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Elazar Yair Vilansky z”l, a ninth-grade student at the ORT Maalot Yeshiva High School, has been identified as the teenager killed Monday when unexploded ammunition believed to have been fired by Hezbollah detonated during a school trip in northern Israel. Twenty-four other people were injured in the tragedy, several of them seriously.

The identification of the young victim was released Tuesday morning, as his family and the Maalot-Tarshiha community mourned the devastating loss. Elazar Yair, the youngest of five children, is survived by his parents, three sisters and a brother.

In a statement following his death, his family described him as “a child who loved life, intelligent and wise, full of joy, a good and beloved friend, whose entire future was still ahead of him.”

The explosion occurred Monday afternoon in the Ramim Ridge area of the Upper Galilee, near Mitzpe Pe’er and the Lebanese border, where students and teachers from the yeshiva high school were participating in their annual outing.

According to preliminary findings, one of the students apparently discovered an unexploded piece of ammunition along the hiking route. Investigators are examining reports that the object was picked up and possibly placed inside a student’s bag before it detonated while the group was gathered together.

The IDF initially assessed that the explosive was a cluster munition left behind by Hezbollah during its attacks on northern Israel. However, investigators are continuing to examine the precise circumstances, including the origin of the ammunition and how it remained in an area accessible to hikers.

The blast sent shrapnel into students and accompanying adults, triggering a large emergency response involving Magen David Adom personnel, police, soldiers and rescue helicopters. Medical teams arriving at the scene found numerous casualties scattered along the trail.

Resuscitation efforts were undertaken on Vilansky, who had sustained critical injuries, but emergency personnel were ultimately forced to pronounce his death at the scene.

The injured were evacuated to hospitals in Haifa, Tzefas and Nahariya. According to a Tuesday morning update, four of the 24 injured were listed in serious condition, seven in moderate condition and 13 in light condition.

Rambam Medical Center in Haifa reported that a 61-year-old teacher who was seriously injured underwent surgery overnight and remained hospitalized in serious but stable condition in the intensive care unit.

Another student, who sustained a shrapnel wound to his neck, was conscious and in stable condition while receiving treatment in the pediatric intensive care unit. Two additional students were hospitalized with lighter shrapnel injuries.

Accounts from the scene described terrifying moments as students attempted to understand what had happened and assist their injured classmates.

One parent said the students had gathered to daven Mincha when the explosion occurred, placing a large number of children in close proximity to the blast.

Another father described receiving a telephone call from his injured son, who had suffered wounds to his leg and neck. Family members instructed the boy over the phone on how to apply a tourniquet while emergency personnel were being dispatched to the scene.

The difficult terrain and limited cellular reception complicated rescue efforts, as emergency crews worked to locate and evacuate the injured.

The tragedy has raised urgent questions about the safety of hiking routes in northern Israel, particularly areas that sustained extensive rocket and missile fire during the prolonged fighting with Hezbollah.

Although the school outing had reportedly received the required approvals, authorities are examining whether the route had been adequately inspected for unexploded ammunition and whether all necessary security procedures were followed.

Israeli police and military officials have launched investigations into the incident. Police Commissioner Daniel Levy indicated that authorities would consider temporarily restricting school outings in affected areas while safety concerns are reviewed.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visited injured students at Rambam Medical Center together with Education Minister Yoav Kisch. Netanyahu also instructed the Home Front Command to reinforce public warnings against touching suspicious objects and to intensify efforts to identify unexploded ammunition in areas previously subjected to enemy fire.

The Maalot-Tarshiha municipality expressed its condolences to the Vilansky family and announced that municipal welfare personnel and educational psychologists were providing assistance to the affected families, students and school staff.

The incident has renewed concern about the dangers posed by unexploded Hezbollah munitions, which can remain concealed in open areas long after the fighting has ended. Even previously inspected hiking routes may contain hazardous remnants of rockets, missiles or cluster munitions.

Authorities have emphasized that anyone encountering a suspicious object must avoid touching or moving it, leave the immediate area and notify police.

Funeral arrangements for Elazar Yair Vilansky z”l had not yet been announced as of Tuesday morning.

{Matzav.com}

A startling new study involving more than 1,200 participants has found that relying on artificial intelligence for as little as 10 minutes can significantly undermine a person’s willingness to persevere through difficult tasks, raising serious concerns about the growing dependence on ChatGPT and similar technology in schools, workplaces, and everyday life.

The research, conducted by scientists affiliated with several leading universities, including the University of California, Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, Oxford University, and UCLA, found that people who initially received assistance from AI performed considerably worse when that assistance was suddenly removed. They were also substantially more likely to abandon difficult problems rather than continue trying to solve them.

The findings, published in a peer-reviewed paper titled “AI Assistance Reduces Persistence and Hurts Independent Performance,” were presented last week at the Conference on Language Modeling. The research has attracted considerable attention because it suggests that even brief interactions with artificial intelligence can change how people approach intellectual challenges.

The researchers conducted three randomized controlled experiments involving a combined 1,222 participants, examining how access to AI affected mathematical reasoning, reading comprehension, accuracy, and the willingness to continue working when answers were not immediately available.

In the first experiment, 354 participants were asked to complete a series of 15 basic fraction problems. Some were required to work independently, while others were permitted to use ChatGPT to assist them, including requesting direct answers.

Initially, the participants using ChatGPT enjoyed a clear advantage. With the AI system available, they solved problems more accurately than those who had to work through the calculations themselves.

However, the results changed dramatically when researchers removed access to ChatGPT after the twelfth question.

Participants who had depended on AI experienced a sharp decline in their ability to solve the remaining problems correctly. Many began skipping questions altogether, while those who had been working independently maintained their performance and were more likely to continue attempting the problems.

The researchers repeated the experiment with a larger group of 667 participants and observed essentially the same pattern. Those accustomed to receiving immediate assistance from ChatGPT struggled once they were required to work alone, while participants who had never been given AI assistance demonstrated greater persistence and ultimately achieved better results toward the end of the exercise.

A third experiment involving 201 participants examined reading comprehension using material modeled on the SAT college admissions examination.

Once again, the researchers found that participants who initially had access to AI were more likely to struggle or give up after the technology was withdrawn. The decline was evident in both their accuracy and their willingness to continue attempting difficult questions.

The results were particularly striking because the participants had used AI for only a short period, approximately 10 minutes, before experiencing the decline in independent performance.

Brian Christian, a research fellow at UC Berkeley’s Center for Human-Compatible AI and one of the study’s authors, said the findings provide experimental evidence for concerns that many people have already begun expressing about the effects of artificial intelligence on human thinking.

“It’s a striking finding, but in a way it supplies ammunition for a story that a lot of us kind of feel in our gut,” Christian said. “I experience it too.”

Christian, who has spent approximately two decades studying artificial intelligence and its implications for society, acknowledged that he is enthusiastic about the technology’s extraordinary potential. Nevertheless, he has become increasingly concerned that depending too heavily on AI could weaken some of the intellectual habits that are essential to learning and discovery.

The researcher, who authored the 2020 book The Alignment Problem, said he continues to write in a physical notebook every day, partly as a way of preserving his own independent thinking and maintaining a direct connection to his work.

The study’s findings highlight a phenomenon the researchers describe as the loss of “productive struggle,” the mental effort required to work through challenging problems without immediately receiving an answer.

According to the researchers, struggling with difficult material is an essential part of developing intellectual abilities. When students or workers must grapple with unfamiliar information, experiment with different approaches, and overcome mistakes, they develop the skills and perseverance needed to handle future challenges.

Artificial intelligence can disrupt that process by providing immediate solutions, allowing users to bypass the very effort that would ordinarily strengthen their understanding.

The researchers suggested that repeated exposure to instant answers may condition people to expect problems to be resolved quickly. When an answer is no longer immediately available, the task may feel unusually frustrating or inefficient, increasing the likelihood that the person will simply give up.

The implications extend well beyond elementary mathematics or standardized examinations.

Students increasingly use ChatGPT to complete homework assignments, explain complicated concepts, write essays, and prepare for examinations. Professionals rely on AI to draft reports, analyze information, develop computer programs, and conduct research. In many cases, the technology allows users to complete tasks more quickly and efficiently than they could independently.

However, the new research raises the possibility that some of those short-term productivity gains may come at the expense of the user’s ability to perform similar tasks without technological assistance.

Christian said the findings should prompt a reconsideration of how AI systems are designed to help people.

“We’ve built these systems to be helpful, but are they being helpful to us in a way that’s actually helping us?” Christian said. “We showed, ironically, that they are often helping us in ways that are kind of unhelpful.”

The researchers argue that today’s AI assistants are generally designed to satisfy immediate requests as efficiently as possible. When a user asks a question, the system typically attempts to deliver a complete answer, even when a more educational approach might involve encouraging the person to reason through the problem.

That approach differs substantially from the methods employed by effective teachers and mentors, who frequently guide students toward discovering answers themselves rather than simply providing solutions.

A teacher might offer hints, ask questions, or break a complicated problem into smaller steps, allowing the student to develop understanding through active participation.

By contrast, an AI chatbot that immediately supplies the finished answer can eliminate much of that learning process.

Christian suggested that artificial intelligence developers should consider creating systems that function more like tutors, encouraging users to develop their own skills rather than becoming increasingly dependent on the technology.

“We need to work toward a future in which human abilities are, as much as possible, augmented rather than supplanted,” he said.

The findings also have potentially significant consequences for scientific research, where artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to analyze large datasets, generate hypotheses, summarize academic literature, and accelerate discoveries.

Christian expressed concern that scientists who delegate too much intellectual work to AI could gradually lose the familiarity with their research material that often produces important insights.

He pointed to the possibility that research teams traditionally composed of numerous scientists working closely together could eventually be reduced to a handful of individuals relying heavily on AI systems.

While such arrangements might appear more efficient, they could also diminish the human collaboration, sustained attention, and deep engagement with information that frequently lead to scientific breakthroughs.

The study does not establish that 10 minutes of AI use causes permanent cognitive damage or a lasting reduction in intelligence. Rather, it demonstrates that brief exposure to AI assistance can produce an immediate, measurable decline in persistence and independent performance when that assistance is withdrawn. Whether those effects persist over longer periods remains an important question for further research.

The experiments also focused on specific academic-style tasks, meaning the results cannot automatically be applied to every form of AI use. Using artificial intelligence to check completed work, explain a concept, or provide guided instruction may have different effects from relying on it to supply answers throughout an assignment.

Nevertheless, the researchers believe their findings point to a fundamental challenge facing educators, employers, and technology companies as artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly routine part of daily life.

The study’s authors, Grace Liu, Brian Christian, Tsvetomira Dumbalska, Michiel A. Bakker, and Rachit Dubey, concluded that AI systems should be developed with greater emphasis on helping users build lasting competence and the ability to work independently, rather than merely maximizing immediate performance.

Christian warned that the consequences of excessive dependence on artificial intelligence could reach virtually every level of education and professional expertise, from young children beginning their academic careers to scientists working at the forefront of technological discovery.

“This is not a story about fractions and SAT problems,” Christian said. “This is something that is happening to human knowledge and human expertise from top to bottom and from grade-school students all the way to the leading experts in the world.”

{Matzav.com}

[VideoS below.] Lakewood, NJ – A large crowd gathered today at Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ, to kick off the tri-annual chavrusah tumult that takes place before each zeman – winter, spring, and at the beginning of Chodesh Elul.

Following chavrusah tumult, and chaburos and seats  will be finalized for the thousands of talmidim in the yeshiva. The yeshiva has appointed special memunim tasked with the responsibility of helping any talmid who requires a chavrusah or chaburah.

In various botei medrash, the yeshiva has chaburos devoted to covering virtually every area of Shas and poskim, offering many options for the yeshiva‘s talmidim to choose from.

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{Matzav.com}

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher has declared that his party will not join or support any future government until legislation protecting the status of yeshiva bochurim is actually passed, announcing a major shift in the party’s political strategy ahead of Israel’s October 27 elections.

In his first extensive interview since assuming the leadership of United Torah Judaism and Degel HaTorah, Asher revealed that Rav Dov Landau had issued explicit instructions that the party should no longer identify itself with any political bloc, including the right-wing alliance led by Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu.

Speaking with Yishai Cohen in the Kikar HaShabbat studio, Asher acknowledged mistakes made during the outgoing government’s term, criticized several prominent political figures, and insisted that the chareidi parties would place the needs of their constituents ahead of political alliances.

The interview comes amid considerable frustration within the chareidi community following years of uncertainty surrounding the legal status of yeshiva bochurim, the loss of exemptions, financial restrictions affecting Torah institutions, and arrests connected to the military draft.

Asked why chareidi voters should participate in another election after the difficulties experienced under a government that had been widely regarded as sympathetic to their concerns, Asher argued that abandoning political participation would only make matters worse.

“Will it stop here? Do you read what they say every day? Do you see their intentions every day? And if, in a completely right-wing government, we didn’t manage to achieve those two things… we managed to save many other things: the Jewish character of the State of Israel, we blocked dozens of anti-religious laws, not a single such law passed during this term! We kept the educational institutions going… But will it end here? In other words, if things are bad for us today, should we take another step to make them even worse? Does that seem logical to you?!” Asher said.

While defending his party’s accomplishments, Asher conceded that the chareidi representatives had made significant strategic errors, particularly in their handling of judicial reform and its implications for legislation regulating the status of yeshiva students.

“Is there anyone who doesn’t make mistakes? The big mistake that perhaps everyone made… not everyone understood that judicial reform was supposed to serve us in the draft law. From our perspective, we needed the override clause. It could be that we should have, at that point… I take responsibility,” he said.

Asher explained that the proposed override clause, which would have allowed the Knesset to reenact legislation struck down by the Supreme Court under certain conditions, had been especially important to the chareidi parties because of the legal obstacles facing a new draft law.

He also dismissed suggestions that a compromise framework advanced by the president could have provided a lasting solution.

“The president, with all due respect… had no teeth against anyone. And when you take parts out of the reform, one of the first things removed is the override clause, because the court would never have allowed that! In the end, it would have come back to the same things,” Asher argued.

Drawing on those experiences, the new UTJ chairman outlined what he described as a nonnegotiable condition for participation in the next coalition.

“United Torah Judaism will not enter a government that does not first pass, de facto, de facto, the law regulating the status of yeshiva students, known as the draft law. Period. We will not enter, support, or be part of a government that does not first pass the draft law. Afterward, we will be partners,” Asher declared.

Pressed on whether his condition would also rule out supporting a government from outside the coalition, Asher reiterated that the legislation must come first.

“I told you in Hebrew… From our perspective, the correct law is one that addresses someone who sits and learns, whose Torah is his occupation, and someone who sits and learns should not face sanctions either,” he said.

The chairman’s remarks represent a departure from the approach taken before the 2022 election, when the chareidi parties publicly aligned themselves with Netanyahu and the broader right-wing bloc.

Asher maintained that the earlier alliance reflected the traditional attitudes of Likud voters toward Torah and religious observance, but he distinguished those voters from individual Likud lawmakers whom he accused of undermining chareidi interests.

“It’s true that we were in that bloc with our eyes open… The Likud public loves tradition, kisses the hands of sages, and gives a place of honor to a ben Torah. We have no quarrel with the Likud public. We have problems with the Likud because weeds have grown there, like Yuli Edelstein, like Dan Illouz, and others whom Likud did not know how to control,” he said.

Asher then disclosed the instructions he said he had received from Rav Landau regarding the party’s future political commitments.

“We received an explicit instruction. You want to ask what changed for him, for Rav Dov Landau, for the gadol hador? Ask him! But we received an explicit instruction: Right now, we are not talking about blocs. We are a bloc that has responsibility for this country… He says not to talk about blocs; we do not belong to blocs. Whoever wants us should come and negotiate with the bloc, should come and ask the bloc. That is the decision we have right now,” Asher explained.

He stressed that the party had not been instructed to work toward removing Netanyahu or installing another political leader, and that its future decisions would be guided by the needs of the chareidi community.

“We have no intention of participating in any of that. We received no instruction to make a deal with anyone, no instruction to oust anyone, we have no revenge to take, no one to crown, nothing. We have one thing that interests us, and this is a lesson we learned from the previous term: We are going to be selfish. Selfish for you, and for your children, and for everyone,” he said.

Asher Takes Aim at Bennett, Winter and Other Political Figures

The interview also featured pointed criticism of several politicians seeking support from chareidi voters.

Asked about Naftali Bennett, Asher dismissed the former prime minister as politically inconsistent, accusing him of repeatedly changing his positions.

“Naftali Bennett… Bennett is a joke! He’s a walking joke of a man who has already changed eight opinions, and even when he had opinions, they were always for sale or rent. He’s a very nice person, a walking joke, what can I do?” Asher said.

Asher also addressed remarks by former IDF Brigadier General Ofer Winter concerning military service and the draft law, suggesting that Winter’s campaign statements were driven by electoral considerations.

“People are now fighting a battle for survival over every vote, every quarter of a Knesset seat, and he has to deal with that… But who knows better than he does, speaking of the draft law he talks about… when he knows that the IDF decided to stop his advancement because he said ‘Shema Yisroel’ before some military operation? So he’s going to convince us that there’s no problem and that the Torah will not be forgotten from our descendants if we all go into the army? Forget it, it’s all election foilishtik,” Asher said.

His comments referred to the controversy surrounding Winter’s military career and his public expressions of religious belief. Asher used that example to question assurances that the military would fully accommodate the religious needs of chareidi recruits.

Regarding Benny Gantz, however, Asher adopted a considerably more respectful tone, explaining that their discussions had been on a personal level rather than part of any political arrangement.

“I think he is a good person and a man of values, and I think he could have contributed somewhat to this matter. But perhaps because he is a man of values and because he is that kind of person, he is being punished in the polls, because today it is a world of falsehood,” Asher said.

UTJ Unity, Rav Gafni’s Role and Relations With Shas

Turning to internal party matters, Asher rejected suggestions that longstanding differences between Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisroel could result in a split during coalition negotiations.

“There is no split between us, and there will be no split between us. And even if there were issues… we reached agreements about them. We sat together with mutual respect and said: There are gedolei Torah, they can disagree on certain matters, and they know how to work things out among themselves. There will not be a situation where, during negotiations, there are leaks saying ‘these people agree to this and those people don’t agree to that.’ That will not happen. We will all come together: me and Goldknopf, and Porush, and Pindrus, and everyone. And Dudi Zaltz, with Hashem’s help, will also get in, and we will come hand in hand with him as well,” he said.

Asher also addressed the departure of MK Moshe Gafni from the party chairmanship, emphasizing his continued respect for the veteran Degel HaTorah leader.

“From our perspective, he is the chairman of the Degel HaTorah movement, he is a symbol to us, he is an example to us, he is someone we learned from… On the day that the gedolei Torah decide, they decide according to their considerations… There is no blemish whatsoever. We have only to learn from Rav Gafni, to continue forward, to consult with him and benefit from his assistance, and with Hashem’s help, that is what we will do. And at the victory celebration, you will see all of us dancing together,” Asher said.

He stressed that decisions regarding party leadership are made under the guidance of the gedolei Torah and that he intends to continue seeking Gafni’s advice and experience.

Asked about his relationship with Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, Asher described cooperation between the two parties on matters of fundamental importance to the chareidi community.

“Relations of respect and appreciation. We represent two parties, two movements, but there is one thing we know… In everything connected to the core issues of the chareidi public, we are united under the gedolei and chachmei haTorah of everyone! On that we stand together. They will not break us apart, they will not divide us,” he declared.

Working Chareidim and the Debate Over State-Chareidi Schools

Another significant portion of the interview focused on chareidi men and women who work for a living and who sometimes feel that their concerns receive attention from chareidi politicians only during election campaigns.

Asher rejected that criticism, insisting that his record demonstrates a commitment to serving different segments of the community, including families whose educational and professional needs differ from those of the traditional kollel community.

“I appreciate every person who learns Torah, every avreich in Kollel Chazon Ish I appreciate, I envy him, I want my children to be like that. And when I meet someone who works for his livelihood, I appreciate him too! I appreciate the community of Torah learners, but when it comes to serving them, I have to serve both, and I haven’t been doing that only since Election Day! Open my résumé… When was the Boston cheder opened in Bnei Brak? Who opened it? Who gave them a boost and a push? Who helped the Horev school in Ramat Gan… Who helped the Uziel school? Who opened three educational frameworks in Elad?” Asher asked.

He cited those institutions as examples of his involvement in developing educational options for families seeking different arrangements within the chareidi community.

However, Asher drew a distinction between supporting a variety of educational institutions and endorsing the state-chareidi school system, known in Israel by its Hebrew acronym, Mamlachti-Chareidi, or MAMACH.

He emphasized that decisions concerning the acceptability of such institutions belong to the gedolei Yisroel rather than elected representatives.

“MAMACH or not MAMACH — that is not my decision, it is a decision of the gedolei Yisroel! I heard Rav Shteinman speak about the danger that MAMACH could cause. What do we need to do? We will open educational frameworks. The community is growing, its different shades are growing, and we will provide frameworks… alternatives to MAMACH that will be even better. But do you know who is putting obstacles in our way? The Education Ministry itself! Because the Education Ministry wants to take control,” Asher said.

According to Asher, the appropriate response to changing educational needs is to establish additional institutions operating under the direction of chareidi Torah leadership, rather than expanding reliance on a government-administered educational framework.

He argued that the Education Ministry has complicated efforts to establish such alternatives, accusing it of seeking greater authority over chareidi education.

{Matzav.com}

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher delivered a sharp rebuke of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich after the latter publicly expressed his hope that Rav Dov Landau, the rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, would do teshuvah, a remark that sparked widespread condemnation throughout the chareidi community.

Speaking at the opening of a campaign headquarters for community gabbaim in Rechasim, Asher accused Smotrich of disrespecting the chareidi public and one of its most prominent gedolei Torah.

Asher told the gathering that those seeking to weaken the chareidi community should look at the large turnout and recognize the strength of its communal institutions.

“There are people who think they can dismantle us and cause us to fall apart. Let them come and see everyone who is here, men, women and children,” Asher declared.

Turning directly to Smotrich, Asher challenged the finance minister’s standing to criticize the chareidi community and its Torah leadership.

“I want to see Smotrich, who opened his mouth today against our upright community and against a gadol b’Yisroel. You don’t know how to bring together people like this. You needed Feiglin just to cross the electoral threshold. That’s your rabbi? First bring him back to repentance,” Asher said.

The confrontation followed remarks Smotrich made during an election-related interview with Arutz Sheva and at another gathering in Ofra, where he addressed criticism previously directed at him by Rav Dov Landau.

During the Arutz Sheva interview, Smotrich was asked why he had chosen not to respond publicly to the rosh yeshiva’s criticism.

Smotrich initially explained that his silence should not be interpreted as agreement, invoking the obligation to treat talmidei chachamim with great caution and respect.

“Let there be no mistake, chas v’shalom, that silence means agreement, because ‘beware of their burning coals,'” Smotrich said, referring to the familiar warning in Pirkei Avos concerning the honor of Torah scholars.

“If I thought responding would accomplish something, I do not respond to a talmid chacham,” he continued.

However, Smotrich then added a statement that became the center of the controversy.

“By the way, it pains me, and I pray to HaKadosh Baruch Hu that He brings him, too, to repentance, but there is no need to respond,” the finance minister said.

The dispute is rooted in the increasingly contentious debate over the drafting of yeshiva bochurim into the IDF, an issue that has strained relations between chareidi representatives and politicians from the Religious Zionist camp.

During his remarks to Arutz Sheva, Smotrich argued that a proposed conscription law advanced approximately two years earlier could have resulted in thousands of chareidi men joining the military with the agreement of chareidi leaders.

He acknowledged that his government had failed to achieve its objectives on the enlistment issue, while maintaining that greater chareidi participation in military service and employment should be pursued through dialogue and gradual changes rather than coercion.

At a separate event in Ofra, Smotrich also criticized aspects of the chareidi community’s approach to the State of Israel, saying he believed its opposition to the religious significance of Zionism was mistaken.

Those comments, together with his statement about Rav Landau, drew strong objections from chareidi circles, where the remarks were viewed as an affront to the honor of Torah leadership.

Asher’s reference to Moshe Feiglin also carried an electoral message. Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party entered into a joint electoral arrangement with Feiglin’s Zehut party in September, amid concerns about whether Smotrich’s party would independently receive enough votes to cross the Knesset’s electoral threshold.

The two parties agreed to run together in the October 27 election, with Feiglin receiving a prominent position on the joint slate.

The confrontation comes as Asher assumes a more prominent leadership role in United Torah Judaism following changes to the party’s Knesset list announced in September under the direction of Rav Landau.

{Matzav.com}

An American yeshiva bochur who has spent approximately four months in Israeli custody after being accused of carrying out assignments for Iranian intelligence has been approved for release to house arrest, following an extensive legal effort by the Tzedek Association and the intervention of prominent attorneys.

Eli L., a 21-year-old American citizen who was learning at the Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim, had been imprisoned since his arrest on June 9. His case attracted considerable attention after Israeli prosecutors accused him of communicating with Iranian intelligence operatives and performing various assignments in exchange for cryptocurrency payments totaling approximately $1,400.

The Tzedek Association said today that Israeli Supreme Court President Justice Yitzchak Amit had authorized Eli L.’s release from prison under restrictive conditions, marking a significant development in a case that has drawn attention within the American and Israeli chareidi communities.

According to the organization, the decision followed its involvement in Eli L.’s legal defense, including the appointment of attorney Uri Korb to work alongside attorney Menachem Stauber in securing his release.

As part of the arrangement, Tzedek deposited a check for one million shekels with the court to serve as a financial guarantee for Eli L.’s compliance with the conditions of his house arrest.

An additional development came when Rav Shimon Shisha, chairman of Merkaz Ezra Vayoetz, offered his own apartment as the residence where Eli L. would remain under house arrest. The arrangement provided a designated location for the young man to stay while the criminal proceedings continue.

The release authorization represents a change from the prosecution’s earlier position. When Eli L. was indicted in the Yerushalayim District Court on July 3, prosecutors requested that he remain incarcerated until the conclusion of his trial, citing the seriousness of the national security allegations.

The charges stem from an investigation into alleged contacts between Eli L. and individuals whom Israeli authorities identified as operatives working on behalf of Iranian intelligence.

According to the indictment, the chain of events began in November 2025, when Eli L. was visiting relatives in the United States and responded to an employment advertisement posted in a Telegram group called “Yeshivot Telegram.”

Prosecutors allege that the advertisement ultimately connected him with an individual using the name “Sina,” who contacted him through Telegram approximately one month later, while he was traveling back to Israel.

The individual allegedly offered Eli L. money in exchange for photographing and filming various locations in Yerushalayim. Authorities contend that the assignments were part of an Iranian intelligence operation designed to recruit people inside Israel through online platforms.

Among the initial tasks described in the indictment were photographing the Yerushalayim Central Bus Station, documenting a grocery store, and taking pictures of an abandoned building in the Bukharim neighborhood.

In another assignment, Eli L. was allegedly instructed to place a cigarette package inside a garbage receptacle in a restroom at the Hadar Mall. The package contained a note stating, “The job is complete,” according to prosecutors.

Investigators also alleged that Eli L. was directed to identify locations along Jaffa Road that could potentially be used to conceal objects for collection by another individual.

The indictment states that Eli L. received approximately $861 in cryptocurrency from the individual identified as Sina for completing assignments.

At one point, prosecutors said, the operative requested that Eli L. send a photograph of himself along with an image of his American passport. Eli L. allegedly complied but subsequently became concerned that his personal information might be misused and blocked the account.

However, authorities contend that the communications did not end there.

Around the beginning of 2026, Eli L. allegedly established contact with another individual operating under the name “Alecsander,” who similarly offered financial compensation for carrying out assignments in Yerushalayim.

The second operative reportedly instructed Eli L. to photograph additional locations and complete other tasks, including concealing a USB flash drive at a restaurant in central Yerushalayim.

According to the indictment, on February 23, Eli L. placed the flash drive, wrapped in a 50-shekel banknote, at the designated location. The incident occurred just days before the outbreak of the American-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

Prosecutors allege that Eli L. received an additional $518 in cryptocurrency through his dealings with the second operative, bringing the total payments associated with the alleged activities to approximately $1,379.

One particularly notable detail in the indictment concerns an alleged request that Eli L. provide information about other bochurim learning at the Mir Yeshiva.

According to prosecutors, the individual identified as Alecsander asked Eli L. to supply a list of fellow students, but Eli L. refused to involve his friends or provide their names.

The indictment accuses Eli L. of maintaining contact with foreign agents and transmitting information that could be useful to an enemy. Israeli authorities alleged that he continued performing assignments despite circumstances that should have alerted him to the possibility that he was communicating with Iranian intelligence personnel.

Eli L.’s defense has challenged the prosecution’s characterization of the alleged conduct.

Earlier in the proceedings, defense attorney Raz Bar Tzvi argued that communicating with a suspicious individual through social media should not automatically result in someone being characterized as a sophisticated intelligence operative.

“not every person with whom a foreign actor makes contact via social media is an ‘atomic spy.’ The legal reality must be adapted to the technological reality. The matters described in the indictment do not align with reality,” the attorney said in comments reported following the indictment.

The case emerged amid a broader Israeli crackdown on suspected Iranian intelligence recruitment operations, which authorities say have increasingly relied on social media and encrypted messaging applications to identify potential recruits.

Israeli security officials have repeatedly warned that Iranian operatives use apparently ordinary online employment opportunities to approach individuals, initially offering payment for relatively simple assignments before attempting to involve them in more sensitive activities.

Such assignments can include photographing public locations, documenting infrastructure, placing objects at predetermined sites, or gathering information about individuals and institutions.

Authorities have expressed concern that even seemingly minor assignments may serve a larger intelligence purpose, allowing hostile operatives to verify a recruit’s location, assess willingness to follow instructions, or prepare for more consequential activities.

Eli L.’s case was particularly unusual because of his American citizenship and his status as a bochur at the Mir Yeshiva, one of the largest and most prominent Torah institutions in the world.

His arrest and subsequent indictment came as Israeli law enforcement agencies were pursuing numerous investigations involving suspected Iranian recruitment networks. In several cases, individuals were accused of accepting relatively modest cryptocurrency payments in exchange for carrying out assignments for foreign handlers.

The latest development does not bring Eli L.’s criminal case to an end. His release to house arrest concerns the conditions under which he may remain outside prison while the judicial proceedings continue, rather than a determination of his guilt or innocence.

Tzedek’s announcement did not specify all the restrictions that will govern Eli L.’s house arrest, including whether he will be subject to electronic monitoring, limitations on communications, or other conditions.

The precise terms of the release have also not yet been independently confirmed through a published court decision or an official statement from the State Prosecutor’s Office.

For now, the court’s authorization, the substantial financial guarantee arranged by Tzedek, and Rav Shisha’s offer of an apartment have opened the way for Eli L. to leave prison after approximately four months in custody, while he continues to face the serious charges brought against him.

{Matzav.com}

For the first time in Israel’s history, IDF soldiers serving in military operations beyond the country’s borders will be able to cast ballots while remaining in their operational positions, as the military prepares an extensive voting operation ahead of the October 27 elections.

The unprecedented arrangement is part of a major logistical effort intended to ensure that soldiers on active duty and reservists can exercise their voting rights despite the ongoing fighting and the complicated security situation in several operational sectors.

The IDF is completing preparations to establish approximately 850 polling stations across military bases, units, and operational areas, a substantial increase from the 700 polling stations deployed during the previous election.

Military officials attributed the expansion to the increased number of reservists currently serving and the changing deployment of Israeli forces across different regions.

Voting within the military will begin on the evening of October 20, a full week before the general election, and continue throughout the following seven days.

The extended voting period is designed to accommodate soldiers whose assignments, operational responsibilities, or locations may prevent them from reaching a polling station on Election Day itself.

Under the new arrangements, even troops conducting cross-border operations will be provided with opportunities to vote, marking the first time the military has extended its election infrastructure to personnel serving in such circumstances.

Approximately 75 percent of the polling stations will operate from fixed locations, while the remaining 25 percent will be mobile units capable of traveling between military positions.

The mobile polling stations, numbering roughly 210, will play a particularly important role during the early voting period, allowing election personnel to reach soldiers stationed in remote areas or engaged in demanding operational assignments.

Rather than requiring soldiers to travel to central voting locations, these mobile stations will move between units according to schedules established in advance.

Each mobile polling committee will be accompanied by an armed officer or noncommissioned officer responsible for providing security throughout the operation.

Special procedures have also been established to safeguard the ballot boxes while they are transported between military units.

During transit, the secondary cover of each ballot box will remain locked to protect the integrity of the voting process and prevent unauthorized access.

Soldiers will be permitted to vote either at a military polling station or at their designated civilian polling station near their registered residence, provided they cast only one ballot.

To prevent duplicate voting, military ballots will be submitted using a double-envelope system. This procedure allows election authorities to verify each voter’s eligibility and ensure that no soldier has voted more than once while preserving the secrecy of the ballot.

The IDF has also clarified that soldiers who know they will be deployed on operational missions during Election Day may be able to vote in advance, beginning at 10 p.m. on October 20, subject to authorization for early voting at their particular unit.

Soldiers will receive information about the locations and operating hours of their polling stations through their commanders and unit election officers.

Responsibility for overseeing the entire military voting operation has been assigned to Colonel Vered Ben Yehuda, who ordinarily serves as head of the IDF Civilian Employee Employment Center and has now been appointed the military’s chief elections officer.

Ben Yehuda will supervise an extensive administrative network involving hundreds of election officers and approximately 3,000 soldiers who have received specialized training to serve on polling committees.

Each polling committee will generally consist of four IDF personnel trained in the procedures governing identification, ballot handling, voting secrecy, and the proper operation of polling stations.

Because of the unusual operational circumstances, special arrangements will also allow career soldiers and reservists to serve on polling committees in certain cases, subject to individual approval.

The military is coordinating the arrangements with Israel’s Central Elections Committee to ensure that the early voting process complies with election regulations.

Unlike civilians, IDF soldiers will not receive a general day off for the election. Military operations will continue as usual, with commanders responsible for arranging opportunities for eligible personnel to cast their ballots without interfering with operational requirements.

The military is also taking steps to ensure that the election campaign does not interfere with its nonpartisan character.

The IDF Education and Youth Corps has distributed informational materials and guidance to commanders explaining the voting procedures and emphasizing the prohibition against partisan political campaigning on military bases.

Military officials stressed that the responsibility of the election apparatus is strictly administrative: to provide soldiers with access to the ballot box and ensure that the voting process is conducted properly, without involvement in political arguments or attempts to influence voters.

The expanded voting arrangements come as Israeli forces remain deployed across several sensitive operational fronts, including areas along the Lebanese and Syrian borders and in Gaza.

The number and locations of polling stations may be adjusted as operational needs change, with mobile teams expected to provide flexibility for units whose deployment schedules cannot be determined far in advance.

The operation is scheduled to culminate on October 27, when the rest of Israel goes to the polls to elect the 26th Knesset.

{Matzav.com}

Direct flights between Israel and Morocco could once again be suspended, just weeks after Israeli airlines resumed service to Marrakesh following a nearly three-year interruption. New security requirements reportedly being imposed by Israel’s Shin Bet security agency have raised concerns that airlines may be unable to continue operating the routes.

The development threatens to disrupt the renewed air connections between the two countries at a time when Israeli carriers have been working to restore service and expand their schedules.

Although no official decision has been announced to suspend the flights, uncertainty surrounding the latest security demands has raised questions about the future of the routes currently operated by Arkia and Israir, as well as planned service by Sun d’Or, a subsidiary of El Al.

Arkia became the first Israeli airline to restore direct flights to Morocco when it resumed service between Israel and Marrakesh on August 24, ending a suspension that had lasted almost three years.

The airline introduced two weekly flights after an extended period of discussions with Israeli security authorities aimed at obtaining the approvals necessary to resume operations.

The return of direct service was considered an important development for travelers seeking to visit Morocco, particularly those who previously had to rely on connecting flights through other countries.

Israir subsequently resumed flights to Marrakesh as well, although its return was complicated by difficulties securing the necessary authorization from Moroccan authorities.

During September, those complications became serious enough that the airline considered discontinuing the route.

However, following intervention by senior officials, the required approvals were obtained, allowing Israir to announce that it would continue operating flights to the Moroccan destination.

Meanwhile, Sun d’Or, which operates under the El Al Group, has announced plans to introduce its own direct service to Marrakesh beginning November 16.

The airline intends to operate two flights per week, provided it receives all necessary regulatory and security approvals.

Those expansion plans could now be affected by the additional security conditions reportedly being introduced by the Shin Bet.

At this stage, the precise nature of the new requirements has not been disclosed. It remains unclear whether the restrictions apply equally to all Israeli airlines serving Morocco, whether they involve additional screening procedures or operational security measures, and whether any formal instructions have already been issued to carriers.

The uncertainty has prompted concerns that airlines could encounter difficulties maintaining their existing schedules or proceeding with plans to increase service.

Direct flights between Israel and Morocco were suspended following the outbreak of the war in October 2023, amid heightened security concerns and travel warnings affecting Israeli citizens.

The interruption ended a period of expanding aviation ties that followed the normalization of diplomatic relations between Israel and Morocco in December 2020, under the Abraham Accords framework.

The resumption of direct flights this past summer restored a convenient connection between Israel and Marrakesh, allowing passengers to reach the Moroccan city without traveling through a third country.

Morocco remains a significant destination for Israelis, particularly those with family roots in the country and visitors traveling to historic Jewish communities and the kevarim of tzaddikim.

The country’s longstanding Jewish heritage, including historic shuls, cemeteries, and pilgrimage sites, has made it an important destination for Jewish travelers.

For passengers planning upcoming trips, another suspension of direct flights would likely mean returning to connecting itineraries, potentially increasing travel times and costs.

The latest concerns come amid heightened Israeli scrutiny of international aviation security following recent incidents involving flights bound for Ben Gurion Airport.

Nevertheless, there has been no official announcement from the Shin Bet or the airlines indicating that the Morocco routes have been canceled or that a suspension has been ordered.

For now, the flights remain subject to the existing approval arrangements, while the airlines await clarification regarding the new security requirements and their potential impact on future operations.

{Matzav.com}

Visitors planning to daven at the Kosel in Yerushalayim are being advised to prepare for changes to the usual entrance and exit arrangements, as the Western Wall Heritage Foundation begins an extensive renovation project at the main entrance to the Kosel Plaza near Shaar Ha’ashpos, the Dung Gate.

The construction work, which is expected to continue until Shavuos, will involve significant improvements to the entrance area, including upgraded security screening facilities, renewed infrastructure, improved accessibility, and changes designed to make pedestrian traffic safer and more orderly.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation announced that the project is part of its ongoing efforts to improve conditions for the millions of mispallelim and visitors who come to the Kosel throughout the year.

The renovations will focus on the main access point leading from Shaar Ha’ashpos into the Kosel Plaza, one of the busiest entrances to the site and the location of security checkpoints used by large numbers of visitors.

As part of the project, crews will replace and upgrade existing infrastructure, carry out maintenance work, and introduce improvements to the security and safety arrangements in the entrance complex.

The plans also include refurbishing the appearance of the entrance and reorganizing pedestrian passageways to provide a more efficient flow of people entering and leaving the plaza.

Particular attention will be given to accessibility, with improvements intended to make the entrance easier and more convenient to navigate for elderly visitors, people with disabilities, and others who may have difficulty moving through crowded areas.

The entrance serves enormous numbers of people throughout the year, with particularly heavy pedestrian traffic during Yomim Tovim, major tefillah gatherings, and other occasions when tens of thousands of Yidden converge on the Kosel.

Foundation officials said the improvements are intended to accommodate those crowds more effectively while preserving the special character and dignity of the Kosel and its surroundings.

Because the work will be carried out in stages, the existing entry and exit arrangements will be subject to temporary changes throughout the construction period.

Visitors should therefore not assume that the routes they ordinarily use to enter or leave the plaza will remain available. Access arrangements may be adjusted as different sections of the entrance undergo renovation.

Signs have already been installed in the area, including directional arrows guiding visitors toward the appropriate entrances, exits, and pedestrian routes.

The public is being asked to pay close attention to the posted instructions and cooperate with ushers and other personnel stationed at the site to direct pedestrian traffic.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation emphasized that it is making efforts to minimize disruption during the months of construction and maintain safe access to the Kosel Plaza while the improvements are underway.

Foundation officials thanked the public for its patience and cooperation, explaining that the project is intended to provide a safer, more accessible, and more dignified entrance for the countless people who come to daven at the Kosel.

The renovations are scheduled to be completed by the upcoming Shavuos, when large crowds traditionally gather at the Kosel for tefillos.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump declared Monday that the approaching November 3 midterm elections will not influence his administration’s strategy toward Iran, predicting that the ongoing conflict will conclude in the near future and that oil prices will plunge once the fighting ends.

Speaking with reporters before departing for a campaign rally in Ohio, Trump expressed confidence that the confrontation with Tehran was nearing its conclusion, despite continuing uncertainty over whether Washington will pursue a diplomatic agreement or launch additional military strikes.

“As soon as the war ends with Iran, which will be very soon, oil will drop like a rock. And it’s going to end very soon,” Trump told reporters.

The president’s remarks came amid mounting regional tensions, including a series of missile attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen against targets in Saudi Arabia. Recent strikes have reportedly targeted Saudi airports, with one attack resulting in the death of an American citizen.

Asked how the United States intends to respond to the Houthi attacks, Trump sharply criticized the terror group’s conduct but did not announce any immediate retaliatory measures.

“Well, the Houthis are misbehaving very badly. No good.”

The comments come as the Trump administration weighs its next steps against Iran, with the possibility of renewed American military action remaining under consideration even as diplomatic contacts continue.

Last Thursday, Trump indicated that the United States would refrain from launching further attacks against Iran until after the November 3 congressional elections, a decision that raised questions about whether domestic political considerations were influencing the timing of American military operations.

“We are having productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

At the same time, the president portrayed Iran as a country under extraordinary pressure, pointing to its weakened military capabilities and deteriorating economic circumstances. He indicated that Washington had no intention of easing its demands simply because negotiations were underway.

During an appearance at the White House on Friday, Trump again suggested that the conflict could be brought to a conclusion within a relatively short period, making clear that the administration was prepared to employ either diplomatic or military means to achieve its objectives.

“We can do it either way, but it’s very simple – one way or another it’s gonna be over soon,” he declared.

Behind the president’s public statements, American military planners have continued preparing detailed options for a possible return to major combat operations against Iran. According to a New York Times report, the Pentagon has developed plans for attacks on Iranian missile stockpiles, drone production and deployment facilities, energy installations, and military command centers.

One proposal under consideration involves a concentrated bombing campaign lasting approximately three days, with the objective of severely weakening Iran’s ability to conduct further missile and drone attacks. Senior administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance, reportedly reviewed the options during discussions at Camp David.

The military preparations have been accompanied by a significant American buildup in the Middle East, with three aircraft carriers expected to be deployed to the region. The deployment would give Washington substantial additional capabilities should Trump authorize another round of strikes.

According to the report, the president has rejected five previous proposals for major military operations against Iran or the Houthis in recent months, choosing instead to maintain military pressure while leaving room for negotiations.

The diplomatic effort has nevertheless encountered significant obstacles, particularly over Iran’s nuclear program. American negotiators have sought to make restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions a central component of any agreement, while Iranian representatives have resisted addressing that issue before other disputes are resolved.

The continuing confrontation has also placed substantial pressure on global energy markets. Oil prices climbed above $100 per barrel amid renewed Iranian attacks on commercial shipping and the latest Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia, underscoring the economic consequences of the conflict as Americans prepare to vote in November.

Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz have further complicated efforts to stabilize the region, disrupting shipping through one of the world’s most important energy corridors. The United States has increased naval operations to protect commercial vessels, although the threat to maritime traffic has persisted.

Meanwhile, the recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have added another potential flashpoint. The strikes have raised concerns that the confrontation could expand beyond Iran and draw additional regional countries into the fighting, even as Washington continues exploring a negotiated end to the war.

A preliminary investigation into the deadly explosion on the Ramim Ridge in northern Israel has revealed that the students involved in the tragedy were hiking along a trail where a warning sign prohibited entry, raising serious questions about how the school outing was permitted to proceed. The explosion, believed to have been caused by an unexploded cluster munition left behind during the war, killed one student and injured 23 others.

Following the tragedy, Israel’s Education Ministry announced Monday evening that school trips scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in areas near the northern border and the northern Golan Heights would be diverted to alternative locations.

School groups already hiking in the affected areas were instructed to leave their routes in coordination with the Education Ministry’s field trip coordination center.

The restrictions were introduced after the explosion during an outing involving students from the ORT Ma’alot Yeshiva High School on the Ramim Ridge, an area near Israel’s northern border that was subjected to extensive rocket and missile fire during the war.

According to initial findings, investigators believe the explosive device was a cluster munition that landed in the area sometime between mid-March and early April.

Students who witnessed the incident reportedly told emergency personnel that they had seen additional unexploded munitions scattered in the vicinity, adding to concerns about the dangers remaining along hiking routes in the region.

Israeli Northern Command officials estimate that thousands of unexploded explosive devices may still be lying across northern Israel as a result of the war, with most believed to have originated from Hezbollah rocket and missile attacks.

The discovery has heightened concerns about the safety of outdoor activities in areas that experienced sustained bombardment, particularly locations where unexploded ordnance may remain concealed among rocks, vegetation, and other natural features.

Education Minister Yoav Kisch initially considered imposing a broader temporary suspension of school excursions throughout northern Israel. Following consultations, officials instead decided to redirect trips away from designated high-risk areas over the next two days.

One of the most troubling findings emerged in a report by Kan News, which revealed that the hiking trail used by the students had a warning sign installed by Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, the Jewish National Fund.

The sign prohibited entering or remaining on the trail and in surrounding forest areas because restoration work was underway.

KKL-JNF confirmed that the warning remained in effect at the time of the incident, meaning that the restriction had not been lifted when the students from Ma’alot-Tarshiha entered the area.

Despite the posted prohibition, the school’s outing went ahead along the route, and the students were hiking there when the fatal explosion occurred.

The revelation has raised questions about the approval process for the excursion, including whether the school and relevant authorities were aware that the trail was officially closed.

However, a separate report indicated that the students entered the area through another access point where no warning sign had been posted. The Education Ministry maintained that the excursion had been approved as part of the Israel National Trail, adding another layer to the questions surrounding the incident.

Police Commissioner Danny Levy told reporters that, based on his understanding, the school trip had received authorization from the appropriate agencies.

Levy said he was also considering recommending a suspension of school outings in the affected region while investigators determine how the tragedy occurred and whether additional safety measures are necessary.

Further details about the moments preceding the explosion have emerged from accounts provided by students and their families.

According to testimony reported by Ynet, several students discovered the unexploded munition during the hike and began handling it. Some reportedly posed for photographs with the object before the explosion.

Eliyahu Galil, whose son participated in the outing, said his son sent him a photograph of the munition after the incident.

Galil explained that the boys had apparently become excited upon finding the unusual object. According to his understanding of the events, one of the students subsequently placed it inside a backpack, where the explosion later occurred.

Other accounts indicated that the munition may have been handled or partially dismantled before detonating. Investigators are examining the precise sequence of events and the actions that may have triggered the blast.

The explosion set off a major emergency response involving Magen David Adom personnel, police, firefighters, military medical teams and IDF helicopters. Rescue workers faced the additional danger that other unexploded devices might be present nearby.

IDF combat engineering specialists, including personnel from the Yahalom unit, were dispatched to search the surrounding terrain for additional explosive remnants.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir subsequently instructed Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo to investigate the circumstances of the explosion and submit his findings as quickly as possible.

The military inquiry is expected to examine the origin of the munition, the presence of additional unexploded devices in the area, and the circumstances that allowed civilians to enter terrain potentially contaminated by wartime explosives.

The tragedy has also renewed attention to warnings issued by State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman concerning Israel’s handling of unexploded ordnance and hazardous areas. A May 2025 report identified deficiencies in planning, funding and the clearance of dangerous explosive materials, although its principal focus was on military and industrial sites rather than open hiking trails affected by rocket fire.

Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu visited wounded students at Rambam Hospital in Haifa on Monday evening, accompanied by Education Minister Kisch, meeting with injured youngsters and their families.

The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities now facing the task of determining how an approved school outing entered a restricted area and what measures will be required to prevent another tragedy involving the thousands of unexploded munitions believed to remain across northern Israel.

{Matzav.com}

On Thursday, September 3, Parshas Nitzavim-Vayeilech, a historic Chanukas HaBayis was held for the new Rofeh Cholim Cancer Society (RCCS) building in central Yerushalayim.

RCCS, founded by R’ Hershel Kohn nearly 30 years ago, is renowned worldwide for supporting thousands of Jewish families facing serious illness, providing comprehensive medical, financial, and emotional assistance.

Based in New York, RCCS opened a branch in Yerushalayim about 15 years ago. Though it began on a smaller scale, it quickly became a vital resource for families in need. As the number of patients has grown each year, the organization has steadily expanded its lifesaving work.

To meet the myriad of unique needs patients and their families experience when coping with illness in Israel, a major initiative was launched: establishing a medical center on Sarei Yisrael Street in Yerushalayim. The new facility will bring various service departments together under one roof, enabling RCCS to raise and broaden its medical support and services offered in Eretz Yisroel.

Many distinguished donors from the United States who partnered in the project traveled to attend the dedication. Among them were the building’s patron Reb Beri Weiss, and his brother-in-law and partner, Reb Ari Weiss, in whose honor the building is named the “Weiss Family Building.”

The dedication event was attended by many rabbanim and community leaders, who despite the busy period before Selichos and the Yomim Noraim, made time to come and personally thank the organization’s administration and partners for the profound impact RCCS has on their kehillos, neighborhoods and communities.

Several Rabbanim, Roshei Yeshiva, and Admorim addressed the gathering, often sharing stories of how RCCS has helped families they are personally close with.

During the event, founder R’ Hershel Kohn shared that over the past year, RCCS has assisted more than 7,000 families of cholei Yisrael worldwide, including 2,700 in Eretz Yisroel. He stressed the need to continue expanding so that no one is ever turned away, and expressed hope that with the coming of Moshiach, the organization will no longer be needed.

The event concluded with spirited dancing and heartfelt brachos from the attending Gedolei Yisrael for the continued success of RCCS, and for the speedy refuah and yeshuah of all cholei Yisrael.

To learn more about RCCS or to support our work, please visit: https://www.rccscancer.org/

Barack Obama has formally endorsed Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, releasing a campaign advertisement Monday urging voters to support the progressive candidate in his November 3 contest against Republican Mike Rogers, even as Rogers intensifies his criticism of El-Sayed over alleged family connections to the Muslim Brotherhood.

The endorsement places Obama behind El-Sayed in one of the country’s most closely watched Senate contests, with the former president portraying the Michigan election as part of a broader struggle over the direction of the United States.

“America was founded on a simple idea. This country belongs to all of us,” Obama said in the video. “Not just the wealthy, not just the well-connected — everyone.

“Today, that idea is under attack. And Michigan is where we fight back. That’s why I’m asking you to support Abdul El-Sayed for the United States Senate.”

Obama praised El-Sayed’s record in public health and his progressive economic agenda, presenting him as a candidate willing to challenge powerful interests on behalf of working Americans.

The former president said El-Sayed has “taken on special interests to fight for good jobs, better healthcare, and lower costs.”

Among the positions Obama highlighted were El-Sayed’s advocacy for Medicare for All, his decision not to accept contributions from corporate political action committees, and his opposition to American involvement in foreign wars.

El-Sayed previously served as the health director of Wayne County, which includes Detroit, and has emphasized his background in public health throughout his political career.

Although some coverage has described him as a physician, El-Sayed’s professional qualifications have drawn closer scrutiny. He earned a medical degree from Columbia University but does not hold a license to practice medicine, according to reporting by Bridge Michigan.

The endorsement had been anticipated after Obama and El-Sayed announced plans to appear together at a campaign event in Detroit later this month. Until Monday, however, Obama had not publicly issued a formal endorsement.

The announcement comes as El-Sayed attempts to consolidate Democratic support following a competitive primary contest against Representative Haley Stevens of Michigan.

El-Sayed must now persuade Stevens’ supporters and other Democratic voters to unite behind his candidacy while also appealing to independents in a state where statewide elections have frequently been decided by narrow margins.

The endorsement arrives at a politically sensitive moment for El-Sayed, who has recently attempted to distance himself from harsh criticism he directed at Obama earlier in his career.

In a 2012 opinion piece, El-Sayed sharply questioned Obama’s record on immigration, healthcare, civil liberties, and American military involvement overseas. Those criticisms resurfaced ahead of the planned joint campaign appearance.

During an interview Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press, El-Sayed attributed his earlier remarks to his “younger” and “angry self.”

“You grow up, you start to appreciate just how hard change is and how important it is to pick up and push,” El-Sayed said.

He explained that his views had evolved as he gained experience in public service and came to better appreciate the difficulties of achieving major policy changes. El-Sayed also suggested that progressive Democrats had drawn important lessons from Obama’s presidency, even where they continued to disagree with aspects of his record.

Meanwhile, Rogers has been pursuing a sharply different campaign strategy, focusing attention on El-Sayed’s political positions and raising allegations about his family’s purported connections to Islamist organizations.

In a Monday post on X, Rogers made no reference to Obama’s endorsement. Instead, he repeated an allegation concerning El-Sayed’s family.

“According to his own sister, Abdul El-Sayed’s family has ‘long been’ Muslim Brotherhood,” Rogers wrote. “Abdul needs to be honest with Michiganders about he and his families ties to terrorism.”

El-Sayed has denied that he or members of his family have connections to the Muslim Brotherhood. Rogers has not publicly provided evidence establishing the alleged ties, and the accusations remain disputed.

The allegations had already surfaced during the candidates’ October 8 debate in Grand Rapids, where Rogers repeatedly raised questions about El-Sayed’s background and associations. El-Sayed accused his Republican opponent of attempting to make his Muslim identity an issue in the election.

The debate also exposed substantial differences between the candidates over Israel and American foreign policy. El-Sayed has opposed continued American military assistance to Israel, while Rogers has criticized that position and portrayed his opponent’s foreign policy views as a national security concern.

Rogers, who previously chaired the House Intelligence Committee, has emphasized his background in national security and law enforcement. His campaign has also targeted El-Sayed over policing, crime, and government spending.

El-Sayed, meanwhile, has campaigned on expanding healthcare access, reducing household expenses, limiting corporate influence in politics, and changing American foreign policy priorities.

The two candidates are competing for the Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Gary Peters, who is retiring. With Republicans currently holding a 53–47 Senate majority, Michigan is among the states receiving intense attention from both national parties.

Obama’s scheduled October 24 appearance in Detroit will also feature Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson and other party leaders. The event coincides with the beginning of early in-person voting in Michigan.

The location is significant for El-Sayed, who struggled in Detroit during the Democratic primary, losing the city to Stevens by a substantial margin. His campaign is now seeking to bring those voters into the Democratic coalition for the general election.

Rogers has simultaneously attempted to appeal to voters dissatisfied with both parties, including by publicly opposing aspects of President Trump’s tariff policy toward Canada and calling for changes in American policy toward Iran.

In a new advertisement released Monday, the Rogers campaign featured Detroit residents criticizing El-Sayed, including one voter who said, “I voted for Barack Obama, but this year I’m voting for Mike Rogers.”

Obama’s endorsement is part of a wider round of campaign activity ahead of the midterms. On Monday, he also released a video supporting Democratic Senate candidate Scott Colom in Mississippi, where Colom is challenging Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith.

The former president’s Michigan appearance later this month will bring him directly into the contest between El-Sayed and Rogers, with both campaigns continuing to focus on voter turnout, economic concerns, and sharply contrasting positions on national security.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is renewing his promise to provide $5,000 payments to every adult American citizen if Republicans retain control of Congress in November, presenting the proposal as a major financial benefit of a Republican victory even as lawmakers within his own party question its cost and potential economic consequences.

In a campaign advertisement posted Monday on X, Trump promoted the proposed payments while warning that Democratic control of Congress would result in higher taxes and serious economic difficulties.

“I’m going to give all adult citizens of the United States of America $5,000. Democrat policies won’t allow this to happen,” Trump said in the advertisement.

“In fact, the opposite. They’re going to raise your taxes,” he continued.

“If the Democrats win, you will have an economic depression. If the Republicans win, you will each have $5,000 in your pocket and economic success for our country like we have never ever seen before.”

The renewed promise comes just weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, when Republicans will attempt to maintain their majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Trump has sought to make the proposed payments a prominent feature of the Republican campaign, arguing that continued GOP control would allow his administration to deliver direct financial benefits to American households.

However, the proposal has already encountered resistance among fiscally conservative Republicans, some of whom argue that distributing thousands of dollars to millions of Americans would significantly increase federal spending and could undermine efforts to control inflation.

The president initially introduced the $5,000 dividend proposal during the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention in Dallas on September 9.

Since that announcement, questions have persisted about how the payments would be financed, whether they would require additional federal borrowing, and how the administration would structure the program.

Representative Chip Roy, a Texas Republican known for his opposition to expanding federal spending, criticized the proposal on the grounds that direct government payments could encourage Americans to become more dependent on Washington.

“[S]ome of us think dependency is evil & soul-sucking in all its forms,” Roy wrote on X.

Representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina, another conservative Republican and a member of the House Freedom Caucus, also expressed reservations about the initiative.

Norman cited “serious concerns” involving the federal debt and what he described as “pay-to-play politics,” raising questions about the wisdom of linking a major government payment proposal to the outcome of an election.

The criticism reflects broader divisions within the Republican Party over the appropriate role of government spending and whether direct cash payments are consistent with the party’s stated commitment to fiscal restraint.

The debate has revived comparisons with the stimulus checks issued during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Congress approved several rounds of direct payments to help households cope with widespread economic disruptions.

Although those payments were initially introduced under Trump’s administration, subsequent rounds of federal assistance were enacted under President Joe Biden, contributing to a broader debate over government spending and its relationship to inflation.

One individual who previously served as a senior official in Trump’s White House argued that the pandemic-era payments ultimately produced little political benefit for Republicans while opening the door to additional federal spending.

“We all remember how that turned out,” the official said. “Didn’t help our team at all, and it set the stage for [former President Joe] Biden to do it again — and plunged us straight into inflation hell.”

Trump, however, has continued to defend his proposal as an affordable way to share what he describes as the economic gains generated by his administration’s policies.

During his September announcement, the president said the payments would be known as the Trump Dividend and compared the concept to a corporation distributing profits to its shareholders.

He also specified that recipients would be required to spend the money within the United States, an additional condition intended to ensure that the payments stimulate domestic economic activity.

The president has pointed to tariff revenue and increased investment in the American economy as reasons he believes the federal government can afford the initiative. In subsequent campaign remarks, he estimated the program’s cost at approximately $1 trillion.

Independent analyses have placed the potential cost closer to $1.2 trillion, based on the number of adult American citizens who would qualify. Fact-checkers have questioned whether tariff collections could finance the payments without additional borrowing or other sources of revenue.

Another unresolved question is how the government would enforce Trump’s requirement that the money be spent domestically. Administration officials have not publicly outlined a mechanism for tracking purchases or restricting how recipients use the funds.

The White House formally promoted the proposal in September, presenting it as a dividend tied to the administration’s economic policies and emphasizing that it would depend on Republicans maintaining control of both chambers of Congress.

The $5,000 pledge has also become part of a broader series of financial initiatives announced by the administration ahead of the midterms, including targeted payments or refunds for certain Medicare beneficiaries and Americans enrolled in federal health insurance programs.

Those measures differ from the proposed Trump Dividend because they involve specific existing programs or smaller groups of recipients, while the $5,000 initiative would extend to every adult American citizen.

For a married couple in which both spouses are adult U.S. citizens, the proposed payments would total $10,000. The president has not announced an income limit that would exclude higher-earning Americans.

Despite Trump’s repeated assurances, the dividend remains a proposal rather than an approved federal benefit. Congress would need to authorize the payments, and no legislation establishing the program has been enacted.

With the November 3 elections approaching, the president is continuing to promote the checks as a central part of his economic message, even as Republican lawmakers debate whether the federal government can afford the commitment and how it would be implemented.

{Matzav.com}

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri has acknowledged that there is no realistic solution to the ongoing dispute over drafting chareidi yeshiva students into the IDF, revealing during a closed-door gathering in Modiin Illit that the instructions he received from senior rabbonim were to prolong the political process and gain as much time as possible.

The remarks, disclosed Monday evening by Israel’s Channel 13 News, have drawn attention because they present a different picture of Shas’s strategy from the message the party has recently emphasized in its public election campaign.

According to the report, Deri told participants at the private gathering that the dispute over military conscription could not be resolved under the existing circumstances and that the rabbinic leadership had directed him to focus on delaying developments rather than expecting a comprehensive legislative settlement.

“You cannot solve the problem. The instruction from the rabbonim was to buy time,” Deri was quoted as saying, according to an English translation of the Hebrew remarks reported by Channel 13.

The disclosure comes as Shas has been working to broaden its appeal ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections, highlighting the party’s identification with the State of Israel and expressing appreciation for IDF soldiers.

That public messaging has attracted particular attention because the party’s rabbinic leadership continues to maintain strong opposition to the compulsory enlistment of yeshiva students.

The newly reported remarks suggest that Deri views the political negotiations over a draft law primarily as a means of protecting the chareidi community from immediate enforcement measures while postponing a confrontation that he believes cannot presently be resolved.

The Channel 13 report did not establish when the private gathering took place or provide the full recording and surrounding context of Deri’s remarks. It also did not identify which rabbonim issued the instructions he described.

The comments nevertheless add another dimension to the long-running struggle over military service, which has become one of the most contentious issues in Israeli politics.

For years, chareidi parties have sought legislation protecting the ability of yeshiva students to continue learning without being required to enlist in the IDF. Those efforts have repeatedly encountered legal challenges and opposition from political parties demanding a broader distribution of military obligations.

The dispute has become especially intense since the outbreak of the war following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, as the military has faced increased manpower requirements and reservists have been called up for extended periods.

The IDF has maintained that it urgently needs additional soldiers, while chareidi leaders insist that the preservation of full-time Torah learning is an essential religious responsibility.

Deri has previously expressed skepticism that the military genuinely wants to accommodate chareidi recruits who insist on maintaining their religious standards.

During a September interview with Kol Berama radio, the Shas chairman rejected suggestions that he should personally call upon chareidi men who are not learning full-time to enlist.

He argued that the military was capable of addressing its own recruitment difficulties and accused the IDF of failing to provide adequate frameworks for chareidi soldiers.

Deri also maintained that the army’s preference for a secular military environment was incompatible with the requirements of many chareidi recruits, although the IDF has established dedicated service frameworks, including the Chashmonaim Brigade, specifically intended to accommodate chareidi religious observance.

Those earlier comments drew criticism from political opponents, including former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who argued that the growing burden on serving soldiers required greater participation from the chareidi population.

The latest disclosure comes against the backdrop of a change in Shas’s public campaign strategy.

Recent party messaging has placed greater emphasis on solidarity with soldiers and their families, reflecting an effort to appeal to voters who identify with the military and the broader Israeli national experience.

At the same time, senior rabbonim associated with Shas have continued to speak against the drafting of yeshiva students, with some rejecting military enlistment even for young men who are not actively studying in yeshiva.

The contrast between those positions has raised questions about how Shas intends to reconcile its public expressions of support for soldiers with its continued opposition to compulsory chareidi enlistment.

Deri’s remarks at the Modiin Illit gathering indicate that, at least in the private discussion reported Monday, he was candid about the limits of what political negotiations could accomplish.

His acknowledgment that the rabbonim had instructed him to gain time also echoes an earlier position he expressed during a visit to Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman in January 2025.

At that meeting, Deri indicated that he did not see a practical solution to the draft controversy and spoke about awaiting the arrival of Moshiach rather than expecting the political system to resolve the matter.

The current dispute has also involved repeated attempts by the governing coalition to advance legislation that would regulate the status of chareidi yeshiva students and restrict enforcement measures against those who have not reported for military service.

In July, the coalition attempted to introduce a temporary suspension of arrests of chareidi draft evaders, but the High Court intervened before the measure could take effect.

The legal proceedings have further complicated efforts to reach an agreement acceptable to both the chareidi parties and lawmakers demanding greater enlistment.

An Ethiopian Airlines cargo aircraft traveling from Addis Ababa to Ben Gurion Airport was forced to reverse course after Israeli authorities discovered that one of the pilots was an Indonesian national, prompting the airline to return the plane to Ethiopia and replace the crew member before continuing to Israel.

The unusual incident occurred overnight Monday, when the cargo flight had already departed Ethiopia and was making its way toward Israel. The problem emerged after authorities received the aircraft’s crew manifest, which reportedly had not been submitted until after the plane was airborne.

During a review of the documentation, officials discovered that one of the pilots held Indonesian citizenship. Because Indonesia does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, the aircraft was denied permission to proceed with that crew member aboard.

The plane had been flying for approximately an hour and was still within Ethiopian airspace when instructions were issued for it to return to its departure airport.

The aircraft subsequently landed in Addis Ababa, where Ethiopian Airlines arranged for the Indonesian pilot to be replaced.

Once the crew change was completed, the cargo plane departed Ethiopia a second time and continued to Ben Gurion Airport, where it landed without further reported complications.

Ethiopian Airlines attributed the disruption to an administrative error, explaining that the company had not realized the Indonesian pilot would be unable to participate in a flight destined for Israel.

Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, has no formal diplomatic relations with Israel. The two countries have maintained limited unofficial contacts over the years, but Indonesia does not recognize Israel diplomatically.

The incident highlights the importance of advance crew documentation on international flights, particularly those operating between countries with complicated diplomatic relationships or heightened security requirements.

The incident occurred amid a tightening of Israel’s aviation security procedures following the recent attempted attack aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Ben Gurion Airport.

In that case, an Omani copilot allegedly attempted to seize control of the aircraft and crash it at the airport. The incident prompted Israeli authorities to review how foreign airline personnel are screened before being permitted to operate flights into the country.

Under the strengthened requirements, foreign carriers must conduct updated security background checks on flight crews and avoid assigning personnel holding citizenship, including dual citizenship, from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel.

The new procedures reportedly extend beyond pilots to other flight crew members, reflecting concerns about the potential security risks posed by personnel with access to aircraft cockpits and sensitive aviation operations.

In the Ethiopian Airlines incident, Israel’s screening system successfully identified the Indonesian crew member and prevented the aircraft from reaching Israeli airspace. However, the fact that the information was received only after departure has raised questions about whether crew manifests should be submitted earlier.

Unlike passenger information, which is generally transmitted to authorities before flights depart, crew information can sometimes reach screening systems shortly before takeoff or even after an aircraft is airborne.

Israeli aviation officials are examining the gap between the introduction of stricter screening requirements and the procedures used to enforce them before aircraft leave their departure airports.

The broader security review has also led Israeli airlines to undertake additional screening of foreign flight personnel employed on chartered aircraft.

According to Israeli reports, local carriers have begun using Israeli cybersecurity companies to examine the backgrounds of approximately 2,500 foreign pilots and flight attendants, including reviews of their publicly available social media activity and statements.

The additional scrutiny comes as investigators in the United Arab Emirates continue examining the attempted Flydubai attack. Emirati authorities have reportedly confirmed that the Omani copilot intended to carry out a suicide attack at Ben Gurion Airport.

Investigators also reported that the suspect had undergone a process of radicalization beginning in 2017 while living in Australia, despite subsequently passing the professional and security checks required when he joined the airline in January 2026.

The Ethiopian cargo flight ultimately reached Israel after the crew member was replaced, but the incident has placed renewed attention on the timing of security checks and the need for airlines to submit complete crew information before departure.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has directed the NYPD to undertake its first comprehensive examination of police use-of-force policies in a decade, while introducing new measures intended to prevent officers accused of serious misconduct from avoiding disciplinary proceedings by retiring before their cases are completed.

The mayor announced the changes Monday following controversy surrounding the death of Win Rozario, a 19-year-old Queens resident who was fatally shot by police in March 2024 after calling 911 during a mental health crisis. One of the two officers facing departmental charges in connection with the shooting retired before his disciplinary hearing could begin.

“When the government uses force against a New Yorker, the standard for accountability must be at its highest,” Mamdani said in a statement.

“We have an obligation to Win’s family and to every New Yorker who calls for help in a moment of crisis.”

The administration said the NYPD will spend the coming months reviewing its existing rules governing officers’ use of force, with the process including opportunities for community members to provide input.

The initiative will examine departmental procedures that have not undergone a similarly extensive review in approximately ten years, according to City Hall.

Mamdani also announced an additional $2.6 million for the Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD, an independent oversight body responsible for examining the department’s policies, practices, and operations.

The new funding is intended to triple the office’s current staffing, bringing its workforce back to the highest level it has previously maintained.

A central element of the administration’s changes involves disciplinary cases in which officers seek retirement while facing allegations of misconduct.

The NYPD has established a new notification process designed to alert relevant officials when an officer facing disciplinary proceedings is preparing to retire, allowing the department to make greater efforts to resolve the case before the officer leaves.

The department will also formalize procedures for notifying New York State criminal justice authorities when an officer retires while facing a formal misconduct accusation.

Those notifications will include the submission of records for possible decertification, a process that can prevent an officer from obtaining another law enforcement position elsewhere in New York.

The changes are intended to address concerns that officers facing serious allegations can leave the department before disciplinary findings are reached and potentially pursue employment with another police agency.

The mayor’s office also announced new requirements concerning the information provided to families and the public following serious incidents involving police officers.

Under the revised procedures, the NYPD will establish more consistent practices for releasing information after critical incidents, including providing families with final reports prepared by the department’s Force Investigation Division when those reports are requested.

The department also committed to complying with state reporting requirements concerning deaths involving police officers.

The policy announcement follows the March 27, 2024, shooting of Rozario inside his family’s apartment in Ozone Park, Queens.

Rozario had called 911 himself while experiencing a mental health emergency. Officers Salvatore Alongi and Matthew Cianfrocco were dispatched to the residence.

According to the officers’ accounts and body-camera footage, Rozario approached police while holding a pair of scissors and failed to comply with instructions to put them down.

The officers initially deployed their Tasers, but the encounter escalated and Rozario was shot five times in the presence of his mother and brother.

The New York State Attorney General’s Office subsequently investigated the shooting and declined to file criminal charges against the officers. Investigators also recommended expanding the city’s program for responding to mental health emergencies without police involvement.

Although prosecutors did not pursue criminal charges, the Civilian Complaint Review Board brought departmental disciplinary charges against both officers.

Rozario’s family has continued to demand that both officers be dismissed from the NYPD.

The recent retirement of Officer Salvatore Alongi before his disciplinary trial could proceed intensified the family’s objections and prompted questions about the department’s handling of pending misconduct cases.

The NYPD has attributed the failure to prevent the retirement to a notification error, and Commissioner Jessica Tisch has acknowledged the need for improved internal procedures.

Officer Matthew Cianfrocco remains subject to disciplinary proceedings.

The Police Benevolent Association, which represents rank-and-file NYPD officers, has disputed the allegations against the officers and criticized the administration’s response.

Union representatives argue that the officers were confronting an armed individual during a rapidly developing emergency and that the proposed changes risk placing additional burdens on officers making split-second decisions.

Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry also accused Mamdani of responding to pressure from political activists rather than addressing the operational needs of law enforcement.

The announcement comes amid broader disagreements over Mamdani’s approach to policing. Progressive organizations have pressed the mayor to adopt more extensive changes to the NYPD, while police unions have warned against reforms they believe could undermine officer effectiveness and public safety.

Mamdani has retained Jessica Tisch as police commissioner despite criticism from some of his political supporters, who have called for a more substantial overhaul of the department’s leadership and operations.

The mayor’s latest initiative will now place the NYPD’s use-of-force standards under formal examination while expanding independent oversight and changing the procedures governing officer retirement, disciplinary cases, and the disclosure of investigative findings.

A 14-year-old yeshiva student injured in the deadly explosion during a school trip in northern Israel told Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu on Monday that the disaster occurred after another student began handling an unexploded munition and unscrewed part of it, triggering a blast that killed one boy and wounded 24 others.

The harrowing account was provided by Eitan Masaori, a student at ORT Ma’alot Yeshiva High School, during Netanyahu’s visit to Rambam Hospital in Haifa, where several of the injured students were receiving treatment.

Masaori, who suffered a shrapnel wound to his neck, described the terrifying moments when the explosive device detonated during the school’s outing along the Ramim Ridge in the Upper Galilee.

According to his account, one of the students had discovered an unexploded munition in the area and began playing with it. The boy reportedly attempted to unscrew a component of the device, after which it exploded.

“Guys were thrown through the air, some fell into the bushes. There were two seconds of shock,” Masaori told the prime minister.

The injured student recalled the confusion that followed the blast, as classmates struggled to understand what had happened and began searching for their wounded friends.

Despite sustaining an injury himself, Masaori said his immediate concern was helping another student who had been hurt.

“I realized I was injured. I saw that a friend was hurt, and I tried to help him,” he recounted.

Netanyahu visited the hospital together with Education Minister Yoav Kisch, meeting injured students and their families and hearing firsthand descriptions of the tragedy.

The explosion claimed the life of a boy approximately 14 years old and left 24 others injured. Two of the wounded were reported to be in serious condition, ten sustained moderate injuries, and another twelve suffered light injuries.

Israeli military officials believe the explosive device was a cluster munition fired by Hezbollah during the war that had landed in the area without detonating.

Such unexploded munitions can remain dangerous long after the fighting has ended, particularly when disturbed or handled by civilians who are unaware of the threat.

The students had been hiking in an area that had previously been exposed to rocket and missile fire from Lebanon, raising renewed concerns about unexploded ordnance remaining in open areas of northern Israel.

The deadly incident has prompted an urgent examination of how a school group came to be hiking in an area where dangerous remnants of Hezbollah rocket fire may still be present.

Preliminary findings indicate that the students were taking a break near the Mitzpe Pe’er lookout when one of them discovered the munition. Investigators believe the device was picked up and placed in a backpack before detonating several minutes later. Masaori’s testimony that a student had unscrewed part of the object provides another account of what occurred immediately before the explosion.

Military investigators believe the object was a submunition from a Hezbollah rocket. During the fighting, Hezbollah fired rockets containing smaller explosive devices designed to scatter across wide areas. Some failed to explode on impact, leaving dangerous remnants in fields, forests, and other open areas.

Following his conversations with the injured students, Netanyahu instructed the commander of the IDF Home Front Command to strengthen public warnings about unexploded ordnance and reinforce instructions prohibiting civilians from touching suspicious objects.

He also called for extensive searches in areas where additional unexploded munitions might remain, particularly in locations frequented by hikers and other civilians.

Education Minister Yoav Kisch announced that he had ordered a 48-hour suspension of school trips in the northern border region and the Golan Heights. Schools planning outings in those areas were instructed to arrange alternative routes while authorities reviewed the safety situation.

Kisch said an initial review indicated that the ORT Ma’alot trip had received the necessary approvals, that the hiking route had been inspected, and that the required safety procedures had been followed.

He added that the students had been specifically warned about unexploded ordnance during the safety briefing preceding the outing.

“This will probably be with us for a long time to come,” Kisch said, referring to the danger posed by explosive remnants of the fighting.

Separate reporting raised questions about the route’s accessibility. Warning signs prohibiting entry had reportedly been posted at one approach to the area, although the school group entered from another direction where no such sign was present. Authorities are examining the circumstances surrounding the route’s approval and the warnings available to hikers.

The IDF dispatched bomb-disposal specialists from its elite Yahalom combat engineering unit to examine the explosion site and search the surrounding terrain for additional explosive devices.

Military helicopters and emergency medical teams were also deployed to evacuate the wounded, with casualties transported to Rambam Hospital in Haifa, Ziv Medical Center in Tzefas, and the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya.

Emergency responders described finding injured students scattered across the trail, with some children attempting to assist their classmates before professional medical personnel reached them.

Medical teams treated shrapnel wounds of varying severity, while rescue personnel worked to stabilize the seriously injured and evacuate them from the mountainous area.

The explosion occurred during an annual outing involving students and teachers from ORT Ma’alot Yeshiva High School. Other groups from the same school were hiking along separate routes nearby and were evacuated as a precaution after the blast.