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President Donald Trump said renovation work on the Reflecting Pool at the National Mall is progressing ahead of schedule and may be completed before Independence Day.

In a Truth Social post, Trump shared images from what he called a “sample test” of the famous Reflecting Pool, featuring views of both the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

“Looking really good!” Trump wrote.

“Should be completed before the Fourth of July, our target date.”

The Reflecting Pool, one of Washington’s best-known landmarks, runs between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument and serves as a major attraction for tourists, national gatherings, and historic events.

In his post, Trump referred to the site as “the World’s longest” reflecting pool.

Trump said the project has grown substantially beyond its initial scope in order to improve the site’s appearance and extend its longevity.

“I’ve made this a much larger job than originally contemplated for purposes of Beauty, and a much longer life,” Trump wrote.

According to the President, the upgrades include the use of stronger construction materials, enhanced finishing treatments, sandblasted granite, and newly installed exterior stonework and walkways.

He added that crews are also applying “a higher quality sealer with more reflectivity.”

The renovation effort comes as the administration continues emphasizing restoration and beautification projects involving monuments and federal public spaces throughout Washington.

Trump has repeatedly spoken about preserving national landmarks and improving the visual appearance of the capital city.

Officials did not immediately release additional information Saturday regarding the total cost of the project or the anticipated construction schedule. It also remains unclear which federal agencies or private contractors are supervising the work.

The Reflecting Pool has undergone several restoration projects over the years, including a major rehabilitation completed in 2012 that addressed infrastructure deterioration, water-quality problems, and structural repairs. The National Park Service oversees the landmark.

Trump encouraged the public to visit the site even before construction is officially completed.

“Check it out before the Opening — It’s a very exciting project!” he wrote.

The National Mall remains among the most heavily visited tourist destinations in the United States, attracting millions of visitors each year to sites including the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the U.S. Capitol.

If the project is completed by July 4, the renovated Reflecting Pool would reopen in time for Independence Day festivities and the height of Washington’s summer tourism season.

MK Meir Porush of United Torah Judaism sharply attacked the IDF after the military released new figures showing a shortage of roughly 12,000 soldiers, accusing army leadership of turning the military into what he described as a political weapon against bnei Torah.

Porush claimed senior officers were allowing legal advisers to dictate policy and said “the army has become a political tool in the hands of those persecuting Torah learners.” He argued that the military establishment was ignoring recommendations from a professional advisory panel that supported exempting yeshiva students who commit to three daily sedorim of Torah study.

The criticism followed a recent IDF briefing revealing that the military is currently short approximately 12,000 troops, including between 6,000 and 7,500 combat soldiers. Defense officials warned that the manpower shortage could deepen dramatically if mandatory service is reduced to 30 months.

Military officials stressed that without broader enlistment legislation — particularly involving the charedi sector — the IDF could face a serious personnel crisis within a relatively short period of time.

According to the army, the ongoing fighting across seven active fronts has forced standing troops into nearly constant operational service, while reservists are being called up for significantly more duty days than initially anticipated.

During the past two years, the IDF expanded its force structure by adding nine armored companies, an engineering battalion, a Home Front Command battalion and an additional charedi battalion, while simultaneously enlarging reserve force capabilities.

Data presented by the military also showed that out of approximately 80,000 people categorized as being involved in “draft-evasion processes,” roughly half are from the charedi community, while another quarter are believed to belong to the same sector. In July 2025, the Chief of Staff ordered draft notices sent to all eligible charedi recruits and appointed Brigadier General Avinoam Amona as adviser on charedi matters.

At the same time, enlistment numbers among charedim have steadily risen. Approximately 2,200 charedim entered military service in 2023, followed by 2,800 in 2024. During the first six months of 2025, about 1,850 enlisted, and officials estimate the yearly figure could surpass 3,000 by the end of the year.

Responding to the military’s presentation, Porush said the IDF’s public statements indicate that “certain elements have decided to turn the military into a political instrument against Torah scholars.”

He also referred to an advisory committee established by then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant with backing from former Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. The committee, headed by a retired major general and composed of senior officers, reportedly recommended protecting full-time yeshiva students who maintain intensive daily Torah study schedules.

Escalating his criticism further, Porush accused military leaders and legal officials of waging “a campaign against Torah learners” and using public briefings as part of an effort to block any compromise arrangement based on the committee’s recommendations.

Speaking during a recent session of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee attended by the Chief of Staff, Porush challenged the military’s approach toward drafting yeshiva students and questioned why the army was ignoring the professional conclusions reached by the advisory panel.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump held a high-stakes meeting on Shabbos with senior national security officials to discuss the next stage of the standoff with Iran, according to a CNN report published Sunday.

The meeting, which took place at Trump’s golf club in Virginia, reportedly came just before the President issued his public warning to Tehran on Sunday, declaring that the “Clock is Ticking.”

CNN reported that the closed-door strategy session included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and special envoy Steve Witkoff, along with other senior administration officials. The gathering was held shortly after Trump returned from his trip to China, where tensions involving Iran and Beijing’s relationship with the regime were reportedly central topics of discussion.

According to sources familiar with the deliberations, the administration intentionally held off on making major decisions during the China visit in order to assess whether Chinese President Xi Jinping would play a role in helping resolve the crisis. However, after Trump’s return to the United States, officials reportedly began shifting their focus toward tougher options.

The report said Trump has grown increasingly aggravated over Iran’s continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, whose blockade has rattled global energy markets. Although the President has repeatedly expressed interest in reaching a diplomatic solution, sources indicated he is now giving more serious consideration to restarting large-scale military operations in an effort to break the deadlock.

CNN also reported that the Pentagon has revised its military contingency plans to include possible precision strikes targeting Iran’s energy sector and key internal infrastructure if Trump chooses to expand military action beyond the existing ceasefire framework.

Following the discussions, Trump spoke Sunday with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu as the two leaders coordinated regional strategy.

According to CNN, the President is expected to meet again with his national security team later this week to determine whether to proceed with the prepared military option or continue allowing time for talks reportedly being mediated by Pakistan.

Yesterday, Trump also posted a mysterious message on Truth Social regarding Iran.

The post included an AI-generated image showing Trump alongside a U.S. Navy admiral against the backdrop of stormy seas and several ships, including one carrying the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as speculation grows that the war could soon resume.

The caption above the image stated, “It was calm before the storm.”

Separately, Fox News reported that intelligence officials believe Iran is preparing for the possibility that Trump could restart military operations against the regime as tensions continue rising over Tehran’s conduct and refusal to halt its nuclear ambitions.

According to that report, Iranian officials increasingly believe Trump may ultimately authorize renewed strikes, prompting Tehran to adopt what sources described as a strategy of “deception and delay” designed to buy time and complicate any future American military campaign.

Following instructions from Defense Minister Yisroel Katz, IDF Central Command chief Major General Avi Bluth signed an amendment to the Judea and Samaria Security Directives Order formally applying the recently approved death penalty law for terrorists to the region as well.

Under the legislation, military courts are authorized to sentence terrorists to death for carrying out terror attacks in which Jews are murdered.

The decision marks a major change in Israeli policy in the wake of the October 7 massacre and fulfills one of the flagship campaign promises of the Otzma Yehudit party.

According to the new law and the military order amendment, the death penalty will now serve as the standard punishment in military courts in Judea and Samaria for terrorists who deliberately kill in acts of terror.

The amendment also significantly alters the existing legal framework. Moving forward, prosecutors in military court will no longer need to specifically request the death penalty in order for it to be imposed. In addition, a unanimous ruling by the judicial panel will no longer be required, with a regular majority now sufficient. Restrictions regarding the rank of judges overseeing such cases have also been removed.

The new policy further states that the commander of IDF forces in the region will not have the authority to pardon convicted terrorists or reduce their sentences. In addition, the law explicitly bars the Israeli government from including terrorists sentenced to death, or convicted of offenses punishable by death, in future prisoner exchange agreements.

Minister Yisroel Katz praised the implementation of the measure, saying, “The era of restraint is over. Terrorists who murder Jews will not sit in prison under comfortable conditions and will not wait for deals; they will pay the heaviest price by hanging. Immediately after the law was approved, I instructed the Israel Defense Forces to implement it fully in Judea and Samaria, and today we have turned the new policy into reality.”

Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also welcomed the move, stating, “We promised, and we delivered. Against murderous terrorism, the State of Israel is changing the equation. We do not retreat, and we create a price that no terrorist will want to pay.”

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu delivered remarks Sunday at a special government session marking Yom Yerushalayim, held at the Knesset Museum in Froumine House, where he addressed Israel’s security challenges on multiple fronts, praised the IDF’s ongoing operations, and spoke about the country’s efforts against emerging drone threats.

At the beginning of his remarks, Netanyahu reflected on the historic significance of the original Knesset building and its restoration. “This is the second time I am visiting here since the restoration, the original home of the Knesset in Froumine House. I believe that anyone who comes here feels the uniqueness of this place, which essentially served as the home for the revival of our people’s sovereignty in our land after thousands of years. It always makes the heart stir. I also remember as a Jerusalem boy, being right across the street and looking at this building; back then, it was closed to boys like me, but today it is open to all of the people of Israel. I invite all of you, the citizens of Israel, to come here and enjoy this heritage. A truly wonderful, highly original, highly authentic, and very faithful restoration job has been done here, and the atmosphere provides a great deal of inspiration.”

Netanyahu also paused to express condolences to the family of Captain Maoz Israel Recanati, the Golani officer killed during fighting in Lebanon. “At the beginning of my remarks, I wish to send condolences to the family of the late Captain Maoz Israel Recanati. Maoz left everything behind, including his fiancée whom he was set to marry in about a month, led his soldiers in battle in Lebanon, and fell. May G-d avenge him. May his memory be a blessing.”

Turning to the fighting in Lebanon and the growing drone threat facing Israel, Netanyahu said the military continues to operate aggressively while adapting to evolving dangers. “I want to say a few things about the campaign in Lebanon. We are doing a lot there; holding territory, clearing territory, protecting Israel’s communities, but also fighting an enemy that is trying to outsmart us.”

The prime minister recalled warning years ago about the strategic danger posed by drones and said Israel has spent years developing responses to the threat. “Six years ago, during a Cabinet meeting, I warned against the threat of drones. At the time, I saw it primarily as a serious threat, as a tool for targeted eliminations of public figures, but since then, it has obviously evolved. From the start of the war, and of course having observed the war in Ukraine, I thought this could also serve as a tool on our battlefield. At my request, the IDF installed canopies on the tanks. That was one measure. The IDF and the Ministry of Defense have done a great deal over the years, this needs to be understood, and they have thwarted many hundreds, if not thousands, including UAVs, thousands of attempted drone and UAV strikes against our forces. And they are succeeding. Every time there is a new threat, they succeed in neutralizing it,” he said.

Netanyahu went on to describe the creation of a specialized task force focused on combating FPV drones and said the initiative would operate without budget restrictions. “Today, we are facing the challenge of neutralizing FPV (Fiber-Optic/First-Person View) drones. This is a specific type of threat. I convened a special team together with the Minister of Defense, personnel from the Ministry of Defense, and individuals from outside the ministry, not just from the defense industries, but also from the civilian sector, the best minds in Israel, and in my opinion, the best minds in the world. I held three meetings in two weeks, but in the meeting we held a few days ago, I told them something that surprised them a bit: ‘You have no budgetary constraint.’ Whatever it costs, it costs. You also have no limits, as far as I know, to your creativity and imagination, because you are the best in the world. Therefore, my directive to the team is to find a solution for this, and for the next threat that will come.”

He expressed confidence that Israel would ultimately lead the world in solving the drone challenge. “I have no doubt that Israel will be the first country, just as we have done in other fields, to deliver a complete solution to this problem as well. This requires patience and sometimes gritting our teeth, but both of these, patience, determination, and the ability to stand up to the challenge, we have in abundance. We will achieve this too.”

Addressing the fighting in Gaza, Netanyahu announced the elimination of senior Hamas leader Iz al-Din al-Haddad and reiterated Israel’s objectives in the war. “Over the weekend, we eliminated the master murderer Iz al-Din al-Haddad. He was essentially number one in Hamas’s military wing. He has been eliminated. This despicable terrorist was responsible for the murder, injury, and kidnapping of thousands of Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers. He used hostages as human shields, and he is no longer with us. It is important to say that I promised two things, and the Government, along with me: I promised that we would return all of our hostages, down to the very last one. Down to the hero of Israel, the late Ran Gvili. And we returned them. There were doubts, but we had no doubts. We returned them.”

Netanyahu added that Israel is nearing completion of another key war objective. “I promised a second thing, that every single architect of the massacre and the hostage-taking would be eliminated down to the last one, and we are very close to completing this mission as well. In Gaza now, we are no longer holding 50%, but already 60%. We have Hamas in our grip. We know exactly what our mission is, and our mission is one: To ensure that Gaza will never again pose a threat to Israel, and we are carrying out this mission too with the help of our heroic soldiers. They truly are heroes. In Lebanon, in Gaza, and also in the skies of Tehran. Our fighters, our pilots, our female combatants, and our female pilots, heroes and heroines.”

Concluding his remarks, Netanyahu addressed the Iranian front and revealed plans for another conversation with President Trump. “Our eyes are also wide open regarding Iran. I will speak today, as I do every few days, with our friend President Trump. I will certainly hear his impressions from his trip to China, and perhaps other matters. There are certainly many possibilities; we are prepared for any scenario.”

{Matzav.com}

The IDF revealed Sunday evening that it is currently dealing with a manpower deficit of roughly 12,000 troops, including an estimated shortage of between 6,000 and 7,500 combat soldiers, as the military continues operating on multiple fronts simultaneously.

Military officials warned that the shortage could become even more severe if plans to shorten mandatory military service to 30 months move forward. According to security officials, the proposed reduction would create an even larger gap in combat forces, combat support roles and technical positions needed by the army.

The IDF said the demands created by fighting across seven separate arenas have forced regular soldiers to remain in near-continuous operational activity throughout the year. At the same time, reservists have repeatedly been called back for dozens of additional reserve duty days beyond what had originally been planned.

Despite the heavy burden, the military said enthusiasm among young Israelis for significant combat service remains strong among both male and female recruits.

In an effort to confront the worsening manpower shortage, the IDF’s Manpower Directorate has spent the last two and a half years advancing a wide-ranging strategic initiative focused on maximizing available personnel and broadening recruitment pathways.

As part of those efforts, the army established nine new standing armored companies over the past two years. Additional formations created during that period include an engineering battalion, a Home Front Command battalion, an air defense and combat intelligence unit, and a new charedi battalion intended to reduce pressure on reserve forces.

Alongside the expansion of regular forces, the military also built a broad reserve framework that has been incorporated into the 2026 operational plan. The framework includes 25 battalions from the “David” brigades, four battalions from the “Hashomer” brigade, the 500th Armored Brigade, Division 38 and 49 additional armored crews.

According to the IDF, these units were formed through the return of volunteers, the reactivation of individuals who had previously received exemptions under command authority, and the use of manpower reserves that had not previously been utilized.

The military also emphasized the increasing role women are playing in combat positions. Over the last decade, annual female combat enlistment numbers have climbed from roughly 500 recruits each year to approximately 5,000, substantially increasing women’s presence within combat units.

Among the new programs introduced to combat attrition is a nationwide initiative funded with 70 million shekels that is designed to prepare teenagers for military service while strengthening resilience before enlistment.

The IDF said that non-clinical mental health difficulties are responsible for approximately 80% of military attrition cases, with nearly one-third occurring at the very beginning of service.

The initiative operates in two phases. One stage targets 11th-grade graduates and focuses on building resilience and shaping attitudes toward military service, while the second is geared toward 12th-grade students approaching enlistment and seeks to close readiness gaps before induction. Approximately 450 students participated in the pilot program, and an expanded version launching in June is expected to include around 8,000 candidates.

Additional reforms include a system allowing recruits to receive their final assignments earlier in the enlistment process based on recruitment data, while selection procedures continue simultaneously.

The military also runs programs aimed at helping soldiers maximize their service potential, offering second opportunities for officer training and assisting populations considered at higher risk of dropping out during service.

At the same time, other initiatives are focused on retaining soldiers expected to continue into career military service. One such program reportedly increased acceptance rates into technological tracks for candidates from Israel’s geographic and social periphery by 22% between 2023 and 2025 through intervention efforts beginning already in middle school.

The IDF said major efforts are also underway to increase charedi enlistment, though current recruitment figures remain far below operational requirements.

According to army data, approximately 80,000 individuals are presently listed within draft evasion proceedings. Military officials estimate that roughly half are definitively charedi, while another quarter are believed to come from the charedi sector.

As part of attempts to formalize charedi recruitment, the Chief of Staff signed a dedicated General Staff directive outlining service conditions for charedi recruits. In July 2025, the IDF also ordered draft notices to be issued to all eligible charedi men while modifying the enlistment process to better accommodate the sector’s needs.

{Matzav.com}

Hundreds of mourners gathered Sunday at the military cemetery on Har Herzl in Yerushalayim for the funeral of Captain Maoz Yisroel Recanati, a 24-year-old Golani Brigade officer who was killed during combat activity in southern Lebanon.

Representing the IDF, Golani Brigade Deputy Commander Naor Amichai spoke about Recanati’s impact on those who served alongside him, describing him as a person whose strength and character uplifted everyone around him.

“Your very name carried meaning,” Amichai said. “You were a source of support for everyone around you. The values that guided you throughout your military service and your life were always clear.”

Amichai described Recanati as someone who relentlessly pursued meaningful military service from the outset, working hard to earn a place in elite combat units. He eventually joined the Egoz commando unit, where, according to his commanders, he immediately stood out for his leadership qualities, devotion and work ethic. “He was always first,” Amichai said. “In runs, in marches, in carrying equipment and in every mission.”

Friends and fellow soldiers said Recanati became known as “King David,” a nickname they said reflected his humility, honesty and the quiet manner in which he led others. Following completion of officers’ training, he was appointed platoon commander in Golani’s 12th Battalion. Commanders said he built an exceptionally cohesive platoon through personal example, sensitivity and trust.

His fiancée, Roni, delivered an emotional eulogy at the funeral. The couple had planned to marry next month. “The first thing I noticed about you was your eyes,” she said. “Everyone always said your eyes looked kind.”

Roni spoke about Recanati’s gentle nature, courage and compassion, and about the future they had hoped to build together. “I waited so long for us to get married,” she said. “I wanted to see you as the father of our children. You were so good with children. You had the biggest heart of anyone I ever knew.”

Rabbi Daniel Lonczer, who had met with the couple only a week earlier to arrange their marriage registration, also addressed the mourners. During the hesped, he read aloud from the kesubah that Recanati and Roni had signed together.

Recanati’s grandfather, Rabbi Avraham Recanati, reflected on his grandson’s devotion to his mission as a soldier, while also speaking about the warmth and affection he displayed within the family.

Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan described Recanati as someone deeply devoted to Torah, Am Yisroel and Eretz Yisroel. “You built yourself through hard work, humility, strength and humor,” Dagan said. “Thousands of young people will continue in your path.”

His sister, Tehila, remembered him as a quiet and caring individual who earned admiration everywhere he went. She said the source of his success in the military was not merely his abilities, but the values and humanity that guided him.

His brother, Shachar, described Recanati as a dedicated warrior involved in what he called “the battle of light against darkness.” He recalled that during his final Shabbos at home, Recanati repeatedly emphasized the need for professionalism and dedication, even in difficult circumstances.

Recanati served as a platoon commander in Golani’s 12th Battalion. He was killed Friday in an explosive drone strike targeting IDF troops operating in southern Lebanon.

He was the 20th Israeli soldier killed since fighting resumed along the Lebanon front. Recanati is survived by his parents, six siblings and his fiancée, Roni. A member of one of the founding families of Itamar in the Shomron, he was the son of Rabbi Eliyahu and Ayelet Recanati and the grandson of Rabbi Avraham and Rabbanit Devora Recanati.

President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Iran on Sunday in a Truth Social post published shortly after a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, as discussions continue over the possibility of renewed military action against the Iranian regime.

Trump wrote, “For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! President DJT.”

The message came soon after Trump and Netanyahu held a phone conversation lasting more than 30 minutes, during which the two leaders reportedly discussed the prospect of resuming operations against Iran.

According to a diplomatic source, Israel is ready to reenter the conflict with Iran, though any next steps are expected to hinge on Washington’s decision.

The source said, “Trump needs to make a decision. Once he decides to resume fighting we must be prepared, because it is highly likely he will ask Israel to join him in continuing the campaign.”

Meanwhile, Axios reported, citing two American officials, that Trump is expected to convene a meeting Tuesday with senior members of his national security team in the White House Situation Room to review possible military options involving Iran.

{Matzav.com}

Democrats Party chairman Yair Golan responded Sunday to a viral AI-generated image portraying him dressed in traditional chareidi attire, using the opportunity to issue a sharp political pledge regarding the role of chareidi parties in Israel’s next government.

The image, which circulated widely on social media, showed Golan wearing a streimel and long peyos. In response, Golan posted a message drawing a firm political line ahead of the coming election campaign and any future coalition negotiations.

“I saw that a picture of me with a streimel is being circulated,” Golan wrote, before adding a direct promise to his supporters: “The Democrats will be your insurance policy that the chareidi parties will sit in the opposition in the coming years.”

Golan’s statement appeared aimed at energizing the secular base of his party, which unites representatives from the Labor and Meretz camps. However, political analysts quickly pointed to what they described as serious political and mathematical obstacles facing such a strategy.

According to current polling data, excluding the chareidi parties from any coalition would make it nearly impossible for the existing opposition bloc to reach a majority of 61 Knesset seats without relying on Arab parties.

Numerically, surveys indicate that once the chareidi parties are ruled out, the center-left bloc is effectively left with only one theoretical path toward forming a coalition: direct dependence on Arab factions such as Ra’am and Hadash-Ta’al.

That possibility, however, faces strong resistance from other opposition figures.

Leaders of center-right opposition parties — including Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman and Beyachad party leader Naftali Bennett — have repeatedly stated during both previous and current election campaigns that they would refuse to join any government dependent on Arab party support.

The result, according to political observers, is a clear arithmetic deadlock.

Without the chareidi parties on one side, and with Bennett and Lieberman maintaining an absolute veto against Arab parties on the other, the center-left bloc currently has no realistic mathematical path to forming a governing coalition after elections.

Analysts noted that Golan’s declaration effectively leaves the balance of power in the hands of the right-wing bloc while placing left-wing parties at a significant numerical disadvantage that may be impossible to overcome.

Israel’s National Cyber Directorate issued a public warning Sunday after fake videos circulated online appearing to show Rishon LeTzion and Chief Rabbi of Israel Rav Dovid Yosef endorsing a medical product.

According to the cyber authorities, the videos are fraudulent and were created using deepfake technology. Officials stressed that Rav Yosef has absolutely no connection to either the video or the product being promoted through it.

The fabricated clips have reportedly been spreading widely across social media platforms in recent hours and direct viewers to a fraudulent website designed to steal personal information and payment details from unsuspecting users.

The National Cyber Directorate warned the public to exercise caution when encountering videos featuring well-known public figures and urged users to verify the authenticity of such content before responding to it.

Officials also cautioned the public not to click on links appearing in the videos themselves, in comment sections, or in accompanying messages connected to the posts.

In addition, the directorate advised consumers to confirm that any medical product they are considering purchasing appears on an official and recognized website before providing any information.

Authorities further warned people not to submit personal information or credit card details on unfamiliar websites.

The cyber agency urged the public that in cases of uncertainty, individuals should stop and verify the information through official sources before taking any action.

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Land Authority Council has approved new rules barring individuals classified as draft evaders from participating in the government’s discounted housing programs unless they regularize their military status with the IDF.

The decision, approved during a meeting convened by Housing Minister Chaim Katz, also significantly expands housing preferences for reserve soldiers. Under the new framework, 50 percent of apartments in the upcoming “Dira B’Hanachah” lottery will be reserved exclusively for reservists, with priority given to combat soldiers.

The remaining apartments will remain available to the general public, but eligibility will now depend on applicants having resolved their military status with the army, according to a report by Channel 13 News.

The move follows legal instructions issued by the attorney general’s office directing immediate implementation of the policy. As a result, individuals defined as draft-eligible who have not arranged their status with IDF authorities will no longer be able to participate in subsidized housing programs.

The decision comes after the most recent housing lottery was postponed twice. Initially, the delay was ordered by ministers Betzalel Smotrich and Chaim Katz, and later by the courts following petitions filed against the program.

Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon had previously instructed the Israel Land Authority Council to take immediate operational steps to enforce the policy. Under those instructions, the authority was required to establish a mechanism allowing for the immediate disqualification of draft evaders from participation in discounted housing initiatives.

According to the approved plan, all applicants entering future lotteries will be required to sign declarations stating whether they have arranged their military status with the IDF. Any applicant found to have submitted false information could lose their eligibility or forfeit an apartment if their true military status later becomes known.

Approximately 8,000 apartments are expected to be included in the upcoming lottery, though the distribution model will change dramatically under the new rules.

More than half of the apartments will now be allocated to reservists, who will also receive all units designated specifically for rental programs.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu is reportedly shifting strategy in the growing coalition crisis over the draft law and is no longer actively trying to block the preliminary vote on dissolving the Knesset this week.

Instead, Netanyahu is now focusing on advancing key coalition legislation — including the draft law — before the Knesset reaches the later and more decisive stages of the dissolution process.

According to the new plan, Netanyahu intends to move forward simultaneously with the draft law, legislation to split the attorney general’s position, and additional coalition-backed bills while the Knesset dissolution measure advances toward its second and third readings.

Politically, the move signals that Netanyahu is prepared to allow the dissolution proposal to pass its preliminary stage while preserving a limited window for the coalition to continue legislating before the Knesset is formally dissolved.

During that period, Likud lawmakers are expected to push ahead with several sensitive legislative initiatives, chief among them the draft law, which has become the central source of tension between the coalition and the chareidi parties.

According to reports, Likud officials claim the maneuver received approval from the Knesset’s legal adviser.

Party sources said, “Until the second and third readings, any legislation can still be passed.”

The new strategy appears aimed at lowering the intensity of the immediate political confrontation surrounding the dissolution vote, while at the same time signaling to coalition partners that there is still a realistic path to advancing the legislation most important to them before new elections are triggered.

{Matzav.com}

Large crowds gathered at the Kosel this morning for Rosh Chodesh tefillos as tensions flared once again over the activities of the Women of the Wall group, whose members reportedly smuggled a Sefer Torah into the plaza in violation of existing regulations.

According to witnesses, members of the Reform-affiliated activist group raised the Sefer Torah in celebration after successfully bringing it into the women’s section of the Kosel plaza.

At the same time, hundreds of seminary students arrived at the site following longstanding guidance issued years ago by Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman zt”l encouraging participation in counter-demonstrations opposing the activities of the group commonly referred to as “Women of the Wall.”

Large police, Border Police, and riot-control forces were deployed throughout the Kosel area in anticipation of confrontations between the sides.

Police officers reportedly clashed with demonstrators during the morning, and one chareidi girl was arrested and taken to a police station located at the site.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people participated Friday in a large Shacharis minyan held specifically in the southern section of the Kosel plaza, the area at the center of ongoing legal and political disputes regarding efforts to establish a permanent Reform prayer space there.

Participants brought a mechitzah and conducted a traditional tefillah as part of what organizers described as an effort to strengthen the Jewish and traditional character of the site.

Those who attended said the decision to hold the tefillah specifically in the southern plaza symbolized the broader struggle over the future character and sanctity of the Kosel.

Participants also explained that the choice of location was intended “to declare in a clear voice — the Kosel belongs to all the Jewish people, but its holiness is not ownerless.”

President Donald Trump sharply criticized Democratic climate policies after scientists reportedly backed away from one of the most severe global warming projections long used in United Nations-backed climate models.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump celebrated reports that researchers are no longer treating one of the most extreme emissions scenarios as the most likely future outcome.

“GOOD RIDDANCE! After 15 years of Dumocrats promising that ‘Climate Change’ is going to destroy the Planet, the United Nations TOP Climate Committee just admitted that its own projections (RCP8.5) were WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump accused Democrats of using climate concerns to advance costly energy initiatives and increase government spending.

“For far too long Climate Activism has been used by Dumocrats to scare Americans, push horrible Energy Polices, and fund BILLIONS into their bogus research programs,” he continued. “Unlike the Dumocrats, who use Climate Alarmism nonsense to push their GREEN NEW SCAM, my Administration will always be based on TRUTH, SCIENCE, and FACT!”

Trump’s remarks came after climate researchers moved away from relying on the most severe emissions scenario developed through the United Nations-backed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

That scenario — first known as RCP8.5 and later SSP5-8.5 — projected dramatic rises in global temperatures and sea levels under assumptions of extremely high emissions. The forecasts also included warnings of widespread crop failures and catastrophic environmental outcomes.

According to reports, scientists are now phasing out the scenario after concluding it no longer reflects the most realistic trajectory given the expansion of renewable energy, shifts in emissions patterns, and climate-related policies already in place.

Researchers writing in the journal Geoscientific Model Development said future climate modeling should still account for a broad range of possibilities, while acknowledging that the most extreme projections are becoming increasingly unlikely.

“For the 21st century, this range will be smaller than assessed before: on the high-end of the range, the high emission levels (quantified by SSP5-8.5) have become implausible, based on trends in the costs of renewables, the emergence of climate policy and recent emission trends.”

Trump’s latest comments echoed criticism he voiced last September during remarks at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he dismissed climate change fears as exaggerated.

“It’s the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion,” Trump said at the time. “All of these predictions made by the United Nations and many others, often for bad reasons, were wrong.”

“They were made by stupid people that have cost their country’s fortunes and given those same countries no chance for success,” he continued.

Trump’s statements drew sharp criticism from Democrats and climate activists, including Hillary Clinton, who accused him of spreading false information.

“You know yesterday at the U.N., President Trump said, ‘Climate change is a hoax,’ because it’s just total disinformation,” Clinton said during the Clinton Global Initiative in New York. “It’s a statement that is just not true, and yet being propagated.”

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin later defended Trump’s position during an appearance on Fox News, arguing that aggressive climate policies have harmed working Americans economically.

“The president is absolutely right and we’ve seen it in the name of climate change, these left wing policies willing to cause extreme economic pain for people who can at least afford it,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Louisiana Republican voters denied Sen. Bill Cassidy a third term Saturday, delivering a major political defeat to one of the few GOP senators who voted to convict President Donald Trump after the January 6 Capitol riot.

With most ballots counted, Trump-endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow finished in first place in the Republican primary, while Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming secured second place, pushing Cassidy into third and ending his re-election bid.

According to vote totals with 92 percent reporting, Letlow received 44.8 percent of the vote, Fleming captured 28.4 percent, and Cassidy trailed with 24.7 percent. The Associated Press projected Letlow and Fleming as the two candidates advancing to the June 27 runoff election.

Letlow is considered the early favorite heading into the runoff, largely due to Trump’s endorsement, which the president reaffirmed Friday on Truth Social while returning from his summit in China with President Xi Jinping.

After Cassidy’s defeat became clear, Trump celebrated the outcome online and renewed his attacks on the Louisiana senator over the impeachment vote.

“Bill Cassidy . . . voted to impeach me on preposterous charges that were fake then, and now, are criminally insane!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “His disloyalty to the man who got him elected is now a part of legend, and it’s nice to see that his political career is OVER!”

Cassidy, 68, was among seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump on charges of incitement following the January 6, 2021 Capitol unrest. Political observers note that number could shrink even further in the next Congress if Sen. Susan Collins faces defeat in her own re-election race, potentially leaving Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski as the lone remaining Republican impeachment supporter still in office.

In addition to his impeachment vote, Cassidy had publicly urged Trump to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race following the classified documents indictment tied to Mar-a-Lago and had criticized the administration as insufficiently pro-life.

Trump moved early to weaken Cassidy politically by endorsing Letlow back in January — even before she officially entered the race — forcing the incumbent senator into a difficult renomination battle.

The president continued attacking Cassidy throughout Election Day itself.

“Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana is a disloyal disaster. His entire past campaign for the Senate was about ‘TRUMP,’ how he’s with me all the way, and then, after winning, he turned around and voted to IMPEACH me for something that has now proven to be total “bulls—!” Trump posted on Truth Social Saturday while the vote was going on.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who also hails from Louisiana, acknowledged earlier in the week that the race had placed him in a politically uncomfortable position because of his relationships with all three candidates.

Johnson described Letlow as “like a sister to me” while also noting that Fleming had previously represented Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District before him.

Over recent months, Cassidy had attempted to repair relations with Trump and the MAGA base, including reluctantly voting to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary despite disagreements over vaccine policy.

Meanwhile, both Cassidy and Fleming criticized Letlow over her past role as a senior administrator at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, where she once described herself as a “strong and progressive leader” and supported diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Cassidy’s loss marks another victory for Trump-backed candidates following a series of successful primary challenges against Republicans who had opposed the president on issues including redistricting in Indiana.

Attention now shifts to Kentucky, where another Trump-backed challenger will face off Tuesday against Rep. Thomas Massie. Former Navy SEAL and farmer Ed Gallrein is challenging the libertarian-leaning congressman with Trump’s endorsement behind him.

{Matzav.com}

Efforts to prevent the collapse of Israel’s government intensified over the weekend as Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu reportedly warned chareidi party leaders that dissolving the Knesset this week could harm Israel’s military preparedness and its ability to resume fighting against Iran if necessary.

At the same time, Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman MK Boaz Bismuth scheduled new discussions on the draft law for this coming Wednesday in an attempt to demonstrate progress and ease the escalating political crisis with the chareidi factions.

According to information obtained by Matzav.com, Netanyahu delivered an unusual message in recent days to senior chareidi political leaders, cautioning that moving forward immediately with dissolving the Knesset could interfere with sensitive security planning tied to Iran and future military operations.

Despite the warning, senior figures in the chareidi parties reportedly remain unconvinced that the coalition can still survive.

The three leaders of the chareidi factions reportedly believe there is “no way to prevent the preliminary vote on dissolving the Knesset this week,” and continue to argue that there is still no real majority to pass the draft law.

A senior United Torah Judaism official sharply criticized Netanyahu’s handling of the crisis, accusing the prime minister of once again attempting to delay matters rather than resolve them.

According to the official, Netanyahu’s office is trying to create the appearance of a political “breakthrough” in order to temporarily freeze efforts to dissolve the Knesset and buy several additional weeks.

“They know there is no majority for the draft law,” the official said. “The goal is to delay the crisis so that even if they eventually move toward dissolving the Knesset, the Elections Committee will already struggle to meet the timetable for September elections, pushing the elections off until October. Once again there is no majority for the law, and once again they are selling stories to the chareidim.”

{Matzav.com}

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Shefa Living: From Ideal Life to Real Life

In the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the air feels different.

The pace slows. The quiet stretches. And for many families discovering Shefa Living, something else becomes possible too: space to live, to grow, and to build a community with intention.

What began as a bold idea is now steadily taking shape. Homes are under construction, infrastructure is complete, and the first families are preparing to move in.

When Yehuda (Yudi) Gross first began thinking about what eventually became Shefa Living, it wasn’t about building a new community. It was about understanding why so many frum families were struggling.

As a wealth manager who also volunteered as a financial coach with Mesila, Gross worked with families across the financial spectrum. What he saw surprised him.

“People making $10,000 a month and people making $30,000 a month were both under enormous pressure,” he explains. “Not because they were irresponsible. Because the structure of frum life has become extremely expensive.”

Housing, tuition, food, and communal costs are often discussed as separate challenges. But Gross came to see them as parts of a single system.

“We don’t really have five different crises,” he says. “We have one; the cost of living.”

That realization became the starting point for what would eventually become Shefa Living.
But as the idea developed, the vision quickly expanded beyond simply lowering costs.

The goal became something larger: rethinking how a frum community could be built from the ground up, in a way that gives families more space, stronger connection, and a healthier structure for Jewish life.

Today, the project has moved far beyond the conceptual stage. Infrastructure is in place, homes are under construction, leadership has been hired, and the first families are preparing to move in.

Turning Vision Into Reality

One of the first questions people ask when they hear about Shefa Living is simple: Is this actually happening?

According to Gross, the answer is an emphatic yes.

All major infrastructure has already been installed, including roads, electricity, wells, septic systems, and fiber-optic internet. Engineering work and soil testing across the property have been completed, allowing construction to begin.

The first phase of homes is currently underway. Foundations have been poured, and framing is nearing completion keeping the project on schedule to have the first 30 families to move in around Elul, with additional homes following in the months after.

“These aren’t theoretical plans anymore,” Gross says. “Homes are being built, and families are getting ready to move.”

One family is already living on the property in an existing house that came with the land purchase while their permanent home is being constructed.

Space to Live

From the outset, the homes were designed specifically with frum life in mind.

Instead of adapting houses built for different lifestyles, Shefa Living designed beautiful, modern homes around how Jewish families actually live, with large dining rooms that can host Shabbos meals and guests, spacious bedrooms for children, and layouts that support the rhythms of Yom Tov and family life.

“These homes are designed for the way frum families actually use their space,” Gross says.

The homes are being sold at prices below typical frum community markets, something Gross attributes to the structure of the project itself.

“Because we’re building the infrastructure ourselves, we’re able to avoid the ‘Jewish premium’ that often comes with housing in established communities,” he explains.

The Community’s Yeshiva

For many families considering a move, the most important question is education.

Shefa Living’s yeshiva, the Yeshiva of Glade Valley,  will open together with the first group of families moving into the community.

The school will be led by Rabbi Dovid Kossowsky and his wife, who are relocating to lead the program.

Gross says many of the families exploring Shefa Living share a similar motivation. “A lot of parents feel that one of their children isn’t thriving in the environment they’re in,” he explains. “They’re looking for a place where their kids can grow at their own pace and feel successful.”

The educational vision reflects the broader philosophy of Shefa Living. Rather than focusing only on academics, the yeshiva aims to nurture each child’s unique strengths and sense of purpose. Small, multi-age classrooms, close relationships with rebbeim and moros, and hands-on learning experiences will allow students to grow intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually.

In its first year, the school will operate in temporary classroom structures while permanent facilities are built. Plans for the campus include classrooms, playgrounds, outdoor learning spaces, and sports areas.

Recognizing that relocating to a new community is a major transition, the first weeks will focus on helping children and families acclimate.

Instead of beginning immediately with full academics, the early weeks will include activities, trips, and opportunities for families to get to know the area and each other. Formal classes are expected to begin after Sukkos.

Building a Community from the Ground Up

Beyond housing and education, Shefa Living is building the communal infrastructure necessary for a fully functioning frum community.

A central shul will serve as the heart of the neighborhood, bringing families together for davening, learning, and community gatherings.

A men’s and women’s mikvah is expected to open together with the first wave of residents. Plans are also underway for a unique  mikvah tahara that will be integrated into Nesheema a one of its kind community’s women’s center.

Nesheema will include a spa, gym, daycare, a cafe, and shared workspaces and spaces where women can gather and connect. Architectural plans for the center have already been completed, with construction expected to begin later this year.

Kosher food is also already available locally. After Gross approached a nearby supermarket, the store added multiple aisles of kosher products, including dairy, frozen foods, and pantry staples, even before the first families arrived.

A Community Built Around Shared Values

Shefa Living is guided by a broad Torah hashkafa under the leadership of Rabbi Twersky, emphasizing pnimiyus, avodas Hashem, and shared values over external uniformity.

Families relocating to Shefa come from a wide range of mainstream frum backgrounds. What unites them is not dress or labels, but a desire for a more intentional, grounded way of life.

“This isn’t for people running away from their communities,” Gross notes. “It’s for people running toward something they believe in. It is for mevakshim”

Life in the Mountains

The surrounding town has also played a role in shaping the project.

Small and welcoming, the area has responded warmly to the new Jewish community. Local businesses have already begun accommodating kosher needs, and many residents have expressed enthusiasm about the project.

Gross says the warmth of the local community has been striking. “People stop me on the street just to say they’re happy we’re coming,” he notes.

Set in the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the area offers open skies, quiet roads, and sweeping views of forests and farmland. For families seeking space, natural beauty, and a slower pace of life, the setting is part of the attraction.

Looking Ahead

With infrastructure complete, homes under construction, educational leadership in place, and families preparing to move in, Shefa Living is entering its next stage.

For families watching the project unfold, the question is no longer simply what is Shefa Living?

It’s whether this might be where their next chapter begins.

Israel reportedly maintained at least two covert military facilities in Iraq’s western desert for more than a year, using them as operational hubs for missions connected to Iran, according to a detailed report published by The New York Times.

The report, which cited Iraqi and regional security officials, said planning for the makeshift bases began in late 2024 as part of preparations for future Israeli Air Force and commando activity targeting Iran.

According to the report, Israeli planners sought remote desert locations that could function as staging grounds and logistical support centers for long-range operations.

One of the alleged bases was reportedly located near al-Nukhaib in western Iraq. The site is said to have been discovered in early March after a local shepherd, 29-year-old Awad al-Shammari, unexpectedly came across the compound while traveling through the area.

Relatives of al-Shammari and regional military officials told the newspaper that the shepherd managed to alert Iraqi military commanders after observing soldiers, helicopters, tents, and an improvised landing strip in the desert.

Shortly after reporting what he had seen, al-Shammari was allegedly pursued by a helicopter, shot, and killed. His vehicle was later set on fire, according to the report.

The incident reportedly caused major political and security upheaval inside Iraq, particularly amid allegations that Iraqi radar systems had been temporarily disabled under American direction during periods of regional fighting in order to avoid interference with U.S. aircraft.

The day after the shepherd’s report, Iraqi military officials reportedly sent a reconnaissance force to investigate the site. According to the report, the force came under intense fire, resulting in one Iraqi soldier being killed, two others wounded, and two vehicles destroyed in airstrikes, forcing the team to retreat.

During subsequent closed-door meetings between Iraqi Chief of Staff Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah and senior American military officials, U.S. representatives reportedly confirmed that the forces operating in the area were not American troops, strengthening suspicions within Baghdad that the installations were operated by Israel.

Following the confrontation, Iraqi military commanders were summoned to a confidential parliamentary hearing on March 8. During the session, Iraqi lawmaker Hassan Fadham reportedly claimed that Israel had established an additional secret outpost elsewhere in Iraq’s western desert.

According to the report, a second Iraqi security official later confirmed the existence of another covert site.

Regional security sources told The New York Times that the desert facilities played an important logistical role by allowing Israeli aircraft to refuel closer to Iran, dramatically shortening operational flight distances.

The report added that the al-Nukhaib base is no longer believed to be active, while the current status of the second alleged outpost remains unclear.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s chareidi parties are expected to support a preliminary vote this week to dissolve the Knesset, as the political crisis surrounding the draft law deepens and tensions within the coalition continue to intensify.

Unless dramatic last-minute developments emerge, the Knesset is expected to approve the bill to dissolve parliament in its initial reading, potentially paving the way for elections in 2026.

Over the weekend, representatives of the chareidi factions made clear that they are unwilling to delay the push for new elections, saying that they no longer trust Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s promises that a draft law can still be passed during the current summer session.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri sharply criticized coalition partners during conversations with party lawmakers, accusing senior figures in Likud and the Religious Zionist Party of violating agreements and failing to honor commitments made to the chareidi parties.

“We invested enormous efforts to pass the law. Shas demonstrated loyal partnership to the coalition, but figures among the coalition leadership and members of Knesset from Likud and the Religious Zionist Party did not act in the same manner and blatantly violated the promises and agreements they signed.”

Deri continued his criticism, saying the coalition failed to deliver what he described as the most basic and essential piece of legislation for the chareidi public.

“In the end, the coalition did not provide the most basic and important law for us. This is disgraceful and irresponsible conduct that cannot be accepted.”

According to Deri, once it became clear that the draft law would not pass in the current Knesset, the only remaining course of action was to move toward elections in accordance with the directive of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas.

“Once it became clear that the law would not pass in the current Knesset,” Deri told party lawmakers, “in accordance with the decision of the Council of Torah Sages, we have no choice but to bring about the dissolution of the Knesset and new elections as quickly as possible.”

Unlike Degel HaTorah, which publicly declared this past week that it no longer considers itself aligned with Netanyahu’s political bloc, Shas has so far refrained from making such a formal announcement.

Still, Shas spokesman Asher Medina appeared to indirectly criticize Degel HaTorah’s approach, warning against believing that a left-wing government would offer more favorable treatment to the chareidi community.

“Anyone who thinks a left-wing government will give us everything is living in fantasies. The only common denominator among that collection of figures is hatred of chareidim.”

The differing approaches between the two chareidi factions became especially noticeable following the dramatic handwritten letter released by Slabdoka Rosh Yeshiva Rav Dov Lando instructing Degel HaTorah lawmakers to actively work toward dissolving the Knesset as soon as possible.

In the letter, Rav Landau stated that from this point forward, the only consideration guiding Degel HaTorah would be “what is good for chareidi Judaism,” without obligation to previous political alliances.

In particularly sharp language, Rav Lando declared that “the concept of a bloc no longer exists.”

{Matzav.com}