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A fierce Democratic primary battle in Houston’s 18th Congressional District ended Tuesday with a major generational shakeup, as Congressman Christian Menefee defeated longtime incumbent Al Green in a hard-fought runoff election.

According to projections from Decision Desk HQ, the 37-year-old Menefee emerged victorious over Green, bringing an end to the veteran lawmaker’s decades-long dominance in the district.

Menefee first arrived in Congress earlier this year after winning a January special election to complete the unfinished term of the late Congressman Sylvester Turner.

With Tuesday’s runoff victory, Menefee is now heavily favored to secure a full congressional term in the general election later this year.

Al Green is removed pic.twitter.com/JP4DFfay0P

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 5, 2025

The unusual contest between two sitting Democratic lawmakers became necessary after neither candidate received the outright majority needed during the March 3 primary.

Green, now 78 years old, has served on Capitol Hill for more than two decades but found himself forced into a political collision with Menefee after Texas Republicans approved a dramatically redrawn congressional map.

The redistricting overhaul, crafted by Republicans in hopes of creating additional pickup opportunities ahead of the midterm elections, triggered a nationwide political battle over mid-cycle map changes.

In response, Democrats launched efforts in California aimed at offsetting potential Republican gains in Texas.

Over the course of his lengthy congressional career, Green became one of President Donald Trump’s fiercest and most outspoken critics in Congress.

His confrontational style repeatedly sparked clashes on the House floor, culminating last year in a formal censure after he repeatedly interrupted the president during an address to Congress.

The tensions escalated further this year when Green was escorted out by security personnel during Trump’s State of the Union speech.

Green also repeatedly pursued impeachment efforts against Trump following the president’s return to office.

In February 2025, Green announced plans to seek Trump’s impeachment after the president unveiled a proposal involving the relocation of Gazans and American control over the Gaza Strip.

Several months later, in June 2025, Green introduced another round of impeachment articles accusing Trump of bypassing Congress in military operations involving Iran, which he characterized as an abuse of executive authority.

The House ultimately voted to table the measure.

Throughout the impeachment battles, Green consistently portrayed Trump as a danger to the country, repeatedly describing the president as reckless, ruthless, lawless, and increasingly dictatorial.

{Matzav.com}

A bitter and deeply divisive Democratic primary battle in Texas came to an end Tuesday as party-backed candidate Johnny Garcia defeated controversial challenger Maureen Galindo, whose inflammatory antisemitic rhetoric triggered widespread outrage across the political spectrum.

According to projections from Decision Desk HQ, Garcia emerged victorious in the Democratic runoff election, defeating Galindo after weeks of escalating controversy surrounding her comments about Israel supporters and former ICE agents.

Garcia, a public information officer with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, became the preferred choice of Democratic Party leaders after Galindo faced fierce bipartisan condemnation over a series of incendiary social media remarks.

The backlash centered largely around an Instagram post in which Galindo described what she hoped to do with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Karnes County if elected.

“Into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking,” Galindo had written while discussing plans for the detention center.

Galindo had originally finished first in the March primary election, but the controversy surrounding her remarks quickly engulfed the race.

In an interview with The New York Times, she attempted to defend herself by arguing that “everything is based off a local journalist twisting words” and insisting that she has “always called for all detention centers to be closed.”

Her explanation failed to calm criticism from within her own party.

According to The Hill, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico immediately distanced himself from Galindo and refused to appear alongside her at campaign events following the social media controversy.

The backlash soon spread nationally, including among Jewish lawmakers in Congress.

Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Jared Moskowitz warned that if Galindo somehow won election to Congress, they would “force a vote to expel her.”

Opposition to Galindo ultimately united both establishment Democrats and prominent progressive figures.

Even Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — a member of “The Squad” who has frequently faced criticism herself over anti-Israel rhetoric — sharply denounced Galindo’s remarks.

Ocasio-Cortez described the Instagram comments as “bigoted garbage” before publicly endorsing Garcia in the runoff contest.

{Matzav.com}

Newly leaked design documents for the long-awaited reconstruction of New York’s Penn Station reveal a sweeping transformation of the transit hub into a grand, monument-style complex featuring gold accents, towering classical architecture — and even a marble presidential seal bearing President Donald Trump’s name.

Architectural renderings and engineering materials obtained by Gothamist show plans for a dramatic redesign of the nation’s busiest rail station, replacing the cramped and aging facility with expansive halls, soaring ceilings, oversized staircases, brass-colored railings, and massive columns inspired by the grandeur of the original Beaux-Arts Penn Station demolished in the 1960s.

One feature in particular is already expected to trigger political controversy.

Near a proposed Eighth Avenue entrance, the plans include a presidential seal alongside the inscription “President Donald J. Trump” carved into a stone wall inside the station.

The tribute is positioned near escalators leading into a newly designed concourse filled with natural light in the area currently occupied by the Theater at Madison Square Garden.

The federal government took control of the Penn Station redevelopment project away from the MTA last year, handing oversight to Amtrak.

Since then, Trump has pushed aggressively to speed up the overhaul and ordered that construction begin before the end of 2027.

Last week, the administration committed $8 billion toward rebuilding the station, while sidelining the MTA over what federal officials described as years of delays and mismanagement.

The selected development proposal came from Penn Transformation Partners, a consortium made up of Vornado Realty Trust, construction firms Halmar and Skanska, along with multiple architectural and engineering groups.

Vornado is led by Steve Roth, a longtime ally of Trump, while Halmar executive Peter Cipriano previously served as an adviser at the U.S. Department of Transportation during Trump’s first administration.

The consortium was officially chosen last week by Amtrak and the U.S. Department of Transportation following a bidding process that New York officials criticized for lacking transparency.

Internal documents reportedly show that Amtrak specifically requested a “classical look” for the redesigned station, leading architects to significantly revise earlier concepts unveiled in 2023.

Among the revised elements is a giant gold clock hanging from the ceiling of the main train hall, resembling the prominent clock currently displayed inside Moynihan Train Hall.

The redesign also aims to solve one of commuters’ biggest complaints for decades: the lack of natural light inside Penn Station.

According to project documents, only about 3,400 square feet of the current station receives daylight.

The proposed overhaul would expand that figure to more than 55,000 square feet by adding enormous glass entrances, higher ceilings, and new window openings around the Madison Square Garden complex.

One of the most dramatic changes would take place along Eighth Avenue, where the Theater at Madison Square Garden would reportedly be demolished to make room for a massive new entrance hall.

Additional entrances are also planned along West 31st Street, while new windows would be added to the existing taxiway between Madison Square Garden and neighboring structures.

Inside the station, the changes would be equally dramatic.

Some ceilings would rise as much as 50 feet, while the notoriously cramped 32nd Street corridor would gain an additional 20 feet in height.

Long wooden benches modeled after the original Penn Station would replace the limited seating that has frustrated travelers at modern transit centers such as Moynihan Train Hall and Grand Central Madison.

The proposal is also designed to accommodate future rail expansion connected to the Gateway tunnel project beneath the Hudson River, which is expected to open around 2035.

Amtrak said the redesign would permit limited “through-running,” allowing NJ Transit and Long Island Rail Road trains to continue traveling through Penn Station instead of terminating there.

Transit critics have long warned that Penn Station’s narrow platforms create dangerous crowding during rush hour, especially because structural support columns from Madison Square Garden reduce passenger space.

However, internal plans reviewed by Gothamist reportedly include removing some columns and adding new access points intended to ease congestion.

The project would also require major property acquisitions from Madison Square Garden and its CEO, James Dolan.

According to the leaked documents, the federal government would need to acquire the Theater at MSG, portions of the arena’s exterior façade, signage, loading areas, and sidewalks along 31st and 33rd Streets.

Trump himself has denied personally proposing the redesign, while Kathy Hochul has publicly rejected the concept outright.

Federal officials have declined to comment publicly on the leaked materials.

Amtrak stated that its current focus is securing permits and finalizing contracts ahead of construction.

{Matzav.com}

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced Monday that the agency will begin laying the foundation for a permanent lunar base later this year through a series of major moon missions, with more than a dozen additional launches expected to follow.

The first wave of missions will be carried out by Blue Origin, Astrobotic, and Intuitive Machines, each delivering critical cargo and equipment designed to support future construction efforts on the moon.

“These represent the first of more than a dozen missions we expect to announce through the balance of this year as we return, build the base, and never give up the moon again,” Isaacman told reporters Tuesday. “And as mentioned, just like in decades past, we are taking the world along with us.”

The opening mission will feature Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 lunar lander, which is scheduled to transport payloads to the moon’s south pole in what NASA described as “the first privately funded lunar lander mission in history.”

The second mission, led by Astrobotic’s Griffin Mission One, is expected to deliver what NASA called “the largest commercial payload delivered to the lunar surface ever.”

A third mission will focus on studying the mysterious Reiner Gamma swirl on the moon while also transporting scientific equipment from both the European Space Agency and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute.

NASA also unveiled a new Moon Base website Tuesday aimed at providing regular updates to the public as the massive lunar project advances.

According to the agency, construction of the Moon Base will unfold in three major stages: learning, building, and testing; early habitation; and finally establishing a sustained long-term human presence.

NASA hopes to enter the “early habitation” phase by early 2029.

Moon Base Program Executive Carlos Garcia Galan said the finished lunar outpost could eventually span “hundreds of square miles” and may require major infrastructure systems including electrical grids, communication towers, and other technologies necessary to support permanent human life.

“The endeavor of building a moon base is going to be extremely hard, and it dawns on us every day how little we know of the lunar surface,” said Galan.

Isaacman emphasized that NASA intends to avoid relying solely on a small number of highly specialized government-built systems and instead wants to stimulate broader private-sector participation in lunar development.

As part of that effort, Blue Origin — founded by Jeff Bezos — received a $188 million contract to transport Lunar Terrain Vehicles to the moon.

NASA separately awarded contracts worth $219 million and $220 million to AstroLab and Lunar Outpost for development of the vehicles themselves.

Meanwhile, Firefly Aerospace has been selected to transport drones to the moon by 2028. The drones are expected to capture detailed imagery, identify landing zones, and scout potential locations for future Moon Base facilities.

“We will not sit on our hands and wait for industry to deliver,” Isaacman told reporters. “In the time since Artemis II, we have been extremely active.”

“We’ve been reviewing feedback from the ignition events, speaking to industry, addressing supply chain challenges, having the tough conversations with those failing to meet expectations, and offering NASA’s assistance to solve problems.”

The Artemis II lunar flyby mission was completed last month, while NASA is targeting next year for the launch of Artemis III, which will further test the Orion spacecraft.

Artemis IV — the mission expected to place astronauts on the moon for the first time since 1972 — is currently scheduled for 2028.

New census projections indicate that non-white populations are expected to outnumber whites in the United States for the first time by 2050, with dramatic demographic shifts forecast across much of the country — including major changes in states such as New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

According to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau, the transformation is being driven by a combination of international immigration, domestic migration patterns, and declining birthrates among white Americans.

In 1980, approximately 80 percent of the U.S. population was white. Census projections now estimate that figure will fall to 47 percent by 2050 and decline even further to 44 percent by 2060.

The demographic changes at the state level are expected to be even more dramatic.

As recently as 2000, only three states — California, Hawaii, and New Mexico — had white populations below 50 percent.

Hawaii has never had a white majority population. In the 2000 Census, whites accounted for 46 percent of California’s population and 45 percent in New Mexico.

By 2020, the shifts had accelerated significantly. Maryland’s white population fell to 47 percent, Nevada’s to 46 percent, and Texas dropped to 40 percent.

Census projections now indicate that by 2050, another ten states are expected to see whites become a minority population.

Those states include New York, where whites are projected to make up 46 percent of residents by 2050; New Jersey at 37 percent; Connecticut at 45 percent; Delaware at 47 percent; Florida at 39 percent; Georgia at 37 percent; Arizona at 43 percent; Illinois at 49 percent; Oklahoma at 49 percent; and Washington state at 49 percent.

The trends are expected to continue beyond that point, with whites projected to become either minorities or near-minorities in a total of 24 states by 2060.

Among the additional states expected to experience major demographic shifts are Alaska, where whites are projected to account for 50 percent of the population by 2060; Louisiana at 51 percent; Massachusetts at 46 percent; Minnesota at 51 percent; Mississippi at 51 percent; North Carolina at 49 percent; Rhode Island at 47 percent; and Virginia at 47 percent.

The numbers underscore the scale of demographic change that has swept across the country over the last several decades.

West Virginia remains the least ethnically diverse state in the nation. In 2020, whites made up 89 percent of the state’s population, and projections suggest that figure will only decline modestly to 86 percent by 2050.

The Census Bureau projections also outline state-by-state declines over the coming decades.

In Arizona, whites are projected to decline from 53 percent of the population in 2020 to 43 percent by 2050 and 39 percent by 2060.

California’s white population is projected to fall from 35 percent in 2020 to just 23 percent by 2050 and 20 percent by 2060.

Connecticut is expected to decline from 63 percent white in 2020 to 45 percent by 2050 and 39 percent by 2060.

Florida is projected to shift from 52 percent white in 2020 to 39 percent by 2050 and 36 percent by 2060.

Georgia’s white population is forecast to decline from 50 percent in 2020 to 37 percent by 2050 and 33 percent by 2060.

In New Jersey, whites are projected to fall from 52 percent of the population in 2020 to 37 percent by 2050 and 32 percent by 2060.

New York is expected to decline from 52 percent white in 2020 to 46 percent by 2050 and 43 percent by 2060.

Texas, which already had a white population of just 40 percent in 2020, is projected to drop to 27 percent by 2050 and 23 percent by 2060.

Washington state is projected to decline from 64 percent white in 2020 to 49 percent by 2050 and 44 percent by 2060.

The projections reflect what census analysts describe as one of the most sweeping demographic transformations in modern American history.

An atmosphere of tremendous spiritual elevation filled the Vizhnitz chassidus in Bnei Brak over Shavuos as thousands of chassidim gathered to spend the Yom Tov in the presence of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, Rav Mendel Hager, at the Vizhnitzer beis medrash.

In the days leading up to the Yom Tov, the Rebbe conducted a special and extensive tour of the rapidly advancing construction site of the future Vizhnitzer World Center, the massive new complex currently being built for the chassidus.

One of the highlights of Shavuos night came during the traditional pre-dawn Kadrusa D’Tzafra gathering, held in the large beis medrash in the early morning hours.

But the most dramatic moment of the Yom Tov came during the sale of the Rebbe’s aliyah, which was purchased for the staggering sum of $4 million.

The aliyah was acquired by one of the prominent philanthropists of the Vizhnitzer court as part of the ongoing fundraising efforts for construction of the new global Vizhnitz center.

The donor, who reportedly requested to remain anonymous, designated the enormous contribution toward the building of the grand new mikvah that will serve the large beis medrash complex currently under construction.

A newly released recording has exposed remarks by Yair Golan indicating that he would be willing to sit with chareidi parties in a future coalition if it meant removing Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and his right-wing allies from power.

The recording, aired Tuesday evening by Channel 14 News, appears to reveal a significant gap between the public rhetoric of opposition parties regarding cooperation with chareidi factions and the political calculations taking place behind closed doors.

Several opposition parties have repeatedly declared that they oppose including chareidi parties in any future coalition and have aggressively promoted the idea of a “coalition of those who serve” in the military. Among the parties most identified with sharp anti-chareidi rhetoric has been Golan’s Democrats party, where several candidates have openly taken hardline positions against the chareidi community.

But according to the recording, Golan privately acknowledged a willingness to work with chareidi parties if doing so would help bring down the current right-wing government.

During a closed-door discussion with party activists, Golan was asked directly whether he ruled out sitting with the chareidim. He responded: “I’m not ruling out the chareidim, absolutely not. I can tell you that if right now the possibility of forming a government depended on a chareidi party joining — I would vote in favor. On condition that Likud, Smotrich and Ben Gvir are not there.”

The recording also captured Golan criticizing fellow opposition politicians over the way they have handled the public debate surrounding the military draft law and enlistment of chareidim.

According to Golan, many of the proposals and demands currently being promoted are unrealistic and driven more by political slogans than practical policy.

“We need to work mainly smartly and with indirect pressure, not direct pressure,” Golan told activists.

“I want to tell you here, every draft law they are talking about is infected with populism. All those opposing what the government is doing — rightly so — but what they are proposing… thousands of chareidim are not suddenly going to enlist tomorrow morning. It’s a process,” he concluded.

The Democrats party declined to comment following publication of the recording.

{Matzav.com}

A shocking antisemitic display erected in downtown Montreal has triggered outrage across the Jewish world after activists at a pro-Palestinian demonstration hung effigies of a visibly religious Jew along with Israeli leaders from mock gallows in a public square.

The disturbing exhibit appeared Sunday at Phillips Square in the heart of Montreal during a protest organized by the extremist group “Montreal for Palestine,” an organization critics say has openly aligned itself with support for Hamas and armed “resistance.”

Photographs and videos from the protest showed a doll depicting a Jewish man wearing a yarmulka suspended from hanging ropes alongside effigies of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The display immediately sparked fierce condemnation from Jewish organizations and public figures, many of whom warned that the imagery crossed the line from political protest into explicit incitement to hatred and violence against Jews.

According to critics, the protest organizers have repeatedly refused to condemn the October 7 Hamas massacre and have publicly expressed support for armed struggle against Israel.

This time, demonstrators were accused of taking the rhetoric to a far darker level by publicly displaying violent imagery involving a visibly Orthodox Jewish figure together with senior Israeli officials.

The strongest reactions came from the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, commonly known as CIJA, which issued a sharply worded statement condemning the incident.

The organization stressed that the display was not legitimate political discourse or criticism of Israeli policy but rather a blatant act of antisemitism.

In its statement, CIJA said that hanging effigies of Jews in the streets of Montreal revived some of the darkest antisemitic imagery in human history and accused the demonstrators of promoting hatred and fueling an atmosphere of violence and radicalization.

Jewish community leaders also demanded immediate action from Canadian law enforcement authorities, questioning how much further such incidents must escalate before officials begin treating them as serious threats to public safety.

{Matzav.com}

Jewish music singer Lipa Schmeltzer released an unusual clarification video overnight after widespread rumors circulated online claiming that he had become engaged.

The speculation spread rapidly across social media, prompting Schmeltzer to publicly address the reports while attending a wedding performance.

“I just finished performing at the chuppah. I was supposed to stay for the dancing, but I decided to step outside and record this clarification video,” Schmeltzer said in the clip.

According to the singer, he was shocked to discover the volume of messages flooding his phone.

“I opened my phone and discovered hundreds of ‘mazel tov’ messages from people who thought I got engaged. Some of them even claimed they knew who the kallah was,” he said.

Schmeltzer speculated that the rumors may have started because the wife of fellow singer Moti Ilowitz works as a shadchan and people may have connected unrelated details.

“I assume the rumor maybe started because the wife of my friend, singer Moti Ilowitz, is a shadchan, and people connected the dots,” Schmeltzer explained.

The singer then directly denied the reports.

“The rumors are not true. Right now I’m not there yet, and when the Ribbono Shel Olam decides the right time has come, He will find me the perfect zivug, and my followers will be the first to know,” he said.

Concluding the video, Schmeltzer reflected on the rapid spread of online misinformation and the growing role of artificial intelligence in generating false reports.

“We live in a crazy world where there’s artificial intelligence (AI), and anyone can write and invent whatever they want. My rule is that as long as it doesn’t appear in my status, it’s not true,” Schmeltzer said.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

The era of bargain airfare may be coming to an end, as soaring jet fuel prices continue hammering the global airline industry and experts warn that travelers are unlikely to see ticket prices fall anytime soon — even if tensions with Iran ease and the Strait of Hormuz fully reopens.

According to a report published by Mako, aviation industry analysts believe the sharp rise in jet fuel costs has already fundamentally altered airline operating expenses, making prolonged higher fares all but inevitable.

Since the outbreak of fighting and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, the price of jet fuel has nearly doubled. Fuel remains one of the largest expenses for airlines worldwide, meaning the impact is being felt across the industry — from low-cost carriers such as Wizz Air, easyJet, and Ryanair to traditional full-service airlines.

The collapse of American low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines has become a major warning sign for the industry. While the company was already struggling financially, the dramatic increase in fuel prices was reportedly viewed as one of the factors that accelerated its shutdown and led to roughly 17,000 layoffs.

Industry officials estimate that even after shipping routes fully reopen, it could take months before cheaper fuel once again reaches global supply chains and translates into lower ticket prices for consumers.

Current forecasts range from roughly three months under the most optimistic scenarios to as long as 18 months under more pessimistic projections.

In the meantime, airlines are already scaling back operations. Routes that were only marginally profitable before are increasingly becoming unsustainable, leading carriers to reduce flight frequencies and cut seat capacity.

According to aviation analytics company Cirium, airlines removed more than 75,000 flights and approximately 9 million seats from summer schedules during April alone.

The crisis is hitting low-cost carriers especially hard because their business models rely heavily on ultra-cheap fares and narrow profit margins. Ryanair, Wizz Air, and easyJet have all reportedly acknowledged growing financial pressure linked to the war and rising fuel expenses.

For Israeli travelers, the situation is even more complicated. Since the October 7 attacks, many foreign airlines have not fully resumed service to Israel, while the presence of American aerial refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport has reportedly added further congestion and operational disruptions.

Wizz Air is expected to resume only limited operations, easyJet is not expected to return before August, and Ryanair has still not announced a formal return date.

Despite the turmoil, tourism industry officials believe routes to Israel remain profitable for many low-cost carriers and therefore are unlikely to be among the first routes eliminated entirely.

At the same time, the strengthening of the Israeli shekel against the dollar has somewhat softened the financial blow for Israeli passengers by offsetting part of the fare increases.

Still, aviation analysts say the broader picture is becoming increasingly clear: even if a diplomatic agreement with Iran is eventually reached, airfare prices are unlikely to return anytime soon to the levels travelers had become accustomed to in previous years.

Within the industry, many now believe that significantly more expensive flights are rapidly becoming the new normal.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli consumers are beginning to feel a new wave of price hikes on basic dairy products, as supermarket chains across the country raise prices on milk, butter, cheese, and other staples — in some cases by even more than the increases announced by the dairy manufacturers themselves.

Following Shavuos, retail chains started passing the higher costs directly onto shoppers after regulated dairy products already went up in price and new increases from major producers including Tnuva, Tara, Strauss Group, and Gad Dairies began taking effect.

According to a report published by Ynet, Tnuva had announced before Yom Tov that it would increase prices on several products, although some retail chains initially resisted approving the hikes. Now, however, most major chains have already adjusted prices upward on at least some items — and in certain cases consumers are paying increases significantly steeper than those announced by the dairy companies.

Products already affected include white cheese spreads, butter, and shelf-stable milk.

A review found that Tnuva’s 3% and 9% white cheese products in 250-gram containers rose in price at several chains despite Tnuva itself announcing only about a 1.05% increase. In practice, some stores charged consumers far more.

At the חילול שבת AM:PM chain, the price of white cheese reportedly climbed from 5.80 shekels to 6.40 shekels — an increase of roughly 10%. At Wolt Market, the same item rose from 6.20 shekels to 6.50 shekels, nearly a 5% increase. The Victory chain recorded a smaller rise, moving from 6.30 shekels to 6.40 shekels.

Tnuva butter has also become more expensive in many stores. At Victory, the price of a 200-gram package rose from 9.90 shekels to 10.50 shekels — about a 6% jump — even though Tnuva’s own increase stood at 4.8%.

Other chains including Machsanei Hashuk and Super Bareket also raised butter prices, while Keshet Teamim increased the same butter product from 10.50 shekels to 10.90 shekels.

Several chains have additionally started raising prices on shelf-stable milk. Yohananof reportedly increased the price of Tnuva 3% shelf-stable milk from 8.40 shekels to 8.50 shekels, while the online platform of Rami Levy raised the product from 8.50 shekels to 8.60 shekels, although physical branches had not yet implemented the change.

According to Ynet, several chains — including Shufersal, Osher Ad, Salah Dabbah, and most Rami Levy branches — have not yet raised prices broadly. Still, retail officials reportedly acknowledged that additional increases are likely unavoidable and said negotiations with dairy suppliers are still ongoing.

Products from Tara have also begun climbing in price at certain chains, although many stores have not yet passed the increases on to consumers.

At the same time, upcoming price hikes from Strauss and Gad Dairies are scheduled to officially take effect on June 1, though some retailers have already implemented increases ahead of schedule.

At Wolt Market, Strauss Symphony 5% olive cheese rose from 11.90 shekels to 12.90 shekels — an increase of 8.4%. Gad Dairies’ refined Bulgarian cheese also increased there from 29.70 shekels to 30.90 shekels.

The Netiv Hachesed chain also raised prices on a variety of Tara and Strauss products, including Muller yogurt drinks, Tov Taam cheese, and Tara 5% cottage cheese. Strauss Greek yogurt reportedly climbed there by more than 8% as well.

The new increases follow months of announcements by dairy manufacturers regarding updated pricing on both regulated and non-regulated products. Consumers across Israel are now beginning to see the impact directly on store shelves, including on everyday household staples used by nearly every family.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu held a lengthy and highly sensitive phone conversation late Tuesday night focused on rapidly escalating developments involving Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza, as both leaders worked to coordinate policy amid mounting regional instability.

The call took place immediately after Israel’s security cabinet abruptly shortened a meeting that lasted roughly two-and-a-half hours so Netanyahu could speak directly with Trump regarding the evolving military and diplomatic situation across the Middle East.

The conversation reportedly came at a particularly volatile moment following a dramatic assassination attempt targeting senior terror leadership figures in southern areas of the region.

A major portion of the discussion focused on the ongoing diplomatic efforts being led by Washington concerning Iran’s nuclear program and attempts to permanently dismantle Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, Netanyahu told ministers in closed-door meetings that Israel’s strategic flexibility remains closely tied to American policy and stressed the importance of remaining fully aligned with Trump’s broader regional objectives.

While concerns reportedly continue circulating within parts of the Israeli government over possible concessions being discussed during negotiations in Qatar, Trump updated Netanyahu on the current state of the talks and reiterated that the United States would immediately return to military options if Iran failed to agree to a verifiable agreement.

The two leaders also reviewed the expanding military operations along Israel’s northern border, where Israeli ground forces have reportedly continued advancing beyond the so-called “yellow line” in an effort to secure dominant strategic positions overlooking the frontier.

According to sources familiar with the call, the White House reaffirmed strong American support for Israel’s right to defend itself against ongoing rocket attacks and Hezbollah threats.

At the same time, however, American officials reportedly urged caution regarding broader operations inside Lebanon, emphasizing a desire to avoid the total collapse of civilian infrastructure throughout the country.

Trump and members of his foreign policy team reportedly stressed that while the administration supports efforts to weaken and disarm Hezbollah, Washington hopes military operations can continue without turning Beirut into a full-scale war zone that could jeopardize parallel diplomatic efforts underway in the region.

The leaders also discussed the latest developments in Gaza, where Israeli officials confirmed that specialized Israeli air units recently targeted the newly appointed head of Hamas’s local military wing.

During the call, Netanyahu reportedly reiterated that Israel would continue pursuing every individual involved in planning or carrying out the October 7 Hamas massacres.

The conversation concluded with both leaders reaffirming mutual support and coordination as they seek to prevent the current conflict from spiraling into a much wider regional war.

According to sources briefed on the discussion, Trump also expressed strong personal support for Netanyahu’s wartime leadership during the exchange.

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is continuing the anti-Israel rhetoric long associated with his father, issuing a series of inflammatory statements Tuesday describing Israel as a “cancerous tumor” and predicting the destruction of the Jewish state.

Posts published through Khamenei’s official social media accounts included repeated threats against Israel and declarations that the country is nearing collapse.

“The shaken Zionist regime and the cancerous tumor of Israel are approaching the final stages of their wretched existence,” read one post.

A second message added: “By God’s grace – and in accordance with the decisive and forward-looking words of our martyred Leader ten years ago – the Zionist regime will not live to see twenty five years after that date, God willing.”

The language closely echoed years of rhetoric from Mojtaba’s father, Ali Khamenei, who was eliminated earlier this year during joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting Iran.

Ali Khamenei had repeatedly referred to Israel as a “cancerous tumor” and openly called for the destruction of the Jewish state throughout his decades in power.

In 2020, Ali Khamenei sparked international outrage after posting comments invoking the Nazi-era term “Final Solution” in reference to Israel.

Following criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Khamenei later claimed that his use of the phrase referred only to the elimination of the State of Israel and not to Jews themselves.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded sharply Tuesday to Mojtaba Khamenei’s latest statements.

“Sounds familiar. I remember someone with a similar surname who used to say it.”

Sa’ar then mocked the Iranian leader over his recent disappearance from public view following his appointment as supreme leader, adding: “BTW, where are you?”

{Matzav.com}

Former Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan has held a series of meetings in recent years with senior officials from Israel’s Shin Bet and defense establishment as part of ongoing efforts to identify a governing alternative for the Gaza Strip, according to a report aired Tuesday night by Kan News.

Sources familiar with the discussions described Dahlan as “one of the strongest people in Gaza,” despite the fact that he has not lived in the territory for years. According to the report, his influence stems largely from his ability to secure funding and financial backing connected to Gaza affairs.

The latest revelations come after reports earlier Tuesday that Shin Bet chief David Zini met with Dahlan during a recent visit to the United Arab Emirates.

According to Kan News, the meeting was not an isolated encounter but part of a broader and ongoing diplomatic-security track taking place behind the scenes amid international efforts to shape the future of Gaza after the war.

The discussions are reportedly unfolding alongside American efforts — together with former UN envoy and current Peace Council director Nikolay Mladenov — to continue advancing President Donald Trump’s regional initiative and create what officials described as a new political horizon for Gaza.

When asked about reports concerning Zini’s meetings, the Shin Bet declined to address the matter directly, stating only: “We do not comment on the schedule of the head of the service.”

Dahlan, once one of the senior leaders of Fatah, previously headed the Preventive Security apparatus in Gaza before falling out with Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas. He has spent years living in exile in Abu Dhabi and currently serves as an adviser to UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

In July 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that American, Israeli, and Arab officials increasingly viewed Dahlan as a leading candidate to play a major role in governing Gaza in the postwar era.

The report also noted that some regional players view Dahlan as a potential future successor to Abbas within Palestinian leadership circles.

Responding at the time in an interview with Sky News Arabia, Dahlan rejected suggestions that he intended to assume a direct security or executive role.

“I have repeatedly declared my refusal to accept any security, ministerial, or executive role, and I call for the formulation of a realistic and implementable international work plan that will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital,” Dahlan said.

{Matzav.com}

An Indiana university has agreed to pay $225,000 to settle a federal lawsuit brought by a former employee who claimed she was unlawfully fired over a private Facebook post criticizing conservative activist Charlie Kirk following his death.

The settlement, announced Tuesday by the American Civil Liberties Union, resolves a lawsuit filed last year on behalf of Suzanne Swierc against Ball State University president Geoffrey Mearns.

Swierc previously served as Ball State’s director of health promotion and advocacy at the university’s campus in Muncie, Indiana. She was terminated last September after university officials cited a Facebook post she made regarding Kirk’s killing, claiming the comments caused “significant disruption” on campus.

According to the ACLU, the firing violated Swierc’s constitutional protections because the post represented speech made in her capacity as a private citizen on a matter involving public debate and political concern.

Swierc’s firing violated her constitutional rights because she was “speaking as a private citizen on a matter of public concern,” said Stevie Pactor, an ACLU attorney in Indiana.

“The First Amendment does not allow government institutions to retaliate in those circumstances, and this settlement reflects that,” Pactor said in a statement.

Mearns defended the university’s decision in a statement distributed Tuesday to campus leadership and later shared with The Associated Press by a university spokesperson.

According to Mearns, the backlash triggered by Swierc’s social media comments threatened the university’s fundraising efforts and future enrollment numbers. He also argued that the settlement payment was significantly smaller than the projected cost of continuing to fight the lawsuit in court.

Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed by a gunman on September 10 while visiting a university campus in Utah. Prior to his death, Kirk had become one of the country’s most influential conservative youth activists and was widely credited with helping energize younger conservative voters during President Trump’s successful reelection campaign.

Swierc was one of several employees in both government and private-sector positions who lost their jobs after posting online reactions, comments, or memes related to Kirk’s assassination. Her case is also not the first to end in a financial settlement.

Earlier this month, a Florida state agency agreed to pay $485,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a former state biologist who had been fired after reposting a meme claiming Kirk would not care about children killed in school shootings.

In another case earlier this year, Austin Peay State University reinstated a professor and agreed to pay a $500,000 settlement after he sued the school over his firing tied to a social media post sharing a 2023 headline that read: “Charlie Kirk Says Gun Deaths ‘Unfortunately’ Worth it to Keep 2nd Amendment.”

Several other lawsuits involving employees dismissed over comments related to Kirk’s death are still pending.

In the Facebook post at the center of the Ball State case, Swierc referred to Kirk’s killing as a “tragedy,” while also criticizing his rhetoric and public influence.

She wrote that the killing was a “reflection of the violence, fear, and hatred he sowed.” She also added: “If you think Charlie Kirk was a wonderful person, we can’t be friends.”

Swierc’s attorneys argued that her Facebook account was set to private and that her comments were never intended for broad public distribution. However, someone reportedly took screenshots of the post and circulated them widely online.

According to Ball State officials, the controversy quickly triggered an avalanche of angry messages directed at the university. Mearns said administrators received numerous hostile emails and phone calls, with some individuals threatening to withhold donations and at least one parent allegedly saying she planned to remove her children from the school. He also said some callers issued threats of violence.

“The reaction was extraordinarily damaging to our University’s reputation and image, and it was exceptionally disruptive to our mission and our people,” Mearns said in his statement.

{Matzav.com}

Disturbing allegations of underage marriages within a Breslover community in the northern town of Yavne’el took center stage Tuesday during a special Knesset hearing, where lawmakers, former community members, social workers, and government officials described what committee members called a deeply entrenched and ongoing crisis.

The hearing was convened by the Knesset Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women and Gender Equality following mounting accusations that girls as young as 14 and 15 had been pushed into marriage over many years while authorities allegedly failed to intervene.

The Breslov community at the center of the allegations was established in Yavne’el in 1986 and is made up largely of baalei teshuvah. According to testimony presented at the hearing, the community encouraged marriages at extremely young ages, with girls often marrying at 15 or 16 and boys around age 18.

Committee chair Merav Cohen opened the session by saying officials have known about the issue for years but repeatedly failed to stop it.

“This has been in the background for two decades,” Cohen said. “This is a principled debate about minors who are forced into marriage and sexual relationships at a young age. Time and again, the public is shocked, but nothing changes, and the authorities fail to stop a phenomenon that endangers lives.”

Cohen said an investigative team had uncovered “very serious” findings, though the details had not yet been publicly released. She added that lawmakers would demand answers regarding how such practices were allegedly permitted to continue unchecked for so long.

Several former members of the community delivered emotional testimony before the committee, recounting experiences of being married off as teenagers against their wishes.

Sarah Maimoni, a mother of eight and grandmother of five who has publicly campaigned against the alleged marriages in Yavne’el, told lawmakers she herself was married at 15 and became a mother a year later.

“This is how my childhood was taken from me,” she said, alleging that girls as young as 14 continued being pushed into marriage and pregnancy. Maimoni accused welfare authorities of abandoning vulnerable children and called for a joint police-welfare task force to confront what she described as “complete lawlessness” in Yavne’el.

She further claimed that influential figures within the community consolidated power and used it to perpetuate the system, while families who resisted the marriages allegedly faced retaliation and pressure.

Another witness, Ruth Reichman, testified that she was forced into marriage at 16 to a man approximately ten years older than her despite objecting to the arrangement.

“I wanted to study and build a future,” she told the committee. “Instead, I knew I was going to be married off.”

Reichman said she became aware at age 15 that preparations for her marriage were already underway but was instructed to keep the matter secret.

Nachman Boltin, who was raised in the Yavne’el community, told lawmakers he married a 14-and-a-half-year-old girl when he himself was 18, describing a culture where teenagers were heavily encouraged to wed young and taught that such marriages represented the proper path in life.

“We were brainwashed for years that this was the right thing,” he said, adding that many children within the community suffered from severe trauma that was never properly addressed.

Social activist Heidi Mozes shared similar allegations, telling lawmakers she too was married at 16 against her wishes despite repeatedly pleading with relatives not to force the marriage.

“Why wasn’t there an adult there to protect me?” she asked during emotional testimony, while criticizing what she described as insufficient enforcement mechanisms to stop such situations.

Officials from Israel’s welfare agencies and law enforcement also appeared before the committee to address questions surrounding the government’s handling of the allegations.

Ilan Sharif, who heads the cults department at the Ministry of Social Affairs, acknowledged that authorities have long been aware of concerns in Yavne’el and said efforts had recently been made to strengthen local welfare services and improve coordination between agencies.

“This situation is horrific, and we are not minimizing it,” Sharif said, noting that staffing levels in the local welfare department had been increased and that a formal report on the issue was nearing completion.

Deputy Police Chief Avi Ayish said police investigated several incidents involving suspected underage marriages but noted that prosecutions are often difficult because ceremonies are sometimes presented publicly as “introduction parties” rather than formal weddings.

Welfare official Ami Romano said social workers had intervened in cases involving minors dressed for wedding ceremonies but emphasized that ultimate enforcement authority rests with police and prosecutors.

Batya Menachem, a social worker in the area, testified that authorities often receive reports only after ceremonies have already taken place, making meaningful intervention extremely difficult.

Representatives from the Knesset Research and Information Center presented statistics showing that between 2023 and 2025 authorities received 321 reports involving underage marriages conducted without legal authorization, yet only four indictments were ultimately filed.

The Health Ministry informed lawmakers that current Israeli law does not require mandatory reporting of pregnancies involving girls over age 16, suggesting that legislative changes may need to be considered.

The hearing intensified growing calls for tougher enforcement measures and new legislation amid accusations that underage marriages in Yavne’el continued for years despite repeated warnings from survivors, activists, and social service professionals.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump launched a blistering attack Tuesday against major media outlets over their coverage of the war with Iran, accusing the press of such extreme bias that they would portray even a total Iranian surrender as a defeat for the United States.

In a fiery post published on Truth Social, Trump mocked what he described as the media’s obsession with undermining his administration regardless of the facts on the ground.

“If Iran surrenders, admits their Navy is gone and resting at the bottom of the sea, and their Air Force is no longer with us, and if their entire Military walks out of Tehran, weapons dropped and hands held high, each shouting ‘I surrender, I surrender’ while wildly waving the representative White Flag, and if their entire remaining Leadership signs all necessary ‘Documents of Surrender,’ and admit their defeat to the great power and force of the magnificent U.S.A., The Failing New York Times, The China Street Journal (WSJ!), Corrupt and now Irrelevant CNN, and all other members of the Fake News Media, will headline that Iran had a Masterful and Brilliant Victory over The United States of America, it wasn’t even close. The Dumacrats and Media have totally lost their way. They have gone absolutely CRAZY!!! President DJT.”

Trump has repeatedly criticized opponents who claim his administration is moving toward an agreement resembling the 2015 Iran nuclear deal formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, which was negotiated under President Barack Obama.

On Monday, Trump amplified that message further by circulating a graphic to millions of followers comparing what he labeled “Obama’s Iran Policy” with “Trump’s Iran Policy.”

The image, designed in a split-panel format, contrasted the Obama administration’s diplomatic engagement with Iran against Trump’s military-focused posture toward the Islamic Republic.

One side of the graphic displayed large stacks of cash labeled “Pallets of Cash,” referencing the controversial transfer of funds to Tehran during implementation of the JCPOA agreement.

The opposing panel showed a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer — identified as the DDG 50 — launching missiles during a dramatic naval battle scene, symbolizing what Trump and his allies portray as a strategy centered on military strength and deterrence rather than economic concessions.

Supporters of the graphic said it underscored the administration’s broader message that Trump views force and pressure as the proper approach toward Iran, in sharp contrast to what he has long condemned as failed appeasement policies by previous administrations.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a sweeping lawsuit against University of California, Los Angeles, accusing the school of allowing violent antisemitic attacks against Jewish and Israeli students following the October 7 Hamas massacre while failing to intervene or protect students on campus.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by The California Post, Jewish students at UCLA were allegedly assaulted, beaten unconscious, attacked with sticks and pepper spray, and blocked from parts of campus by demonstrators enforcing what the complaint describes as “Jewish exclusion zones.”

“Antisemitic hatred against UCLA’s Jewish and Israeli students reached a point where students were physically assaulted, injured, excluded from campus, and deprived of educational opportunities because of their perceived Jewish or Israeli heritage,” the lawsuit said.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division alleged that tensions escalated dramatically in April 2024, when masked anti-Israel demonstrators established a large encampment outside Royce Hall.

According to the complaint, “masked demonstrators erected an encampment outside of Royce Hall and slapped, kicked, beat with sticks, doused with pepper spray, and knocked unconscious Jewish and Israeli students.”

The lawsuit further alleges that demonstrators formed so-called “human phalanxes” designed to physically block Jewish students from accessing certain campus areas unless they publicly renounced Zionism before being allowed through makeshift checkpoints.

Federal officials claim UCLA violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by displaying deliberate indifference toward what the lawsuit describes as widespread and ongoing antisemitism targeting Jewish and Israeli students.

Among the incidents detailed in the complaint was one alleged attack in which a Jewish student suffered an open head wound and was left unconscious. Other students were reportedly kicked, beaten with sticks, and sprayed with pepper spray during violent confrontations. One victim allegedly heard the words, “Hitler missed one.”

According to the lawsuit, nearly 60% of Jewish students reported avoiding campus during the unrest, while more than 40% considered transferring or leaving UCLA entirely because of the atmosphere.

The DOJ also accused UCLA of violating federal grant and funding agreements by certifying compliance with Title VI protections while allegedly permitting discrimination and harassment against Jewish and Israeli students to continue unchecked.

“Earlier this year, we sued UCLA for subjecting its Jewish and Israeli employees to an antisemitic hostile work environment,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said.

“Now, the Department of Justice calls UCLA to account for its toleration of the equally appalling hostile educational environment against its Jewish and Israeli students.”

Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California and one of Los Angeles’ top federal prosecutors, said universities have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of all students regardless of background or religion.

“Universities that violate our nation’s civil rights laws by repeatedly failing to shield Jewish students from antisemitism will be held accountable.”

UCLA has faced mounting scrutiny for months over anti-Israel demonstrations, protest encampments, and campus unrest connected to Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.

{Matzav.com}

A tense confrontation erupted aboard a United Airlines flight earlier this month after a passenger reportedly activated a personal Wi-Fi hotspot using the politically charged network name “Free Palestine, F Zionists,” prompting the pilot to threaten FBI involvement unless the hotspot was immediately shut down.

According to an account later posted on Reddit by a passenger onboard, the pilot addressed the cabin and warned that the individual responsible would have 30 seconds to disable or rename the hotspot or federal law enforcement — specifically the FBI — would be waiting for the aircraft upon landing.

The announcement reportedly created an atmosphere of anxiety and discomfort throughout the cabin, with passengers uncertain how serious the situation had become.

The passenger who described the encounter online said the captain’s response felt unusually aggressive and abrupt, particularly because the hotspot name itself did not contain a direct threat of violence. Nevertheless, heightened airline security sensitivities surrounding Israel-related tensions and global terrorism concerns appeared to contribute to the strong reaction from the flight crew.

According to the account, the pilot immediately escalated the matter to possible FBI involvement without first mentioning any planned intervention by flight attendants or other crew members.

The passenger who posted about the incident acknowledged that pilots and airline crews operate under heightened caution in the post-September 11 security environment. Even so, the individual wrote that it felt “a stretch” to suggest the hotspot itself posed an immediate or credible danger to the aircraft.

The incident comes amid a growing number of airline security scares connected to provocative Wi-Fi hotspot names and politically charged messages displayed during flights.

Earlier this year, a Turkish Airlines flight traveling over the Mediterranean was diverted to Barcelona after concerns emerged over a suspicious hotspot-related incident, according to a report by Fox News. Authorities reportedly met the aircraft with bomb-sniffing dogs after it landed.

In another incident in February, a Wizz Air flight traveling from London Luton Airport to Tel Aviv was intercepted by Israeli fighter jets after a passenger’s hotspot name allegedly included the word “terrorist.”

More recently, a KLM flight traveling from Málaga to Amsterdam was delayed for several hours after a passenger broadcast the hotspot name: “Allahu Akbar – er is een bom aan boord,” which translates to “God is great – there is a bomb on board,” according to NL Times.

Separate security incidents also disrupted two United Airlines flights over the same weekend, prompting emergency responses and renewed debate about airline security procedures and passenger conduct.

Aviation publication Paddle Your Own Kanoo described the hotspot name used on the United flight as anti-Semitic and noted that private airlines have broad authority to remove or deny boarding to passengers displaying provocative political slogans, messages, or symbols.

The publication also noted that many politicians and Jewish advocacy groups argue that the word “Zionist” is often used as a substitute for “Jew” in order to avoid accusations of overt antisemitism, while critics counter that the term is frequently used in debates surrounding Israeli government policy and geopolitics.

The broader debate over whether criticism of Zionism constitutes antisemitism remains deeply contested. Still, many observers noted that the use of an explicit and inflammatory hotspot name alone could justify airline intervention, even if some viewed the threat to summon the FBI as excessive.

At the same time, aviation analysts noted that concerns involving Israeli or Jewish-related security issues are treated with heightened seriousness because of the long history of attacks targeting commercial aviation connected to Israel.

Beginning in the 1960s, Palestinian terrorist organizations increasingly targeted civilian air travel through hijackings and other attacks, leading Israel to develop some of the world’s most advanced airline security measures.

As a result of decades of aviation-related terrorism threats, Israeli commercial aircraft today operate with sophisticated defense systems and some of the strictest security protocols in global aviation.