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Minister Golan to Always Biased Piers Morgan: Children In Gaza Are Being Raised On Mein Kampf

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Israeli Minister for Social Equality and the Advancement of Women, May Golan, appeared in a heated exchange with British broadcaster Piers Morgan on Tuesday, strongly defending both her country’s military efforts in Gaza and her own widely debated past statements.

Addressing the issue of how Palestinian children are raised, Golan accused Gaza’s society of inciting hatred from an early age. “The fact is that we have children in Gaza today that are being raised on Mein Kampf. They are being raised [to kill] Jews from the second they are born. This is what they say. And you know what? If you don’t believe me, you can talk with the hostages that came back from captivity,” she said.

Morgan challenged Golan over a series of incendiary remarks she’s made in the past. He referenced her words at an October 24 rally where she is reported to have called for “another Nakba.” He also brought up her February 2024 declaration: “I’m personally proud of the ruins of Gaza and that every baby, even 80 years from now, will tell their grandchildren what the Jews did.” Additionally, he mentioned her December 2023 comment: “I don’t care about Gaza. I literally don’t care at all.”

When asked about her ideological association with figures such as Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, Golan stood her ground, firmly affirming her political stance. “I’m a right winger as well. I’m a right winger as well. Absolutely,” she confirmed. However, she clarified her position, adding, “That doesn’t mean I take any pleasure, any pleasure of an innocent Arab man or woman or child in Gaza suffering. But the fact is that you, for some reason, refuse to acknowledge is that Hamas is using them as human shields all the time.”

The interview also addressed accusations about the situation on the ground in Gaza. Morgan alleged that Israel had implemented a “three-month blockade of food” and was actively obstructing humanitarian supplies. Golan rejected the claim without hesitation, saying, “We do not. That’s a lie. That’s a complete lie.”

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{Matzav.com}

Analysis: Mamdani Apologists Play The Fake Islamophobia Card

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By Jonathan S. Tobin

It didn’t take long for the Democratic Party’s media cheering section to demonstrate how far the Overton Window had moved among liberals with respect to antisemitism. Centrist Democrats and the liberal Jewish establishment were genuinely shocked by Zohran Mamdani’s victory in last week’s Democratic Party mayoral primary in New York City. Within days, however, it was clear that legacy outlets reflecting mainstream opinion on the political left weren’t going to tolerate much in the way of criticism of his extremist views about Israel and the Jews.

Within days, it was clear that anyone who claimed that Mamdani should be rejected out of hand as a possible mayor of New York on the grounds of stands that were, at best, antisemitism-adjacent or, at worst, open endorsements of Jewish genocide, rather than the candidate himself, were going to be the ones under fire. Within 48 hours of Mamdani’s win, The New York Times was already using the word “Islamophobic” in headlines to describe his critics.

Legitimizing antisemitism

It is fear among Democrats about being labeled as Islamophobic that explains why so few prominent members of the party and officeholders are refusing to condemn Mamdani now that the 33-year-old New York state representative has become their party’s nominee. That’s not just smoothing his path to victory for a fellow Democrat, despite the horror that many New Yorkers feel about him. It’s also achieving something the political left has been assiduously working toward, especially since the Hamas-led Palestinian Arab attacks on southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023: the legitimization of antisemitism in the American public square.

While some of the online reaction to Mamdani was inappropriate, the attempt by Democrats and their liberal media cheerleaders to frame the narrative about the opposition to him as one primarily about Islamophobia is fundamentally dishonest.

Characterizing verbal and written criticisms of Mamdani as “racist” is not only a matter of inaccuracy or misinterpretation of those venting their anger and outrage about the prospect of him being mayor of the most Jewish city in the world outside of the State of Israel. Such arguments were the next logical step involved in legitimizing opinions about Israel and Jews, as well as those fighting to destroy it, along with other radical causes.

The issue is not whether the next mayor of New York is a Shia Muslim (he practices the faith of his mother rather than that of his Hindu father). In a city as diverse as New York, few care about Mamdani’s faith or his background as the son of immigrants (his mother was a Gujarati Indian Muslim born in Uganda, and his father an Indian-American of Hindu Punjabi descent).

What matters is the fact that he is a Socialist on economic issues and an adherent of the ideological war on the West being waged by the hard left. His extremist views may well be influenced by his faith and ethnicity. Yet they are just as much a manifestation of the fashionable ideas that label the West and America as irredeemably racist, and Israel and the Jews as “white” oppressors who must be suppressed. In this sense, the New York mayoral campaign has transcended politics. It is, instead, another manifestation of the conquest of American elite institutions of higher education by so-called “progressives” that led to mobs targeting Jews on college campuses since Oct. 7.

Mamdani has been an ardent advocate for the cause of “free Palestine,” which is to say the effort to “free” the territory—meaning, from the Jewish population—of the only Jewish state on the planet. That is an idea that ought to be rejected by all decent people everywhere not only because it singles out the Jews for deprivation of rights, such as that of living in peace and sovereignty in their ancient homeland, but also because it can only be achieved by the sort of genocidal wars that Hamas and its Iranian sponsor have long advocated and continue to pursue. This despicable cause has gained increasing support on the political left, largely on the strength of blood libels about Israel committing “genocide” against Palestinian Arabs in Gaza in its just war against Hamas, endorsed by Mamdani and other Democrats.

Suppressing criticism

If, as the Times and other liberal outlets insist, Mamdani’s views are to be accepted as legitimate stands about which we must agree to disagree when discussing them, then what we are witnessing is not a prejudiced reaction to the rise of a non-white Muslim politician. Rather, it is an attempt to suppress criticism of the mainstreaming of antisemitism and other extremist beliefs by the political left.

This tactic has been a staple of the anti-Israel movement for years and has achieved some notable successes, especially during the Biden presidency. The last Democratic administration balanced the lip service it paid to the rise of antisemitism on its watch with an attempt to treat concerns about prejudice against Muslims as being of equal concern.

While all prejudice is deplorable, the problem with virtually all of the discussion about Islamophobia in recent years is that most such attacks against Muslims aren’t actually racist ones.

To the contrary, the comments and stands that are labeled as Islamophobic are almost always attempts to call out the rabid Jew-hatred and virulent prejudicial positions and language that are mainstream discourse among American Muslims, especially on the part of those groups, like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which purport to represent them.

Such advocacy is based on the false assertion that Muslims are being subjected to widespread attacks and discrimination in the United States. The primary source for this claim is CAIR, a group that masquerades as a civil-rights organization but was founded as a cover for those seeking to raise funds for Hamas terrorists in the United States illegally. CAIR has a consistent record of antisemitism but also seeks to downplay or rationalize Islamist terrorism, like the Oct. 7 attacks.

Moreover, the organization’s claims about the situation of American Muslims and Arabs are simply not backed up by empirical evidence. This dates back to its false assertions that were echoed by most mainstream media about a mythical post-9/11 backlash against Muslims that was largely made out of whole cloth. Contrary to CAIR’s claims (echoed by most liberal media outlets) that it is Muslims who are under siege, FBI hate-crime statistics have shown for the last two and a half decades that American Jews have been the primary victims of acts of religious prejudice in the United States. Attacks on Jews far outnumber those on Muslims by large margins every year, and that is especially true since Oct. 7, 2023, when a surge of antisemitism began, fueled largely by the same kind of anti-Israel bigotry echoed by Mamdani.

Yet at the heart of the Islamophobia discussion is something more sinister than a group hyping something that doesn’t warrant serious concern. What is most disturbing about the attempt to sanitize Mamdani is that it dovetails with the campaign to gaslight Jews about the prejudice and violence to which they have been subjected.

While Mamdani insincerely claims to oppose antisemitism, he is part of a movement that not only endorses terrorism against Israeli Jews but is also linked to violence against Americans.

The meaning behind ‘Globalize the intifada’

In recent months, three separate incidents of anti-Jewish domestic terrorism have taken place, initiated by people claiming to act on behalf of the “free Palestine” cause that Mamdani has embraced. On Passover, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Harrisburg residence was the target of an arson attack. In May, two employees of the Israeli embassy in Washington were gunned down by another “free Palestine” advocate as they left a Jewish museum. In June, a rally in Boulder, Colo., to draw awareness to the plight of the remaining 50 or so hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza was targeted by another “free Palestine” supporter, who said he wanted to kill all Zionists when he threw a Molotov cocktail at them. That assault resulted in injuries to 13 people, including eight who were hospitalized for burns; this week, 82-year-old Karen Diamond died as a result.

That is literally what “Globalize the intifada” means—the chant that Mamdani specifically refuses to condemn—and other catchphrases like “From the river to the sea”: support for terrorism against Jews. Mamdani supports the war against Israel. He opposes its existence as a Jewish state and couldn’t even condemn the Oct. 7 attacks without also treating the Israeli victims as morally equivalent to the Palestinian murderers, rapists and kidnappers and falsely accusing the Jewish state of “apartheid.” To point out the link between his steadfast refusal to disavow such stands and those who kill Jews in Israel or the United States is neither prejudicial nor unfair. On the contrary, it is those that, like the Times or Axios, which assert that it is wrong to link Mamdani’s position to that of global jihad that are wrong.

Moreover, the fact that he has stuck to these positions while being defended as a victim of prejudice by mainstream outlets like the Times is yet another sign of how such antisemitism is no longer a barrier to widespread support from Democrats.

Leading New York and national Democrats could have reacted to the results with across-the-board condemnations of not only Mamdani’s anti-Zionism and unwillingness to condemn the genocidal slogans of Islamist terror. While a few leading Democrats, such as House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), have asked him to alter the way he speaks about Israel and to condemn that phrase, they haven’t rejected out of hand the idea of someone who holds such views representing their party in the nation’s largest city.

In recent years, Democrats have been vocal about Republicans needing to disassociate themselves from extremists in their party. Apparently, they didn’t think the same suggestion applied to them. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who has long claimed to be the shomer or “guardian” of Israel and the Jews in Congress, and most other members of his party, showed little sign of taking such a stand.

Jumping on the bandwagon

The most compelling evidence of how difficult that would be was not long in coming. Mainstream Democrats have shown themselves unable to draw a line in the sand against a figure who is not merely a Socialist but whose candidacy seems to have become a test case for legitimizing antisemitic views on the left. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who is no conservative, was widely denounced for criticisms of Mamdani and forced to apologize. As Politico noted, most Democrats are now more interested in jumping on his bandwagon rather than in holding him accountable for his radicalism and anti-Zionism.

Part of this is a “no enemies on the left” attitude. It is an attitude that outlets like the Times, which has helped lead the assault on the West and America with its fallacious “1619 Project,” coupled with its biased coverage of the post-Oct. 7 war against Hamas and its Iranian sponsor, would like Democrats to adopt. The fact that it is mimicked by “woke right” antisemites like former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), both of whom despise socialism but identify with Mamdani’s animus for Israel, is unsurprising.

New York isn’t the only place where those who hate Israel and seek to silence or marginalize Jews are dominating the party. In North Carolina, the state’s Democratic Party endorsed smears of Israel and called for an embargo on arms to it. People like Schumer and other Democratic officeholders who may disagree with such rhetoric but understand that their party base is not only comfortable with these blood libels but starting to demand that they go along with it.

But the way this is enforced is more than just a matter of base politics. Nor is it primarily bolstered by the ideological extremism of writers like Michelle Goldberg, Peter Beinart and M. Gessen, who are platformed by the Times and falsely claim that supporting the destruction of the one Jewish state on the planet by means of blood libels and a genocidal terrorist war isn’t antisemitism. It also involves efforts to condemn those calling attention to the alarming legitimization of Jew-hatred by labeling such arguments as Islamophobic and therefore beyond the pale.

What the last few days have shown is that playing the Islamophobia card is how the hard left hopes to facilitate its takeover of the Democratic Party. More than that, it’s a means to whitewash antisemitism and silence supporters of Israel. Publications, politicians and even Jewish groups that are just as concerned about falling out of sync with mainstream liberal opinion as they are about the surge in Jew-hatred that don’t stand up against this false narrative are as much a part of the problem as the controversial candidate himself.

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS (Jewish News Syndicate). 

{Matzav.com}

Israel To Compensate Families of Meron Tragedy Victims Up To 2.9 Million Shekel

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In a significant legal breakthrough following years of courtroom battles, families of those who perished in the Meron tragedy are set to receive major financial compensation from the Israeli government and responsible entities, including the National Center for the Development of Holy Places and various insurance companies.

The development comes as part of an agreement formulated with the involvement of attorney Eran Becker, of the Eran Becker & Co. law firm, who represents several bereaved families. The deal has been endorsed by the Lod District Court under Judge Irit Cohen, and will soon be submitted for court approval with the consent of the families and the State Attorney’s Office.

According to the agreement, families of young victims—defined as those aged 24 and under—will receive substantial compensation. In one leading case handled by Becker, a bereaved family is expected to be awarded approximately 2.9 million shekels. Similar amounts have been proposed in other cases, scaled according to the age of the deceased.

For now, the compensation will be paid out by the State of Israel, the National Center for the Development of Holy Places, and the relevant insurance firms.

Attorneys Eran Becker and Moran Cohen Yonatan, representing some of the victim families, released a joint statement: “This compensation reflects not only the immense loss these families have endured, but also the responsibility that must be borne by the state and other involved bodies for the grave failures that contributed to this tragedy.
The warning signs were evident. Years of willful blindness led to a disaster that was tragically foreseeable. The agreement now awaiting court approval is a critical step—morally, legally, and publicly—in declaring that human life is not expendable, that the suffering of the victims matters, and that accountability must be upheld for the severe negligence that led to this catastrophe. We are proud of the families who chose not to remain silent, who fought for justice, and who stood firm in insisting that justice must not only be done but also seen to be done. No amount of money can bring back their loved ones, but this is an important milestone in the journey toward recognition, justice, and healing.”

The Meron disaster occurred on the night of Lag BaOmer 5781, during the annual hilulah of Rav Shimon Bar Yochai. Amid extreme overcrowding in a narrow passage near the Toldos Aharon bonfire area, 45 people were crushed to death, and over 150 were injured. It remains one of the deadliest civilian tragedies in Israel’s history. In its aftermath, a state commission of inquiry was established, which uncovered serious lapses in planning, oversight, and responsibility by various governmental and police authorities.

{Matzav.com Israel}

World Zionist Congress Reinstates Eretz HaKodesh UK Slate, Blasts Disqualification as Politically Motivated and Unjustified

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A major reversal has taken place in the UK’s World Zionist Organization (WZO) election process, as the World Zionist Congress has overturned a controversial ruling that had barred the chareidi Eretz HaKodesh UK list from participating in the elections. The Central Elections Committee (CEC) in Israel found that there was not enough proof to support claims of voter fraud.

The CEC criticized the decision made last month by the UK’s Area Election Committee (AEC), saying it was “extreme and disproportionate.” It also raised concerns that political motives may have influenced the suspension of EHK.

The UK committee’s initial decision was based on an advertisement circulated by EHK, which implied that men could register their wives and adult children to vote—a direct violation of WZO election procedures. The ad had read: “Husbands can register wives & any children 18+. Please bring their ID.”

EHK appealed the decision, prompting the CEC to conduct its own review. The committee ultimately ruled that the evidence presented did not demonstrate that any actual harm had occurred as a result of the advertisement. In its decision, the CEC wrote: “No one knows whether any person actually registered someone else. Thus, the damage is theoretical. The act of violation did not involve actual voting, nor the registration of ineligible voters. The registration process may be flawed, but not the registrants themselves.”

The CEC also acknowledged that EHK took prompt action once the issue was identified: “Shortly after the violation, Eretz HaKodesh realized the mistake and published correcting ads… The committee believes Eretz HaKodesh did what it could to minimize the damage.”

The committee further noted that the AEC had overstepped its role and failed to follow proper procedure. The CEC stated that it was “doubtful whether the regional election committee has the authority to disqualify a list for violating rules (as opposed to disqualifying ineligible voters or candidates).”

The CEC pointed out that disqualification is only permitted in specific scenarios, and violations involving how candidates register do not meet those criteria.

Moreover, the CEC criticized the UK committee for failing to conduct a proper inquiry: “The UK investigation committee should have summoned the relevant Eretz HaKodesh official to clarify the violation, its extent, and consequences. Since this was not done, and in absence of other evidence, it must be assumed the damage was theoretical.”

The committee’s conclusion was definitive: “The AEC UK took an extreme and disproportionate step of disqualification. The severity is emphasized by the fact that the decision was made by a political majority of rivals. AEC should have shown restraint in such matters.”

The CEC’s judgment, delivered by attorneys Mira Amsalem Beit-On and Chagai Siton, along with Judge Oded Mudrik, declared the UK committee’s disqualification of EHK to be “null and void.”

Despite the setback, the AEC still has the option of bringing the matter before the Zionist Supreme Court for further review.

{Matzav.com}

Mossad To Tehran: We Already Know Your ‘Secret’ War Commander

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The Mossad escalated its digital offensive against Iran on Tuesday, leveraging a report from Tasnim News Agency that the regime had decided to keep the identity of its new Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters commander under wraps. The Israeli intelligence agency took to its Persian-language X account to post: “We know exactly who he is and know him well. Unfortunately, such basic information is hidden from the Iranian people. Please send us your guesses about his name.”

This post was Mossad’s second prominent message of the day and followed closely on the heels of Tasnim’s announcement that the Iranian government would not release the commander’s name “for his protection,” referencing the recent assassinations of his two predecessors in airstrikes attributed to Israel.

Earlier in the day, the same Mossad social media account alleged that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had “surrendered” and given the green light for direct talks with both Israel and the United States. The post framed the development as “the beginning of the end of the Islamic Republic” and added, “the countdown has begun.”

These statements are part of an ongoing Farsi-language psychological campaign that Mossad launched last month. The initiative has included mocking posts about top Iranian officials lurking on the account, advice on how to use VPNs, and cautionary messages telling Iranian citizens not to engage publicly with the content to avoid scrutiny from their government.

To date, Iranian state media has not officially confirmed the appointment of a replacement for Maj.-Gen. Ali Shadmani, who was killed in a recent strike. Meanwhile, Khamenei, now 86, made his last televised appearance on June 26, during which he insisted that Iran would “never surrender”—a declaration that directly contradicts Mossad’s narrative.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Hochul: Trump Is ‘Picking A Fight With 20 Million NYers’ By Threatening To Arrest Mamdani

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President Donald Trump sparked controversy after threatening legal action against Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani during remarks made in Florida, drawing a sharp rebuke from New York Governor Kathy Hochul. “He’s picking a fight with 20 million New Yorkers,” Hochul warned, in response to Trump’s remarks regarding Mamdani’s stance on immigration enforcement.

While speaking to reporters, Trump was asked about Mamdani’s pledge to block ICE agents who conceal their identities while conducting deportations. Trump replied, “Well then, we’ll have to arrest him.”

Referring to Mamdani, who has been vocal about his democratic socialist platform and immigrant protections, Trump added, “We don’t need a communist in this country, but if we have one, I’m going to be watching over him very carefully on behalf of the nation.”

Although Hochul has not endorsed Mamdani’s mayoral bid, she quickly stood up for the Queens legislator following Trump’s threat. “I don’t care if you’re the President of the United States, if you threaten to unlawfully go after one of our neighbors, you’re picking a fight with 20 million New Yorkers — starting with me,” she posted on X.

On Tuesday, Mamdani officially secured the Democratic nomination for mayor, prevailing over Andrew Cuomo with 56% to 44% in the final round of the city’s ranked-choice vote tally.

Following Trump’s comments, Mamdani released a statement saying, “The President of the United States just threatened to have me arrested.” He added defiantly, “We will not accept this intimidation.”

{Matzav.com}

Rav Eliyahu Tikotsky zt”l

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With great sadness, large crowds gathered late Monday night to accompany to his final resting place one of the most respected zekeinim of the Lelover chassidus, Rav Eliyahu Tikotsky zt”l. A revered talmid chacham, a remnant of a great generation, he passed away at the age of 85. His passing marks the end of an era and leaves a profound void in the streets of Bnei Brak and among the chassidim of Lelov.

Rav Tikotsky was born to his illustrious father, Rav Avraham Yehuda zt”l, a descendant of the Baal Shem Tov. As a child, he endured the bitter exile of World War II, surviving the harrowing chapter of the Holocaust and eventually escaping with the famed Mir Yeshiva to Shanghai.

In later years, he married the daughter of Rav Moshe Krasnianski zt”l and established his home in Switzerland. Eventually, he fulfilled his dream of making aliyah to Eretz Yisroel, where he became deeply attached to the Lelover Rebbes, to whom he remained loyally connected—heart and soul—until his final day. That devotion was warmly reciprocated, as the Rebbes valued and cherished him for his towering spiritual stature.

Rav Tikotsky was a talmid chochomof exceptional depth and breadth, immersed in Torah and avodah, his life illuminated by those twin pillars. He greeted every person with warmth and sincerity.

In his final years, he endured great suffering with remarkable faith and acceptance. On Monday night, shortly before midnight, he was niftar. Within hours, he was laid to rest in the Elad cemetery.

He leaves behind his wife, children, and grandchildren, all following in the path of Torah and mitzvos.

The family is sitting shivah at 9 Rechov Micha in Bnei Brak.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Trump Toured ‘Alligator Alcatraz’: Here’s What to Know (Videos)

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President Donald Trump on Tuesday toured a newly constructed immigration detention facility in the heart of the Florida Everglades, promoting it as a prototype for how states can scale up enforcement and deportation efforts. Republican leaders praised the site as a bold step in supporting Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown.

Trump was joined by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and a group of federal and state officials as they walked through the compound, which was rapidly built by Governor Ron DeSantis’s administration. Completed in just over a week, the center is ready to begin holding migrants starting Wednesday. The facility currently has capacity for 3,000 detainees and can be expanded to hold up to 5,000. “We’re surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland and the only way out is, really, deportation,” Trump said. “This is an amazing thing that they’ve done here.”

Nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” by Florida officials, the site sits on a remote stretch of land roughly 45 miles west of Miami, enveloped by mosquito-infested swamps home to alligators and invasive pythons.

Construction crews assembled the compound in just eight days using tents, trailers, and temporary buildings. Florida is initially footing the estimated $450 million annual cost, which officials say will be reimbursed by FEMA. The setup reflects Florida’s effort to become a central player in implementing Trump’s immigration policy.

Inside the complex, detainees will sleep in bunks arranged in fenced-off sections. Authorities say the center will provide continuous air conditioning, medical services, outdoor recreation, legal counsel, and religious support. While the facility is temporary, it plays a key role in Trump’s plan to increase detention capacity from 41,000 to over 100,000.

Its isolated location is also intended to discourage unlawful entry into the country. Trump joked about the site’s natural fortifications, saying, “You don’t always have land so beautiful and so secure. You have a lot of bodyguards and a lot of cops that are in the form of alligators. You don’t have to pay them so much.”

Backers of the initiative say the compound is a smart, efficient response to a national challenge, while critics view it as an unregulated prison camp hastily built under emergency powers. Still, officials insist it’s a vital piece of the enforcement strategy.

To help speed legal proceedings, DeSantis is proposing that members of the Florida National Guard be sworn in as immigration judges to hear cases onsite, aiming to relieve pressure from an already overloaded court system. “I would ask every other governor to do the exact same thing,” said Noem. “This is unique because we can hold individuals here. They can have their hearings, to get due process and then immediately be flown back home to their home countries.” She added, “I hope my phone rings off the hook from governors calling and saying, ‘How can we do what Florida just did?’”

DeSantis announced that Florida is already preparing another detention facility at Camp Blanding, a National Guard base southwest of Jacksonville. That location is expected to accommodate 2,000 more beds, with construction set to begin after July 4.

Despite the significant investment, some have pointed out that the state already has space available. A report shared with the Associated Press revealed that as of late March, Florida had over 7,500 unused beds in county jails that could have been allocated for immigration detention.

Using emergency authority from a previous executive order issued during President Joe Biden’s term, DeSantis bypassed regulatory obstacles to seize land and begin construction. Critics argue this use of power amounts to a legal overreach.

But state officials argue the urgency justifies the approach. Trump’s deportation campaign has pushed federal detention levels past 56,000 in June—the highest since 2019. “Governor DeSantis has insisted that the state of Florida, under his leadership, will facilitate the federal government in enforcing immigration law,” said a spokesperson for the governor. “Florida will continue to lead on immigration enforcement.”

Protests have erupted at the airfield, drawing a mix of immigration activists, environmental groups, and Native American communities. Demonstrators have gathered near the site, calling attention to the detention center’s environmental and cultural consequences.

Located within Big Cypress National Preserve, the airstrip is near sacred sites and villages belonging to the Miccosukee and Seminole tribes. As construction continued through Shabbos, protesters waved signs, and drivers honked in solidarity.

Concerns over ecological damage have prompted environmental groups including the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Everglades to file a lawsuit last week aimed at stopping the project from moving forward.

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$8.2 Million in Cash Seized at Beirut Airport in Suspected Smuggling Operation

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Lebanese authorities have intercepted a staggering $8.2 million in cash at Beirut International Airport over the past week, according to a report in the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper citing a judicial source. The money was found stashed in the luggage of three passengers: two had arrived from Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, via Ethiopia, while the third had flown in from Istanbul.

During interrogation, the suspects claimed they were simply transporting money on behalf of Lebanese businessmen based in Africa. They reportedly provided investigators with the names of those who had entrusted them with the funds as well as the intended recipients. Lebanon’s attorney general has ordered the money to be held at the country’s central bank pending the outcome of the investigation.

A banking source told the newspaper that Hezbollah has historically cooperated with Lebanese entrepreneurs working in Africa, facilitating cash transfers through private jets and commercial flights. In exchange, the terror group reportedly took a cut of the smuggled funds. For years, Hezbollah allegedly relied on a network of loyal collaborators at Beirut Airport to carry out such operations. However, the source noted that Hezbollah’s influence at the airport has significantly weakened in the wake of the recent war.

Reporter Roi Kais added that, according to Lebanese sources, Hezbollah typically pocketed around 20% of the money it funneled into Lebanon from abroad, especially from countries in Africa and Latin America. These smuggling proceeds served as a key source of income for the organization, supplementing the financial support it receives from Iran.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Lieberman: Israel Has ‘No More Than Three Years’ To Prepare For Next War With Iran

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Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman delivered a stark message to the Knesset on Monday, cautioning that Israel has no more than three years before another, more severe confrontation with Iran is likely. He pressed the government to overhaul the national budget and mandate that defense expenditures be set at 8 percent of the country’s GDP.

Addressing lawmakers from the Knesset podium and later at his party’s weekly meeting, the former defense minister asserted that Iran is actively seeking retaliation for the recent direct conflict with Israel and is already making headway in restoring its nuclear capabilities. “These are not theoretical threats,” he said. “The next stage will be more complex and more difficult.”

He slammed the current budget process as reckless and said defense funding should not be entangled in political deal-making. “The defense budget must never become a bargaining chip,” he said. Lieberman suggested passing a law to permanently peg defense spending at 8 percent of GDP, insulating it from future coalition bargaining.

Shifting to Israel’s policy on Gaza, Lieberman accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration of helping Hamas stay afloat by approving daily shipments of aid.

“Hamas is alive, breathing and kicking only because the ‘October 7 government’ is pumping medicine, fuel and food into Gaza,” he told reporters. He added that reservists escorting these convoys feel endangered and are limited to firing warning shots, leaving them vulnerable.

He further claimed that reserve soldiers from engineering units were being forced to demolish structures manually due to the absence of heavy equipment and proper armored vehicles. Meanwhile, he said, hundreds of millions of shekels in humanitarian assistance are being funneled into Gaza, funded by Israeli taxpayers.

Lieberman pushed the government to negotiate a deal to free the 120 hostages still being held by Hamas. “If the military pressure has run its course, what are we still doing there?” he asked.

Once the captives return, Lieberman suggested Israel take a page from its approach to Lebanon, pointing to the targeted killings of approximately 200 Hezbollah members by the IDF since November’s ceasefire in the north. “We will hunt down every terrorist who took part in the October 7 massacre until his last day,” he vowed.

The longtime parliamentarian demanded that the government overhaul its entire list of national priorities in anticipation of an eventual clash with Iran. His comments come as the coalition remains divided over the upcoming 2026 budget and as discussions intensify regarding Gaza aid expenditures.

Lieberman acknowledged that his call to revisit the national budget is politically risky and unlikely to win favor among coalition partners. Still, he warned that postponing action would leave the country vulnerable. “Iran’s nuclear program was hit hard,” he admitted, “but it was not destroyed and can be rebuilt. That is what the regime is working on with all its might.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Trump Says Israel Agrees To ‘Conditions To Finalize’ 60-Day Cease-Fire As Proposal Heads To Hamas

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President Trump announced on Tuesday that Israel has consented to the terms required to move forward with a proposed 60-day cease-fire agreement with Hamas.

“My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza. Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He emphasized the important role that regional mediators have played in pushing the deal forward, while issuing a clear message to Hamas. “The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring Peace, will deliver this final proposal. I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,” the president concluded.

Israel’s military campaign against Hamas has been ongoing since October 7, 2023, when the terror organization launched a deadly assault against the country.

The most recent truce between the two sides lasted from January 19 until March 18, marking the last time hostilities paused.

{Matzav.com}

Trump Says He Will Be ‘Very Firm’ with Netanyahu on Ending Gaza War

Matzav -

Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that he intends to strongly press Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to put an end to the Gaza conflict during the latter’s upcoming trip to Washington.

In remarks to the press, Trump said Netanyahu shares the desire to conclude the fighting through a hostage deal and ceasefire. “He wants it too,” Trump noted.

Reiterating what he said earlier in the day, Trump expressed confidence that a resolution is near. “I think we’ll have a deal next week,” he predicted.

Trump also mentioned that his discussions with Netanyahu will cover the Gaza situation as well as what he called “the great success we had with Iran,” saying, “We want to get the hostages back.”

These comments came shortly after Netanyahu publicly announced on Monday that he would travel to the United States for a meeting with Trump.

The Israeli leader is scheduled to depart for Washington on Saturday and is expected to meet Trump on Monday, July 7. On the day prior to his departure, Netanyahu’s office reportedly held internal deliberations on the ongoing negotiations for a hostage deal with Hamas, which insiders say are making headway.

“There is a positive dynamic and lively activity on the issue of negotiations,” one senior Israeli official told The Times of Israel.

Following Trump’s public remarks suggesting Netanyahu now supports reaching a ceasefire and hostage deal, Israeli ministers told Channel 12 on Tuesday evening that, for the first time, Netanyahu appears inclined to wrap up the war effort sooner rather than later.

The same report indicated that indirect communication channels with Hamas could resume while Netanyahu is in Washington.

Israeli officials, speaking to Channel 12, noted that Washington is applying considerable diplomatic pressure on Qatar, which in turn is pressing Hamas. “We are more optimistic. There are solutions being put together, and more positive approach to moving forward,” one official said.

According to the network, Israel is now showing increased willingness to compromise on the phrasing regarding how the war concludes—more so than in prior talks.

This came after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday regarding the war effort, where IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly had a heated exchange with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir about the military campaign’s direction.

Zamir reportedly told them, “Hamas is dead,” citing the group’s minimal rocket fire—only one launched—during the recent 12-day conflict with Iran. The report said Smotrich and Ben Gvir responded by advocating for a more forceful application of Trump’s plan to relocate Gazans.

Zamir is also said to have warned against trying to seize full control of Gaza, arguing it would endanger the remaining hostages and expose Israel to serious legal risks on the international stage.

While the discussion was ongoing, Netanyahu repeated that the war would not end until Hamas is defeated. However, sources told the outlet he might redefine what “defeat” means in order to wrap up the conflict in the near term.

At a cabinet meeting on Monday, Netanyahu said he also plans to meet with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and various congressional leaders.

Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, already in Washington preparing for the visit, was expected to meet with Witkoff, Rubio, and Vance.

Witkoff is currently brokering the ceasefire-hostage negotiations. A draft of his latest offer, confirmed by two sources to The Times of Israel, proposes a 60-day pause in fighting. During this time, Hamas would free 10 living Israeli hostages and return the remains of 18 others. If a lasting ceasefire is achieved, the rest of the hostages would then be released.

Sources close to Hamas told the London-based Al-Sharq Al-Awsat that the group’s reply to the Witkoff plan was largely positive, though it included several conditions.

A source involved in the mediation told The Times of Israel that Hamas’s response included a provision that would make it more difficult for Israel to resume military action if permanent ceasefire talks fail after the 60-day truce ends.

This source noted that Hamas also sought to alter other elements of the proposal, suggesting that a longer and more detailed negotiation process would now be necessary.

One of the changes submitted by Hamas involves spreading the release of the 10 hostages over the entire duration of the ceasefire rather than splitting them into two groups on days one and seven, as the American plan had proposed.

According to the source, Hamas introduced this modification to ensure Netanyahu would not exit the talks once the hostages were released, as they claim he did during a previous temporary ceasefire in January.

Back in May, Netanyahu told families of the hostages that he was, in principle, supportive of Witkoff’s outline.

{Matzav.com}

Legendary Sanzer Mashbak Rav Yitzchok Eizik Meir Zalmanowitz z”l

Matzav -

A pillar of the Sanz chassidus has been lost with the passing of Rav Yitzchok Eizik Meir Zalmanowitz z”l, devoted meshamesh bakodesh to the Sanz Rebbe who was niftar at the age of 72 after an illness.

His levayah is scheduled for Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. outside the Ohel Nechemia beis medrash in Kiryat Sanz, Netanya, and will continue to the Sanz section of the Shikun Vatikim cemetery, where he will be laid to rest.

Rav Zalmanowitz was born on 29 Av 5712 to his illustrious father, Rav Yisroel Aryeh Zalmanowitz zt”l, author of Chayei Nefesh, who served as the rov of Acco and was the founding rov of Kiryat Sanz in Netanya, as well as head of its institutions. His mother was Rebbetzin Leah a”h.

His bris took place on 6 Elul in the old village of Kefar Yavneh, where none other than the Chazon Ish zt”l served as sandek. He was named Yitzchok Eizik Meir.

Raised in a home steeped in Torah and communal leadership, Rav Zalmanowitz learned as a child in the local cheder in Yavneh, later continuing in Kiryat Sanz after the family moved there when he was eight years old. He quickly distinguished himself as an exceptional student in Torah, yiras Shamayim, and middos tovos. He also spent a year learning in the Tchebin Yeshiva in Yerushalayim, where he learned b’chavrusa with Rav Yosef Moshe Schneerson, who is now the rosh yeshiva.

As a young man, he married Rebbetzin Chaya Tova, the daughter of Rav Chaim Shlomo Rabinowitz zt”l, a beloved figure in Yerushalayim and a descendant of the Rebbe of Peshischa.

The couple lived in Yerushalayim, where Rav Zalmanowitz was counted among the outstanding avreichim in the famed Kollel Rav Acha. In 5738, he was called by the Rebbe, the Shefa Chaim of Sanz zt”l, to serve as mashgiach ruchani in the Kiryat Sanz yeshiva ketanah in Netanya. His warmth, compassion, and refined character left an indelible impression on the talmidim, who recall him as a fatherly figure and role model of avodas Hashem.

From his youth, Rav Zalmanowitz was deeply attached to the Shefa Chaim, serving him with total devotion and meriting rare affection and closeness from the Rebbe.

Over forty years ago, he accepted the role of personal assistant to the Rebbe—then still the young rov of Kiryat Sanz—and for nearly four decades became the closest confidant and most trusted aide in the Rebbe’s court.

He and the current Rebbe were classmates and shared a profound bond. The Rebbe entrusted him with the most sensitive and significant matters of the chassidus, and for many years Rav Zalmanowitz was the primary conduit for all matters entering and leaving the Rebbe’s private domain.

Sanzer chassidim recounted that Rabbi Zalmanowitz never treated the role casually, even after decades of service. Each day, he would prepare himself with awe, purity, and reverence, approaching the Rebbe’s door with trembling respect as though it were his first day on the job. Despite the tremendous closeness he enjoyed with the Rebbe, his sense of awe never diminished.

In his later years, after falling ill, he asked the Rebbe for permission to retire from his position. However, the Rebbe instructed him to continue, and he remained in his role until just before his final hospitalization, from which he did not recover.

Rabbi Zalmanowitz was known for his boundless kindness, offering a listening ear and understanding heart to all who came to him, even during difficult periods in his own life. His signature smile warmed everyone he encountered.

He leaves behind a remarkable legacy of children, sons-in-law, and grandchildren who follow in his path.

He was predeceased a decade ago by his brother, Rav Eliyahu Zalmanowitz zt”l, who served as rosh kollel of Gorlitz in Bnei Brak.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Iran Came ‘Very Close’ to Killing Israeli Defense Minister Katz

Matzav -

The Islamic Republic of Iran came “very close” to assassinating Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, Hebrew media reported, citing details from the criminal investigation into Israeli citizens accused of assisting the thwarted terrorist plot.

Roi Mizrahi, who was arrested two months ago by Israeli security forces on suspicion of committing security-related offenses on behalf of Iran, is accused of planting a “powerful” explosive device near Katz’s home in Kfar Ahim, according to Channel 12 News. Mizrahi allegedly carried out the act in coordination with a second suspect, Almog Atias.

Initial reports indicated that the suspects had come into contact with Iranian-linked operatives through a Telegram chat group for swingers. They were first believed to have been arrested for installing Iranian-operated security cameras on a road near Katz’s residence.

Sunday’s report, citing interrogation records and videos recovered from the suspects’ phones, revealed that Mizrahi and Atias transported an explosive device they had picked up from a separate location.

The device—allegedly described to Mizrahi as containing drugs or soaps, though he reportedly understood it was a bomb—detonated as the defense minister passed by. The explosion failed to cause any casualties. The report described the attempted assassination as what “could have been the greatest Iranian revenge.”

During interrogations, Mizrahi told officers from the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Israel Police that he had suspected he would be transporting a bomb even before carrying out the mission. However, he admitted being driven by “curiosity” and the lure of the money he was promised in return.

The two suspects are reportedly scheduled to appear in court in the coming days, where prosecutors are expected to request their detention be extended until the end of legal proceedings. They are facing serious charges, including aiding the enemy during wartime—a crime that carries severe penalties under Israeli law, including life imprisonment or, in extreme cases, the death penalty.

Since the outbreak of the war triggered by Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border massacre from the Gaza Strip, Israeli security forces have uncovered approximately two dozen cases of Tehran attempting to recruit citizens of the Jewish state.

In May, an Israeli citizen from Haifa was arrested on suspicion of spying for the Islamic Republic, the Shin Bet revealed on June 23.

Dimitri Cohen, 28, who immigrated to Israel a few years ago, transferred “sensitive information” to his Iranian handlers for cash, investigators said. The suspect allegedly gathered information on military bases, strategic sites and homes linked to senior Israeli public officials.

Israel Police Chief Superintendent Yoni Hajaj, head of the Central Unit in the Coastal District, warned that this was a widespread phenomenon.

“Unfortunately, it has become a trend,” he said. “There are several dozen individuals operating on behalf of Iran. [Before the war], taking a photo of a military base may have seemed harmless, but now—as missiles are falling [on Israeli cities]—we understand the devastating consequences of Iranian-directed targeting of sensitive sites,” the officer said. JNS

{Matzav.com Israel}

FBI Issues Bulletin on Iranian Cyber Actors Targeting U.S. Despite Ceasefire

Yeshiva World News -

A ceasefire between Iran and Israel has not ended the threat of cyberattacks from hacking groups supportive of Tehran, the FBI and federal cybersecurity officials warned Monday. In a public bulletin, the authorities warned that hacking groups affiliated with or supportive of Tehran may still seek to disrupt or disable critical infrastructure systems in the U.S. such as utilities, transportation and economic hubs. Hackers may also target defense contractors or other American companies with ties to Israel, the agencies said. “Despite a declared ceasefire and ongoing negotiations towards a permanent solution, Iranian-affiliated cyber actors and hacktivist groups may still conduct malicious cyber activity,” the agencies warned. The warning of continued cyberthreats after a halt to conventional warfare reflects the often opaque nature of cyber conflict. Hacking groups may have only loose ties to a nation state, and may seek to retaliate as an alternative to traditional military action. The bulletin outlined recommendations, including the use of regular software updates and strong password management systems to shore up digital defenses. Hackers backing Tehran have targeted U.S. banks, defense contractors and energy companies following American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities — but so far have not caused widespread disruptions. While it lacks the technical abilities of China or Russia, Iran has long used its more limited capabilities to steal secrets, score political points or frighten opponents. Analysts have tied some of these activities to groups working on behalf of Iran’s military and intelligence agencies. But in other instances, the groups appear to act independently. (AP)

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