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A massive Sheva Brachos celebration and protest is being organized for Monday afternoon outside the gates of Israel’s Military Prison 10, where a newly married yeshiva bochur is being held after military police arrested him in front of his kallah during their week of wedding celebrations.

The unusual demonstration, expected to feature music, dancing and a festive meal, is being arranged in response to the arrest of Yaari Lieberman, who was taken into custody on Sunday while traveling with his new wife to a Sheva Brachos celebration in their honor. Lieberman has reportedly been sentenced to 20 days in military prison for failing to comply with military draft requirements.

Organizers announced plans to hold the public celebration outside Prison 10 at Beit Lid, turning what would ordinarily be a private family simcha into a demonstration against the arrest and imprisonment of bnei yeshivos. The event is expected to draw participants protesting the military’s treatment of Torah learners. An exact starting time has not yet been announced.

The controversy erupted Sunday when military police officers wearing civilian clothing reportedly approached Lieberman as he and his wife stepped off a bus on their way to a Sheva Brachos. According to accounts circulated by chareidi organizations, the officers were not wearing identification badges and took Lieberman into custody without initially explaining their identities to his wife.

The kallah, reportedly unaware that the men were military police officers, feared that her husband had been abducted and contacted police for assistance. Reports also alleged that military authorities had located Lieberman by tracking his cellphone, although that detail has not been independently confirmed. The IDF confirmed the arrest and identified Lieberman as a military draft evader.

The arrest was particularly controversial because Lieberman had been the subject of an earlier attempted detention in Modi’in approximately a month ago. At that time, military police arrived at his residence, prompting hundreds of chareidi protesters to converge on the area. Following confrontations and negotiations, the officers withdrew without taking him into custody.

Sunday’s arrest, coming just days after Lieberman’s wedding, immediately triggered an outcry across the chareidi community, with rabbonim, activists and elected officials demanding his release.

The Badatz of the Eidah HaChareidis convened Sunday evening and decided to launch a broader public campaign against the arrest. Demonstrations began in Yerushalayim, with protesters gathering near the Satmar bais medrash on Rechov Yoel before proceeding into the streets.

Hundreds of demonstrators subsequently gathered in Yerushalayim, where protesters blocked sections of the light rail route and clashed with police. Israeli police deployed water cannons and stun grenades to disperse demonstrators after declaring the gathering unlawful. Additional protests were reported in Beit Shemesh.

The arrest has also generated significant political pressure on Defense Minister Yisrael Katz.

United Torah Judaism lawmaker Yaakov Asher contacted Katz to demand Lieberman’s immediate release, condemning the decision to arrest a newlywed during his wedding celebrations.

“This is not a totalitarian state, nor is it a police state. Arresting a groom in the midst of his wedding celebrations is an act of insensitivity that knows no bounds,” Asher declared.

Shas faction chairman MK Yinon Azulai has meanwhile begun circulating a petition among Knesset members calling for Lieberman’s immediate release. The initiative has reportedly attracted signatures from lawmakers outside the chareidi parties, including coalition chairman Ofir Katz, Minister Shlomo Karhi and several other coalition legislators.

Agudas Yisroel chairman MK Yitzchok Goldknopf and MK Meir Porush have also demanded that authorities return Lieberman to his family, with Goldknopf directing criticism at Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu over the government’s failure to resolve the military draft crisis through legislation.

Monday’s planned gathering outside Prison 10 is expected to become a focal point of the growing protests. By staging a Sheva Brachos celebration directly outside the military facility, organizers intend to draw attention to the fact that Lieberman is spending what should be the happiest days of his newly married life behind bars.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu took an unusual break from politics to face off against young Israeli YouTuber Roei Cohen in a ping-pong match, turning a lighthearted sporting encounter into an unexpected conversation about Iran, President Donald Trump and the challenges facing Israel.

The encounter, featured in a video released on October 31, began when Cohen received a surprise invitation from one of Netanyahu’s aides to play table tennis with the prime minister. There was just one complication: Cohen had only an hour to prepare.

Cohen quickly began making arrangements, including securing a ping-pong table and arranging for its delivery to the meeting location. He documented the preparations as part of a video for his YouTube channel, which has approximately 225,000 subscribers.

Upon arriving at the compound, Cohen underwent security screening involving Israel’s Shin Bet security service and Unit 730, the unit responsible for protecting senior Israeli officials.

Netanyahu eventually entered the room, where the two prepared for their match. The prime minister acknowledged that he does not play table tennis regularly, indicating that he picks up a paddle only about once every five years.

Following a brief warm-up, the two began a short contest played to three points, with an on-screen scoreboard tracking their progress.

Cohen, apparently surprised by Netanyahu’s abilities, jokingly questioned others in the room about why they had told him the prime minister was such a good player.

But the encounter soon moved beyond table tennis.

As the two exchanged shots, Cohen began asking Netanyahu questions about Israel’s security situation, including whether the Jewish state continues to face an existential threat.

Netanyahu responded that Iran remains a fundamental danger to Israel and that eliminating the Iranian threat is essential to the country’s long-term security.

The prime minister also discussed Israel’s cooperation with President Trump, emphasizing the importance of confronting Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

The conversation then shifted to Netanyahu’s personal routine, with Cohen asking how much sleep the prime minister requires while managing the demands of his position.

Netanyahu said he needs approximately seven hours of sleep each night, rejecting the notion that he can function properly on only four hours.

At the conclusion of the encounter, Netanyahu signed Cohen’s ping-pong paddle and posed for a photograph with the young content creator. The prime minister also complimented Cohen on his playing ability.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump says he is prepared to use his veto power to block Democratic legislation if Republicans lose control of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, predicting that Democrats would eventually have no choice but to negotiate with him after repeatedly failing to advance their agenda.

In an interview with the New York Post’s Miranda Devine for her “Pod Force One” podcast, which is scheduled for release Monday, Trump explained how he intends to continue governing even if Democrats gain majorities in both the House and Senate.

“I guess I’ll become Mr. Veto,” Trump said.

“I’m not going to let them ruin it,” the president added.

Trump suggested that while a Democratic takeover could initially produce legislative gridlock, he believes the resulting stalemate would eventually force Democratic leaders to seek compromises with the White House.

“And then at some point, we’ll probably make deals. That’s what’s happened. I mean, this wouldn’t be the first time.”

The president described how he expects such a confrontation to unfold, predicting that Democrats would repeatedly send legislation to his desk, only to see their proposals rejected.

“They’ll be sending stuff up. You veto it.

“And eventually, after a month or two of getting all vetoed, they’re just wasting [time], they come over, and you make a deal. I think that probably would happen, but hopefully we don’t have to worry about that.”

Trump has used his veto authority relatively infrequently. According to the Post, he has rejected just two bills during his second administration, compared with 10 during his first term.

Under the Constitution, Congress must secure a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override a presidential veto. That requirement would give Trump considerable leverage against a Democratic Congress, particularly if the party wins only narrow majorities.

The president’s remarks come as Republicans face an increasingly difficult electoral landscape. Political forecasters generally favor Democrats to reclaim the House, while the battle for the Senate remains competitive.

Republicans are defending nine Senate seats considered competitive, compared with three Democratic-held seats facing serious challenges. The Cook Political Report has classified contests in Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio and Texas as toss-ups, raising concerns about Republican vulnerabilities even in traditionally conservative states.

Historical precedent also presents a challenge for the GOP. Since 1938, the president’s party has lost House seats in all but two midterm elections. With Republicans holding only a slim majority in the chamber, Democrats would need relatively modest gains to take control.

Trump has previously dealt with a divided Congress. During the final two years of his first administration, Democrats controlled the House while Republicans maintained their Senate majority, making it difficult for Democratic lawmakers to advance legislation opposed by the president.

If Democrats regain either chamber this week, they are expected to launch extensive investigations into Trump, his administration and political allies. Democratic lawmakers have indicated that congressional oversight would become a major priority if they return to power.

Despite those possibilities, Trump expressed confidence that Republicans could hold on to Congress, warning voters about what he characterized as the consequences of Democratic leadership.

“They want to get rid of your Second Amendment, have transgender for everyone,” he said of the Democrats.

“Look, if we didn’t win — I think we’re going to do great — but if we didn’t win, I’d veto everything. I’ll be vetoing, vetoing.”

The president also agreed with a recent warning from Elon Musk, who suggested that a Democratic sweep could leave the United States “maybe forever destroyed.”

Trump claimed that Democrats could attempt to reshape the nation’s political system by admitting Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico as states, expanding the Supreme Court and abolishing the Senate filibuster, potentially strengthening their ability to enact legislation without Republican support.

The filibuster has been a recurring source of frustration for Trump, who has repeatedly urged Senate Republicans to eliminate the procedural rule requiring 60 votes to advance most legislation. He has argued that Democrats would likely abolish the filibuster themselves once they regain control of the Senate.

During the interview, Trump also addressed the prospect of Democrats portraying him as a lame-duck president during the final two years of his administration, acknowledging that he would welcome another opportunity to seek the presidency if the Constitution permitted it.

“I’d love to run again if I had the chance, but the language is very exacting,” Trump said, referring to the 22nd Amendment, which prohibits an individual from being elected president more than twice.

“They had a poll the other day where I’d beat everybody by so much, I’d love to run, but it’s fine. You know, we have more than two years left. That’s a long time. You can do a lot in that period of time, and you’ve seen the job we’ve done.”

{Matzav.com}

Violent protests erupted Sunday evening in Yerushalayim and Beit Shemesh following the arrest of a newly married yeshiva bochur by Israeli military police during his week of Sheva Brachos celebrations, with demonstrators blocking major roads, disrupting light rail service and clashing with police officers.

The unrest followed the arrest of Yaari Lieberman, a talmid at Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim headed by Rav Reuven Elbaz, who was taken into custody Sunday morning while traveling with his new wife to a Sheva Brachos celebration. Lieberman was subsequently transferred to Military Prison 10 and sentenced to 20 days of military detention for failing to comply with military draft requirements.

In Yerushalayim, hundreds of demonstrators gathered along Chaim Bar-Lev Road, where protesters blocked the light rail tracks and surrounding roadways, bringing traffic and public transportation to a standstill.

According to Israeli police, the demonstration escalated into a public disturbance as protesters obstructed traffic and confronted officers attempting to reopen the roads. A police commander declared the gathering unlawful, after which demonstrators reportedly began throwing objects at security personnel.

Officers from the Lev Habira police station, assisted by Border Police forces, moved to disperse the crowds and restore traffic. Video footage circulating online showed confrontations between protesters and police, with officers attempting to clear demonstrators from the light rail tracks and nearby streets.

Similar demonstrations took place in Beit Shemesh, where protesters gathered to condemn the arrest and demand Lieberman’s immediate release.

The protests were sparked by the circumstances surrounding Lieberman’s detention, which has generated widespread anger throughout the chareidi community.

According to eyewitness accounts, military police officers dressed in civilian clothing approached Lieberman and his wife as they stepped off a bus Sunday morning on their way to a Sheva Brachos celebration.

The officers reportedly were not wearing visible identification badges, leaving the young bride unaware that the men taking her husband away were members of the military police. Fearing that her husband had been abducted, she reportedly contacted police for assistance.

Lieberman’s arrest came less than a month after military authorities made an earlier attempt to detain him at his parents’ home in Modi’in. During that incident, hundreds of protesters rushed to the location after learning that military police had arrived, preventing officers from completing the arrest.

This time, however, Lieberman was taken into custody and transported to Military Prison 10 at Beit Lid, where he was sentenced to 20 days of detention.

The decision to imprison a chosson during the first week of his marriage has drawn sharp condemnation from chareidi political leaders, who have demanded that Defense Minister Yisrael Katz intervene and order his release.

United Torah Judaism MK Yaakov Asher contacted Katz directly, protesting the circumstances of the arrest and insisting that Lieberman be permitted to return to his wife and family.

Agudas Yisroel chairman MK Yitzchok Goldknopf also denounced the detention, placing responsibility on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and criticizing the government’s handling of the ongoing military draft crisis.

Meanwhile, Shas faction chairman MK Yinon Azulai began circulating a petition among Knesset members urging the defense minister to intervene and secure Lieberman’s release.

The petition has reportedly attracted support from lawmakers belonging to Likud and other right-wing coalition parties, reflecting concern over the arrest beyond the chareidi factions.

The controversy has also prompted the Eidah HaChareidis to prepare a broader public campaign against the detention of yeshiva students.

{Matzav.com}

Former IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi acknowledged Sunday that the October 7 Hamas massacre was preventable, conceded that Israeli airstrikes inadvertently killed hostages held in Gaza, and forcefully dismissed allegations that members of Israel’s security establishment had knowingly helped Hamas carry out the attack.

Speaking at a Shurat HaDin conference in New York, Halevi delivered an extensive assessment of the intelligence and military failures that preceded the massacre, describing how Israel misjudged Hamas’s intentions, underestimated the threat from Gaza, and failed to protect civilians when thousands of terrorists launched their assault.

Halevi addressed the issues at the third annual Rage Against the Hate conference, held at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Manhattan. The gathering, organized by the Shurat HaDin legal organization, brought together security specialists, legal experts, academics, and representatives of organizations combating antisemitism.

One of Halevi’s strongest statements concerned allegations that the October 7 attack was made possible by deliberate betrayal within Israel’s military or intelligence services. He categorically rejected that accusation.

“There was absolutely no betrayal. The political echelon and the country’s leadership need to state this clearly and unequivocally.”

“I can explain exactly how October 7th unfolded, down to the smallest detail. I know these individuals, and I cannot believe that any of my colleagues-after decades of service during which they risked their own lives-would suddenly decide to assist Hamas.”

Halevi argued that any conspiracy involving Israeli security personnel would have required the participation of numerous individuals. He maintained that no evidence supporting such allegations had surfaced during the three years since the massacre.

Turning to the question of accountability, Halevi called for a comprehensive examination of the events leading up to October 7, saying Israel must confront the mistakes that allowed Hamas to launch its devastating attack.

“As part of the process of learning and healing, Israel must complete its investigation and ask difficult questions-just as we have done within the IDF. This is of great importance. October 7th was a failure that could have been prevented.”

He described the painful consequences of the military’s failure to reach Israeli civilians as terrorists invaded communities near the Gaza border.

“We must look failure in the eye in order to be able to fix things. I look at a photograph of Shiri Bibas and see the fear in her eyes. We were not there in time to help and save her. That is the failure.”

Halevi also discussed the intelligence assessments that shaped Israel’s approach to Gaza before the attack. According to the former military chief, the IDF, Shin Bet, and political leadership operated under the mistaken belief that Hamas was not seeking a major confrontation with Israel.

Instead, Israeli officials believed the terrorist organization was primarily interested in maintaining its control over Gaza while gradually extending its influence into Yehuda and Shomron.

Hamas, Halevi explained, deliberately encouraged that assessment while secretly preparing for a massive cross-border assault.

He acknowledged that Israel’s broader security strategy had also contributed to the failure, with military planners concentrating more heavily on threats from Iran and Hezbollah than on Hamas.

“We should have gone to war in Gaza, but our order of priorities was: first Iran, then Hezbollah, and only then Hamas-because we did not know that Hamas intended to carry out an operation of this scale.”

Describing the opening moments of the massacre, Halevi said Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar had planned an operation designed to achieve complete surprise through simultaneous attacks along the Gaza border.

Israeli military positions and civilian communities came under assault shortly after 6:29 a.m., overwhelming defenses that were unprepared for an attack of such magnitude.

Halevi said Sinwar had also calculated that Israel would be reluctant to launch a full-scale ground invasion of Gaza because of the operational difficulties involved. Israel’s previous reliance on limited military operations had helped reinforce that assumption.

As Israeli forces struggled to contain the attack, military leaders were also concerned that Hezbollah might open another front along the northern border.

Halevi recalled the message conveyed to the Lebanese terrorist organization later that morning.

“We were caught by surprise in Gaza, but we are watching you closely. Should you make even the slightest move, a devastating blow will fall upon Lebanon.”

The former chief of staff also revealed tensions between military commanders and Israel’s political leadership over the decision to send ground forces into Gaza.

“It took us a long time to convince the political echelon to conduct a ground maneuver in Gaza. We needed to break the pattern of small, limited rounds of conflict that relied solely on airstrikes.”

Addressing the hostage crisis, Halevi defended the military campaign as a crucial factor in securing the release of captives, rejecting arguments that the fighting had not contributed to their return.

“I know some people think otherwise, but without strong military pressure inside Gaza, we would not have been able to bring the hostages back. I can prove this.”

At the same time, he made a painful admission concerning hostages who were killed during Israeli military operations.

“Unfortunately, we made mistakes. Our own bombs killed hostages. Of course, this was not intentional; we did not know they were there.”

Halevi said the military subsequently improved its procedures for identifying where hostages were being held, seeking to reduce the danger of inadvertently harming captives during operations against Hamas.

The conference was chaired by Shurat HaDin president Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, who called for stronger international cooperation among legal professionals, diplomatic officials, researchers, and technology specialists in confronting antisemitism and campaigns against Israel.

“Our response must be an unprecedented collaboration among legal experts, diplomats, researchers, and technology professionals. It is time to shift from defense to offense, and to exact a heavy price from anyone who seeks to undermine our right to live securely in our own land.”

Halevi’s remarks come amid continuing demands from survivors and bereaved families for an independent state commission of inquiry into the October 7 failures. The issue has remained a major source of political controversy, with families demanding a comprehensive accounting of decisions made by both military commanders and government officials before and during the massacre.

Recent reporting has also renewed scrutiny of communications between Israel’s political and military leadership on the morning of the attack. According to reports published in September, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Halevi did not speak directly until approximately 9:45 a.m., more than three hours after the Hamas assault began. The Prime Minister’s Office subsequently released a timeline of Netanyahu’s communications that morning.

{Matzav.com}

Multiple people were killed Sunday when a private jet crashed into a mobile home park in Palm Beach County, Florida, triggering a massive fireball and leaving a trail of destruction across the residential community, according to initial reports.

Emergency crews responding to the crash confirmed that several people had died, although authorities had not yet established whether the victims were passengers aboard the aircraft, residents on the ground, or both. Preliminary, unconfirmed reports suggested that as many as nine people may have been aboard the charter flight.

The aircraft, believed to be a Learjet 60, had reportedly departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas before encountering trouble over South Florida.

According to preliminary flight-tracking information, the jet was traveling at approximately 8,000 feet when it suddenly made a sharp right turn, rapidly lost altitude and plunged toward the ground.

The aircraft struck a tree and brought down electrical wires before crashing into the mobile home community. At least one residence was completely destroyed by the impact, which left a large crater and ignited a powerful fire.

Video footage circulating online showed an enormous fireball rising from the crash site, followed by thick columns of black smoke. Images from the scene showed burned wreckage, twisted metal and extensive damage to the surrounding area.

One resident who witnessed the crash described the terrifying sound of the aircraft descending toward the neighborhood, comparing it to “a missile falling from the sky.”

The crash prompted a major emergency response as firefighters and rescue personnel rushed to the scene to extinguish the flames, search the wreckage and determine whether anyone had been trapped inside the affected homes.

The extent of the destruction raised immediate concerns about casualties among residents of the mobile home park, although officials had not released a confirmed breakdown of those killed aboard the plane and those on the ground.

Authorities were also working to establish the aircraft’s exact passenger count. Initial reports indicating that nine people may have been traveling on the jet remained unverified.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known. The reported sudden turn and rapid descent are expected to be among the circumstances examined by aviation investigators, although no official determination has been announced.

The Learjet 60 is a twin-engine business jet commonly used for private and charter flights. The aircraft type is designed for high-speed travel over substantial distances and typically accommodates a small group of passengers.

As of Sunday evening, officials had not publicly identified the victims or provided a final casualty count. 

Federal authorities have since confirmed that all nine people aboard the aircraft were killed. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the fatalities and expressed condolences to the victims’ families. There was no immediate confirmation of additional casualties on the ground.


Multiple people were killed Sunday when a private jet crashed into a mobile home park in Palm Beach County, Florida, triggering a massive fireball and leaving a trail of destruction across the residential community, according to initial reports.

Emergency crews responding to the crash confirmed that several people had died, although authorities had not yet established whether the victims were passengers aboard the aircraft, residents on the ground, or both. Preliminary, unconfirmed reports suggested that as many as nine people may have been aboard the charter flight.

The aircraft, believed to be a Learjet 60, had reportedly departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas before encountering trouble over South Florida.

According to preliminary flight-tracking information, the jet was traveling at approximately 8,000 feet when it suddenly made a sharp right turn, rapidly lost altitude and plunged toward the ground.

The aircraft struck a tree and brought down electrical wires before crashing into the mobile home community. At least one residence was completely destroyed by the impact, which left a large crater and ignited a powerful fire.

Video footage circulating online showed an enormous fireball rising from the crash site, followed by thick columns of black smoke. Images from the scene showed burned wreckage, twisted metal and extensive damage to the surrounding area.

One resident who witnessed the crash described the terrifying sound of the aircraft descending toward the neighborhood, comparing it to “a missile falling from the sky.”

The crash prompted a major emergency response as firefighters and rescue personnel rushed to the scene to extinguish the flames, search the wreckage and determine whether anyone had been trapped inside the affected homes.

The extent of the destruction raised immediate concerns about casualties among residents of the mobile home park, although officials had not released a confirmed breakdown of those killed aboard the plane and those on the ground.

Authorities were also working to establish the aircraft’s exact passenger count. Initial reports indicating that nine people may have been traveling on the jet remained unverified.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known. The reported sudden turn and rapid descent are expected to be among the circumstances examined by aviation investigators, although no official determination has been announced.

The Learjet 60 is a twin-engine business jet commonly used for private and charter flights. The aircraft type is designed for high-speed travel over substantial distances and typically accommodates a small group of passengers.

As of Sunday evening, officials had not publicly identified the victims or provided a final casualty count.

Federal authorities have since confirmed that all nine people aboard the aircraft were killed. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the fatalities and expressed condolences to the victims’ families. There was no immediate confirmation of additional casualties on the ground.

The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a Learjet 60 traveling from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. The crash occurred at approximately 12:50 p.m. near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North in the Greenacres area of Palm Beach County.

Newly reported air traffic control recordings revealed the pilot’s desperate attempts to regain control of the aircraft during its final moments. The pilot reported that the jet was traveling too fast and descending at approximately 20,000 feet per minute before delivering the chilling message, “We’re out of time.”

Flight-tracking information indicated that the aircraft lost approximately 27,000 feet of altitude in just one minute before disappearing from radar.

The crash occurred roughly four miles from Palm Beach International Airport and less than six miles from President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Trump had departed the area aboard Air Force One approximately an hour before the accident.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office closed Military Trail in both directions between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North as emergency personnel secured the wreckage and investigators began examining the scene.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the disaster, with the NTSB leading the inquiry into what caused the aircraft’s sudden and catastrophic descent.

The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a Learjet 60 traveling from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. The crash occurred at approximately 12:50 p.m. near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North in the Greenacres area of Palm Beach County.

Newly reported air traffic control recordings revealed the pilot’s desperate attempts to regain control of the aircraft during its final moments. The pilot reported that the jet was traveling too fast and descending at approximately 20,000 feet per minute before delivering the chilling message, “We’re out of time.”

Flight-tracking information indicated that the aircraft lost approximately 27,000 feet of altitude in just one minute before disappearing from radar.

The crash occurred roughly four miles from Palm Beach International Airport and less than six miles from President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Trump had departed the area aboard Air Force One approximately an hour before the accident.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office closed Military Trail in both directions between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North as emergency personnel secured the wreckage and investigators began examining the scene.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the disaster, with the NTSB leading the inquiry into what caused the aircraft’s sudden and catastrophic descent.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir issued a sharp warning Sunday to the chareidi parties against joining a left-wing coalition following Israel’s Knesset elections, accusing left-wing politicians of suddenly offering concessions on the yeshiva draft issue in an effort to secure enough support to establish a government.

The Otzma Yehudit chairman, whose party won seven Knesset seats, also acknowledged that he had anticipated a stronger showing at the polls. Nevertheless, he celebrated the party’s performance, thanked its supporters, and pledged to continue fighting for its political agenda whether it ultimately joins the next coalition or sits in the opposition.

In a lengthy statement following the October 27 election, Ben Gvir first addressed the continuing scrutiny of the election results, expressing concern about possible interference in the investigation.

“The elections held last week are still being examined and investigated, in the hope that we will get to the truth and that the judicial system will not sabotage the investigation,” he wrote.

He then expressed appreciation to those who supported Otzma Yehudit throughout the campaign.

“A huge thank you for the trust, the tremendous support, and the enormous love you showered upon me, which I felt everywhere I went during this election campaign. You moved me. I love you. Very much!”

While conceding that he had expected additional mandates, Ben Gvir pointed to the 326,634 votes received by his party, emphasizing that it had competed independently rather than running on a joint slate with another faction.

“It’s true, I expected more seats (in the previous elections, the number of votes we received was enough for nine seats). But in any case, 326,634 citizens cast their ballots for Otzma Yehudit.

“The first time we ran in an election completely on our own, without ‘crutches’ from other parties, you gave us an enormous vote of confidence.”

He further argued that Otzma Yehudit had emerged from the election in a stronger position than other parties in the right-wing camp.

“We rose to seven seats in the Knesset (compared with six in the outgoing Knesset), while all the other right-wing parties lost strength (except United Torah Judaism, which maintained its representation), and you made Otzma Yehudit the second-largest party in the right-wing bloc in terms of votes,” he wrote.

Ben Gvir insisted that the election results would not bring an end to his party’s efforts to advance its policies, particularly on security, the judiciary, and the character of the state.

“These elections are over, but the battle is not. The struggle for the Jewish state, for Israel’s security, against the supporters of terrorism among us, and against the judicial gang that has hijacked democracy is not over.

“And we are determined, steadfast, and ready for this battle. They will not defeat us.”

Turning directly to the chareidi leadership, Ben Gvir cautioned against accepting overtures from parties that had campaigned on requiring yeshiva bochurim to serve in the military. He alleged that those same politicians were now prepared to offer exemptions in exchange for chareidi support in forming a coalition.

“And to my haredi brothers, I appeal to you personally: We are all already hearing the soothing words coming from the left-wing camp, promising to exempt you from military service just so that you will help them form a government,” he wrote.

Ben Gvir accused the left-wing parties of abandoning their campaign positions for political convenience.

“It is unbelievable how these hypocrites built their entire campaign on hatred toward you, and now, in an instant, they are explaining to everyone that you actually aren’t needed in the army at all.”

The Otzma Yehudit leader also invoked the well-known account in Chazal of the fox attempting to persuade fish to leave the water, warning chareidi representatives against trusting political assurances from parties he described as fundamentally hostile to their interests.

“You have absolutely nothing in common with the left. They hate you, despise your faith, scorn your rabbis, and will do everything to dismantle you and the faith-based bloc and uproot Judaism from the state,” he claimed.

Ben Gvir argued that even if a left-wing government initially offered concessions on the draft issue, it would ultimately strengthen the judiciary, potentially exposing the chareidi community to future legal challenges and restrictions.

“The moment you help them, the first thing they will do is strengthen the judicial system – the very system that will persecute you for many years to come, even after the left and its Arab partners lose their majority in the Knesset. Don’t make this historic mistake!”

The warning comes as the parties elected to the new Knesset prepare for consultations with President Isaac Herzog, who is expected to begin meeting faction representatives Wednesday before deciding which MK should receive the mandate to form a government. United Torah Judaism has reportedly been considering whether to recommend a candidate or refrain from endorsing anyone at this stage.

Ben Gvir also defended his record as national security minister, pointing to changes in prison policies, action against illegal construction, expanded civilian firearms licensing, and the establishment of local emergency response units.

He expressed hope that his party would be able to continue implementing those policies as part of the next government, while emphasizing that its political activities would continue regardless of the coalition outcome.

“I very much hope that in the coming term we will once again work from within the government and accomplish more and more good things.

“But in any case, whether in the coalition or in the opposition, we will continue working for you!”

{Matzav.com}

Iran currently possesses an estimated 1,700 ballistic missiles capable of reaching Israel, along with an enormous inventory of approximately 80,000 drones, according to Israeli security assessments released Sunday, as the United States continues reinforcing its military forces across the Middle East amid concerns over renewed regional hostilities.

The figures, based on information from Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), offer a picture of the considerable military capabilities Tehran retains despite previous confrontations with Israel and ongoing international efforts to curb the Iranian threat.

According to the assessments, Iran’s missile inventory includes roughly 1,700 ballistic weapons with sufficient range to strike Israeli territory, in addition to thousands of shorter-range and medium-range missiles intended for use against regional targets.

Iran is also believed to possess approximately 80,000 unmanned aerial vehicles, a figure that includes drones designed for military operations. The assessment did not specify how many of those aircraft are attack drones or how many are immediately available for deployment.

The scale of Iran’s arsenal highlights the continuing challenge facing Israel’s multilayered air defense network, which must contend with the possibility of coordinated attacks involving ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and explosive-laden drones.

Although ballistic missiles can reach Israeli targets within minutes, drones generally travel much more slowly and can be launched in large numbers to complicate interception efforts. Iranian military planners have previously employed combinations of different weapons in attempts to overwhelm defensive systems.

The updated estimates come as Washington increases its military presence in the region, including additional naval vessels, aerial refueling aircraft, and air defense equipment.

According to the report, two American aircraft carriers are expected to operate in the Middle East, with one already making its way toward the region.

The American naval deployment is also reported to include 14 warships, 13 of them destroyers. Such vessels can provide air and missile defense capabilities and support other military operations, depending on their equipment and assigned missions.

Additional American military aircraft and defensive systems are continuing to arrive as U.S. commanders strengthen their ability to respond to possible Iranian aggression and protect American personnel and regional allies.

Nevertheless, the American buildup has not yet reached the level of previous deployments.

The assessment indicates that no F-22 Raptor stealth fighters or American bomber aircraft are currently stationed in the region. The number of F-15 fighter jets is also reportedly below the level deployed during Operation Roaring Lion.

Those differences are significant because the aircraft serve different roles in a potential military confrontation. F-22 fighters are designed for air superiority and can operate in heavily contested airspace, while strategic bombers provide long-range strike capabilities. F-15 aircraft can perform a range of combat missions, including air defense and attacks against ground targets.

The absence of certain aircraft from regional bases does not necessarily mean that the United States would be unable to employ them in a conflict. American forces can operate from more distant locations, although doing so may require additional aerial refueling and logistical support.

The deployment of additional refueling aircraft is particularly important for sustaining extended air operations over the Middle East, allowing combat aircraft to remain airborne longer and operate at greater distances from their bases.

For Israel, the latest Iranian arsenal estimates point to the continued importance of maintaining sufficient interceptor inventories and close military coordination with the United States.

Israel’s air defense systems, including Arrow, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome, are designed to counter different categories of aerial threats. Ballistic missiles capable of reaching Israel generally require higher-tier interception systems, while other defenses are used against shorter-range rockets and certain aircraft or drones.

The reported figures remain estimates rather than a publicly verified accounting of Iran’s operational weapons. They also do not establish how many missiles are ready for immediate launch or how many drones could be employed simultaneously.

The latest American reinforcements come as Israeli defense planners continue monitoring Iran’s missile forces and regional military activities, with the reported U.S. buildup providing additional defensive capabilities even as gaps remain compared with earlier operations.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will begin meeting with representatives of the newly elected Knesset factions on Wednesday as the process of determining who will receive the mandate to form Israel’s next government gets underway, with uncertainty surrounding the recommendations of several parties and the possibility that United Torah Judaism will decline to endorse any candidate.

The President’s Office announced Sunday that formal invitations had been sent to the political factions that secured seats in last week’s Knesset election. The consultations will help Herzog determine which lawmaker has the strongest prospect of assembling a governing coalition capable of securing the confidence of the Knesset.

Eyal Shviki, director general of the President’s Office, sent the invitations to party representatives, formally launching the next stage of the political process following the October 27 election.

In his communication to the factions, Shviki conveyed Herzog’s expectation that party representatives approach the discussions with flexibility and a genuine willingness to reach a workable political arrangement. The president is seeking to avoid another election and the additional political uncertainty that would accompany it.

Herzog has also directed that the consultations be broadcast live, allowing Israelis to follow the recommendations and explanations presented by each faction.

The discussions come as the political parties maneuver to determine who will be given the first opportunity to establish a coalition, with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot emerging as the principal figures around whom the recommendations are expected to center.

The right-wing parties are expected to recommend Netanyahu, while the Yashar party and the Democrats are expected to endorse Eisenkot.

The positions of Yisrael Beytenu and the Together party, however, remain uncertain, potentially complicating the calculations over which candidate will receive the greatest number of recommendations.

Another significant question concerns United Torah Judaism, whose representatives are weighing whether to withhold their recommendation altogether.

On Sunday evening, UTJ MKs Yaakov Asher, Yitzhak Goldknopf, and Meir Porush were discussing the party’s position ahead of the presidential consultations.

Should UTJ decide not to recommend a candidate, the move would represent a departure from the expected endorsements by other parties and could affect the political picture presented to Herzog as he evaluates the competing claims to the premiership.

A decision to abstain from recommending Netanyahu would not necessarily mean that UTJ has ruled out joining a government led by him. The recommendation process and subsequent coalition negotiations are separate stages, and parties may ultimately support arrangements different from those suggested during the initial consultations.

The possibility of a UTJ abstention comes against the backdrop of a difficult election for the chareidi parties, which failed to match their previous electoral performance.

The reduced strength of the chareidi factions has added another complication to coalition-building efforts, particularly as the parties weigh their negotiating positions and the implications of joining a government that may face contentious questions involving yeshiva funding, the military draft, and the relationship between religious institutions and the state.

The consultation process is prescribed by Israel’s Basic Law: The Government. Following an election, the president meets with representatives of the factions elected to the Knesset and considers their recommendations before selecting a member of Knesset to attempt to form a government.

Although the number of recommendations received by a candidate is an important consideration, the president is not automatically required to select the lawmaker who receives the most endorsements. The central question is which candidate appears most capable of putting together a coalition.

Under Israeli law, the lawmaker who receives the mandate generally has 28 days to assemble a government and may request an extension of up to 14 additional days from the president.

If that effort fails, the president may assign the task to another member of Knesset. Additional procedures apply if successive attempts to establish a government are unsuccessful.

Because a governing coalition ordinarily requires the backing of at least 61 members of the 120-seat Knesset, the recommendations presented to Herzog will provide an early indication of the alliances that may shape the next government.

They will not, however, guarantee that the recommended candidate can secure the parliamentary majority needed to take office.

The uncertainty surrounding the positions of Yisrael Beytenu, Together, and United Torah Judaism means that the final picture may not become clear until the parties formally present their positions to the president.

In the meantime, political negotiations are expected to continue as the competing camps seek to secure endorsements and identify possible coalition partners.

The coming consultations will also offer an indication of whether parties that campaigned against one another are prepared to consider compromises to avoid another election.

For Netanyahu, the challenge will be to demonstrate that the right-wing bloc can attract enough additional support to form a government. For Eisenkot, the task will be to establish that the parties prepared to recommend him can translate those endorsements into a viable parliamentary coalition.

The decisions of parties that have not yet declared their intentions could therefore prove particularly important.

Herzog’s meetings on Wednesday will mark the first formal step toward resolving those questions, but the ultimate composition of Israel’s next government will depend on the coalition agreements reached in the days and weeks that follow.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] A disturbing video circulating online purports to show rioters forcing their way into a residential building in Paris with a mezuzah affixed to its entrance, raising fresh concerns among French Jews as weeks of violent unrest have left businesses ransacked, a shul vandalized, and Jewish-owned properties damaged across the country.

The footage is being shared with claims that rioters entered the building and looted apartments inside. However, the precise location and date of the recording have not been independently established, and there has been no confirmation that the building was deliberately targeted because of its Jewish occupants or the mezuzah at its entrance.

The allegations come amid an increasingly troubling security situation for France’s Jewish population, which has watched widespread demonstrations over economic conditions and government policies descend into violent confrontations, vandalism, and looting.

WATCH:

The presence of a mezuzah at the entrance of a residential building has particular significance for Jewish residents. Traditionally affixed to the doorposts of Jewish homes, a mezuzah is a visible indication of Jewish religious observance. Its reported presence at the building in the circulating footage has prompted questions about whether the perpetrators knew they were entering a property associated with Jewish residents.

The video has not, however, established whether the mezuzah played any role in the alleged break-in.

The latest claims follow confirmed incidents involving Jewish properties during the wave of unrest that swept across France beginning October 17.

In Paris, the Ohalei Yaakov shul in the city’s 19th arrondissement was broken into during the weekend of October 17 and 18. Members of the congregation discovered the damage when they arrived at the temporary house of worship, which is being used while the permanent shul building undergoes renovations.

Inside, siddurim, tefillin, and other religious belongings had been scattered across the floor. Cupboards and storage areas had been disturbed, and the rabbi’s office had been searched. The Torah scrolls were reportedly unharmed.

Although the scene caused considerable distress, a member of the shul committee indicated that the perpetrators may have been searching for money. Authorities and Jewish security officials had not established that the break-in was motivated by antisemitism.

Elsewhere in France, Jewish-owned businesses were among those damaged during the violence. In Marseille, shops belonging to Jewish proprietors were set ablaze, while in Paris, businesses operated by Jewish residents suffered extensive destruction and theft.

The unrest also directly affected Chabad representatives working in the French capital.

Near Place de la République, one of the areas hardest hit by the rioting, a vehicle belonging to a Chabad rabbi was set on fire, and a Chabad family found itself trapped inside its community center as violence erupted in the surrounding streets.

Rabbi Moshe Cohen, a Chabad representative in the area, described widespread destruction affecting businesses owned by Jews and non-Jews alike.

Despite the damage suffered by Jewish residents, Cohen cautioned against automatically characterizing the attacks as antisemitic. He said the perpetrators appeared primarily interested in stealing merchandise rather than targeting a particular religious community.

The Service de Protection de la Communauté Juive, France’s Jewish Community Protection Service, similarly reported that it had not identified evidence showing that Jewish institutions and businesses were deliberately singled out during the initial wave of riots.

Those assessments have not eliminated the fear experienced by Jewish residents, particularly when religious institutions, businesses, and residential properties become caught up in widespread lawlessness.

The scale of the destruction across France has been substantial.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets on October 17 to protest rising living costs, fuel prices, deteriorating educational conditions, and broader dissatisfaction with the government of President Emmanuel Macron.

While many demonstrators participated peacefully, groups of rioters broke away from the protests and attacked shops, public buildings, and other properties.

Businesses were looted in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and other major cities. Storefronts were smashed, merchandise was stolen, and vehicles were set ablaze. Police officers faced violent confrontations with rioters as security forces struggled to contain the disturbances.

The October 17 demonstrations drew an estimated 550,000 to 800,000 participants nationwide, according to differing estimates, with thousands of arrests reported during the ensuing unrest.

The economic damage has been severe. French business organizations estimate that retailers have suffered losses exceeding €1 billion over three weeks of disturbances, with broader estimates suggesting that the total cost, including uninsured damage and lost revenue, could be substantially higher.

The unrest continued through the end of October, although the scale of the demonstrations declined.

On Saturday, October 31, approximately 320,000 people participated in protests across France, including about 70,000 in Paris, according to the French Interior Ministry.

Most of those demonstrations remained peaceful, but isolated confrontations erupted in several cities. Police used tear gas and other crowd-control measures, while authorities reported preventing groups intent on vandalism and looting from breaking away from protest marches.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned that security forces would respond firmly to further violence, particularly amid concerns that Halloween disguises could be used to conceal the identities of rioters.

For French Jews, the developments have added another layer of uncertainty to an already difficult period.

The damage to Jewish-owned businesses, the break-in at a Paris shul, and the reported intrusion into a residential building bearing a mezuzah have drawn attention to the vulnerability of Jewish institutions and households when public order deteriorates.

At the same time, distinguishing between opportunistic criminal activity and attacks motivated specifically by antisemitism remains essential. Jewish security officials and local rabbonim have emphasized that the confirmed incidents do not, by themselves, establish an organized campaign targeting Jews during the demonstrations.

The circulating residential-building video has nevertheless become another source of alarm, particularly because it raises the possibility of rioters entering spaces where families would ordinarily expect to be safe.

The incident also comes amid heightened scrutiny of videos circulating from the French unrest. French media and independent fact-checkers have documented numerous misleading or fabricated images and recordings falsely attributed to the recent demonstrations, making verification of individual incidents particularly important.

For Jewish residents of Paris, the immediate concern extends beyond determining the motives of individual perpetrators. The destruction of businesses, attacks on property, and intrusions into residential buildings have raised fundamental questions about personal security and the ability of authorities to protect residents during periods of widespread disorder.

The latest footage has brought those concerns into sharper focus, even as the circumstances surrounding the alleged break-in and any possible antisemitic motive remain unverified.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman took aim at New York Gov. Kathy Hochul with a Halloween-themed attack, circulating AI-generated images depicting the Democratic incumbent as a witch while insisting that polls showing him trailing by double digits are wrong.

“Forget witches. The real Halloween nightmare is four more years of Kathy Hochul!” Blakeman declared in a social media post. “DITCH THE WITCH!”

The Nassau County executive’s campaign also released an AI-generated video featuring Hochul dressed as a witch, part of a final effort to energize Republican voters ahead of Tuesday’s gubernatorial election.

Speaking to more than 100 supporters at Juniper Valley Park in Middle Village, Queens, Blakeman dismissed recent surveys suggesting that Hochul has a comfortable advantage, maintaining that the contest is actually a “virtual dead heat.”

“Don’t believe those phony polls,” Blakeman told the crowd.

His remarks came after two surveys released Wednesday showed Hochul with substantial leads. A Siena poll placed the governor 14 percentage points ahead of Blakeman, while a Marist survey showed her leading by 11 points.

Blakeman described the polling figures as “inaccurate” and predicted that he would deliver an Election Day upset reminiscent of Republican George Pataki’s victory over Democratic Gov. Mario Cuomo in 1994.

He argued that polling had been “wrong” in that election as well, suggesting that Republican enthusiasm and turnout could produce a similar surprise this year.

Among the political figures attending the Queens rally were Queens Republican Party Chairman Tony Nunziato, Republican City Councilwoman Joann Ariola and former Democratic City Councilman Robert Holden.

Blakeman’s Saturday schedule also included planned appearances at Halloween parades in Maspeth and Glendale, followed by outreach to voters on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Hochul, meanwhile, campaigned across Long Island and New York City, with stops in Huntington, Brookhaven, Brooklyn and Queens as both candidates worked to mobilize supporters during the final weekend of early voting.

The Democratic governor’s campaign fired back with its own Halloween-themed attack, circulating an email criticizing Blakeman’s program of armed civilian volunteers serving as emergency special deputy sheriffs. The campaign characterized the initiative as a “militia cluster….”

The candidates also clashed over New York’s affordability crisis. At his Queens rally, Blakeman promoted his proposal to eliminate state income taxes on the first $100,000 earned by married couples filing jointly, while accusing Hochul of leaving New Yorkers vulnerable to further tax increases.

Hochul defended her administration’s economic record during a Brooklyn campaign appearance, highlighting investments in housing, education and child care. She argued that increasing the housing supply was essential to making rents and homeownership more affordable.

Blakeman’s aggressive closing campaign comes as early voting draws to a close Sunday, November 1. More than 468,000 ballots had already been cast in New York City as of Friday night, according to the city’s Board of Elections, with Election Day scheduled for Tuesday, November 3.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of Palestinians flooded the streets of Gaza City for the funeral of senior Hamas terrorist Arafat al-Raer, who was involved in the 2006 kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, as armed terrorists reportedly fired ammunition worth tens of thousands of dollars into the air in a public display of force.

The massive funeral procession, held Sunday, November 1, came as discussions continue over the future of the Gaza Strip and demands that Hamas surrender its weapons. Footage circulating on social media showed enormous crowds accompanying the terrorist’s body through the streets, raising their hands and chanting “Allahu Akbar.”

According to reports from Gaza, armed Hamas operatives fired repeated volleys of gunfire into the sky throughout the procession. Local sources estimated that the ammunition expended during the funeral was worth tens of thousands of dollars, although that figure has not been independently verified.

Al-Raer died after suffering critical injuries in an Israeli airstrike in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood of western Gaza City. He subsequently succumbed to his wounds.

The Hamas operative was closely connected to one of the most notorious terrorist kidnappings in Israeli history. He participated in the June 2006 abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured during a cross-border attack near the Gaza Strip and held by Hamas for more than five years.

Al-Raer was also involved in Shalit’s captivity and was photographed accompanying the Israeli soldier on the day of his release in October 2011, when Israel freed more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for his return.

He was believed to have been among the last surviving Hamas terrorists directly involved in the kidnapping and captivity of Shalit.

The funeral provided a highly visible demonstration of Hamas’ continued presence in Gaza City despite the heavy losses inflicted on the terrorist organization during the war.

The scenes also raised fresh questions about the prospects for disarming Hamas, an issue that remains central to negotiations over Gaza’s postwar future.

While international discussions have focused on removing Hamas’ weapons and preventing the terrorist organization from rebuilding its military capabilities, Sunday’s procession showed armed operatives openly displaying their weapons and reportedly firing large quantities of ammunition in the streets of Gaza.

The extraordinary expenditure of ammunition at the funeral was particularly striking given the continuing humanitarian and economic difficulties facing Gaza’s civilian population.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is facing accusations of failing to pursue investigations into three controversial New York City homeless shelter operators while receiving more than $56,000 in political contributions from individuals connected to the organizations, including executives, lobbyists and their spouses.

The allegations, raised just days before Tuesday’s election, concern Samaritan Daytop Village, Acacia Network Housing and CORE Services Group, three nonprofits that have received substantial taxpayer funding despite repeated scrutiny over their financial practices, management and operations.

According to campaign finance records, individuals associated with the organizations have contributed to James’ political committees over the past eight years. Critics contend that her office has not taken enforcement action against the three providers since she became attorney general in 2019, even as other government agencies investigated their activities.

The organizations have attracted attention from the state comptroller, state inspector general, New York City’s Department of Investigation and federal authorities over allegations involving questionable financial arrangements, excessive executive compensation, inadequate oversight and potential conflicts of interest.

A sweeping 2024 Department of Investigation review of 51 city-funded shelter providers, including Acacia and CORE, identified instances of “nepotism, lack of competitive bidding and exorbitant salaries” within the city’s multibillion-dollar homeless shelter system.

The report also noted that the attorney general has the authority to “bring action to enjoin, void or rescind” improper transactions involving nonprofit organizations.

Republican attorney general candidate Saritha Komatireddy, a former federal prosecutor challenging James in Tuesday’s election, accused the incumbent of neglecting her responsibilities.

“These are precisely the kinds of abuses the attorney general is supposed to investigate,” Komatireddy said.

“Yet while other watchdog agencies have exposed serious misconduct, Letitia James has refused to hold these operators accountable.

“The fact that individuals tied to these [three] organizations have contributed thousands of dollars to her campaigns raises serious questions about whose interests she is protecting,” Komatireddy added.

Among the financial connections identified is Vito F. Pitta, a Samaritan Daytop Village board member who has personally donated $6,000 to James’ campaigns since 2018. His lobbying company, Pitta LP, contributed another $22,500, according to campaign records.

Samaritan has faced criticism over its handling of public funds. A 2024 examination by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli determined that the organization had improperly billed New York City $566,556 over the preceding two years. A subsequent audit this year found that the Department of Homeless Services had still not recovered $385,109 of that amount.

Financial disclosures also showed that Samaritan CEO Mitchell Netburn received a 25% pay increase in 2025, bringing his annual compensation to $465,289, even as the nonprofit reported operating losses for a third consecutive year.

City investigators additionally identified arrangements in which Samaritan purchased legal and insurance services from businesses associated with members of its own board.

The organization’s operations have also been linked to serious incidents at facilities under its supervision.

In 2019, Marcus Coles, a house manager at Samaritan’s residential treatment center in Ellenville, New York, was arrested for sexually assaulting a woman receiving care at the facility. He subsequently pleaded guilty to a felony sex offense.

The state later sued Samaritan, alleging that the organization had failed to conduct adequate background checks despite Coles having an extensive criminal record involving burglary and drug-related arrests. The litigation was eventually settled.

In March of this year, however, James’ office asked a state judge to transfer ownership of the same treatment facility to Samaritan after the original corporate owner ceased operations. The transfer would permit the property to qualify for additional state financing.

Another tragedy occurred in 2022 at the Pan American Hotel in Elmhurst, Queens, which Samaritan was operating as a family shelter. Three-year-old Shaquan Butler Jr. was discovered dead with bruises on his body.

Local elected officials criticized conditions at the shelter, including allegations of widespread drug activity. The child’s father, Shaquan Butler, was ultimately convicted of murder and sentenced to 32 years in prison.

Acacia Network Housing has also drawn scrutiny over its financial arrangements and executive compensation. One of its prominent lobbyists, Luis Miranda Jr., is a longtime political strategist for James, while Miranda and his wife, Luz Towns-Miranda, have contributed a combined $25,898 to her campaign committees since 2018.

In 2019, city investigators examined Acacia following revelations that the organization had directed tens of millions of dollars in business to a security company established by its president, Raul Russi. The payments reportedly included $12 million in 2017 alone, while the business relationships were not properly identified in certain city disclosures and tax filings.

The city’s 2024 investigation also highlighted compensation at Acacia, reporting that Russi received $935,391 annually and CEO Lymaris Albors earned $836,684. Acacia has defended its executive compensation practices, citing independent assessments of whether the salaries were reasonable.

CORE Services Group, the third organization at the center of the controversy, lost its New York City shelter contracts in November 2021 after investigations exposed questionable business relationships involving its leadership.

During former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s eight years in office, CORE obtained approximately $763 million in city contracts. Reports subsequently revealed that its chief executive, Jack Brown, had employed associates and established a network of private subcontracting companies that generated substantial payments.

Brown reportedly received more than $1 million annually through CORE and affiliated businesses. Campaign records show that he contributed $2,350 to James in 2018.

Federal agents searched CORE’s Brooklyn headquarters in December 2021, and New York City subsequently filed a lawsuit seeking the return of $2.3 million in “excessive executive salaries.”

James’ campaign did not directly address the criticism concerning her office’s handling of the three nonprofits. Instead, campaign spokesperson Grace Smoker attacked Komatireddy’s political fundraising connections.

“Ms. Komatireddy has raked in donations from Trump’s lieutenants and right-wing hacks, including [Ohio GOP gubernatorial candidate] Vivek Ramaswamy,” Smoker said.

President Donald Trump delivered a forceful appeal to New York voters, urging them to elect Republican Bruce Blakeman as governor and arguing that the Nassau County executive could reverse what he described as the damage inflicted by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration.

Speaking during a telephone campaign rally just days before Election Day, Trump sharply criticized Hochul while promoting Blakeman and two other Republican candidates, attorney general hopeful Saritha Komatireddy and congressional candidate Anthony Constantino.

“Kathy Hochul may be the worst governor in the history of New York State and one of the worst in the nation,” Trump declared during the event.

“She been a disaster, and I can tell you that Bruce has been a friend of mine for a long time,” the president continued.

Trump praised Blakeman’s record as Nassau County executive, pointing to the county’s strong public safety rankings and describing him as an effective administrator who has demonstrated his ability to deliver results.

“Anybody that can do what he did in politics and get resounding results, and not only that, he has the safest county in the United States of America [according to US News & World Report] … He’s a great manager.”

Although recent surveys have placed Hochul ahead by margins ranging from 11 to 14 percentage points, Trump expressed confidence that Blakeman could pull off an upset. He also indicated that a Blakeman administration would enjoy a close working relationship with Washington.

“I’ll be waiting for his call,” the president said. “I bet he’s going to be one of the first calls if he wins, and he’ll get tremendous help from the federal government. And it’s hard to help people that do such a bad job. It’s almost like throwing good money after bad.”

Hochul’s campaign responded by emphasizing Blakeman’s political alliance with Trump, portraying the Republican nominee as someone who has embraced the president’s agenda throughout the gubernatorial contest.

“Blakeman … started with the promise to ‘bring Trump-style leadership to Albany,’ and his closing message is telling people how little he regrets going full Trump in this campaign,” Hochul spokesman Ryan Radulovack said.

Radulovack also defended the governor’s record on affordability and public safety, contrasting her administration’s policies with Blakeman’s support for Trump.

“Gov. Hochul has put money back in New Yorkers’ pockets, invested $4 billion in public safety, and fought back against Trump’s attacks,” the spokesman said, while accusing Blakeman of being someone who “defends everything Trump does.”

Trump also urged Republicans to turn out in large numbers on Tuesday, November 3, telling supporters to approach the election as though his own name appeared on the ballot. He argued that Republican turnout rises substantially when he is running and that the party needs similar enthusiasm to win competitive races this year.

Blakeman, meanwhile, has rejected the polling numbers showing him trailing Hochul. At a campaign appearance in Queens on Shabbos, he characterized the contest as a virtual dead heat and suggested that his campaign could produce an upset similar to Republican George Pataki’s victory in the 1994 gubernatorial election.

Trump used the telephone rally to promote additional Republican candidates, including Komatireddy, who is challenging Democratic Attorney General Letitia James, and Constantino, who is seeking a congressional seat in upstate New York. The president also endorsed congressional candidate Kailee Buller.

The president briefly shifted from New York politics to the ongoing American military campaign against Iran, claiming that U.S. forces had inflicted devastating losses on Tehran while diplomatic discussions continued.

“We’re winning very easily the war with Iran,” Trump said.

“They’re talking to us. They’re negotiating, but they do a lot of talking. And we’ll see what happens.”

“But one way or the other, their Navy’s gone. Their Air Force is gone. All blown up. All at the bottom of the sea, and they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon. It’s very simple, and they know that. They know that, and we can end it any time we want.”

Trump also accused Hochul of presiding over rising costs, excessive taxation and deteriorating public safety, while promising that Blakeman would pursue major middle-class tax reductions and policies intended to lower energy expenses.

With Election Day approaching, Trump said he hoped to speak with Blakeman on Tuesday night to congratulate him on a victory, despite the substantial polling advantage currently enjoyed by Hochul.

A disturbing theft took place Sunday afternoon in the heart of Bnei Brak when a pair of valuable tefillin belonging to a local yungerman was stolen from a shul on Rechov Rabbi Akiva, with security cameras capturing the suspect entering the building, taking the tefillin and fleeing the scene.

The incident occurred at approximately 3 p.m. at the Harishonim shul, located at 17 Rechov Rabbi Akiva, one of the city’s busy central thoroughfares.

According to reports, the yungerman had left his tefillin inside the shul while stepping out briefly to take care of several urgent errands nearby. He expected to return within minutes and had no reason to suspect that his tefillin would disappear during his short absence.

When he returned, however, he was shocked to discover that the tefillin were missing.

A review of the shul’s surveillance footage quickly revealed what had occurred. The cameras recorded an individual entering the shul, noticing the unattended tefillin, picking them up and leaving the premises without being stopped.

Additional footage tracking the suspect’s movements showed him quickly departing the area on foot in the direction of Rechov Jabotinsky.

The incident has caused considerable distress among the shul’s administrators, who expressed alarm over the ease with which valuable tashmishei kedushah can be stolen from places of worship, even in the middle of the day.

The gabbaim said the latest theft was not an isolated occurrence, noting that similar incidents had taken place in the past.

Following Sunday’s incident, they issued an urgent warning to mispallelim throughout the community, urging them not to leave tefillin or other valuable religious articles unattended in shuls, even for a few minutes.

“We ask and plead that under no circumstances should tefillin be left in the synagogue, not even for a few minutes. Unfortunately, there are people who take advantage of the innocence of worshippers, enter the synagogue and simply steal,” the gabbaim warned.

The identity of the suspect has not been reported, and it remains unclear whether the stolen tefillin have been recovered.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. military has stationed surface-to-air missile defense systems near President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, as federal security officials warn of an increasingly serious threat environment surrounding the president.

Photographs published by The Palm Beach Post show two U.S. Army Avenger short-range air defense systems mounted on Humvees positioned aboard a floating barge in the Lake Worth Lagoon, immediately west of Trump’s sprawling oceanfront property.

The images, captured by newspaper photographer Greg Lovett during the president’s October 23 visit, show uniformed military personnel stationed alongside the missile systems near the seawall bordering the 17-acre estate.

Trump had arrived in South Florida through President Donald J. Trump International Airport in West Palm Beach before spending the night at Mar-a-Lago.

Additional photographs show a U.S. Coast Guard vessel patrolling the Intracoastal Waterway during the presidential visit. A crew member wearing protective body armor was seen operating a mounted machine gun at the front of the boat.

The Avenger system is designed to intercept aerial threats at relatively short distances, including low-flying aircraft, unmanned drones and certain cruise missiles. Its deployment represents a significant visible expansion of the military defenses protecting the president’s Florida residence.

A Secret Service spokesperson confirmed that the agency has been adjusting its protective measures in response to evolving security concerns.

“The US Secret Service is operating in a heightened threat environment, and we continuously adapt our protective operations to incorporate cutting-edge tools, technology, and methods to safeguard our protectees,” the spokesperson told The Telegraph, which first reported the deployment.

The Secret Service is also pursuing tighter and more permanent restrictions on flights over Mar-a-Lago, pointing to intelligence concerning possible threats against the president, including terrorism-related concerns.

In federal court filings, Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn warned that aerial threats to the property require continuous attention, regardless of whether Trump is physically present.

“Today’s threat environment is heightened, real, and dynamic,” Quinn wrote. “The airborne threat vector at Mar-a-Lago is persistent and substantial.”

The military deployment extends beyond the president’s estate. Additional Avenger missile systems have been positioned near President Donald J. Trump International Airport, where Air Force One operates during presidential visits to Palm Beach.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command, known as NORAD, and U.S. Northern Command confirmed that ground-based air defense equipment was deployed in the area at the Secret Service’s request. The agencies declined to disclose operational details or identify a specific threat that prompted the move.

The enhanced defenses follow repeated violations of restricted airspace near Mar-a-Lago. More than 60 aircraft have reportedly been intercepted in the area since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.

In one incident on October 24, a NORAD F-16 fighter jet intercepted a civilian aircraft that entered restricted airspace near the estate. The pilot subsequently established communication with authorities and departed the restricted zone without further incident.

The new security measures also come against the backdrop of continuing tensions between Washington and Iran, as well as previous attempts on Trump’s life.

In February, Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy fatally shot an armed man who breached a security gate at Mar-a-Lago. Authorities said the individual was carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a container of gasoline. Trump was in Washington at the time.

In September 2024, an armed suspect was discovered near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach while the president was playing golf. That incident followed the July 2024 assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was wounded by a gunshot.

Federal authorities have not announced how long the missile systems will remain deployed, and officials have not established a public connection between the new defenses and any particular threat from Iran or another adversary.

A heartbreaking tragedy has struck the Modzitz and Lelov communities with the petirah of three-year-old Yisroel Don Taub z”l, a grandson of the Modzitzer Rebbe and the Lelover Rebbe of Yerushalayim, who passed away shortly before the onset of Shabbos after battling a serious illness.

The young child, a son of Rav Shlomo Tzvi Hirsch Taub, was hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Yerushalayim, where his condition deteriorated dramatically in the hours leading up to Shabbos.

As his condition became critical, doctors informed the family that his life was in immediate danger and that he might have only hours remaining.

An urgent message was circulated among Modzitzer chassidim before Shabbos, calling upon the community to intensify their tefillos and plead for rachamei Shomayim on behalf of the young child.

Throughout those final hours, family members and chassidim davened fervently for his recovery, hoping that the heartbreaking situation would take a turn for the better.

Tragically, despite the many tefillos, little Yisroel Don was niftar just minutes before Shabbos, leaving his parents, grandparents, extended family and the Modzitz and Lelov communities plunged into profound grief.

The levayah was held on Motzoei, departing from the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim and proceeding to Har Hazeisim for kevurah.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Russia launched another major wave of attacks against Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure overnight, leaving hundreds of thousands of households without power Sunday, as Ukrainian drones struck industrial targets deep inside Russia, reportedly causing extensive damage to a facility in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces targeted energy installations across four regions, disrupting electricity supplies as the country prepares for the approaching winter.

“The intensity of the strikes is very high, and the Russians are seeking to maximally exploit the ​deficit of ballistic missile interceptors,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia had launched 433 long-range drones beginning Saturday evening, with Ukrainian defenses intercepting 371 of them. Dozens of additional drones remained airborne Sunday morning, while residents of Kyiv faced six separate air raid alerts after midnight.

The latest bombardment came despite a six-day localized ceasefire around Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in southern Ukraine, which remained in effect on its final day. Fighting continued elsewhere along the front lines, however, with both countries carrying out long-range attacks against targets beyond the battlefield.

Ukraine also struck back inside Russian territory. Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had attacked the Kamensky plant in Russia’s Rostov region, identifying it as a facility involved in producing missiles for the Russian military. Moscow did not immediately respond to that claim.

In the Nizhny Novgorod region, Governor Gleb Nikitin acknowledged that an extensive Ukrainian drone assault overnight had inflicted “significant damage” on an industrial installation, although he declined to identify the affected facility.

The region contains the NORSI refinery, one of Russia’s largest oil-processing plants, raising questions about whether the attack had disrupted critical fuel production or distribution operations.

Russian authorities subsequently moved to reassure motorists about fuel availability. The regional government said it was working to maintain supplies at gas stations and advised residents to “buy fuel only as ⁠needed and ⁠avoid panic buying,” according to the Interfax news agency.

The warning suggested possible damage to oil-refining or fuel-distribution infrastructure, although officials did not confirm the nature of the facility that had been struck. Ukrainian authorities did not immediately claim responsibility for the Nizhny Novgorod operation.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses had intercepted 235 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory during the night.

Additional reports from Sunday identified the damaged Russian industrial site as being in the Kstovo district, where the major Lukoil oil refinery is located. Ukrainian media reported that the refinery had been struck, while footage circulating online appeared to show flames at the complex. Russian officials confirmed extensive damage to an industrial facility but did not publicly identify it.

Governor Nikitin said Russian defenses had destroyed more than 100 drones over the Nizhny Novgorod region alone, with preliminary reports indicating no casualties.

The attacks followed renewed tensions over Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities. On Friday, Moscow accused Kyiv of restarting attacks against its oil refineries despite a request from President Donald Trump to halt such operations.

Trump has expressed concern that attacks on Russian oil infrastructure are contributing to rising diesel prices ahead of Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections.

Ukrainian officials maintain that they are prepared to accept a comprehensive ceasefire covering energy infrastructure on both sides, including Ukraine’s severely damaged electricity network, but accuse Russia of refusing such an arrangement.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who oversees the country’s energy sector, addressed the issue Sunday in an interview with state television broadcaster Vesti. Without discussing the specific damage in Nizhny Novgorod, Novak argued that Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries were worsening instability in international fuel markets and putting additional pressure on prices.

Hundreds of right-wing demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv on Motzoei Shabbos to protest the possibility of a minority government headed by Gadi Eisenkot that would depend on the support of Arab parties in the Knesset.

The demonstration took place at Habima Square, where protesters carried signs and voiced opposition to any coalition arrangement involving parties they accuse of sympathizing with terrorism. The central message of the rally was “לא מקימים ממשלה עם תומכי מחבלים” — “Do not form a government with supporters of terrorists.”

The protest comes amid growing political uncertainty following last week’s elections for Israel’s 26th Knesset, which left neither the right-wing bloc nor its opponents with enough seats to independently establish a governing coalition.

One scenario now being discussed involves Eisenkot heading a minority government that would rely on parliamentary backing from Arab parties to secure the confidence of the Knesset and remain in office.

The possibility has prompted fierce objections from right-wing political activists, who argue that a government dependent on Arab factions would be unacceptable, particularly given the positions taken by some Arab politicians on terrorism and Israel’s security policies.

Adding to the tensions is an investigation into allegations of foreign interference in the recent elections, including suspicions that overseas funding was used in efforts to influence voting patterns and strengthen the electoral performance of Arab parties.

The investigation, which has been referred to in Israeli media as the “ballot terrorism” affair, is reportedly being conducted by the Shin Bet, with the Mossad also said to have become involved. The allegations remain under investigation, and the claims of foreign involvement have not been established as fact.

A newly married chosson who was arrested by Israeli military police on Sunday while traveling with his kallah to their Sheva Brachos celebration has been sentenced to 20 days in military prison, triggering an outpouring of condemnation from chareidi political leaders and urgent demands for his immediate release.

Yaari Lieberman, a talmid of Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim in Yerushalayim under Rav Reuven Elbaz, was apprehended by plainclothes military police officers shortly after stepping off a bus with his wife. According to eyewitness accounts, the officers were not wearing visible identification badges and forcibly seized Lieberman before taking him away to military detention.

His kallah, who had married him only days earlier, reportedly did not initially realize that the men were military police officers and feared that her husband was being kidnapped.

The announcement that Lieberman had received a 20-day military prison sentence intensified the controversy, with chareidi lawmakers demanding that authorities intervene to allow the young couple to complete their Sheva Brachos celebrations together.

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher spoke directly with Israel’s defense minister following the arrest, demanding his intervention to secure Lieberman’s immediate release.

“This is not a totalitarian country or a police state,” Rabbi Asher declared. “Arresting a groom in the midst of his days of celebration is an act of insensitivity that knows no bounds. I demanded that the defense minister act to secure his immediate release and return him to his family and his celebration.”

Shas also issued a sharply worded condemnation and announced an initiative to gather signatures from Knesset members across the political spectrum demanding that Lieberman be freed.

“We vehemently condemn the brutal arrest of a groom in front of his bride, in the midst of the days of Sheva Brachos, and call on the Military Police to release him immediately!” the party said.

Shas added, “We are appealing to all members of the Knesset and asking them to sign a petition calling on the IDF to immediately release the groom so that he can return and rejoice in his celebration. This is a necessary first step toward repairing and healing the divisions among the people.”

Agudas Yisroel chairman MK Rabbi Yitzchok Goldknopf delivered particularly harsh criticism of the military authorities, describing Lieberman’s detention as an unprecedented escalation in the campaign against yeshiva students.

“The arrest of a young groom in front of his bride in the midst of the days of Sheva Brachos is a new low in the campaign of persecution against Torah learners,” Rabbi Goldknopf said. “The obsessive pursuit of yeshiva students, whose only crime is studying Torah, has crossed every boundary of humanity and sensitivity.”

Rabbi Goldknopf continued, “This shameful arrest is a mark of disgrace for a Jewish state. I demand the immediate release of the groom.”

He also directed his criticism at Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, accusing him of failing to fulfill his commitments regarding legislation that would regulate the military service status of yeshiva students.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu has failed until now to fulfill his promise to pass a law that would regulate the status of yeshiva students, and the result is the disgraceful arrests we are witnessing,” Rabbi Goldknopf said. “The responsibility for this situation rests on his shoulders.”

Meanwhile, the nationwide Tzeva Shachor emergency alert network, which mobilizes activists when military police attempt to arrest yeshiva students, sent an urgent letter to Rabbi Asher and Rabbi Goldknopf demanding immediate action.

The letter, titled “An Urgent Outcry and Protest Over the Arrest of the Groom Yaari Lieberman During His Days of Wedding Celebration,” described the distress experienced by Lieberman’s family following the arrest.

“We are turning to you urgently and with great pain following the difficult reports and appeals received by our organization from the family members of the groom Yaari Lieberman concerning the shocking and distressing circumstances of his arrest,” the organization wrote.

The group said it remained in constant contact with Lieberman’s extended family, who were overwhelmed by the incident and struggling to comprehend what they described as the humiliation of a ben Torah during the days traditionally devoted to celebrating his marriage.

Addressing the two lawmakers, the organization stressed their responsibility to defend yeshiva students against military enforcement actions.

“You are emissaries of Hashem and representatives of the rabbonim, and this is your role and mission: to stand as a fortified wall in defense of Torah learners and prevent any harm to the Torah world and those who toil in it,” the letter stated.

The organization concluded with an appeal for the lawmakers to use every available means to obtain Lieberman’s release.

“We appeal to you with a heartfelt request that you employ every tool at your disposal, shake the heavens and the earth, and neither rest nor remain silent until his sentence is canceled and the groom is returned to his home and his celebration without delay.”

MK Rabbi Meir Porush also joined the growing chorus of condemnation, describing the arrest as an incident that should deeply disturb the Jewish public.

“The criminal conduct of the Military Police, who arrested a groom during his Sheva Brachos, should shock every Jew,” Rabbi Porush said.

Rabbi Porush recalled an earlier incident in which a newly married man was detained and Knesset members from several political parties signed a petition seeking his release. That effort ultimately succeeded, he noted, expressing hope that similar intervention would secure Lieberman’s freedom.

“I call on the authorities this time as well to be attentive to the Jewish heart and release the groom immediately,” he added.

The arrest has also prompted discussions within the Yerushalmi Faction about organizing demonstrations in response to Lieberman’s imprisonment.

Lieberman’s detention comes less than a month after military police made an unsuccessful attempt to arrest him at his parents’ home in Modi’in.

On October 6, military police arrived at the residence intending to take him into custody over his military draft status. An emergency alert brought hundreds of protesters to the location, where demonstrators entered the building and prevented officers from completing the arrest.

After approximately two hours, military police withdrew without taking Lieberman into custody.

At the time, Lieberman was preparing for his wedding and had reportedly expressed concern that authorities might attempt to arrest him during the wedding itself.

Although the wedding proceeded without incident, military police apprehended him during the subsequent Sheva Brachos celebrations.

Lieberman’s reported 20-day sentence comes amid continued enforcement against yeshiva students classified as military draft evaders, an issue that has generated widespread demonstrations and intensified tensions between Israel’s military establishment and the chareidi community.

{Matzav.com}