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Rav Shlomo Moshe Amar declared during his weekly shiur that it would be preferable to dismantle the official Rabbinate altogether rather than permit women to take rabbinical certification exams, following a High Court ruling requiring their inclusion.

Speaking at his regular class at the Ner HaTorah Beis Medrash on Rechov Bar-Ilan in Yerushalayim, Rav Amar addressed the court’s decision to reopen the Rabbinate examinations after a prolonged suspension and to allow women to sit for the tests.

The renewed examinations come after a period during which they were not administered, largely due to the High Court’s directive mandating that women be integrated into the process.

Expressing deep anguish, Rav Amar said: “In the High Court sit several people who themselves are close to these Reform views, and they think that this is the correct path.

“So about twenty-something years ago, twenty-five years ago, they filed a petition to appoint a woman as a neighborhood rabbi. Since then, no neighborhood rabbis have been appointed. Even our own people who are involved, instead of finding a way to act, they refrain. Since then there are no neighborhood rabbis. Now also city rabbis — most cities do not have rabbis at all. And so it remains. Now they have invented a new invention — it is not new, only now they went to the High Court — and the High Court said that a woman has the right to be tested for the rabbinate and for judgeship. And I hear voices saying that for a long time there were no exams, so they are under pressure — what will be? If we do not hold exams, we will not have rabbis. So they say, let them have permission to be tested, but we will not appoint them.”

Rav Amar voiced strong backing for the current Chief Rabbis and urged them to remain steadfast. He said: “I say, with respect to their honor, thank God I heard that the Chief Rabbis — both the Rishon Letzion, Rav Dovid Yosef, and the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, Rav Kalman Ber — both oppose this with all firmness. They say it is better that there be no exams than that there be exams and we allow a woman.

“But there are those around who are trying to weaken them and fight them. I come to strengthen their hands, that it should not enter their minds, Heaven forbid, even in thought — this is literally an idolatrous thought. It is an idolatrous thought. If, Heaven forbid, they allow them to be tested, in the end they will appoint them. It is better that from now they stop, and that this not come about through us. And even if it causes there to be no rabbis, and even if it causes there to be no rabbinical courts, and even if it causes there to be no Rabbinate at all in Israel. Then we will establish a private rabbinate. There will be private community rabbis, as there were abroad — every community appointed its own rabbi — until God has mercy and they understand what they are doing. I am certain we will not even reach that. We will overcome them, only we must not be afraid.”

He continued with a direct appeal to the Chief Rabbis: “I say to the Chief Rabbis: Stand firm. God has given you great and important positions. The responsibility for the people of Israel rests on your shoulders. Do not place your eyes or your hearts on anyone. Place God before your eyes. Stand firm and do not agree under any circumstances that there be exams for women — not in the rabbinate and not in anything. All matters of the rabbinate belong to men. This is not a shame and not a humiliation for women. It is the honor of a woman — each person with his banner and each person with his camp.

“We will not surrender. We will stand on guard. What the Torah preserved for five thousand years, and for two thousand years in exile we did not allow any woman — except the Reform, and they brought much destruction to the people of Israel, much destruction to the world.

“Shall we listen to them? Heaven forbid. We will try to bring them back, to draw them close as we love to do. ‘Let sins cease’ — not sinners; sinners should repent. But the sins, the transgressions, should cease.

“But to surrender, Heaven forbid — there will be no exams under any circumstances. And woe to the one who lends his hand, God save us, he destroys generations, the rabbinate for generations. This is the true destruction. It is destruction from within and from without. We must stand on guard and be careful. ‘One who comes to purify himself is assisted,’ and God assists us — I have no doubt.”

Rav Amar concluded by reiterating that, in his view, maintaining traditional Torah standards takes precedence even over the continued operation of the official Rabbinate itself.

{Matzav.com}

As part of its intensified campaign against cash transactions and the black-market economy, the Israeli government is advancing a proposal that would sharply limit the ability to exchange checks for cash, a move expected to significantly impact gemachs and other non-bank lending institutions.

During deliberations over the Arrangements Law, the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee is set to examine an amendment that would restrict the conversion or cashing of checks and promissory notes to a maximum of 6,000 shekels.

If approved, any amount above 6,000 shekels could not be paid out in cash, except for a small portion amounting to up to 10 percent of the value of the check.

According to the explanatory notes accompanying the proposal, “The practice of discounting promissory notes for cash constitutes a significant risk factor for tax evasion and money laundering through financial entities.”

In order to close what lawmakers describe as a regulatory loophole, the amendment would also revoke the full exemption that supervised financial institutions have enjoyed until now. Loans issued through check-discounting arrangements would be brought under the same strict cash limitations.

The proposed change is expected to create particular turbulence within the chareidi community, where gemachs serve as a primary financial backbone. The widely used model of providing cash in exchange for a postdated check to address urgent liquidity needs would become unlawful for sums exceeding the new threshold.

Despite the far-reaching nature of the proposal, the legal advisory team to the committee has expressed doubts about whether the broader Cash Law has achieved its original objective of curbing unreported capital.

The briefing paper also notes a lack of consistency in the framework, pointing out that while a business owner may still receive a cash loan from a regulated institution, that same individual would not be permitted to discount a check under similar conditions.

{Matzav.com}

A senior Hamas official has drawn widespread condemnation after claiming in a televised interview that Israel staged the October 7 Nova music festival massacre and that Israeli forces were responsible for the killings.

The remarks were made by Osama Hamdan, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, during an interview broadcast by Norway’s NRK television network. According to summaries circulated by blogger Yehuda Teitelbaum, Hamdan denied that Hamas murdered civilians during the October 7 attacks and advanced a series of conspiracy claims about the events of that day.

Hamdan asserted that the massacre at the Nova festival was carried out by Israeli forces, claiming the attack was conducted by Israeli troops who fired from helicopters under the pretext that they were targeting Hamas gunmen. He further alleged that individuals wearing Qassam Brigade symbols at the festival should be investigated.

Throughout the interview, Hamdan insisted that Hamas never deliberately targeted civilians, hospitals, schools, or mosques. He argued that all such accusations are false and maintained that responsibility for civilian deaths lies entirely with Israel.

He also claimed Hamas holds democratic legitimacy because it won Palestinian legislative elections in 2006, while acknowledging that those were the last elections held and that a significant portion of Gaza’s current population was not yet born at the time.

Hamdan maintained that Palestinians in Gaza are free to criticize Hamas and denied the existence of fear or repression in the territory, contradicting numerous reports and testimonies from Gaza residents describing harsh internal crackdowns.

When asked what responsibility Hamas bears for the devastation in Gaza, Hamdan placed full blame on Israel and refused to acknowledge any role by Hamas in triggering the war.

He openly defended beatings, torture, and public executions of Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel, describing such actions as legal, moral, and consistent with Palestinian law, including executions carried out within 48 hours.

Hamdan categorically rejected the idea of disarmament, stating that Hamas would relinquish its weapons only after a full Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 lines, the implementation of a mass “right of return,” and international guarantees—conditions he described as non-negotiable.

Asked whether Hamas would attack Israel again despite the destruction in Gaza, Hamdan declined to rule it out, affirming that the “resistance will continue.”

In February 2025, he said Hamas would rebuild and expand its capabilities in Gaza so it could “attack Israel at any time we want.” He also stated that anyone seeking to replace Israel’s role would be treated as Israel, adding that issues related to weapons, leadership, and the resistance movement are not open for discussion.

His remarks mirror earlier statements he made in December 2023, one month after the massacre, when he told a Lebanese television channel that a “war of liberation is coming,” adding that it would not be “just another October 7” and that he did not believe it was far off. When asked whether he regretted the October 7 attacks, he responded, “Regret crushing an entire division of the occupation army?” He also claimed that all 1,200 people killed near the Gaza border “belonged to the occupation army” and said at the time, “We do not regret October 7.”

{Matzav.com}

The government on Sunday approved a landmark plan to begin formal land registration proceedings in Judea and Samaria for the first time since 1967, a move officials describe as a major shift in civilian administration in the area.

The proposal was advanced by Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Finance Minister and Minister in the Defense Ministry Bezalel Smotrich, and Defense Minister Yisroel Katz. It calls for restarting official land registry operations, commonly referred to as the “Tabu,” canceling outdated Jordanian-era laws, and unsealing land records that have remained closed for decades.

The decision is being viewed as one of the most far-reaching changes to civilian governance in Judea and Samaria since the Six-Day War. According to the government, the objective is to bring clarity to land ownership, curb fraudulent claims, and strengthen Israel’s administrative control in the region.

Under the resolution, the Land Registration and Rights Authority within the Justice Ministry will be empowered to oversee the new regulatory process. The agency will receive a dedicated budget and additional personnel to implement the plan.

Among the practical implications of the move is the formal registration of extensive tracts of land in Judea and Samaria under the state’s name.

In an official statement, the government said the renewed procedures will enable a transparent and comprehensive review of property rights, help settle legal disputes, and facilitate organized infrastructure development and land marketing. The statement also noted that the decision comes in response to land regulation efforts advanced by the Palestinian Authority in Area C.

Katz emphasized, “The renewal of the land regulation in Judea and Samaria is a vital security and governance move aimed at ensuring Israel’s control, enforcement, and full operational freedom in the area. Land regulation prevents unilateral actions, reduces attempts at illegal land seizures, and disrupts terrorist infrastructure that undermines stability and security. This is a necessary step for creating operational and legal certainty, enabling the IDF and the security forces to act decisively to protect Israeli citizens and safeguard national interests. I thank Ministers Smotrich and Levin for their cooperation.”

Smotrich added, “We continue the settlement revolution and the holding of all territories of our land. For the first time since the Six-Day War, we are restoring order and governance to land management in Judea and Samaria. Regulated land arrangements prevent disputes, create legal certainty, prevent unilateral actions, and enable lawful and responsible development. The State of Israel is taking responsibility for its land and is acting according to the law, transparently and decisively.”

Levin concluded: “The proposal that was approved represents a true revolution in Judea and Samaria. The Land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel. The Israeli government is committed to deepening its hold over all its parts, and this decision reflects that commitment. I thank my friends, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, for advancing this proposal, and the professional staff in their offices who helped bring it to fruition.”

Authorities in Arizona are using advanced technology from the air as they continue searching for Nancy Guthrie, who vanished nearly two weeks ago. Investigators are flying over the Tucson desert with specialized equipment designed to detect a Bluetooth signal from her pacemaker, hoping it will help pinpoint her location.

A helicopter operated by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department has been moving slowly in a systematic grid pattern over the terrain near Nancy’s residence, attempting to pick up a signal from the implanted device, Fox News reported.

Residents previously noticed a helicopter flying in a comparable pattern close to her upscale home just days after she went missing. However, it remains uncertain whether that aircraft was equipped with the same Bluetooth-detecting technology at the time, according to Fox.

The effort to locate Savannah Guthrie’s mother has now stretched into its second week. Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on Feb. 1, after she was last seen at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 31. Authorities continue to focus their search in the area surrounding her Tucson home as the investigation remains active.

Sen. John Fetterman said during a weekend television appearance that elements within the Democratic Party have grown too comfortable aligning with anti-Israel activists, sharply criticizing certain colleagues and media figures while reaffirming his unwavering support for Israel.

Speaking on Fox News Channel’s “Saturday in America,” the Pennsylvania Democrat lamented what he described as a troubling trend inside his party. “There’s a rot in my party, standing with pro-Hamas” figures and antisemitic voices such as Hasan Piker, he said, singling out Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) as someone he believes has aligned herself with Piker.

Fetterman questioned why some Democrats appear quick to condemn Israel while remaining comparatively quiet about Iran’s human rights record. “Why is she so eager to criticize and find a way to criticize Israel? But I don’t really recall them saying anything as Iran was executing thousands and thousands of their protesters for that. Now, there was never any genocide in Gaza, absolutely. And there shouldn’t ever be any conditions for aid for Israel, because they were in an existential war. That’s part of the problem with the very anti-Israel part of my party. So, call that what it is. Why [can’t you] just stand — and why would you align yourself [with] raging [antisemites] and very pro-Hamas people like Hasan Piker?” he said.

The senator went on to argue that certain influential platforms have amplified voices he considers hostile to Israel. “There’s a rot in my party, standing with pro-Hamas people like that, whether it’s even in The New York Times, they’re [fascinated] with him. So, where we are — and call this is — and stand with Israel, that’s our special ally, and there was never a genocide. And when there is a genocide, where you’re executing tens of thousands of people in Iran, why not call that out too?” he added.

WATCH:

Rep. Nancy Pelosi cautioned that Democrats must remain alert ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, warning of potential “surveillance by the intelligence operation” and advising her party not to “put anything past” President Donald Trump.

Appearing Saturday on MS NOW’s The Weekend while attending the annual Munich Security Conference in Germany, Pelosi said she has been reassuring European officials that she is confident Democrats will regain control of the House of Representatives. She described having “absolute certainty” about a Democratic victory, even as she acknowledged deep worries about how the elections will unfold.

Pelosi pointed specifically to what she described as troubling involvement by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in an FBI raid on a polling station in Fulton County, Georgia, where authorities sought to retrieve ballots from the 2020 election. The California lawmaker said the situation has heightened fears both domestically and abroad about election integrity.

“I hear that all over the United States, not just in Europe, that there is concern about the election. Let me just say that surveillance by the intelligence operation of our country, surveillance in our own country is something that is absolutely not to be allowed. And now, if there’s some particular reason, there’s one thing, but for the for them, for Tulsi to be looking into elections is really not right. It’s not lawful. It’s not right. But that doesn’t seem to ever bother the president. But you know what? We don’t agonize, we organize, and we have litigation. We have lawyering in terms in addition to in the courts, but at polling places and the rest, we have legislation.”

Pelosi also made clear that Democrats intend to oppose voter identification requirements that Trump has pledged will be implemented for the midterms. The House recently approved the SAVE Act, which would mandate identification to cast a ballot, with one Democrat siding with Republicans. The measure now faces significant obstacles in the Senate.

Although Pelosi expressed strong confidence in her party’s electoral prospects, she also warned that Trump could potentially involve federal forces in ways she believes might affect the election process.

“We’re dealing with it. And the president — people are concerned they’re going to send in ICE and the National Guard or this or that,” she argued. “Don’t put anything past him. As we saw on January 6th when the president of the United States personally incited an insurrection in our country, he’s capable of any bad thing.”

WATCH:

Tom Homan: “Minnesota is less of a sanctuary state because of what we did there.”

CBS News reports that President Donald Trump told Prime Minister Netanyahu he would support strikes on Iran’s ballistic missile program if negotiations with Tehran fail. •⁠ ⁠U.S. officials are reportedly discussing potential American support options, including aerial refueling and overflight permissions. •⁠ ⁠Iranian officials signaled willingness to curb certain uranium enrichment levels in exchange for […]

A Kan News Reporter was Attacked Mid-Broadcast While Covering the Bnei Brak protests.

Sen. Katie Britt: “It’s kind of rich, to be honest with you, to watch so many [Democrats] having flown off to Munich to talk about national security on the world stage — but yet failing to fund our own here at home.”

Border Czar Tom Homan responds after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey urged the federal government to reimburse costs tied to recent ICE operations.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Iran: We are postured in the region for one simple reason, and that is that we understand that there could be threats to our forces in the region. We’ve seen them be threatened in the past, and we want to make sure that we have sufficient capacity to defend […]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Iran: We’re dealing with radical Shia clerics. We’re dealing with people who make geopolitical decisions on the basis of pure theology, and it’s a complicated thing. No one’s ever been able to do a successful deal with Iran, but we’re going to try.

Netanyahu at the opening of the cabinet meeting: Today, we are submitting for government approval the establishment of a complementary airport to Ben Gurion Airport in the south, in Ziklag. The project is expected to serve as a major catalyst for the development of the Negev — strengthening employment, improving accessibility, and boosting tourism — […]

Baruch Hashem there were no casualties, but the loss is immense. This is a moment of true tzedakah and chessed. 

Barack Obama addressed long-running speculation about extraterrestrial life during a recent podcast appearance, joking about aliens while dismissing the idea of a government cover-up.

Speaking on Brian Tyler Cohen’s podcast, the 44th president was asked directly whether he believes aliens exist.

“They’re real, but I haven’t seen them,” Obama answered.

He also rejected claims that extraterrestrials are being concealed at the Nevada military installation commonly known as Area 51.

“There’s no underground facility, unless there’s this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the President of the United States,” Obama continued.

Cohen followed up by asking what question first came to Obama’s mind after he entered the Oval Office. Obama said even then, the topic of aliens came up — though in jest.

“Uh, where are the aliens?” he joked.

The interview marked another occasion in which Obama has publicly discussed the possibility of life beyond Earth.

In a 2021 appearance on “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” Obama recalled that shortly after becoming president, he inquired whether the government had secret information about extraterrestrials or was studying them in a hidden facility. According to Obama, he was informed that no such program existed.

At the same time, Obama acknowledged that U.S. officials have taken seriously reports of unusual aerial objects that defy easy explanation.

“There is footage and records of objects in the skies that we don’t know exactly what they are,” he said. “We can’t explain how they moved, their trajectory. They did not have an easily explainable pattern. I think people still take seriously trying to investigate and figure out what that is.”

Following Obama’s remarks, Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy posed a question to President Joe Biden about unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAP.

“What do you think that it is?”

Biden replied, “I would ask (Obama) again.”

Interest in UAPs has grown significantly in recent years, drawing increased scrutiny from lawmakers and federal agencies. In 2023, Congress approved the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act, and the Department of War established the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office to examine reports of unexplained sightings across air, land, sea, and space domains.

{Matzav.com}

A fierce political firestorm erupted Sunday night following the chaos in Bnei Brak, as Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett launched blistering public attacks against each other in a highly charged exchange posted on X. In the aftermath of violent unrest in the chareidi city, Bennett quickly traveled to Bnei Brak, […]

President Donald Trump is pointing to a decline in mortgage rates since his return to the White House, contrasting current figures with higher borrowing costs during Joe Biden’s administration and framing the change as a sign of economic improvement.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump shared a graphic claiming that mortgage rates now stand at 5%, compared with levels of 6%, 7%, and 8% under Biden. The source of the specific numbers cited in the post was not immediately identified.

When Biden entered office in January 2021, mortgage rates were hovering near record lows, with the average 30-year fixed loan at roughly 2.7%. Over the following two years, however, rates climbed steeply as inflation accelerated and the Federal Reserve responded with a series of sharp interest rate hikes. By 2023, mortgage rates had risen above 7%, reaching their highest point in more than 20 years.

Although rates moderated somewhat in 2024, they remained well above the historic lows seen earlier in the decade.

Since Trump took office again in January 2025, borrowing costs for home loans have edged down slightly, with average 30-year rates settling into the low-6% range in the opening weeks of 2026.

Financial analysts caution that while presidential administrations can shape broader economic policy, mortgage rates are influenced primarily by inflation expectations, movements in the bond market, and decisions made by the Federal Reserve. As a result, they are not determined by the actions of any one president alone.

“Joe Biden’s inflation crisis crushed the dream of homeownership for millions of Americans — but President Trump is bringing it back,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News.

“Thanks to the President’s successful economic policies, unnecessary red tape is being cut at a historic pace, borrowing costs are easing, and income growth is outpacing home price gains — finally making housing more affordable again.”

Leavitt added: “President Trump knows America is strongest when it’s a nation of owners, not renters, and he is determined to unlock that opportunity for as many American families as possible.”

A lapse in funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security took effect early on Shabbos morning, triggering a partial shutdown that directly affects airport security operations nationwide and raising concerns about potential travel disruptions.

The agency oversees the Transportation Security Administration, which is responsible for screening passengers and luggage at commercial airports across the country. With DHS funding now expired, TSA officers are required to report to work without pay while Congress remains at an impasse over the department’s annual budget.

Many travelers are uneasy, recalling the 43-day federal shutdown last year that caused significant flight cancellations and lengthy delays at airports nationwide.

Although TSA officers also remained on duty during the previous record-long shutdown that concluded Nov. 12, aviation analysts say this latest funding lapse could unfold differently.

Industry associations representing airlines and the broader travel sector cautioned that prolonged funding uncertainty could translate into longer security lines at airports, particularly as the spring travel season ramps up.

Homeland Security funding expired at midnight, but the remainder of the federal government continues to be funded through Sept. 30.

As a result, air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration will continue receiving pay, reducing the likelihood of widespread cancellations tied directly to air traffic staffing shortages.

Under DHS’ contingency plan, roughly 95% of TSA personnel are classified as essential employees and must continue working despite the funding lapse.

Democratic lawmakers in both the House and Senate have stated that they will withhold support for additional DHS funding unless new limits are imposed on federal immigration enforcement operations.

Historically, the effects of government shutdowns on air travel have intensified gradually rather than immediately.

For example, about a month into last year’s shutdown, TSA temporarily shut down two security checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport.

On that same day, federal authorities directed commercial airlines to scale back their domestic flight schedules in an extraordinary move to manage disruptions.

John Clark, who arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after a business trip to Mississippi, said he experienced complications during the previous shutdown and remains concerned about the current situation.

“You might not be able to get home if you’re already out, or it might delay if you worked all week and you’re trying to get home,” said Clark, who frequently travels for his job balancing machines. “It’s really bad.”

John Rose, chief risk officer at global travel management firm Altour, warned that operational strains could surface more quickly this time, noting that TSA workers still remember the financial strain of the prior shutdown.

“It’s still fresh in their minds and potentially their pocketbooks,” Rose said.

Security bottlenecks could arise unpredictably, making it difficult to forecast when or where delays might occur.

At smaller airports with only one security checkpoint, even a small number of unexpected TSA absences could quickly result in longer lines.

For that reason, travel experts advise passengers to build extra time into their airport arrival plans.

“I tell people to do this even in good times,” Rose said.

Although air traffic controllers remain on the job, specialists say flight delays remain possible.

Airlines could opt to hold departures temporarily to allow additional time for passengers to clear security screening, said Rich Davis, senior security adviser at risk mitigation firm International SOS.

Staffing shortfalls among TSA officers may also slow the behind-the-scenes inspection of checked baggage.

Burnest R. Green, who traveled from Phoenix to Detroit to celebrate his sister’s 70th birthday, said he hopes lawmakers resolve the shutdown before his return flight next week.

“I just hope that things start to get better before they get any worse,” he said.

While most airports publish estimated security wait times on their websites, Rose cautioned travelers not to rely on last-minute checks.

“You may look online and it says two-and-a-half hours,” he said. “Now it’s two-and-a-half hours before your flight and you haven’t left for the airport yet.”

Passengers are also encouraged to be mindful when packing, as prohibited items can slow the screening process.

For carry-on luggage, travelers should avoid bringing full-size shampoo bottles, large quantities of liquids, oversized gels, aerosols, and items such as pocketknives.

TSA maintains a detailed list on its website outlining what items are permitted in both carry-on and checked baggage.

Once at the airport, Rose urged travelers to remain understanding toward security staff.

“Not only are they not getting paid,” he said of TSA agents, “they’re probably working with reduced staff and dealing with angry travelers.”

Negotiations between the White House and Democratic lawmakers continued through the week, but no agreement was reached before senators and House members were scheduled to leave Washington for a 10-day recess.

Lawmakers were advised, however, that they could be called back to the Capitol should a deal materialize.

Democrats have insisted that they will not approve additional DHS funding until new immigration enforcement restrictions are enacted following last month’s fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.

In a joint statement, U.S. Travel, Airlines for America and the American Hotel & Lodging Association cautioned that the shutdown could significantly disrupt air travel as spring break approaches.

“Travelers and the U.S. economy cannot afford to have essential TSA personnel working without pay, which increases the risk of unscheduled absences and call outs, and ultimately can lead to higher wait times and missed or delayed flights,” the statement said.