the bomb was originally planted.

The investigation comes amid continued Hezbollah activity in southern Lebanon.

Over the weekend, it was revealed that Hezbollah recently launched an explosive-laden drone toward IDF troops operating in southern Lebanon. No soldiers were injured and no damage was reported.

The IDF did not initially disclose the drone incident, saying it would not publish information that, based on operational assessments, could endanger Israeli troops operating in combat zones.

The military is also closely monitoring developments in the southern Lebanese village of al-Mansouri, where residents have begun returning despite continued IDF activity in the area.

According to military officials, seven Hezbollah terrorists have been eliminated in the village over the past month. IDF forces continue surveillance and operations aimed at eliminating threats in the area.

Warnings have also been distributed to local residents informing them that the village remains within an active combat zone and that returning to the area could be dangerous.

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President Donald Trump signaled Sunday that he is prepared, for now, to allow mounting economic pressure on Iran to do more of the work rather than order a new military offensive, telling Axios, “We are low keying it.”

“We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money,” Trump said during a brief phone call. He said Iran is “in very bad shape” economically and lacks the money to pay its troops, adding that the U.S. naval blockade has worsened the regime’s economic crisis.

Trump also pointed to oil prices, saying that with crude slightly above $75 a barrel, American consumers are feeling less pain from the war. “It will work out. It always works out. It’s like a chess game,” he said.

The comments come as an agreement negotiated among Iran, Oman and the United States over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains stalled. Under the proposed arrangement, Iran would receive partial control over traffic in the strait. Qatari and Pakistani mediators had expected an announcement Wednesday, but the prospects for a deal have since faded.

Axios reports that Iranian officials are increasingly divided over how to proceed. One camp, led by President Masoud Pezeshkian, is deeply concerned about a possible economic collapse and favors reaching an agreement with Washington. Another, led by IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi, opposes making concessions.

On Saturday, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council chief, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, issued additional conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. They included demands that the U.S. never threaten or insult Iran, permanently end the war against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen and Iraq, lift the naval blockade and withdraw forces from areas surrounding Iran.

Zolghadr also demanded full compensation for war damages, the lifting of all sanctions and the release of frozen Iranian funds. The demands had previously been tied to a broader nuclear agreement but are now being presented as conditions for reopening the strait.

U.S. officials told Axios that Trump had been leaning toward resuming major combat operations against Iran about a week ago before deciding, for now, to de-escalate. One official said that when Iran is not actively fighting, the regime is forced to confront the damage to its infrastructure and the deepening economic crisis.

At the same time, around 8 million barrels of oil are moving out of the Gulf each night through the southern lane of the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the U.S. military, and U.S. officials say they intend to increase that flow while negotiations remain unresolved.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fallen to his lowest suitability rating for prime minister in recent months, with 31% of respondents backing him while 56% prefer a candidate other than Netanyahu, according to a Channel 12 poll.

The figure represents a six-point drop for Netanyahu in less than a month, from 37% in the previous poll. The gap between Netanyahu and respondents who prefer a candidate other than him now stands at 25 percentage points.

Asked what should happen if neither bloc secures 61 seats without the Arab parties, 23% favored a change government supported through abstention by the Arab parties, 22% preferred a unity government with Likud led by Netanyahu, 21% supported a unity government with Likud without Netanyahu, and another 21% preferred new elections.

On whether the ethnic background of a party leader affects voting intentions, 79% said it has little or no influence, while 13% said it has a significant influence. Among Netanyahu supporters, 80% said ethnic background has no influence. By contrast, 64% said whether a party is perceived as right-wing or left-wing has a significant impact on their vote, while 31% said it has little influence.

The poll also examined whether the change bloc could rely on Yoav Segalovich as a “61st vote” in forming a government, amid his expected move toward Mansour Abbas. Among the general public, 44% said the bloc could not rely on him and 28% said it could. Among change-bloc voters, 45% supported relying on Segalovich, while 27% opposed it.

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The Israeli government is set to approve an additional NIS 2.6 billion, approximately $700 million, for urgent Defense Ministry procurement amid intensified fighting and emerging operational needs.

According to the government decision, the funding will be used to purchase military equipment and weaponry urgently required by Israel’s defense establishment. Details of the specific equipment being acquired remain classified for security reasons.

The proposal has already been approved by the Ministerial Committee on Procurement and is being brought before the full government for approval on Sunday.

Security officials said the additional funding is intended to address immediate armament requirements that have emerged as Israeli forces continue operating across multiple fronts.

Under the current funding plan, NIS 1.5 billion will be redirected from money allocated for government interest and commission payments.

Another NIS 1.1 billion will be taken from the operating budgets and financial commitments of government ministries.

However, the government decision provides a mechanism that could reverse the cuts to individual ministries if the 2026 state budget receives final approval from the Knesset.

In that case, the NIS 1.1 billion would instead come from a dedicated budget allocation established under previous government decisions, allowing the ministries to recover the funding currently slated to be cut.

The emergency allocation comes as Israel continues seeking to replenish and expand military stockpiles following sustained combat operations and increased demands on the IDF’s weapons and defense systems.

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Despite billions of shekels invested in its development, Rafael’s advanced “Or Eitan” laser defense system remains non-operational in the IDF, approximately six months after the first system was delivered.

A senior defense official said that only one system has been transferred to the IDF so far, and it has yet to complete the process required to become operational.

Expectations for Or Eitan have been high because of its potential to dramatically reduce the cost of intercepting aerial threats. The system is designed to engage non-ballistic missiles, drones, mortars and UAVs at ranges of up to approximately 10 kilometers.

Unlike conventional missile interceptors that can cost tens of thousands of dollars or more, an interception using the laser is expected to cost only a few shekels.

However, six months after receiving the first system, the IDF has yet to take delivery of additional units, and officials have not publicly identified the primary reason for the delay.

Rafael officials said adjustments must be completed before Or Eitan can enter operational service. The delay comes despite comments approximately four months ago from Rafael chairman Yuval Steinitz, who estimated that completing the process would take only several days.

The slow deployment has generated disappointment given the technological achievement represented by the system, which has been described as a major global breakthrough in laser-based defense technology.

Once operational, Or Eitan is expected to serve as another layer in Israel’s air-defense network alongside systems such as Iron Dome. One possible factor behind the slow procurement of additional units is the budget pressure currently facing Israel’s Defense Ministry.

While each laser interception costs only a few shekels, the systems themselves are expensive, and nationwide coverage would require the deployment of a significant number of units.

Despite the delays, Rafael continues manufacturing systems for the IDF while expanding its work on laser technology, which the company views as a major component of future weapons systems.

Rafael is also developing additional technologies to counter drones as the Defense Ministry invests heavily in solutions to the growing UAV threat. Or Eitan is expected to ultimately operate as one of several systems tasked with countering such threats.

The company is simultaneously advancing development of an interceptor designed to counter hypersonic missiles amid concerns that Iran could employ such weapons in future conflicts. Hypersonic weapons are particularly difficult to intercept because of their extreme speed and ability to maneuver and evade detection.

Rafael is also working on next-generation naval defenses, including what a senior company official described as a “naval Iron Dome” concept involving technology capable of intercepting incoming torpedoes.

In the space sector, Rafael is focusing on the development of micro- and nano-satellites as it continues expanding its portfolio of next-generation defense technologies.

The developments come as Rafael reports strong international demand for its weapons and defense systems. Exports accounted for 63% of the company’s sales in 2025, when total sales reached NIS 21.7 billion, an increase of 10%.

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U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper visited Israel on Saturday, meeting with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and other senior Israeli military officials before departing for the United States, Kan News reported.

Cooper arrived in Israel following a series of meetings in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, as optimistic statements were heard from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and U.S. Vice President JD Vance regarding the possibility of moving closer to a new ceasefire agreement.

The United States continues to maintain a high level of military readiness across the Middle East, including in Israel. U.S. air defense systems remain deployed in the country, alongside dozens of refueling and fighter aircraft and thousands of American troops.

Cooper also held discussions on Gaza. Washington has been pressing Israel in recent weeks to move to the next phase in the Strip following the Board of Peace’s announcement of a plan for Hamas to disarm. Israel’s cabinet will be required to approve the new framework and timetable, which include a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza contingent on Hamas disarming and the technocratic government assuming its role.

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Pollster Shlomo Filber claimed Thursday that the political left is pursuing a strategy aimed at weakening the right-wing bloc by targeting the Chareidi public ahead of the upcoming elections.

Speaking in an interview with Galey Yisrael, he said, “The left is constantly trying to break up the right-wing bloc, and their latest effort is focused on the Chareidim.

“Their current mission is to suppress Chareidi voter turnout through a two-stage strategy: first, to create divisions within the Chareidi community and thereby discourage voting, and at the same time establish spoiler parties that will fail to cross the electoral threshold, simply to burn mandates.”

“This was created with a great deal of money and many Chareidi public relations professionals. It must also be said, unfortunately, that there are many collaborators within the Chareidi public who, for money from the left, are harming their own camp.”

Filber added that “as part of this effort, the latest project in the polls is to reduce Shas to six seats.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The IDF believes an explosive drone launched toward Israeli troops in southern Lebanon on Friday was part of a Hezbollah attempt to help terrorists escape from an underground complex near the Ali Taher ridge, Kan News reported.

The drone did not explode, and no injuries or damage were caused. The incident occurred during the ceasefire, and despite what Kan described as a blatant violation of the agreement, the IDF has not yet responded to it.

Over the past week, the IDF identified several attempts by terrorists to escape from the underground site. Some were eliminated, while others who came under attack managed to return inside. The military estimates that around 15 terrorists remain trapped in the complex.

A senior IDF official said the military would like to neutralize the site and eliminate the terrorists inside, describing it as the last location in the security zone where terrorists are known with certainty to remain. However, because of restrictions imposed by the political echelon following the agreement reached with the Lebanese government through U.S. mediation, the IDF currently does not have authorization to carry out offensive action.

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House Democrats are preparing a broad slate of investigations into President Donald Trump and his administration if they win control of the chamber in November, Reuters reports.

Senior Democrats and committee aides have discussed using hearings, subpoenas and document requests to obtain records from companies tied to Trump’s political and business orbit, as well as from the administration. The focus would include government decision-making, federal contracts, regulatory treatment and whether Trump used presidential power to benefit himself, allies or donors.

One senior Democratic aide said the effort is not being designed around impeachment. “We’re not going into this to impeach,” the aide said. “No one wants a failed vote on day one.” Instead, Democrats are focused on building a body of evidence through investigations that could hold Trump accountable.

Potential areas of scrutiny include Department of Homeland Security contracts, financing for Trump’s planned White House ballroom, corporate donors, alleged pay-to-play arrangements, and a Trump-linked financial vehicle that includes 1789 Capital, where Donald Trump Jr. is a partner. Democrats are also examining dealings involving major companies and contractors, though no final target list has been established.

Democrats have already begun laying the groundwork while still in the minority, sending letters to companies and organizations connected to potential investigations and requesting records that could later be sought by subpoena if they gain control of the House.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in June that Democrats have not ruled out impeachment if they win back the House, but lawmakers involved in the planning say it would remain an option only if investigations uncover evidence they believe meets the threshold for impeachment.

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Israel is already implementing key elements of the Gaza roadmap and ceasefire in practice, despite claims made during Thursday’s Cabinet meeting that major parts of the plan had not been approved, i24NEWS reported, citing a source close to the Board of Peace.

The source said Israel has completely halted its attacks and is maintaining a full ceasefire, while disputing claims that Israel currently controls 65% of Gaza. According to the source, IDF forces and military positions are in practice deployed along the original Yellow Line, covering roughly 53% of the Strip and not beyond it.

“Through its actions, Israel is implementing the 15-point roadmap, which in practice adopts the Sharm El-Sheikh agreement that led to the release of the hostages,” the source said.

The source added that the Board of Peace is beginning close monitoring to ensure all sides comply with the Sharm El-Sheikh agreement and the roadmap.

The comments came after Cabinet discussions in which concerns were raised about the roadmap and the agreement with Hamas, as well as claims that Israel had not approved the entry of the international force, signed off on implementing the Gaza roadmap, or committed to a two-week ceasefire.

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A 16-year-old yeshiva bochur died Sunday evening after falling from a significant height, apparently while rappelling near Keshet Cave in the Western Galilee.

The incident was reported at 6:10 p.m. to MDA’s 101 emergency center in the Asher region. EMTs and paramedics who responded to the scene initially reported that the bochur was unconscious. His death was later confirmed.

Officers from the Nahariya Police Station arrived at Keshet Cave and began handling the incident. Police said the initial report involved one of the climbers falling from a height, apparently during rappelling.

Numerous emergency, medical and rescue forces were dispatched to the scene, along with an IDF rescue helicopter.

The circumstances of the incident are being investigated.

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Israel is continuing preparations for the possibility of taking independent military action against Iran if necessary, Channel 13 reported, as uncertainty remains over whether Washington and Tehran will reach an agreement.

The Israeli preparations come as the United States continues efforts to bring the war to an end. Vice President JD Vance said, “Iran also wants to end the war. The question is whether it can give us what we want.”

At the same time, discussions inside the Trump administration have focused on the limits and risks of further military escalation. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine has raised concerns about available military options and the strain on U.S. interceptor stockpiles, while also telling President Donald Trump that if he chooses to continue the fighting, the United States could “destroy them completely.”

Israel, meanwhile, is maintaining preparations for a scenario in which it would have to act on its own against Iran.

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Israeli security officials are increasingly concerned that terrorist organizations could attempt to launch explosive drones from within Israeli cities, Channel 12 News reported.

According to the report, security officials have identified a significant increase in both the intent and capability of terrorist organizations to deploy explosive drones, including fiber-optic-controlled drones.

Officials warn that the possibility of launching such drones from within Israeli cities presents a complex new challenge unlike those the security establishment has faced in the past.

The threat has been discussed in several security assessments, including one led by Defense Minister Yisrael Katz. According to the report, officials concluded that there is currently no effective operational solution to counter the threat posed by explosive drones.

A security official warned that ordinary drones can be converted into weapons with relative ease. “Buying a drone and putting explosives on it is almost as easy as kicking a ball. The situation is not good right now. There is still a long way to go before we reach an effective solution,” he emphasized.

Channel 12 reporter Amit Segal recently reported that the drone threat has become one of Shin Bet chief Dovid Zini’s primary concerns.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

President Donald Trump is reportedly prepared to end the war with Iran without securing a comprehensive nuclear agreement, as his administration focuses on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and bringing the months-long conflict to a close.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump has in recent weeks laid the groundwork to declare victory if Tehran agrees to reopen the critical shipping route, even if broader disputes over Iran’s nuclear program remain unresolved.

The report comes as the White House believes an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz may be within reach. Such a breakthrough would allow Trump to argue that the U.S. achieved one of its central objectives in the conflict while easing pressure on global energy markets ahead of the midterm elections.

Iran, however, reportedly hardened its demands on Saturday. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, a senior official on Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said reopening the strait would require a permanent end to the war, the lifting of sanctions and the U.S. maritime blockade, the withdrawal of American forces, the release of frozen Iranian assets and the payment of war reparations.

The demands came shortly after another reported missile attack targeting a United Arab Emirates vessel.

The conflict, which began in late February, has driven up energy prices, with the average U.S. gasoline price now around $4.02 per gallon, increasing pressure on the Trump administration to find an exit from the fighting.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is considering accepting the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a temporary neutralization of Iran’s nuclear threat rather than insisting on an immediate comprehensive agreement. Trump has made clear that U.S. taxpayer money will not be transferred to Iran, though a partial release of frozen Iranian assets reportedly remains under consideration.

Some analysts believe Tehran’s escalating demands reflect its assessment that Washington is increasingly eager to bring the conflict to an end.

Vice President JD Vance, meanwhile, has said the United States is prepared to maintain economic and military pressure on Iran for as long as necessary. The White House has also stressed that military action remains an option as long as threats against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz continue.

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Iran has presented the United States with a series of sweeping demands as conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, despite ongoing negotiations with Oman aimed at restoring shipping through the critical waterway.

The Iranian demands include an end to U.S. military operations against Tehran and its allies in Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen and Iraq, changes to Washington’s regional policies, the lifting of the maritime blockade and economic sanctions, the withdrawal of American forces from areas surrounding Iran, payment of war reparations and the release of frozen Iranian assets abroad.

The conditions were outlined by senior Iranian national security official Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who said Tehran would not retreat from its demands either through military pressure or negotiations.

The hardline position comes despite recent optimistic comments from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who indicated that Iran and Oman were moving closer to an understanding over management of the Strait of Hormuz and a new route for commercial shipping.

Araghchi stressed, however, that understandings with Oman would not necessarily result in the immediate reopening of the strait. He linked further progress to what Tehran describes as U.S. violations of a memorandum of understanding reached with Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the United States continues to increase military and economic pressure on Iran. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News that Washington is using diplomatic, economic and military tools to secure the best possible outcome for the United States.

“The Iranians are suffering, and they want this thing to end,” Vance said.

An American official said Friday that progress in negotiations involving Oman could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the resumption of oil exports disrupted by the war that began five months ago.

According to the official, the United States would lift its blockade of Iranian ports once an agreement is announced guaranteeing the reopening of shipping lanes without interference.

The developments come as the Trump administration continues signaling that an agreement over the strategically vital waterway may be approaching, even as major differences between Washington and Tehran remain unresolved.

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A Chareidi child who disappeared in the Jordan River near Yesod HaMa’ala after a boat overturned was found without signs of life following hours of extensive search efforts.

The incident began after Israel Fire and Rescue Services received a report through its 102 emergency hotline that the child had fallen into the water when the boat overturned while he was on the river, and contact with him was subsequently lost.

Large forces were dispatched to the area, including firefighters and members of the Northern District Special Rescue Unit. Israel Police and additional rescue organizations also joined the operation, carrying out extensive searches in the water and along the river.

After hours of searching, the child was located in the water without signs of life. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated.

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Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced during Sunday’s security cabinet meeting that Israel is rejecting the Peace Council’s 15-point plan for Gaza, declaring that the IDF will not withdraw from the Strip until Hamas has been fully and genuinely disarmed.

“Israel rejects the 15-point plan,” Netanyahu said. “The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed.”

The prime minister stressed that he was referring not to a symbolic or partial measure, but to the complete dismantling of Hamas’s military capabilities.

“When I say the disarmament of Hamas, I mean the heavy weapons, the lighter weapons—every weapon. And we are talking about real disarmament, not fake disarmament.”

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According to Netanyahu, Israel is currently in discussions with the U.S. administration on the issue. “They have ideas. Some of them are acceptable to us, and some are not, and we know how to stand firm against those things,” he said.

Netanyahu also addressed recent reports of Israeli withdrawals from various fronts, arguing that they present a false picture of the situation on the ground.

“Over the past two days, we have been flooded with a wave of rumors about Israeli weakness and Israeli withdrawals on all fronts,” he said.

He added that some of the criticism is coming from the very people who previously urged Israel not to enter Gaza, not to operate in Lebanon, and not to strike Iran.

Regarding Lebanon, Netanyahu said Israel continues to act forcefully against Hezbollah threats.

“In recent days, Israel has acted forcefully in Lebanon, eliminating terrorists, including in the Ali Taher Ridge,” he said, adding that the operations are being carried out “with sound judgment and wisdom,” alongside operational determination.

Netanyahu also sought to clarify that Israel’s policy regarding Iran remains unchanged. He emphasized his ties with U.S. President Donald Trump and the cooperation between the two countries in preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

“With or without an agreement, as long as I am prime minister, Iran will not have nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu declared. “Because the existence of our precious country, the country of all of us—the existence of Israel—is not subject to negotiation.”

Netanyahu also addressed the issue of a Palestinian state, presenting an unequivocal position that Israel will not agree to the establishment of a Palestinian state under his leadership.

“As long as I am prime minister, there will be no Palestinian state—not in Gaza and not in Yehuda and Shomron,” Netanyahu said. “Neither a Fatahstan nor a Hamasstan.”

The prime minister reiterated that Israel would continue to act against security threats even within the framework of future arrangements.

“The IDF will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, Netanyahu stressed that these are red lines that are not open to negotiation. “The existence of Israel and the security of every Israeli citizen are not subject to negotiation,” he said.

He added that Israel has proven its ability to stand firm on its security interests even with its allies.

“We can and do stand our ground, even with our closest friends, when necessary,” Netanyahu said.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A horrific tragedy struck the Chareidi community in Lod on Sunday after a 5-year-old boy was R”L found unconscious inside a vehicle where he had reportedly been left for an extended period of time.

Emergency responders from United Hatzalah and Magen David Adom were rushed to Tzemach Tzadik Street after receiving reports of an unconscious child inside a car.

MDA and Hatzalah teams found the boy unconscious, without a pulse and not breathing, and suffering from severe signs of heatstroke. Paramedics immediately began advanced resuscitation efforts as the boy was transported to Shamir Medical Center-Assaf Harofeh in Tzrifin.

Despite the desperate efforts to save his life, doctors at the hospital were forced to pronounce the child dead.

Israel Police said officers from the Lod station responded to the scene and opened an investigation, collecting evidence to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

United Hatzalah renewed its urgent warning to parents and caregivers never to leave children or infants unattended inside a vehicle, even for a moment. The organization also urged members of the public to remain vigilant during the hot summer months and check parked vehicles if there is any possibility that a child may have been left inside.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The IDF has established nine military positions in Syrian territory in recent months.

One of the units operating there is Reserve Battalion 9308, commanded by Lt. Col. D., which is responsible for three of those positions.

Before deploying to Syria, the battalion served along the Lebanese border. “In Lebanon, if you identify someone, it’s generally much clearer that you’re dealing with an enemy because there are no civilians. Here, the main challenge is operating in an area with a civilian population,” he said.

“We maintain contact with the local residents through civil affairs officers and operate inside the villages,” he said, noting that the area’s population includes both Druze and Sunni Muslims.

The battalion’s primary mission is to prevent hostile elements from operating in the area or infiltrating Israel while minimizing harm to the local civilian population. “We operate in the buffer zone and move farther inside, because when we’re there, the residents of northern Israel are better protected,” he said.

Lt. Col. D. noted that there are unofficial understandings with the Syrian military, whose forces remain at a considerable distance. “We have full freedom of action and can carry out all necessary defensive operations.”

He added that the battalion is primarily confronting Shiite groups backed by Iran. “They are trying to use people inside Syria to attack our forces and the residents of Israel. Our mission is to thwart the cells operating in this area and push them back.”

Although he could not estimate the number of Iranian operatives and proxy forces in the region, he said the battalion has not yet encountered them in direct combat.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Chareidi soldiers who enlisted nearly two years ago in the “Tomer” Company—the Chareidi track within the Givati Brigade—told Ynet that the unit has been disbanded and that they have been reassigned to a regular company serving in Gaza, where they can no longer maintain the Chareidi lifestyle they were promised when they enlisted.

Speaking to Ynet, several soldiers described feeling betrayed. The soldiers enlisted in November 2024 under a framework designed to accommodate their religious observance. Several weeks ago, they were integrated into an operational company currently serving in Gaza alongside secular soldiers.

“We feel betrayed,” one soldier said. “They promised us something, and we came. People burned bridges with the communities they came from. Most of our company receives special welfare support for a reason. Many severed ties with their parents and families, knowing that even future marriage prospects could be damaged if people found out they enlisted. They sacrificed their past and their future to contribute to the country, and now no one seems to care.”

The soldiers said the specialized framework had ensured tefilla times and Torah study during training, but that conditions changed after they joined the battalion.

“We’re invited to events that are not gender-separated. During the Nine Days, they played music and served meat. There are many gaps that simply don’t fit our religious outlook,” one soldier said.

Others said they are now assigned to duties alongside female soldiers, including kitchen shifts and serving with female paramedics.

“During training they took care of everything, and then once we reached the battalion everything changed,” one soldier said. “Why doesn’t anyone care anymore?”

Another soldier described the atmosphere in Gaza. “We’re at an outpost in Gaza, and our way of life isn’t respected. They play music on Shabbos, take videos, and post them on social media. In our company, even the non-observant soldiers respected us. They wouldn’t turn on the television or use their phones in our room. Now we’re assigned kitchen duty with women. When we raise concerns, we’re told to refuse the assignment and face disciplinary action. So we end up working with them, even though that isn’t appropriate for a Chareidi soldier.”

The soldiers said they have appealed to commanders, the brigade rabbinate, and the IDF’s Chareidi Directorate, but their concerns have not been adequately addressed.

“We’ve spoken to everyone we can. Nobody takes us seriously,” one soldier said. “As far as they’re concerned, Tomer has been closed, and that’s the end of it.”

“The Chareidi Directorate told us the company could not continue and decided to dismantle it,” one soldier said. “The commanders told us they would stop recruiting Chareidi soldiers because the company had no future and would gradually be closed. It is very painful. It was an honor to serve in Givati, but when you dismantle a company built around a particular way of life, you are supposed to take care of its soldiers. We were promised we could maintain a proper Chareidi lifestyle.”

The IDF said that recruitment to Tomer Company ended with the December 2025 draft cycle as part of changes intended to improve Chareidi enlistment frameworks and better preserve the religious lifestyle of participants.

The military added that the remaining Tomer soldiers, whose numbers have naturally declined as no new recruits joined the unit, were integrated into another company in Givati “while making the necessary adjustments in coordination with commanders.” It claimed that “any issues that arise are being addressed by the relevant authorities.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)