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It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Avrohom Yitzchok “Avry” Juravel zt”l, one of the foremost experts in contemporary kashrus, whose extraordinary command of halacha, coupled with a rare mastery of the technical realities of modern food production, made him a trusted authority in the field for more than four decades.

Rav Juravel, who was a resident of Monsey, NY, had battled illness and medical challenges the last few years with tremendous strength and fortitude.

Rav Juravel was widely known through his longtime work with OU Kosher, where he served as Rabbinic Coordinator for Technical Services. But his influence extended far beyond any title or position. Over the course of a remarkable career, he became a resource for rabbonim, poskim, mashgichim, kashrus professionals, food manufacturers and countless others seeking clarity regarding some of the most complicated questions created by modern food technology.

He possessed a combination that is exceedingly difficult to find: deep yedi’ah in halacha together with an intimate, practical understanding of factories, machinery, ingredients, production systems, piping, industrial cleaning, oils, food chemistry and the countless other technical details upon which contemporary kashrus so often depends.

To those involved in the field, Rav Juravel was regarded as a leading authority. He was a baki in the relevant halachos, but he also understood that determining the kashrus status of a modern food product requires knowing precisely how that product is made. He could walk through an industrial facility, study its equipment and production process, trace its systems, and identify issues that might easily escape someone without his decades of experience.

His expertise was not acquired overnight. Rav Juravel’s connection to kashrus stretched back through generations.

He was a third-generation kashrus expert. His grandfather, Rav Shmuel Zev Juravel, and his father, Rav Yosef Eliezer Juravel, both served as shochtim, devoting themselves to providing for the kashrus needs of the Jewish communities of their respective generations.

Indeed, an intriguing piece of kashrus history was connected to his grandfather. Rav Chaim Brisker famously ruled that turkey could be accepted as a kosher bird, a ruling that helped establish the bird’s place on Jewish tables. Less well known is that the question was originally brought before Rav Chaim by Rav Shmuel Zev Juravel, Rav Avrohom Yitzchok’s grandfather.

Thus, Rav Juravel’s own life’s work represented, in many ways, a continuation of a family legacy: applying the timeless laws of the Torah to the practical realities confronting Jews in changing times.

Rav Juravel’s formal work in kashrus began more than four decades ago, when he served as a mashgiach under Rav Yaakov Posen, dayan of Khal Adas Yeshurun in Washington Heights. He remained in that position for more than a decade.

Those years proved formative. Working in close proximity to an accomplished posek, Rav Juravel was exposed not merely to the rules of kashrus, but to its nuances and complexities. At the same time, his work brought him into the world of commercial food manufacturing, where he began developing the technical knowledge that would eventually make him one of the field’s most respected experts.

Over the years, he also worked for the OK and for the Badatz of the Eidah Hachareidis before becoming a central figure on the kashrus team of the Orthodox Union.

At the OU, Rav Juravel’s expertise ultimately brought him into factories and manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and across the globe. His career took him to places few rabbonim — and perhaps few people altogether — would ever have reason to visit.

One milestone highlighted the extraordinary geographical breadth of his work. When Rav Juravel landed in North Dakota on an OU Kosher assignment, he completed visits to all 50 states in the course of his kashrus work.

Asked at the time how long he had worked in kosher supervision, Rav Juravel responded, “Most of my life, so far. 39 years is a career for anyone in any field, particularly so when your work requires extensive travel.”

North Dakota had remained the final state largely because its agricultural economy did not often require the involvement of someone with his particular level of expertise.

“North Dakota has an extensive farming community, and its agricultural bounty is something the USA would be hard up to live without. In terms of manufacturing facilities supplying kosher food products, the kosher products tend to be simple enough not to warrant a review from a senior rabbi,” he explained.

His travels extended far beyond America’s borders. Rav Juravel estimated that his kashrus responsibilities had brought him to at least 40 foreign countries as well.

The decades of travel gave him an unusual perspective not only on food manufacturing, but on people. Asked what he had learned from meeting factory personnel across so many countries and cultures, Rav Juravel offered an observation characteristic of his thoughtful approach to life.

“What unites us is clearly more significant than the things that divide us. Some take pride in their work, and some don’t put in the effort they could. It is always a privilege to meet master craftsman. And a warm smile is certainly understood in every language and culture.”

His assignments could be extraordinarily complicated.

Asked to identify one of the most memorable projects of his career, Rav Juravel recalled the challenge of kashering an oil refinery that operated separate systems for animal and vegetable products.

“Kosherizing an oil refinery that has separate systems for both animal and vegetable products was a career highlight. Kosher law doesn’t allow for cross-contamination with non-certified animal fat (and for practical purposes, animal fats found in an oil refinery are all non-kosher). Maintaining the integrity of the vegetable system, by following the entire piping system, making sure there was no cross-overs between it and the animal fat refining process, was a Herculean task indeed.”

That assignment illustrated the unique expertise Rav Juravel brought to his work. A kashrus professional could not simply examine an ingredient list and leave. Entire industrial systems had to be understood: where pipes led, what equipment they shared, what had previously passed through them, where two systems might intersect and whether supposedly separate production lines were truly separate from a halachic standpoint.

And when a proposed arrangement did not satisfy the necessary standards, Rav Juravel was prepared to say so unequivocally.

“While OU Kosher communicates the best methods to maintain the highest standards of kosher, there have been times where a plant had dual systems for kosher and non-kosher, and OU Kosher was not satisfied with the divisions proposed by the plant; it was incomplete from our perspective. I handle the situation by stating a firm and resolute, ‘Cannot be done.’”

For all the far-flung places his work took him, Rav Juravel related that he rarely felt threatened because of his identity as a rov. There were, however, adventures along the way.

“In all my years, and in all the odd situations I’ve found myself in for OU Kosher, I cannot remember a time I felt in danger. Once I was lost in China, on a train for 14 hours, without a phone. I was scared then, but it had nothing to do with being a rabbi. It had to do with being incommunicado!”

His long career also gave Rav Juravel a front-row seat to the transformation of the kosher food industry.

When he began, many of the sophisticated quality-control systems that are now standard in food manufacturing did not exist. Over time, developments in the broader food industry — particularly formal quality-control programs, ISO standards, independent audits and allergen protocols — provided additional safeguards that could also assist kashrus agencies.

“The introduction of formal quality systems, ISO systems and various third-party audits (many of which are looking for the same things as a kosher audit) have really helped smooth the way for kosher programs. Allergen cleaning has been a major help for us as well. Years ago, dairy (a primary concern for products labeled OU, which guarantees they are dairy free), was something we had to actively confirm was not being used in our products in any form. Now, due to allergen concerns, the QA staff is aware in advance of our arrival of exactly which items and lines would have contact with dairy.”

Despite the highly technical nature of much of his work, Rav Juravel did not keep his knowledge confined to the professional kashrus world.

Throughout the years, he delivered numerous shiurim on practical kashrus, sharing his accumulated expertise with broader audiences. Those presentations ultimately became the foundation for his sefer, Midi D’Achilah. The publication represented an important contribution to the field. Subjects that were often known primarily to those working inside industrial kashrus were presented to the wider public, giving readers a glimpse into the complicated halachic and technological questions behind foods that consumers encounter every day.

The shiurim that formed the backbone of the sefer were converted into written form, after which Rav Juravel devoted enormous effort to reviewing, editing and refining the material so that the final presentation would accurately convey both the facts and the relevant halachos. The result reflected his characteristic insistence on precision: technical information had to be correct, and the halachic implications had to be stated clearly.

His career also produced some less conventional distinctions.

For many years, Rav Juravel traveled to the Idaho Falls area to supervise Pesach productions of dehydrated potato products. His repeated stays eventually made the visibly Jewish visitor a familiar figure in the community.

“I’ve been stationed in the Idaho Falls area for Passover productions of dehydrated potato products for much of my career. It’s a friendly part of the world, and people notice when a rabbi is walking around town. People would say hello, ask if I’m Amish, and tell me about other Jewish people in town. I was sometimes asked to give classes on Jewish topics to the locals. This led to the Mayor appointing me as Chief Rabbi. Frankly, it wasn’t hard to pick me, I was there more often than any other rabbi.”

Thus, alongside his formidable credentials in kashrus, Rav Juravel also claimed the ceremonial distinction of serving as “Chief Rabbi of Idaho Falls.”

Behind the humor of the story was another element of his life’s work. Whether he found himself in a major Jewish population center or a remote American city, Rav Juravel carried himself as a representative of Torah and Yiddishkeit. His work placed him in sustained contact with people of virtually every background, from factory laborers to engineers, plant managers and corporate executives.

The expertise that made Rav Juravel invaluable was not merely the accumulation of facts. He placed enormous value on judgment — on understanding how to look at a situation, ask the right questions and think through the practical consequences of what one was seeing.

When asked what guidance he would give a younger Rabbinic Field Representative hoping to build a successful career, he did not point first to sophisticated technology or specialized equipment. Instead, he emphasized the most basic tool of all.

“We all possess the most valuable piece of equipment – a brain. It has the indispensable ability to produce something called common sense. You would not believe how many catastrophes have been avoided by simply using it, and yet so many neglect this priceless human asset in search for more modern equipment. I say, begin with the most useful tool you’ve been blessed with and you’ll go very far.”

That emphasis on common sense was particularly meaningful in the world in which Rav Juravel operated. Industrial kashrus presents situations that cannot always be anticipated by a textbook. A mashgiach or rov entering a plant must understand not only what he has been told, but what he is actually seeing. He must know which question to ask next, which seemingly insignificant detail may have major consequences, and when something simply does not add up.

Rav Juravel spent decades honing precisely those instincts.

His knowledge encompassed two worlds that must come together for reliable modern kashrus: the beis medrash and the factory floor. The principles were those of the Torah and halacha, unchanged across generations; the realities to which they had to be applied included sophisticated machinery, complicated supply chains and production systems spanning continents.

His life’s work was devoted to bringing the two together.

The sheer scope of that work was remarkable: all 50 states, approximately 40 foreign countries, innumerable manufacturing facilities, countless hours on airplanes and highways and inside factories, decades of shiurim, and the dissemination of his knowledge through Midi D’Achilah.

Yet the numbers tell only part of the story.

For those involved professionally in kashrus, Rav Avrohom Yitzchok Juravel represented something more: accumulated experience that could not easily be replicated. He had seen the evolution of industrial kashrus across decades and had encountered an extraordinary variety of manufacturing systems and challenges. His knowledge was built not only from seforim and shiurim, but from thousands upon thousands of hours spent seeing how food is actually produced.

He carried forward the legacy of his grandfather and father, who had served Klal Yisroel as shochtim, into an era when kashrus had become increasingly global, industrialized and technologically complex.

From Rav Shmuel Zev Juravel bringing the question of the turkey before Rav Chaim Brisker, to Rav Avrohom Yitzchok tracing industrial piping through an oil refinery generations later, the common thread was the same: ensuring that Jews could eat according to the dictates of halacha as new circumstances and new technologies emerged.

Rav Juravel’s petirah leaves a profound void in the world of kashrus. His extraordinary reservoir of technical knowledge, decades of firsthand experience, mastery of the relevant halachos, and ability to combine all three made him a singular resource to the field.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Rochel (nee Schmelczer) Juravel, and their wonderful family.

The levayah will take place Sunday morning, at 11 a.m., at Kehillas Zichron Yitzchok, located at 36 Pennington Way in Spring Valley, NY.

Yehi zichro boruch.

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{Matzav.com}

Israeli police and the family of 24-year-old Nachman Keinan of Beit Shemesh are urgently asking for the public’s help in locating him after he disappeared approximately one week ago.

Keinan was last seen on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, at approximately 6:00 p.m. near Gai Beach in Tiveriah. His whereabouts have been unknown ever since.

According to information provided by authorities, Keinan may still be in northern Israel, particularly in the areas of Tiveriah, Tzfas, or Meron. His family and those assisting in the search are urging anyone who has seen him, spoken with him, or has any information—no matter how minor it may seem—to come forward immediately.

Keinan is approximately 5 feet 8 inches (1.72 meters) tall, has a fair complexion, brown eyes, a black beard and mustache, and wears prescription eyeglasses.

When he was last seen, he was wearing a black suit, a white button-down shirt, and a black hat. He was also wearing a distinctive yellow Moshiach flag lapel pin, which may help identify him.

Anyone with information regarding Keinan’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Israel Police emergency hotline at 100, the Missing Persons Unit at 050-899-9884, or the family’s command center at 050-232-3201 or 052-277-0559.

Two young children were injured in separate household accidents over Shabbos, one in Bnei Brak and the other in Rechasim, prompting emergency responses by United Hatzalah volunteers.

On Shabbos afternoon, emergency responders were dispatched to a home in Bnei Brak after a 4-year-old boy swallowed a small battery and began choking. Shlomo Katzin, a United Hatzalah EMT serving as the organization’s Shabbos responder, arrived by ambulance and immediately attempted to dislodge the battery before transporting the child to Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Petach Tikvah.

The boy was suffering from mild respiratory distress but was reported to be in stable condition.

Katzin said, “I arrived quickly with a United Hatzalah ambulance, performed maneuvers and attempted to remove the battery, and then rapidly transported him to Schneider Hospital in Petach Tikvah. He was suffering from mild respiratory distress, and his condition was stable.”

Following the incident, United Hatzalah urged parents to keep small, sharp, or easily swallowed objects out of the reach of young children to help prevent choking and other serious injuries.

Earlier on Shabbos morning, another household accident occurred in Rechasim, where a 2-year-old toddler was scalded by boiling water from a hot-water urn inside his home. The child sustained burns to his upper body.

United Hatzalah Shabbos responders Arnon Alenbogen and Ariel Ben Elbaz were the first to arrive and provided emergency medical treatment before the toddler was transported to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa. He was listed in moderate condition.

Alenbogen and Ben Elbaz said, “Family members told us that the toddler was burned by boiling water (from a hot-water urn) in his home and suffered burns to his upper body. We provided him with initial medical treatment, after which he was transported to Rambam Hospital for further care. At this stage, his condition is defined as moderate.”

United Hatzalah reminded the public to place hot-water urns and electric kettles in locations that are inaccessible to children and to ensure that their electrical cords are also kept safely out of children’s reach.

Beginning Sunday, thousands of public transportation passengers in Israel will be able to claim refunds for unused travel subscriptions that could not be fully utilized because of reduced public transit service during Operation Roaring Lion.

The Ministry of Transportation announced that the reimbursement program, delayed for several months, will compensate passengers who purchased prepaid transit passes but were unable to use them during the period when bus and rail services were curtailed due to the security situation.

The refunds are available to passengers who held a monthly Chofshi-Chodshi pass during the affected period, as well as students who purchased either an annual transit pass or a second-semester pass for the 2025–2026 academic year.

Passengers do not need to calculate their refund eligibility themselves. The system will automatically identify each Rav-Kav card, determine the amount of compensation based on the type of subscription and the number of days public transportation services were disrupted, and present the available redemption options. Eligible passengers may claim their refunds through Dec. 31, 2026.

Holders of monthly Chofshi-Chodshi passes will be able to choose from several compensation options. These include receiving equivalent Chofshi-Yomi daily passes based on the number of affected service days, a discount toward the purchase of a new monthly pass, or stored-value credit loaded onto their Rav-Kav card equal to 70% of the value of the eligible days.

Students will also be offered multiple reimbursement choices, including stored-value credit worth 70% of the eligible amount, a discount on a monthly pass, or a discount toward the purchase of an annual or first-semester student pass for the 2026–2027 academic year for those continuing their studies.

Passengers can redeem their benefits through the Rav-Kav Online and HopOn mobile platforms, as well as at Rav-Kav charging stations located in businesses across Israel. Users may also place an order online or by phone and complete the transaction later at a compatible charging device. Telephone orders can be made by calling 03-7207406.

The reimbursement options available to each passenger will depend on the type of transit pass previously purchased and the eligibility information recorded in the Ministry of Transportation’s system.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev said the refund initiative is intended to compensate passengers for services they paid for but were unable to use during the war.

“The passengers and their needs are always our top priority,” Regev said. “During the war, we were required to reduce public transportation services because of the security situation, and now it is our responsibility to ensure that the public receives compensation for the service it could not use. That is why we created a simple, accessible, and flexible refund mechanism that offers several alternatives. We will continue to place passenger service at the center of our efforts, both in routine times and during emergencies.”

Former congressman Mike Rogers, the Republican nominee for Senate in Michigan, leads Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the anti-Israel, Democratic nominee, 51% to 47%, according to a new Fox News poll.

“Mike Rogers is carrying the momentum and defying the map,” Alyssa Brouillet, spokeswoman for the Rogers campaign, told JNS. “It’s easy to see why.”

“Turns out Michiganders have an issue with Abdul raising their taxes, taking over their healthcare, emptying the prisons and killing their dogs,” she told JNS. “They know Mike Rogers will hold the line against this insanity and deliver real results for Michigan. We have a state to save.”

The survey, released Thursday, interviewed 1,006 Michigan voters via phone and online from Aug. 6-10. Fifty-four percent of state voters said that that they are extremely or very concerned that El-Sayed’s positions are too extreme, while 51% of voters said that Rogers is too close to U.S. President Donald Trump.

Though 91% of Democratic voters in the state back El-Sayed, only 69% of Democratic and independent voters that aren’t aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America support El-Sayed. Rogers holds an edge among independent voters in the state, 48%-43%, per the survey.

Fifty-five percent of Michigan voters support discontinuing military aid to Israel, while 44% favor continuing it, according to Fox. JNS

Portuguese prosecutors are being urged to open a criminal investigation after an Israeli doctoral student alleged he was subjected to a sustained campaign of antisemitic harassment, death threats, and physical assault at the University of Coimbra. The move follows a finding by Portugal’s ombudsman that the university failed to adequately respond to the complaints and displayed significant inaction.

The case centers on Bar Harel, an Israeli-American-Portuguese doctoral student, who filed complaints alleging that he was targeted by severe antisemitic incitement while studying at the university. Portugal’s Ministry of Higher Education referred the matter to the country’s attorney general after receiving a request from the Prime Minister’s Office, following the ombudsman’s conclusion that the university mishandled the case.

According to Harel’s complaint, antisemitic stickers, graffiti, and posters appeared across the university campus between July 2024 and May 2026. Among the messages displayed were “Zionists should carry a certificate proving they are human,” “Zionists are worse than the Nazis,” and “We are all Yahya Sinwar.” The displays were accompanied by Hezbollah flags and public expressions of support for Hamas.

Harel said he became the target of repeated personal threats, including graffiti declaring, “Your family deserves a second Holocaust.” He also alleged that he was physically assaulted after attaching a small Israeli flag to his backpack. As a result of the incidents, he ultimately abandoned his doctoral studies in computer engineering.

According to a report by Ynet, Portugal’s Ministry of Higher Education has asked prosecutors to investigate possible offenses including discrimination, incitement to hatred and violence, public glorification of a terrorist organization, criminal threats, and assault.

Harel said the decision to pursue a criminal investigation followed a lengthy campaign in which he sought assistance from the European Parliament and received support from the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists. Israel’s Embassy in Lisbon welcomed the authorities’ decision and called for additional reported incidents to be investigated as well.

The University of Coimbra, however, disputed allegations that it ignored the student’s complaints. University officials said they offered Harel counseling and psychological support immediately after he reported the incidents.

The administration also argued that his complaints lacked sufficient detail to allow investigators to identify those responsible or independently verify the allegations, adding that the posters described in the complaint could not be located on campus.

In addition, the university said it informed authorities that Harel had allegedly demanded €3 million in exchange for refraining from pursuing legal action against the institution, a demand the university said it immediately rejected.

Frustration with President Donald Trump’s handling of the war with Iran is reportedly growing among America’s Gulf allies, with several countries now questioning whether they should continue hosting major U.S. military bases, according to a report published by The Washington Post.

Citing Arab and Western officials, the report says Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain have become increasingly dissatisfied with the continued missile and drone attacks linked to the conflict. According to the report, some of those governments have begun discussing whether it remains in their national interest to maintain a large American military presence on their soil.

“Trump started the war, and we are paying the price,” an official from one Gulf state was quoted as saying. The official added that anger toward Washington has reached its highest level since the war began in February 2026.

According to the report, regional leaders are particularly concerned by what they view as inconsistent U.S. policy toward Iran. Officials reportedly pointed to repeated threats issued by President Trump against Tehran that were later followed by restraint rather than military escalation.

Bader Al-Saif, a history professor at Kuwait University, said, “Even before all these zigzags by Trump, there was no clear strategy.”

As Gulf governments reassess their security options, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed a new defense pact last week known as the “Mecca Agreement.”

A senior European official who maintains close contact with leaders in the region described the agreement as “a signal to the United States,” adding that the three countries are “trying to diversify their security and defense partnerships” because “from their perspective, the United States is not enough.”

Another Western diplomat stationed in the region said attitudes toward the U.S. military presence have shifted dramatically.

“If in the past the forces were viewed as a necessary evil, now the very necessity of deploying those forces in the region is being questioned,” the diplomat said.

The White House, however, rejected suggestions of a growing rift with Gulf allies. A senior administration official insisted that President Trump “has exceptional relationships with all of the Gulf partners.”

European officials quoted in the report said Gulf governments initially supported the military campaign against Iran, believing it would end quickly with a decisive American victory.

According to those officials, that assessment changed by April 2026 after it became clear that Iran’s regime was unlikely to collapse and that Tehran had no intention of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, prompting regional leaders to rethink their long-term security strategy.

A senior Iranian military commander declared Saturday that Iran’s months-long conflict with the United States proved the strength of Islam, even as the Trump administration continues working to secure a long-term agreement despite America’s overwhelming military advantage.

Ahmad Vahidi, commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), praised the country’s military and security forces, including the IRGC, the regular army, police, and Basij militia, claiming they had succeeded in confronting what he described as the world’s most powerful military.

Vahidi asserted that Iran’s campaign had shown that ”Islam can be made to rule the world” and had ”opened the gates of uprising for the oppressed of the world,” despite the fact that Iranian missile attacks have struck neighboring Muslim countries that host U.S. military forces.

His remarks stand in sharp contrast to the military realities of the conflict.

Throughout the war, the United States has maintained a dominant naval presence in and around the Strait of Hormuz while inflicting extensive damage on Iran’s naval fleet, missile capabilities, and other military assets. Iran has also faced severe economic hardship as a result of the fighting and intensified financial sanctions.

Nevertheless, Iran’s refusal to back down has highlighted Washington’s ongoing difficulty in turning military success into the comprehensive political settlement President Donald Trump has repeatedly predicted.

As early as May 23, Trump said an agreement with Iran had been ”largely negotiated” and would be announced ”shortly.”

On June 11, the President expressed confidence that a deal could be finalized within days, saying he believed Iran’s supreme leader had already approved it. That agreement, however, was never completed.

A temporary ceasefire later collapsed. In July, Trump declared the conflict ”OVER,” yet negotiations continued afterward, and the administration postponed additional U.S. military strikes in an effort to give diplomacy another opportunity.

By the end of July, Trump acknowledged that Tehran still was not prepared to reach an agreement, even while describing the negotiations as serious and holding out hope that progress remained possible.

The diplomatic deadlock has continued through August. Talks between the United States and Iran remain at an impasse, with Washington engaging additional countries in an effort to revive the negotiating process.

At the same time, Iranian officials have continued insisting on sanctions relief and compensation for wartime damage before agreeing to resolve the dispute surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite the stalled negotiations, Trump continued to project confidence on Friday, suggesting that once Iran is defeated, the United States could even declare the Strait of Hormuz to be American territory. Iranian officials quickly rejected the statement.

The situation has underscored the contrast between America’s battlefield dominance and the absence, thus far, of a final political agreement.

While U.S. forces have dealt substantial blows to Iran’s military infrastructure, Tehran has neither surrendered nor agreed to the broad settlement Washington has sought.

{Matzav.com}

New York Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher is facing sharp criticism after suggesting that people who steal basic necessities such as soap and toothpaste should not face criminal penalties, arguing that such theft stems from “biological need” rather than criminal intent.

The Brooklyn Democrat made the remarks Thursday during a news conference outside Manhattan Criminal Court alongside fellow progressive elected officials and criminal justice advocates affiliated with Court Watch NYC. The group said it observed 360 arraignments over four days and found that more than half involved misdemeanor charges.

Gallagher, who represents Greenpoint and neighboring sections of northern Brooklyn, argued that many shoplifting cases involve individuals taking essential household items because they cannot afford them.

“Most of what we saw were crimes of poverty-people who are stealing things like toothpaste, people who were stealing things like, you know, soap. And that means if you’re stealing those things, you need them,” Gallagher said.

“And we are choosing to protect billion-dollar companies, like CVS and Walgreens, over the people who are struggling to get by. So I would say that the true crime is that there is such incredible wealth disparity in this city that there are people who can be thrown in jail simply for having a biological need.”

Gallagher, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, reiterated her support for policies emphasizing “treatment-not-jail” rather than incarceration. Her remarks came despite the fact that first-time shoplifting offenders rarely receive jail sentences and as many retailers have increasingly locked merchandise behind plastic security cases amid concerns over retail theft.

At the same event, Gallagher and several other progressive officials also urged Mayor Zohran Mamdani to fulfill his campaign pledge to eliminate so-called “broken windows policing,” a strategy that targets quality-of-life offenses such as graffiti, fare evasion, and other low-level crimes.

Many shoppers interviewed Saturday at Food Universal supermarket in the Bronx’s Co-op City neighborhood reacted with disbelief, arguing that Gallagher’s comments would encourage theft while increasing costs for law-abiding consumers.

“It’s foolish to think one should not be punished for stealing. It is a crime,” said Rev. Susan Webb, 68.

“Mamdani can implement that in his [city-run grocery] stores, so if you don’t have the necessities, you can go there and get them for free.”

Critics also warned that weakening enforcement against shoplifting could reverse recent improvements in crime statistics. According to NYPD data through Aug. 9, retail theft has fallen 14.7% while petit larceny is down 5.4% compared with the same period last year.

Jeanette Mack, a 49-year-old academic adviser, said she believes Gallagher’s approach would only encourage additional theft rather than help those in need.

“People are going to feel entitled because they know they can walk in and walk out and nothing will happen,” she said.

“Allowing people to shoplift with no consequence is wrong. I’m a single mom and at one time I had four jobs. I would never think of stealing anything.

“They already closed a Rite Aid [drug store] around here. Now I’m worried that if they put that in place, they are definitely going to close this supermarket, and I would suffer because I’d have to drive to somewhere else instead of walking. And gas price nowadays, that’s another thing.”

Edwin Pichado, 33, who manages the supermarket, said Gallagher’s proposal ignores the economic realities facing retailers.

“Rent is high.” he said. “You have to pay workers, utilities. Goods going out, but no money coming in. We cannot run a business like that. If they see that you do nothing, they’ll keep coming back. They tell their friends, and it becomes a free for all.”

The controversy is the latest involving Gallagher, who has drawn attention since taking office in January 2021 for a series of unusual actions and public statements. Among them was a 2021 GoFundMe campaign seeking donations for emergency surgery for her cat, Roland.

Gallagher has also received numerous traffic and parking tickets despite advocating anti-automobile policies in Albany, and has been accused by critics of blocking constituents from commenting on her social media pages.

In 2024, Gallagher participated in an anti-Israel phone bank organized by the New Jersey chapter of American Muslims for Palestine, an organization whose leaders have been accused of making antisemitic statements and which is under investigation by Virginia’s attorney general over allegations of potentially funding terrorist organizations.

Her past has also resurfaced during previous political campaigns. While a student at Ithaca College in 2003, Gallagher described several youthful antics in an online journal, including mooning a couple she observed having sex and organizing what she called a “homeless party.” Those writings became public during her successful 2020 campaign against longtime Democratic Assemblyman Joe Lentol.

Gallagher’s latest comments drew swift condemnation from political opponents.

“People like Emily Gallagher try to obfuscate reality because they want to enable this very activity,” Queens Councilwoman Vickie Paladino wrote on X.

“They know it’s devastating to retail stores and that’s the point — they’re communists and want to use crime to force these stores to close. It’s social justice.”

“Soon enough we’ll be hearing about the need for government-run drug stores to replace the shops they drove out of business,” she added.

Former Queens Councilman Robert Holden also criticized Gallagher.

“[Gallagher] is a major dope,” wrote the moderate Democrat.

Gallagher did not respond to the New York Post’s request for comment.

Queens Councilwoman Joann Ariola said businesses throughout New York City are already under significant financial pressure and warned that encouraging theft would only worsen the situation.

“This is the kind of backwards, left-wing lunacy I would expect from someone who values the rights of criminals more than those of business owners,” Ariola said. “Policies that Gallagher is pushing are exactly what’s driving so many of them away.”

President Donald Trump said Friday that he believes Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will eventually seek the presidency, while arguing that she and other progressive Democrats are now attempting to distance themselves from positions they once strongly embraced.

During an interview with Fox News while visiting Long Island, Trump was asked whether he believes the New York congresswoman intends to run for the White House. The question followed renewed speculation about Ocasio-Cortez’s political future after she recently disclosed in online videos that she was freezing her eggs.

“I think so,” Trump replied when asked whether he expects the 36-year-old Democratic lawmaker to launch a presidential campaign.

Trump was also asked about Ocasio-Cortez’s recent remark that “woke 1.0 was crazy,” which many viewed as an effort to separate herself from some of the progressive rhetoric that has become a political liability for several Democratic candidates, including Wisconsin state lawmaker Francesca Hong.

“But if you really look at it, they’re all saying the same thing. They’re all trying to disavow themselves from saying about crime and all, we love sanctuary cities. All of the things that they said they’re now trying to disavow,” Trump told Fox News correspondent Alexis McAdams.

The President also criticized Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan over past comments in which he linked football to “toxic masculinity,” colonialism, and slavery.

“Well, it’s a great place when you have Michigan – it’s a great bad place to be saying it,” Trump said sarcastically. “They have a great football team, and the number of great football teams up there that the people love. I would say that that’s a big mistake.”

El-Sayed attended the University of Michigan, whose football program holds the NCAA record for the most victories in college football history. In 2021, he wrote about “the toxic masculinity at the heart of America’s most popular sport.” He also captained his high school football team in suburban Detroit and later played club lacrosse while attending college.

Returning to the issue of immigration, Trump predicted that support for sanctuary city policies would become an increasing political burden for Ocasio-Cortez and other Democrats.

“I think you’re going to see sanctuary cities start to end, because sanctuary cities are a disaster. And somebody like her, she was big for sanctuary cities,” he said.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Friday that he does not believe Mayor Zohran Mamdani should participate in ceremonies commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Speaking during an appearance on Newsmax’s “Finnerty,” Giuliani argued that the United States is facing what he described as an organized effort by some individuals to transform the country into an Islamic state. Mamdani is Muslim.

“Why are they fighting about Sharia law in Texas and in Dearborn, Michigan?” Giuliani said. “When the Germans came here, they didn’t ask for German law. The Puerto Ricans didn’t ask for Puerto Rican law. The Irish didn’t ask for Irish law.”

“They want to impose a barbaric foreign code on us, given the advances that we’ve made as an Anglo-American country,” Giuliani said. “It’s a disgrace. They’re trying to accomplish by infiltration what they couldn’t accomplish by murderous attack.”

Giuliani also criticized former New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa over comments he made regarding the families of those killed in the Sept. 11 attacks.

“Every once in a while says things I don’t quite understand,” Giuliani said. “If he’s attacking the victims’ families, I don’t know what’s happened to him.

“When I was the mayor, and Bloomberg following me, we just about universally respected the wishes of those families,” Giuliani added. “Because every time we would go to a service and I went to more funerals, than any mayor ever, you had to respect them.

“You can’t imagine going through what they went through, losing your child, losing your husband, losing your wife,” Giuliani continued. “It’s awful [under] any circumstances, but having them attacked by a foreign force, Islamic terrorism, sacrificed that way, you never get over that.”

Israeli investigators now believe that the disappearance of Mali and Liel Yahalomi was not a spur-of-the-moment decision but the result of a carefully orchestrated plan developed over an extended period. According to the investigation, the mother and daughter allegedly erased digital evidence, withdrew cash, and even used artificial intelligence to help avoid detection before leaving Israel.

Police say newly uncovered evidence, including private messages exchanged between the two, indicates that the disappearance was deliberately planned in advance rather than carried out impulsively.

Investigators believe Mali Yahalomi, who was divorced and experiencing financial hardship, intended to leave her former life behind and begin anew outside Israel. Authorities now believe her daughter, Liel, knowingly participated in the plan from the outset.

Among the evidence recovered by investigators was a message in which Liel told her mother, “I’ll go with you anywhere.” Police say the correspondence reinforced their assessment that Liel was aware of the plan beforehand and willingly accompanied her mother.

Authorities also explored the possibility that the disappearance was connected to criminal activity or family-related issues. However, investigators said they found no evidence of domestic abuse or unusual financial liabilities, concluding that the pair had been living otherwise ordinary lives and that their departure was a voluntary decision rather than the result of any immediate danger.

Another factor supporting that conclusion, investigators said, was the withdrawal of approximately 50,000 shekels from Mali Yahalomi’s bank account shortly before she left Israel.

“Mali simply wanted to disappear from the world,” a senior official familiar with the investigation said.

Police also believe the two spent considerable time preparing for their journey. According to investigators, they deleted applications and other information from their mobile phones, allegedly used artificial intelligence to learn techniques for avoiding detection, and took additional measures to complicate efforts to trace their movements. Authorities further believe Mali may have traveled abroad previously to scout the route and prepare for the operation.

After investigators received information indicating that the mother and daughter were traveling toward Argentina, Israel Police dispatched its South America liaison, Walter Kogan, to assist in the search. Authorities located the bus carrying the pair shortly before they were scheduled to continue to another destination elsewhere in South America. The identity of that destination remains under a court-ordered gag order.

During questioning, Mali and Liel told investigators that they had left Israel for personal reasons but declined to provide additional details about what prompted their decision.

Police emphasized that the international search operation was conducted exclusively through cooperation between law enforcement agencies and did not involve any other Israeli security organizations.

An official familiar with the investigation said the time it took to locate the pair was the result of a deliberate operational strategy rather than any investigative failure.

“We followed them throughout the entire journey and waited for the right moment to complete the operation without exposing the parties who assisted us in Europe,” the source explained. “There was no concern for their lives – we waited for the appropriate time to close the circle.”

The BBC is asking a federal judge for permission to subpoena Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner as part of President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the broadcaster, arguing that all three possess firsthand knowledge about President Trump’s intentions before, during, and after his Jan. 6, 2021, speech.

In a court filing submitted Friday in federal court in Miami, attorneys for the BBC requested authorization to use alternative methods to serve subpoenas on the three family members. The broadcaster said repeated attempts to deliver the subpoenas in person have been unsuccessful because of Secret Service security protections.

“The Third Parties have personal knowledge and likely have possession, custody, or control of records relevant to multiple elements of Plaintiff’s claims against the BBC,” the broadcaster’s lawyers wrote.

President Trump filed the lawsuit in December after the BBC aired a 2024 documentary that edited together portions of his Jan. 6 speech that had originally been delivered nearly an hour apart.

According to the complaint, the edited version falsely suggested that Trump “incited” or “fomented” the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Although the BBC has acknowledged and apologized for the editing error, it maintains that it did not defame the President. The broadcaster argues that Trump’s intent in delivering the speech is directly relevant to determining whether the documentary materially misrepresented his remarks.

Friday’s filing also cited an earlier discovery ruling stating that the BBC is entitled to examine Trump’s “intention behind the speech and anything that bears on the impression his audience could have reasonably obtained in listening to the speech,” including “the extent of any resulting injury or harm.”

The broadcaster said Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump were present in the Oval Office while the President was still revising his speech, including around the time he unsuccessfully urged then-Vice President Mike Pence not to certify the 2020 election results. The filing cites testimony both previously gave to the House Jan. 6 committee.

According to the BBC, both Trump Jr. and Ivanka later accompanied the President from the White House to the Ellipse, where they “personally witnessed” him deliver the speech and observed the crowd’s reaction.

The filing further states that Ivanka Trump returned to the White House afterward and witnessed her father’s response as reports of violence at the Capitol began to emerge.

The BBC also noted that Donald Trump Jr. contacted then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows during the riot, urging him to have the President “condemn this s**t. Asap.” The filing says Trump Jr. also later spoke directly with his father.

The broadcaster contends that Jared Kushner likewise possesses significant firsthand knowledge. According to the filing, Kushner spoke that afternoon with then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who warned him “it was getting really ugly over at the Capitol” and asked for “anything [he] could do to help.”

The BBC alleges that Kushner subsequently drafted a proposed presidential statement that “would have condemned the use of violence” and later worked alongside senior administration officials on another statement as Congress prepared to resume certification of the election.

The broadcaster further argues that testimony from Trump’s family members is relevant to his claim that the documentary harmed his personal reputation.

The three have “personal knowledge of Plaintiff’s reputation before and after the Documentary,” BBC lawyers wrote, adding that their testimony could help determine whether the disputed edit “actually and proximately caused him the reputational harm he alleges.”

That issue has taken on added importance after President Trump recently received permission to amend his lawsuit, withdrawing claims that the documentary damaged his businesses and commercial brand and instead focusing solely on alleged personal reputational harm.

U.S. District Judge Roy Altman has indicated that narrowing the lawsuit could affect the amount of damages ultimately available, while leaving unresolved the extent of the financial discovery the BBC may still pursue.

Media attorney Deanna Shullman told Newsweek that the revised lawsuit does not necessarily shield Trump’s relatives from participating in discovery.

“They may be asked to produce communications with the president, and they may be deposed,” Shullman said. “I think it is fair game.”

She added that family members could possess “very relevant information” concerning Trump’s claimed damages and “other issues in the case, truth being one of them.”

Florida International University law professor Howard Wasserman expressed a similar view, saying, “There should not be anything sacrosanct about them,” while describing Trump’s relatives with relevant information as “potential non-party witnesses.”

The immediate issue before the court concerns how the subpoenas can legally be served.

According to the filing, law enforcement personnel prevented a process server from reaching Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner at their Florida residence and instead referred BBC attorneys to the Secret Service. The agency replied that it “is not authorized to accept service of these subpoenas for these individuals” and said it could not advise the broadcaster on how to serve them.

The BBC also stated that security personnel at Trump Tower prevented a process server from serving Donald Trump Jr. at that location.

The broadcaster said it repeatedly sought voluntary cooperation from President Trump’s legal team but was unsuccessful.

The BBC is now asking the court for what it described as the “modest relief” of permitting service through alternative means, including certified mail sent to the family members’ homes or workplaces or by serving Trump’s attorneys.

Judge Altman has scheduled the case for a two-week trial beginning in February 2027.

An unusual summer storm swept across parts of Eretz Yisroel on Shabbos, bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning to several regions. The unexpected weather caused flooding in Yerushalayim, prompted rescue operations, and temporarily forced the closure of a major highway amid concerns over flash floods.

Rain fell in Yerushalayim, Maaleh Adumim, and the northern Golan Heights, with some areas receiving significant precipitation despite the middle of the summer season. Maaleh Adumim recorded 18.4 millimeters of rainfall, while Yerushalayim received 2 millimeters. An additional 0.4 millimeters was measured at Mount Bental in the northern Golan Heights.

The downpour led to flooding in several neighborhoods in eastern and southern Yerushalayim. Fire and Rescue Service crews responded to rescue individuals who became trapped by rising waters. Officials urged residents to avoid underground parking garages, basements, and elevators during flooding and warned people to stay away from fast-moving streams and floodwaters.

Meanwhile, Route 90 was shut down in both directions for approximately one hour because of fears that flooding could make travel hazardous along part of the roadway.

Earlier in the day, the Israel Meteorological Service issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms and lightning across wide areas of the country, including the northern mountains and valleys, the central mountain region, the Jordan Valley, the Yehudah Desert, the Dead Sea region, the northeastern Negev, and the northern Aravah.

Authorities also banned swimming at Achziv Beach in the western Galil because of dangerous sea conditions, warning that entering the water could pose a serious risk to life.

Forecasters expect additional localized showers on Sunday afternoon, mainly in eastern parts of the country, with continued concern over flash flooding in streams flowing through the Yehudah Desert, the northern Aravah, and the northeastern Negev.

The forecast also calls for a slight drop in temperatures on Monday, providing a brief respite from the summer heat before warmer conditions return to the mountainous and inland regions on Wednesday.

{Matzav.com}

The producer of the biographical film Reagan says John Hinckley Jr. recently revealed that he originally intended to shoot President Ronald Reagan as he arrived at the Washington Hilton in 1981 but hesitated after Reagan smiled and waved at him, delaying the assassination attempt until later that day.

Mark Joseph made the comments Friday during an appearance on Newsmax’s “Ed Henry: The Big Take,” where he discussed the upcoming theatrical release of an extended version of his 2024 film Reagan. The expanded edition is scheduled to return to approximately 600 theaters on Sept. 25.

Joseph said his years of research for the film included reviewing FBI and KGB documents and interviewing more than 50 people who worked closely with President Reagan. He said the revelation came during a recent podcast interview with Hinckley, who for decades had been prohibited from speaking with journalists or researchers.

“I had no idea he was planning to shoot Ronald Reagan upon arriving at the hotel that day, not on departing,” Joseph said, adding that Hinckley said Reagan “smiled and waved at him, and he just couldn’t bring the gun out in time because he was kind of disarmed by that charm.”

Hinckley ultimately carried out the attack after Reagan completed his speech before the AFL-CIO and exited the Washington Hilton. Reagan was struck by a bullet, while White House Press Secretary James Brady and two other individuals were also wounded. According to Joseph, Hinckley’s account suggests there had been an earlier opportunity to carry out the attack that was abandoned.

Joseph also discussed Soviet intelligence records concerning Reagan, saying the KGB maintained an extensive file on him dating back to his years as governor of California.

“The KGB files basically said that Reagan was superstitious, which is probably their code for religious, that he was a teetotaler — didn’t drink alcohol — and they considered him vain,” he said, adding that FBI agents interviewed the future president’s neighbors as part of a background inquiry related to Reagan and nuclear weapons.

According to Joseph, those neighbors described Reagan as a friendly individual who nevertheless held what they characterized as “extreme right-wing views.”

Joseph said there were two people he was unable to interview while producing the original film. One was former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who requested payment for an interview that Joseph declined to provide. The other was Hinckley, who at the time remained barred from speaking publicly with members of the media or researchers.

The extended edition of Reagan includes approximately 10 minutes of additional footage that was not part of the original release. New scenes feature Nancy Reagan in the Oval Office, additional material involving Reagan’s father, Jack, and footage filmed at the Reagans’ California ranch.

The wider theatrical release follows a limited run of special screenings over the July Fourth holiday held in conjunction with America’s 250th anniversary celebration.

Joseph also recounted one humorous scene restored for the expanded version, describing an incident in which Reagan became frustrated by birds stealing fish from a pond at the White House.

“This brought the Secret Service agents to converge and say, ‘Mr. President, we thought you were being shot at,'” Joseph said.

The original theatrical release of Reagan earned more than $30 million worldwide against a production budget of approximately $25 million, receiving sharply divided reviews from critics while drawing a much warmer response from moviegoers.

Former Hamas hostage Rom Braslavski made an emotional appeal to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir during a podcast interview, asking to personally carry out the execution of convicted terrorists if Israel’s proposed death penalty law is enacted. Ben Gvir responded by pledging to do everything possible to fulfill the request.

Braslavski, who survived Hamas captivity, addressed the minister directly while interviewing him on his personal podcast. Referring to legislation promoted by Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party that would authorize capital punishment for terrorists, Braslavski made an extraordinary request.

“I have a personal request, and I’m really looking you straight in the eyes, honored Minister,” Braslavski told Ben Gvir. “Let me be the one who hangs them. I don’t want a rope; I want a button. With my own hands, I will execute every terrorist in the State of Israel.”

Ben Gvir responded by expressing strong support for the request.

“I will move heaven and earth to make that happen. I promise you that I will try and move heaven and earth so that it happens. And G-d willing, it is one of my greatest dreams to see you there.”

The minister also clarified the form of execution outlined in the proposed legislation.

“By the way, it’s hanging. The punishment we established there is to carry it out by hanging. And G-d willing, G-d willing. You are the right person in the right place for us to hang them and execute them one by one. They don’t deserve to live, and you’re right.”

During the interview, Ben Gvir also discussed what he described as sweeping changes to the treatment of security prisoners since he assumed office, contrasting current prison conditions with those that previously existed.

Recalling what he said he encountered in Israel’s prisons before the changes, Ben Gvir said, “You would visit the prisons and see the marmalades and chocolates, the television, ping-pong, and meat. Everything they had there – it was insane. I go through the Israel Prison Service facilities and you hear the stories: We took this one for cosmetic surgery, and we gave that one a prosthetic eye because he lost an eye after throwing a Molotov cocktail.”

He concluded by saying that prison conditions have changed dramatically under his leadership.

“Thank G-d, today we are in a completely different reality,” Ben Gvir concluded. “They are suffering, it’s difficult for them, they are miserable – and I’m glad they are miserable. That’s the only thing that can provide some measure of correction and relief for the tremendous pain that you and all the others carry.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci has declined a request to testify before a second Senate panel, further intensifying his dispute with congressional Republicans after a Senate committee voted last week to hold the longtime infectious disease expert in contempt of Congress.

In a letter sent Friday to Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Fauci’s attorney rejected the invitation for a voluntary appearance before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. The attorney argued that requiring Fauci to testify again following his contentious July 29 hearing would “impermissibly harass or degrade Dr. Fauci for political purposes.”

During that July hearing, Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination approximately 100 times while declining to answer lawmakers’ questions regarding his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

His repeated reliance on the Fifth Amendment led the Senate Homeland Security Committee to vote along party lines on Aug. 6 to hold him in contempt of Congress, setting the stage for a referral to the Department of Justice to determine whether his refusal to testify constitutes contempt.

Homeland Security Committee Chairman Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who led the effort to pursue the contempt resolution, argued that Fauci could not properly invoke the Fifth Amendment because President Joe Biden had previously granted him a preemptive pardon. According to Paul, that pardon removed any realistic threat of criminal prosecution.

Paul has been one of Fauci’s most outspoken congressional critics throughout the years, repeatedly accusing him of misleading the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. The July hearing marked the latest in a series of high-profile confrontations between the two, and Paul has repeatedly called for Fauci to face criminal prosecution and imprisonment.

Johnson, who chairs the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, is conducting a separate inquiry into Fauci’s role in the federal government’s response to the pandemic, including questions surrounding the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.

Three Israeli soldiers were seriously wounded Friday night after a Hezbollah explosive drone struck IDF forces operating in southern Lebanon. In response, the Israeli military launched airstrikes that killed a senior Hezbollah commander and several other terrorists involved in planning attacks against Israeli troops.

The IDF said an officer and two soldiers sustained serious injuries when an explosive UAV hit their position in southern Lebanon. All three were evacuated to a hospital for treatment, and their families were informed.

According to the military, the drone attack targeted IDF troops operating in the Ali al-Taher Ridge area within the security zone established by Israel in southern Lebanon.

The IDF responded by striking Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the Nabatieh and Ansar areas of southern Lebanon. The military said the targeted headquarters served as a command center from which Hezbollah directed terrorist operations in the region.

Among those killed in the strike was Ali Samir Al-Haj Hassan, identified by the IDF as a battalion commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force.

The military said several additional terrorists were also eliminated in the operation. According to the IDF, those killed had been actively involved in planning and advancing attacks against Israeli forces operating in the security zone.

The IDF acknowledged reports that members of Hassan’s family were present inside the command center during the strike.

“At the time of the strike, Hassan’s family was also present with him inside the military headquarters and, according to the claim, was harmed in the strike. It should be emphasized that the family members were not the target of the strike.”

The military stressed that Hassan himself was the intended target and accused Hezbollah of deliberately placing civilians at risk.

“The strike was specifically directed at Hassan, who was a lawful target under international law. The terrorist used his family as human shields, hiding alongside them inside the military headquarters.

“The IDF remains committed to the ceasefire agreement and will not allow the Hezbollah terrorist organization to harm Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers.”

Earlier Saturday, the Prime Minister’s Office took the unusual step of issuing a public statement on Shabbos, departing from its customary practice.

“This morning Hezbollah violated the ceasefire in Lebanon by attacking our soldiers in the security zone, which protects Israeli communities just across the border,” the statement read. “The Hezbollah attack seriously injured three of our soldiers. The IDF responded by striking the Hezbollah terror headquarters which ordered the attack.”

The statement added that Israeli officials were initially unaware that civilians had been inside the compound.

“Only later did the IDF learn that Hezbollah deliberately put civilians in that military compound.

“Hezbollah is willing to do anything, including using its own civilians as human shields, to falsely accuse Israel of deliberately targeting civilians, which the IDF clearly did not.”

Lebanese media reported that 11 people were killed in the Israeli strikes. Israeli officials maintained that Hezbollah intentionally embedded civilians within the military facility in an effort to use them as human shields and shift responsibility for civilian casualties onto Israel.

In a separate incident in southern Lebanon, the IDF said soldiers from the Paratroopers Brigade killed two terrorists after they crossed the Blue Line and advanced toward Israeli troops in a manner the military described as posing an immediate threat.

President Donald Trump sharply criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul during a campaign-style appearance on Long Island Friday, accusing her and the “radical left” of driving New York into decline while confidently predicting that Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman will win this year’s election.

Trump made the remarks at the Nassau County Police Academy, where he joined Blakeman, the county executive, to highlight newly released FBI statistics showing a significant nationwide decline in violent crime compared with the previous year.

Addressing an enthusiastic audience of law enforcement officers and supporters, Trump warned that progressive policies were pushing American cities toward disorder and violence.

“And then the death comes, and it becomes really a true hell hole,” he said, before adding, “It’s not going to happen to New York, New York state. That’s why we got to get Bruce into office.”

Trump argued that Blakeman should have a clear path to victory given the policies adopted by Hochul and other Democratic leaders in New York, particularly the state’s 2020 cashless bail law.

“How the hell can you lose to that? If you lose, you’ll be ashamed for the rest of your life,” he told Blakeman.

Recent polling suggests the race has tightened. A Siena College survey conducted in early August found Hochul leading Blakeman by 10 percentage points, 49% to 39% among likely voters.

The poll also indicated that Blakeman is outperforming where Republican Lee Zeldin stood at a similar point in the 2022 campaign. Zeldin ultimately lost to Hochul by six percentage points in one of the closest gubernatorial races for a Republican in New York in decades.

Trump’s Long Island visit came as Blakeman and other Republicans intensified their criticism of Democratic leadership ahead of November’s election, arguing that the party’s leftward shift could alienate suburban and swing voters.

While New York City’s Democratic Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani has become a central target for many Republicans, Trump mentioned him only briefly, drawing boos from the crowd.

Instead, the President repeatedly focused his criticism on Hochul, accusing her of being weak on crime because of her support for cashless bail and New York’s sanctuary-state policies, which limit cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities.

“Hochul and the radical left stand with the gang members, child predators, violent felons. We stand with hardworking New Yorkers,” Trump said.

“She thinks the sanctuary cities are wonderful, which are killing our country,” he added.

Although Trump and Hochul frequently criticize one another publicly, they have occasionally praised their ability to work together on specific projects, including the redevelopment of Penn Station.

Before Trump’s remarks, Blakeman touted Nassau County’s partnership with federal immigration authorities, saying it has contributed to the county’s public safety.

“Nassau County has the most comprehensive agreement with ICE in the United States of America. In one year, we removed 2,000 illegal migrants with criminal records ranging from attempted murder, rape, murder, robbery… drug dealers,” he said.

Trump was joined during the visit by Blakeman, Attorney General Todd Blanche, and FBI Director Kash Patel, who grew up in nearby Garden City. The group toured Nassau County’s police training facility before the rally.

Speaking to the law enforcement audience, Trump praised Blakeman for expanding the county’s police force by more than 700 officers.

The crowd also applauded loudly when Trump called for imposing the death penalty on those convicted of murdering police officers. Introducing Blakeman, the President described him as a longtime friend and added, “He’s a winner.”

Ahead of Trump’s appearance, Hochul sought to counter expected criticism by posting crime statistics on X showing significant declines in several major categories.

According to the figures she shared, shooting deaths have fallen by 62%, murders are down 57%, and overall crime has decreased by 10%.

“Here are the facts: Crime rates are continuing to drop across the state,” Hochul wrote.

The United States recorded its lowest homicide rate in roughly 70 years during 2025, according to newly released FBI crime statistics, which also show a sharp nationwide decline in violent crime. The report found that murders, property crimes, and vehicle thefts all dropped significantly, while preliminary figures indicate the downward trend has continued into 2026.

According to the FBI’s annual crime report released Friday, the national homicide rate fell to 4.1 killings per 100,000 people in 2025, matching the levels recorded in 1955 and 1956. Overall violent crime declined by 9.3% during the year.

Criminal justice experts cautioned that the reasons behind the dramatic decrease remain uncertain, noting that violent crime has been falling nationwide since 2022 across communities with widely differing policies and political leadership. The FBI’s report is based on crime data voluntarily submitted by thousands of law enforcement agencies throughout the country.

“The homicide drop is historic and crystal clear. But right now, what’s driving it is about as clear as a glass of milk,” said Adam Gelb, president and CEO of the Council on Criminal Justice.

“Rates are falling in cities with very different public safety strategies, economic conditions, and political leadership,” Gelb said. “The consistency across the map should make us cautious about handing credit to any one leader, party, policy, or program before the evidence catches up.”

President Donald Trump highlighted the FBI’s findings during an appearance Friday at a police academy on Long Island, where he credited his administration’s law-and-order agenda for the decline in crime.

Trump contrasted his approach with that of the previous administration and criticized sanctuary city policies while emphasizing his support for law enforcement and actions such as deploying the National Guard in Washington and other locations.

“We ended the war on police, and we declared a very strong war on crime,” Trump said during the Long Island appearance.

Criminologists who have monitored crime trends in major U.S. cities had projected that the homicide rate could fall to approximately four killings per 100,000 residents, a level that would have marked the lowest since national recordkeeping began in 1900.

Although the final figure came in slightly higher, the FBI reported a homicide rate of 4.1 per 100,000 people, tying the rates recorded in 1955 and 1956 as the lowest in the modern era.

The report also found that murders and non-negligent manslaughters declined by 18.1% between 2024 and 2025. Property crime also dropped substantially, falling 12.4% over the same period.

Motor vehicle theft, which surged during 2022 and 2023 following a social media trend that exploited security flaws in certain Kia and Hyundai models, declined by nearly 23%, reaching its lowest level in more than two decades.

In an unusual step, the FBI also included preliminary data showing that violent crime has continued to decrease during the first half of 2026, rather than waiting until year-end statistics become available. The update comes as Republicans have increasingly pointed to falling crime rates ahead of the midterm elections.

Separate data from the Council on Criminal Justice also suggests the trend is continuing, with homicides in the cities it tracks falling another 18% during the first six months of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier.

The report also noted the dramatic spike in violent crime that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, when homicides surged by nearly 30% in 2020—the largest single-year increase since the FBI began collecting national crime statistics. Since then, violent crime has steadily declined, approaching pre-pandemic levels by 2022.

The FBI compiles its annual report through the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, which gathers standardized crime data from law enforcement agencies across the country. The 2025 report includes submissions from more than 17,000 agencies—representing over 87% of participating departments—and covers communities totaling nearly 329 million Americans.