Tal Yinon DerdikChaim Goldberg/Flash90

The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court ruled on Thursday that Tal Yinon Derdik will remain in detention until the end of the legal proceedings against him due to allegations that he violated the conditions of the administrative order that IDF Central Command Chief Avi Bluth issued against him.

Derdik was arrested after the Judea and Samaria District Police Prosecution Unit filed an indictment mere hours after he was taken for questioning.

According to the indictment, Derdik violated clear directives stated in the administrative order when he failed to arrive twice a day to sign at the Modiin Ilit Police Station.

In response to the developments, Derdik told his family and legal representatives: "I will not cooperate with Gen. Avi Bluth's draconian and offensive order. This is a fight not only against my order, but against the persecution of dozens of settlers who Avi Bluth issues administrative orders against. It is clear to all why he issues the orders; it is against the settlements and farms he wants to evacuate. This is his method of evacuating them. The only civilians in Israel who have administrative orders against them are residents of Judea and Samaria; we can not agree to this. I am starting a struggle against this; I do not agree to comply with the order. I will sit in prison and not sign that I'm willing to comply with this crazy order. We must stop Avi Bluth's persecution of the settlement movement."

During the court hearing, his attorney, Nati Rom of the Honenu legal aid organization, opposed the police request to keep his client in custody until the conclusion of the legal proceedings.

Rom criticized the position of the police prosecution and questioned the severity of the measure: “Since when is someone who fails to report to a police station kept in custody until the end of proceedings?" he challenged prosecutors during the hearing.

Tal Yinon Derdik is suspected of crimes of violence, abuse, and a serious and shocking indecent act against a Palestinian Arab. According to the police, during the incident, Jews attacked Arabs, including women and children, with clubs, tied up some of them, and committed an indecent act on one of the victims. Four victims needed medical attention.

Colonel Yonatan Steinberg OBMCourtesy of the family

The IDF struck in the Khan Younis area in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday and eliminated Ismail Ibrahim Darwish Kandil, a Nukhba terrorist in the military wing of the Hamas terrorist organization.

The terrorist infiltrated Israeli territory and took part in the killing of the Nahal Brigade Commander, Colonel Yonatan Steinberg, during the October 7th Massacre.

The military noted that recently, the terrorist advanced attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians and operated to restore the terrorist organization’s capabilities, in systematic violation of the ceasefire. The terrorist was eliminated to remove the threat he posed.

The IDF stressed that before the strike, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance.

Sylvan Adams and Ron DermerEden Shohat

Sylvan Adams, President of the World Jewish Congress Israel, and Ambassador Ron Dermer, former Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs, on Tuesday called for Israel to deploy its intelligence, cyber and strategic capabilities against what Adams described as a “global war" against the Jewish people, speaking alongside former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer at a major Los Angeles event focused on taking a stand against antisemitism, Iran and Israel’s changing strategic position.

The event, “Unite. Lead. Fight. - A Conversation with Ambassador Ron Dermer & Sylvan Adams," was organized by IAC Los Angeles and attended by Jewish college students. It was a stop on Dermer’s Unite. Lead. Fight. North American tour.

Adams and Dermer said Israel’s military achievements against Iran and its regional enemies had demonstrated the power of the Jewish state and argued that the same capabilities must now be brought into the global fight against antisemitism.

“This is a global war. It is a war being fought without bullets, but it is a war, and we do need to wake up and treat it as such, and deploy our formidable resources in fighting this war, and at the same time show solidarity with Jews in the Diaspora," Adams said.

“This is a threat to all Jews’ existence, including the State of Israel. Worldwide antisemitism is not organic. It is well funded, extremely well funded. It is also a threat to the State of Israel."

Adams, the son of Holocaust survivors, said the eruption of antisemitism immediately following October 7 had overturned assumptions he had held for decades.

“I had thought that ‘Never Again’ really meant never again. I thought that antisemitism was a fringe movement of extreme far-right neo-Nazi types, and I have to say I was completely wrong about that," he said.

Dermer said Jewish sovereignty had not eliminated antisemitism, but had transformed the Jewish people’s ability to confront it.

“Israel is not the cause or the cure for antisemitism. Israel just gave the Jewish people the power to fight back," Dermer said.

He called for Israel to bring state capabilities directly into the fight.

“Just like there is a war room in Israel dealing with Iran and dealing with Lebanon and dealing with Syria and dealing with Gaza, there has to be a war room that is focused on the war against the Jews," Dermer said. “When Israel was established in 1948, we were five percent of the world’s Jews. We’re closing in on 50 percent of the world’s Jews. With that power comes a responsibility, and we have to be in this fight."

Adams said Israel’s ability to assume that responsibility had been demonstrated by its military response since October 7.

“The trust was broken on October 7, but then we fought," Adams said. “We have fought back courageously, and also with amazing technological feats that sounded like science fiction, but still sound like science fiction, including the pagers in Lebanon and the way we took out all of Iran’s facilities in both campaigns."

Dermer argued that Israel had emerged from the past three years in a far stronger strategic position, citing the weakening of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, the degradation of its proxies including Hamas and Hezbollah and the fall of the Assad regime.

On Iran, he said the strategic opportunity lies with the Iranian people themselves.

“The people of Iran want to be free. They are our partners, and we have to support them," Dermer said. “When this regime falls, within five seconds, they’re going to join the Abraham Accords. Maybe they’ll call it the Cyrus Accords, and Iran is going to be the most important partner for Israel in the Middle East."

The discussion also addressed the future of the U.S.-Israel alliance, with Dermer arguing that Israel’s military, intelligence, cyber and technological capabilities would make it increasingly important to Washington.

“If you are the President of the United States, and you want to strengthen America for the next 50 years, your number one ally in the world is Israel," he said.

Adams and Dermer also rejected accusations that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.

“If this is the way we commit genocide, we are the most incompetent army in the entire world," Adams said. “The population of Gaza has grown over the last three years. By way of comparison, the world Jewish population has not recovered its numbers from 1938."

Dermer warned that the genocide accusation was not only an attack on Israel, but also endangers Jews across the world who support the Jewish state.

He called on Jewish organizations to respond more forcefully to antisemitism and to be willing to fight even when success is not guaranteed.

“The enemies of the Jews have to understand if you go after us, there’s going to be a price," Dermer said. “We’re going to lose battles. But in fighting those battles, we will restore deterrence."

Adams said Israel now has both the strength and the responsibility to act.

“We do need to wake up and treat it as a war," he said, “and deploy our formidable resources in fighting this war."

Wine-making in Judea and SamariaGershon Elinson/Flash 90

Stephen M. Flatow is an attorney and the father of Alisa Flatow, who was murdered in an Iranian-sponsored Palestinian terrorist attack in 1995. He is author of A Father’s Story: My Fight for Justice Against Iranian Terror (now available in an expanded paperback edition on Amazon.com) and is the chair of the Religious Zionists of America-Mizrachi. An oleh chadash, he divides his time between Jerusalem and New Jersey.

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband began his announcement of sanctions against Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria in an unusual way.

He talked about being Jewish.

Miliband described himself in the House of Commons as “a proud British Jew." He spoke movingly of his grandmother, who found refuge in Israel after the Nazis murdered her husband-Miliband’s grandfather-and 60 other members of their family. He recalled visiting her in Tel Aviv and picking oranges on the kibbutz where his cousins lived.

It was a powerful story. And it makes what followed all the more difficult to understand.

Having explained why the Jewish people needed a homeland, Miliband announced a British policy designed to economically isolate Jews living in part of that homeland’s historic heartland.

Britain will ban imports from Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria. It plans sanctions against companies and individuals providing construction, infrastructure, financing and real-estate services for settlement expansion. Britain will even prohibit the advertising of properties there and refuse export licenses for goods that it determines materially contribute to the “occupation."

Miliband insists this is not BDS. In fact, he told Parliament that he “wholeheartedly" opposes BDS.

Perhaps someone in Whitehall can explain the distinction to me.

When the British government tells its citizens that products made by Jews on one side of a particular line may not be imported, that British businesses may be sanctioned for helping Jews build homes there, and that British Jews cannot even advertise property there, the semantic distinction between this policy and a boycott becomes awfully thin.

Then Prime Minister Andy Burnham made the government’s thinking even clearer.

Defending the measures, Burnham declared that Britain must “stand for something" and added: “We will always stand with the underdog."

That may work as a slogan. It is a dangerous basis for Middle East diplomacy.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not a football match in which Britain gets to choose which side looks like the underdog and cheer accordingly. It is a century-old national conflict involving competing claims, repeated wars, terrorism, security, refugees, Jerusalem, borders and competing visions of national self-determination.

Peace requires resolving those issues. It does not require Britain to pick a favored side and punish the other.

Indeed, the agreements actually signed by Israel and the Palestinian Arabs precisely recognized that.

The Oslo framework explicitly left Jerusalem, settlements, borders, refugees and security arrangements for permanent-status negotiations. Oslo II went further, stating that nothing in the agreement should “prejudice or preempt" the result of those negotiations.

Yet Britain now says that, before Israelis and Palestinian Arabs have reached such an agreement, London will impose economic penalties based upon Britain’s preferred answer to one of those unresolved questions.

How does that encourage negotiations?

Why should Palestinian Arab leaders make difficult compromises across a negotiating table if foreign governments are increasingly willing to give them desired outcomes through boycotts and sanctions instead?

And there is another inconvenient problem with Britain’s policy: Palestinian Arabs work in the very communities Britain wants to economically isolate.

According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics-not an Israeli government agency-about 17,600 Palestinian Arabs were employed in Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria during the second quarter of 2026. Another approximately 35,000 'West Bank' Palestinian Arabs worked elsewhere in Israel.

Those 17,600 workers are not statistics. They are people supporting families.

Boycotting the businesses that employ them may make activists in London feel virtuous, but it will be considerably less satisfying to a Palestinian Arab worker whose employer loses customers and eventually eliminates his job.

If Britain genuinely wants Israelis and Palestinian Arabs eventually to live beside one another in peace, wouldn't encouraging economic interaction be more useful than tearing it apart?

None of this means ignoring any violence proven to have been committed by Jews against innocent Palestinian Arabs. Those who commit crimes should be arrested, prosecuted and punished.

But individual wrongdoing does not justify imposing economic punishment on entire communities.

That is especially important for Religious Zionists to say clearly.

We support the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria. We do so not because we deny the existence or aspirations of Palestinian Arabs but because Judea and Samaria are inseparable from Jewish history and Jewish identity.

Hebron is where Abraham purchased the Cave of the Patriarchs. Shiloh was the home of the Tabernacle before Jerusalem. Beit El appears throughout the biblical account of the Jewish people.

Jews did not discover Judea in June 1967.

One may argue about borders. One may negotiate political arrangements. One may disagree vigorously with decisions made by an Israeli government.

But the notion that Jewish presence in Judea is somehow alien to the land requires the erasure of several thousand years of Jewish history.

Which brings me back to Ed Miliband.

I do not question his Jewish identity or the sincerity of his gratitude toward Israel. His family story is moving precisely because it is our story too: persecution, survival, refuge and return.

That is why I wish he had followed his own story one step further.

Israel did not simply provide his grandmother with somewhere safe to live. The Jewish homeland exists because the Jewish people never stopped belonging to this land.

That history did not begin in Tel Aviv.

It began in places called Judea.

Britain can boycott their products. It can sanction their businesses. It can prevent British Jews from advertising homes there.

But it cannot boycott Jewish history.

...

Fmr. Amb. Friedman with Amishav MeletCourtesy

Former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman met on Thursday with Amishav Melet, a resident of the Shiloh area who was filmed last weekend by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee during his visit to the Arab village of Turmus Ayya.

Friedman did not mention Huckabee by name or directly criticize the Ambassador in his post about the meeting, but his comments implicitly pushed back against Huckabee’s portrayal of Melet as a threatening or disruptive figure. Instead, Friedman emphasized that Melet had been misrepresented by Arab residents of Turmus Ayya and that he was simply carrying out a security patrol.

"Enjoyed a cup of coffee this morning with Amishav Melet," Friedman wrote. "He’s the guy who the residents of Turmus Ayya tried to portray as a terrorist when all he was doing was driving a security patrol and bothering no one."

Friedman described Melet as "a vegan, a pacifist and a farmer," adding, "He wants nothing more than to work the land promised to the Jewish people by God."

"He says he harbors no hatred for the Palestinians, even though a Palestinian murdered his brother just six weeks ago," Friedman continued.

"The Jew-haters will need to get another poster child for their 'settler violence' campaign. This one won’t work (neither will any other)," he concluded.

Last Saturday, Huckabee visited Turmus Ayya, located near Ramallah, where he met Arab Americans living in the area and heard their accounts of violence and intimidation.

During the visit, Huckabee used his cellphone to film Jewish residents who approached the area where the delegation was gathered.

Sources who attended the event told Channel 12 News that Huckabee promised to personally send the footage to US President Donald Trump so that he could see for himself the settlers' attempts to "disrupt" his visit.

Following the visit, Huckabee wrote on X that he had visited Americans in Turmus Ayya "to hear disturbing stories of criminal & terrorist actions by a band of trespassers who brazenly roam through property of lawful property owners."

He added that he supports "Israelis living in Judea/Samaria where they have right to be," while stressing his opposition to violence and lawlessness.

After Shabbat, Melet identified himself as the driver of the security vehicle filmed by Huckabee.

"Dear Mike Huckabee," Melet wrote. "Well, that was me. I was the driver of the Ranger you filmed."

Melet said that a shepherd had reported seeing dozens of vehicles gathering near the edge of Turmus Ayya, in an area where he said Jewish residents had experienced repeated attacks and arson.

According to Melet, he entered the security Ranger to investigate and notified the IDF in accordance with security procedures.

"When we arrived and saw respectable people and media crews, we said hello and continued on our way," he wrote. "Shortly afterward, the army informed us that this was a proper, coordinated visit."

"That is the entire story," Melet added. "And yet, within minutes, we were portrayed in the media as 'dangerous settlers.'"

Chief Rabbi Ephraim MirvisEliran Aharon

In 2025, Netflix released a documentary entitled “Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever." It followed Bryan Johnson, a billionaire entrepreneur who has devoted his life to slowing, and even reversing, the ageing process. His regimen involved aggressive medical treatments, extreme lifestyle disciplines and a vast array of scientific experiments. Yet despite these extraordinary efforts, Johnson was diagnosed this year with autoimmune gastritis, an incurable condition affecting the stomach lining. His story serves as a powerful reminder that even in an age of unprecedented scientific achievement, there remain limits to what human beings can control.

It is human nature to prize certainty. We crave clear answers and cast-iron guarantees wherever possible. Recognising this, the Rambam observed that “there is no joy as great as the resolution of doubt." Whether waiting for a diagnosis, news from a loved one or clarity about the future, most of us would rather live with an answer than a question. By contrast, prolonged uncertainty can leave us feeling vulnerable and anxious.

Our community is no stranger to vulnerability. Over the past year, we have faced terror in our shuls and on our streets, alongside a tidal wave of anti-Jewish hatred across social media, university campuses and beyond. The Hebrew word for doubt, “safek", comes from a root meaning “enough". Doubt should therefore spur us to seek sufficient understanding and perspective to confront the uncertainty before us.

Fascinatingly, the word “doubt" does not appear in the Torah because, even in the most challenging circumstances, God’s presence is never absent. This is one of the central messages of Rosh Hashanah, reflected in King Avimelech’s observation about Abraham in our New Year Torah reading: “God is with you in everything that you do."

Abraham’s life was marked by hardship, upheaval and trial. Yet he achieved greatness because he knew he was in God’s hands. A meaningful Jewish life is not necessarily one free from pain or uncertainty, but one in which we find the strength to move forward despite them, and sometimes because of them.

Every morning in our prayers, we say: “Many are the intentions in the human heart, but the will of God will prevail (Takum)." Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe of the Be’er Yaakov Yeshiva offered a striking interpretation of these words. When we are paralysed by uncertainty and do not know which path lies ahead, God’s guidance is contained in the final word of the verse: “Takum". Stand up!

Stand tall as Jews. Be proud of who you are, even when it is difficult. Hold fast to your values, even when they are challenged. Do so knowing that the same God who sustained our ancestors through generations of uncertainty continues to sustain us today.

Not every question will be answered. Not every problem will be solved. But as we enter this Rosh Hashanah, we can face an uncertain future with confidence, faith and pride, knowing that whatever lies ahead, our community will continue to stand strong together.

Valerie joins me in wishing you all a sweet, fulfilling, safe and peaceful New Year.

Gadi EisenkotAvshalom Sassoni/Flash90

Tensions between Likud and Otzma Yehudit are escalating. Senior Otzma Yehudit officials claim that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is aiming to establish a unity government with Gadi Eisenkot after the elections and that, to this end, Likud has recently been working to weaken the party’s political strength.

According to the officials, Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has become convinced over the past month that Likud is seeking to isolate Otzma Yehudit and reduce its electoral strength. “That is their grand plan," they said. “The briefings coming from the prime minister’s circle only reinforce the assessment that there is genuine reason for concern."

Otzma Yehudit officials dismiss Netanyahu’s pledge to form a government based on the parties in the current coalition, arguing that in practice, the messages coming from Likud point to a different objective.

“If Otzma Yehudit is smaller, it will be much easier for Netanyahu to choose the option of a government with Eisenkot," they said.

The party also pointed to Likud’s election campaign, which emphasizes the message of a “broad government," while, according to the officials, messages about forming a right-wing government - common in previous election campaigns - have been almost entirely absent.

They also noted that Eisenkot himself has not ruled out the possibility of joining a government headed by Netanyahu, as well as the fact that Netanyahu has recently refrained from making joint appearances with Ben Gvir.

According to the officials, Netanyahu’s pattern of conduct is nothing new. They noted that in the past he formed governments with the Labor Party and Yesh Atid, and also attempted to establish a unity government with Benny Gantz.

“Netanyahu has decided that he is going with Eisenkot," the officials charged. “There will be no fight against the Attorney General, there will be no judicial reform; there will only be polite statesmanship. He is already heading in that direction."

The officials added that they believe Religious Zionism chairman and Minister Bezalel Smotrich would also be willing to join such a government if he were offered a significant position.

“Unlike him, Itamar Ben Gvir will not be able to sit in a government that does not advance the encouragement of emigration and judicial reform. As far as we are concerned, Netanyahu has already made up his mind to establish a Netanyahu-Eisenkot government."

Houthi rebels in Yemen (illustrative)Mohammed Hamoud / Anadolu

The renewed campaign in Yemen has reached a particularly sensitive strategic point: Houthi rebels have seized the Red Sea coastal city of Al-Mokha, three Yemeni government sources told Reuters on Thursday morning.

If their control of the city is consolidated, it could significantly expand the Houthis' ability to operate near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which they have threatened to close completely.

AFP also reported that the city had fallen to the Houthis. Eyewitnesses told the news agency that they saw rebel forces entering Al-Mokha while chanting, "Death to America, death to Israel."

Al-Mokha's significance extends beyond the battle for control of Yemen itself. The city is located near Bab el-Mandeb and approximately 80 kilometers from Perim Island, which lies at the narrowest point of the strait and is considered a key strategic point for controlling the maritime passage.

Opponents of the Houthis have recently warned that if the group were also to seize Perim Island, it would gain new options for disrupting shipping even without the use of long-range weapons. According to them, the Houthis could mine the strait, potentially requiring a large international naval force to break any control they establish over the area.

Bab el-Mandeb is a major shipping route connecting Asia and Europe through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Its importance has increased further since Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of its war with the United States in late February, a move that sent oil prices soaring.

If the Houthis gain control of Bab el-Mandeb, it could strengthen Iran's bargaining position with US President Donald Trump.

Interview | Attorney Nitsana Darshan Leitner

Attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, President of Shurat HaDin, warned that attempts to pursue IDF soldiers through legal proceedings abroad are escalating, as pro-Palestinian organizations monitor soldiers and veterans and seek their arrest in foreign countries.

Speaking to Arutz Sheva-Israel National News, Darshan-Leitner described the threat facing IDF soldiers, reservists, and veterans traveling overseas and outlined Shurat HaDin's efforts to provide them with legal assistance.

"There is an escalating threat against IDF soldiers being launched by pro-Palestinian organizations that are chasing IDF soldiers around the world, monitor them on social media, and once they enter a foreign country, they rush to this country, which has universal jurisdiction, and file arrest warrants against these IDF soldiers," she said.

In response, Shurat HaDin has launched an app called Shachpatz, named after the Hebrew word for a protective vest.

The app provides soldiers with information about precautions to take before traveling abroad, including guidance concerning their social media activity and instructions on what to do if they are detained or questioned in another country.

It also provides contact information for Israeli embassies and consulates around the world and allows users to contact Shurat HaDin's legal war room.

"We have 600 lawyers from 17 different countries ready to give legal aid if something happens," Darshan-Leitner said. The app also enables soldiers, their friends, or family members to report incidents and provides alerts about developments abroad.

"It's to alert the IDF soldiers, the reservists, the veterans, the people that sacrificed their lives for Israel, to protect them," she explained.

According to Darshan-Leitner, incidents have already arisen in countries including Canada, Belgium, and Norway. In some cases, she said, Israeli diplomatic representatives have warned soldiers to leave the country.

Asked whether soldiers have flown back to Israel as a result of such warnings, Darshan-Leitner responded, "Yes, yes."

"It's a real threat," she stressed.

Darshan-Leitner argued that the organizations pursuing soldiers do not necessarily possess evidence that the individuals they target committed war crimes.

"Even if somebody took a photo of himself near a bombed building, that's not evidence enough to show that he committed war crimes," she said, describing the allegations made against soldiers.

She added that Shurat HaDin initially believed the efforts were focused on soldiers accused of specific actions, but said the pattern they are now seeing is broader.

"They don't even care if you served in Gaza or Lebanon. The mere fact that he wears IDF uniforms is enough to bring an arrest warrant against him," she said.

Darshan-Leitner also warned soldiers about posting photographs from their military service on social media, saying that even material shared privately can still reach unintended recipients.

"It slips. It goes out. People see," she said. "Even if mistakenly they forward it to somebody else, it's exposed."

Darshan-Leitner said that the IDF has its own mechanisms for investigating allegations involving soldiers and argued that the legal efforts abroad are intended to intimidate and harass them.

"So what they're trying to do, this pro-Palestinian organization, is only to harass the IDF soldiers, is to intimidate them. That's their goal," she said.

Darshan-Leitner also discussed a recent case in Britain involving a dual British-Israeli citizen who responded to an IDF call-up on October 8 and joined his unit in Israel.

According to Darshan-Leitner, a pro-Palestinian organization filed a private criminal complaint against the soldier based on an old British law concerning citizens joining a military engaged in a war with a country with which Britain is not at war.

She said the court ultimately dismissed the case.

"The court was very angry. The British judge said that this is a political harassment complaint," Darshan-Leitner said, adding that the court imposed a financial penalty on the plaintiffs.

Darshan-Leitner said Shurat HaDin subsequently initiated complaints with the Bar Association and Ethics Committee against an Israeli lawyer who provided a legal opinion in support of the complaint against the soldier. She added that the organization is considering additional steps.

Looking ahead, Darshan-Leitner warned that the legal campaigns against Israeli soldiers are only beginning.

"It becomes very, very dangerous out there," she said. "Their victory will be a photo of an IDF soldier in handcuffs, getting arrested in a foreign airport. That's all they need. One photo."

Darshan-Leitner said Shurat HaDin has also approached the US Department of Justice and asked it to investigate pro-Palestinian organizations involved in such efforts.

"Their entire goal is just to intimidate IDF soldiers, to harass them," she said. "It starts with IDF soldiers. It will end with American soldiers. And it's time for the Department of Justice in the United States to investigate and to sanction these organizations."

Asked whether the Department of Justice had responded, Darshan-Leitner said, "They took our complaint seriously, and they are looking into it."

Michael Rapaport AI illustrationAI generated by Daniel Winston

Daniel Winston is an American-Israeli therapist, lecturer and author. He volunteers in the IDF reserves, as an MDA medic, in ZAKA, and in the Israel Police Search and Rescue Team

There is a moment in every confrontation between a Jew and a mob when the Jew decides which conversation he is having. One conversation is about whether he is permitted to exist, work, perform, pray and go home unharmed. The other conversation is about whether his accusers have any standing to raise the question. Almost all of our communal energy for eighty years has gone into the first conversation, which we have lost steadily and expensively, and almost none has gone into the second, which we would win in about four seconds if we ever bothered to have it.

Michael Rapaport, of all people, has become the most reliable practitioner in America of the second conversation. He should be studied, and what he does should be trained.

Rapaport recently sat with Craig Carton for the premiere of Carton's new OutKick program and gave an unusually flat accounting of what the last three years have cost him. A thirty-year working actor, he now gets "ghosted" by studios worried about protests online, and he described club staff being harassed and threatened simply for booking him, with shows pulled because police could not guarantee they would be there.

"The show's being boycotted. Sucks," he said, and then he described being heckled on the streets of his own city, and said what wounded him most was the thought of other Jews behind him feeling too frightened to stand up.

Notice what is absent from that accounting. There is no apology. There is no clarification. There is no carefully nuanced statement about how he has always believed in the dignity of all peoples and looks forward to a difficult but necessary dialogue. There is no waffle, because he does not believe there is anything on the other side of the table worth negotiating with.

I argued in a March ‘26 JNS article, "Stop fighting antisemitism like it's a PR problem," that the respectable Jewish response to Jew hatred has calcified into a anemic ritual of conferences, curricula, statements, awareness campaigns and interfaith panels premised on the flattering fiction that our enemies are merely uninformed. That premise is false and everyone senses it, which is why the ritual feels like theater.

Antisemitism is not a misunderstanding to be corrected. It is a functioning social technology that organizes identity, supplies a scapegoat and simplifies the moral universe for people who want it simplified. It is contained by strength, deterred by readiness and punished by consequence. What I called communal muscular-mindedness is not a metaphor for better messaging. It is a posture, and Rapaport is the least credentialed and most consistent demonstration of it in American public life.

Look at the record. In Portland in early 2024, activists papered the city with fliers accusing him of cheering genocide and demanded Helium cancel him. Rapaport's response was to circulate the fliers himself and use the attention to sell tickets. Think about the internal machinery required to do that. The flier is designed to make you feel disgusting, isolated and negotiable. He took the instrument of shame and turned it into an advertisement - not to be a viral hero, but because it’s who he chooses to be.

In Madison, when the venue folded and cancelled over what it called escalating protests, he had already told his agent the show had to go on, because he refused to hand the veto to the people demanding it.

In Chicago, with protesters outside the Vic and his earlier suburban dates already scrapped over security, he stood on the sidewalk in front of his hotel and told a local reporter that the same treatment would be unthinkable if it targeted anyone's ideas or sexuality, but that dressed up as anti-Zionism it had become acceptable, and that "I will not back down."

In Birmingham last year, when the Stardome pulled the plug, his statement was "I did not cancel. I would never cancel", and instead of flying home he went and wrapped tefillin with Chabad of Alabama and posted the photograph. That is not public relations. That is a muscular-minded counterpunch with a mitzvah attached.

And when a hundred masked (as the cowards always are) demonstrators showed up outside Park East Synagogue on the Upper East Side this past spring, he did not issue a statement urging calm. He posted the video, called them lunatics in costumes, and told the governor of New York that after three years of doing nothing she should resign in shame. He named an official, assigned responsibility and demanded a consequence - all without flinching over what would surely be negative career consequences.

That is the entire content of what I mean by treating this as a security problem rather than an education problem, expressed in one post by a man with no policy portfolio whatsoever.

Now the clinical part, because this is the part that is teachable. What Rapaport has, in the language of Murray Bowen and David Schnarch, is differentiation. He holds onto himself in close proximity to people who are screaming at him. His sense of who he is does not come from the crowd, so the crowd has nothing to withdraw.

Most of our institutional responses to antisemitism are what Schnarch would call other-validated: they require the approval of the very people who are attacking us in order to feel like they worked, which is why they produce anxiety-management rituals rather than outcomes. Panels, statements and awareness campaigns are reflected sense of self dressed up as strategy.

Rapaport does not need the mob to concede that he is a decent person, so he is free to tell them their side of the conversation is wrong, that they should go to hell, and then go do his set. He is not looking forward to the holy grail of “conversation" because he knows in his bones that these cowards aren’t interested in talking, that in their staggering ignorance 99% of what they have to say is insanely wrong, and therefore there is nothing in it for a Jew who values his time and his integrity. He already knows the answer and he is not interested in performing uncertainty he does not feel in order to seem reasonable to people who are not.

So what does training in this actually look like, for a community and not just for a loud man from Queens:

• It begins with refusing the frame instead of answering inside it, which means never accepting the premise that Jewish legitimacy or Israel’s “right to exist" are the open questions on the table.
• It requires tolerating being disliked, which is the single hardest muscle for a minority that spent two thousand years surviving by cleaving to Torah but also ducking when necessary.
• It means responding to intimidation with presence rather than absence, showing up to the venue, to the shul, to the street.
• It means naming individuals and institutions and demanding that they pay a price, because diffuse condemnation sounds important but costs nobody anything.
• It means understanding that our audience was never the haters and never will be, so every hour spent trying to move them is an hour stolen from securing our own.
• And it means, as he put it after the Boulder attack, internalizing that the cavalry is not coming, which is not despair but the beginning of adulthood.

Rapaport can be crudely blunt. He is not a rabbi, a scholar or a strategist, and I would not hand him a policy brief. That is precisely why he is instructive. He proves that the decisive variable is not eloquence, funding, credentials or messaging discipline. It is a nervous system. He is a Jew who got hit, discovered he was not going to fold, and has been swinging ever since without once asking permission. Every Jewish federation in America has a communications budget larger, I imagine ,than his entire career earnings, and not one of them has landed a punch he has not landed harder and for free.

Train the posture, fund the guards, back the police, name the enemies, keep the dates on the calendar, and stop rehearsing the argument for our own existence in front of an audience that has already voted. And for those of us who concluded that the most muscular answer available to a Jew is to come home and build here in Israel, understand that this is the same instinct, only with a mortgage and a rifle.

Rapaport's message to the mobs has always been simple, and it is the only sentence in this entire war that has never once needed a clarification issued the next morning. You picked the wrong guy.

Michael Rapaport AI illustrationAI generated by Daniel Winston

Israel KatzMiriam Alster/Flash90

Defense Minister Israel Katz on Thursday sent Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) wishes to the Iranian Jewish community, while warning Tehran against renewing attacks on Israel.

"Ahead of Rosh Hashanah, I want to send wishes for a happy new year to the Jewish community in Iran and wish them a good and safe year," Katz said, addressing Iran's Jews. "You are part of a glorious Jewish history and will always be in our hearts."

"And to the Iranian people, I wish: Next year in Tehran, liberated from oppression and tyranny."

He added, "Given the possibility that, due to the economic stranglehold and the intense pressure Iran is under, it may decide to act against Israel, I once again warn the Iranian leadership: Any attack on Israel, for any reason and in any location, will be met with a powerful response that will inflict severe blows on Iran unlike any it has suffered to date, including against its key energy facilities, which provide resources and capabilities for Iran's war and terrorist apparatus and for attacks on the citizens of the State of Israel."

"In accordance with the instructions of the Prime Minister and my own instructions, the IDF is on high alert and prepared to carry out the mission.

"Such a blow would set Iran back decades and further undermine the Ayatollah regime, which the Iranian people so deeply despise and long to see fall.

"And to the Jewish people in Israel and around the world, I wish a happy new year - and may our enemies, our haters, and all those who seek our harm be removed."

Lieutenant Colonel (illustrative)Uri Lenz/FLASH90

The Gaza Division's intelligence officer on October 7, 2023, Lt. Col. A., is expected to petition the Supreme Court in the coming days in an effort to prevent the publication of his full name and the disclosure of the petition in which he presented his version of the failures surrounding the massacre, Galei Zahal (Army Radio) reported.

Lt. Col. A. is simultaneously waging a legal battle against the decision to dismiss him from the IDF. He is the only officer whom the IDF Chief of Staff decided to dismiss over the events of October 7, but he is still serving in the military and has refused to retire as required.

The separate legal proceeding concerns a District Court decision permitting the publication of his full name and the petition he filed.

In that petition, he presents his account of the events and the failures of October 7, in which he was involved by virtue of his position as the Gaza Division's intelligence officer.

The IDF informed the court that there was no security impediment to publishing the former intelligence officer's name. The court accepted that position and permitted publication, but granted Lt. Col. A. a stay allowing him to appeal to the Supreme Court before the decision takes effect.

In its ruling, the District Court determined that this was "a clear case in which the public interest outweighs every other consideration or interest, and therefore it would be appropriate for his name and identifying details to be published."

Lt. Col. A. completed his role as the Gaza Division's intelligence officer approximately two years ago, but continues to serve in the IDF and has not yet been formally dismissed. According to Galei Zahal, he continues to receive a salary and a vehicle from the military, while his name remains under a publication ban.

Galei Zahal noted that most of the other intelligence officers dismissed from the IDF have already ended their service and had their full names published.

Lt. Col. A., by contrast, continues his legal battle to remain in the military while simultaneously seeking to prevent the disclosure of his identity and the details of his account of the events.

Rabbi Shmuel EliyahuElisha Grossberg

HaRav Shmuel Eliyahu is Chief Rabbi of Tzfat

We approach Rosh Hashanah with great confidence.

Not confidence stemming from the fact that we are perfect, but because we know that the Holy One, blessed be He has an eternal love for the People of Israel. Also from the tremendous merits which our nation possesses. All the victories we have had during the past year reassure us that the love of the Holy One, blessed be He for the People of Israel never falters, as it says: “I have loved you with an everlasting love" (from the Haftarah of Rosh Hashanah).

God tells us: I have still more treasures and wonders for you, but I do not give everything all at once. Slowly, step by step. It is important for us to know that the Holy One, blessed be He, is not stopping the Redemption. The miracles are not becoming fewer, but rather are increasing.

And Just as His Children Suppressed Their Compassion in Order to Do Your Will with a Whole Heart

It is very important to remember the great merits of the People of Israel. On Rosh Hashanah we recall the Binding of Isaac and say: “Just as our father Abraham suppressed his compassion for his only son in order to do Your will with a whole heart." And in our generation we can add and say: “And just as Abraham’s children suppressed their compassion in order to do Your will with a whole heart."

How many Bindings have we seen in these years? There has been so much self-sacrifice among the People of Israel during the past three years: soldiers and reservists; women who have managed their families alone for many long months; the wounded; bereaved families; and people who left their jobs and businesses in order to defend their brothers. And just as the Holy One, blessed be He, told Abraham that by virtue of the Binding he would merit, “I will surely bless you," so too in our generation, out of this self-sacrifice, a great promise will not remain unfulfilled.

The Redemption Continues - More and More

On Rosh Hashanah we will read Jeremiah’s Haftarah about the Redemption (Chapter 31). A very important word there is the word “again - עוד".

We are in the middle of the process of Redemption and we are not stopping. “Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin of Israel." “Again you shall adorn yourself with your timbrels and go forth in the dances of those who rejoice." “Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria." “Again they shall say this thing in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I restore their captivity." And likewise, “They shall not sorrow again."

In the following chapter, Jeremiah continues to strengthen our confidence that the Redemption will continue and will not stop. He prophesies in the Name of God: “Again houses and fields and vineyards shall be purchased in this land" (Jeremiah 32). There will be joyous weddings: “Again there shall be heard in this place... the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride" (33:10-11). There will be flocks of sheep: “Again in this place... there shall be a dwelling place for shepherds causing their flocks to lie down." “Again the flocks shall pass under the hands of him who counts them" (33:13). And in our days, all of these promises are being fulfilled.

The Ingathering of the Exiles

Likewise, the prophet Isaiah says that the Ingathering of the Exiles will not stop: “Yet will I gather others to him, besides those of him who are already gathered" (56:8).

God does not do half a job. He also says that the choosing of Israel will never cease: “And He will yet choose Israel and settle them upon their Land" (14:1). Because of the great number of immigrants, it will become a little crowded: “The children of whom you were bereaved shall yet say in your ears: The place is too cramped for me" (49:20). Therefore, we will have to expand: “Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field?" (29:17).

Likewise, the prophet Habakkuk says: “For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it speaks of the End and will not lie" (Habakkuk 2:3).

Zechariah’s Prophecies

Likewise, the prophet Zechariah prophesies of future events which are being fulfilled in our days:

“Thus says the Lord of Hosts: Old men and old women shall yet sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with his staff in his hand because of his great age. And the byways of the city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets."

This was a prophecy that sounded strange in those days, so Hashem gives assurance:

“Thus says the Lord of Hosts: If it is wondrous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, shall it also be wondrous in My eyes? says the Lord of Hosts."

Zechariah also prophesies about Jerusalem’s status in the eyes of the nations of the world:

“Thus says the Lord of Hosts: Again peoples and the inhabitants of many cities shall come. And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying: ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of Hosts; I too will go.’ And many peoples and mighty nations shall come to seek the Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of Hosts: In those days, ten men from all the languages of the nations shall take hold of the corner of the garment of a Jewish man, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’"

This too is happening and it will increase more and more as the nations recognize the wonders and God’s judgments which go forth from Jerusalem.

Amen and Amen.

The Whole World Sings Together (Official Music Video)

Ahead of the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre, a new international song and music video is calling on millions of people around the world to join together in a global moment of remembrance and solidarity with Israel and the Jewish people.

“The Whole World Sings Together," created and produced by Friends of Zion Heritage Center founder Mike Evans, was produced and filmed in Israel and brings together voices from 17 countries around the world.

Participants in the project come from the United States, Israel, China, India, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Hungary, Iran, Yemen, Germany, Argentina, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, and Mexico.

Despite their different cultures, languages, histories, and realities, their voices come together around a single message: Israel and the Jewish people are not alone.

The project was inspired by “We Are the World," the song written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones. In 1985, the song brought together more than 40 leading American artists as part of USA for Africa and became a global symbol of compassion, unity, and collective action.

Four decades later, Evans is seeking to create a new global moment through music, this time centered on Israel and the Jewish people. In 1985, the world sang together for Africa. In 2026, the world is being called upon to sing together for Israel.

“October 7 cannot become just another date that disappears with time," Evans said. “We want the entire world to remember the lives that were cut short, the families that were shattered, the hostages who suffered, and the wounds that many still carry. Music allows us to give hope to the Jewish people and say something simple: You are not alone."

The lyrics of “The Whole World Sings Together" reflect the central message of the project:

“The whole world sings together,

Standing with you face to face,

From the ashes comes tomorrow,

From the morning comes the light,

We will walk beside you always,

Through the darkness into light."

The music video seeks to demonstrate how music can connect and build bridges between people who may not share a language, culture, or homeland, but who can nevertheless share a common human message.

From the United States to Israel, from Europe to Asia, and from Africa to Latin America, participants in the video seek to choose remembrance over forgetting, presence over silence, and hope over despair.

Evans is calling on people in Israel and around the world to watch and share the video and play “The Whole World Sings Together" on October 7 as part of a worldwide moment of remembrance and solidarity.

The initiative aims to create a global moment in which millions of people in different parts of the world can raise their voices together through music to express remembrance, love, solidarity, and support for Israel and the Jewish people.

Hevron massacreCourtesy

Duvi Honig is Founder & CEO, Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce

Britain is preparing to punish Jews in Judea and Samaria with boycotts, trade restrictions and sanctions on companies connected to building Jewish homes. Before Britain lectures Jews about where they may live, it needs to answer for what happened the last time it held direct responsibility for Jewish homes - in Hebron.

In August 1929, Britain governed the land that is now Israel and Jordan and controlled its security apparatus. The Jews of Hebron saw danger and incitement against them increasing and repeatedly warned the authorities, begging for protection as violence began to erupt. Testimony written at the time recorded that Jews were attacked, stones were thrown at Jewish homes, a yeshiva student was killed, and armed Arabs were moving through the area. Jewish leaders kept appealing to the authorities and were reassured that protection was in place.

Then came the massacre.

Sixty-seven Jews were murdered. Barbarically. Families were slaughtered, yeshiva students were killed, women were tortured, synagogues were desecrated, and an ancient Jewish community was shattered. The Arabs who had been their neighbors for years participated. The Jewish druggist who helped everyone was murdered in cold blood. During the massacre, frightened Jewish boys ran to mounted police serving the British government, held on to their horses and begged to be rescued. Eyewitness testimony records that they were pushed away rudely as the British left. The British, who could easily have dispersed the rioting Arabs, stayed far away.

That happened under British rule, while Britain bore responsibility for security and for the protection of the population under its authority. The Jews warned Britain, pleaded for protection, and were catastrophically failed.

There was also the massacre of 78 Jews in broad daylight in April,1948, when a convoy of doctors and medical personnel headed to Hadassah Mt. Scopus hospital were mowed down on a street populated by wealthy Arab homeowners, while a cordon of British soldiers prevented the Haganah from coming to their aid.

That history is impossible to separate from what Britain is doing now.

October 7 brought another massacre of Jews. Families were murdered, homes were burned, women were sexually assaulted, and children, elderly people and civilians were kidnapped as terrorists entered Jewish communities for the purpose of slaughtering Israelis.

Britain saw what happened, as did the entire world. Yet now Britain is moving toward economic measures aimed at Jews living in Judea and Samaria, including restrictions on goods from those communities and sanctions against companies building Jewish homes.

These are communities that have faced shootings, stabbings, terrorism, riots and murderous attacks. Israeli security exists there precisely because Jews know what can happen when their defenses fail and violent attackers reach their homes.

That is why this policy is so morally inverted. Jews defend themselves and Britain responds with punishment. Jews build homes and Britain answers with boycotts. Jews refuse to be driven out by terror, and Britain treats their continued presence as the problem.

What message does that send to Hamas? Massacre Jews, kidnap Jews, terrorize Jewish communities, wait for the outrage to fade, and eventually international pressure will turn against Israel.

Britain can say that it condemns Hamas, but actions matter more than speeches. If the aftermath of a massacre is increased pressure on Israel, sanctions on Jewish communities and boycotts against Jews, terrorism is being rewarded with political leverage.

October 7 should have produced the opposite result. Those who massacre Jews should lose militarily, politically, diplomatically and economically. Instead, Britain is threatening economic warfare against Jews.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is right to say that the British Mandate is over. Britain no longer governs Hebron, Jerusalem, Judea or Samaria. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has already warned that Israel will respond if Britain moves forward, and a sovereign Jewish state should not sit quietly while another government decides where Jews may live.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has also turned Britain’s argument back toward London, saying that if Britain wants to sanction Israel over disputed territory, Israel should recognize Argentina’s claim over the Falkland Islands and sanction Britain. Argentine President Javier Milei amplified that message.

The warning is also coming from America. Congressman Randy Fine has said British companies participating in such a boycott could face consequences under Florida’s anti-boycott laws and potentially lose access to government business. That is appropriate. If Britain chooses economic warfare, it should understand that economic consequences can move in both directions.

Britain’s own Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, has strongly urged the government to reconsider. But the Muslim electorate wants blood.

This, however, is bigger than one boycott.

Britain must finally answer for Hebron. There should be a serious historical and legal examination of what British authorities knew, what warnings they received, what protection the Jews requested, what failed, and what responsibility Britain carried as the governing power.

Israel and Jewish organizations should examine every legitimate international legal avenue available, including whether the matter can be brought before an international court or another appropriate international legal forum. Britain constantly demands accountability from Israel; it must be prepared to face accountability itself.

Hebron should not remain buried in the history books simply because nearly a century has passed. The record should be examined internationally, responsibility should be established, and Britain should be forced to answer for what happened under its rule. The Mt. Scopus massacre was almost 40 years later.

That demand becomes even more urgent now, when Britain is once again using governmental power against Jews after October 7 instead of making sure that those who massacre Jews pay the price.

Hebron, Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria did not become Jewish in 1967. They are woven into the Torah, Jewish prayer and thousands of years of Jewish history. Hebron is where Abraham purchased the Cave of the Patriarchs.

The Jewish state exists because Jews learned the hard way that they cannot always depend on foreign governments to protect them. Hebron taught that lesson. October 7 taught it again.

Jews will not accept being massacred when defenseless and punished when they defend themselves.

Britain must answer for Hebron, and it must answer for what it is doing now. Where a legitimate legal path exists, Britain should be held accountable at the international level and before an international court.

Yaniv Sardal, and the joint command center set up to find himnone, TPS

Yaniv Sardal, a 53-year-old Ariel resident who had been missing since Wednesday evening, was found alive in the Qalqilya area following hours of extensive searches.

The searches began Wednesday night after information was received indicating that Sardal had voluntarily entered a Palestinian Arab village in Samaria. Security officials had evidence showing that he arrived at the village at approximately 6:00 p.m. and entered of his own free will.

During the searches, there was no intelligence indicating that his disappearance was connected to a terrorist incident, and he was classified as a missing person. However, security officials did not completely rule out a security-related scenario and launched an extensive effort to locate him.

Israel Police, Shin Bet, Israel Prison Service, and IDF worked together in the search, including through the establishment of a joint inter-agency command center. The forces employed technological capabilities and intelligence-gathering measures alongside searches on the ground.

The Israel Prison Service's elite Metzada Unit also joined the operation, while a helicopter from the Israel Police Aerial Division was dispatched to assist in the search.

After hours of joint activity, Sardal was found alive in the Qalqilya area, bringing the extensive overnight search operation to an end.

Shayetet 13IDF

Three M-16 rifles were stolen early Tuesday morning directly from soldiers at the Shayetet 13 naval commando base in Atlit, Channel 12 reported.

The theft occurred at around 3:30 a.m. Once the incident was discovered, an investigation was launched, and suspicions emerged that someone from within the base may have been involved. A soldier serving at the compound was arrested for questioning on suspicion of involvement in the theft.

The investigation is focused on determining the circumstances of the incident and locating the stolen weapons. Given the seriousness of the case and concerns over weapons being stolen from an IDF base, the probe is being conducted jointly by the Military Police Criminal Investigations Unit and the Israel Police.

Once the investigation is completed, its findings are expected to be transferred to the Military Prosecution for review. The arrested soldier remains under investigation at this stage on suspicion of involvement in the incident.

The IDF said it "views any incident involving the theft of weapons with the utmost seriousness" and is "acting decisively to prevent such incidents in cooperation with the Israel Police."

The IDF added that a joint investigation by the Military Police Criminal Investigations Unit and the Israel Police was opened following the incident, with the findings to be transferred to the Military Prosecution for review.

Border Police officers in side the tunnelPolice spokesperson

A tunnel dug near the security barrier in the village of Al-Jib was discovered and sealed by Israeli security forces.

The tunnel, located near the communities of Givon and Givat Ze'ev, was discovered on August 28, when excavation work was already at an advanced stage.

Following the discovery, Jerusalem Border Police officers launched a focused operational and intelligence effort in the area. During the operation, a suspect was arrested with digging tools in his possession.

An examination of the tunnel route and surrounding area also included an archaeological investigation, which revealed how the excavation had been concealed. According to police, the entrance to the tunnel had been hidden inside an ancient water cistern, concealing the digging activity at the site.

On Wednesday night, officers from the northern battalion of the Jerusalem Border Police completed the sealing of the tunnel in cooperation with IDF troops. With its sealing, the forces concluded operations at the site, following the discovery and examination of the tunnel route.

Police said security forces would continue working to locate and thwart infrastructure near the security barrier. They also stressed that the goal of such operations is to protect residents of the area.

credit: דוברות המשטרה

credit: דוברות המשטרה

credit: דוברות המשטרה

credit: דוברות המשטרה

credit: דוברות המשטרה

credit: דוברות המשטרה

Voting stickers at a polling station in Green Bay, Wisconsin, April 2, 2024.Joshua Lott/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Two-thirds of Jewish voters plan to vote for Democrats in the coming midterms, according to a poll published Wednesday, in a sign that roiling tensions in the party over Israel have barely budged its status as the political home favored by a substantial majority of Jews.

The poll by the Jewish Voters Resource Center, which is led by prominent Jewish Democrats, showed that 67 percent of respondents planned to vote for Democratic congressional candidates in November, and that 26 percent said they would vote for Republicans.

It reflected other polling since the Oct. 7, 2023 deadly Hamas attacks on Israel, showing increased concern about antisemitism and about Israel.

Asked to rank their top two issues going into the voting booth, respondents made antisemitism third, after affordability and the future of democracy. Israel ranked fifth.

Much of the recent Jewish community anxiety about antisemitism and Israel has been directed at Democrats, who have elevated a number of strident Israel critics in primaries this season, including a number who refuse to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. Additionally, a number of candidates have faced Jewish community criticism for appearing with social media influencers accused of peddling antisemitic tropes.

Still, the high ranking of concerns about democracy are huge unfavorables for US President Donald Trump - and his vice president, JD Vance - who at times has been hostile to Israel and who has maintained close relationships with figures who have drawn accusations of antisemitism - suggests that Republicans are stumbling in seizing the moment of Jewish disaffection with Democrats.

Asked to rate candidates on an unfavorability scale, Trump scored 75 out of 100; Vance scored 82.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been fiercely criticized by Democrats for his conduct of the war in Gaza, scored 67 on the unfavorability scale.

Since the 1930s, Jews have voted consistently in two-thirds majorities for Democrats, with peaks in the 2000 election, when some polling showed close to 80 percent of Jewish voters favored a ticket that had the Jewish senator, Joe Lieberman, as running mate to Al Gore.

There was some movement toward Republicans in 2012, when moderate Mitt Romney was the GOP presidential nominee facing then-US President Barack Obama, but Trump’s election in 2016 reversed those gains.

The survey was conducted by GBAO Strategies, a polling firm that works with liberal groups and with Democrats. For this poll, it reached 800 Jewish voters via text from Aug. 26-Sept. 1 and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

Disappointment with a gift, illustrationiStock

As the High Holidays approach and employers once again face the choice between gift sets, household products, shopping vouchers, and cash bonuses, a new survey suggests that employees have a clear preference: they want the freedom to decide how to use their holiday gift.

A survey conducted by the research department of AllJobs found that 86% of respondents would prefer a gift that allows them to choose how to use it. Among the 476 participants, 45% said they would prefer a prepaid card, voucher, or gift certificate, while 41% chose cash. By comparison, only 11% said they would prefer to receive a physical gift from their employer.

The gifts employees actually received this year only partially reflected those preferences. Some 42% reported receiving a prepaid card, voucher, or gift certificate, while 13% received a physical product. The largest gap was recorded in cash: although 41% preferred it, only 7% said they actually received cash as their holiday gift.

Employees also appear to place significant importance on the holiday gift itself. About three-quarters of respondents said the gift was highly or very highly important to them. Another 10% described its importance as moderate, while only 5% said the holiday gift was not important.

The survey also found significant differences based on workplace size. At the time of the survey, only 31% of employees at companies with fewer than 10 workers had already received their holiday gift. That figure rose to 60% among employees at companies with 201-500 workers and to 77% at companies with more than 500 employees.

The type of gift also varied according to company size. Larger employers were more likely to provide vouchers, gift certificates, and prepaid cards, giving employees greater flexibility in deciding how to use the benefit. The value of the gifts varied as well. Among employees who had already received their gift, 56% estimated its value at 400 shekels or more, with 400-600 shekels being the most common range. Overall, 63% of recipients said they were satisfied with the gift they received.

Compared with the previous year, 38% of respondents who could compare the value of their gifts said it remained similar, while 15% reported an increase and 11% reported a decrease. The largest group therefore reported no change in the value of their holiday gift.

Hila Moskess, vice president of marketing and content at AllJobs, said employees place significant importance on their holiday gifts, with most of those who had already received one also expressing satisfaction. "At the same time, their preference is clear: they want to choose for themselves," she said.

According to Moskess, "Money, a voucher, or a prepaid card allows each employee to use the gift in a way that suits them and their needs. For employers, this is a reminder that the value of a holiday gift is measured not only by its monetary amount, but also by the degree of choice it provides the employee."

תיעוד ראשון: החשוד בסופר זמן קצר לפני שהניח לפי החשד את המחיות הרעילות

Israel Police have announced that they have completed their investigation into Yan Shamala, a 41-year-old Be'er Sheva resident suspected of injecting anesthetic substances into fruit purees intended for infants.

Police also released security camera footage showing the suspect walking through the aisles of a supermarket shortly before he allegedly injected the anesthetic substances into the food products.

According to the police, the food poisoning investigation was one of the most complex conducted in recent months. According to investigators, there were initially no leads, and the suspect was unknown to the victims and had no direct connection to them or to the products.

As part of the investigation, which also involved the Shin Bet, investigators analyzed hundreds of hours of security camera footage, carried out a variety of investigative measures, and employed advanced technological means.

After identifying the suspect, investigators conducted covert surveillance for a period of time until sufficient evidence was gathered; he was then arrested at his home.

Police said that following the completion of evidence gathering, the case was transferred to the prosecution.

The Prosecutor's Office is expected to file a prosecutor's statement against him Thursday, along with a request to extend his detention by five days until an indictment is filed.

IDF targets weapons storehouse (illustrative)IDF spokesperson

The IDF and the ISA on Wednesday struck in three areas across the Gaza Strip and dismantled three Hamas weapons storage facilities.

Hamas stored weapons, explosive devices, anti-tank missiles, and additional military equipment inside the facilities.

"Prior to the strikes, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the issuing of advance warnings, the use of precise munitions, and aerial surveillance," the IDF stressed.

Hamas' attempts to regain military capacity directly contradicts the ceasefire agreement the terror group signed. It also prevents the implementation of the second stage of the US plan for rebuilding Gaza, which requires Hamas to disarm.

"The IDF will continue to operate decisively to degrade Hamas’ military capabilities in the Gaza Strip and thwart any attempt by the terrorist organization to reconstitute these capabilities or possess weapons intended to harm IDF troops," the IDF added.

"IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to operate to remove any threat."

Yoni with Rabbi Neria

Rabbi Yitzchak Neria, Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Betzion and head of the Echad Lechad Foundation, discusses the foundation's work supporting outstanding Torah learners whom he hopes will become the next generation of rabbis.

The foundation supports outstanding Torah students because we believe that, as a society, it is our responsibility to support them and give them the opportunity to grow.

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"Nobody can reach their full potential without support, whether in the army, at university or in any other field. We decided that we need to focus on our next generation of sages. We have been doing this for 10 years, and it is incredible. Fourteen yeshivot have already become part of our system, and we see a very, very bright future ahead."

"It is a collective responsibility. All of us have a role to play. You cannot stand on the sidelines and say someone else will take care of it. It is our responsibility."

"If you believe in the approach of Torah and the State of Israel - serving in the army, being part of society and understanding your role within it - then when we select the outstanding sages, we are choosing people who have many options before them. They could go to university. They completed their matriculation, they know mathematics, English and computers - and they chose to dedicate their lives to Torah. Not just for themselves. For all of us."

"It is also important to mention that they have all served in the army or will serve in the army. We have our own path. We don't change our philosophy or our way of life. At the same time, we are fully engaged with what is happening in the country. We are involved in the army, and they serve. Some of them serve as officers. Over the past three years, they have spent hundreds of days doing reserve duty."

"And yet, when they have a break from their military service and return to yeshiva, you don't see a difference. Someone can be a commander in the army and then return to the yeshiva."

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"For those who aren't familiar with these ideals, that's Torah, exactly. This is what I mean when I say, "This is our way. This is Torah. It is life. And what is happening in Eretz Yisrael today, as part of the redemption, part of the geulah, reflects our understanding that we have a responsibility to do what we can and to be part of the nation."

"During Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot, the foundation also makes a special effort to help many students. Throughout the year, we support outstanding students. But as the holidays approach, we try to help as many students as possible who are in need. They don't have regular incomes or salaries and live on a very low stipend. When the holidays arrive, they need this support."

"Sometimes you ask yourself, "What can I do before the holidays to be part of something? I think this is one of the best things you can do. First, we work with almost all the yeshivot. Second, the families are extremely honest. They report exactly how much they earn, how much their wives earn and how much they pay in rent. Sometimes they even contact us about very small amounts of additional income, just to make sure everything is properly reported. They might say, "My grandfather in America sent me $100. Do I need to report it?" Or, "I received some money from my army service. Yes, they are very honest."

"When the holidays come, we all want to sit down at our family table and celebrate. We want to know that we have helped others, and that these families won't have to stand in line waiting for whatever assistance someone happens to give them. We do it in a very, very respectful way."

"There is a great deal of emphasis on making sure the assistance is distributed properly. First, we establish exactly what their income is and what resources they have. We sit as judges - three people - and review each case. There are hundreds of cases. We don't simply give assistance to everyone. When we decide to help, the money goes directly into their bank account. We trust them."

"These are not dysfunctional families where you have to worry about how the money will be spent, whether on alcohol or cigarettes, and therefore give them food instead. These are good, good families. We have the merit to support them during the three, four or five years when they need assistance, before they enter the workforce. Some will become rabbis, some will become teachers and some will become lawyers."

"And you know what? Years later, some of them send donations back to us because they remember: "When I was struggling, you helped me." The response from the families is very interesting. Some tell us, "I'm not willing to accept support from anyone else. Only from you."

"I also write them a letter before every holiday. Once, I was invited to a party at the home of one of the students, and I saw my letter on their freezer. The father and mother had put it there for their children. That showed me that, ultimately, the most important thing isn't the money. The money is important, but what matters most is the support and the appreciation. We appreciate Torah. We want to be part of your Torah."

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"This is part of a collective responsibility, and everyone in Israel and around the world can be part of it. It is a great merit. Everyone is looking for merits on Rosh Hashanah. When we blow the shofar, why do we do it in a central place in the synagogue? We could blow it anywhere. The answer, as the Mishnah Berurah explains, is that we want to invoke the merit of Torah. Everyone wants to come before Yom Kippur with merits. Here you have the merit of Torah - but it is about more than Torah alone."

"Torah is connected to taking responsibility for Israel. Torah people are truly part of what is happening in Israel today. Why not be part of it? They are taking responsibility for our Torah as well. They are helping us through their Torah. We should help them as well."

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מרגש בכותל: אביו של סמ"ר יקיר לוי ז"ל אמר קדיש לעילוי נשמת הנופלים

Bereaved families participated Wednesday night in a Selichot tour in Jerusalem, culminating in a prayer service at the Western Wall.

The tour was organized by the OneFamily organization in cooperation with the Western Wall Heritage Foundation.

During the Selichot service, Assaf Levy, father of the late Staff Sergeant Yakir Levy, recited the Kaddish prayer. Yakir fell on October 7 at the Paga outpost.

Assaf dedicated the Kaddish to the memory of all those who gave their lives for the State of Israel.!

Prayers at the Western WallArutz Sheva

Edited by B. Silberstein

The holiday of Rosh Hashanah demonstrates the uniqueness of Judaism and the Jewish view of life. Virtually all people and cultures take note of a new year and mark it in a particular manner.

The Joy of Rosh Hashanah

Most cultures approach the New Year primarily as an occasion for celebration: parties, gatherings, and expressions of hope and excitement for the year ahead. This impulse is entirely understandable. The human desire to mark time, to feel a sense of renewal, and to share that feeling with others reflects something genuine and even admirable.

Yet when celebration becomes its own purpose, when the excitement of the moment is all that is sought, something essential is missing. The question worth asking is not merely "how shall we celebrate?" but "what exactly are we celebrating, and why?"

Perhaps because without a framework of meaning, time itself becomes threatening. The passing of another year can remind us of mortality, of goals unmet, of relationships strained. Revelry, in this reading, is not mere celebration but avoidance: a way of drowning out the discomfort that self-reflection might bring. Is it any wonder, then, that without a framework of meaning, the passage of time is marked by noise rather than reflection?

The Jewish New Year addresses that emptiness directly. Rosh Hashanah does not simply mark the passage of time. It assigns that time meaning.

While it retains the status of a festival, Rosh Hashanah is best described as a time of seriousness. According to Judaism, one can be joyful and serious at the same time.

Crowning the King

There is a deep and intense hidden joy that lies at the heart of Rosh Hashanah. For this is the time of the coronation of the King of the Universe. At first glance, the very notion that man crowns G-d is absurd. Hashem is the absolute Ruler of the world by virtue of His being its Creator.

This is expressed in the "Adon Olam" composition, one of the most universally known pieces of Jewish liturgy, whose opening words proclaim:

"Master of the Universe Who Reigned before any creature was created."

He is the ultimate King by virtue of His Existence. That this truth is embedded in so familiar and beloved a prayer reminds us that the Kingship of G-d is not an abstract theological concept but a living reality woven into the fabric of Jewish life.

Let us be absolutely clear: G-d does not in any way need, nor does He derive any benefit from, our coronation. Rather, it is man who needs the Kingship of G-d. Without the acknowledgment of Divine Kingship, man becomes the measure of all things, and history has repeatedly shown where that leads. The coronation of Hashem as King is not a theological formality. It is the foundation upon which an ethical and meaningful human life is built.

Hashem, in His Mercy, grants man free will and does not compel him to acknowledge His Kingship. The goal of Rosh Hashanah is to transform our recognition of the Creator’s Kingship into a living reality that shapes human conduct and society.

Rosh Hashanah marks the anniversary of the creation of Adam, the being capable of recognizing the Creator and accepting His Kingship. It brings us great joy to acknowledge G-d and to appreciate His Infinite Wisdom, as seen in the natural order and in the magnificence of His Torah.

This is a very different kind of joy than the one sought on secular New Year's Eve. That celebration, however sincere in its desire for renewal, too often substitutes sensation for substance, and noise for genuine reflection. The Jewish New Year asks more of us, and in doing so, offers more to us.

Joy and Judgment

Acknowledging Hashem as the Master of the Universe carries with it an element of concern, for the recognition of Divine Kingship necessarily brings with it the reality of judgment. Aversion to the realization that we are responsible for our actions and will have to give an accounting for them causes many people to abandon religion altogether. They may believe in G-d, yet resist the demands that Divine authority places upon them.

In addition to the theme of G-d's Kingship, Rosh Hashanah is also known as the Day of Judgment. In one of the day's most moving prayers, UNetaneh Tokef, we intone:

“On Rosh Hashanah it will be inscribed and on Yom Kippur it will be sealed: …who shall live and who shall die; who in the fullness of years and who before their time…"

Because of this, the Hallel (joyous songs of praise) is not recited on this holiday or on Yom Kippur, for as Rabbi Abbahu said:

The ministering angels said before the Holy One, Blessed is He: Master of the Universe, for what reason do Yisrael not recite songs of praise, i.e., Hallel, before You on Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur? He said to them: Is it possible that while the King is sitting on the throne of judgment and the books of life and the books of death are open before Him, Yisrael are reciting joyous songs of praise? (Rosh Hashanah 32b)

However, even this somber realization does not cause these days to lose their celebratory character. They are days of joy mingled with trepidation. Even the consciousness that we are being judged by the King of Kings does not bring us down.

The Good Fortune of Judgment

Indeed, we should even regard this as good fortune. As Rabbi Akiva said:

"How fortunate are you, Yisrael; before Whom are you purified, and Who purifies you? It is your Father in Heaven, as it is stated: 'And I will sprinkle ritually pure water upon you, and you shall be purified' (Ezekiel 36:25)." (Yoma 85b)

This teaching deserves careful reflection. Rabbi Akiva does not merely console us with the thought that Hashem is merciful. He teaches that our encounter with Hashem, including the process of judgment, repentance, and purification, can be a source of genuine joy. Why?

Consider what it means to be truly known. Human beings spend much of their lives managing how others perceive them: presenting their best selves, concealing their failures, curating their image. This is exhausting and ultimately isolating, because the self that is praised and admired is never quite the real self.

Before Hashem on Rosh Hashanah, this is not possible. We stand as we truly are, with our genuine achievements and our genuine failures, fully known. And we are judged not by one who wishes to condemn us, but by our Father in Heaven, Whose judgment is directed toward our growth and ultimate goodness.

This is why the judgment is purifying. Just as immersion in a Mikvah (ritual bath) requires complete immersion, with nothing intervening between the person and the water, so standing openly before the Divine Judge, without pretense or concealment, can become an act of spiritual cleansing. The very willingness to be judged honestly is the beginning of an opportunity for change.

Although judgment begins on Rosh Hashanah, the books are not sealed until Yom Kippur. This is not a final verdict but an open door. The Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe) are Hashem’s gift to us: time specifically designated for honest self-examination and genuine return.

To be judged by One Who knows us completely, Whose relationship with us is defined by boundless love and Whose judgment is directed toward our drawing closer to Him, is not a cause for dread. It is, as Rabbi Akiva teaches, a cause for profound and lasting joy.

This, then, is the secret of joyful trepidation: the unique emotional register of Rosh Hashanah. We stand before our Judge with seriousness, knowing the weight of the day. Yet we celebrate, because the Judge before Whom we stand is also our Creator and our Father. He fashioned us to pursue knowledge of Him, to appreciate His creation, and to live in accordance with His Torah. It is He Who asks of us to return to Him and to live in accordance with His Will. As Malachi declares: “Return to Me, and I will return to you" (Malachi 3:7). The trepidation is real. The joy is deeper.

May we merit to stand before Him openly and honestly this Rosh Hashanah, to hear the call of the Shofar with open hearts, and to emerge from these sacred days renewed and more fully able to attain the goodness Hashem intends for each of us.

May this be a year of blessing, health, and growth for us and for all of Klal Yisrael.

Shabbat Shalom VeShana Tova.

Questions? Comments?
Please reach out to Mitch Rosner on WhatsApp at 054-426-3419 or by email at [email protected].

Limor Son Har-Melekh with her first husband, Shuli, and their daughterFamily

A terrorist involved in the murder of Shalom (Shuli) Har-Melekh was elimianted Wednesday.

Har-Melekh was the husband of MK Limor Son Har-Melekh. Limor, pregnant with their second child at the time, suffered severe injuries in the attack, and shortly afterwards delivered the couple's daughter prematurely.

Responding to the elimination of Farah Hamed, a senior member of Hamas' military wing and a member of the Silwad terrorist cell that murdered her husband, she wrote, "Another circle closed! Farah Hamed, a senior member of Hamas' military wing and a member of the Silwad cell that murdered my husband, Shuli Har-Melech, was eliminated today in the Gaza Strip, thank G-d."

Hamed, 43, was eliminated Wednesday in a strike on a motorcycle on Al-Rashid Street in western Gaza City.

He was one of the leaders of the Silwad cell in the Ramallah district. He was arrested in 2004 and sentenced to three life terms for his role in the October 2003 terrorist attack near the village of Ein Yabrud, in which three Duchifat Battalion soldiers were murdered: Staff Sergeant Erez Idan, 20, of Rishon Lezion; Sergeant Elad Pollak, 19, of Kiryat Motzkin; and Sergeant Roi Yaakov Solomon, 21, of Tel Aviv.

The Silwad cell was linked to a series of additional terrorist attacks. In August 2003, its members murdered Shalom Har-Melech, Limor's husband, in a shooting attack. In November 2002, the cell murdered Esther Galia; and in June 2003, it murdered Zvi Goldstein.

In 2011, Hamed was released as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange and deported to the Gaza Strip. After arriving in Gaza, he became a leading figure in Hamas' Judea and Samaria headquarters, which worked from the Gaza Strip to direct terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria.

Son Har-Melech linked his release in the prisoner exchange to the law imposing the death penalty for terrorists.

"His release and the release of the other murderers are proof of the existential necessity of the death penalty for terrorists law, which we had the privilege of passing about six months ago," she said.

"Every terrorist who has murdered Jews should know: Even if he is released, even if he escapes, and even if many years pass, the long arm of the people of Israel will reach him," she added.

"Thank you to the IDF soldiers and security forces who today closed an important and painful circle. May the memories of Shuli and all those murdered by the Silwad cell be blessed."

Donald TrumpWhite House Photo

US President Donald Trump announced one of his most ambitious election promises in recent years during remarks at the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas: a $5,000 payment to every adult American citizen if Republicans retain control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the November elections.

“If Republicans win, you will win too," Trump told the audience. He said the payment would be known as the “Trump Dividend" and would be restricted to spending within the United States, as part of an effort to stimulate the domestic economy.

Trump did not provide details on how the program would be financed or how it could be implemented from a legal and fiscal standpoint. Economists estimate that distributing $5,000 to approximately 270 million adult Americans could cost more than $1.3 trillion and would likely require congressional approval.

The announcement comes as Republicans face a competitive midterm campaign, with polls pointing to a tight race ahead of November. Trump sought to frame the proposal as an extension of his economic agenda and a way to return the benefits of economic growth directly to American citizens.

Economists and opposition figures, however, have sharply criticized the pledge, describing it as an extremely expensive proposal with no clear funding source at this stage. Critics warn that the plan could significantly increase the federal deficit.

US Air Force F-15 aircraftUSAF

Several U.S. fighter jets were damaged during the Iranian attack on the U.S. Air Force base at Al-Safa Salti in Jordan on Tuesday night, CBS reported.

According to the report, approximately eight F-15 fighter jets sustained light damage but have already returned to service. An A-10 Thunderbolt was also struck and lost one of its wings.

Jordanian officials said Iran launched 20 ballistic missiles toward the kingdom, 18 of which were intercepted. U.S. forces stationed in Jordan fired more than 30 Patriot interceptor missiles to defend against the Iranian attack.

The Iranian strike came in response to a U.S. attack on five Iranian tankers. That operation followed an earlier attack by the regime in Tehran targeting a U.S. Navy warship.

Mossad. Illustrationצילום: iStock

I often recall that the cowardice of the political establishment pushed the United Kingdom to refuse asylum to the Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan, Asia Bibi, because it might have caused “violent unrest" among the Muslim population and endangered embassies in Islamic countries.

The left in power in London has now decided to sanction and dump Israel, once again to pander to the Muslim population that is decisive at the ballot box.

The Guardian writes it: “Premier Burnham sees sanctions on Israel as an electoral asset." Whose votes? The BBC explains: “Muslim voters".

From the Daily Mail: “A monumental act of national self-harm to stop Muslim voters from abandoning Labour for the Greens."

At what price?

Former British Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat, explains it to The Telegraph:

“Israel is one of our most important intelligence partners and has been for many, many years. I can tell you, as Security Minister, that many attacks have been thwarted thanks to cooperation with Israel, which has helped us protect British citizens from terrorist attacks."

In August the former head of Mossad, Yossi Cohen, revealed that Israeli intelligence had helped thwart many attacks in Britain during his tenure at the agency, between 2016 and 2021. He also reported that a former director of Britain’s MI5 had personally thanked him for helping to avert numerous threats on British soil.

In 2012, Israel was decisive in the security of the London Olympic Games.

In 2016 it emerged that Israeli technology for tracking terrorists could have prevented the Islamic State attacks in Paris and Belgium but was boycotted. An Israeli security company had offered tracking software to the Direction générale de la sécurité intérieure (DGSI), France’s main intelligence agency; it was software capable of flagging the ISIS terrorist cell responsible for the attacks in Paris and Belgium. The offer was rejected, apparently after an official made clear that Israeli technology could not be purchased.

Israeli Mossad has helped thwart some 50 attacks in twenty countries.

Australia stopped in time a plan to blow up a flight from Sydney to Abu Dhabi. A bomb, hidden in a meat grinder, was to be carried on board. “Israeli intelligence thwarted the downing of an Australian airliner, an unimaginable massacre," Benjamin Netanyahu declared.

A year after the Australian case, Israel stopped a jihadist attack in Denmark. Again in Denmark, Israel thwarted another.

Israel had warned Belgian officials weeks before the attack of inadequate security measures at Brussels’ Zaventem airport. The warning had come from Israeli officials tasked with assessing security standards at airports operating flights to Tel Aviv. The Israelis had found “significant shortcomings" at the airport, the scene a few days later of two deadly ISIS explosions.

Israel helped thwart attacks such as the one planned by ISIS terrorists during a football match between host Albania and Israel. Then attacks in Belgium, Turkey and France.

Donald Trump revealed Israel’s alert about an ISIS plan to blow up aircraft bound for Europe using explosives inside laptops.

Then Israel stopped an Iranian attack in Paris.

After the London bombs of 7 July 2005 it emerged that the leader of the bombers, Mohammed Sidique Khan, had been in Israel a few weeks before two Britons linked to Khan blew themselves up in a café in Tel Aviv.

Now they are ready to explain on the front pages that the government of Israel “knew" about the attacks of 7 October 2023 and did not move to prevent them.

Brilliant: for a political calculation Israel let the terrorists tear 1,200 of its own people to pieces.

It's the old antisemitic slander trope that the Jews are responsible for their own fate.

Benjamin Netanyahu said: “According to Churchill, democracies suffer from a kind of torpor. A disease, he called it. And they wake up only when they hear the gong, the gong of danger. Well, you are hearing it. We must be strong. We must be more powerful than the barbarians, otherwise they will not merely be at the gates: they will smash the gates and destroy our societies."

We are still there, at the sentence of the great Saul Bellow: “In their concern for the decadence of the West, the Israelis have a lesson for the world."

Are they so decadent and so obsessed with giving moral lessons to those who defend themselves against terrorism that they are ready for this electoral calculation that will dump the cost onto the world's lives and security?

A bit like François Hollande’s socialist government: “We knew that terrorists had infiltrated among the migrants."

They knew, and the gong would sound at the Bataclan.

Portrait of a Lady by Giacomo Antonio Melchiorre Ceruti.Website of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands

A Dutch journalist hunting for art treasures belonging to an Amsterdam Jewish art dealer spent years trying to get answers from Patricia Kadgien, the daughter of the Nazi financier who had made off with some of them, with no luck. So last year he went to her house in Mar del Plata, a resort city on Argentina’s Atlantic coast.

No one was home, but the journalist, Peter Schouten, noticed a "for sale" sign outside the property from Robles Casas & Campos, a local real estate agency.

Schoten went to the agency’s website, where the house was listed for $265,000. As he scrolled through the listing, he noticed something in a photograph of the living room. Schouten recognized the painting hanging above a sofa: “Portrait of a Lady," most likely the work of the 18th-century northern Italian painter known as Il Pitocchetto.

On Friday, Argentine federal judge Santiago Inchausti authorized the restitution of "Portrait of a Lady," which belonged to the collection of Dutch Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker, to his daughter-in-law and sole heir, Marei von Saher.

"The property had been listed for sale on a real estate agency’s website, and one of the photographs showed a painting in the living room that matched one of the works from Goudstikker’s collection that had been sought for years," Inchausti wrote in his ruling.

Goudstikker was one of Holland’s most prominent Jewish art dealers before World War II. In 1940, he fled the Nazi-occupied Netherlands with his wife and son, carrying a black notebook listing some 1,400 artworks. After his death during the voyage, his widow preserved it, and the notebook later became key evidence in the family’s restitution efforts.

His gallery and collection fell under Nazi control. Hermann Goering, a powerful deputy to Adolf Hitler, acquired hundreds of paintings from Goudstikker’s collection in a forced sale that Dutch authorities later determined was directly linked to Nazi persecution.

Herberto Robinson, von Saher’s lawyer who specializes in estate planning and asset protection, described what happened after Schoten’s sleuthing in an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

"At that point, the journalist contacted attorney Yael Weitz in Freedman Normand Friedland of New York where she specializes in art and cultural property law," he said "She then contacted us and asked us to take on the case. The family’s sole intention was to recover the painting. They were not interested in pursuing those who had possessed it or in seeking financial compensation, they wanted the artwork returned."

Kadgien is the daughter of Friedrich Kadgien, a German financial official who worked for the Nazi regime and later escaped to South America. The elder Kadgien, who had close ties to Goering, fled Germany in 1945 to Switzerland, eventually making his way to Argentina, where he started a business and raised a family. He died in 1978.

Kadgien and her husband at first did not cooperate. The realtor’s listing was removed after the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad published its report. Argentine authorities then searched the property on Aug. 26, 2025, but the painting had been removed and replaced with another artwork, while an outline matching its dimensions remained visible on the wall.

Kadgien and her husband, Juan Carlos Cortegoso, were placed under house arrest for 72 hours while authorities searched the family’s other properties. They subsequently turned the artwork over to federal prosecutors and were charged with aggravated concealment.

Experts from Argentina’s National Academy of Fine Arts attributed the work to Giacomo Antonio Melchiorre Ceruti, known as Il Pitocchetto, and valued it at approximately €250,000. The local and national Jewish communities took a keen interest in the case.

"We are very pleased and hope this marks the beginning of many more restitutions, as we know there are undoubtedly other works out there that rightfully belong to families who suffered this tragic fate," Clauda Beatriz Malamud, the president of Sociedad Union Israelita Marplatense, the local Jewish community body, told JTA.

Under an agreement Inchausti approved, the criminal proceedings against the couple were suspended for two years, subject to a set of conditions. They irrevocably renounce any right or claim to the artwork, clearing the way for its restitution. The painting will remain in the custody of Argentina’s Supreme Court until the restitution is carried out. They also agreed to pay 4.8 million Argentine pesos - approximately $3,180 - in 24 monthly installments to the support association of Mar del Plata’s Interzonal Specialized Maternal and Child Hospital.

According to well-placed sources at the Buenos Aires Holocaust Museum, von Saher has expressed interest in lending the painting to the museum for a temporary exhibition, possibly for one or two years. The exhibition would help raise awareness of the systematic theft of Jewish-owned art under the Nazi regime and the continuing international effort to return such works to their rightful owners. No final agreement about this has been announced.

PM Netanyahu on the HermonGPO

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood on the summit of Mount Hermon inside Syrian territory on September 9, 2026, flanked by Defense Minister Israel Katz and senior IDF commanders, and delivered a clear strategic message. Looking across Damascus, the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, and the Syrian Golan Heights, he declared that Israel now exercises control from the peak of Hermon to the Yarmouk River and westward toward the Mediterranean, an operational dominance the country had never previously held.

“We will not allow any terror army to establish itself on our border," Netanyahu said, describing the presence as one of the major achievements of the multi-front campaign his government terms the War of Revival. He added that the central remaining task is to defeat the terror regime in Iran, stating that Israel is “very close" and that the entire axis will ultimately fall.

The visit was more than symbolism. Israeli forces seized the Syrian side of Mount Hermon and a buffer zone of high ground and villages in the days after Bashar al-Assad’s regime collapsed on December 8, 2024. What began as a rapid move into the former UN-monitored disengagement area has solidified into a sustained military presence with fortified posts, observation systems, and regular operations. From these heights the IDF can monitor approaches to Damascus, track activity in Lebanon, and deny hostile forces the ability to dig in along the ridge that once threatened Israeli communities in the Golan and Galilee.

Netanyahu and Katz have returned repeatedly to reinforce the same point: the forces will remain as long as threats persist.

For four decades Iran’s regional strategy rested on a simple and effective concept. Through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps it built, armed, and directed a network of proxies that formed a ring around Israel: Hezbollah in Lebanon, regime-aligned forces and militias in Syria, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen. The objective was to project military power to Israel’s doorstep while keeping the Iranian homeland insulated from direct retaliation. Rockets, precision munitions, and trained fighters created a permanent threat that constrained Israeli freedom of action and held its civilian population under constant risk.

That architecture has been systematically dismantled.

The fall of Assad removed the central land bridge that allowed Iran to move advanced weaponry and maintain logistical depth from its territory into Lebanon.

• -Without the Syrian corridor, Hezbollah’s primary resupply channel was severed.
• -Israel’s subsequent campaigns inflicted heavy losses on Hezbollah’s leadership, rocket arsenal, and command structure.
• -Hamas was severely degraded in Gaza.
• -Residual Iranian-linked cells in Syria face continuous pressure from Israeli operations in the security zone.

Result: What was once a coherent encirclement has been reduced to fragmented remnants operating under far greater constraints.

Iran has responded by shifting emphasis to the maritime domain. Attacks and threats against shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, and through Houthi partners in the Red Sea raise the cost of energy transit and attempt to generate international pressure. These actions demonstrate remaining asymmetric capacity, yet they cannot restore the forward deterrent posture that the Levantine proxies once provided.

Inside Iran the regime confronts chronic economic paralysis, energy shortages, and persistent popular discontent, problems that long predated the current regional setbacks but have been aggravated by sanctions, military losses, and the erosion of its external shield.

The operational reality that emerges from Mount Hermon is that containment and negotiated management of state sponsors of terror proved insufficient. Israel has shown the capacity and the will to neutralize threats at their sources, to hold critical terrain, and to degrade the infrastructure that enabled sustained pressure on its borders. The presence on Hermon converts a historic vulnerability into a permanent advantage of observation and rapid response. It signals to any force contemplating reconstitution along the northern frontier that Israel will act first and hold the ground.

Netanyahu’s words from the summit were deliberate. Standing where Syrian forces once controlled the high ground, he asserted that the paradigm of strategic hesitation has ended. By securing the approaches from Hermon to the Yarmouk and systematically dismantling the Iranian-backed network that once surrounded the country, Israel has rewritten the security baseline of the region. The message to both allies and adversaries is clear: a terror army will not be permitted to re-establish itself on Israel’s borders. Strength, not perpetual defense, is now the foundation upon which enduring security is being built.

Amine Ayoub, a fellow at the Middle East Forum, is a policy analyst and writer based in Morocco. Follow him on X: @amineayoubx

Construction in Judea and SamariaGili Yaari/Flash 90

Eight Muslim-majority countries, including the United Arab Emirates, on Wednesday welcomed Britain's decision to impose sanctions on Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria and urged other nations to follow suit. The UAE is a signatory to the Abraham Accords with Israel.

Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE issued a joint statement expressing “the hope that this decision will help mobilize the international community to take similar actions in line with international law and hold accountable settlement organizations and individuals engaged in illegal settlement activities."

The foreign ministers also called for the “full and immediate implementation" of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza's postwar future. They further backed the creation of an independent Palestinian state with its capital in eastern Jerusalem.

The statement came one day after British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced new measures targeting Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria. Miliband said London was adopting a “new approach" that would “not only call out injustice and suffering, but act."

He added, “For a long time, the British government has said such settlements are illegal," and declared, “Today I announce the official view of the British government is that the occupation is unlawful."

Britain said it would prohibit the import of goods produced in Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria. France and Canada joined the announcement and said they would also “bring forward national measures to ban trade in settlement goods."

Israel responded with a series of countermeasures unveiled by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. Jerusalem said it would close the British Consulate in Jerusalem, remove British representatives from the International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat and terminate British training for Palestinian Authority forces in Judea and Samaria through the “British Support Team in Ramallah."

Israel also announced that 12 British elected officials and other British nationals would be barred from entering the country because of what Jerusalem described as antisemitic and anti-Israel activity or denial of Israel's existence.

Britain's Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, condemned London's decision, calling it a "truly dark day" and warning that the measures would ultimately strengthen the extremism they are intended to oppose.

Miliband rejected Rabbi Mirvism's criticism, saying that as a "proud British Jew," he disagreed with the Chief Rabbi.

"We all need to do more to tackle antisemitism," Miliband said, while maintaining that Britain can fight antisemitism while also standing up for British values.

Watch: Democrat John Fetterman’s surprise GOP convention video

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania made an unusual appearance at the state's Republican midterm convention Wednesday night, delivering a video message in which he praised Republican Sen. Dave McCormick and highlighted his willingness to work with President Donald Trump, reported NBC News.

“Yes, I’m a Democrat. Why am I here talking to you today? Because, well, I’m a common-sense Democrat," Fetterman said in the video message. “I’m always going to stand with America. I’m always going to reject the extremes and socialism and the anti-American way of life. Dave McCormick is the kind of senator that gets the job done, and he’s going to fight for Pennsylvania. I’m proud to count him as my friend."

With a US Steel mill visible behind him, Fetterman added, “That’s exactly the kind of thing that we’ll work together, and we’ll work with President Trump, to fight and defend the steel way of life, right here in the Steel Valley." McCormick subsequently thanked Fetterman for his “friendship" and his “courage."

The response from the convention audience to Fetterman's video was largely restrained, according to NBC News, with only a small number of attendees cheering during his remarks. The crowd responded with loud applause, however, when Fetterman finished his message and introduced McCormick to the stage.

The appearance underscores the increasingly close relationship between the two Pennsylvania senators. Fetterman and McCormick have also established a joint fundraising committee, a move that prompted criticism from Democrats. Fetterman has previously considered leaving the Democratic Party but has said he will remain a Democrat.

Several former Fetterman aides told NBC News on Wednesday that they viewed his participation in the Republican gathering, dubbed “Trumpapalooza," as inappropriate given the importance of the upcoming midterm elections. Trè Easton, a former legislative aide to Fetterman, called the appearance “pathetic" and said McCormick is “working him like dog."

Fetterman's relationship with Republicans has also been accompanied by his strong support for Israel, which has frequently put him at odds with progressive Democrats. Following Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, he displayed posters of Israelis abducted by Hamas in his front office and kept them there until all of the hostages had safely returned.

When anti-Israel protesters demonstrated outside his office and accused Israel of genocide, Fetterman responded by waving an Israeli flag from the roof of the building.

In July, Fetterman reiterated that he planned to remain a Democrat, while saying that a formal shift by the party toward an anti-Israel position could lead him to leave.

"If our party ever becomes - and just makes it official - the anti-Israel party, that’s when I would leave because that’s been a moral clarity for me," Fetterman stated at the time.

He also questioned why Democrats would distance themselves from a major Middle Eastern democracy with shared values and expressed concern over growing pressure from progressive activists to reduce traditional US support for Israel.

"My long-term concern has been with the Democratic Party, as I am a member of that, is that our party is going to back away and turn their back to Israel," he explained.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, subsequently said Republicans would be willing to welcome Fetterman into their caucus if he ultimately leaves the Democratic Party over disagreements concerning Israel.

“Yes, we would welcome him," Thune said when asked whether Republicans would roll out the red carpet for Fetterman if he ever decides to leave the Democratic Party.

Thune said he and other Republican senators have already spoken with Fetterman about the tensions he faces within the Democratic caucus.

“I have had conversations with him in the past as have many of my colleagues about the challenges he faces in his caucus. And there are many of us who, I think, would welcome the opportunity to have him join the Republican conference but ultimately that’s a decision that’s up to him," Thune said.

Thune also argued that the Democratic Party is “moving further and further, more radically, to the more extreme left on a lot of issues."

Marco RubioREUTERS/Kylie Cooper

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is pushing back on speculation about a 2028 presidential bid, saying he is not currently planning to seek the White House while leaving open the possibility of a future run, NBC News reported on Wednesday.

“I don’t know what the future holds, but I have no plans at this time," Rubio was quoted as having told Colombian station RCN.

“I’m not a candidate for anything right now. And I’m 100% focused on my job, and I have to be because I have two jobs," added Rubio, who also serves as President Donald Trump’s interim national security adviser.

Rubio has conveyed a similar message privately. A person familiar with the matter told NBC News that Rubio recently told at least one person that he does not intend to run in 2028, while emphasizing that he is enjoying his current position and remains open to future possibilities.

“Rubio loves being secretary of state and is really enjoying the job," the person said. “The president trusts him to have a big portfolio. He is still young, and smart in both policy and politics, and is keeping his options open for the future"

“If you asked him if he’s interested in 2032 or 2036, he would probably say sure," the person added.

The State Department did not immediately return a request for comment.

With Republicans preparing for a post-Trump era, much of the early succession speculation has focused on Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. A decision by Rubio not to seek the nomination in 2028 would leave Vance with a clearer path.

A person close to Vance said the vice president plans to consider a presidential campaign after the midterm elections, although that does not mean he will immediately decide or announce whether he will run.

Neither Rubio nor Vance has publicly committed to a 2028 campaign. Trump, however, has repeatedly praised both men and has even informally tested the crowd's reaction to a potential contest between them.

“You look at Marco, you look at JD Vance, who’s fantastic," Trump told NBC News in May 2025, when asked who could carry his MAGA movement forward after his presidency. “You look at - I could name 10, 15, 20 people right now just sitting here."

At a Rose Garden event on May 11, Trump asked attendees, “Alright, let’s go, you ready? Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?" Both men received applause.

Trump later floated the possibility of the two joining forces on a presidential ticket.

“By the way, I do believe that’s a dream team, but these are minor details," he said to laughter from the audience. “That does not mean you have my endorsement under any circumstance."

In August of last year, Trump said that while it is premature to anoint a successor for the 2028 presidential race, Vance is currently the leading contender to carry the Republican torch while also mentioning Rubio as a strong potential running mate for Vance.

Rubio has previously said he would support Vance if the vice president seeks the presidency in 2028.

Rubio is no stranger to presidential campaigns. He sought the Republican nomination in 2016 but withdrew after losing to Trump in his home state of Florida, eventually backing Trump.

The son of Cuban immigrants, Rubio entered the Senate in 2010 and remained there until 2025, when the Senate confirmed him as secretary of state by a 99-0 vote.

Speculation about another White House bid has nevertheless followed Rubio into his tenure as secretary of state, at times fueled by his own comments. In May, when asked about his hopes for the country, he said, “My hope for America is what it’s always been. I think it’s the hope I hope we all share," Rubio said in May in response to a question in the White House briefing room. “We want it to continue to be the place where anyone from anywhere can achieve anything, where you’re not limited by the circumstances of your birth, by the color of your skin, by your ethnicity but, frankly, it’s a place where you are able to overcome challenges and achieve your full potential."

US President Donald Trump discussed the ongoing conflict with Iran at a rally in Texas on Wednesday night, warning the Islamic Republic against carrying out nuclear activity at the heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain facility.

“We notice there's a little activity at Pickaxe. I would advise Iran not to get cute, because we will have to hit them very hard," he said.

Noting that the war against Iran is necessary in order to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon, Trump continued, “For 51 years, people have been trying to, and other Presidents have been trying to talk them out of it, but they don't understand talk, these people. They only understand one thing, and that's they're getting plenty of it."

Trump recently similarly warned that the United States could soon strike Pickaxe Mountain.

"Iran will not have a nuclear weapon," he told reporters at the Oval Office last week, before adding, "We may hit Pickaxe very soon...if there was anything going on with Pickaxe."

At the same rally on Wednesday night, Trump joked that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz should be renamed in his honor.

Trump said he expects oil prices to fall once the United States prevails in the conflict, declaring that they "will be going down as soon as we win the war with Iran, which is taking place right now."

He then claimed that the US controls the waterway and quipped, "We'll win it. We're winning it. We control the Hormuz Strait. I think we should call it the Trump Strait. I should get something out of it. The Trump Strait."

"I'll have an announcement, we'll call it the Trump Strait. And I'm sure the Iranian leadership will be thrilled with that," the President continued. "I'd like to tell you it was their idea. It was not their idea. Don't think they're too happy about it. I don't think they're too happy."

Earlier Wednesday, Trump had told reporters that he expects the conflict to conclude following the US midterm elections in November.

"I think the war will end immediately after the election," he said, arguing that Iran "can't hold out any longer."

Trump also accused Tehran of attempting to prolong the conflict in order to influence the elections. "They're desperate to try and affect the election so that we could get a nice, weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon."

The Wall Street Journal later reported that senior White House officials have privately cautioned Trump that the conflict could persist for years and potentially continue until the end of his current term in January 2029.

According to the report, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior advisers have discussed the possibility that Iran will continue resisting the US blockade and military campaign, despite Trump's public expectation of a much quicker end to the fighting.

White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales defended the administration's strategy in comments to The Wall Street Journal, saying, “President Trump has destroyed Iran’s military capabilities and is crippling what’s left of its abysmal economy with the most powerful naval blockade in world history and crushing sanctions," and adding, “Only President Trump knows what he will do and when."

Yulia MalinovskyArutz Sheva

Tensions in Israel's political arena are escalating ahead of the 26th Knesset election following a direct confrontation between Yisrael Beytenu MK Yulia Malinovsky and the Blue and White party. The dispute erupted over Benny Gantz's decision to press forward with a campaign despite his party's dismal standing in recent polls.

Malinovsky launched a harsh attack on the Blue and White chairman, accusing him of squandering an estimated 15 million shekels in campaign financing from public funds.

“Gantz's decision to run is not only pathetic, but it also wastes Israeli taxpayers' money," Malinovsky wrote. “Gantz - and anyone looking at the numbers - can see the reality. There is zero chance Blue and White will cross the electoral threshold. Yet, Benny Gantz is about to throw 15 million shekels of public money into advertising and PR, knowing full well he cannot win - all to satisfy personal whims and ego."

The Yisrael Beytenu lawmaker clarified that she was not accusing Gantz of criminal wrongdoing, though she used severe language to criticize the moral implications of his decision.

“It may not be a criminal offense, but it is a moral failure toward the public. Specific interest groups will profit from the cash funneled into this campaign. It stinks."

Gantz's party responded with a sharp counterattack targeting Yisrael Beytenu and its chairman, Avigdor Liberman.

“Blue and White intends to establish a broad, Zionist government and tell the public the truth - unlike Yisrael Beytenu, the most corrupt party in Israel's history," the party stated in an official release.

Blue and White went on to accuse Liberman of preparing a political alliance with Arab factions: “Yisrael Beytenu's disgraceful attempt to deceive the public - for once, not in the criminal sense - in order to form a government backed by Arab parties is one of the greatest political frauds in Israeli history. Few remember, but Liberman was the one pushing as early as 2020 for a government with Balad, and that remains his plan today."

Blue and White concluded with a direct jab at Malinovsky: “As for the money, Yulia, those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. No party has had more senior officials investigated and imprisoned than Yisrael Beytenu."

NYPD, Mamdani on 9/11 & Jewish holiday safety

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced heightened security measures Wednesday ahead of the Jewish High Holy Days, while also preparing for ceremonies marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Mamdani urged New Yorkers to avoid lower Manhattan on Friday as streets surrounding Ground Zero are set to close for the 9/11 commemoration, which will be attended by dignitaries including Vice President JD Vance.

The mayor also addressed Jewish New Yorkers amid an increase in antisemitic incidents, promising additional police protection at Jewish institutions across the city.

"I want to speak directly to our Jewish New Yorkers now," Mamdani said, as quoted by Fox News. "Your safety during these sacred days is of the utmost importance to our administration, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that you can observe the holiday securely. There will be an increased NYPD presence outside of synagogues across the five boroughs, as well as other Jewish religious and cultural locations."

Mamdani said authorities have identified no specific or credible threats to the public, but stressed that the city would maintain heightened vigilance during the upcoming events.

His comments come amid continued criticism from Jewish and pro-Israel organizations over his record and statements concerning Israel. During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani declined to reject the slogan “globalize the intifada" and faced criticism for comments he made about Israel on October 8, 2023, one day after the Hamas massacre in southern Israel.

He has also accused Israel of war crimes during its campaign against Hamas in Gaza. After taking office, Mamdani reversed executive orders related to Israel that had been issued by former Mayor Eric Adams and later declined to participate in New York City's annual Israel Day Parade, becoming the first mayor to boycott the event.

His policies have contributed to concerns among Jewish New Yorkers at a time when antisemitic incidents have increased.

Last month, those concerns were brought directly to Mamdani during a private meeting with 10 rabbis representing different branches of American Judaism. The roughly hour-long meeting included challenges over his statements on Israel, his pledge to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his calls for demonstrations when Netanyahu visits New York.

The rabbis argued that such positions were contributing to a growing feeling of insecurity among Jewish residents and making cooperation between Jewish organizations and the mayor's administration more difficult. Representatives of Reform and Conservative Judaism also reportedly told Mamdani that his rhetoric was contributing to antisemitism and could encourage further hostility toward Jews.

Several participants said they felt Mamdani had not adequately acknowledged a possible connection between his rhetoric and rising antisemitism, prompting the rabbis to address the issue with him directly.

Tisch said Wednesday that there are likewise no specific threats against the High Holy Day celebrations, but warned that hate crimes are increasing, with Jewish New Yorkers disproportionately affected.

"Even as shootings and murders have fallen to historic lows, hate crimes are moving in the wrong direction through the first eight months of this year. Confirmed hate crimes citywide are up 16%, and antisemitic hate crimes are up 9%. And once again, more than half of all confirmed hate crimes in New York City have targeted Jewish New Yorkers, even though Jews make up only about 10% of this city's population. Those numbers are deeply disturbing," Tisch said.

Tisch also disclosed that NYPD intelligence personnel have intervened in several alleged plots targeting Jews in New York since October 7, 2023.

"Since October 7th, our intelligence community has also tracked threats and disrupted plots directed at Jewish institutions here in New York, including alleged plans for attacks against a Manhattan synagogue and a Jewish center in Brooklyn," Tisch said.

She assured Jewish New Yorkers that the NYPD would continue to protect them throughout the year.

"I want all Jewish New Yorkers to know this. You have a partner in the NYPD now and throughout the year. As of today, there are no specific, credible threats directed at High Holy Day celebrations in New York City. But we remain vigilant," she said.

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he plans to speak with Israel, Britain, France and Canada to better understand their decision to impose sanctions targeting Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.

Asked by a reporter whether Washington opposes the sanctions, Trump stopped short of giving a direct answer. “I’ll be speaking to Israel, I’ll be speaking to them, and I’ll find out what’s their thinking. I understand exactly what’s going on but I want to find out why, all of a sudden, has that happened."

Trump's remarks came one day after British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced new measures against Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, saying London was adopting a “new approach" that would “not only call out injustice and suffering, but act."

“For a long time, the British government has said such settlements are illegal," Miliband said. “Today I announce the official view of the British government is that the occupation is unlawful."

Britain announced plans to prohibit trade in goods produced in Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria. France and Canada made the announcement jointly with Britain and said they would also “bring forward national measures to ban trade in settlement goods."

Israel responded with a series of measures announced by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. Jerusalem will close the British Consulate in Jerusalem, remove British representatives from the International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat and end British training activities for Palestinian Authority forces in Judea and Samaria through the “British Support Team in Ramallah."

Israel will also bar 12 British elected officials and other British nationals from entering the country over what it described as antisemitic and anti-Israel activity or denial of Israel's existence.

“Unfortunately, a hostile Labour Government is in office, systematically acting against the State of Israel, and it has left us with no choice but to finally respond to its hostile actions," Sa’ar stated.

The sanctions had reportedly been described to the Trump administration as largely symbolic before their announcement. Bloomberg reported that British diplomats privately assured US officials that the measures would not have a significant impact on Britain's wider trade or security relationship with Israel.

According to the report, British officials also sought to reassure the Trump administration that the sanctions against the Israeli communities would not materially alter Britain's broader ties with Israel.

Donald TrumpWhite House Photo by Molly Riley

Senior White House officials have privately warned President Donald Trump that the conflict with Iran could continue for years, potentially lasting until the end of his current term in January 2029, according to US officials who spoke to The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.

Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior advisers have discussed the possibility that Tehran will continue resisting the US blockade and military pressure, despite Trump's public predictions of a swift conclusion, according to the report.

The report comes after Trump said Wednesday that the war would end “immediately" after the November midterm elections because Iran would no longer be able to withstand the pressure.

Trump has privately expressed a desire to bring the seven-month-old conflict to a quick end, according to the officials quoted by The Wall Street Journal. The fighting has killed 18 US servicemembers, while the administration has simultaneously pursued a long-term economic campaign against Tehran through a naval blockade and sanctions aimed at forcing Iran to dismantle its nuclear program.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has described the strategy, known as “Operation Economic Outcast," as an alternative to major combat operations. US gasoline prices averaged $4.22 a gallon Wednesday, compared with $4.01 a month earlier and $3.19 a year ago, according to AAA.

White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales defended the administration's approach, telling The Wall Street Journal, “President Trump has destroyed Iran’s military capabilities and is crippling what’s left of its abysmal economy with the most powerful naval blockade in world history and crushing sanctions," and added, “Only President Trump knows what he will do and when."

The private discussions among Trump's advisers contrast with his repeated assertions that Iran's military has already been defeated and that its regime will soon capitulate. Vance said last week that he would not describe the ongoing confrontation as a “war," while acknowledging that he did not know when the hostilities would end and rejecting what he called an “artificial timeline."

“It would be irresponsible for us to write out our strategy and our timeline for an Iranian nation that simply cannot honor its commitments and cannot stop shooting at commercial ships," Vance told reporters.

The report comes as Rubio said Wednesday that Iran will continue to face consequences for attacks on US naval vessels and that Washington will maintain its economic pressure campaign.

Speaking to reporters in Ecuador, Rubio said, "They continue to fire on naval ships, and when they fire at our naval ships, they pay a price in tankers. They don’t hit our ships, but they lose five tankers."

Regarding the latest US strikes Tuesday night, Rubio said, "They lost five more last night. Four were damaged, and one was sunk. They'll continue to pay a price for that. In the meantime, we're going to continue to strangle them economically."

Olivia ChowReuters/Mike Campbell/NurPhoto

Toronto mayoral candidates Brad Bradford and Chris Alexander pledged stronger measures to combat antisemitism during appearances at a synagogue in the district of North York on Tuesday, while both criticized incumbent Mayor Olivia Chow for declining to attend the event, reported The Toronto Star.

The two candidates, who have emerged as Chow’s main challengers since nominations closed last month, were interviewed separately before a packed gathering at Adath Israel Congregation. The forum was organized as an early test of the campaign ahead of the October 26 election.

Bradford, a city councillor, said he would take a seat on the Toronto Police Services Board if elected, a power available to the mayor that Chow has not exercised. He described her decision not to do so as a “dereliction of duty."

Bradford also said the mayor should have used her influence to press the federal and provincial governments for bail reform and tougher prosecution of people accused of hate crimes.

“The mayor’s job is to be the mayor for everybody. That means you’ve got to show up," Bradford said.

Alexander, a former Conservative MP and former immigration minister under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, unveiled a plan earlier Tuesday calling for a steering group of experts and community leaders to address hate, improve the reporting of hate crimes and ensure “full prosecution of those responsible for these crimes under the law."

He also called for enhanced police training to identify hate crimes and for Canadian authorities to work with Israel on intelligence to detect threats.

Alexander said Chow’s decision not to attend was “unacceptable," and accused her of having “the insolence to pretend she’s not campaigning."

Chow confirmed last week that she would not participate after being invited by Jewish Lawyers of Canada. Her spokesperson said she was not officially launching her reelection campaign until Wednesday and therefore would not attend candidate events beforehand. The organization said it had first contacted her team in early August and was not told that the timing would pose a problem.

With Chow absent, the planned debate was replaced by individual interviews with Bradford and Alexander, conducted by Jesse Brown, founder of Canadaland and the event’s original moderator.

Chow's absence came on the same day that she appeared alongside Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw to announce increased security measures for the upcoming High Holy Days. Demkiw said specially trained “Task Force Guardian" officers equipped with tactical gear and rifles would be deployed in Jewish areas.

“Jewish Torontonians should not need police presence to go to a synagogue, a community centre, or simply to live proudly Jewish in our city - but they do," said Chow. “It is despicable. During this period, we are taking heightened measures."

Asked why she could attend the police announcement but not the candidate forum, Chow said, “I’m here as the mayor of Toronto. I’m not here in a campaign capacity. I will continue to engage with the Jewish community with dialogue on safety, on antisemitism and on how we can stamp out hate together."

The mayor has faced criticism from members of the Jewish community over several previous decisions. In 2024, she did not attend a memorial and vigil organized on the first anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 massacre. Chow attributed her absence to a “miscommunication" and said her office had not received the invitation email.

She also previously declined to attend a City Hall ceremony marking Israel’s Independence Day and the raising of the Israeli flag, saying that attending would be "divisive" amid the war in Gaza. In June, she faced further criticism after a video circulated showing her saying “Free Palestine" while attending Toronto’s Pride Parade.

The political confrontation comes amid a sustained rise in antisemitic incidents in Toronto and the surrounding area since October 7, 2023, with several attacks reported in recent months.

Toronto police recorded 231 hate crimes last year, 50 per cent fewer than in 2024. However, 82 per cent of the 99 incidents classified as religiously motivated in 2025 were categorized as anti-Jewish. Jewish residents account for less than 3 per cent of the city’s population.

Recent incidents included shootings targeting synagogues, an arson attack at a Jewish-owned grocery store and mezuzahs being removed from apartment doorways.

In March, gunfire was directed at Temple Emanu-El in North York as members of the congregation gathered for Purim. Nobody was injured, but the synagogue sustained damage.

Days later, Beth Avraham Yoseph in Vaughan and Shaarei Shomayim in Toronto were targeted in separate shootings within hours of each other. Three suspects have been charged in connection with those incidents.

In April, a man allegedly attempted to force his way into an Orthodox synagogue in Thornhill and assaulted a person before fleeing. The following day, a rock was thrown through the window of a Toronto Judaica store, marking the third reported attack on the business.

In July, two locations of a Jewish-owned Toronto bakery were attacked within roughly an hour of one another.

John MalkovichPR

Actor John Malkovich has canceled a planned Tel Aviv performance next year after discovering that quotes attributed to him in a press release announcing the event had not been authorized.

Malkovich had been scheduled to perform in the satirical theatrical-musical production The Music Critic on April 13, 2027, at the Charles Bronfman Auditorium. The work was written and conceived by Russian-German Jewish violinist and composer Aleksey Igudesman.

A September 5 press release announcing the Tel Aviv appearance included a statement attributed to Malkovich saying he was “thrilled to return to Israel" and looked “forward to meeting the warm Israeli audience once again, to whom I feel a strong closeness and solidarity."

However, Malkovich said he only learned of the planned performance after reading about it in The Hollywood Reporter. He said neither he nor his representatives had approved the announcement or the quotes attributed to him.

“A PR company hired by the Israeli promoter drafted a quote for the article that was attributed to me, though I never made the statements that were quoted, nor was I consulted before they were printed," Malkovich said. “I did not utter these phrases, and they most certainly are not approved by me, nor do they reflect my feelings. The fact that they were printed as direct quotes from me is unacceptable and untenable. For this reason, I have decided I cannot participate in the Tel Aviv performance."

He also stressed, “My appearance in any country, even my own, does not constitute approval of said country’s policies, nor actions, nor its elected or unelected leaders. My appearances would also not condone nor mean that I am in supposed ‘solidarity’ with any particular political cause, nor with the killing of innocents, nor with any acts of terrorism, nor any other kind of barbarity."

The Israeli public relations firm working for the production subsequently acknowledged that the quotes had been incorrectly attributed to Malkovich and issued an apology.

“Mr. Malkovich did not make, provide, authorize or approve this statement, nor was it approved by his representatives," the firm said, adding, “We sincerely apologize to Mr. Malkovich and his representatives for the incorrect attribution and regret that this occurred."

Malkovich has previously appeared in Israel. He attended the Jerusalem Film Festival as a guest of honor in 2008 and returned in 2013 for performances at the Eilat International Chamber Music Festival and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.

In his full statement, Malkovich said that he has performed in countries with governments, cultures and audiences whose views differ from his own, arguing that artistic appearances should not automatically be interpreted as political endorsements.

He said, “Generally speaking, I believe that we need more culture and more beauty in more places, not less. Art, at its best, reminds us that the exercise of our shared humanity can and should be a tool to bridge our conflicts and our griefs, our grievances and our sorrows, and that the exercise of artistic freedom is often the greatest form of protest against savagery. I look forward to continuing to exercise my artistic freedom, come what may. However, only playwrights, novelists and screenwriters can put words in my mouth, and even then, only in the service of storytelling, and no one else should think they can do that without my consent and without the resultant consequences."

The Kotel photographed in the 1870sFélix Bonfils, 19th-century French photographer

Rabbi Eliezer Simcha Weisz is a member of Israel's Chief Rabbinate council.

There is something deeply encouraging about the support Israel has received from Christians around the world, particularly during these difficult years. Many non-Jewish friends have stood publicly with Israel, defended the Jewish people, spoken against antisemitism and offered genuine friendship at a time when such support has been especially meaningful.

That friendship should be welcomed with gratitude.

But precisely because we value that friendship, we must also be clear about an important distinction: friendship between religions is not the same as joining together in religious prayer.

This distinction becomes especially important when the proposed prayer is to take place at the Kotel and in its environs, the most sacred place accessible to Jews today.

I therefore strongly object to the proposed 24-hour “Global Prayer Initiative" involving Evangelical Christian groups at and around the Kotel. My objection is not directed against Christians, nor against their support for Israel. It is an objection to the idea of combining, or presenting side by side as one religious event, Jewish and Christian prayer at the Kotel and in its immediate surroundings.

There is no contradiction between welcoming Christian friendship and insisting that Jewish prayer at the Kotel remain Jewish prayer.

Gratitude Does Not Mean Religious Merger

We should be grateful to those Christians who stand with Israel. We should appreciate those who defend the Jewish people, speak against antisemitism and support the State of Israel. There are many Christians who have shown genuine friendship towards the Jewish people, and that friendship should not be taken for granted.

A Jew can stand together with a Christian against antisemitism. We can work together to defend Israel. We can cooperate on humanitarian causes and on matters of common concern. We can develop genuine friendships and mutual respect.

But prayer is different.

Prayer is not simply another form of public expression. For a Jew, tefillah is an act of avodat Hashem. The words we say, the manner in which we say them and the place in which we say them are all part of our religious life.

There must therefore be a clear boundary between standing together as human beings and standing together in prayer.

This was one of the important principles articulated by Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik in his famous essay Confrontation. Rav Soloveitchik supported cooperation with Christians and others in areas of common human concern, while drawing a firm distinction between such cooperation and religious or theological partnership. The Rabbinical Council of America subsequently reaffirmed these principles, distinguishing cooperation in universal areas from matters of faith, religious law, doctrine and ritual.

That distinction is not a sign of hostility.

It is a sign of respect.

We respect Christians enough to recognise that their faith is their faith and ours is ours. We do not need to pretend that our religious beliefs are the same in order to be good friends.

The Kotel Is Not Merely a Symbol

There is also a fundamental difference between holding an interfaith event somewhere in Jerusalem and holding it at the Kotel and in its environs.

The Kotel is not simply a beautiful or historic backdrop for an international event. For generations, Jews have turned towards this place with tears, hope and longing. Jews came to the Kotel to pour out their hearts before Hashem. They came because they could not forget Yerushalayim and because they longed for the day when the Beit HaMikdash would once again stand in its place.

The Kotel represents generations of Jewish tefillah.

It is therefore not enough to say that a particular prayer gathering is intended to express friendship with Israel. The question must also be asked: What kind of religious activity is appropriate at a place whose entire character is bound up with Jewish prayer?

Israeli law itself recognises that the character of a holy place matters. The regulations governing Jewish holy places define the Kotel and its plaza broadly and prohibit, among other things, a religious ceremony that is not in accordance with the custom of the place and that harms the feelings of worshippers towards the site.

The current procedures for the Kotel likewise describe the prayer plaza as a place for prayer and state that activities there must respect the dignity of the site, worshippers and visitors.

Whatever the legal arguments surrounding a particular proposed event, one principle is clear: the character of the place matters.

A Balcony Does Not Change the Nature of the Event

It has sometimes been suggested that concerns about such an event can be answered by saying that some participants will be on balconies, rooftops or other places overlooking the Kotel plaza.

But moving the participants a short distance does not change the essential question.

The question is not simply where every individual person is standing. The question is what is being created at the Kotel and in its immediate surroundings, and what the Kotel itself is being asked to represent.

If the Kotel becomes the setting for an organised religious event in which Jewish and Evangelical Christian prayer are presented together, moving some participants or cameras to another location does not resolve the religious concern.

The Western Wall complex itself is understood broadly in the official procedures governing the site, including the upper and lower plazas and other areas under the responsibility of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation.

The concern is precisely that the Kotel and its environs should not become the setting for a new model of shared Jewish-Christian religious prayer.

What Happens to the Jewish Worshipper?

There is another question that deserves to be asked: what does this mean for the ordinary Jewish person who comes to the Kotel to daven?

A frum Jew does not come to the Kotel merely as a tourist. He comes to daven. He comes to say Tehillim. He comes to ask Hashem for help. He comes to remember those who stood there before him. He comes with his own private hopes and worries.

The Kotel should allow him to daven with the same sense of sanctity and concentration that Jews have always associated with this place.

If an organised Christian religious event is taking place at the Kotel or immediately around it, that Jew may reasonably feel that something fundamental about the character of the place has changed.

We should also consider the matter from the other side.

Christians would not regard it as a sign of friendship if Jews came into one of their sacred places and organised a Jewish religious ceremony there. They would rightly say that the place has its own religious meaning and that its character should be respected.

We should ask for the same respect for the Kotel.

Mutual respect does not require religious participation.

Sometimes the deepest form of respect is to allow each faith to worship in its own way.

Torah Does Not Ask Us to Erase Boundaries

The Torah teaches us that holiness involves distinction.

"וְהִבְדַּלְתֶּם בֵּין הַקֹּדֶשׁ וּבֵין הַחֹל, וּבֵין הַטָּמֵא וּבֵין הַטָּהוֹר."

“You shall distinguish between the holy and the ordinary, and between the impure and the pure."

Judaism has never taught that maintaining our identity means hostility towards others. We can respect other people and still know who we are. We can work together with people of other faiths and still remain firmly committed to Torah.

The Jewish people have a unique covenant, a unique Torah and a unique way of serving Hashem.

That does not mean isolation.

It means identity.

We can cooperate without merging. We can respect without participating. We can be grateful without compromising the boundaries of our faith. And we can stand together in defence of Israel without standing together in religious prayer.

What About Tehillim 122?

There is another sensitive point that should not be overlooked.

One of the Tehillim often associated with Yerushalayim begins:

"שיר המעלות לדוד, שמחתי באומרים לי, בית ה' נלך."

“A Song of Ascents of David. I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the House of Hashem.’"

For a Jew, these words are part of the deep longing for Yerushalayim, the Beit HaMikdash and the restoration of Jewish avodah. They carry generations of Jewish yearning.

We should certainly respect the fact that Christians may also read Tehillim and find meaning in its words. But we should be careful about presenting the joint reading of Jewish sacred texts as evidence that our religious beliefs are essentially the same.

They are not.

We can share admiration for the Bible without pretending that Judaism and Christianity understand the covenant, Torah, Mashiach and ultimate redemption in the same way.

True friendship does not require pretending that fundamental differences do not exist.

The Halakhic Principle

The halachic concern is clear. Jewish worship cannot be combined with the worship of another religion, particularly at a place as sacred to the Jewish people as the Kotel and its environs. The Torah and the teachings of our Chazal and poskim have established clear boundaries between Jewish avodat Hashem and the religious practices of other faiths. Those boundaries are not matters of politics or personal preference. They are part of the responsibility to preserve the sanctity of Jewish prayer and the distinct identity of the Jewish people.

The writings of our great poskim reflect the seriousness with which Jewish participation in non-Jewish religious worship is treated. The relevant halachic discussions include the laws of Avodah Zarah, chukot ha'akum and related questions concerning participation in religious practices. Whatever the details of particular cases, there is certainly no basis for presenting a joint Jewish-Christian prayer gathering at the Kotel and its environs as though it were simply another expression of Jewish prayer.

This is not a political issue.

It is not a question of whether we like or dislike a particular Christian group.

It is a question of what Jewish prayer is, what the Kotel represents, and where the boundaries of Jewish avodat Hashem must be maintained.

The Damage Does Not Stop at the Kotel

There is another dimension to this issue that is sometimes overlooked.

A decision made in Jerusalem can have consequences for Jews living thousands of kilometres away.

Israel is not simply another country with a Jewish population. It is the State of the Jewish people. What happens in Jerusalem is watched by Jewish communities throughout the world, and decisions made here can affect the way Jewish parents, rabbis and educators speak to the next generation.

It is tempting, especially in difficult political times, to look at a proposal such as this from an immediate political perspective.

A Christian leader supports Israel. Christian friends have stood with us. They have spoken publicly in our defence. Perhaps this is an opportunity to show appreciation.

But there is another question we must ask:

What message does this send to the Jewish community throughout the world?

A Jewish parent in Manchester, London, New York or Melbourne may spend years teaching his children that Judaism is not simply one religion among many, but a covenant, a way of life and a responsibility that has been carried by our people throughout the generations.

A rabbi may have to explain to a young person why Jewish identity matters, why Jewish marriage matters and why marrying outside the Jewish faith can have serious consequences for the continuity of Jewish life.

And then that young person may see Jewish and Christian religious leaders praying together at the holiest place in the world for Jews.

He may quite reasonably ask: If the differences between our religions are so important, why are the religious leaders in Jerusalem presenting them as though they can simply be joined together?

That is the danger.

We should be very careful not to send messages that weaken the work being done every day by Jewish parents and rabbis to preserve Jewish identity.

This does not mean that one prayer gathering will suddenly cause intermarriage. That would be an unfair and exaggerated claim. But religious boundaries do not disappear all at once. They can become weaker, one step at a time, when the distinction between different faiths is repeatedly presented as unimportant.

Today it may be a joint prayer gathering for friendship.

Tomorrow it may be another shared religious ceremony.

Over time, the distinction between friendship, cooperation and religious identification can become harder to explain.

We should not be naïve about this.

Intermarriage is already a painful challenge for many Jewish communities outside Israel. It affects not only individual couples, but also the Jewish identity of children and grandchildren and, ultimately, the continuity of entire communities.

Israel therefore cannot make every decision solely according to what appears politically useful today.

A short-term political benefit may sometimes carry a long-term communal cost.

A rabbi in England who tells a young couple that building a Jewish home is precious and unique should not have to explain an apparently contradictory message coming from Jerusalem.

A Jewish parent who is trying to preserve a strong Jewish home should not have to fight against mixed messages coming from the State of Israel itself.

And a young Jew should not be made to feel that maintaining the distinctiveness of Jewish life is somehow old-fashioned or intolerant.

This is why the issue is much bigger than one event.

It is about the message we send to the next generation.

It is about the strength of Jewish homes.

It is about the future of Jewish communities throughout the world.

And it is about whether we understand that a gesture made in Jerusalem can have consequences in every place where Jews are trying to remain Jews.

Decisions Made Years Ago - and Why They Matter Today

As a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council, I feel a particular responsibility in this matter.

I want to make clear that I am not writing here on behalf of the Council. I am expressing my own personal position.

Nevertheless, my experience on the Council has reinforced for me how important it is that decisions made by the Chief Rabbinate in the past should be respected and properly enforced.

Sometimes a decision made years ago can appear, at the time, to be dealing with a narrow or specific issue. Only later do we understand how far-sighted that decision was.

This is one of those moments.

The policies and decisions established to preserve the Jewish character and religious standards of the Kotel and its environs were not unnecessary formalities. They were intended to protect something precious. They established clear boundaries because our predecessors understood that once those boundaries become blurred, restoring them can be extremely difficult.

Today, when we see proposals for joint Jewish and non-Jewish religious prayer at or around the Kotel, we can appreciate just how wise and necessary those earlier decisions were.

This is precisely why existing decisions of the Chief Rabbinate Council should not be treated as suggestions that can be set aside whenever political circumstances change.

A policy designed to protect the sanctity and character of the Kotel must be enforced especially when circumstances arise that test the very reason for which that policy was established.

There will always be political considerations. There will always be people whose friendship we value and whose support we wish to acknowledge.

Those considerations are important.

But they cannot replace the responsibility to protect the religious character of the Kotel and its environs.

In the end, the question is very simple:

If we established these boundaries because we understood their importance, why should we abandon them precisely when they are most needed?

Sometimes the wisdom of a decision made in the past becomes clearest only when we are confronted with the situation that our predecessors were wise enough to anticipate.

We Must Not Turn the Kotel Into a Symbol of Religious Merger

There is also a question of precedent.

If an organised religious event is accepted at the Kotel and in its immediate surroundings because it is presented as an expression of friendship with Israel, it becomes more difficult to explain why similar requests from other religious groups should be treated differently.

The issue is therefore not only this particular event.

It is the principle we establish for the future.

The Kotel cannot become an international stage on which different religions conduct or combine their religious ceremonies.

That would not strengthen religious freedom.

It would weaken the very idea of a sacred Jewish place.

The Kotel is open to visitors from around the world. Jews and non-Jews are welcome to come and see it, to learn about its history and to understand what it means to the Jewish people.

But welcoming visitors is not the same as turning the Kotel into a place for joint religious worship.

There is a profound difference between saying, “You are welcome to stand here and see what this place means to us," and saying, “Let us now make this a shared religious ceremony."

We should preserve that difference.

We Can Say Yes to Friendship - and No to Joint Prayer

I welcome the friendship of Christians who stand with Israel.

I appreciate those who defend the Jewish people.

I am grateful to those who speak against antisemitism and support the State of Israel.

I hope that these friendships will continue and become stronger.

But precisely because I value genuine friendship, I believe we should also be honest about where the boundaries lie.

We do not need to pray together in order to stand together.

We do not need to merge our religious practices in order to cooperate in defending Israel.

We do not need to blur our religious identities in order to show mutual respect.

The Kotel and its environs should remain a place where a Jew can come and feel that he is standing before Hashem, connected to generations of Jewish prayer and longing, without having to encounter a joint religious ceremony of another faith.

There is nothing disrespectful about saying this.

There is nothing ungrateful about saying this.

And there is certainly nothing hostile about it.

It is simply the responsibility of a Jew to recognise that friendship between religions is strengthened, not weakened, when each religion respects the sacred boundaries of the other.

We can stand together for Israel.

We can stand together against antisemitism.

We can stand together for human dignity and for peace.

We can work together on the many challenges facing our world.

But when it comes to the Kotel and its environs, let us preserve its character as a place of Jewish prayer.

Let Jews and Christians be friends.

Let us cooperate where we can.

Let us respect one another deeply.

But let the prayer of each faith remain its own.

We can stand together without praying together.

Charlie Kirk OBMRandy/Yisroel Settenbrino

Rabbi Yaakov Menken is the Executive Vice President of the Coalition for Jewish Values, the largest rabbinic public policy organization in America. He is thus the spokesperson for the beliefs and interests of over 2,500 American rabbinic leaders promoting traditional Jewish values in American public policy.

One year ago, the voice of Charlie Kirk was silenced by an assassin’s bullet. The Torah teaches, however, that a voice is not silenced when a person leaves the world, as long as others study and learn from his words. The message that Charlie shared cannot be lost with him.

If Charlie stood for one thing, it was values. He advocated for the dignity of every person and group, recognizing the spark of the Divine in every human life. He championed peaceful and robust discourse. He spoke often of the importance of family and children, which he also demonstrated through personal example.

For countless Jews in America and Israel, Charlie was a true friend and ally. At a time when standing with the Jewish people became increasingly difficult and, in some circles, socially and professionally costly, Charlie Kirk stood with us proudly, publicly, and without apology.

Charlie understood what too many influential Americans have forgotten: Israel is not merely a modern country or a political project. It is the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people, promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to which Jews have prayed to return for thousands of years.

His support for Israel was not contingent on polling, applause or political convenience, but rooted in moral clarity. Charlie recognized that Israel stands on the front lines of a much larger struggle between civilization and barbarism, freedom and tyranny, life and those who glorify death.

He understood that antisemitism is never only a Jewish problem. Hatred may begin with the Jews, but history teaches us that it never ends with the Jews. A society that tolerates the demonization of Jewish students, the celebration of terrorism or calls for Israel’s destruction is a society surrendering its own moral foundations.

After the horrors of October 7, when Hamas terrorists murdered, tortured and kidnapped innocent men, women and children, Charlie did not equivocate. He did not retreat into comfortable language, much less the moral rot that took over much of American academia. He defended Israel’s right to protect its citizens and confronted the poisonous spread of antisemitism, recognizing these as part and parcel of his efforts to promote peace, justice, and moral virtue.

Charlie recognized the connection between faith, family and freedom. Although he was a committed Christian, he respected the Hebrew Bible, defended the Jewish roots of American civilization, and encouraged young people to reject the emptiness of radical secularism. He called them back to belief, responsibility, marriage, parenthood and service to something greater than themselves.

Along the way, he consistently demonstrated his concern for ideology over identity. In one notable confrontation, Charlie faced the late founder of “Cosmic Judaism," who rose to promote socialism by dismissing the value of Jewish Day School education and the clear gap between public and private schooling overall. Charlie could not conscience a purported rabbi calling a Torah education “brainwashing," and rejected the questioner’s claim to accurately speak for Judaism. “No, you absolutely take the Torah literally," he interjected. “It’s literally the Torah!"

In an age that rewards caution, Charlie was fearless. In a culture drowning in carefully rehearsed talking points, he spoke directly. He specifically entered hostile spaces because he believed truth should never fear a debate.

We must realize, then, that his murder was not simply another senseless crime. It was an attack upon the American tradition of resolving disagreements through argument and persuasion rather than intimidation and bloodshed. This, of course, is one of many key lessons the Founding Fathers learned from our people.

Judaism also teaches us to answer darkness by creating more light. We answer hatred with moral courage, and answer those who attempt to silence truth by speaking it more boldly.

Charlie left behind a wife, children and a movement that continues to carry his mission forward. Our prayers remain with his family, whose loss is beyond measure. May they find comfort in knowing that his life changed millions and that his friendship will not be forgotten by the Jewish people.

May his courage inspire a new generation to stand for values and against antisemitism, to defend life, marriage, Israel, and the freedom to speak the truth. And may we honor him not only with words, but by continuing the work for which he gave his life.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Iran will face continued consequences for attacks on American naval vessels, while the United States will maintain its campaign of economic pressure against Tehran.

Speaking to reporters in Ecuador, Rubio described the US response to Iranian attacks, saying, "They continue to fire on naval ships, and when they fire at our naval ships, they pay a price in tankers. They don’t hit our ships, but they lose five tankers."

Referring to the most recent strikes on Tuesday night, Rubio added, "They lost five more last night. Four were damaged, and one was sunk. They'll continue to pay a price for that. In the meantime, we're going to continue to strangle them economically."

President Donald Trump also discussed the conflict with Iran during remarks to reporters Wednesday, predicting that the war will come to an end shortly after the US midterm elections in November.

"I think the war will end immediately after the election," Trump said, arguing that Iran "can't hold out any longer."

Trump accused Tehran of seeking to prolong the conflict in an effort to affect the elections. "They're desperate to try and affect the election so that we could get a nice, weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon."

The President also commented on the US strikes carried out Tuesday night, warning, "You're going to see a lot more."

Apple Event September 9 2026: Introducing iPhone Duo and more

Apple unveiled its newest iPhone lineup on Wednesday, headlined by the long-awaited introduction of its first foldable model, the iPhone Duo.

New CEO John Ternus, who succeeded Tim Cook on September 1, presented the devices at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California, reported The Associated Press. Following announcements covering updates to the iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, Ternus returned to the stage with a reference to the late Steve Jobs' signature presentation phrase, telling the audience at the Steve Jobs Theater that "actually there is one more thing."

The Duo unfolds into a 7.6-inch display, which Apple says is the largest ever featured on an iPhone and 80% larger than the display on the new iPhone 18 Pro. The device also supports Apple Pencil, bringing a feature previously associated with the iPad to the iPhone. Ternus said Duo "will redefine the experience of using a foldable phone."

The foldable device can display two different apps simultaneously or allow users to open two windows of the same website, including for comparing products while shopping. Its $1,999 starting price makes it the most expensive iPhone Apple has introduced.

Apple also unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, which feature upgrades to performance, cameras and battery life. The Pro starts at $1,199, while the Pro Max begins at $1,299. Preorders will open September 12, with both models going on sale September 18. The Duo is scheduled to become available October 23.

The Pro Max offers up to 45 hours of video playback, along with faster charging. Apple has added new camera capabilities, including "cinematic effects" for ordinary video, expanded manual controls and "smart focus tracking," which can keep a moving subject such as a child playing soccer in focus.

The company also highlighted new artificial intelligence capabilities for Siri, placing particular emphasis on privacy and security as Apple seeks to compete with rivals that have moved more aggressively into AI-powered features.

The standard iPhone 18 is about $100 more expensive than its predecessor, with Apple partly attributing the increase to a worldwide shortage of memory chips. The iPhone 17 lineup had prices ranging from $799 to $1,999, depending on the model.

President Donald TrumpWhite House Photo by Molly Riley

US President Donald Trump spoke to the press on Wednesday about the conflict with Iran and shared his assessment that it will end after the US midterm elections in November.

"I think the war will end immediately after the election," the President said, explaining that Iran "can't hold out any longer."

Trump claimed that Iran is prolonging the war in an attempt to influence the upcoming elections. "They're desperate to try and affect the election so that we could get a nice, weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon."

The President also addressed the US strikes overnight, which destroyed nine Iranian ships, and warned: "You're going to see a lot more."

Trump also shared that in any future deal, the US would seek more from Iran than it did in the past: "I'm doing much more than a nuclear deal. There's a lot more than nuclear... That's 99.9, but there's going to be a lot of other things on the table that wouldn't have been on the table three months ago."

Danny DanonIsraeli Mission to the UN

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, has launched a new international initiative aimed at combating the rise in antisemitism around the world, as the process of selecting the next UN Secretary-General gets underway.

Dozens of countries took part in the initiative, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Argentina and Slovakia. Participants will seek to develop practical measures to confront antisemitism and turn international condemnations into coordinated action.

Among those who addressed the initiative were Ambassador Jeff Bartos of the US Permanent Mission to the UN; Katharina von Schnurbein, the European Union Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life; and Rabbi Mark Goldfeder, CEO and Director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center.

The initiative was launched against the backdrop of a reported 136% increase in antisemitism across the seven countries with the world’s largest Jewish communities compared with the period before the October 7 massacre.

Participating countries will work to identify emerging antisemitic threats, formulate practical policies and tools to address them, and coordinate diplomatic efforts.

As part of the initiative, Danon is calling for combating antisemitism to become a priority in the process of selecting the next UN Secretary-General. He also urged additional countries to join the task force and turn the fight against antisemitism into an international commitment.

“The words ‘Never Again’ were not meant to be a slogan. They were meant to be a commitment," Danon said.

“Words, declarations, and statements are not enough to fight the rising antisemitism on the streets, in synagogues, in universities, and even here at the United Nations. It is time for action."

Danon thanked the countries that have already joined the initiative, stressing that confronting antisemitism cannot be left solely to Israel and Jewish communities.

“We thank the countries who have already committed to joining us on this important mission. This mission is not the responsibility of Israel and the Jewish people alone. It is the responsibility of the entire international community."

Ambassador Jeff Bartos of the US Permanent Mission to the UN warned that antisemitism has become a worldwide phenomenon.

“We are facing a global pandemic of antisemitism. That is irrefutable," Bartos said.

“Here at the United Nations, special rapporteurs who represent this organization are staining its reputation, its dignity, and discrediting the important work of other UN workers."

Von Schnurbein emphasized the effect of rising antisemitism on the everyday lives of Jews around the world.

“It is fully unacceptable that Jews in many regions of the world look across their shoulder in public or even hide their identity," she said.

“There can be no excuse for antisemitism. It cannot be tolerated anytime or any place."

Vienna International Centre, where IAEA offices are locatediStock

The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Board of Governors on Wednesday referred Iran to the UN Security Council over Tehran's failure to cooperate with an investigation into uranium traces discovered at undeclared locations.

The move marks the first time in 20 years that the IAEA board has reported Iran to the Security Council over the issue.

Western officials have expressed suspicions that the uranium traces could indicate that Iran operated a secret nuclear weapons program until 2003. Iran has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear weapons and maintains that its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes.

Twenty-three of the 35 countries on the IAEA Board of Governors supported the resolution during a vote at the agency's headquarters in Vienna. Russia, China and Niger voted against the measure, eight countries abstained, and one country did not vote because it was in arrears.

The resolution was submitted by the US, Britain, France and Germany.

The IAEA board had previously declared Iran to be in noncompliance with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations in June 2025, citing Tehran's lack of cooperation with the agency's investigation.

Iran's ambassador to the UN in Vienna, Reza Najafi, rejected Wednesday's resolution and called it a "political tool." He accused the measure of undermining confidence in the IAEA's "independence, impartiality and credibility."

Najafi also argued that ongoing military operations involving Iran, the US and Israel have made it impossible for Tehran to provide inspectors with access to nuclear facilities.

The US this week destroyed five Iranian oil tankers, while Iran subsequently struck American targets in Jordan, amid renewed exchanges of attacks in the more than six-month-old war.

The resolution requests that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi report the agency's concerns to both the UN Security Council and General Assembly in accordance with the IAEA Statute.

It also calls on Iran to address its noncompliance and take measures required by the IAEA to provide assurances that nuclear material has not been diverted.

Since Israel and the US struck Iranian nuclear facilities during the 12-day war in June 2025, IAEA inspectors have not been granted access to nuclear sites damaged in the strikes. The agency has also been unable to determine the status of Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.

Najafi said the Israeli and American strikes had made safe access to the facilities "materially impossible." He insisted that Iran has "neither stopped nor suspended its safeguards obligations," but said implementing those obligations is currently impossible due to continuing military operations and threats.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, responded to the resolution in a post on X.

"They attack Iran's safeguarded nuclear facilities, disrupt the normal verification process, and then use that very disruption as a pretext for passing a resolution at the IAEA Board of Governors," Gharibabadi wrote.

"With these attempts to create an atmosphere, you can neither compensate for the failure of your policies and actions, nor will you be able to achieve anything at the Security Council."

According to the IAEA, Iran possesses 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity, below the approximately 90% enrichment level considered weapons-grade.

Grossi has previously warned that the amount would be sufficient for Iran to produce as many as ten nuclear weapons if Tehran decided to weaponize its nuclear program, while stressing that this does not mean Iran currently possesses such weapons.

Feiglin and SmotrichSpokesperson

A poll conducted by the NEXT DATA institute and published Wednesday evening by Channel 14 shows that if elections were held today, the Religious Zionism party together with Zehut would win eight seats, while Ofer Winter’s party would fail to cross the electoral threshold.

According to the poll, Likud would win 31 seats, Yashar! 22, Shas 10, and the Democrats eight.

Religious Zionism-Zehut would win eight seats, Otzma Yehudit eight, Bennett and Lapid’s Beyachad seven, United Torah Judaism seven, Yisrael Beytenu seven, the Joint List six, and Ra’am six.

Below the electoral threshold are Amcha Yisrael with 2.1%, the Reservists-Economic Party with 1.4%, Blue and White with 0.2%, Noam LeYisrael with 0.1%, and the Haredi Public Party with 0.1%.

By blocs, the right-wing bloc would win 64 seats, the anti-Netanyahu bloc 44, and the Arab parties a combined 12 seats.

A Direct Polls survey conducted for i24NEWS presents a somewhat different picture. Likud would win 27 seats, Yashar! 22, Beyachad 10, the Democrats nine, United Torah Judaism eight, Otzma Yehudit eight, Yisrael Beytenu seven, Shas seven, the Joint List seven, Religious Zionism-Zehut six, Ra’am five, and Amcha Yisrael four.

In that poll, the right-wing bloc stands at 56 seats without Winter’s party, while the anti-Netanyahu bloc has 48.

In a Channel 13 News poll, Yashar! would win 22 seats, Likud 19, Beyachad 13, the Democrats 10, Otzma Yehudit nine, United Torah Judaism eight, Yisrael Beytenu eight, the Joint List eight, Shas seven, Religious Zionism-Zehut six, Ra’am six, and Amcha Yisrael four.

The right-wing bloc would win 53 seats, as would the anti-Netanyahu bloc. In this poll, the Arab parties reach a high of 14 seats.

Kan News also published a poll Wednesday evening conducted by the Kantar institute. It found that if elections were held today, Yashar! would win 24 seats, Likud 21, Beyachad 12, the Democrats nine, United Torah Judaism eight, Shas seven, Yisrael Beytenu seven, Otzma Yehudit seven, the Joint List seven, Ra’am five, Religious Zionism-Zehut five, Amcha Yisrael four, and the Reservists-Economic Party four.

In the Kan News poll, the right-wing bloc would win 52 seats. The anti-Netanyahu bloc - excluding Hendel and Zelekha - would also win 52 seats.

Chaim’sPR

“Mommy, if I beat cancer once, why did it come back?"

Chaim Rubin is only 7 years old.

A year ago, after more than a year of difficult treatments, his parents finally heard the words they had been praying for: Chaim had beaten cancer.

He went back to school, back to his friends, and back to simply being a child.

But at the beginning of Av, everything changed again.

The seizures returned, and then came the devastating news:

The medulloblastoma was back.

Chaim has already started treatment to help control the disease, but to give him the chance he desperately needs, his family must now get him to the United States for advanced treatment.

The hospital requires a significant deposit upfront, and after already using their savings and everything they had available, the family simply cannot do this alone.

They need our help now.

Every donation can bring Chaim one step closer to the treatment he needs and another chance to fight.

Please open your heart for Chaim ben Yael.

Donate today!

Rabbi Mirvis with King CharlesReuters

UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has rejected a warning from UK Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis that sanctions targeting Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria could increase the danger facing British Jews.

Mirvis sharply criticized the British government's decision, describing the announcement as a "truly dark day" and warning that the measures would strengthen the extremism they are intended to combat.

Responding to the criticism, Miliband said that as a "proud British Jew," he disagreed with the Chief Rabbi.

"We all need to do more to tackle antisemitism," Miliband said, while arguing that Britain could combat antisemitism while also standing up for British values.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today program, Miliband said he had great respect for Mirvis but did not share his assessment. He added that holding Jews in Britain or elsewhere responsible for decisions taken by the Israeli government constitutes antisemitism.

The Chief Rabbi accused the government of engaging in political gestures that amplify anti-Israel rhetoric and warned that punitive policies against Israel could encourage those who direct hatred against Jews.

The dispute follows the British government's announcement of sanctions targeting trade connected to Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the measures in Parliament, saying Britain must stand for "fairness against injustice" and support those being forced from their homes.

The Palestinian presidency welcomed the sanctions, describing them as a step toward confronting what it termed Israel's "colonial system" and violations against Palestinians.

The announcement has prompted differing responses among British Jewish organizations.

The Jewish Leadership Council warned that the measures could develop into a de facto boycott of Israel and accused Miliband of giving in to pressure from extremist elements in British society.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews expressed particular concern over the timing of the announcement ahead of Rosh Hashanah, saying concerns about communal security were being felt especially strongly by British Jews. It also warned that worsening relations between Britain and Israel could further increase tensions within the UK.

At the same time, the Board noted that it had previously raised concerns with the Israeli government regarding settler violence.

The Community Security Trust recorded 1,926 antisemitic incidents in Britain during the first half of 2026, an increase of 21% compared with the corresponding period in 2025.

Greater Manchester Police said additional resources would be deployed during the Jewish High Holy Days to increase security and visibility around Jewish communities.

Other Jewish groups supported the government's move. Na'amod said there was no single Jewish position on Israel and rejected claims that the measures would contribute to antisemitism.

The Movement for Progressive Judaism similarly said that while concerns over the vulnerability of British Jews should be taken seriously, measures directed against Israeli communities should not automatically be regarded as attacks against Jews.

The sanctions have also triggered a diplomatic dispute with Israel, which closed the British consulate in eastern Jerusalem and barred 11 MPs and a campaigner from entering the country.

Israeli Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli subsequently recommended that additional British-linked organizations and individuals be denied entry to Israel.

Miliband told Parliament that the government's new policy was prompted by plans for development in the E1 area. He also accused what he termed "settler terrorists" of forcing Palestinians from their land and said the Israeli government had too often failed to intervene.

The planned British measures will target companies and individuals providing services, including construction and financing, connected with Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria. Advertising such properties in the UK will also be prohibited. According to Miliband, implementation could take as long as nine months.

Canada and France have also announced bans on goods from Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria as part of coordinated measures.

Shlomi EldarTomer Neuberg/Flash90

The Likud party is demanding an investigation into the Haaretz newspaper and the journalists behind a report claiming that approximately a week and a half before October 7, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a warning from the president of the United Arab Emirates regarding Hamas’s intentions.

“The real affair that has been uncovered over the past two days is blatant foreign interference in Israel’s elections. It has emerged that the person behind the false report in Haaretz is senior Palestinian official Mohammed Dahlan, who is based in the Emirates," the party said in a statement issued Wednesday evening.

“Dahlan formed a joint slate with Hamas for the Palestinian Authority elections. He wants to bring down the right-wing government headed by Netanyahu because he dreams of taking control of the Gaza Strip. To do that, he needs a weak left-wing government of Eisenkot, Yair Golan, Liberman and the Arab parties. Such a government would withdraw from Gaza and hand it over to his control," Likud claimed.

The party added, “It was revealed that Shlomi Eldar, who published the fake news, received payment from a left-wing nonprofit organization linked to Yair Golan’s Democrats party in order to spread his false allegation. In addition, about two months ago, Yair Golan and Ronen Bar secretly visited the United Arab Emirates. Is this secret visit connected to the false report in Haaretz?"

The prime minister and his party demanded that a criminal investigation be opened against Shlomi Eldar, Ruth Yuval, Haaretz, Yair Golan and the Democrats party over what they described as “suspected efforts to disrupt the elections with foreign actors."

Minister Katz on the summit of Mt. HermonElad Malka, Ministry of Defense

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz visited IDF installations on the summit of Mount Hermon in Syrian territory on Wednesday, together with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

In his remarks, the Defense Minister stressed the importance of the Israeli military presence in the area and sent a sharp message to the political echelons in Syria and the region. "From here, we defend the communities in the Golan Heights and the Galilee, keep an eye on the Hezbollah stronghold in Lebanon's Beka'a, and send a very strong and clear message to the President of Syria who is sitting 35 kilometers down there in the palace in Damascus: we are here in the Hermon, we are in the security zone, and we are not moving from here to protect against threats by any Jihadist element on this side of the border or from within the Syrian system itself."

Katz detailed the operational moves underway every night and connected the activity in Syria with that on the other fronts. "We destroyed the enemy's infrastructure in Gaza, Lebanon, and here too, IDF soldiers operate nightly to destroy the infrastructure of Jihadist forces to defend the communities of the Golan and Galilee, and on the State of Israel."

The Defense Minister also addressed the confrontation with Iran and efforts to thwart threats against Israel, stressing that the defense establishment is prepared to continue operating if necessary. “Iran remains in the background. We struck it twice, and when necessary, we will strike it a third time to continue thwarting the threats. We eliminated the nuclear threat, killed Khamenei and damaged its strategic capabilities. We will continue to act this way against every threat - both the Shiite axis led by Iran and the Hamas axis led by the Muslim Brotherhood here and across the region. We will ensure the security of all residents of the State of Israel."

שר הביטחון מזהיר: נכה באיראן פעם נוספתאלעד מלכה, משרד הביטחון

Interview | Dr. Shmuel Katz

Dr. Shmuel Katz, leading pro-Israel activist and co-founder of StandWithUs, spoke with Arutz Sheva about the upcoming Israeli elections, the debate over Israelis living abroad returning to vote, the political ramifications of the October 7 massacre, and concerns over votes being wasted on small right-wing parties.

Asked whether Israelis abroad who support the government should travel to Israel to cast their ballots amid efforts by government opponents to bring their own supporters back to vote, Katz stressed that participation should be accompanied by a careful examination of the consequences of each political choice.

“Any person who wants to go and vote should go and vote, but he should vote wisely, with a big understanding of whom they are voting for," Katz said.

He argued that this applies to voters on both sides of the political spectrum, saying Israelis must look beyond campaign promises and examine what candidates are likely to do once in power.

“People must understand that all these decisions will have a fundamental effect upon their own future," he said. “Even if you are on the left, you have to be very careful who you are voting for."

Katz warned voters against taking at face value conciliatory rhetoric from Israel’s enemies, arguing that hostile actors can present themselves as moderate while pursuing very different objectives.

“The enemies of Israel will speak to you very nicely, they’ll smile at you, they’ll look very modern and accommodating. But their middle name is deception," he said.

He also drew a comparison to political divisions in the United States, criticizing left-wing economic and immigration policies and arguing that voters everywhere need to consider the long-term consequences of political platforms rather than simply their immediate promises.

Kempinski asked Katz about undecided Israelis who argue that the October 7 massacre occurred under what had been described as Israel’s most right-wing government and question whether that government should be returned to power.

Katz responded by arguing that a full investigation is necessary to establish precisely what happened in the period leading up to the massacre and why Israel’s political leadership did not receive or act upon crucial information.

“A real investigation must be done in order to find the real details," he said.

Katz criticized the conduct of the senior military leadership before and during the Hamas invasion, questioning how Israel failed to detect the preparations for such a large-scale assault and why the response took so long.

“Netanyahu did not receive the information in real time and acted upon them because he just did not have the information," Katz asserted. “So accusing Netanyahu for not acting upon information that he did not have, it’s a very difficult decision to address."

Katz also referred to conspiracy allegations that have circulated concerning the events preceding October 7, while emphasizing that he does not know whether such claims are true.

“Some of them are speaking about conspiracies and so on, which I don’t even know if it’s true or not," he said, reiterating that an investigation is necessary to determine the facts.

He argued that one of the central lessons of October 7 is that Hamas and other enemies of Israel do not distinguish between Israelis according to their political beliefs.

“This time we understand that the enemies of Israel do not care if you are on the right or if you are on the left," Katz said.

In his view, efforts to appease Israel’s enemies encouraged them to perceive the country as weak. He argued that Israel instead needs leadership capable of projecting strength while ensuring security for everyone living in the country.

“They want you to be weak. And if you are weak, you lose," he said.

Katz said he believes Israel’s right-wing parties offer the stronger path toward security and stability, while allowing Jews, Muslims and Christians to live safely in the region.

The interview also addressed the proliferation of new parties on the Israeli right and concerns that several could fail to cross the electoral threshold, resulting in tens of thousands of votes being effectively wasted.

Katz described the issue as “crucial" and called on smaller right-wing factions to unite before the election.

“The small parties must unite. If they don’t unite, they’re going to lose," he warned.

He cited Turkey as an example of the dangers of political fragmentation, arguing that divisions among opponents of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan helped him gain power.

For Israeli voters, Katz said ideological affinity should not be the only consideration when choosing a party. Voters should also consider whether their preferred party has a realistic chance of entering the Knesset.

“If you cannot vote for a party which will survive the election, you better choose a different party which will be as close to your idea as possible," he said.

“Do not vote for a party that is going to be wasting your voice. Having a voice which is going to be lost is as if you vote for the wrong party."

Katz concluded with an appeal to the leaders of smaller parties to set aside personal rivalries and unite.

“I highly recommend that all the little parties unite, take away this factor of egos and personal ideas and try to build bridges in order to create unity among the people who are going to represent us tomorrow in the Knesset," he said.

“The survival of the country depends on a solid and unified voice within the Israeli government."

Eric AdamsReuters/TNS/ABACA

TurboGen Ltd., an Israeli developer and manufacturer of multi-fuel microturbines for distributed power generation, announced that it has entered into a strategic business consulting and development agreement with a group that includes former New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

As part of the agreement, Adams will join TurboGen’s Advisory Board and provide strategic guidance while supporting the company’s business development and market-access efforts.

The collaboration is aimed at supporting TurboGen’s expansion in the United States and international markets by increasing access to strategic customers and partners and creating new commercial opportunities for its distributed power-generation technology.

Adams is also expected to assist TurboGen with strategic introductions and represent the company in US media and other external forums.

“We are very pleased to welcome Mayor Eric Adams and the Strategic Group to TurboGen," said Yaron Gilboa, Chief Executive Officer of TurboGen. “We believe their decision to collaborate with us and their confidence in our technology and vision represent an important milestone for the Company. We believe their experience, relationships, and market access can significantly enhance our ability to accelerate commercial development in the United States and internationally."

Under the agreement, the strategic group will work with TurboGen to identify, develop, and facilitate relationships with potential customers, distributors, strategic counterparties and other business partners.

The company said the collaboration is intended to create commercial opportunities for its multi-fuel microturbine systems in applications including commercial and residential buildings, hotels, nursing homes, data centers and distributed and off-grid energy applications.

Adams served as the 111th Mayor of New York City from 2022 to 2025 and as Brooklyn Borough President from 2013 to 2021. His experience includes public leadership, economic development, stakeholder engagement and relationships across the public and private sectors.

“This collaboration goes beyond traditional business development," Gilboa added. “We see it as an opportunity to build a long-term strategic platform for TurboGen’s international growth. Having Eric Adams join our Advisory Board, together with the capabilities and relationships of the Strategic Group, strengthens our ability to connect our technology with customers, partners, and strategic stakeholders around the world."

“I am joining Turbogen’s Advisory Board because I found a company addressing a critical need for resiliency and decentralized power generation, with technology that has significant potential across multiple markets in North America and beyond," Adams said.

“Generating power where it is needed, with fuel flexibility and applications ranging from data centers to residential and commercial buildings, makes Turbogen stand out to me. I believe there is a substantial opportunity to bring this technology to a much wider customer base, and I look forward to helping the Company build the relationships that can turn that potential into massive growth."

IRGCMorteza Nikoubazl via Reuters Connect

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Wednesday that the war with the United States could come to an end if Washington stops threatening Iran and meets a series of conditions set by Tehran, including demands concerning its nuclear program.

IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohibi, quoted by Iran's Fars News Agency, said that if the United States seeks to end the current situation, it must completely halt the war and refrain from making further threats against Iran.

He added that Iran's conditions include the withdrawal of the Israeli military from Lebanon, an end to the blockade imposed on Yemen, the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets, and an end to any interference with Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities.

Earlier on Wednesday, the IRGC announced that a new restricted maritime zone outside the Strait of Hormuz would cover parts of the Gulf of Oman and areas beyond it. The precise coordinates of the zone are expected to be announced at a later stage.

Mohibi told Iranian state television that the restricted area would begin approximately off Chabahar and extend into portions of the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

He warned that vessels entering the designated area without prior coordination would face punitive measures, including the denial of services connected with maritime navigation.

Military confrontations between Iran and the United States have continued in and around the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides seeking to assert control over the strategic waterway.

Traffic through the strait has been almost entirely disrupted since the escalation began. Iran has required vessels to obtain advance authorization before passing through the waterway, a measure opposed by Washington and several countries in the region.

The United States, meanwhile, has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and introduced additional sanctions targeting Iranian airlines as part of increased economic pressure on Tehran.

William DaroffArutz Sheva

The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations on Wednesday strongly condemned new trade restrictions announced by the United Kingdom, France and Canada targeting Israelis and Israeli businesses in Judea and Samaria.

In a joint statement, Conference of Presidents Chair Betsy Berns Korn and CEO William C. Daroff described the measures as “discriminatory trade restrictions" and warned that they would contribute to efforts to isolate Israel rather than advance peace.

“Economic discrimination against Israelis will not bring Israelis and Palestinians closer to peace," they said. “Instead, it strengthens the campaign to isolate Israel and turns a political dispute into a basis for excluding Israelis from ordinary economic activity."

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced Tuesday that Britain would ban trade in goods produced in Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria. The announcement was made jointly with France and Canada, which said they would also introduce national measures banning trade in such goods.

Korn and Daroff warned companies considering complying with the measures that doing so could have consequences in the United States.

They noted that 38 US states have taken action through legislation or executive measures opposing boycotts of Israel, and said companies participating in the newly announced measures could place state contracts, investments or other business at risk.

“Businesses should not allow foreign governments to enlist them in economic discrimination against Israelis," they stated.

The Conference of Presidents leaders also addressed Miliband’s announcement that he will next month host representatives of the J7 Large Communities’ Task Force Against Antisemitism, which brings together the seven largest Jewish diaspora communities. The Conference of Presidents is expected to participate in the gathering.

“We welcome serious efforts to confront antisemitism, but the United Kingdom cannot credibly seek the partnership of Jewish communities in that fight while pursuing policies that single out Israelis for boycott," Korn and Daroff said.

They pointed to threats and violence facing Jewish communities worldwide, noting that anti-Jewish hate crimes accounted for nearly two-thirds of reported religion-based hate crimes in the United States in 2025.

“At a time when hostility toward Israel too often spills over into hostility toward Jews, governments should be particularly wary of legitimizing the exclusion of Israelis," they said.

Korn and Daroff stressed that they condemn violence against civilians and support holding those responsible accountable, but rejected collective economic measures against Israelis as a means of achieving that goal.

“Collective economic measures targeting Israelis, however, are neither a substitute for accountability nor a path toward peace," they said. “They ignore Palestinian terrorism and incitement, deepen division, and undermine the economic and security cooperation necessary for any durable resolution."

Miliband said Tuesday that the British measures target Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria rather than Israel as a whole. He also said he opposes the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign.

The UK, France and Canada said their measures are intended to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution. Their joint statement also condemned the October 7 Hamas massacre and acknowledged Israel’s legitimate security interests.

Korn and Daroff called on all three governments to reverse their decisions and urged private companies to consider the implications of participating in the restrictions.

“We urge the United Kingdom, France, and Canada to reverse course and reject economic measures that single out Israelis," they concluded. “We also urge private companies to consider carefully the legal and moral consequences of implementing these boycotts. Peace requires engagement, cooperation, and accountability, not the economic exclusion of Israelis."

Tzvika MorArutz Sheva

Father of captivity survivor Eitan Mor and Religious Zionism Knesset candidate sharply attacks British sanctions on Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria: “We are the masters of the land."

Tzvika Mor, a candidate on the Religious Zionism slate and the father of captivity survivor Eitan Mor, sharply criticized the British government over its decision to impose sanctions on Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, calling the British “antisemites" and “the worst after the Nazis."

In an interview with Kan Reshet Bet’s Bahazi Hayom program, Mor said, “For me, they are at least number two after the Nazis. Of course, there are the Nukhba terrorists, but the British come after them."

“The British revoked the Balfour Declaration, imposed the White Paper on us, allowed the riots during the Great Arab Revolt, ignored their obligation to establish a national home for the Jewish people here, and turned back Holocaust refugees - they are simply antisemites," he said.

Mor expressed support for the government’s decision to expand Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, saying it represented “the appropriate Zionist response" to international pressure.

“We are showing that we do not surrender to pressure and that we act out of justice. These are state lands. I don’t think the English consult with us before they build a neighborhood in Liverpool. We are the masters of the land, and security control must be ours alone," he said.

Addressing allegations of Jewish violence in Judea and Samaria, Mor criticized British and international coverage.

“They take a tiny minority of incidents and call it ‘Jewish terrorism.’ What do we have to complain about when it comes to Britain, which is already a very antisemitic place? We have not forgotten what they did to us here during the Mandate period."

Mor also called for a fundamental change in Israeli policy toward Judea and Samaria and for Israel to withdraw from the Oslo Accords.

“We need to formally announce that we no longer accept the Oslo Accords. We are canceling them and returning everywhere. Most of Areas A and B are open land, and that is where we will live," he said.

Regarding the future of the Palestinian population, Mor said, “We do not need to expel anyone. We need to open the gates to emigration and allow anyone who wants to leave to do so. Security control must be transferred entirely to us, while civilian control will be theirs. That is how we correct the crime of Oslo."

Lieutenant Dean Elsdunne, International Spokesperson for the Israel Police

Lt. Dean Elsdunne, International Spokesperson for the Israel Police, spoke to Arutz Sheva-Israel National News from the President's Residence, where he received special recognition from President Isaac Herzog for his work representing Israel and the Israel Police.

"Very exciting day, I can say that. That's even an understatement," Elsdunne said.

Reflecting on the path that brought him to the President's Residence, he recalled making Aliyah eight years ago, serving as a lone soldier in a special unit, and later becoming an international spokesperson.

"Who would have thought that eight years ago I made Aliyah, Oleh Hadash, drafted into a special unit as a lone soldier, and then later became an international spokesperson," he said. "Not just for the police, but I feel like for the country."

"Today, that work, all that work in the last eight years, is being recognized on a stage that I couldn't even dream of being on."

Elsdunne also recalled the morning of October 7 and the moment he began to understand the scale of what was taking place.

"I feel like it was just yesterday. I feel like maybe even this morning. Obviously, [I] can't forget that day," he said.

At approximately 6:30 a.m., Elsdunne received a call informing him of rocket fire and telling him to report to his base. As he prepared to leave, additional calls began coming in about terrorists, kidnappings, soldiers, and police officers fighting for their lives.

Only after reaching the station and listening to the police emergency radio traffic, he said, did he begin hearing firsthand what officers were facing.

"I understand that our police officers, the men and women who fought that day, are really the human shield, the bulletproof vest of our nation," he said. "And it became my job from those moments to pass on the stories of heroism to the rest of the world."

While Elsdunne did not physically fight on October 7, he described the media effort that followed as "the fight of my life."

Beginning on October 9, he entered the kibbutzim. He helped bring members of the international media to the communities attacked in the massacre, where he worked to tell the stories of police officers who fought in Kfar Aza, Be'eri, and at the Nova festival.

Elsdunne described standing amid the aftermath of the massacre while trying to impress upon foreign journalists the significance of what they were witnessing.

"The blood is starting to create a smell that you'll never be able to forget. We're standing in houses that are burned, blood everywhere," he recalled.

He said his message to those visiting the sites was that they needed to remember what had happened when Israel responded to the attack.

"If this was your family, that they came and kidnapped, that this was your family, that they came and slaughtered like this, like animals, you would also want justice," he said.

Elsdunne said that effort continued through tours of the affected communities and meetings with international figures, to whom he sought to present what had occurred from the perspective of a police officer rather than on a political level.

He also discussed his involvement in responding to the flotillas that sought to reach Gaza, recalling in particular what he called the "Yom Kippur flotilla."

Elsdunne said that while the flotilla was presented as an attempt to bring humanitarian aid into Gaza, his own experience at the Kerem Shalom crossing had shown him trucks carrying aid into the Gaza Strip, escorted by police officers.

When the flotilla arrived, Elsdunne boarded the vessel.

"I knew it was all a show. I knew it was all for social media," he said. "I get on, and the boat was just empty. There was a little bit of food that they were eating."

He said he recorded a video from the vessel in an effort to show audiences abroad what he had seen.

Turning to the broader challenge of representing Israel internationally, Elsdunne warned that stories understood within Israel can be received very differently by audiences overseas.

"The stories that we're talking about here, we may understand the nuance and the context because we're Israeli, but abroad they use that against us," he said.

"I'm not saying to lie. We should always, always tell the truth," he stressed, while arguing that context familiar to Israelis can be manipulated abroad to make false claims against Israel.

His message to Israelis seeking to tell the country's story was to continue speaking out.

"I would say don't give up, continue to speak on behalf of Israel because the truth will prevail, the justice will prevail."

Elsdunne concluded by thanking his commanders for supporting his work and the police officers whose stories he has sought to tell.

"I wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for the police officers, the female and male, who gave their lives, who were the human shield for our country," he said.

He also thanked his wife, who remained at home with their two children while he carried out his duties throughout the war, including during rocket attacks.

"As the rockets are falling, she needs to be there alone and hold down the fort," he said.

Britain's King Charles coronationHumphrey Nemar/Pool via REUTERS:

The retaliatory actions taken by the Israeli government against Great Britain in the wake of the latter’s anti settlement measure are simply not enough.

For example, both the British Embassy in Tel Aviv and the British Consulate in Jerusalem should have been closed. Indeed, I would go further and condition the reopening of the British Embassy only if it’s relocated to Jerusalem AND $6 billion restitution is paid for the British Government’s closure of entry to its Palestine Mandate to Jews fleeing Nazi extermination.

Moreover, I think it would have been right and proper for the Israeli Government to take this opportunity to announce that henceforth ALL embassies must either be relocated to Jerusalem or be closed until such action is taken.

Of course, why all the other signatories of Foreign Secretary Miliband’s antisemitic initiative weren’t also sanctioned by having their consulates in Jerusalem closed is totally beyond me.

And a further diplomatic retaliatory measure was needed: namely, ALL foreign diplomatic offices in Ramallah should also have been ordered permanently closed.

Recognizing American sovereignty over Greenland and supporting Argentina’s claim to the Malvinas Islands should also have been adopted.

But perhaps the greatest lost opportunity is the Israeli government’s cowardly refusal to officially declare the death of the Oslo Agreement. I ask, how much more Jewish blood has to be spilled before the genocidal P.A. regime in Ramallah is closed down?

And when will an Israeli Government that finally summon the courage to announce the application of our G-d given sovereignty over Judaea and Samaria? I mean, exactly who are we waiting to negotiate this with? Ed Milliband?

What Israel’s response to this whole sordid matter reflects, more than anything else, is our political establishment’s unwillingness to think and act decisively on foreign policy issues.

And until our administration adopts such a mindset, no matter who stands at its head, we will continue to calmly wipe the world’s spit off our faces while pretending it’s just rain.

סימני ראש השנהצילום: iStock

לעילוי נשמתה של חמותי היקרה, גולדה בת יחיאל מיכל ז"ל

The Mussar master, Rav Israel Salanter asks the following intriguing question: Why is Yom Kippur not before Rosh Hashanah? Should we not first receive forgiveness for our sins, and then be standing before Hashem, to be judged, on Rosh Hashanah?’.

To elucidate: we say, in Mussaf on Rosh Hashanah, the piyut: ’Today You gave birth to a world’ - and the critical continuation, for our purposes - ‘today You will stand in judgment before You, every creation, if as sons, if as servants.’

This, then, is the awesome situation confronting each person, on Rosh Hashanah, as he pleads: ’זכרנו לחיים: remember us for life, King who desires life, and inscribe us for life, in the Book of life, O living G-d.’

Might we not rightfully think, that since Hashem ‘desires life’, He would judge us at the time most propitious for us to merit being inscribed in the Book of Life - on Yom Kippur, when we have completed our process of repentance - at the conclusion of the Ten Days of Repentance, and culminating in the purification of Yom Kippur?

How much more so, when we read the beautiful paean of Rabbi Akiva, as to the purification on Yom Kippur: (Yoma 86: ) אשריכם : how fortunate are you Bnei Israel, before Whom you are purified, and Who purifies you: your Father in Heaven, as it says (Yechezkiel 36:25): ’And I pour over you pure waters, and you are purified, and as it says:(Yitmiyahu 17:13): ‘Hashem is a mikveh for Israel- just as a mikveh purifies the impure, so Hashem also purifies Israel.’

Let us savor three answers to our existential query.

The first is based on the words of the Sweet Singer of Israel, David Hamelech (Ps’ 27), which we have been saying since Rosh Chodesh Ellul: ’By David, Hashem is אורי my light וישעי: and my salvation’.

Our Sages, in the Midrash, expounded: ‘my light’ is Rosh Hashanah, ‘my salvation’ is Yom Kippur’.

The allusion to Yom Kippur - as ‘salvation’ - is readily understood, as it brings atonement and purification - but lthe allusion to Rosh Hashanah as ‘my light’ calls on us to seek to expound it.

We can do so, by noting that on the first Rosh Hashanah the world was created and - as our Sages relate -the light which Hashem created at that time, was a light ‘with which one could see from one end to the other’.

Our Sages added, that because of this special nature of the light, it was denied to the wicked, and reserved for the needs of the righteous - with whom the genuine penitents who seek atonement, must surely be included.

‘Though wholeheartedly seeking to repent, we are confronted with a great difficulty in doing so, as :’man is closest to himself’, and so, is in his nature, inclined to judge himself favorably - rather than objectively.

True repentance requires an honest answer to the question that Hashem asked Adam Harishon after his transgression: איכה: ’Where are you?’ - what is your spiritual level, now, after your misdeed?.

This very same question is the starting point for repentance - a true חשבון נפש: spiritual accounting of the soul.

Without knowing our true spiritual standing, how can we proceed to change, and to truly repent?

This is the chessed of Rosh Hashanah, of being ‘my light’ - the unique nature of its light enabling us to truly ‘see’ our spiritual standing, so that we can avail ourselves of these auspicious days - overcoming the barrier with which we were confronted, as we brought - and receive the ultimate gift of atonement, on Yom Kippur.

This can be summarized by saying: ’If not for ‘my light’, there would not be ‘my salvation’ - meaning: the light and awakening of Rosh Hashanah are the foundation and a pre-condition to the forgiveness and atonement which comes on Yom Kippur.

Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl proffers a second answer: the beginning of the process of repentance is the recognition on Rosh Hashanah, of the Kingship of Hashem.

The Rav expounds: ’If you want to demolish a faulty structure - in our case, man built on transgressions - there are two ways to do so.'

‘One way is to assail the structure with a heavy hammer, and to strike blow after blow, brick after brick, until the whole structure is demolished.

‘Whilst this approach likely will achieve the objective, if the structure is strong - as the errant body is - the work will take a long time and great effort.

‘The second way is very much simpler: If we dig under the foundations, the structure will collapse of itself, and not require great effort or time.

‘This is the foundation of Rosh Hashanah - and also the major difference between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

‘On Yom Kippur we conduct a frontal assault on our transgressions, in viduim, strikes on our hearts and resolutions as to the future;’On the transgression that we sinned.. on the transgression that we sinned…’.

‘On Rosh Hashanah, by contrast, we seek to take preceding action, to prepare the soil - the foundation - on which the transgressions arise.

‘We seek to convince ourselves how mistaken the transgression was - though it appeared correct at the time, and worthwhile - as today we reckon the reward for a mitzvah as against the loss caused by the transgression - and we return to the point in time before the deed, and understand that the calculation we made then, was mistaken.

‘This is why repentance can retrospectively undo and uproot the transgression, because we have uprooted the foundation - just as in hatarat nedarim ( the release from vows), because the Sage discerns today, that my assumption when I acted, was mistaken.

‘I now realize that all the illusions that the yetser ha’ra led me to envisage, when inducing me to act against the Will of Hashem, was mistaken - as the Will of Hashem is the only truth - and, when we reach this understanding, the whole structure of transgressions, collapses by itself!

‘To reach this understanding, we need - therefore - to deepen the uprooting of the foundation, that underlies transgression: that there is a מציאות ; a Reality, other than Hashem, and the acceptance that He alone is the only Reality.

‘When we internalize this truth, the transgression will - of itself - fall apart.

‘This is our task on Rosh Hashanah - and also the main part of our prayers: the sole Kingship of Hashem, as we pray to ‘המלך הקדוש': ‘the Holy King’, and in the fourth bracha of the Shmoneh-Esreh: מלך על כל הארץ:’King over all the land.’

‘This, too, is why we sound the Shofar on this day, as this is the manner in which kings are crowned.’

Clearly this had to precede our service on Yom Kippur, as we only now know from whom - and for what - we need to seek atonement, and to repent.’

The third answer is my own humble offering, and I proffer it to fulfill the teaching of our Sages (Chagiga 3.): ’There is no Beit Midrash without חידוש: an original Torah insight’.

There is a כלל: a general principle in Kabalistic and Chasidic thought, that, in spiritual matters, for there to be an ‘awakening’ - help - from Above, there needs to first be an ‘awakening’ - be it an action or an intention, below - from man.

Applying this principle to our query, let us first ask: What chessed are we asking for on Yom Kippur, from Above?

The answer is readily found in David Hamelech’s psalm: We are asking for ישועה: for the priceless gift of absolution from our transgressions - which is so beautifully elucidated by Rabbi Akiva in the gemara we brought.

The need for teshuva - to repent - is so vital, that our Sages (Pesachim 54. and in several other gemarot) say that it was one of the seven things created before the creation of the world.

They point to a source for this, in Psalm 90, which states that, before the world was created, Hashem called on man to repent: ’Before the mountains were born and You had yet fashioned the earth.. You say: ’Repent, O sons of man’ - based, in turn, on several sayings of the prophets.

The commentators expound that the reason for this, is that the ability to atone for one’s transgressions is an essential need for man.

If we have found an ‘awakening Above’ - which we receive on Yom Kippur - what can mortal man precede by ‘giving’ to Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu, to fulfill the condition of an ‘awakening below’?

An original answer is advanced by Rav Azriel Tauber: ’For reasons beyond our limited intellect, Hashem has a request of us, on Rosh Hashanah, as the Gemara relates (Rosh Hashanah 15.): תמליכוני עליכם:’Crown Me as your King, over you’.

The Vilna Gaon comments that though Hashem will still be the ruler over all, should we not crown him as our King, he would not be a King, as a King - by definition - is one who is crowned willingly by the people, as Bnei israel merited to do - as we say in our prayers: מלכותו ברצון קבלו עליהם משה ובני ישראל:’And whose Kingship they willingly accepted on themselves, Moshe and Bnei Israel.’

Should you ask here: What need is there for this - the willing acceptance of the Kingship, by the people - the answer is provided by the Yalkut: אין מלך בלא עם: there is no King without subjects - and our Avot chose to be the subjects of the King of Kings.

We can now rightfully claim to have first fulfilled the condition of ‘awakening below’ - by crowning Hashem as our King on Rosh Hashanah - to merit the ‘awakening Above’, on Yom Kippur.

A parting gem from Rav Salanter, who proffers his own answer to his question: The purification of Yom Kippur is the result of a long process of altering the very being of the person to his core .

This process starts with the realization of the correct order of priorities, the main one being the Kingship of Hashem over Creation.

Hence, Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the process - and thus must precede Yom Kippur - which alters us deeply, and enables culmination in the purification of Yom Kippur.

לרפואת נועם עליזה בת זהבה רבקה ונחום אלימלך רפאל בן זהבה רבקה, בתוך שאר חולי עמנו.

Netanyahu on Hermon summitPMO Spokesperson's Office

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Mount Hermon summit in Syria today (Wednesday), together with Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai.

“We control the entire area from the summit of Mount Hermon to the Yarmouk, and from here to the Mediterranean Sea - absolute control unlike anything we have had before. We will not allow any terror army to establish itself on our border, and this is one of the tremendous achievements we have secured in the War of Revival," the prime minister said.

He stressed that the campaign has not yet ended.

“From these heights, there is still more work to be done - the main task is to defeat the terror regime in Iran. We are very close to achieving that. We know that the entire axis will ultimately fall. We are committed to doing this, and we will do it."

During their visit to the military post overlooking Syrian territory, the participants received a security briefing on the full range of operations being carried out by forces in the sector.

The briefing was delivered by Northern Command Commander Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo and 210th Division Commander Brig. Gen. Yair Peli.

Mark LevinCourtesy

Mark Levin is an American lawyer, author and radio personality. He is host of the syndicated radio show “The Mark Levin Show," as well as “Life, Liberty & Levin" on Fox News.

(JNS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has strongly denied the report that the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, gave him a direct warning about an impending Hamas attack before Oct. 7, 2023, calling the claim an “absolute lie."

The allegation surfaced in a newly released book, Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment by journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval, and was regurgitated in the radical left, Netanyahu-hating Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

According to the book’s authors, three anonymous foreign senior sources claimed that the UAE head called Netanyahu 10 days before the attack, warning that Hamas senior leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a major operation that could destabilize the region.

So, this is the source of the headlines around the world today. Three anonymous foreign senior sources in a book released and promoted by Haaretz. Nothing more. Sounds almost too perfect, does it not?

Yet prior to Oct. 7, not a single person went to the press, went to the people, jumped up and down, warning that Hamas was planning an attack-at least, not with any specificity about the nature of the attack. There was none of the usual anonymous leaks to the Israeli media. Zippo.

The Jerusalem Post, an influential news outlet in Israel, had no news stories about it. Nor Arutz Sheva. In fact, not a single Israeli media outlet reported anything. Even the retired generals in Israel’s political parties seeking to become prime minister or part of a new government said nothing beforehand as a warning, at least not publicly as best as I can tell. Odd, if they had some knowledge of an impending terror attack of the kind that occurred on Oct. 7.

The timing of the book’s release and the anonymous foreign sources promoted by Israel’s most radical news outlet are not lost on anyone, as Netanyahu’s political and media opponents pounce weeks before the election scheduled for Oct. 27. It’s particularly repulsive to watch Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, former premiers themselves, all over the media demanding new investigations, etc.

We know, as a matter of fact, that there was a comprehensive 40-page Hamas battle plan codenamed “Jericho Wall" that laid out aspects of the invasion strategy later executed on Oct. 7, which was acquired by Israeli intelligence in April 2022, while__Bennett, who is again running for prime minister, was serving as such. Lapid, I believe, was alternate prime minister and foreign minister.

Netanyahu didn’t return as head of the government until Dec. 29, 2022. You would think that these two men would be more circumspect about the allegations they are launching.

The allegation from anonymous sources in a book just released for maximum marketing attention and sales-literally weeks before the Israeli election and promoted by a radical news outlet that seeks Netanyahu’s defeat-is ugly stuff. Netanyahu has announced that he is suing the writers for libel.

It’s a well-organized and well-timed political ambush.

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Satellite image: Natanz and Pickaxe Mountainvia REUTERS

CNN reported that US officials assess that Iran plans to use the “Pickaxe Mountain" nuclear site, buried beneath granite, as a shelter for its nuclear program.

The assessment follows a report by a group of analysts who reviewed six years of satellite imagery and identified a “surge in construction" at the site.

The United States is reportedly considering ways to strike underground facilities.

US President Donald Trump warned on Friday that the United States could soon strike Pickaxe Mountain.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump reiterated his position that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon.

"Iran will not have a nuclear weapon," he said, before adding, "We may hit Pickaxe very soon...if there was anything going on with Pickaxe."

Trump was also asked about comments made Thursday by Vice President JD Vance, who said he would not characterize the ongoing conflict with Iran as a "war".

With the United States having resumed strikes against Iranian targets for the first time in recent weeks, Trump was asked how he would describe the confrontation.

"A lot of people don't call it a war. I call it a military conflict because it's small potatoes for us. It's not a big thing. We did Venezuela and we did this. In Venezuela we lost nobody, and in this we lost 18 people. And Vietnam - you lost a hundred thousand people," he replied.

PM meets with UK Jewish leadersKobi Gideon, Israeli GPO

Gary Willig is a veteran member of the Arutz Sheva news staff.

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced that the British government considers the Israeli “occupation" of Judea and Samaria to be “illegal" and, together with a dozen other countries, announced the imposition of sweeping sanctions against Jews who live in their historic homeland. These measures do not target the Israeli government, but the civilians who dare to live where the UK has decided Jews should not be allowed to live.

The declaration that any Israeli or Jewish presence over the “green line" is automatically illegal is both morally and legally incorrect. Under the terms of the San Remo Conference and the legally binding League of Nations mandate, all of the land in question was set aside to be part of the Jewish National Home. Moreover, Israel liberated Judea and Samaria from an actual illegal occupier, Jordan, after Jordan had attacked Israel, and there is nothing in international law that bars any country from holding land seized in such an obviously defensive war.

Nor is there any law that states that the land which Jordan ethnically cleansed of Jews in 1948 must forever be ethnically cleansed of Jews. UN Security Council Resolution 242 was specifically written to ensure that Israel could legally hold on to some of the territory it had won in the Six Day War, even though this resolution was not legally necessary.

Though it is not surprising that one of the only two nations which recognized the illegal Jordanian occupation as legal would go out of its way to declare Jews living in Judea as illegal, in violation of all legal norms and precedent. The UK has been attempting to control where and how many Jews can live in the Holy Land for a century, ever since it first began to renege on its legal obligations under the League of Nations mandate by restricting the flow of Jewish refugees who were returning home.

Whatever one's view on the settlements, they are populated by hundreds of thousands of human beings. Declaring a baby illegal just because he is born in the same house his grandfather built does nothing to advance the human rights of anyone.

Every attempt to erase Jewish rights, including the right to live, in Judea and Samaria, sets back the cause of peace by years. The conflict is based on the idea that the Jews do not have rights and must remain Dhimmis forever, eternally reduced to second-class status at the best of times. Every international declaration that the Jews don’t have rights boosts this campaign to restore the Jim Crow degradation of Jews through mass murder.

If Jews do not have the right to live, then ipso facto, Palestinian Arabs have the right to kill them, and it is not murder to do so.

If Jews do not have the right to their holy or archaeological sites such as the Cave of the Patriarchs or Joshua’s Altar, than ipso facto, Palestinian Arabs have the right to destroy those sites.

Declaring all Israeli and Jewish presence over the “green line" illegal extends to Jerusalem as well. It means that, despite Miliband's protestations, it is illegal for Jews to live in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, giving the Jordanian ethnic cleansing of the ancient Jewish community the British stamp of approval. It makes it illegal for Jews to pray at the Western Wall, where they have prayed for millennia.

All Ed Miliband has accomplished is to lend support to those who seek to erase the right of Jews to live anywhere. Once it is illegal for Jews to live in Judea and Jerusalem, it is not much of a stretch to say that it is illegal for Jews to live in Tel Aviv and Haifa. After all, to the typical anti-Zionist, all Jews are “settlers" no matter where they live, and the mandate applied to Gush Etzion no less than it did to Tel Aviv. Should the attempt to ethnically cleanse Judea and Samaria of Jews once again succeed - an ethnic cleansing the British government seems to support enthusiastically - then the next step will be to attempt to ethnically cleanse of all of Israel. This is exactly what happened after Gaza was ethnically cleansed of Jews in 2005 - Hamas attempted to ethnically cleanse all of southern Israel on October 7. And the nukhba terrorists called the Israeli Gaza Envelope communities "settlements" and their victims "settlers."

And once the precedent of it being illegal for Jews to live is established, that precedent will be applied by “anti-Zionists" to Jews around the world. If Jews can be barred from living in Jerusalem and praying at the Western Wall, then the obvious next step is making it illegal for Jews to live in London or New York or to pray in synagogues. Many are already trying to create this reality by targeting Jews at their synagogues and their schools in the British capital, the same people Miliband is pandering to. When Jews merely living where someone doesn’t want them is justification for sanctions, boycotts, and murder, it is a short jump to violence against Jews in the “enlightened" West.

Mahmoud Abbas has less reason to make peace now than he did yesterday. He has just seen over a dozen governments endorse his intransigence, his pay for slay program, and his laws imposing the death penalty for selling property to Jews. Why should he moderate, why should he acknowledge that Jews have any rights whatsoever, when his extremism, genocidal hatred, and demand for ethnic cleansing meets with such international approval?

If peace - real peace, not ethnic cleansing of Jews followed by a repeat of October 7 - is the goal, then the British government and its co-conspirators need to start acknowledging Jewish rights instead of destroying them. They should insist that Jews be allowed to live in Abbas' dream Palestinian State instead of endorsing the demand that the state be completely Judenrein. They should demand the end of pay for slay, the repeal of the racist law imposing execution for selling land to Jews, and the acknowledgement of the rights of Jews. Only when the other side starts acknowledging and treating Jews as human beings with rights can there be any hope of peace.

Interview | Maya Kadosh, Israel’s Ambassador to Hungary

Israeli Ambassador to Hungary Maya Kadosh spoke with Arutz Sheva about the large number of Israelis visiting Budapest during the summer and holiday season, Hungary’s approach to antisemitism, and relations with the country’s new government.

Kadosh said that Hebrew can be heard throughout the Hungarian capital as Israelis continue to choose Budapest as a vacation destination.

“It’s really nice to be able to walk in the street and hear Hebrew. Everywhere you go, in the malls, in the shops, in the restaurants, I can hear friends from Israel," she said.

She noted that tourists from around the world are also flocking to Budapest, which she attributed both to the city’s attractions and to its security.

“Budapest is a great destination, both because it’s a beautiful city, but also because it’s very safe."

Asked how Hungary has managed to maintain that sense of security at a time when Jewish communities elsewhere in Europe and around the world are facing growing concerns, Kadosh pointed to the Hungarian government’s zero-tolerance policy.

“They don’t want to see the Jews in ghettos. They want to see the Jews living in the city safely," she said. “They want to see the tourists in the city being able to dress the way they want, to eat whatever they want, have access to synagogues, to restaurants, to facilities they need. And they are very committed to that."

Kadosh also addressed pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Hungary. While such protests have remained relatively small, she expressed concern over their messages, particularly when demonstrators voice support for figures Israel identifies with terrorist organizations.

“The last demonstration here supported Dr. Hossein Abu Safiya, who is a colonel in Hamas that ran a hospital, but he ran it as a terrorist base," Kadosh said. “So we don’t like this demonstration."

She added that the demonstrations have failed to attract significant support among Hungarians.

“We are very glad to see that the Hungarian public is not falling for his lies. At the end of the day, there are like 30 or 40 people in his demonstration, while there are hundreds that support the Israeli cause. And I hope that if we won’t give him too much attention, he will disappear."

Kempinski also asked about antisemitism on the other end of the political spectrum, particularly the growth of the far right and antisemitic rhetoric online.

Kadosh said the political changes surrounding Fidesz have created an opening for the far-right Mi Hazánk party.

“We see a rise in the Mi Hazánk party, which is the far-right party. And they have antisemitic rhetoric that we don’t like," she said.

The ambassador stressed that Israel is not ignoring the phenomenon and is working with Hungarian authorities to address it.

“It’s not only that we don’t like it. We operate together with the government to see what’s the best possible solution for that," she said, citing education, law enforcement and intelligence as areas of cooperation. “It’s definitely not something that we are quiet about."

Turning to relations between Israel and Hungary following the change of government, Kadosh expressed confidence that the close relationship between the two countries would continue.

She pointed to the new prime minister’s attendance at a Holocaust memorial ceremony on his second day following the election, together with senior members of his government, as an indication of its approach.

“That shows the commitment of the local government to the Jews, to Israel," she said.

According to Kadosh, the new prime minister has also declared Israel-Hungary relations to be strategic.

“We are fully aware of the intentions of the new government to build these relations on concrete economic cooperation, tourism cooperation," she said. “And we look forward to that."

תקיעה בשופרצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90

Rabbi Chaim Drukman was a venerable spiritual leader of political religious Zionism and a close student of Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook zts"l. Both were founders of the settler movement who coined the term Gush Emunim. Rabbi Drukman influenced the country’s top leaders as a rabbi, educator and political power in Israeli society.

This article is an extract from his book, “La-Zeman Hazeh," a series of essays about Jewish holidays, including both traditional holidays and “new" ones that were established in the last hundred years to celebrate the Jewish people’s return to the Land of Yisrael.

(Adapted and translated by Moshe Goldberg)

The Importance of the Mitzvah of the Shofar

The main mitzvah of the day of Rosh Hashanah is to blow the shofar (Bamidbar 29:1): "And in the seventh month, the first day of the month will be holy. Perform no work, and it will be a day of horn-blowing for you." This is the only mitzvah that is unique to Rosh Hashanah, and it distinguishes the holiday more than anything else.

The Mishnah (Rosh Hashanah 3:2) gives a general rule about the various types of shofar: "Every shofar can be used except for that of a cow." And why is that? What is wrong with a shofar made from a cow’s horn? The Sages derive this in the Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 26a) from Rav Chisda's answer to a different question: why doesn’t the High Priest enter the innermost sanctum on Yom Kippur wearing garments of gold?

When the High Priest enters the Holy of Holies in the Temple on Yom Kippur, he removes the golden garments he is wearing and exchanges them for white garments. Why? The golden garments would seem to be the more important ones! Rav Chisda answers that "a prosecutor cannot become a lawyer for the defense." Gold served as a "prosecutor" against Israel when they sinned by making the Golden Calf. This sin led to a harsh punishment, and so the gold cannot be used to defend them and argue in their favor. It is a reminder their wrongdoing.

The principle that "a prosecutor cannot become a defense lawyer" also applies to the shofar. The sin was committed using a calf - and therefore a horn coming from the species of the cow may not be used.

The Gemara questions this reasoning: "But golden garments are worn outside the Holy of Holies!" Although the priest does not enter the Holy of Holies wearing the golden garments, he does wear them while serving outside, in the rest of the Temple. Doesn’t this violate the rule that "a prosecutor cannot become a lawyer for the defense"? The Gemara answers: "This applies only inside." We are concerned about a prosecutor turning into a defense lawyer only within the Holy of Holies itself. Outside of it there is no problem. The Gemara then asks: "But the shofar is also blown outside!" If the principle that "a prosecutor cannot become a defense lawyer" applies only within the Holy of Holies, why should it matter for blowing the shofar, which takes place outside the Holy of Holies?

The Gemara answers: "Since it is for remembrance, it is considered as though it is inside." Because the shofar serves as a remembrance, it is viewed as if it is performed within the Holy of Holies itself. From this we can see the great value of the mitzvah of shofar, which is considered equivalent to service in the Holy of Holies. The shofar raises us higher and higher. It awakens us and reminds us of our true essence.

The Torah itself does not spell out the reason for the mitzvah of the shofar, though many possible hints have been proposed. For example, the Rambam writes (Laws of Repentance 3:4) that even though the blowing of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah is a Torah decree, it also hints at what is expected of us: "Awaken, you sleepers, from your sleep, and you who slumber, arise from your slumber; examine your deeds and repent, and think about your Creator" - you who forget the truth amid the vanities of time and go astray pursuing emptiness and vanity that neither profits nor saves, look to your souls and improve your ways and your deeds, and let each of you abandon his evil ways and his improper thoughts.

The shofar blowing comes to arouse us to return to our true and value-laden lives, to return to ourselves. And yet this remains only a "hint" that we find within the mitzvah. It does not change the fact that "blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah is a Torah decree." As stated in the Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 16a): "Why do we blow the shofar on Rosh Hashanah? What does that mean, why do we blow it?! The Merciful One said, 'Blow!' The Holy One, blessed be He, told us in the Torah to blow, and that is why we do it."

The Essence of the Mitzvah Is in the Command

Great as the value of the mitzvah of blowing the shofar is, it can happen that the mitzvah is set aside in favor of something else. The Sages decreed that when Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat, the shofar is not blown at all. It might seem, as it were, that this decree undermines the very essence of the day, the mitzvah that makes it unique-blowing the shofar! However, the opposite is true. Not only does the suspension of the mitzvah of the shofar fail to detract from the essence of the day, it actually shows its importance. In this way, we are brought face to face with the day's unique value.

So long as Rosh Hashanah falls on a weekday, we might think that there is something special in the shofar itself that is the essence of its holiness. And so, the suspension of the shofar-blowing on Shabbat clearly demonstrates that the shofar is not the active agent, but it is merely a means - an important element to be sure, but one that functions only because "the Torah commanded, 'Blow!'" The word of God is what gives the shofar its special value. If not for the divine command, the shofar would not be important at all. The decree of the Holy One, blessed be He, grants holiness and meaning to the shofar and to all the other mitzvot as well.

And that same Torah, the word of God, also commanded (Devarim 17:9-11): "And you shall come to the priests of Levi, and to the judge who shall be in those days, and inquire, and they shall declare to you the sentence of judgment. And you shall act according to what they tell you... And you shall be careful to do according to all their instructions. You shall follow the Torah that they teach you, and act according to the judgment that they tell you - do not turn aside from the word that they declare to you, neither to the right nor to the left!" The uprooting of the mitzvah of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah that falls on Shabbat shows us that it is the fact that "the Merciful One commanded" that is important, and from this we may derive the same principle regarding all the other mitzvot: it is the divine command that grants value to every act in life.

This is how Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (Bereishit 6:15) explains the words of the Sages, "greater is the one who is commanded and acts than the one who is not commanded and acts" (Bava Kamma 87a) as a great principle within the Torah. Contrary to the common view, a person's deed has value only insofar as it constitutes the performance of God's will. What a person does purely on his own judgment carries only secondary and doubtful importance. The essence of a mitzvah is the divine command that created it and not the mere physical act of performing it.

The Value of Rabbinic Commands

In one place it is written (Vayikra 23:24): "...in the seventh month, on the first of the month, you shall have a solemn rest, a memory of blowing a shofar." In another place it is written (Bamidbar 29:1): "And in the seventh month, on the first of the month... shall be a day of blowing a shofar for you." This appears to be a contradiction: is it a "memory" or an actual event?

The Sages addressed this in the Talmud Yerushalmi (Rosh Hashanah 4:1). One verse says "a day of horn-blowing," and another verse says "a memory of horn-blowing." What does this mean? When it falls on a weekday it is "a day of horn-blowing"; when it falls on Shabbat there is "a memory of horn-blowing" - we describe it, but we do not blow.

According to the Talmud Yerushalmi the Torah itself hints that there is a case in which Rosh Hashanah has no actual horn-blowing, but only a memory - this is on Shabbat, when the shofar is not actually sounded. In other words, setting aside of the mitzvah of blowing the shofar is not a rabbinic decree at all, but is hinted at in the Torah itself. It can be considered a matter of Torah law and not a rabbinic ruling.

The Talmud Bavli (Rosh Hashanah 29b) quotes this teaching of the Talmud Yerushalmi. One verse says "a solemn rest, a memory of horn-blowing," and another verse says "it shall be a day of horn-blowing." This is not difficult to understand: the former refers to a festival day that falls on Shabbat, the latter to one that falls on a weekday. However, in the Talmud Bavli this opinion does not stand unchallenged. Rava raises several difficulties that undermine it, leading him to disagree and to state instead that the suspension of the horn-blowing on Shabbat is not derived from the Torah itself but from the words of the Sages: "Rather, said Rava, from the Torah it is entirely permitted [to blow on Shabbat], and it is the Rabbis who decreed against it... As Rabbah said: everyone is obligated in the mitzvah of shofar-blowing, but not everyone is expert in how to blow, and so it was decreed not to blow lest a person take the shofar in his hand and go to an expert to learn from him, thereby carrying it four cubits in a public domain."

Thus, we have found no source in the Torah for suspending the horn-blowing on Shabbat. The Sages saw a need to suspend the blowing out of concern that a person might carry his shofar on Shabbat in a place without an eruv, and thereby desecrate Shabbat. But if so, the original question remains: why does one verse discuss "a remembrance of horn-blowing," while another verse describes actual horn-blowing? And moreover, how will the Jerusalem Talmud's teaching withstand Rava's objections?

Perhaps we may resolve this by saying that once the Sages established that the shofar is not to be blown on Shabbat, the ruling itself in effect became a matter of Torah law - a law flowing from the Torah's own commandment to heed the words of the Sages. This is what is hinted at in the words "a remembrance of horn-blowing."

The Value of Shabbat

The Sages decreed not to blow the shofar out of a fear that a single Jew who does not know how to blow might carry his shofar on Shabbat in a public domain. For the sake of that single Jew, we suspend the mitzvah of shofar-blowing that year for all the people of Israel!

From this we learn a great lesson about the importance of the holy Shabbat. Although when Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat we do not hear the blasts of the shofar, the very fact of this silence constitutes a great "blast" in honor of the holiness of Shabbat. It is precisely from our not blowing that the strength and force of Shabbat can be seen. From this we understand the immense value of the holy Shabbat: out of concern for desecration by a single Jew, the entire people of Israel must set aside a positive mitzva. The act of not blowing the shofar constitutes a great blast against the desecration of Shabbat!

And indeed, especially in our generation one must emphasize the value of Shabbat, which has lost its glory in the eyes of some of our people, as can be seen in various painful ways. It is no longer a matter of individuals merely neglecting Shabbat, but of an actual desire to erase Shabbat from the State of Israel, to uproot the Jewish stamp from the state of the Jews - through such actions as allowing public transportation, El Al flights, and the opening of shopping malls. We hope that these things will not come to pass in practice and will be curtailed as much as possible, but even if the holiness of Shabbat is not actually harmed, the very idea that has arisen, curtailing the holiness of Shabbat - the very willingness to give up the Sabbath Queen - is itself a terrible thing!

This does not stem, heaven forbid, from any wickedness of heart on the part of this or that person, but rather from a failure to understand the true nature of Shabbat. As is written in the Gemara (Shabbat 10b): the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: "I have a precious gift in My treasure house, and Shabbat is its name, and I wish to give it to Israel - go and inform them!" Unfortunately, there are people among our brethren today who do not have the merit to taste the sweetness of Shabbat, this "precious gift," and who therefore do not understand the greatness and value of Shabbat and want to harm it without understanding what they are doing.

Many nations have copied the day of Shabbat from us, yet their "Shabbat" is nothing more than an external imitation, as Rabbi Jehudah Halevi wrote (Kuzari 3:9): “Behold those who established a day of rest in place of the day of Shabbat - can the two things truly be compared? Rather, this can be compared to the way that forms of statues can be compared to the forms of living human beings!"

And it is specifically some of us, "the people who sanctify the seventh day," who disown the true Shabbat that we received as a gift from the Creator. And like our teacher Moshe, we too have been called upon to teach the people of Israel about the precious gift given to us by the Holy One, blessed be He.

Kathy HochulREUTERS/Cindy Schultz

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced that $70 million would be spent on providing security for synagogues, schools, and other minorities that face the threat of hate crimes ahead of the start of the Jewish High Holidays this coming weekend, the New York Post reported.

“The most sacred period in the Hebrew year gets underway in a few short days," Hochul stated. “This is always a time of anxiety, concern, and now I would say it’s been ratcheted up."

“Hate has no place in our great state," she added. “We must condemn it in every single form that it takes. But the reality is, the sad reality, is that hate crimes are on the rise, and more than half of those crimes are targeted against Jewish New Yorkers."

Hochul had previously sought $35 million for the Securing Communities Against Hate Crime, a program that provides funding to hundreds of non-profits involved in security. The funds are used to install cameras and alarms, train security guards, and provide cybersecurity.

Earlier this month, the NYPD released statistics showing that hate crimes in New York City have risen by 15.8 percent year over year in the first year of Zohran Mamdani's term as mayor.

425 hate crimes have been recorded in the first eight months of 2026, compared to 367 in the same period last year.

The wave of antisemitism has fueled much of the rise in overall hate crimes. Antisemitic hate crimes are up eight percent year over year, and account for the majority of all hate crimes committed in New York City.

Last month, a man attacked Manhattan's Central Synagogue during Shabbat services, injuring a worshipper and damaging property.

In another incident in August, six local youths attacked a local haredi man in Borough Park and threw eggs at him.

A Jewish man was stabbed in July outside a synagogue on Tisha B'Av.

Visiting Itamar Galinsky in the hospitalCourtesy of the photographer

Itamar Galinsky, who was critically wounded during the fighting in Lebanon nearly two years ago, has returned to reserve duty in the same unit in which he was serving when he was wounded.

"Dear people of Israel, my name is Itamar Galinsky. I was critically wounded in the fighting in Lebanon nearly two years ago, and thank G-d, after two years, I have had the privilege of returning to reserve duty," he said.

Galinsky also clarified that the purpose of the video he published was not to gain publicity or recognition, but to thank G-d.

"Two years ago, I didn't know if I would make it out alive at all. Today, thank G-d, I have returned to reserve duty in the unit in which I was wounded in Lebanon two years ago," he said.

He added, "If they tell you that the army is worn down, that there are no reserve forces, there are many people like me who can't fully return either, but who are trying to do whatever they can," he said.

"The nation of Israel lives!" he concluded.

Attacks on oil sitesCourtesy

Iran’s economy is coming under increasing pressure as damage to its oil exports, a weakening currency and shrinking access to foreign currency threaten one of Tehran’s most important sources of revenue.

According to a report published Wednesday by Independent Arabia, the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian oil exports has significantly reduced Tehran’s ability to move crude from the Persian Gulf to international markets.

The report said that since the blockade was renewed in mid-July, no major new shipments of Iranian crude have managed to pass through it. Iran continues to load limited quantities of oil onto tankers, but the vessels reportedly remain in the Gulf and are unable to reach customers.

The amount of Iranian oil already stored on tankers outside the blockade area has also fallen sharply. According to the report, floating inventories declined from approximately 90 million barrels in mid-July to around 29 million barrels. These reserves have allowed Iran to continue receiving revenue from oil that was transferred outside the Gulf before restrictions were tightened. At the current rate of depletion, the reserves could run out by mid-October, according to estimates cited in the report.

The decline is also reflected in Iran’s oil-loading activity. The report estimates that Iran loaded approximately 255,000 barrels per day onto tankers within the Gulf in August, an 85% decrease from the average recorded between February and April. Before the war, Iranian oil exports had been approaching 2 million barrels per day.

The decline in exports is having a direct impact on Iran’s economy. Oil revenues typically account for roughly one-third of government income and represent a major source of foreign currency. As revenues fall, the Iranian rial has continued to weaken against the dollar, making imports more expensive. An economist from Capital Economics cited by the report estimated that the rial has lost approximately 15% of its value against the dollar since U.S. President Donald Trump launched a renewed economic pressure campaign against Iran.

Iran’s petrochemical industry has also suffered. The report estimates that Iranian petrochemical exports have fallen by 63% since the beginning of 2026. If exports continue to decline, storage facilities could reach capacity, potentially forcing plants to cut production.

Meanwhile, some Chinese refineries, Iran’s largest oil customers, have reportedly begun seeking alternative supplies from Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates.

With Iranian oil supplies outside the blockade area continuing to dwindle, Tehran could face growing pressure on one of its most important sources of foreign currency and government revenue.

Visitors to Uman (illustrative)Chaim Goldberg/Flash90

The Ukrainian city of Uman is preparing to welcome some 40,000 Breslov hasidim and other Jews, who are expected to fill its streets ahead of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), which this year falls on Saturday and Sunday.

The arrival of tens of thousands of visitors is generating an unprecedented short-term economic boost, reflected in a dramatic surge in demand for rental apartments, restaurants, convenience stores, transportation services, and local businesses.

The economic impact is directly reflected in figures from Ukraine's State Agency for Tourism Development and the local government: Tourism taxes collected from pilgrims reached a record high, bringing approximately 20 million hryvnias (about NIS 1.35 million) into the city's coffers, compared with approximately 17 million hryvnias the previous year.

The daily tourism tax has been set at 432.35 hryvnias per person for those staying in private accommodations and 216.18 hryvnias for those staying in hotels and hostels. Collection is carried out in part through a rapid digital scanning system.

Beyond the direct tax revenue flowing into the municipal budget - earmarked for improvements to infrastructure, education, and healthcare - local business owners and private entrepreneurs are among the primary beneficiaries of the influx of money.

Residents renting out their apartments, as well as restaurant and store owners, see enormous increases in business during the days of the annual gathering.

At the same time, the municipality faces particularly heavy operating expenses. Garbage removal, ongoing cleaning, and sanitation services around Rabbi Nachman of Breslov's gravesite compound cost the city millions of hryvnias.

Now, with tens of thousands en route to Ukraine, attention is turning to the overall economic balance of the annual event - the enormous revenues generated for private businesses and the city's tax income, versus the substantial costs of maintaining services during the pilgrimage.

محافظة القدس: قوة خاصة من المستعربين تختطف شابا من بلدة عناتا

Undercover officers from the Gideonim Unit were captured on security camera footage during the arrest of a suspect in the Arab neighborhood of Anata in Jerusalem.

At the beginning of the footage, two people can be seen speaking for several seconds before three individuals suddenly arrive at the scene.

Two of them immediately approach the suspect and take control of him, while the third draws a weapon and points it at the person standing beside him.

The officers are then seen taking the suspect away from the scene.

Palestinian Arab reports claimed that the undercover operation took place shortly before the start of military activity in the area northeast of Jerusalem.

Rebbitzen Esther JungreisPhoto by Ma'aleh Michmas

As America prepares to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the passage of a quarter-century invites not only national remembrance, but profound spiritual reflection. The approaching anniversary evokes the nearly 3,000 souls whose lives were extinguished, the heroism of firefighters, police officers and rescue workers who entered buildings from which others were fleeing, and the extraordinary unity that briefly transformed a stunned and grieving nation.

Yet this particular anniversary possesses an additional spiritual resonance. As Friday, September 11, 2026 draws to its conclusion and the sun descends, the Jewish people will enter Rosh Hashanah, the sacred Jewish New Year-a period devoted to divine judgment, introspection, prayer, repentance, remembrance and renewal.

Against that remarkable convergence, the teachings of the late Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis assume extraordinary poignancy.

Rebbetzin Jungreis, a’h, was no ordinary commentator on suffering, faith or the mysteries of divine providence. A survivor of Bergen-Belsen during the Holocaust, she emerged from one of history’s darkest infernos not embittered against G-d, but possessed of an incandescent determination to bring Jews closer to their Creator and to the eternal teachings of Torah.

To generations of students and admirers throughout the world, she was regarded as one of the most extraordinary Torah teachers of the 20th and early 21st centuries-a woman whose remarkable spiritual perception was inseparable from the suffering she had witnessed, the faith she had inherited and the sacred mission to which she devoted her life.

When Rebbetzin Jungreis wrote about September 11 in her 2006 book “Life Is a Test," therefore, she did not approach the catastrophe merely as a historical event. She looked through the surface of history toward the spiritual question beneath it.

What was mankind supposed to learn? What was G-d asking of His children?

And why, amid the incomprehensible devastation of September 11, did the number 11 appear again and again with such remarkable frequency?

For Rebbetzin Jungreis, the answer was never about mathematical novelty for its own sake. The recurring number became part of a much more profound meditation upon divine messages, human responsibility, repentance and the extraordinary capacity of catastrophe to awaken souls that had become spiritually dormant.

Her discussion begins with something deeply characteristic of Rebbetzin Jungreis: intellectual sincerity. Young people had approached her asking whether the numerous references to the number 11 surrounding the attacks possessed any significance in Judaism. Her initial reaction was skeptical. “My natural inclination was to say, ‘It’s hokey! You can’t take anything like that seriously,’" she wrote.

But Rebbetzin Jungreis did not stop there. That willingness to reconsider-to move beyond instinctive dismissal and search the Torah for meaning-was emblematic of the spiritual seriousness with which she approached life itself. “But then I began to think about it," she wrote.

Those few words open the door to the entire meditation. Rebbetzin Jungreis understood that Torah teaches a person to look beneath appearances. Events may unfold in the physical world, but the believing soul is summoned to ask what moral or spiritual responsibility may be contained within them. She therefore examined the extraordinary concentration of elevens that had captured public attention following September 11.

The date itself-9/11-produces 11 when its digits are added: 9 plus 1 plus 1.

The Twin Towers, standing beside one another against the Manhattan skyline, bore an unmistakable visual resemblance to the number 11.

Each tower contained 110 floors, another numerical association with 11.

September 11 was the 254th day of 2001: 2 plus 5 plus 4 equals 11.

The first aircraft to strike the World Trade Center was American Airlines Flight 11.

Flight 11 had 11 crew members.

Flight 11 carried 92 people (9 + 2 = 11)

United Airlines Flight 175 carried 65 passengers (6 + 5 = 11)

American Airlines Flight 77, which struck the Pentagon, was airborne for 92 minutes (9 + 2 = 11)

United Airlines Flight 93 had 38 passengers (3 + 8 = 11)

"Shanksville" contains 11 letters.

"New York City" contains 11 letters.

"Afghanistan" contains 11 letters.

"Saudi Arabia" contains 11 letters.

"The Pentagon" contains 11 letters.

The expression "the eleventh hour" traditionally signifies a moment of crisis or impending catastrophe.

The emergency telephone number 911 is itself associated with a plea for immediate help.

Even ordinary language seemed to contribute an eerie resonance.

For a Torah teacher whose entire life had been devoted to awakening Jews from spiritual complacency, the symbolism could hardly have been more arresting.

A call for help. An emergency. The eleventh hour. A moment demanding immediate response.

Rebbetzin Jungreis did not treat those coincidences as an invitation to frivolous speculation. Quite the contrary. She transformed them into a spiritual demand. “What does it all mean?" she asked. “What should we make of it, and how should we respond?"

The final words are essential: “How should we respond?"

That was always the concern of Rebbetzin Jungreis. Not curiosity alone. Not prediction. Not abstraction. Response.

The Torah, she said, was not merely a book to be studied but a divine instruction for living. History was not merely something that happened to humanity; it demanded that humanity examine itself.

Rebbetzin Jungreis therefore searched the Torah portion (Parshas Nitzavim) read during the period of September 11 and encountered a verse that profoundly affected her meditation. “The hidden things are for Hashem, our G-d, but the revealed things are for us and our children," she quoted from Sefer Devarim.

The theological implications are profound. There are mysteries human beings cannot penetrate. Why does catastrophe strike? Why are the innocent taken? Why does one person survive while another does not? Why does evil sometimes appear to triumph?

Rebbetzin Jungreis, a woman who had personally survived the Holocaust, possessed an authority in confronting such questions that cannot easily be overstated. She had witnessed a civilization descend into barbarism. She had known terror, persecution and death not as theological abstractions but as childhood realities.

Yet she emerged from that abyss with complete faith intact. Her lesson from the verse was therefore not that human beings possess the capacity to decipher G-d’s hidden calculations. Rather, there are matters that remain beyond mortal comprehension. “The hidden things are for Hashem."

But then comes the second half. “The revealed things are for us and our children." Therein lies responsibility. We may not understand why history brings catastrophe, but we can decide how catastrophe changes us.

That distinction lies at the center of Rebbetzin Jungreis’ remarkable interpretation of September 11. She believed that suffering could become a wake-up call. Indeed, she explicitly described the attacks in precisely those terms. “Ours is a generation that has been challenged again and again," she wrote. “We have had so many wake-up calls - some subtle, some more obvious, but perhaps none has impacted like 9/11."

For a fleeting moment after the attacks, Rebbetzin Jungreis believed America had awakened. “It appeared as though we were actually listening," she wrote. The significance of that sentence becomes more powerful when one remembers who wrote it.

Rebbetzin Jungreis had spent much of her life pleading with people to listen-to listen to Torah, to their parents, to their children, to their consciences, to their heritage and ultimately to the word of Hashem.

September 11, she believed, silenced the distractions. For a brief moment, Americans understood that life was not fundamentally about acquisition, status, professional advancement or pleasure. “We realized that our lives were not only about business and the pursuit of pleasure, but about timeless values, mature love, and sacrifice," Rebbetzin Jungreis wrote.

That insight may constitute the spiritual heart of her entire September 11 meditation. The towers fell. The financial capital of the world was attacked. Symbols of American commerce and economic might were consumed in fire and smoke.

And amid the devastation, something unexpected arose. Human beings turned toward one another. “On that day of infamy, we rose above the flames of the Twin Towers and united in fellowship and kindness," Rebbetzin Jungreis wrote. For Rebbetzin Jungreis, kindness was not sentimentality. It was sacred service. She taught that genuine kindness extends far beyond writing a charitable check. It requires surrendering some portion of oneself for another person. It means recognizing someone else’s pain even while experiencing one’s own. It means offering encouragement while frightened. It means smiling at another human being when one’s own heart is breaking.

“Chesed is more than making a charitable contribution," she wrote, employing the Torah term for lovingkindness. It means “giving of ourselves and placing the needs of others before our own."

She continued with a breathtaking definition. Kindness, Rebbetzin Jungreis wrote, means offering someone encouragement “even when we are consumed by our own fears." Most profoundly, it means possessing “a desire to give, not necessarily because someone is in distress or deserving, but because our hearts overflow with love and we feel a need to give."

That, she believed, was what America witnessed after September 11. “On September 11, we felt that need," she wrote. “We examined our lives; we evaluated our priorities; we became kinder and gentler."

She remembered a transformed city. People who ordinarily hurried past one another stopped. Strangers spoke. Neighbors became neighbors again. Families listened differently. People called parents, children and friends simply to hear their voices. “Instead of the usual cursory nod, we actually greeted one another from the heart," Rebbetzin Jungreis recalled.

Heroism cascaded through New York. “Everywhere there was a willingness to help," she wrote, “from the heroic firemen, to the police, the mayor, the president, and the man on the street."

Perhaps most movingly, she observed that “People were actually listening with their hearts to the voices of family members, friends, neighbors, and even strangers." Listening with their hearts.

For Rebbetzin Jungreis, this was spiritual awakening made visible. And yet she knew human nature extraordinarily well. The transformation did not last. “All too soon," she lamented, “as the intensity of our pain subsided, we reverted to our old ways, and it was business as usual."

There is perhaps no sentence in these pages more relevant to the 25th anniversary. The deepest question for 2026 is therefore not simply what happened on September 11, 2001.

America knows what happened. The deeper question is whether we remember what we became immediately afterward. Were we kinder? Were we more patient? Did we value family more deeply? Did political divisions temporarily seem insignificant beside human mortality? Did firefighters become more important than celebrities? Did sacrifice become more impressive than wealth? Did Americans remember that civilization is sustained not merely by markets and institutions, but by ordinary human beings willing to help one another?

Rebbetzin Jungreis saw that moment. And she feared we had allowed it to disappear. That is where the number 11 becomes most meaningful.

It is not necessary to regard 11 as a secret code explaining September 11. For Rebbetzin Jungreis, it became something infinitely more morally demanding: a spiritual alarm. A wake-up call. An eleventh-hour summons. A reminder that life is passing and that tomorrow is never guaranteed.

She wrote of a revered righteous teacher who taught that G-d sends humanity “wake-up calls through many channels." Rebbetzin Jungreis believed our obligation was to become sensitive enough to recognize them. And that understanding brings us inexorably to Rosh Hashanah.

The 25th anniversary of September 11 will unfold on Friday. By evening, another kind of reckoning begins. The Jewish people will enter a sacred season that asks precisely the questions Rebbetzin Jungreis posed after September 11: Who are we? How have we lived? What have we neglected? Whom have we hurt? Whom have we failed to appreciate? What have we done with the precious gift of time? And can we still change?

The calendar could scarcely provide a more powerful setting for revisiting Rebbetzin Jungreis’ message. America will remember a day when thousands left home expecting an ordinary Tuesday and never returned. Then, as darkness descends, Jewish families will turn toward G-d and contemplate another year of life.

What better moment could there be to hear Rebbetzin Jungreis’ wake-up call anew? Her message was not despair. That would have been alien to the woman who survived Bergen-Belsen and nevertheless spent her life teaching faith. Her message was return. Renewal. Kindness. Responsibility. An unwavering faith in Hashem. The conviction that even after terrible darkness, a human being can choose light.

That was the extraordinary spiritual legacy of Rebbetzin Jungreis. Having witnessed unspeakable evil during the Holocaust, she did not devote her life to telling people that the world was irredeemable. She devoted herself to teaching them how to redeem their own lives through Torah, prayer, love, faith and responsibility.

She knew what catastrophe looked like. She also knew what resurrection looked like. And perhaps that is why her reflections upon September 11 carry such unusual authority. She understood that the proper response to tragedy cannot be perpetual terror. It must be transformation.

Twenty-five years after September 11, the number 11 still stands before us. It stands in the date. It stands in the image of the vanished towers. It stands in the memory of Flight 11. It stands in the language of the “eleventh hour."

And it stands symbolically in 911-the cry for emergency assistance that every American child learns to make. But through the luminous spiritual vision of Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, perhaps 11 represents something greater still. It is a call from complacency to consciousness. From selfishness to kindness. From distraction to purpose. From spiritual sleep to awakening. From forgetting to remembrance. And from remembrance to action.

Rebbetzin Jungreis asked, “What does it all mean? What should we make of it, and how should we respond?" Twenty-five years later, those questions have lost none of their urgency. Perhaps they have become even more urgent.

As Americans gather Friday to recite the names of those whose lives were snuffed out, and as the Jewish people prepare that evening to stand spiritually before Hashem, the King of the World, at the dawn of a new year, the teachings of Rebbetzin Jungreis rise from the pages with astonishing immediacy.

Remember that life is fragile. Remember that love must not be postponed. Remember that kindness sustains the world. Remember that tragedy must awaken rather than merely frighten us. Remember that the hidden mysteries belong to G-d, while the responsibility for what we do with our lives belongs to us. And above all, remember to listen.

For perhaps the enduring lesson of Rebbetzin Jungreis’ meditation upon the number 11 is that Hashem’s wake-up calls are not given merely to be noticed. They are given to awaken us.

שלמה רוזנטלצילום: ערוץ 14

IDF: This week, IDF soldiers apprehended the three Palestinian police officers who were involved in setting up a roadblock in Area C near Beitunia, detaining and assaulting an Israeli civilian, while going beyond their authority to operate in those areas.

The police officers are currently being questioned by the security forces.

The Israeli security establishment defined the incident as "a serious breach of the mechanisms in place, which endangered the life of the Israeli civilian and involved the use of severe and excessive force against him."

The statement also noted that the PA police officers were in Area C in and acted in violation of the authority entrusted to them.

"The IDF maintains security coordination in accordance with the directives of the political echelon. At the same time, the IDF will not tolerate any deviation from established procedures."

The arrests follow the August incident in which Palestinian Authority police operated overnight in the heart of Area C, on the Beitunia bypass road in western Binyamin, despite being prohibited from operating there.

The officers detained an IDF reservist who was traveling on the road toward the Dolev-Talmonim bloc and even took his military-issued weapon.

Miraculously, the soldier was not seriously harmed.

An IDF investigation found that Palestinian Authority security forces set up a checkpoint that week in Area C in the Binyamin Region, where they are not authorized to operate, and unlawfully detained IDF reservist Shlomo Rosenthal as he travelled on the so-called "Strongholds Route." According to the investigation's findings, the security forces arrested Rosenthal, who was in civilian clothes, on their own initiative and only then handed him over to the IDF.

The findings disprove the initial version of the events, according to which the PA forces arrived to assist Rosenthal after he was assaulted due to immediate danger to him. The investigation supports the main points of Rosenthal's version, which he recounted to Arutz Sheva - Israel National News following the incident.

The incident occurred at the beginning of the week when Rosenthal left his home and traveled toward Route 443 via the "Strongholds Route." In an interview with Arutz Sheva - Israel National News, he said that when he reached the Beitunia Junction, he saw a police car and a roadblock, which he initially thought were Israeli. However, when he approached, the officers shouted that they were Palestinian Authority forces.

Rosenthal claims that the officers blocked his path, surrounded him, and subsequently attacked him. "At a certain point, one of them grabbed my arm, and when I was unable to defend myself, they all jumped on me, sprayed a can and a half of pepper spray at me, and kicked me in the face."

He also reported that after breaking his glasses and taking his phone, car keys, and gun, they removed him from the car, cuffed him, and placed him in their police car.

He rejected the initial claims that there was a gathering of Arabs at the scene from which the forces needed to rescue him.

From there, the officers drove for half an hour toward Ramallah until reaching the PA police station in the city. He said that he was not taken into the station and was later allowed to speak to an Israeli representative from COGAT, who told him that IDF forces would meet him. He was later transferred to IDF forces.

Rosenthal had already said at the time that reports claiming he had entered Palestinian territory and was rescued by Palestinian police officers were false. “That is a complete lie," he told Arutz Sheva, stressing that the Strongholds Route on which he was traveling is located in Area C and that he had driven on it before.

"Tribute in Light" to 9/11 in JerusalemHaim Versano

Ron Jager, a 25-year veteran of the I.D.F Medical Corp., served as a field mental health officer. Prior to retiring in 2005, served as the Commander of the Central Psychiatric Military Clinic for Reserve Soldiers at Tel-Hashomer. Since retiring from active duty, he provides consultancy services to NGO’s implementing Psycho trauma and Community Resilience programs to communities in the North and South of Israel. Is a former strategic advisor on Public Diplomacy for the Office of the Chief Foreign Envoy of Judea and Samaria.

Danny Lewin first walked into Samson’s Gym in Jerusalem in 1985 accompanied by his best friend, Aviad, the son of Peace Now pioneer activist Janet Aviad. Despite Danny not yet being 15, he came armed with a series of questions about Jerusalem’s legendary fitness facility, the first of its kind in Israel, and the much-talked-about new attraction in Israel’s capital. After asking about the equipment, the rates, the hours, and the type of workout program that he had hoped to get from one of the muscular instructors who seemed to epitomize the gym’s name,

Danny asked a question that would seem haunting a decade and a half later. “Why are there no Arabs here and what are you afraid of?" His question seemed more a comment that stood to support the argument that would soon follow when his close friend brazenly challenged the gym’s unspoken policy.

The gym owner’s responded in his typically blunt manner: “Because we don’t want any trouble-"; yet, before he could further clarify, Danny Lewin boldly asked again: “What about the good Arabs?!"

Less than a month into their initial three-month membership, Aviad dropped out. The sport was simply too demanding. Danny, on the other hand, became more and more committed, visiting Samson’s Gym even on the days he didn’t train. He saw it as his home away from home, convinced that it would serve as the vehicle by which he would transform his life, helping to develop a finely-tuned body that complemented his noticeably gifted mind. His friends marveled, and the mirror reflected evidence of the rapid development of a determined, motivated, and aspiring muscle man.

There was something special about Danny; he radiated a sense of independence more fitting of someone twice his age. Only weeks into his membership, he asked if he could get a job at the gym and join the small team of instructors who were already well recognized as they walked the streets of Jerusalem wearing the coveted Samson’s Gym trainer tee shirt. Not taking no for an answer, he asked again a few weeks later. And yet again, a few weeks later, offering to “do anything" to become part of the team. Anything! And so it was. Still new to the iron game, 15-year-old Danny Lewin rushed to Samson’s Gym from school every day-to sweep the floors, mop the showers, and, yes, to clean the toilets. He could finally call himself part of the Samson’s team. A year and a half later, the now-muscular Lewin was ready to be an instructor-training a cadre of Jews, young and old, to believe in themselves and their inner strength that they possess.

After breezing effortlessly through high school and the challenging matriculation exams, Danny volunteered and served in Sayeret Matkal, the IDF’s most coveted elite commando unit. He married at 21 and raised two young boys with his wife. He completed his B.S. from the Technion, working long hours as a teaching assistant and as a researcher for IBM in Haifa.

In 1996, Danny accepted a scholarship to study computer science and mathematics at MIT. Two years later, while working on his Ph.D., he founded Akamai Technologies which offered a new and revolutionary way to deliver content over the Internet. By 2001, Danny was widely recognized as one of the most influential technologists of his generation. One well-known trade publication ranked him as the seventh most important technologist in the world. His impact on people was so strong that, even today, battle-hardened CEOs and IDF sharpshooters get choked up when talking about him, in part, because his rise was so quick, so spectacular, and so tragically short.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Danny Lewin boarded American Airlines Flight No. 11 in Boston, expecting to reach Los Angeles. Instead, the flight was hijacked and commandeered by Arab terrorists, crashing into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. On that fateful flight, Danny Lewin became the very first victim of the largest terrorist attack in history in which more than 3,000 Americans died. An internal memorandum of the Federal Aviation Administration says “that in the course of a struggle that took place between Lewin, a graduate of Israel’s elite commando unit, Sayeret Matkal, and the four hijackers who were assaulting that cockpit, Lewin was murdered by Satam Al Suqami, a 25-year-old Saudi."

Sometime after the attack, the Lewin family in Jerusalem received a telephone call from the FBI offices in New York. On the line was the agent responsible for the investigation of the attack on Flight 11. He told Danny’s parents that there is a high degree of certainty that Danny tried to prevent the hijacking. The FBI relied, among other things, on the testimony of the stewardess Amy Sweeney.

Sweeney succeeded in clandestinely getting a call out during the flight to a flight services supervisor in Boston, from the rear of the plane: “A hijacker slit the throat of a passenger in business class and the passenger appears to me to be dead." To this day the American investigators are not convinced that Danny Lewin was murdered on the spot. An additional stewardess, Betty Ong, who succeeded in calling from a telephone by one of the passenger seats, said that the passenger who was attacked from business class seat 10B was seriously wounded. It turned out that 10B was the seat of Danny Lewin.

The Lewin family, Danny’s parents and brothers, have no doubt that Danny battled the hijackers. And it is for them a tremendous consolation. “I wasn’t surprised to hear from the FBI that Danny fought. I was sure that this is what he would do," Yonatan, his younger brother, said.

“Danny didn’t sit quietly. From what we heard from the Americans, the hijackers attacked one of the stewardesses and Danny rose to protect her and prevent them from entering the cockpit. It is a consolation to us that Danny fought. We see it as an act of heroism that a person sacrifices his life in order to save the lives of others. That battle in the business section ended quickly. Lewin was overcome and bled to death on the floor. Two additional flight attendants were knifed and the captain was murdered. The hijackers were already inside the cockpit. They announced to the passengers to remain quiet in their seats.

As we fathom the tragic details of the incredible life journey of Danny Lewin, Hy’d, from mopping up the locker rooms of Samson’s Gym in Jerusalem to the pinnacle of the high tech industry in America, I am reminded of Danny’s question back in 1985, “What about the good Arabs?" Indeed, as we grasp the dimensions of 9/11 from today's perspective, where were these “good Arabs" who rejected this compulsive need to murder one’s way to Islamic glory? Where are they today?

Danny Lewin HY"D -father, son and husband, a veteran of the Israel Defense Force’s elite commando team, the outstanding graduate of Israel’s Technion Institute, an accomplished PhD student at MIT and co-founder of the Internet giant Akamai Technologies will be forever remembered for his heroic attempt to prevent the hijacking of Flight 11 becoming the very first victim of 9/11.

Note: This article was prepared based on the personal testimony of Mr. Meir Jolovitz, the legendary founder of Samson's Gym in Jerusalem, who often writes for Arutz Sheva.

It was cited as a footnote in Wikipedia for being the very first source ever, to personally name the very first victim of 9/11.

Sarah Huckabee SandersReuters

Arkansas governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has called out boycotts of Israel as antisemitic.

"It's simple: boycotting the world’s only Jewish state is antisemitism," she wrote in a post on X.

"Arkansas law makes clear that we won’t do business with any company that deliberately chooses to engage in BDS activities. Period."

On Wednesday, Kan News reported that Israel is preparing to announce a series of reciprocal measures and sanctions against France and other countries that have imposed restrictions on Israeli settlement activity.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the government's decision Tuesday to impose a ban on trade in goods produced in Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, saying Britain must be willing to take action to advance what it views as a two-state solution.

Burnham wrote in a post on social media that the measures were directed at policies of the current Israeli government rather than at Israel's population, arguing that Britain had been too hesitant in responding to developments in the region.

Last Thursday, the US House of Representatives approved bipartisan legislation that would make colleges and universities ineligible for federal student aid if they participate in certain commercial or academic boycotts of Israel associated with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

מול הסנקציות הבריטיות: המבנים הראשונים הוצבו ביישוב החדש

The first buildings of the new town of Metzukei Eretz are being transported and installed along the Alon Highway in eastern Binyamin, as preparations continue for the arrival of the first families in the coming weeks.

The construction comes against the backdrop of Britain’s decision to promote boycotts and sanctions against Israeli towns in Judea and Samaria, with additional countries reportedly joining the effort. Despite the measures being advanced by foreign governments, preparations for the establishment of the new town are continuing.

This is the first time in decades that a new town has been established along the Alon Highway, which was planned and approved in advance as an official, organized community. The buildings currently being installed will house the families forming the town’s initial core. At the same time, work is being accelerated to connect the town to water and electricity networks and to prepare access roads. Construction has also begun on the site’s first public building.

Binyamin Regional Council head and Yesha Council chairman Yisrael Gantz welcomed the development in response to the measures being promoted by Britain.

“Our response to sanctions and boycotts is here, on the ground. While Britain is trying to punish Jews for living and building in Judea and Samaria, we are putting up the first structures of a new town in our ancestral land," Yisrael Gantz said. “The British Mandate ended long ago, and boycotts from London will not determine the future of Judea and Samaria. They will try to impose boycotts, and we will continue to build. More families, more homes, more towns, and Israeli sovereignty," he added.

היסטוריה במערת המכפלה: הקירוי הושלם

The roofing project at the Cave of the Patriarchs (Me'arat Hamachpelah) was completed and inaugurated Wednesday, following years of planning and procedures to advance the project.

The new roof over the compound's inner courtyard, known as Jacob's Courtyard, covers approximately 300 square meters and was completed ahead of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year).

Work to advance the project began in the early 2000s, and in 2007 it was promoted alongside the elevator and access path project as part of efforts to make the entire Cave of the Patriarchs accessible.

However, Muslim opposition prevented the project from moving forward for years.

A lengthy process subsequently took place to expropriate the necessary authority from the Hebron Municipality. A building permit was issued approximately a year ago, after which construction began.

Jacob's Courtyard had remained open to the elements for years, creating difficulties for worshippers during rainy weather and particularly hot days. As part of the project, a permanent roof was installed to protect worshippers from the weather and allow prayers to take place regularly throughout the year.

Alongside the roofing, the site's drainage system was upgraded and air-conditioning systems were installed for the benefit of visitors.

The project was led and funded by the Civil Administration at a cost of approximately NIS 11 million. Construction was carried out by the Defense Ministry's Engineering and Construction Department, with specialists in preservation and archaeology also involved in the work.

Zol U'begadol (illustrative)Chaim Goldberg/Flash90

The investigation into the Prinok food poisoning case found that suspect Yan Shamala entered branches of the Zol U'Begadol supermarket chain, stole the products, injected them with anesthetic substances, and then returned them to the shelves, Kan Reshet Bet reported Wednesday morning.

Police have footage documenting the acts, but Shamla's motive remains unclear.

A prosecutor's statement is expected to be filed Wednesday at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court, with an indictment expected in the coming days.

Shamala, a resident of southern Israel in his 40s, was named last week as the suspect accused of introducing dangerous substances into Prinok-brand fruit purées intended for babies.

Shamala is suspected of intentional poisoning, using poison with the intent to endanger lives, theft, and negligent handling of medications.

During a hearing on extending Shamala's detention, a police representative said that Shamala deliberately introduced the sedatives into the fruit purées in order to poison babies. Police attribute to him offenses including the use of poison while endangering human life and negligent handling of medications.

His attorney told the court that the suspect suffers from bipolar disorder. As a result, the suspect was referred for a psychiatric evaluation, which determined that he is fit to remain in detention.

Hamas terrorists in Gaza (illustrative)Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa via Reuters Connect

The IDF has identified a concerning change in Hamas activity in the Gaza Strip.

Security officials have confirmed that the terrorist organization is removing weapons from its storage facilities and working to reestablish its military control over Gaza, in violation of commitments made it made in the ceasefire agreement.

According to an Channel 12 News report, Hamas terrorists have recently been arriving at weapons storage facilities, removing weapons and using them for guarding, security, and tightening the terror organization's control over areas of Gaza under its authority.

The facilities contain small arms, combat equipment, and rockets.

In response to these developments, the IDF, guided by the Shin Bet, struck three weapons storage facilities on Tuesday containing dozens of weapons. A launch pit previously used to fire rockets toward Israel was also destroyed.

Over the past week, the Southern Command has carried out 16 targeted strikes against Hamas infrastructure and its command structure. Fourteen terrorists were eliminated in the strikes, including five company commanders and four platoon commanders.

The defense establishment has also identified an increase in Hamas' motivation to confront IDF troops. Signs of this include the launching of weaponized kites, gunfire toward IDF troops along the "Yellow Line," and the detonation of explosive devices against IDF engineering vehicles.

Benjamin NetanyahuGPO

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a Haaretz investigation claiming that United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed warned him days before the October 7th massacre. Following the publication, Netanyahu instructed his attorneys to file a defamation lawsuit against Haaretz, journalist Shelly Eldar and other parties involved in the report.

In a statement titled “Lies manufactured by ‘Haaretz,’" Netanyahu’s office said "Contrary to what was alleged, from the beginning of September until October 7, no conversation took place between the prime minister and the president of the United Arab Emirates."

According to Netanyahu, the Prime Minister’s Office, National Security Council and Military Secretariat examined his call records for the period in question and found no record of a conversation with the UAE president.

“As a rule, political conversations between the prime minister and the UAE president take place only in the Prime Minister’s Office, via the UAE representative who arrives at the office with a special encrypted phone. All of these conversations are documented," the statement said.

Haaretz responded: “We stand behind the publication."

Netanyahu also addressed comments made by Eldar in an interview with Channel 12, arguing that the journalist had claimed the alleged warning was delivered through the UAE representative at the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Following in-depth checks carried out not only in the prime minister’s call log, but also in documentation of entries into the Prime Minister’s Office during this period, no entry appears of the UAE representative visiting the Prime Minister's Office. There is no way to enter the Prime Minister’s Office without documentation and registration by the security agencies in the facility."

Netanyahu also accused Eldar of falsely claiming that Egypt had warned him about a possible attack. According to the prime minister, that claim was already disproven at the beginning of the war. He further accused Haaretz of publishing the report for political purposes, calling it “a malicious fabrication with a clear political timing, as part of the left’s election campaign."

“There will be more such false allegations," Netanyahu said, adding that the report was intended “to distract attention from what the public already understands."

Netanyahu instead directed responsibility for the failure to prevent the October 7th massacre toward former IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. (res.) Herzi Halevi and former ISA director Ronen Bar.

“If instead of worrying about a miscalculation, they had instructed the IDF and ISA to preemptively take action ahead of the blow, and if they had updated me in time, the terrible massacre could have been prevented," he added.

Coffee (illustrative)iStock

A new study indicates that waiting a few minutes for your coffee or tea to cool could significantly impact your cancer risk.

Researchers at the University of Oxford examined the hot-drink habits of more than one million people and found that those who regularly consumed coffee or tea at very high temperatures faced an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer.

The researchers also found an increased risk among people who consumed six hot drinks per day.

The Oxford University study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, classified drinks served at temperatures of 65°C (149°F) or higher as "very hot." It is the largest study to date examining the relationship between hot beverage consumption and the risk of esophageal cancer.

According to the findings, participants who drank beverages at temperatures above 65°C faced approximately three times the risk of developing esophageal cancer compared with those who did not. The researchers therefore recommend allowing hot drinks to cool to 65°C or below before consuming them.

Lead researcher Dr. Keren Papier noted that previous research conducted in South America had produced similar findings, pointing to an association between very hot drinks and esophageal cancer.

"More research is now needed to identify the exact drink temperatures linked to this increased risk," Papier told the British newspaper Independent.

Rabbi Leo DeeIsrael National News

Rabbi Leo Dee, whose wife and two daughters were murdered in a Palestinian Arab terror attack in the Jordan Valley in April 2023, has written a searing letter to British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, accusing him of directing his moral outrage at Jews living in Judea and Samaria rather than at the institutions that, Dee says, have encouraged and rewarded Palestinian Arab terrorism.

“I am perhaps the British citizen who has suffered most directly from Britain’s misguided policies towards Israel and the Palestinians over the past 25 years," Dee begins.

His wife, Lucy, and daughters Maia and Rina were murdered when terrorists opened fire on their car in the Jordan Valley.

“My Oxford-educated wife, Lucy, and my British-educated daughters, Maia and Rina, were brutally murdered by Palestinian terrorists," he writes.

Dee then draws a direct line between the murder of his family and the policy he is now challenging, stressing that since the attack, the terrorists’ families have been eligible for payments from the Palestinian Authority under its “pay-for-slay" system.

Terrorist organisations, he argues, have been allowed to flourish in an environment sustained in part by international funding.

“And now you propose boycotting products made by Jews living in the West Bank," Dee writes.

“You insist that you are not against Israelis. Yet you are prepared to single out Jewish Israelis like me for economic punishment. That is the hypocrisy I find so difficult to accept."

Dee acknowledges that innocent Palestinian Arabs have also been killed by Israelis. But he argues that there is a fundamental moral distinction between civilian deaths occurring amid terrorist attacks, armed clashes and military operations, and a system that financially rewards convicted terrorists and the families of attackers.

“For decades, Palestinian terrorism has killed thousands of innocent Israelis, like my wife and daughters," he writes. “Yet your moral outrage is directed not at those institutions, but at Jewish businesses in Judea and Samaria."

Paraphrasing the late Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Dee writes that criticising or boycotting Israel is not necessarily antisemitic - but singling Israel out for standards applied to no other country can be.

And then Dee ends his letter not with a plea, but with a challenge, writing, “If you genuinely believe your policy is principled rather than discriminatory, I invite you to defend it publicly. I would be happy to debate you on television, anywhere and at any time."

Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir in the hospitalIDF spokesperson

IDF Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir on Tuesday visited Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, where he met with wounded IDF troops, including commanders and troops from infantry and armored brigades who were wounded during operational activities in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

During the visit, which came ahead of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), the Chief of the General Staff toured the various departments and spoke with the wounded troops and their families about the circumstances of their injuries, their recovery and rehabilitation, and the journey they have undergone since being wounded. He expressed his appreciation for their spirit, determination, and contribution to the security of the State of Israel.

Zamir also expressed his deep appreciation to the medical teams, medical liaison personnel, and the casualty affairs personnel, for their important and meaningful work.

"I came to see you ahead of the new year, and I am moved by what I have seen here," Zamir said during the visit. "There are troops here who stood on the front lines, led, and risked their lives in combat against the enemy - this is bravery in battle. Now, you are facing an operation that requires further bravery as you recover from your injuries."

"The entire IDF and I deeply appreciate your sacrifice and contribution. It is our duty to stand by you and accompany you throughout your rehabilitation journey. We are with you every step of the way.

"I salute you. May this be a better year: a year of security and hope, a year of unity and victory. A year in which you continue to stand strong and serve as a source of pride for the entire nation."

Zamir during the hospital visit Credit: IDF spokesperson

Zamir during the hospital visit Credit: IDF spokesperson

Artificial intelligence, illustrationiStock

Jacob Coxon, an artificial intelligence researcher who worked at Anthropic, the company behind Claude, and previously at OpenAI, has announced that he is leaving Anthropic and the AI industry, citing serious concerns over the direction and speed of advanced AI development.

Coxon, who worked on AI model pretraining, said that his experience at two of the world's leading artificial intelligence companies left him convinced that neither is acting responsibly enough in the face of the potential risks.

“They are racing directly toward self-improving superintelligence and gambling with our lives," Coxon said, according to reports in the Wall Street Journal.

His central concern is the prospect of developing AI systems capable of improving their own capabilities and rapidly advancing beyond effective human control.

Coxon argued that intense competition among the world's leading AI laboratories makes it difficult for any individual company to slow down, even when researchers inside those organizations recognize potentially serious risks.

He also drew a distinction between the cultures at OpenAI and Anthropic. According to Coxon, the risks are more widely understood within Anthropic, but the company continues pushing forward partly out of concern that a less safety-conscious competitor could reach highly advanced AI first.

That dynamic, he warned, creates a race in which even companies that emphasize AI safety remain under pressure to build increasingly capable systems.

Coxon also issued a particularly stark warning about the possible consequences of the technology. He said people directly involved in building advanced AI genuinely believe there is a possibility that the technology could pose an existential threat to humanity before the end of the decade.

He further argued that future superhuman systems could potentially carry out sophisticated cyberattacks, accelerate scientific and technological breakthroughs, and acquire significant influence and resources in the physical world.

Despite his criticism, Coxon did not claim that Anthropic is ignoring AI safety. He acknowledged that the company has invested substantial effort in the field, but questioned whether any single laboratory can responsibly develop extremely advanced artificial intelligence while competing in a rapidly accelerating commercial race.

Coxon called for stronger government rules and broader agreements among leading AI companies that could allow the industry to slow development without putting individual companies at a competitive disadvantage.

His departure adds to an ongoing debate within the technology industry over whether the rapid improvement of artificial intelligence systems is outpacing efforts to understand and control the risks they may create.

Foreign MinistryFlash 90

Israel is preparing to announce a series of reciprocal measures and sanctions against France and other countries that have imposed restrictions on Israeli settlement activity, Kan News reported. The planned measures follow Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar’s announcement last night of steps against the United Kingdom.

Officials familiar with the plans said Israel is considering taking action against France and other countries in a format similar to its response to Britain. Under that approach, Israel decided to halt the activities of the British portions of the Gaza monitring center in Kiryat Gat and close the British consulate in Jerusalem.

British officials described Israel’s response as “excessive," arguing that “this is not an action directed against the State of Israel, but a response to extremists and violence." The Foreign Ministry has also decided to bar 12 British public figures and citizens from entering Israel over their alleged involvement in anti-Semitic and anti-Israel activity, including individuals who deny Israel’s existence.

Sa'ar said the Labour Party’s move was “especially absurd" in light of the Balfour Declaration, through which the British government officially recognized the right of the Jewish people to establish a national home in the Land of Israel, including Judea and Samaria.

He called the British move “a blatant and unacceptable attempt by a foreign government to influence during an election period. We didn’t return to our land after 2,000 years in order to lose it to Islamist jihadists. The Palestinians, too, will be directly harmed by your these steps."

Launch pits in Gaza (illustrative)IDF spokesperson

The IDF and the ISA dismantled three weapon storage facilities and a launch pit from which rockets were fired toward Israeli territory throughout the war, a new military statement confirmed Wednesday morning.

The statement revealed that on Tuesday, the IDF and the ISA launched precise strikes in several areas across the Gaza Strip, destroying three Hamas and Islamic Jihad weapon storage facilities. Additionally, a launch pit from which rockets were fired toward Israeli territory throughout the war was dismantled.

The terrorist organizations stored dozens of different kinds of weapons inside the storage facilities, including rockets, Kalashnikov rifles, and additional combat equipment.

In addition, the IDF identified that recently, Hamas terrorists have been arriving at the storage facilities and using the weapons stored inside them to establish control in the Gaza Strip and carry out operations.

Prior to the strikes, advance warnings were issued to the population in order to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians, in addition to the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance.

"The IDF will continue to operate decisively to degrade the capabilities of terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip while thwarting any attempt to rebuild capabilities or use weapons intended to harm IDF troops," the statement emphasized.

"IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to operate to remove any threat."

PM Benjamin Netanyahu with United Torah Judaism leadersNoam Moskowitz/Knesset spokesman

Agudat Yisrael and Degel HaTorah, the factions comprising Ashkenazic-haredi United Torah Judaism (UTJ), are drafting an agreement ahead of a joint run in the upcoming Knesset elections.

According to Behadrey Haredim, under the agreement, the two factions would commit to demanding in any future coalition negotiations a full exemption from military service for every yeshiva student, without criminal or financial sanctions of any kind.

The position represents a dramatic shift, particularly for Degel HaTorah, which during discussions in recent years had shown some willingness to consider proposals that included specific personal sanctions in order to ensure the proposal would withstand scrutiny by the Supreme Court.

To ensure that the demand is implemented, the agreement establishes a series of significant political pressure mechanisms. Foremost among these is that until the Knesset passes legislation regulating the status of haredi yeshiva students, the faction's representatives will not serve as ministers, deputy ministers, or chairmen of Knesset committees.

According to the report, the agreement also stipulates that the faction will not support coalition legislation, with the exception of a limited number of measures explicitly approved by the parties' rabbinic leadership.

Alongside the political provisions, the agreement establishes a new organizational framework for managing the faction. Among other measures, a joint leadership body will be established to deal with core issues including religion and state, education, and the status of yeshiva students.

The agreement also stipulates that faction meetings will be held regularly with the participation of elected representatives and candidates through the 12th position on the slate. Decisions will be made only by full consensus, rather than by majority vote. In the event of a dispute between the factions, the matter will be referred to an agreed-upon arbitration panel.

Adolf Hitler (reproduction)Flash 90

The Dutch government has begun proceedings to revoke the broadcasting license of Ongehoord Nederland, a right-wing broadcaster that has faced repeated criticism over alleged misinformation, bias and the promotion of conspiracy theories, AFP reported.

Media Minister Rianne Letschert announced the move on Tuesday, stressing that the decision followed what she described as persistent problems rather than a single incident.

“Anyone who wishes to be part of the public service broadcasting sector and receives public funding for this must abide by the rules we have agreed upon together," she said, adding that the measures were not taken lightly.

The latest controversy erupted after an online program in July featured former editor-in-chief Joost Niemoller and presenter Raisa Blommenstijn discussing Adolf Hitler. Niemoller resigned last week after expressing approval of a speech by the Nazi dictator.

The former editor said Hitler “said it well", while also stating there were “certain things about Hitler" he agreed with.

Ongehoord Nederland president Peter Vlemmix said before the government's announcement that the broadcaster “would not simply accept" the decision.

The broadcaster will have an opportunity to respond and can also pursue legal action in an effort to prevent the license from being revoked.

The decision followed calls from Dutch public broadcaster NPO, which asked Letschert on Monday to suspend Ongehoord Nederland. NPO cited a “systematic failure to comply with the code of ethics for journalists" as well as “an insufficient willingness to cooperate with other broadcasters".

The broadcaster has been part of the Dutch public broadcasting system since 2022 and has repeatedly clashed with the NPO, the umbrella organization for broadcasters, over editorial standards and impartiality. It has also received several fines over its programming.

The Netherlands' public broadcasting system consists of several independent, membership-based broadcasters that share public funding and airtime.

Joe BidenArie Leib Abrams/Flash 90

Former US President Joe Biden on Tuesday shared new details regarding his fight against prostate cancer.

In a social media post in honor of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the 83-year-old described his medical condition and the course of treatments he has undergone since his diagnosis.

“More than 330,000 American men this year will hear the words we did last spring when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. By the time we found it, it had already spread to my bones," Biden wrote.

The former President indicated that the radiation treatment he underwent last fall “worked as intended, and I continue to do the things I care about, like finishing my memoir."

Biden expressed his deep gratitude to the medical teams treating him and also urged men not to delay routine screenings, stressing the importance of early detection.

Last May, Biden's office revealed his diagnosis with an "aggressive" form of prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone.

Jerry SeinfeldMiriam Alster/Flash 90

A comedy festival in Lisbon has been hit by a wave of withdrawals from Portuguese performers, with several artists pulling their shows from the event amid controversy over the participation of Jewish American comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his support for Israel, reported Euronews.

The first edition of the Lisbon International Humour Festival, Commedia a La Carte Fest, is scheduled for October 29 through November 1. Despite the growing calls for a boycott, organizers have so far kept the announced lineup unchanged.

The latest withdrawal came Saturday, when actress Inês Aires Pereira announced that her show "Namastê" would no longer be part of the festival.

The actress did not identify anyone by name, but wrote that "one of the names persistently defends ideas and acts that I consider indefensible." She added: "We cannot relativise or normalize a genocide."

The apparent reference was to Seinfeld, who is headlining the festival and has become increasingly outspoken in his support for Israel since the October 7, 2023 attacks.

Also on Saturday, comedy duo Cebola Mol, consisting of Eduardo Madeira and Filipe Homem Fonseca, announced that they were withdrawing.

"We will celebrate justice, freedom and joy with you on another occasion," they wrote on social media. An accompanying image depicted the comedians alongside a watermelon, a symbol widely associated with solidarity with the Palestinian Arab cause, particularly online.

Several other performers had already announced their departures, according to Euronews. The concert "Tributo Pop", featuring Carolina Deslandes, Tatanka and Bárbara Tinoco, and the group Conjunto Cuca Monga were the first to withdraw, followed by comedian Pedro Tochas and visual artist Vhils, whose real name is Alexandre Farto.

The artists who have withdrawn have announced that they will no longer perform or attend the festival, but have not provided explanations for their decisions.

The controversy has generated further calls for cancellations and a boycott, particularly on social media. The festival's remaining lineup includes Herman José, Clarice Falcão and Matilde Breyner, as well as the quartet César Mourão, Vasco Palmeirim, Pedro Ribeiro and Vera Fernandes. Organizers have given no public indication that Seinfeld's appearance is under reconsideration.

Seinfeld's position on Israel has attracted increasing attention since the October 7 attacks. Two months after the massacre, he traveled to Israel on a solidarity and support visit after accepting a request from hostage families to meet them and hear their stories. He later became emotional while discussing the trip in an interview with Bari Weiss.

His stance has also led to confrontations at public appearances. In May 2024, Seinfeld faced protests while receiving an honorary degree at Duke University. The following June, a performance in Sydney was interrupted by pro-Palestinian Arab hecklers chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."

Seinfeld responded by mocking the protesters: “We have a genius, ladies and gentlemen. He solved the Middle East!" He added sarcastically, “It’s the Jewish comedians, that’s who we have to get! They’re the ones doing everything."

In October 2024, while attending a New York Mets game at Citi Field, Seinfeld expressed support for the IDF after a fan told him that his brother was watching from the Gaza border.

The comedian smiled and responded, "Let's go, Mets! Let's go, IDF!"

Last February, another encounter involving Seinfeld drew attention when a fan seeking a selfie made a victory sign and called “Free Palestine". Seinfeld brushed him off and walked away, saying, “I don't care about Palestine."

Several months later, at an event at Duke University in North Carolina, Seinfeld compared the Free Palestine movement to the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), a white supremacist organization.

"When you say 'Free Palestine' you are not admitting what you really think. So actually, compared with the Ku Klux Klan, I think the Klan is even a little better in this respect, because they can say openly: 'We don't like black people, we don't like Jews.' OK, that's honesty."

Seinfeld is scheduled to perform at MEO Arena on November 1. Tickets range from 60 to 250 euros, with some sections already sold out.

Aliza BlochArutz Sheva

Former Beit Shemesh Mayor Aliza Bloch, a candidate on the Blue and White slate, spoke with Arutz Sheva-Israel National News on Tuesday following the official submission of the party slate.

“We submitted the Blue and White slate for the next Knesset, and it’s very exciting," Bloch said. “There is one party in Israel making the case that bloc battles won't save the country - and that we have a real opportunity to foster partnership, unity, and, above all, hope for our children."

Bloch revealed that she was courted by multiple factions before aligning with Benny Gantz's party. “I received offers from nearly every party, but I chose Blue and White out of concern for Israel's future. Everyone else is focused on inter-bloc combat, whereas the country needs a broad government focused on consensus."

Expressing optimism about the party’s prospects, Bloch predicted a strong showing at the polls.

“The public knows what it wants, and that’s partnership - people are exhausted by endless division," she said. “We are going to see a major surprise on election day. We are hearing it directly from voters because we are the only party speaking about unity rather than rift, which is the only way to drive real progress."

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עליזה בלוך

#Protests erupt across #Germany after #AfD victory

Thousands of people took to the streets across Germany following the Alternative for Germany (AfD) record-breaking performance in Sunday's state election in Saxony-Anhalt, as opponents of the party sought to rally voters ahead of two more regional elections later this month, The Guardian reported.

At a demonstration at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, protesters gathered for a peaceful pro-democracy rally opposing the AfD, which campaigns against immigration and supports closer ties with Russia. The party has also advocated mass deportations of asylum seekers and reducing state support for renewable energy and public broadcasting.

Police estimated that about 5,000 people attended the Berlin demonstration, while organizers put the figure at more than 14,000. Among the signs carried by protesters were “Fascism is no alternative", “Stop the Nazi AfD: end racism and cuts to social services" and “History has its eyes on us".

The demonstrations came less than two weeks before regional elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with protesters warning against becoming resigned to the AfD's growing electoral strength following its breakthrough in Saxony-Anhalt.

The AfD won almost 44% of the vote in the eastern state, its strongest-ever result in a state election and the highest level achieved by a nativist party in Germany since the Nazi era.

Jens-Christian Wagner, director of the memorial at the former Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald, described the result from the Berlin stage as a “disgrace that makes you furious and stunned".

He warned that the AfD had come close to securing enough support to govern Saxony-Anhalt, which would mark the first time a far-right party has taken power at the state level in Germany since World War II. Such a development, Wagner said, “should not be accepted in silence".

The AfD currently needs three additional votes to obtain the backing required to form a state government under Ulrich Siegmund, its candidate and a prominent figure with a strong media presence. Siegmund is seeking support from lawmakers in other parties who could determine whether he is able to take power. Der Spiegel recently referred to him as “the most dangerous man in Germany".

Germany's domestic intelligence agency has classified the AfD's Saxony-Anhalt branch as rightwing extremist since 2023, citing what it considers a threat to democratic norms.

Anti-AfD demonstrations were also held in Potsdam, near Berlin, as well as Münster, Göttingen, Dresden, Aachen, Bamberg, Darmstadt and Halberstadt in Saxony-Anhalt, according to local media. In Halle, the state's second-largest city, left-wing groups and civil society organizations have maintained a protest camp since the election.

The possibility of an AfD-led state government carries particular historical significance in Germany, where mainstream political forces have traditionally sought to prevent extremist movements from gaining power against the backdrop of the country's Nazi history and the Holocaust.

Founded in 2013, the AfD has repeatedly drawn criticism over comments by senior figures regarding Germany's Nazi past and the Holocaust. In February 2017, AfD leader Björn Höcke sparked widespread condemnation after calling for Germany to abandon its longstanding approach of confronting and atoning for its Nazi history.

A year later, AfD chairman Alexander Gauland described the Nazi period as a "speck of bird poo in over 1,000 years of successful German history". Gauland had previously said that Jews should not be afraid of the AfD's strong electoral performance and said he was prepared to meet German Jewish leaders “at any time."

Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, said following Sunday's vote, "I am personally appalled by this election result."

Schuster has previously warned that large numbers of Jews could leave Germany if the AfD were to enter a future government.

Moshe FeiglinArutz Sheva

Moshe Feiglin, chairman of the Zehut Party, spoke to Arutz Sheva-Israel National News about the technical bloc formed with Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionist Party, expressing confidence that the merger will drive significant gains in the upcoming election. “I believe this is just the beginning," he said.

Arriving at the Knesset alongside party activists to submit the joint slate, Feiglin stressed that Zehut will retain its complete operational independence.

“The fact that Zehut will function as an independent party, championing the ideas we have promoted for nearly 30 years, is significant," Feiglin said, adding that the party seeks to bring to the national camp a blend of “a solid national identity paired with uncompromising personal freedom."

Feiglin pointed to his party’s long-standing security platform, referencing positions on how Israel should confront its enemies. “We are a party that spoke from day one about conquest, expulsion, and settlement," he noted, arguing that recent events have proven the necessity of an approach focused on decisive victory.

Asked about polls projecting six to eight seats for the alliance, Feiglin anticipated further momentum.

“Once the broader public - far beyond just the Religious Zionist community - realizes that Zehut is in, this will take off," he said, noting that many voters do not yet realize the union is a technical bloc rather than a full merger.

“Zehut received the boost it needed to clear the electoral threshold, and from here, it’s on our shoulders," Feiglin added. “I believe this alliance will reach double digits, and within it, Zehut will command a substantial presence."

Addressing the efforts to unite additional right-wing factions, including bringing Brig. Gen. (res.) Ofer Winter into the fold, Feiglin said: “Over a year ago, I tried to unite all the forces to the right of Likud - Winter, Ben Gvir, and my friend Bezalel Smotrich. Everyone. It succeeded with Smotrich, and you can already see the results."

He attributed the alliance’s momentum to ideological alignment rather than political convenience. “Alliances built purely on political deals - merely pairing familiar figures without substance - end up as less than the sum of their parts. But when the Religious Zionist Party joins Zehut, which brings genuine vision and direction, the impact is remarkable. And this is just the beginning."

Regarding Winter, Feiglin admitted he remains puzzled by his recent moves: “Winter is a mystery to me at this stage. I don’t understand his choices, and it’s a shame. He is a dear Jew with immense merits. I did everything I could to bring him into this alliance."

Feiglin, a former Likud MK, also commented on Likud’s slate and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reserved spots.

“Most of Netanyahu’s reserved spots are excellent - they bring real quality to Likud," he said, while observing that ideological MKs were simultaneously pushed down the list.

Linking the moment to his early work with Likud’s Manhigut Yehudit (Jewish Leadership) faction, Feiglin reflected: “The ideas we set out with 30 years ago - the core vision of Jewish Leadership - are now entering the Knesset independently."

He reiterated that despite sharing a slate, Zehut and the Religious Zionist Party remain distinct entities, calling on supporters to mobilize: “Give us your strength and go vote. It is critical that these principles have maximum representation in the Knesset."

Asked whether the alliance’s growth comes at Likud’s expense, Feiglin answered concisely: “For now, the momentum is moving in the opposite direction."

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יו״ר זהות, משה פייגלין

Andy BurnhamReuters

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the government's decision Tuesday to impose a ban on trade in goods produced in Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, saying Britain must be willing to take action to advance what it views as a two-state solution.

Burnham wrote in a post on social media that the measures were directed at policies of the current Israeli government rather than at Israel's population, arguing that Britain had been too hesitant in responding to developments in the region.

"Today we are announcing carefully judged, targeted steps that are not aimed at the Israeli people, but at the unacceptable policies of the current Israeli government," he wrote.

He said the government was introducing three main measures. Britain will prohibit trade in goods from what it describes as “illegal settlements", formally change its position to state that “the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful", and impose sanctions on individuals and companies that support, facilitate or profit from communities in Judea and Samaria.

The sanctions will also target businesses and investors involved in construction of the E1 settlement, Burnham said.

The British prime minister argued that “settlement construction" poses a threat to the prospect of a two-state solution, pointing to the approval of 104 new communities since the current Israeli government took office in December 2022. He also cited more than 1,500 incidents of violence by Israeli civilians against Palestinian Arabs reported by the UN so far this year.

Burnham specifically highlighted Israel's decision to allow tenders for construction in E1 to proceed ahead of the October elections, describing the planned development as a project that would undermine the possibility of a future Palestinian state.

"This would cut a swathe through the heart of the West Bank - snuffing out the hope of realising a two-state solution. It cannot be allowed to happen," he wrote.

The government is also announcing additional humanitarian assistance for Gaza. Burnham cited the continuing deaths and destruction in the Strip, saying more than 70,000 people have been killed, including at least 20,000 children, while millions have been displaced and Gaza's population is now confined to one third of the territory.

"The suffering of the Palestinian people is a scar on the conscience of the world," Burnham wrote, while also reiterating his condemnation of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack and Hamas.

"I have condemned the monstrous terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 in the strongest possible terms - and continue to condemn Hamas. However, it does not justify the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza or the West Bank."

Burnham stressed that the new measures do not amount to sanctions against Israel as a whole, saying they are intended to increase pressure on the government without penalizing Israelis who oppose its policies.

"The Israeli people are not responsible for the actions of their government. And nor is the Jewish community in the UK. Blaming British Jews for the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is wrong, plain and simple. And it is antisemitism, plain and simple."

Burnham said he met representatives of Britain's Jewish community last week and pledged that his government would work to protect them and combat antisemitism.

He framed the new measures as an effort to preserve the possibility of Israelis and Palestinian Arab s living alongside one another in peace and security, arguing that this remains the desired outcome for many people in Britain.

"We are taking these steps because it is the right thing to do," wrote Burnham.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced in response to the British sanctions that Israel will close the British Consulate in Jerusalem and take a series of additional countermeasures.

Sa’ar said the measures were decided upon with the agreement of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and follow what he described as a series of anti-Israel decisions by Britain's Labour Government.

Under the measures, Israel will close the British Consulate in Jerusalem, remove British representatives from the International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat, terminate British activities training Palestinian Authority forces in Judea and Samaria under the “British Support Team in Ramallah," and deny entry to Israel to 12 British elected representatives and other British nationals involved in antisemitic and anti-Israel activity or who deny Israel's existence.

UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis sharply criticized the British government’s decision to impose sanctions targeting Jews living in Judea and Samaria, describing the move as “a dark day for British Jews."

“This is truly a dark day for British Jews," Mirvis said. “Today our Government has chosen to ignore the deep concerns expressed by so many of us."

The Chief Rabbi accused the government of adopting measures that lend legitimacy to anti-Israel rhetoric rather than contributing to peace.

הגשת רשימת מפלגת הציונות הדתיתערוץ 7

The Religious Zionist Party submitted its slate for the upcoming Knesset elections on Tuesday evening, pushing MK Ohad Tal down to a relatively low position.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich leads the slate, followed by Moshe Feiglin in second under an agreement between their respective factions.

Minister Orit Strock holds the third spot, followed by Simcha Rothman, Tzvika Mor, Lt. Col. (res.) Itamar Eitam, Tzvi Sukkot, Yitzhak Zaga, Reut Ben Haim, Omer Patziniach, Arcady Mutter, Ohad Tal, Roei Kirshberg, Omer Rahamim, Sima Hasson, Michal Woldiger, Shirel Nahir Laloom, Shmuel Sasson, Iris Bernstein, and Zvika Vishingrad.

The reshuffle created notable shifts for incumbent MKs. Tzvi Sukkot, chairman of the Knesset Education Committee, secured the seventh spot - a position widely seen as viable for entering the Knesset if the coalition retains power. In contrast, MK Ohad Tal dropped to 12th place, considered an unlikely spot to gain a seat.

Addressing the shift, Tal stated, “Following the merger with Moshe Feiglin's Zehut Party and today's new reserved spots, I moved to 12th place on the final slate submitted today to the Central Elections Committee. Despite the personal cost, I fully support party chairman Minister Smotrich and stand behind him with all my strength. Hopefully, these moves will strengthen the party and the broader national camp - diversifying the slate, reaching new audiences, and bringing maximum votes to the right."

Earlier Tuesday, Smotrich introduced several new additions to the slate, including Eitam - a Bislamach Brigade reconnaissance battalion commander who fought in Gaza and Lebanon and was seriously wounded in action - and Ben Haim, a Netivot resident, social activist, and founder of the Tzav 9 movement.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iran Tuesday that Washington will respond to every Iranian attempt to strike American military assets, as tensions between the two countries continued to escalate.

Speaking to reporters, Rubio described the exchange of attacks as a direct cycle of action and retaliation.

"The back and forth is pretty straightforward, and that is that Iran continues to try to hit US naval ships, and for every time they do that or try to do that, they're going to lose tankers. And I think you'll see that again today."

Rubio spoke after US forces attacked Iranian oil tankers following attempts by Iran to launch missiles at an American vessel.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces had destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over a two-day period.

“The US warship successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks and continued to patrol regional waters. No American personnel were harmed," the statement stressed.

Iran subsequently responded with missile launches toward Jordan early Wednesday morning. Iranian officials confirmed that the Islamic Republic had targeted the Muwaffaq Salti and Prince Hassan military bases in Jordan.

Explosions were also reportedly heard in Bahrain following missile launches from Iran.

London's Heathrow AirportiStock

Air travel across the UK was severely disrupted Tuesday after a technical failure at air traffic control provider Nats led to widespread cancellations and delays affecting airports in Britain and beyond, according to the BBC.

FlightRadar24 reported that at least 1,000 flights to and from the UK had been cancelled. EasyJet cancelled around 200 flights, while British Airways cancelled more than 100.

The disruption also affected routes between London and Israel. Among the affected flights was El Al flight LY317 from Tel Aviv to Heathrow Airport, which was canceled Tuesday evening. As a result, the return flight, LY318 from Heathrow to Ben Gurion Airport, was also canceled.

Wizz Air passengers traveling to Israel were also affected. A flight from Gatwick to Tel Aviv that was scheduled to depart in the afternoon was canceled after passengers spent approximately three hours waiting on board the aircraft. One passenger told the PA news agency that the airline's next flight to Tel Aviv is not expected until Saturday.

Nats said Tuesday evening that its flight systems were beginning to recover, but the disruption continued to affect operations. With relatively few aircraft able to depart, restrictions were placed on incoming traffic, resulting in some flights being held at airports overseas.

The problem affected airports across the UK, with disruption also reported in Scotland and Ireland. Ryanair, Europe's busiest airline, said earlier that more than 65,000 passengers had experienced delays of up to eight hours.

Heathrow was among the airports hardest hit. Departures were suspended around lunchtime before briefly resuming, only for further disruption to emerge during the afternoon. The airport was understood to have run out of capacity for arriving aircraft because planes were unable to leave.

Thirteen flights bound for Heathrow were diverted to airports elsewhere in the UK and Europe.

FlightRadar24 identified Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham as the UK's worst-affected airports, estimating that about 4% of flights in the country had been cancelled or delayed because of the technical problem.

Airports around the country advised passengers to verify their flight status before setting out, while airlines urged affected travelers to contact them for updates.

Barrage towards JordanSocial media

Iran launched a barrage of missiles towards Jordan early Wednesday morning, after US forces struck multiple Iranian oil tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The missiles were clearly visible across large parts of Israel. Israeli security officials stressed that Israel was not involved in the interception efforts and that no missiles entered Israeli airspace.

Iranian officials confirmed that Iran attacked the Muwaffaq Salti and Prince Hassan military bases in Jordan.

Explosions were also reportedly heard in Bahrain following launches from Iran.

The IRGC confirmed that it launched missiles at a US military base in Jordan in response to US attacks on Iranian oil tankers.

At the same time, the IRGC announced plans to attack oil tankers in Kuwait and Bahrain and called on their crews to “abandon the ships."

Jordan announced that 20 ballistic missiles were launched from Iran toward its territory, with its air defense systems intercepting and destroying 18 of them.

According to the statement, the two remaining missiles landed in areas away from population centers. No casualties were reported in the attack.

A US official told Reuters on Tuesday evening that the US struck the tankers following attempted missile attacks against a US Navy warship.

According to the official, the strikes were carried out after additional Iranian attempts to launch missiles at the American vessel.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) subsequently announced that its forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after the IRGC targeted a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the past two days.

“The US warship successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks and continued to patrol regional waters. No American personnel were harmed," the statement stressed.

The US confirmation followed reports in Iranian media that an Iranian oil tanker was hit near Kharg Island, a key center of Iran's oil exports. The IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency reported that the vessel was struck by a US missile about four miles from the island.

Tasnim said the tanker was hit while in the anchorage area and that there were no reported casualties. The crew was evacuating the vessel, while Iranian authorities were investigating the incident.

The extent of the damage was not immediately known. Tasnim said additional information would be released as it became available.

A second Iranian vessel was subsequently struck near Kharg Island, according to Iran's state-run Student News Network (SNN), which provided no further details.

Amid the attacks, the IRGC Navy issued a warning to tanker crews operating near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain, ordering them to leave their vessels immediately. The Iranian force said the ships would be targeted in retaliation for the US strikes on Iranian tankers.

“Given the hostile actions of the terrorist US military in targeting several Iranian oil tankers, we warn all tanker crews in the vicinity of ports in Kuwait and Bahrain," the IRGC Navy said in a statement carried by state media.

The statement accused Kuwait and Bahrain of hosting American forces and supporting Washington's actions against Iran. It said the two countries “host these terrorists and are partners in their actions," before warning: “Immediately leave your vessels, whether at anchorage or at the docks, because they will be targeted."

Tuesday’s incident comes a week after American forces carried out attacks around Qeshm Island, Chabahar and Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz.

Three days later, on Friday, Trump warned that the US could target Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified Iranian facility where Tehran has allegedly been expanding its nuclear infrastructure.

"Iran will not have a nuclear weapon," Trump said in the Oval Office. He added, "We may hit Pickaxe very soon...if there was anything going on with Pickaxe."

On Saturday, US forces struck three Iranian oil tankers, while Iranian state media reported the following day that Iran had launched a Qassem Basir missile.

צפו: השגריר האקבי ויו"ר הכנסת אמיר אוחנה מנגנים יחד באירוע בירושליםשגרירות ארה"ב בישראל

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana took the stage at a special Jerusalem event marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, performing a series of American hits for the audience.

Hosted by the US Embassy in Israel, the celebration drew senior public officials, politicians, and representatives from global militaries, the IDF, the Israel Police, and other official bodies.

This was not the first time Huckabee and Ohana have played together. At one point during their performance, the ambassador told the crowd he was on stage simply because he was having so much fun, urging attendees to stand up and dance. The crowd eagerly joined in as the duo continued playing classic American songs.