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New York City’s controversial tax on luxury second homes is facing mounting legal and financial challenges after more than half of the 10,000 property owners who have applied for exemptions received approval, raising serious questions about whether Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration can collect the more than $500 million in annual revenue it originally projected.

Figures provided by the city’s Department of Finance show that, as of Friday morning, approximately 5,700 exemption applications had been approved. The number represents 57% of the applications submitted, although it does not establish that every remaining application has been denied, since some may still be awaiting a decision.

The development comes as property owners continue to challenge the new surcharge in court and submit applications to have their properties excluded from the tax.

When Mamdani and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled the measure, they presented it as a significant new source of revenue for the city. The tax targets luxury properties that are not used as their owners’ primary residences, including qualifying co-op apartments valued at more than $1 million and houses worth over $5 million.

City officials estimated that the measure would produce upwards of $500 million annually, money the administration has said would help finance municipal services and public priorities.

However, attorneys representing property owners argue that the city’s initial calculations may have substantially overstated the number of residences actually subject to the tax.

“I think the bigger fiscal question is whether the city’s $500 million revenue estimate was realistic in the first place,” said Ben Williams, an attorney with Rosenberg & Ellis who represents plaintiffs challenging the surcharge.

“Once primary residences are removed and overstated market values are challenged, we may find that the amount actually collectible is significantly less than projected,” he said.

The exemption figures are particularly significant because the tax is intended to apply to second homes rather than primary residences. Property owners who can establish that their homes qualify for an exemption may be able to avoid the surcharge altogether.

The administration is also confronting a series of lawsuits challenging the way the tax was introduced and questioning whether certain property owners are being treated unfairly.

One of the most consequential cases was brought on Staten Island by Randy Mastro, an attorney who previously served as first deputy mayor under Eric Adams.

The lawsuit challenged the city’s procedures for implementing the tax, including the notices sent to thousands of homeowners informing them that their properties could be subject to the new assessment.

A little more than a week ago, state Supreme Court Justice Wayne Ozzi ruled in Mastro’s favor, determining that the city would have to restart the implementation process.

The decision represented a potentially significant setback for the administration, which had already begun notifying property owners and processing applications under the new system.

According to the ruling, the city had prematurely mailed notices to approximately 17,000 homeowners who were initially identified as potentially subject to the surcharge.

City officials have since revised that estimate downward, indicating that the number of affected property owners is now believed to be between approximately 10,000 and 13,000.

The reduction has added to questions about the reliability of the administration’s original revenue projections, although the number of properties ultimately subject to the tax and the amount owed by each owner remain to be determined.

City Hall immediately appealed Ozzi’s ruling and obtained a stay of the order, allowing the administration to continue implementing and collecting the surcharge while the appeal proceeds.

As a result, the tax remains in effect for now, despite the lower court’s ruling against the city’s rollout procedures.

The legal challenges extend beyond the Staten Island case. Two additional lawsuits pending in Long Island courts argue that the surcharge unfairly discriminates against property owners who maintain their primary residences outside New York City.

Among the prominent property owners challenging the measure are casino billionaire Steve Wynn and former U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who have joined litigation questioning the constitutionality of the tax.

Another group of plaintiffs includes property owners who contend that the surcharge reaches beyond the extraordinarily wealthy individuals whom city officials originally identified as its intended targets.

Some homeowners have complained that they face substantial additional tax bills despite owning apartments that they purchased years ago or use only part of the year.

One plaintiff, Scott Golden, was reportedly assessed an additional $48,949 when selling his Upper West Side condominium. Another, Kent Barwick, faces more than $83,000 in additional taxes on a cooperative apartment he retains for part-time use.

The lawsuits also challenge the retroactive application of the surcharge to January 2026, even though the legislation authorizing the tax was enacted in May.

Real estate attorney Joshua Wurtzel, a partner at Schlam Stone & Dolan LLP, warned that the litigation could have consequences far beyond the exemption applications currently being processed.

“If the court’s decision ends up being upheld on appeal, which I think there’s probably at least a decent chance [of] that, then all of this kind of goes out the window,” Wurtzel said.

The financial uncertainty surrounding the tax was evident even before the latest wave of exemption approvals.

An April analysis by New York City Comptroller Mark Levine’s office concluded that the surcharge could potentially generate as much as $510 million annually. However, the report also cautioned that uncertainties involving the design and implementation of the tax could reduce collections to between $340 million and $380 million.

Those estimates preceded the latest exemption figures and legal developments, which have intensified questions about the amount the city can ultimately collect.

Despite the mounting challenges, the Mamdani administration has continued to defend both the surcharge and its original revenue expectations.

“We continue to be confident in that assessment of what the annual revenue will look like,” an administration representative told reporters at an unrelated August press conference.

The Finance Department has also maintained that the tax is intended to ensure that owners of expensive secondary residences help pay for essential city services.

A department representative said the surcharge requires such owners to “contribute their fair share toward schools, safer streets, and the services New Yorkers rely on. “

Officials have repeatedly extended the deadline for property owners to seek exemptions as litigation and questions about the program’s implementation have continued.

The deadline, previously set for October 6, has now been moved to October 13, marking the third extension.

“These meritless lawsuits have created a lot of unnecessary confusion,” a Finance Department representative said. “Nevertheless, the Administration remains fully committed to ensuring that New Yorkers have the time and information they need to apply, so we are extending the deadline for exemption applications to October 13.

“While this legal process moves forward, we will continue administering the surcharge fairly, efficiently and in full compliance with the law, as we have done from day one,” the representative said.

{Matzav.com}

A ZAKA representative in Ukraine has issued a detailed clarification concerning the mysterious death of R’ Yitzchok Elmakias z”l in Uman, stressing that he never determined the deceased was murdered and has no authoritative information establishing the cause of death.

Nachman Dickstein, ZAKA’s representative in Ukraine, released the statement following widespread discussion of a halachic ruling issued by Rav Chaim Yosef Dovid Weiss concerning whether the burial could be delayed to allow the circumstances surrounding Elmakias’ death to be investigated.

The case has generated considerable attention in Uman and beyond, particularly after reports suggested that the death was being treated as a possible murder and that rabbinic guidance had been sought to permit delaying the burial for a criminal investigation.

Dickstein said those reports had created a misleading impression of both his involvement and the nature of the halachic question presented to Rav Weiss.

According to Dickstein, the family had received information raising concerns that Elmakias might not have died of natural causes. Seeking to establish what had happened, the family retained an attorney and requested that the circumstances of the death be examined.

“Following information brought to the attention of the deceased’s family indicating concern that the death may not have been natural, the family requested clarification of the circumstances and retained the services of an attorney,” Dickstein explained.

He emphasized that the possibility of an unnatural death does not, by itself, establish that a murder occurred.

“An unnatural death does not necessarily indicate murder, and there are various possibilities about which no conclusions should be drawn before the professional examination is completed,” he said.

The clarification follows the publication of a halachic correspondence involving Rav Weiss, which prompted discussion about the permissibility of postponing burial when questions remain about the circumstances of a person’s death.

Under ordinary circumstances, halacha places great importance on bringing a deceased person to burial without unnecessary delay. However, unusual situations involving the need to establish the cause of death can raise complex questions requiring the guidance of a qualified halachic authority.

Dickstein explained that the question submitted to Rav Weiss concerned the halachic permissibility of delaying the burial at the family’s request so that the circumstances could be clarified.

It was not submitted on the assumption that a crime had definitely occurred, nor was it based on any established identification of a perpetrator.

“The honorable Rav’s response was given within the framework of the halachic discussion, and this clarification is in no way intended to change his words or challenge his ruling,” Dickstein stated.

He expressed regret that some of the coverage had presented the matter as though murder had already been established or suggested that he personally was conducting a criminal investigation.

Dickstein stressed that neither characterization was accurate.

With the family having obtained legal representation, he explained, responsibility for determining the circumstances of the death now rests exclusively with the appropriate authorities and the attorneys acting on the family’s behalf.

“I am not an investigative, medical, or legal authority, and I am not involved in managing the investigation. Our role is limited to assisting in preserving the dignity of the deceased and helping his family,” he said.

The case dates back to Rosh Hashanah, when ZAKA volunteers responded to a wooded area in Uman where a Jewish man had been found lifeless. The discovery prompted concern within the community, particularly given the large number of Jewish visitors who travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah.

As questions surrounding the death emerged, the family sought to determine whether further examination was necessary before burial could proceed.

The subsequent halachic ruling attracted attention because of the sensitive balance between the obligation to arrange a timely Jewish burial and the family’s desire to obtain reliable answers about the circumstances of the death.

Dickstein made clear that ZAKA’s role remains focused on assisting the deceased and his relatives, rather than determining criminal responsibility or drawing medical conclusions.

He said that once the required procedures are completed and the body is legally released, ZAKA personnel and other volunteers will be available to help the family arrange burial in accordance with halacha, wherever the family chooses.

The ZAKA representative concluded by appealing to news organizations and the public to exercise restraint when discussing the case, particularly while the circumstances remain unresolved.

He urged the media not to present suspicions as established facts or attribute conclusions to individuals who have not made them.

Dickstein also emphasized the importance of preserving the dignity of R’ Yitzchok Elmakias z”l and respecting his family’s right to receive clear, authoritative answers regarding his passing.

{Matzav.com}

A remarkable statement attributed to the Chazon Ish zt”l, that the tremendous ameilus baTorah of Rav Boruch Ber Leibowitz zt”l and Rav Shimon Shkop zt”l prevented Hitler, yemach shemo, from conquering Lithuania during their lifetimes, was shared by Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein during a wedding in which descendants of Rav Boruch Ber were celebrating a simcha.

Rav Zilberstein, rov of the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood of Bnei Brak and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, related the extraordinary account during the chuppah of the daughter of Rav Yisroel Meir Druck, rosh yeshiva of the Tiferes Yisroel yeshivos.

The wedding, held Thursday, celebrated the marriage of Rav Druck’s daughter to the chosson, Rav Yehoshua Malin, a grandson of Rav Isser Yehuda Malin, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Zichron Meir.

The chosson is also a brother of Rav Chaim Malin, a grandson and close confidant of Rav Zilberstein.

During his remarks beneath the chuppah, Rav Zilberstein focused on the family’s distinguished lineage, noting that the chosson and his family are descendants of Rav Boruch Ber Leibowitz, the legendary rosh yeshiva of Kamenitz and author of the Birkas Shmuel.

Rav Zilberstein then shared a statement he said he had heard directly from his brother-in-law, Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l, who had received it from the Chazon Ish.

“I want to tell everyone here something very, very important,” Rav Zilberstein began. “My brother-in-law, the Sar HaTorah, Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l, told me something, and I ask everyone to listen carefully to what I am about to relate.”

He then revealed the extraordinary statement.

“The Chazon Ish told him that as long as Rav Boruch Ber and Rav Shimon Shkop were alive, Hitler, yemach shemo, was unable to conquer Lithuania because of their ameilus baTorah.”

The account attributed to the Chazon Ish highlights the extraordinary spiritual power ascribed to the Torah learning of these two giants, whose dedication to Torah was considered a source of protection for the Jewish people.

Rav Boruch Ber Leibowitz, one of the most prominent roshei yeshiva of prewar Europe, was renowned for his extraordinary depth in learning and his lifelong dedication to developing generations of talmidei chachomim. Rav Shimon Shkop, the famed rosh yeshiva of Grodno and author of Shaarei Yosher, was likewise among the towering Torah personalities of his generation.

Both passed away in 1939, before Nazi Germany invaded Lithuania in 1941.

Rav Zilberstein continued by connecting the statement of the Chazon Ish to the simcha taking place beneath the chuppah.

“This is something astonishing,” he declared. “Why? Because according to the tradition accepted by everyone, grandparents come to the weddings of their grandchildren.”

He explained that, according to this understanding, the presence of Rav Boruch Ber was particularly significant at the wedding of his descendants.

“If so, according to what is accepted, Rav Boruch Ber is here with us right now. The very same Rav Boruch Ber whose ameilus baTorah prevented Hitler from conquering Lithuania during his lifetime.”

Rav Zilberstein urged those gathered to appreciate the exceptional opportunity presented by the occasion and to draw spiritual strength from the presence of such a towering Torah personality.

“I want to tell everyone that we can receive something from him! All of us can receive something right now, and we can do something with it. He is here, and we can ask that HaKadosh Boruch Hu help us, that the tzaddikim who are here protect us, that no one should be able to conquer us, and that the kallah and chosson should have happy lives. Ve’nomar amen!”

{Matzav.com}

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher has issued an unequivocal ultimatum to Israel’s political leadership, declaring that his party will neither join nor support any future government unless legislation formally regulating the status of yeshiva bochurim is actually passed into law.

In his first interview since assuming the chairmanship of United Torah Judaism, Asher told Kikar Hashabbat that the party will no longer accept coalition promises or political commitments concerning the draft law. Instead, he insisted that the legislation must be enacted before UTJ agrees to participate in or support a government.

“We, United Torah Judaism, will not enter a government that does not actually pass the law regulating the status of yeshiva students, known as the draft law. Period!” Asher declared during the interview.

He emphasized that the condition applies equally to joining a coalition and supporting one from outside, leaving no room for an arrangement in which UTJ provides parliamentary backing in exchange for promises of future legislation.

“There is no other way to interpret this: We will neither join nor support a government that does not first pass the draft law,” he stated.

The declaration comes amid the continuing political and legal controversy surrounding the status of yeshiva bochurim and the efforts to establish a legislative framework that would enable those dedicated to full-time Torah learning to continue their studies without being subject to military conscription.

Asher’s remarks represent a firm position by UTJ that the passage of legislation protecting yeshiva students must be a prerequisite for the party’s participation in any future government, rather than an obligation to be fulfilled at some later stage of a coalition’s term.

The UTJ chairman also addressed the substance of the proposed legislation, making clear that the party’s demands extend beyond simply passing a law bearing the title of a draft arrangement.

According to Asher, any acceptable legislation must protect those whose lives are dedicated to Torah learning and must not impose penalties on bochurim and avreichim who remain in yeshiva or kollel.

“The correct law is one that addresses someone who sits and learns, whose Torah is his profession. Someone who sits and learns should not face sanctions. That is our position!” Asher declared.

His comments directly address one of the central disputes surrounding the draft legislation: whether financial or other sanctions should be imposed on yeshiva students who do not enlist.

Asher made clear that UTJ’s position is that those engaged in full-time Torah study should not be subjected to such penalties.

The ultimatum places the draft law at the center of any future coalition negotiations and signals that UTJ intends to make the protection of the yeshiva world a nonnegotiable condition for its political support.

Asher’s full interview with Kikar Hashabbat is scheduled to be released Monday.

{Matzav.com}

All are asked to be mispallel for the refuah sheleimah of Rav Mordechai Wolmark, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Shaarei Torah in Monsey, New York, who has been admitted to the hospital.

News of the rosh yeshiva‘s hospitalization has prompted a call for tefillos on his behalf, with talmidim, alumni, and members of the wider community being urged to have him in mind during davening and the recitation of Tehillim.

All are asked to daven for Rav Mordechai Gimpel ben Chaya Avigail.

{Matzav.com}

Naftali Bennett sparked an uproar among Israel’s anti-Netanyahu political parties on Sunday after suggesting that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu could serve as a minister in a future government led by Bennett, prompting furious objections from opposition leaders and forcing Bennett to clarify that he would not join Netanyahu under any circumstances.

Bennett, chairman of the Beyachad party, made the controversial remarks during an election conference hosted by the newspaper Hador, where he was asked about the possibility of Netanyahu participating in a government under his leadership.

Rather than categorically ruling out such an arrangement, Bennett initially suggested that Netanyahu could be offered a ministerial position if he agreed to the fundamental principles of Bennett’s proposed government.

“As long as we agree on the fundamental principles, I have no problem with Netanyahu being a minister in our government,” Bennett said.

He went on to praise Netanyahu’s previous performance as finance minister, recalling his tenure in the position more than two decades ago.

“In 2003, Netanyahu, and I say this to his credit, was one of the best finance ministers the State of Israel has ever had. I don’t know whether a Jew approaching 80 still has the energy for this, but if he accepts all our central principles, which include an immediate state commission of inquiry, universal military service, and a constitution for Israel, let him pick up the phone,” Bennett said.

The comments immediately generated controversy among parties opposed to Netanyahu, whose leaders have repeatedly insisted that they would refuse to participate in any government that includes the prime minister.

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party and a former IDF chief of staff, was among the first to reject Bennett’s suggestion.

“I do not accept this. Anyone who held a position on October 7 is unfit to serve in positions of command and leadership, including as finance minister,” Eisenkot declared.

Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman went further, publicly demanding that Bennett retract his remarks and calling on the parties in the anti-Netanyahu camp to reaffirm their commitment to excluding the prime minister from any future coalition.

“I call on my colleagues in the Zionist bloc to make it absolutely clear: The world can turn upside down, but we will not sit with Netanyahu. In the next government, Netanyahu will not be able to serve even as minister for regional cooperation,” Lieberman said.

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, also issued an emphatic rejection, declaring that his party would never agree to Netanyahu holding any position in a government it supports.

“Netanyahu will not sit in any government as long as it depends on the Democrats. Not as finance minister, not as water minister, and not as a minister without portfolio,” Golan said.

Golan accused Netanyahu of bearing responsibility for the failures surrounding the October 7 massacre and criticized his government’s policies concerning military service and judicial reform.

“The man responsible for the October 7 failure, who led a government that promoted mass draft evasion during wartime and the judicial overhaul, will receive no approval from us to return to power. We will not sit with Netanyahu and his partners. Period,” Golan declared.

The swift and unusually forceful reactions highlighted the divisions within the political camp seeking to replace Netanyahu, particularly over whether any circumstances could justify cooperation with the current prime minister.

Bennett, who has sought to position himself as a central figure in efforts to form an alternative government, soon moved to contain the controversy.

Following the backlash, he published a statement on social media insisting that his original comments had been misunderstood and that he had no intention of serving alongside Netanyahu in any coalition arrangement.

“I suggest everyone calm down. I have said a thousand times that Netanyahu bears direct and personal responsibility for the October 7 massacre and therefore must go home. We will not sit with him under any circumstances,” Bennett wrote.

He maintained that his earlier remarks were intended to demonstrate the impossibility of Netanyahu accepting the conditions he had outlined, rather than to suggest a genuine willingness to offer him a ministerial position.

“Anyone who saw my remarks today understood that they were intended to illustrate the absurdity, since Netanyahu opposes universal military service, opposes a state commission of inquiry, and opposes a constitution for Israel,” Bennett explained.

An Israeli district court has rejected Sara Netanyahu’s attempt to have a multimillion-shekel defamation lawsuit filed against her by opposition politician Yair Golan dismissed, ruling that the prime minister’s wife cannot avoid potential responsibility for statements she made during a televised interview simply because a television station broadcast them.

The lawsuit, filed by Golan, chairman of Israel’s Democrats party and a retired IDF major general, seeks 2.55 million shekels, approximately $800,000, in damages over remarks Netanyahu made during an interview with Channel 14 concerning the October 7 Hamas massacre.

In its decision, the court rejected Netanyahu’s arguments for dismissing the case at the preliminary stage and ordered her to pay Golan 2,000 shekels in legal expenses.

The ruling allows the lawsuit to proceed but does not determine whether Netanyahu’s statements were defamatory or whether Golan is entitled to compensation.

At the center of the dispute are comments Netanyahu made during a Channel 14 interview that Golan alleges insinuated he had advance knowledge of the October 7 attack.

During the interview, Netanyahu stated, “Yair Golan was dressed and ready on the morning of October 7 when the prime minister did not know.”

Golan maintains that the remark suggested he possessed information about the impending Hamas assault before Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu or other Israeli officials were aware of what was unfolding.

His attorneys argue that the insinuation was false and seriously damaging to his reputation, particularly given the sensitivity surrounding the events of October 7.

The lawsuit was filed through attorneys Giora Erdinast, Almog Gil-Or, and Yarden Shochat of the EBN law firm after Netanyahu allegedly refused to apologize for her statements or retract them.

In seeking dismissal, Netanyahu argued that she had merely participated in an interview and that legal responsibility for publishing and distributing her remarks rested with third parties, including Channel 14, which aired the interview.

Her attorneys sought to distinguish between the individual who makes a statement during an interview and the media organization responsible for transmitting that statement to the public.

The district court rejected that distinction.

The judge determined that Netanyahu had agreed to be interviewed with the knowledge and understanding that her statements would be broadcast to a broad audience. Under those circumstances, the court found no basis for treating the interviewee’s participation and the broadcaster’s transmission as entirely separate acts for purposes of dismissing the lawsuit.

“There is no justification for an artificial separation between the aspect of ‘publication’ by the interviewee and the ‘publication’ by the interviewing and broadcasting body. These are two sides of the same coin and constitute a single publication,” the judge wrote in the decision.

The ruling addresses an important legal question concerning responsibility for statements made in media interviews. It establishes, at this preliminary stage, that an interviewee cannot obtain dismissal of a defamation claim solely by arguing that the broadcaster, rather than the speaker, was responsible for making the remarks public.

However, the court did not decide whether the specific statements attributed to Netanyahu meet the legal definition of defamation. That issue, along with the question of any damages, remains to be examined as the proceedings continue.

The lawsuit also extends beyond the allegations of defamation.

Golan is seeking civil compensation based on an additional claim involving an alleged violation of the criminal-law provision dealing with incitement to violence.

His legal team argues that Netanyahu’s statements should be examined in the context of their potential consequences and the public atmosphere surrounding the accusations.

The lawsuit further alleges that one of Netanyahu’s advisers viewed the Channel 14 interview before it was broadcast. Golan’s attorneys intend to rely on that allegation as part of their arguments concerning the circumstances in which the remarks were published.

Those assertions remain allegations presented by the plaintiffs. The court has not established that Netanyahu committed defamation or incitement, nor has it made findings concerning the alleged advance review of the interview.

Following the decision, Golan issued a sharply worded statement welcoming the rejection of Netanyahu’s dismissal request.

“Once again, it has been proven that the poison machine will stop at nothing — neither lies about the heroes of October 7 nor attempts to undermine public confidence in the judicial system. Today’s ruling is further proof that truth will triumph over lies. Those who incite violence and spread false accusations will not succeed in escaping responsibility. We will continue until justice is fully pursued in court, and we will defend the fighters for Israeli democracy with our own bodies,” Golan said.

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Israeli health and environmental authorities have ordered the suspension of classes at two schools in Kiryat Ata, near Haifa, following the detection of exceptionally high concentrations of benzene in the air surrounding the Haifa Bay oil refineries. Residents living near the industrial complex have been advised to remain indoors whenever possible, close their windows, and limit unnecessary outdoor activity.

The emergency precautions were announced Sunday after air-monitoring stations recorded unusually elevated levels of the hazardous chemical over several days, raising concerns about potential exposure among residents, schoolchildren, and workers in the surrounding communities.

In coordination with the Kiryat Ata Municipality, the Health Ministry and Environmental Protection Ministry decided that regular classes would not take place at the Social High School and the Erezim School during the following 24 hours. Both institutions are located near the refinery complex, and arrangements were made to relocate their students to alternative facilities.

The ministries issued special guidance for people living or working within approximately one kilometer, or about six-tenths of a mile, of the refineries. Residents were urged to avoid spending time outdoors unless necessary, with particular emphasis on protecting children and pregnant women.

Employees at nearby industrial facilities were also advised to keep windows closed and operate air-conditioning systems to reduce the amount of outdoor air entering their workplaces.

The warnings followed troubling readings recorded over the weekend of October 9 and 10, when monitoring equipment near the Deshanim industrial area in Kiryat Ata detected exceptionally high benzene concentrations.

Additional elevated readings were recorded Sunday at a monitoring station in Haifa near the former vehicle licensing office, indicating that the problem was affecting more than one monitoring location in the Haifa Bay area.

Although measurements showed some improvement Sunday morning, benzene concentrations began climbing again during the afternoon, prompting authorities to maintain precautionary measures and issue public warnings.

Benzene is a hazardous chemical found in petroleum and other industrial products. Exposure to elevated concentrations can pose health risks, and prolonged exposure has been associated with serious illnesses, including certain blood cancers. The level of danger in any particular incident depends on the concentration of the chemical and the duration of exposure.

In response to the monitoring results, the Environmental Protection Ministry ordered an immediate halt to maintenance operations at the Bazan refinery complex.

The maintenance activities had been taking place in recent days alongside repair work intended to restore damage sustained by the facilities during the war.

Environmental officials instructed the refinery operator to investigate the incident and determine the circumstances responsible for the abnormal benzene readings.

The ministry also demanded that the company submit a detailed plan outlining its intended work procedures and the safeguards it would implement to prevent further violations of air-quality standards.

Approval to resume the suspended operations will depend on the ministry’s review of those plans and the measures proposed to prevent additional hazardous emissions.

The situation has renewed attention to the environmental concerns surrounding the Haifa Bay industrial zone, where large petrochemical facilities operate near populated residential neighborhoods, schools, and commercial areas.

Officials from the Health Ministry and Environmental Protection Ministry are expected to conduct another assessment Monday, October 12, using updated air-monitoring results to determine whether the restrictions can be eased or whether further precautions are necessary.

Residents have been advised to follow official instructions as authorities continue monitoring air quality in the affected areas.

{Matzav.com}

A Jewish comedian in London was expelled from a creative writing group after identifying himself as a Zionist, prompting a legal dispute over allegations that he was discriminated against because of his beliefs and Jewish identity.

Harry Deansway, who had participated in the group for approximately six months, says he was informed that he was no longer welcome after the woman running the group questioned him about his political views concerning Israel.

According to Deansway, the confrontation began when the group’s organizer sought clarification about his position on Zionism and the Jewish state. After he confirmed that he considered himself a Zionist, she allegedly told him that his beliefs “support the massacre of an entire population.”

The organizer then made clear that he could no longer participate in the group’s activities, telling him, “You have no place in the group.”

Deansway’s removal brought an abrupt end to his involvement in the writing circle, where he had been a member for half a year. The repercussions reportedly extended beyond the group itself, with a literary evening that he had organized subsequently being canceled.

The incident drew the attention of UK Lawyers for Israel, a legal advocacy organization that sent a formal warning letter to the group’s management challenging the circumstances of Deansway’s exclusion.

The organization contends that removing the Jewish comedian because of his views on Zionism and his identity may constitute unlawful discrimination under Britain’s Equality Act 2010.

The group at the center of the dispute is the Offbeat Writers’ Group in north London, organized by Ruby Sullivan. Deansway had attended its sessions for six months without any reported difficulties before Sullivan raised the issue of his views on Israel.

According to correspondence described by UK Lawyers for Israel, Sullivan told Deansway that she was “very strongly pro-Palestine” and believed their differing political positions would interfere with their ability to work together.

Deansway responded that he was “Jewish and a Zionist,” while explaining that he also supported Palestinian rights. He described his understanding of Zionism as support for the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland and said that this did not mean endorsing actions that caused suffering to Palestinians.

Sullivan nevertheless rejected his explanation, writing, “I really can’t align with your beliefs as they support the massacre of an entire population.”

She went on to state, “I don’t think there is a place in the Offbeat Writers’ Group for you because of this.”

The organizer also reportedly disclosed plans to introduce an ideological declaration for prospective members, including an “antiapartheid free zone commitment,” raising further concerns about whether participation in the group would depend on applicants’ political positions concerning Israel.

The dispute took another turn when Sullivan referred to the suffering endured by Jews throughout history, stating that “because of the horrific past the Jewish people have endured, they should not want to inflict the same suffering on others”.

UK Lawyers for Israel objected to that statement, arguing that it improperly associated Jews collectively with the actions of the Israeli government. The organization pointed to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, which identifies holding Jews collectively responsible for Israel’s actions as a potential manifestation of antisemitism.

The legal organization maintains that Deansway’s exclusion may violate protections under the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination on grounds including race, religion, and certain protected philosophical beliefs.

Its legal warning argues that Deansway may be protected under several provisions of the legislation, including those concerning his Jewish ethnicity, religious identity, and belief in Jewish national self-determination.

The controversy also affected a ticketed literary event Deansway had arranged for October 13 at Bar Gemišt, a London venue.

After Sullivan withdrew from the event and other performers also pulled out, the venue canceled the booking. Management explained that its original agreement to host the gathering had been based on its existing relationship with Sullivan and the writing group.

UK Lawyers for Israel subsequently contacted the venue’s owners, warning that the cancellation could also raise questions under Britain’s antidiscrimination legislation.

However, the bar’s directors, Marion Zoelle and Uroš Dezutelj, rejected the allegations in a response dated October 10.

They maintained that their decision resulted from changes to the event and communication problems rather than Deansway’s Jewish identity or Zionist beliefs.

The owners said Deansway remained welcome at the establishment but declined to restore the canceled event. They also indicated that they would defend themselves against allegations they regarded as unfounded.

UK Lawyers for Israel condemned the treatment of Deansway, describing the incident as an example of ideological discrimination against Jewish artists in Britain’s cultural community.

“This is McCarthyism dressed up as progressive politics. A Jewish writer has been subjected to an ideological loyalty test and excluded because he believes in Jewish self-determination.

“People are entitled to oppose Zionism, but they cannot lawfully exclude Jews from cultural activities because they refuse to renounce their beliefs.

“Jewish artists should not have to pass a political purity test to participate in London’s cultural life.”

The dispute comes amid heightened tensions over Zionism within British political and cultural organizations. Earlier this month, Britain’s Green Party adopted a controversial motion declaring that Zionism is racism, prompting criticism from Jewish communal leaders and concerns about the implications for Jewish members who identify as Zionists.

A recently published study by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research found that the proportion of British Jews identifying as Zionists increased from 2022 to 2025, reaching 66 percent, underscoring the significance of the issue within Britain’s Jewish community.

No court ruling has been reported in Deansway’s case, and the legal allegations against the writing group and the venue remain disputed.

{Matzav.com}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement of an immediate energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine came without his knowledge, raising serious questions about whether an agreement had actually been reached between the warring countries.

Speaking to Axios reporter Barak Ravid shortly after Trump’s announcement, Zelensky said the supposed agreement was news to him, although he emphasized that Ukraine would be willing to accept such an arrangement if Russia agreed to halt its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

“The ceasefire announcement was news for me. But if Russians agree to an energy ceasefire, Ukraine will agree,” Zelensky told Ravid.

The Ukrainian leader also asked Washington to clarify precisely what had been negotiated with Russian President Vladimir Putin and when the proposed cessation of attacks was supposed to begin.

“If President Trump negotiated it with Putin, please tell us when the ceasefire begins. We are ready, and we will accept it,” Zelensky said.

The extraordinary exchange followed a declaration by Trump on Truth Social earlier Sunday that Moscow and Kyiv had reached an agreement to immediately suspend attacks on each other’s energy facilities.

“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” Trump wrote.

The president did not provide details about the agreement, including its precise terms, how compliance would be monitored or whether Russia had formally committed to stopping its strikes.

Zelensky’s response immediately cast uncertainty over the announcement, particularly because Ukraine, one of the two countries supposedly party to the agreement, appeared to have received no advance notification that a deal had been finalized.

The Ukrainian president subsequently issued a more formal statement expressing support for an energy ceasefire while emphasizing that Kyiv was still waiting for information from the United States.

“Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well. We are awaiting details from the American side,” Zelensky said.

He added that Ukraine supports measures aimed at reducing hostilities, protecting civilian lives and ultimately bringing the war to an end.

The announcement came amid sharply deteriorating relations between Washington and Kyiv over Ukraine’s continuing attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Trump has increasingly criticized the Ukrainian military’s strikes against Russian energy facilities, arguing that the attacks are contributing to rising international fuel prices and harming American consumers.

The dispute intensified Friday when Trump announced an agreement with Putin to ease American sanctions on Russian diesel exports in an effort to increase global fuel supplies and bring down prices.

Zelensky strongly criticized that decision, arguing that allowing Russia to generate additional revenue from energy exports would provide Moscow with more resources to finance its military campaign against Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president described the sanctions relief as “not fair and not honest” during an interview with Axios, expressing frustration that Washington had negotiated the arrangement with Moscow while Ukrainian representatives were engaged in discussions with American officials.

Those discussions were taking place in Miami, where Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had been meeting with Ukrainian representatives and senior diplomats from European countries and NATO.

The negotiations were intended to explore possible arrangements for reducing hostilities and advancing efforts to end the war.

The disagreement escalated further Saturday when Trump publicly criticized Zelensky and suggested that Ukraine needed different leadership capable of reaching an agreement with Russia.

Zelensky responded by maintaining that decisions about Ukraine’s leadership belong to the Ukrainian people.

The energy ceasefire announcement appeared to offer a possible diplomatic opening after several days of confrontation, but the lack of a confirmed Russian commitment quickly complicated the situation.

According to subsequent reporting by Axios, a White House official said the administration was discussing a narrower arrangement under which Russia and Ukraine would stop attacking each other’s oil refineries.

The official indicated that a broader agreement protecting power plants and electricity networks could follow if the initial arrangement succeeded.

That distinction is significant for Ukraine, whose electricity infrastructure has repeatedly been targeted by Russian missiles and drones.

A Ukrainian official told Axios that the proposed refinery-focused arrangement would be unequal because Ukraine has only one oil refinery, which has already sustained repeated Russian attacks and is not fully operational, while Russia maintains a much larger network of refineries.

Ukraine’s immediate priority, the official explained, is securing an end to Russian strikes on its electricity grid.

The White House official also acknowledged that Russia had not yet formally accepted the proposed arrangement and was still considering it.

Meanwhile, Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure continued Sunday despite Trump’s declaration that a ceasefire had already taken effect.

Zelensky reported that Russian strikes had targeted energy facilities, including a power plant in Kyiv and a combined heat-and-power facility in Kharkiv.

In his evening address, the Ukrainian president described continued drone and aerial bomb attacks against Ukrainian targets, underscoring the absence of an observable halt in hostilities.

The latest developments follow a similar announcement by Trump in September, when he declared that an energy ceasefire had been arranged between Russia and Ukraine. Neither country subsequently confirmed that a binding agreement had been reached, and attacks on energy facilities continued.

With winter approaching, the protection of Ukraine’s power generation and heating infrastructure remains a central concern for Kyiv, particularly after repeated Russian strikes have damaged facilities serving civilian populations.

Zelensky said he had discussed the latest ceasefire proposal with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

For now, Ukraine has publicly committed itself to accepting a reciprocal energy ceasefire, while the status of any Russian agreement remains uncertain and the attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure continue.

{Matzav.com}

The city of Acco, Israel, is mourning the passing of Rav Amram Azarzar zt”l, one of its longtime and highly respected Torah personalities, who devoted his life to spreading Torah, strengthening Yiddishkeit, and bringing fellow Jews closer to Hashem. He passed away Sunday surrounded by members of his family and loved ones.

Rav Azarzar zt”l was a beloved and widely admired figure in Acco, where he spent decades working tirelessly on behalf of the city’s Jewish community. He was known for his exceptional dedication to Torah learning, his devotion to the needs of others, and his efforts to strengthen Torah observance among Jews from all backgrounds.

Throughout his life, Rav Azarzar was among the first to arrive at shul in the morning and among the last to leave at night. He delivered Torah shiurim to the public and invested tremendous effort in inspiring Jews to strengthen their connection to Torah and mitzvos.

He was especially devoted to raising his children in the ways of Torah and yiras Shomayim, while setting a personal example of selflessness and concern for others. His commitment to chesed extended to performing the mitzvah of chesed shel emes, caring for those who had passed away and ensuring that they received a proper Jewish burial.

For many years, Rav Azarzar headed the Chevra Kadisha in Acco, dedicating himself to the sacred responsibility of tending to the deceased with dignity and respect.

He was also instrumental in establishing and strengthening Torah institutions and outreach activities throughout the city, helping build Acco’s Torah community and inspiring numerous Jews to return to a life of Torah observance.

Rav Azarzar maintained close ties with the illustrious Abuchatzeira family, particularly Rav Dovid Abuchatzeira of Nahariya.

Despite his extensive communal responsibilities, he remained deeply committed to his own learning, devoting countless hours to the study of both the revealed and hidden dimensions of Torah.

He was also among the founders of the Shas movement in Acco, playing an important role in strengthening Torah representation and serving the religious needs of the city’s residents.

Rav Azarzar leaves behind his wife and a distinguished family of children and descendants who continue his legacy of Torah and good deeds.

His sons include Rav Chaim Azarzar, executive director of the institutions of the Admor Rav Yekusiel Abuchatzeira; Rav Meir Azarzar, a community rov in Hong Kong; Rav Eliyahu Azarzar, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Mishkan Evyatar; Rav Shimon Azarzar, a registrar in the yeshiva world; and Rav Yosef Noam Azarzar, a businessman and noted baal chesed.

Approximately ten months ago, Rav Azarzar suffered a devastating personal loss with the passing of his daughter, Mrs. Ilana Yael Levy a”h, of Zichron Yaakov, who passed away at a young age following an illness.

Mrs. Levy was a devoted mechaneches who followed in her father’s footsteps, dedicating herself to instilling Torah values and yiras Shomayim in her students.

The levayah took place Sunday night departing from the Sephardic funeral chapel at Har Hamenuchos in the Givat Shaul neighborhood of Yerushalayim, where Rav Azarzar was laid to rest.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Two additional Flydubai copilots have been arrested in the United Arab Emirates as authorities expand their investigation into the attempted hijacking of a passenger aircraft bound for Israel, during which a suspected terrorist allegedly planned to crash the plane at Ben Gurion Airport.

The two pilots, both citizens of the Maldives, reportedly knew the principal suspect, identified as Al-Hamami, through their employment with Flydubai. Investigators are examining their possible connections to the alleged plot, although authorities have not disclosed the specific suspicions against them.

The arrests were reported Sunday evening by journalist Lee Ayash of i24NEWS, citing information concerning the ongoing investigation in the Emirates.

According to the report, the Maldivian Embassy in the UAE notified the families of the two pilots in recent days that their relatives had been taken into custody in connection with the investigation into the attempted attack.

Both men reportedly worked alongside Al-Hamami at Flydubai and were personally acquainted with him through their professional activities. They are also believed to have lived in the same residential building as the main suspect.

Investigators have additionally established, according to the report, that both detained pilots had previously flown to Israel while working for the airline.

Their arrests represent a further development in the investigation into the attempted attack aboard the Flydubai flight, which authorities in the Emirates have described as a plot to seize control of the aircraft and crash it at Ben Gurion Airport.

According to findings previously released by UAE authorities, Al-Hamami, who was serving as a copilot on the flight, allegedly intended to take over the aircraft and carry out a deliberate crash at Israel’s main international airport.

During the incident, the suspect reportedly attacked the aircraft’s captain inside the cockpit using an emergency axe. Passengers and crew members subsequently managed to overpower him, preventing him from gaining control of the plane and thwarting the alleged attack.

The latest arrests have raised questions about whether the suspected hijacking attempt involved additional individuals or whether Al-Hamami acted independently.

However, there has been no public confirmation that either of the two Maldivian pilots participated in planning the attack, assisted in its execution, or possessed advance knowledge of the suspect’s intentions.

Authorities have also not specified whether the men are being investigated as potential accomplices or are being held for questioning because of their personal and professional connections to Al-Hamami.

The investigation remains ongoing, with Emirati authorities examining the possibility that other individuals may have been involved in the alleged plot against the Israel-bound aircraft.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani escalated his attacks on federal immigration enforcement Sunday, comparing the appearance of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer involved in a Bronx shooting to that of a “mass shooter” and accusing ICE of terrorizing New Yorkers.

The mayor’s remarks came days after federal immigration officers shot and wounded Oscar Belgal, a 28-year-old Dominican national, during an attempted arrest in the Bronx. The incident has triggered a confrontation between City Hall and the Trump administration over the conduct of federal immigration agents and the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The confrontation began Thursday when ICE officers attempted to apprehend Belgal while he was inside his vehicle. Federal agents positioned their vehicles to prevent him from driving away, but the encounter escalated into a shooting.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Belgal ignored lawful instructions to get out of his vehicle and attempted to escape by accelerating into two government vehicles before driving toward additional officers.

DHS maintains that the officers discharged their weapons because they believed Belgal’s actions posed an immediate threat to their safety and the safety of others. Belgal sustained what federal officials described as a superficial wound to his neck.

Following the shooting, agents took Belgal into custody, provided medical assistance, and arranged for his transportation to a hospital.

Authorities subsequently disclosed that Belgal’s 5-year-old son had been sitting in the back seat of the vehicle during the confrontation. DHS said the officers did not know the child was inside when the shooting occurred.

After receiving medical treatment, Belgal was moved to an immigration detention facility outside New York City. Investigators are continuing to examine the events leading up to the use of deadly force.

In an interview with MS Now on Sunday, Mamdani accused federal immigration officers of disregarding established law enforcement procedures and operating without appropriate accountability.

“What they have shown time and again is that they view the law as a suggestion,” Mamdani told MS Now. “There is a reason why the NYPD would not be shooting at a moving vehicle. There is a reason why law enforcement agents are supposed to wear identifiable information and uniforms.

“What you could see in that video and in the videos that have been released since is people, bystanders outside unsure as to what they were even seeing. Because in that imagery, it feels as if you’re almost looking at a mass shooter as opposed to seeing someone who’s purportedly representing a federal agency. And that is why so many are so deeply concerned by what ICE does. And the fact that what we’re talking about is but a microcosm of what they do across this country every single day.”

The mayor’s comparison followed an unusually lengthy round of discussions with President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin concerning Belgal’s detention and the possibility of transferring him out of federal custody.

Mamdani spent nearly two hours Thursday engaged in conversations with the president and the homeland security secretary in an effort to secure Belgal’s release from federal detention.

According to CNN, the negotiations included a three-way discussion during which Trump and Mullin proposed transferring Belgal into the custody of the New York Police Department. The parties ultimately failed to reach an agreement, and Belgal remained in federal custody.

Immediately after the shooting, Mamdani publicly condemned the federal operation, describing it as “unconscionable and incredibly serious” and demanding that President Trump halt ICE enforcement activities in New York City.

He also renewed his longstanding demand to abolish the agency, arguing that its officers’ tactics have frightened residents and undermined public safety.

“The city is still dealing with having been terrorized by a rogue federal agency,” Mamdani told MS Now. “And again, just to the points that you laid out, we are talking about a federal agency that shot at a moving vehicle in broad daylight while its agents were wearing construction vests, using long guns and left New Yorkers in terror. That is, as you said, the same experience that so many have had anywhere across this country whenever it comes to ICE.”

The Department of Homeland Security has strongly defended its officers, maintaining that Belgal was a criminal suspect whose actions during the attempted arrest created a dangerous situation.

Federal officials said Belgal was convicted of fourth-degree grand larceny in April 2025 and sentenced to five years of probation. DHS also cited previous arrests involving allegations of robbery, drug offenses, and assault.

The department further alleged that Belgal has connections to the Trinitarios gang and had been investigated in connection with the shooting of a Customs and Border Protection officer. Those allegations were presented by federal authorities as part of their explanation for why Belgal had been targeted for arrest.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin responded Friday by accusing politicians who support sanctuary-city policies of creating conditions that allow criminals to remain in communities and place law enforcement personnel at risk.

“Sanctuary politicians create an environment for criminal activity to thrive, not for American citizens to be safe,” Mullin said Friday. “President Trump made it clear that he would restore law and order in our cities and in our states. When you have sanctuary cities and politicians, you endanger the safety of the public.”

Additional reporting has revealed that the shooting took place in Marble Hill, a Manhattan neighborhood adjacent to the Bronx. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said city police were not involved in the federal arrest operation and arrived only after reports of gunfire.

The NYPD subsequently released body-camera footage showing responding officers at the scene and their efforts to get Belgal to a hospital. Other video recordings of the confrontation have also emerged, although the precise sequence of events and whether the officers’ use of force was justified remain disputed.

A federal judge has also temporarily blocked Belgal’s deportation while legal proceedings continue.

Meanwhile, Mamdani has announced plans for a city investigation into the incident, including the conduct of federal agents and their reported use of a commercial parking lot as a staging area.
WATCH:

A new Israeli election poll released Sunday evening shows the right-wing bloc holding a narrow advantage over parties opposed to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, even as Yashar emerges as the country’s largest individual party.

The survey, conducted by the Kantar Institute and broadcast by Kan News, projects 53 Knesset seats for the right-wing bloc, compared with 50 for the anti-Netanyahu camp. The three-seat advantage leaves the right-wing parties ahead of their political rivals, although neither bloc reaches the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-member Knesset.

According to the findings, Yashar would lead the field with 22 seats if elections were held today, while Netanyahu’s Likud would finish second with 20 seats. Beyachad would secure 12 mandates, placing it third.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party would capture nine seats, making it the fourth-largest faction in the Knesset under the poll’s projections.

Four parties would each receive eight seats: the Democrats, United Torah Judaism, the Joint List, and Yisrael Beytenu. Shas would follow with seven seats.

Further down the standings, Religious Zionism-Identity and Ra’am would each receive five mandates. The Reservists-Economic party and Amcha Yisrael would each secure four seats, the minimum required to enter the Knesset under Israel’s electoral threshold.

The latest findings reflect a modest shift toward Netanyahu’s camp compared with the previous Kan survey. The right-wing bloc has gained two seats, rising from 51 to 53, while the principal opposition bloc has slipped from 52 to 50. The Arab parties retain a combined 13 seats.

One significant development is the projected entry of Amcha Yisrael, led by former IDF commander Ofer Winter, into the Knesset. The party had fallen below the electoral threshold in the previous Kan poll but now receives four seats, potentially giving Netanyahu another coalition partner.

The poll also indicates continued strength for Ben Gvir, whose Otzma Yehudit party rises from eight seats in the previous survey to nine. Meanwhile, Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party remains in first place, although its projected representation falls from 23 seats to 22.

Shas MK Yinon Azoulay has called for Jewish schools throughout Israel to employ only Jewish teachers, arguing that Arab educators should teach in Arab schools and that Jewish children should receive their education from teachers who share their religious and cultural heritage.

Speaking Sunday in an interview with Kan Reshet Bet, Azoulay advocated separating the country’s Jewish and Arab educational systems when it comes to hiring teachers. He expressed concern that non-Jewish educators working in Jewish classrooms could expose children to religious beliefs and ideological perspectives inconsistent with Jewish values.

When questioned about his objections to Arab teachers instructing Jewish students, the Shas lawmaker pointed to what he described as the danger of educators using their positions to advance personal ideological agendas.

He drew a comparison to university professors whom he accused of promoting their own political and ideological views in the classroom. Azoulay argued that similar concerns could arise in elementary and secondary schools, suggesting that Christian educators might present Christianity according to their beliefs, while Muslim Arab teachers might introduce students to Islamic teachings.

Azoulay maintained that Israel has no shortage of capable Jewish educators and that the country’s schools should prioritize teachers whose backgrounds correspond to the communities they serve.

“I maintain that Jewish schools have plenty of very good Jewish educators. Arab schools should have Arab teachers, and Jewish schools should have Jewish teachers,” he said. “There is enough heritage to teach, and those who come from that background can teach it. There are enough teachers. What is the problem? We don’t pay these good teachers enough, so they leave for other places.”

His remarks also touched on the difficulties facing Israel’s teaching profession, including salaries that he said are insufficient to retain qualified educators. Rather than relying on non-Jewish teachers to fill positions in Jewish schools, he argued, the government should address the conditions driving Jewish teachers to seek employment elsewhere.

The interviewer also challenged Azoulay with a comparison involving Jewish teachers in Europe, asking how he would react if a European parliamentarian demanded that Jewish educators be excluded from schools.

Azoulay rejected the analogy, insisting that Israel’s identity as a Jewish state makes the situation fundamentally different.

“That doesn’t happen, and it isn’t the case. When it happens there, ask me. We are here in our Jewish state. We have a problem with non-Jewish teachers coming to teach our children. It shouldn’t happen.”

The controversy comes amid a broader debate in Israel over the growing number of Arab educators employed in Hebrew-language schools. Figures presented to a Knesset Education Committee hearing in February 2026 indicated that nearly 4,000 Arab women were employed as teachers in the Hebrew education system during the preceding year.

According to data presented at that hearing, the number and proportion of Arab teachers in Hebrew education had doubled over the previous five years, making the issue an increasingly significant subject of discussion among lawmakers and education officials.

Israel’s Jewish and Arab school systems already operate largely as separate educational frameworks, although Arab teachers are employed in Jewish schools, including in subjects such as mathematics, English, science, and Arabic.

Azoulay denied that his position was motivated by racism. He maintained that his concern was preserving the religious and cultural identity of Jewish students by ensuring that those responsible for educating them had themselves been raised with the traditions they were expected to transmit.

Israel has blocked a German journalist from becoming a permanent correspondent in the country after determining that her published calls for economic and military sanctions against Israel fall under legislation permitting authorities to deny entry to individuals who advocate boycotts of the Jewish state.

The decision affects Serena Bilanceri, a 43-year-old German journalist of Italian background who had sought authorization to work in Israel as the permanent correspondent for the German newspaper Die Tageszeitung, commonly known as taz.

The Population and Immigration Authority approved a recommendation from Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism to refuse her entry, effectively preventing her from assuming the position.

Bilanceri had approached the Government Press Office to secure the recommendation required for an Israeli work visa. However, her application came under scrutiny after officials reviewed articles she had written advocating punitive international measures against Israel.

Avi Cohen Scali, director general of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, recommended rejecting her entry request under Amendment 40 to Israel’s Entry into Israel Law, which addresses entry by foreign nationals involved in promoting boycotts against Israel.

Immigration authorities subsequently adopted the ministry’s recommendation, leaving Bilanceri unable to obtain the authorization necessary to serve as the newspaper’s Israel-based correspondent.

Bilanceri has reported on the Israeli-Arab conflict from several countries in the region, including Jordan, Syria, and Israel. According to the ministry, two opinion pieces she published during 2025 provided the basis for the decision.

The first, published by taz on November 17, 2025, carried the title “Sanctions Against Israel.” In that article, Bilanceri endorsed Amnesty International’s description of Israel as an “apartheid state” and urged Western governments to impose economic and military penalties.

“Settler violence is not an isolated incident, but part of a radical strategy of expulsion. The pressure must come from the international community. The United States, as well as Germany and Europe, must impose economic and military sanctions,” she wrote.

Israeli officials cited the article as an explicit appeal for international action against the country, rather than simply an expression of criticism regarding government policy.

A second article, dated September 1, 2025, criticized the German government’s resistance to a European Commission initiative proposing sanctions against Israel over the Gaza war.

In that piece, Bilanceri urged European governments to act collectively and indicated that initial sanctions should be followed by additional measures if they failed to achieve the desired results.

“The European Union must now act together,” she wrote.

She continued by calling for a stronger European response and the implementation of measures already under consideration.

“Europe must now take a firm stand. And if this step proves ineffective, further sanctions must be imposed. Proposals for such measures already exist, including at the European level. All that is needed is the willingness to implement them.”

The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs concluded that these published statements constituted advocacy for sanctions of the kind covered by Israel’s entry restrictions. Officials therefore determined that her application should be denied under the relevant provisions of the law.

Israel’s restrictions on foreign boycott advocates date back to March 2017, when the Knesset approved legislation authorizing the denial of visas and residency permits to noncitizens who publicly call for boycotts against Israel or act on behalf of organizations promoting such campaigns.

The legislation was subsequently expanded in February 2025 through Amendment 40, which added further grounds for refusing entry, including public denial of the Holocaust or the October 7 massacre and support for international prosecution of Israeli security personnel over actions performed in the course of their duties.

The law also permits the interior minister to authorize exceptions under special circumstances, although no such exception was reported in Bilanceri’s case.

The restrictions have generated debate over the distinction between legitimate criticism of Israeli government policy and organized efforts to impose economic or diplomatic penalties on the country. Supporters argue that Israel has the right to deny entry to foreign nationals who actively campaign for measures against it, while civil liberties organizations have criticized the legislation as a restriction on freedom of expression.

In announcing the decision involving Bilanceri, Cohen Scali delivered a forceful warning to foreign journalists and activists who advocate punitive measures against Israel.

“Anti-Israel elements and those who defame Israel should not set foot in the country.”

He further argued that journalists should not use their professional credentials to advance campaigns intended to damage Israel.

“We will not tolerate calls to boycott Israel under the guise of professional journalism. Professional journalism should not take sides in the conflict it covers, and certainly should not exploit the country’s platforms to advance agendas that harm it.”

The ruling leaves Bilanceri without the Israeli work visa she sought for her permanent posting with taz. There was no indication in the initial announcement that the newspaper had selected a replacement correspondent or that Bilanceri had filed an appeal against the decision.

The left-wing Israeli newspaper Haaretz has launched a blistering attack on Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir over the treatment of Palestinian security prisoners, accusing Israel of operating what it described as torture facilities and invoking the imprisonment of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann to condemn the government’s policies.

In an editorial published Sunday, Haaretz accused Ben Gvir and the Israel Prison Service of imposing increasingly harsh conditions on Palestinian detainees since the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023. The newspaper alleged that prisoners have been subjected to inadequate food, physical mistreatment, and degrading treatment by prison personnel.

The editorial’s criticism centered on the case of Hiba Alawi, a 38-year-old Palestinian mother of five from Yehuda and Shomron, whose experience in Israeli custody was presented as an example of the conditions the newspaper was denouncing.

Describing the circumstances of her incarceration, Haaretz wrote:

“She was convicted of two attempts to enter Israel illegally after trying to provide for her children. She was held in Damon Prison for five and a half months.”

The newspaper claimed that Alawi received extremely limited food portions throughout her imprisonment, alleging that the meals provided by prison authorities were insufficient and, on some occasions, unfit to eat.

“Throughout her imprisonment, Alawi suffered from hunger. On most days of her incarceration, the daily food provided to her by the Israel Prison Service consisted of six slices of bread for the entire day, sometimes wet bread and sometimes stale; breakfast consisted of one tablespoon of white cheese and a quarter tablespoon of jam; lunch consisted of two tablespoons of lentils, two tablespoons of chickpeas, and two tablespoons of partially cooked rice; and for dinner she was given one tablespoon of tahini, one tablespoon of hummus, and a hard-boiled egg, which she usually threw away because of its foul smell.”

Haaretz also leveled allegations of physical abuse against prison guards, claiming that Alawi had experienced repeated violence, painful restraints, and humiliating searches during her five-and-a-half-month detention.

The editorial presented a lengthy account of the alleged mistreatment:

“In addition to being starved, Alawi suffered severe, arbitrary violence and humiliation at the hands of Israel Prison Service guards. Guards painfully shackled her, beat her, pulled her hair, and dragged her. One guard stepped on her fingers, causing a fingernail to be torn off. Guards threw tear gas and stun grenades near her, shocked her with a Taser, sprayed her with pepper spray, broke her teeth, and female guards subjected her and other prisoners to humiliating strip searches. Like other prisoners, she also suffered from scabies.”

These allegations were presented by Haaretz as evidence of a broader deterioration in the treatment of Palestinian prisoners. The account provided in the editorial did not establish that the individual allegations had been independently verified, and no response from the Israel Prison Service was included in the report.

In one of its harshest passages, the newspaper accused Ben Gvir of overseeing a prison system that had abandoned acceptable standards of treatment. It also drew a comparison to Adolf Eichmann, the Nazi official responsible for organizing the deportation of millions of Jews to extermination camps, who was captured by Israel, tried in Yerushalayim, and executed in 1962.

“Since October 7, Israel’s security prisons have become torture facilities. When Israel abducted the Nazi monster Adolf Eichmann, no one even considered starving or beating him in prison. But under Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, led in this matter by the Kahanist minister Itamar Ben Gvir, there is no red line that has not been crossed.”

The attack comes amid a continuing political and legal battle over Ben Gvir’s overhaul of conditions for security prisoners, a policy he has repeatedly defended as necessary to eliminate privileges previously enjoyed by convicted terrorists and strengthen deterrence against future attacks.

Since taking office, Ben Gvir has promoted sweeping changes in Israeli prisons, including restrictions on canteen purchases, reductions in shower and exercise time, changes to prison menus, and the elimination of certain privileges previously available to security inmates.

Israeli security officials have previously reported that the tougher conditions have contributed to deterring potential terrorists, alongside intensified counterterrorism operations in Yehuda and Shomron. According to those assessments, the prospect of imprisonment under the new policies has become an additional consideration for individuals contemplating attacks.

Ben Gvir has repeatedly maintained that terrorists should receive only the minimum conditions required by law, arguing that Israeli prisons must cease offering privileges that could make incarceration less of a deterrent.

The issue has also generated controversy over access by the International Committee of the Red Cross to security prisoners. In June, Israel’s Supreme Court ordered the resumption of such visits, but subsequent restrictions imposed by the Israel Prison Service prompted further objections from civil rights advocates.

Under procedures introduced by prison authorities, visits were subject to advance authorization, intelligence screening, and limitations on the categories of prisoners who could receive them. Critics argued that the restrictions undermined the court’s ruling, while prison officials maintained that security considerations required strict oversight.

The latest Haaretz editorial followed a major security operation conducted at five Israeli prisons on October 7, the third anniversary of the Hamas massacre. The operation began at 6:29 a.m., the precise time the terrorist invasion began in 2023.

Prison officers, including personnel from specialized units, searched security wings and cells for prohibited items and potential threats. The Israel Prison Service said the operation was part of its continuing effort to maintain order and prevent security incidents inside correctional facilities.

Against that backdrop, Haaretz concluded its editorial by accusing Ben Gvir of turning the treatment of Palestinian prisoners into a central political issue and faulting senior prison officials for implementing his policies.

“Indeed, the cruelty of the Israel Prison Service is at the center of Ben Gvir’s election campaign, with the disgraceful cooperation of the Prison Service’s leadership.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Rav Dovid Ben Pinchas, a longtime Torah educator who suffered the devastating loss of his daughter in a traffic accident and later lost his son in battle against Hamas in Gaza, has spoken movingly about the enduring pain of losing two children, the extraordinary courage displayed by his son, and the emunah that has sustained his family through unimaginable tragedy.

In an emotional interview with Arutz Sheva, Rav Ben Pinchas, who heads the bais medrash at the Bat Yam Yeshiva, described how his family’s suffering has become a permanent part of their lives, even as they continue to find strength in their connection to Hashem and Klal Yisroel.

His daughter, Efrat, was killed in a road accident just five months after her wedding. Years later, his son Avraham, an IDF tank officer who had devoted himself to both Torah learning and defending the Jewish people, was killed during combat operations in Rafah.

Reflecting on the support that has helped his family endure these tragedies, Rav Ben Pinchas emphasized the importance of recognizing that even the most overwhelming suffering need not be faced alone.

“If you are alone, you will not hold up,” he says. “Only when you feel that all of Israel is with you, and of course that the Almighty is with you, can you begin to open your eyes.”

He explained that the posuk describing the Jewish people as children of Hashem assumes an especially profound meaning when a person experiences terrible loss.

“The most natural feeling when disaster strikes is that you are no longer a child, that the Almighty has forgotten you. Yet it is precisely at such a moment that the Torah commands a person to feel that he is a child of God.”

The rav stressed that maintaining emunah does not mean that grief disappears or that the passage of time necessarily makes the pain easier to bear.

“You think that after a year or two you will finally be able to lift your head, but that is not how it works. Suddenly, something takes you back to the events and the moments.”

The memories, he explained, remain present even as life continues, and moments of sadness can return without warning.

“We will always carry it with us, always remember, and it will always be difficult. But that has absolutely nothing to do with the question of faith.”

Avraham Ben Pinchas served as an officer in the IDF’s 46th Armored Battalion after spending years immersed in Torah learning at Yeshivat Ro’eh Yisrael. According to his father, Avraham regarded his responsibilities as a soldier and his dedication to Torah as expressions of the same lifelong commitment to serving Hashem.

“Serving God in the army and serving God in the yeshiva were two aspects of the same thing,” he says.

That outlook was so central to Avraham’s identity that his family chose to commemorate it on his matzeivah, describing his service to Hashem “through Torah and through war.”

Those who served under Avraham encountered a commander who combined determination on the battlefield with unusual sensitivity toward the soldiers entrusted to his care.

One particularly difficult episode came when his close friend, Itai Fogel, was killed in combat. Despite the personal devastation, Avraham understood that his soldiers were looking to him for direction and reassurance.

“His best friend had been killed, and he had to hold everything together,” the rabbi recalls.

Avraham himself narrowly escaped death months before he was ultimately killed.

During a combat operation, an anti-tank missile struck his tank, leaving him seriously wounded. A piece of shrapnel entered his head but stopped short of penetrating his brain.

He underwent surgery and recovered sufficiently to insist on returning to active combat duty.

Only after his death did his family discover that he had continued experiencing headaches following the injury, suffering he had chosen not to disclose to them.

His bravery was also evident during a Hamas ambush in which another soldier was wounded.

Without hesitating, Avraham climbed out of his tank carrying two tourniquets and made his way toward the injured soldier, exposing himself to danger in order to administer lifesaving assistance.

His intervention helped save the soldier’s life.

Afterward, Avraham used the incident as an opportunity to strengthen his soldiers’ confidence, explaining that their actions during the emergency had been appropriate despite the extraordinary pressure they had faced.

His father recalled another practice that reflected Avraham’s approach to leadership.

Avraham had made a personal commitment to tell at least one soldier each week that the soldier had been correct about something. He wanted the men under his command to feel comfortable expressing their opinions, questioning decisions, and pointing out mistakes.

Rav Ben Pinchas said the idea made such an impression on him that he subsequently incorporated the same principle into his own work in chinuch.

The family’s ordeal deepened on Shabbos, December 7, 2024, when Avraham was killed during fighting in Rafah. He was 24 years old and served as a platoon commander in the 401st Armored Brigade’s 46th Battalion. His tank was struck by Hamas anti-tank fire during an operation in southern Gaza.

Avraham had spoken with his family on Friday, informing them that he was about to participate in an offensive operation and expected to contact them again after Shabbos.

It would be their final conversation.

When military representatives arrived at the Ben Pinchas home in Haresha on Shabbos afternoon, Rav Ben Pinchas and his wife understood that something terrible had happened.

They asked the representatives to return after Shabbos and continued observing the holy day together with their children, who had not yet been informed of their brother’s death.

Following the tragedy, the family began working to preserve Avraham’s legacy through the publication of booklets containing his Torah teachings, personal recollections, and accounts of his character. A Sefer Torah was also dedicated in his memory.

“Our main effort to preserve his memory is through education – preserving the spirit, the character traits and the personality we need to build,” his father says.

The family’s earlier loss had profoundly influenced Avraham’s own outlook on life.

His older sister, Efrat Brener, was killed in a traffic accident near Yitzhar in 2020, only five months after her marriage. She was 19 years old.

Avraham, approximately a year and a half younger than Efrat, had shared a particularly close relationship with her, and her sudden death left a lasting impression on him.

During his military officers’ training, he wrote about how the loss of his sister, together with his childhood experiences in Haresha, had shaped his understanding of suffering, responsibility, and personal sacrifice.

The Ben Pinchas family had been among the earliest residents of Haresha, a community in the Binyamin region that experienced years of legal disputes and public controversy surrounding its establishment and future.

Growing up in that environment, Avraham developed a strong attachment to Eretz Yisroel and a determination to contribute to the security and future of the Jewish people.

His years in yeshiva reinforced those convictions. His father believes that the combination of Torah learning, family tragedy, and the challenges surrounding his community helped produce the remarkable sense of responsibility that characterized Avraham’s military service.

Additional accounts of Avraham’s life reveal that his commitment to learning extended well beyond the bais medrash. Family members and friends recalled a young man with an unusually broad range of interests, who studied everything from technology and economics to military systems and practical engineering.

After joining the armored corps, he devoted himself to understanding the workings of his tank and its equipment, studying technical manuals that other soldiers rarely opened.

He was equally determined to understand the personalities and needs of the men under his command.

According to accounts shared by those who knew him, Avraham even sought advice from his grandmother, a therapist, to improve his interpersonal skills as an officer. He recognized that technical expertise alone would not make him the kind of commander his soldiers deserved.

His concern for others was remembered particularly vividly by an American soldier who served under him. Despite the language barrier between them, Avraham made a special effort to communicate with the soldier and help him feel comfortable and supported.

Avraham also arranged for the soldier to travel home to visit his family, demonstrating the same personal concern that characterized his leadership throughout his military service.

His family has continued hearing such stories from soldiers who served alongside him, many of whom described his willingness to assume difficult responsibilities and place the welfare of others ahead of his own comfort.

Rav Ben Pinchas, who has spent more than twenty years teaching Torah at the Bat Yam Yeshiva, said his own educational outlook has been shaped by the teachings of his rebbi, Rav Dovid Chai HaKohen.

That approach emphasizes the profound connection between Torah, Klal Yisroel, and Eretz Yisroel, a worldview that Avraham embraced throughout his life.

“There is one great Torah,” he says. “The Land of Israel, the people of Israel and the Torah of God – everything comes together as one.”

For Rav Ben Pinchas, continuing to teach and inspire others has become an important part of carrying forward the values that his son lived by.

Yet he emphasized that the ability to speak about tragedy with conviction and emunah should never be mistaken for an absence of suffering.

“When we speak with strength, it does not mean the pain has disappeared,” he says. “Strength exists in one place, while the pain and the struggle continue every day.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is publicly urging Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman to leave the Democratic Party and become a Republican, making a direct appeal to the increasingly independent-minded senator as both parties prepare for a closely contested battle over control of the Senate in November’s midterm elections.

Speaking with reporters Saturday at Joint Base Andrews after returning from a campaign rally in Tennessee, Trump suggested that Fetterman would be more comfortable politically as a member of the Republican Party.

“I’d love to see him as a Republican,” Trump told reporters. “He does better as a Republican than he does as a Democrat.”

Trump’s remarks represent one of his clearest public attempts to persuade Fetterman to change his party affiliation. The possibility has attracted growing attention as the Pennsylvania Democrat has repeatedly broken with members of his own party on several high-profile issues, including immigration enforcement and support for Israel.

Fetterman entered the Senate in 2023 after winning a closely watched election in 2022, when he was widely regarded as an emerging Democratic political figure whose unconventional style and blue-collar image appealed to working-class voters.

Since arriving in Washington, however, he has increasingly distanced himself from the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, taking positions that have drawn praise from Republicans and criticism from fellow Democrats.

Despite the speculation surrounding his political future, Fetterman has consistently maintained that he has no intention of joining the GOP.

In a Washington Post opinion piece published in May, he dismissed the idea of changing parties, describing himself as a “terrible Republican who still votes overwhelmingly with Democrats.”

His relationship with Democratic colleagues became particularly strained last month after he appeared in a video prepared for a Republican midterm convention, offering praise for Pennsylvania’s other senator, Republican Dave McCormick, while criticizing what he characterized as extremist elements within his own party.

“I’m always going to stand with America,” Fetterman declared in the recording. “I’m always going to reject the extremes and socialism and that anti-American way of life.”

The appearance intensified questions about Fetterman’s long-term political future, particularly whether his increasingly public disagreements with Democratic activists could create difficulties if he seeks the party’s nomination for another Senate term.

Trump appeared to allude to those potential political complications during his Saturday remarks, presenting a move to the Republican Party as an alternative for the Pennsylvania senator.

Fetterman’s office did not immediately provide a response to a request for comment regarding Trump’s latest invitation.

The president’s appeal comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Senate Republicans, who are defending their majority in an election increasingly shaped by voter concerns about the economy and the consequences of the war with Iran.

Democrats must gain a net four Senate seats to regain control of the chamber, an objective that remains difficult but has become more plausible as Republicans confront an increasingly challenging political environment.

A shift in party affiliation by Fetterman could have major implications for the balance of power in Washington, particularly if the election produces a closely divided Senate.

At the same time, Democratic gains sufficient to give the party a 51-seat majority could place Fetterman in an influential position within his existing party, potentially reducing any incentive to become a Republican.

Additional reporting has highlighted the extent of Fetterman’s growing independence. Although he has historically sided with Democrats on roughly 90% of Senate votes since taking office, his alignment with the party has reportedly fallen below 81% during the current congressional session.

Trump has also praised Fetterman personally, describing him as a “great guy” with “great common sense,” while suggesting that his political outlook and popularity could make him a valuable addition to the Republican Party.

The Pennsylvania senator has maintained relationships with prominent Republican lawmakers, including McCormick, and has demonstrated a willingness to cooperate with GOP figures even when doing so draws criticism from Democratic activists.

During a public discussion at the Texas Tribune Festival in September, Fetterman also inadvertently referred to himself as a “lifelong Republican,” a slip that attracted additional attention amid the continuing speculation about his political allegiance.

Although party switches are relatively rare in the modern Senate, several previous defections have dramatically altered the chamber’s political balance.

In 2001, Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party and became an independent, a decision that transferred control of the Senate to Democrats.

Eight years later, Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter abandoned the GOP and joined the Democrats, helping the party secure a filibuster-proof majority during President Barack Obama’s administration.

Fetterman has not indicated that he is reconsidering his Democratic affiliation, and there has been no announcement of any formal discussions about changing parties.

{Matzav.com}