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Rav Shmuel Rabinowitz, rov of the Kosel and mekomos hakedoshim, has called on the Israeli Home Front Command to reconsider current restrictions limiting access for mispallelim at the Kosel following a recent High Court ruling regarding public gatherings.

In a letter addressed to Home Front Command chief Major General Shay Klapper, Rav Rabinowitz requested a reassessment of the guidelines governing entry to the Kosel plaza.

At the opening of his letter, Rav Rabinowitz expressed appreciation for the work of the Home Front Command, writing: “At the outset, I would like to express deep appreciation for your dedicated work and that of your personnel. The responsibility for protecting the home front and safeguarding every individual is a sacred mission, and on behalf of the entire Jewish people, I thank you for the devotion and professionalism that saves lives each and every day.”

He went on to reference the High Court ruling that directed authorities to allow large-scale gatherings for protests and demonstrations, while restrictions at holy sites—including the Kosel—have remained unchanged.

“I cannot understand why the right to protest is perceived as more important or more urgent than the right to pray,” Rav Rabinowitz wrote. “The Kosel is the beating heart of the Jewish people. Especially now, when our soldiers are fighting with great courage and under significant danger, the public needs to come to the holiest place that remains to us since the destruction of the Temple.”

Rav Rabinowitz argued that if the current security situation permits large public gatherings elsewhere, it should also allow for tefillah at the Kosel. “If the security reality allows hundreds of people to gather in public squares for protest, then all the more so Jews should be allowed to gather at the Kosel plaza!”

In closing, he called on authorities to revisit the restrictions and enable access for those wishing to daven, stating: “I ask that the guidelines be reexamined and that the faithful public be allowed to come to the Kosel and pray for the peace of our people, our land, and our soldiers, at least under the same conditions in which other gatherings are permitted. And even more so. Especially in these days, we must not forgo prayer, the source of strength and hope for all of us.”

{Matzav.com}

Rav Yitzchok Yosef, former chief rabbi and head of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas, sharply criticized a recent High Court ruling during his weekly shiur, drawing widespread attention after making forceful remarks about the judges in connection with their decision on protest limits in Tel Aviv.

Speaking at Yeshivas Or Hachaim in Yerushalayim, Rav Yosef addressed the court’s ruling on the number of participants permitted at demonstrations and strongly denounced the judges.

“Heretics and wicked people, Hakadosh Boruch Hu will destroy them, will kill them,” he said, as members of the audience responded, “Amen.”

At the end of the shiur, Rav Yosef clarified his earlier statement, stressing that he was not calling on anyone to take action, but rather referring to punishment from Heaven. “I did not mean that you should destroy them — Hakadosh Boruch Hu will give them the punishment.”

The remarks come amid ongoing public and political reaction to the High Court’s decision, which has sparked strong criticism in various circles.

Education Minister Yoav Kisch also condemned the ruling, stating: “The Supreme Court, in an outrageous, irresponsible, and reckless decision. The decision of the Supreme Court to allow a large-scale demonstration in Habima Square, contrary to the instructions of the Home Front Command and the police, is irresponsible interference that endangers public safety. To do this during wartime and hastily during Shabbat is detached and arrogant conduct. Instead of respecting norms and the professional judgment of the security authorities, the Supreme Court has given backing to a group of anarchists who are seeking chaos during a war.”

Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni also responded to the judiciary’s statements regarding considerations of “pikuach nefesh,” saying: “I suggest, therefore, appointing the Chief Rabbi as president of the Supreme Court. He at least understands the sensitivity and complexity involved in ruling on matters related to Shabbos and the sacred values of the Jewish people — matters in which even the greatest rabbis exercise great caution. In contrast, there are those who allow themselves to make far-reaching decisions, including harming the sanctity of Shabbos, based on detached and irresponsible considerations. This is not just a mistake. It is a deep disrespect for the tradition of Israel and the feelings of the public.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel is waiting for a green light from President Donald Trump to move forward with possible strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure, according to Reuters, with the operation potentially set to begin as early as the coming week.

According to Reuters, Israeli officials are prepared to expand their list of targets to include key economic and strategic assets tied to the Iranian regime, pending approval from Washington.

The timing comes as Trump intensifies pressure on Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz, while Israeli officials signal there is no intention of slowing the current military campaign. According to assessments in Israel’s political and defense leadership, targeting Iran’s production, energy, and supply systems could be the decisive phase of the war.

Officials in Israel are now describing the target set as a combination of weapons manufacturing facilities and critical economic infrastructure. The goal, according to reports, is not merely to strike isolated sites but to disrupt Iran’s entire “value chain”—from raw materials and production lines to the electricity, fuel, and logistical systems that sustain the broader network.

At the same time, Trump has continued to issue warnings to Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported that he has threatened a sharp escalation if Tehran does not reopen the waterway within 48 hours, as discussions in Washington and Jerusalem intensify over broader attacks on the regime’s energy sector.

The heightened tensions are also affecting other fronts. Israeli defense officials are on alert for attempts by the Houthis to expand their attacks, whether by air, sea, or other means. Following recent launches from Yemen—including a ballistic missile, a drone, and a cruise missile targeting Israel—the military is preparing for efforts aimed at dividing Israel’s focus and opening an additional southern front.

As part of that preparation, Israel has increased its readiness in the Red Sea. Naval deployments have been reinforced, coordination between the navy, air force, regional commands, border police, and law enforcement has been tightened, and alert levels have been raised amid concerns over potential attacks on vessels or coastal targets.

Security officials believe that creating such pressure is a central objective of the Houthis—forcing Israel to stretch its defensive resources and contend with multiple fronts while its primary focus remains on Iran.

Despite the growing threat from the south, Israeli officials continue to emphasize that Iran remains the central arena of the conflict. The outcome of operations there, they say, will determine whether the war continues as a prolonged campaign or shifts into a broader and more decisive phase.

The message emerging from Israel is increasingly clear: As long as Iran continues to use the Strait of Hormuz as leverage and does not change course, Israel is preparing to escalate rather than pause. The anticipated approval from Trump could mark the beginning of a new stage in the conflict, one aimed directly at the economic core of the Iranian regime.

Bnei Brak’s chief rabbi and city officials are calling on residents to stay away from missile impact zones after dozens of strikes in the city and repeated disruptions caused by onlookers interfering with emergency response efforts.

Following numerous incidents in which curious residents gathered at impact sites—hindering rescue teams assisting families whose homes were damaged and, in some cases, putting themselves in danger—Rav Chaim Yitzchok Eizik Landau issued a public appeal urging the public not to approach the scenes.

On Motzaei Shabbos Chol Hamoed, Rav Landau released a recorded message addressed to all city residents, stressing the obligation to follow Home Front Command directives and warning against gathering near impact areas due to the serious risks involved. City officials also called on parents to ensure their children stay away from these dangerous locations.

During the most recent Shabbos, there were also reports of disturbances by fringe individuals directed at emergency responders, police forces, and even the mayor himself as they worked at the various impact sites.

In response to the ongoing situation, a joint meeting was held at Bnei Brak City Hall, bringing together municipal leadership and Israel Police officials to address the growing problem of crowds forming at strike locations. During the meeting, Mayor Chanoch Zeibert played Rav Landau’s recorded message.

Mayor Zeibert delivered a firm message on behalf of the city’s rabbonim, emphasizing that, according to their guidance, it is strictly forbidden to go to or gather at impact sites. He warned that aside from the immediate and real danger to life, such gatherings obstruct emergency and rescue personnel and can delay critical life-saving operations.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli security forces rescued three women in their 20s and a two-year-old child from Jericho after they entered the Palestinian Authority-controlled city during a Pesach outing, authorities said.

The operation was conducted by police from the Civil Coordination and Liaison unit in the Judea and Samaria District, working together with the Civil Administration. Following the rescue, the women were taken in for questioning.

Police said they were alerted after receiving information that the group had entered the area. Forces quickly located them inside the city and carried out the extraction. Jericho is under Palestinian Authority jurisdiction, and Israeli citizens are barred by law from entering.

After being brought back into Israeli territory, the women told authorities they had gone there for a holiday trip and were unaware of the danger involved. They were later transferred to the Maaleh Adumim police station for further questioning.

Police stressed that entering Palestinian Authority-controlled areas is both illegal and poses a significant risk to life. Authorities noted that the incident concluded without injuries and that all individuals were safely brought out.

President Donald Trump has formally asked Congress to allocate $152 million to begin redeveloping the former Alcatraz prison, advancing his plan to bring the infamous island facility back into operation.

The funding request, included in the White House’s proposed 2027 budget, is intended to finance the initial phase of transforming the San Francisco Bay site into what officials are calling a “state-of-the-art secure prison facility.”

Trump has been advocating for reopening Alcatraz since last year, framing the move as part of a broader push for tougher crime policies.

In a previous social media post, he called for a “substantially enlarged and rebuilt” facility to house the country’s most dangerous offenders.

The proposal is part of a wider Justice Department budget that prioritizes prison expansion and law enforcement resources, though any such plan would require congressional approval to move forward.

According to Axios, citing administration officials, constructing a new “supermax” facility on the island would likely require building from the ground up, with total costs estimated at around $2 billion.

Originally opened in 1934 as a federal penitentiary, Alcatraz gained a reputation as one of the most secure prisons in the United States due to its remote island location and the powerful currents surrounding it.

The prison housed a relatively small inmate population, including notorious figures such as Al Capone.

Its place in American history was cemented following a dramatic 1962 escape by three prisoners, an event that later inspired the film “Escape from Alcatraz.”

The facility was shut down in 1963 after officials concluded that maintaining it was too expensive.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons determined that operating costs were nearly triple those of other federal prisons, largely because all supplies—including fresh water—had to be transported to the island.

Since the early 1970s, the site has been overseen by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, becoming a major tourist destination that attracts more than one million visitors each year.

The White House maintains that redeveloping Alcatraz would help modernize the federal prison system and provide additional capacity for housing high-risk inmates.

Opponents of the plan have raised concerns about both its feasibility and cost, pointing out that significant infrastructure upgrades would be required to make the island suitable for modern use.

Federal agencies have already conducted preliminary feasibility studies to evaluate whether a new correctional facility could be built there, though no final determination has been made.

Any effort to proceed is expected to face political hurdles, given competing budget priorities and the island’s current role as a historic site and major tourist attraction.

WATCH:

President Donald Trump announced late Saturday night that a U.S. fighter pilot who had been missing after being shot down in Iran has been successfully rescued following a complex military operation.

“WE GOT HIM! My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History,” the president posted on Truth Social.

The search effort had stretched on for nearly three days after the aircraft went down Friday during military operations over Iran, leaving the pilot stranded behind enemy lines.

During the search, Iranian officials publicly offered a reward for anyone who could capture and deliver the pilot alive, according to a state television announcement. Throughout that time, the White House provided few updates on the mission.

In his statement, Trump said the rescued pilot, described as “incredible” and “who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel,” was now “SAFE and SOUND!”

“This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour, but was never truly alone because his Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow Warfighters were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue,” the president wrote.

“At my direction, the U.S. Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him.”

Trump added that although the pilot suffered injuries when the aircraft went down, “will be just fine.”

Israel is beginning to slightly relax emergency aviation restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport, raising the number of outbound passengers allowed per flight to 80, even as missile threats and security concerns continue to heavily limit air travel.

The adjustment, set to take effect tonight, was coordinated between the Israel Airports Authority and the Home Front Command. It marks a modest easing of the stricter wartime rules that had capped departures at just 50 passengers per flight, aside from a limited number of humanitarian cases.

Despite the change, the overall system remains tightly controlled. Under the current framework, only one departure and one arrival are permitted each hour, although incoming flights are allowed to land at full capacity. These restrictions were introduced following renewed Iranian threats and heightened pressure from defense officials to minimize risks around the airport.

The disruption to Israel’s aviation sector has extended into neighboring countries as well. Arkia attempted to reroute operations through Aqaba and Taba, but faced setbacks when Jordanian authorities altered their policy and denied approvals for certain flights, stranding passengers and forcing cancellations.

Meanwhile, El Al has warned that its outbound capacity has dropped dramatically, operating at roughly 5% of its usual volume. The airline has urged authorities to expand operations through Ramon Airport in the south, while continuing to run a limited schedule to major destinations such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Paris, Rome, and Athens.

While the latest move offers a small increase in travel capacity, Israel’s airspace remains under significant constraints, with airlines continuing to navigate a combination of security directives and regional instability.

The tzibbur is asked to be mispallel for a refuah shleimah for Rav Shmuel Yosef Fishbain, the longtime beloved rov of White Lake, New York, who has served the kehillah for more than five decades.

Rav Fishbain is currently hospitalized and is reported to be in stable but critical condition.

Those saying Tehillim are asked to daven for Rav Shmuel Yosef ben Miriam Devorah.

President Donald Trump announced Friday that Vice President J.D. Vance will take the lead in combating fraud across the United States, declaring he will now serve as the administration’s “fraud czar.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said fraud in the U.S. “is massive and pervasive” and emphasized that Vance’s new responsibilities would play a key role in shaping the country’s future. He added that “the job he will be doing, in conjunction with many great people within the Trump Administration, will be a major factor in how great the future of our Country will be.”

“We will call him the ‘FRAUD CZAR,’” Trump continued, “and his focus will be ‘EVERYWHERE,’ but primarily in those Blue States where CROOKED DEMOCRAT POLITICIANS, like those in California, Illinois, Minnesota (Somalia beware!), Maine, New York, and many others, have had a ‘free for all’ in the unprecedented theft of Taxpayer Money. The numbers are so large that, if successful, we would literally be able to balance our American Budget.” The President did not offer evidence for these assertions.

The vice president’s office pointed to an Executive Order signed by Trump on March 16 that created a federal anti-fraud task force aimed at coordinating efforts to combat misuse of government funds. The order states that the group will “coordinate and accelerate a comprehensive national strategy to stop fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs, including programs administered jointly with State, local, tribal, and territorial partners,” and names Vance as its chairman.

Vance convened the task force for the first time last week in a closed-door meeting. Ahead of the session, he indicated that tackling fraud would require coordination across multiple levels of government, describing it as a “a whole-government approach.”

“This is not just the theft of the American people’s money,” Vance said, according to The Associated Press. “It is also the theft of critical services that the American people rely on.”

Addressing fraud has become a central pillar of Trump’s second-term agenda, with the administration focusing particular attention on certain states. Minnesota has been a repeated target, with federal childcare funding frozen and more than $250 million in Medicaid funds temporarily suspended amid allegations of misuse. Trump has also cited those claims in defending stepped-up immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis.

California has also been a major focus. In his Friday post, Trump stated that “raids have already started in L.A.” A day earlier, federal authorities announced the arrest of eight individuals accused of involvement in healthcare fraud schemes in and around Los Angeles. That same day, the White House’s rapid response account on X highlighted that Vance’s task force had suspended more than 200 hospice and healthcare providers in the state.

Officials in both Minnesota and California have pushed back, saying their governments have long worked to combat fraud. They also pointed to past pardons issued by Trump to individuals convicted of fraud-related offenses.

Earlier this year, Vance revealed plans to create a new Justice Department position focused specifically on fraud investigations, reporting directly to him and the president. Weeks later, Trump selected Colin McDonald for the role of Assistant Attorney General for National Fraud Enforcement. McDonald was officially sworn in on Wednesday by Vance.

A growing number of international airlines have extended or expanded cancellations of flights to and from Israel as the security situation continues to deteriorate, with some carriers suspending service for months and others postponing a return indefinitely.

Dozens of airlines have announced updated timelines since the outbreak of the war, citing safety concerns. United Airlines has halted its U.S.–Tel Aviv route through September 7, according to a report by Ynet.

Air Canada has likewise extended its suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv until September 7. Delta Air Lines announced it will not resume service to Tel Aviv until at least September 5, and has also postponed the launch of its planned Boston route indefinitely.

The Lufthansa Group said its airlines—including Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines—will suspend flights to Tel Aviv through May 31. Eurowings and Lufthansa Cargo have extended their suspensions until April 30.

Low-cost carrier Wizz Air said it will not operate flights to Israel through April 20. Greece’s Aegean Airlines has suspended flights to Tel Aviv until April 30, while British Airways has canceled its service through May 31. Flydubai has also pushed its suspension through the end of April.

Italy’s ITA Airways announced it will not resume flights until April 10. Iberia Express, part of the IAG group, has canceled all Tel Aviv flights through late March.

LOT Polish Airlines confirmed all flights to Tel Aviv are canceled through May 31. Air Baltic has also suspended flights through the same date. Spain’s Air Europa has halted service until May 3, while Greece’s Sky Express suspended flights through March 31.

Air France has canceled flights to Tel Aviv through April 19, and KLM has suspended operations until late March. Romania’s Animawings has also canceled flights through March 31.

Additional cancellations include Flydubai flights through late March, Air India through March 31, and Ethiopian Airlines through April 16. Norwegian Air has delayed its planned return to Israel until June 15, according to Ynet.

Etihad Airways has suspended flights until April 16, while Air Seychelles has canceled service through April 30. TAP Air Portugal has halted flights until May 1. EasyJet has announced it will not operate flights to Tel Aviv at all during the upcoming summer season.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump unveiled a proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027 on Friday, marking one of the largest military spending requests in decades and underscoring his focus on strengthening U.S. armed forces.

The major increase in Pentagon funding had been signaled even before the U.S.-led war with Iran began. At the same time, the proposal calls for a 10% reduction in non-defense spending, with certain responsibilities shifted to state and local governments.

“President Trump promised to reinvest in America’s national security infrastructure, to make sure our nation is safe in a dangerous world,” wrote Budget Director Russell Vought.

The president’s budget blueprint reflects policy priorities but does not carry legal authority. While it outlines the administration’s goals, Congress ultimately controls federal spending decisions and frequently modifies or rejects such proposals.

The White House plan is meant to serve as a guide for lawmakers as they craft appropriations bills to fund the government. Vought discussed the proposal with House Republicans during a private call on Thursday.

Ahead of a national address on the Iran war, Trump emphasized that military readiness remains his top concern, setting the stage for a likely clash with lawmakers over spending priorities.

“We’re fighting wars. We can’t take care of day care,” Trump said at a private White House event Wednesday.

“It’s not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare — all these individual things,” he said. “They can do it on a state basis. You can’t do it on a federal.”

The proposal includes a series of key funding initiatives and cuts.

Among them, the administration seeks to bolster immigration enforcement by eliminating refugee resettlement funding, maintaining current levels for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and expanding detention capacity using prior increases in Department of Homeland Security funding, including space for 100,000 adults and 30,000 families.

The plan also calls for a 13% funding boost for the Department of Justice to target violent crime and what the administration describes as migrant-related offenses.

Another provision includes a $10 billion allocation within the National Park Service for “construction and beautification” projects in Washington, D.C.

The budget would increase funding for aviation safety by $481 million to support hiring more air traffic controllers.

It also proposes canceling more than $15 billion in funding from a previous bipartisan infrastructure law, including money for renewable energy programs, and reducing support for environmental justice initiatives and climate-related grants through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The plan includes a 19% cut to the Department of Agriculture, reductions to certain university grants, a 13% decrease for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and roughly a 12% cut to the Department of Health and Human Services, including reductions to programs that assist low-income households with heating costs.

The White House framed many of the cuts as targeting programs that direct federal resources to low-income communities.

For instance, the proposal would eliminate Community Services Block Grants, which fund programs such as job training, financial counseling, and housing assistance. The administration said these funds have been “hijacked by radicals” to promote equity initiatives and green energy policies.

The plan also seeks to cut $106 million from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which it claims has “pushed radical gender ideology onto children.”

Republican leaders in Congress praised the proposed increase in military spending, arguing it is necessary to maintain U.S. global military superiority amid rising threats.

“America is facing the most dangerous global environment since World War II,” said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala.

Democrats, however, sharply criticized the proposal, warning that it prioritizes defense while slashing essential domestic programs.

“This budget represents ‘America Last,’” Boyle said.

The proposal comes as the federal government continues to run annual deficits approaching $2 trillion, with total national debt exceeding $39 trillion.

Roughly two-thirds of the government’s estimated $7 trillion annual spending goes toward entitlement programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, which continue to grow due to demographic trends.

The remaining portion of the budget is typically divided between defense and domestic programs, each receiving close to $1 trillion, making them the central battleground in congressional budget debates.

Trump’s broader fiscal agenda has also been shaped by last year’s major tax and spending package, which included at least $150 billion for defense over several years and $170 billion for immigration enforcement efforts through the Department of Homeland Security.

The administration is relying on Republican majorities in Congress to advance its spending priorities, particularly defense funding, as it did previously.

The proposal outlines that $1.1 trillion of defense spending would go through the standard appropriations process, requiring bipartisan support, while $350 billion would be passed through budget reconciliation, allowing Republicans to approve it with a simple majority.

The release of the budget comes as lawmakers remain deadlocked over current funding levels and Department of Homeland Security appropriations, with Democrats pushing for changes to immigration enforcement policies that Republicans oppose.

Amid the ongoing stalemate, Trump announced Thursday that he would sign an executive order to ensure that Department of Homeland Security employees who have gone unpaid during the prolonged partial government shutdown—now in its 49th day—receive their salaries.

In his first budget after returning to office last year, Trump sought sweeping reductions in federal spending, aligned with efforts led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to shrink the size of government.

However, despite aiming for a significant reduction in non-defense spending, Congress ultimately kept those expenditures largely unchanged.

Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, strongly criticized the latest proposal.

“Trump wants to build a ballroom—I want to build more affordable housing, and only one of us sits on the Appropriations Committee,” Murray said.

New York City is seeing a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents even as overall crime, including murders, has dropped to historic lows, according to new data released Thursday by the NYPD.

Through the first three months of the year, 54 homicides were recorded across the five boroughs—the lowest figure since record-keeping began in the early 1990s and below the previous first-quarter low of 60 set in 2018, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said while presenting the latest crime statistics.

“Citywide, major crime dropped with over 1,400 fewer reported crimes compared to 2025, murders and shootings reached their lowest levels ever recorded for a first quarter, and our public housing developments had the safest start to the year for gun violence in history,” Tisch said.

“These results are driven by our precision policing strategy to go after guns, take down violent gangs, and put officers on foot posts where they are needed most,” she added.

Despite those gains, hate crimes rose sharply. Confirmed incidents increased from 128 in the first quarter of 2025 to 143 during the same period this year, marking an 11.7% jump. Of those, 78 were classified as anti-Jewish incidents, accounting for 55% of all reported hate crimes.

The largest percentage increase was seen in anti-Muslim incidents, which rose to 12 cases this year compared to just five during the same timeframe last year, a 140% increase.

“The hate crimes that we are seeing really vary across the board,” Tisch told reporters Thursday. “It could be something an act of violence. It could be drawing a symbol on a wall, like, for example, a swastika.”

Tisch also said the department is changing how it reports such incidents, introducing separate categories for reported hate crimes and those confirmed through investigation.

“What I can tell you is that the NYPD has released this month the gold standard for data about hate crimes,” Tisch said. “We’ve done this in consultation with experts in the field, and that is data about reported crimes and data about confirmed crimes.”

Elsewhere in the report, officials noted an increase in reported rapes, with 523 cases this year compared to 475 last year. Tisch attributed part of the rise to a 2024 change in state law that broadened the legal definition of rape.

Overall major crime across the city declined by 5.3% in the first quarter of 2026, with 25,582 incidents reported compared to 27,003 during the same period last year.

Tisch said subway crime saw an early spike at the start of the year but later stabilized.

“I believe in January and February, we did see an uptick in crime on our subways,” she said. “I believe a significant portion of that was related to adjustments that we made in our ejection strategy based on the Code Blue, based on the cold temperatures that we are seeing.

“We ended the quarter down, actually 1% in subway crime,” she added. “So we had a very good month of March. We basically brought crime fall in all categories in transit, and again, once the weather normalizes and we can go back to our normal ejection strategy in transit.

“We also added 150 officers to transit at the end of February, and those officers, I think, also made it.”

Crime in public housing also declined, dropping 7.2% so far this year.

The data further showed a 28% drop in murders, nearly a 21% decline in burglaries, and reductions in grand larceny, robberies, auto theft, and retail theft—including an 18.2% decrease in the Bronx.

“The stories of these numbers in aggregate is one of remarkable progress,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Thursday. “They speak to an NYPD using every lever at its disposal to deliver a safer New York City to all who call it home.”

A man in his 70s collapsed after choking on matzah at a hotel in Tiveriah, suffering cardiac and respiratory arrest before emergency responders successfully revived him.

The incident occurred overnight between Thursday and Friday, when Hatzalah volunteers were dispatched to the hotel following reports of a man choking. Together with Magen David Adom (MDA) paramedics and medics, the responders performed advanced resuscitation efforts on the man, who was found without a pulse and not breathing. After his heart was restored, he was transported for further treatment to Poriya Medical Center in northern Israel.

Hatzalah medics Yochanan Shapira and Metanel Etzel described the scene: “When we arrived at the scene with an MDA ambulance, we found a man approximately 70 years old unconscious, without a pulse and not breathing, after choking while eating matzah. Together with MDA paramedics and medics, we performed advanced resuscitation efforts which included removing the food, chest compressions, providing respiratory assistance, and administering an electric shock, and after, b’chasdei Shamayim, his heart resumed beating, he was evacuated for further treatment at Poriya Medical Center.”

Recent U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that Iran is not expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in the near future, as control over the critical global oil route remains its most powerful point of pressure against the United States, according to three individuals familiar with the findings.

The analysis suggests Tehran may continue restricting access through the strait to keep energy prices elevated, using that pressure to push President Donald Trump toward ending the nearly five-week-long conflict.

The intelligence also underscores a broader concern: rather than weakening Iran, the ongoing war may be enhancing its regional influence by demonstrating its ability to threaten one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

Trump, however, has publicly minimized the difficulty of reopening the strait, through which roughly 20% of global oil supply passes. On Friday, he suggested U.S. forces could take action to restore access.

“With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE,” he posted on his Truth Social platform.

Military and policy experts have cautioned that any attempt to forcefully reopen the strait could come at a steep cost, potentially dragging the United States into an extended ground conflict, given Iran’s strategic position along one side of the narrow waterway.

“In the attempt to try to prevent Iran from developing a weapon of mass destruction, the U.S. handed Iran a weapon of mass disruption,” said Ali Vaez, director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, a conflict-prevention organization.

Vaez added that Iran recognizes the strategic advantage it now holds, noting that its control over global energy flows through the strait “is much more potent than even a nuclear weapon.”

Trump’s messaging on how to address the situation has varied. At times, he has made reopening the strait a condition for a ceasefire, while also suggesting that Gulf nations and NATO partners should take the lead in ensuring maritime access.

A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump is “confident that the strait will be open very soon” and has made clear that Iran will not be permitted to dictate traffic through the passage once the war ends.

At the same time, the official noted that Trump has emphasized that other countries “have far more at stake in preventing this outcome” than the United States.

Since the conflict began on Feb. 28, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has employed a range of tactics to disrupt commercial shipping through the strait, despite being outmatched militarily.

These measures have included attacks on civilian vessels, the deployment of naval mines, and demands for transit fees, effectively choking off passage and driving global oil prices sharply higher, while also triggering fuel shortages in countries dependent on Gulf energy supplies.

The spike in energy costs carries potential political consequences in the United States, raising inflation concerns as Trump and Republican candidates prepare for the upcoming November midterm elections.

According to the intelligence findings, Iran is unlikely to relinquish this strategic advantage anytime soon, the sources said, declining to specify which agencies produced the reports.

“It is certainly the case that now that Iran has tasted its power and leverage over the strait, it won’t soon give it up,” said one of the sources. All three spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the information.

Experts warn that any military effort to reopen the strait would be fraught with danger. The narrow waterway, which separates Iran from Oman, is just 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, with shipping lanes only about 2 miles wide in each direction—making vessels and military forces highly vulnerable.

Even if U.S. forces were to seize territory along Iran’s southern coast or nearby islands, analysts say the IRGC could continue to threaten the strait using drones and missiles launched from deeper within Iranian territory.

“All it takes to disrupt traffic and deter vessels from passing through is one or two drones,” said Vaez.

Some analysts believe Iran will seek to maintain its ability to regulate traffic through the strait even after the war, viewing it as a critical tool for rebuilding its economy, potentially by charging commercial vessels transit fees.

Tehran “is going to look to maintain the leverage that they have rediscovered by disrupting traffic” through the strait, former CIA Director Bill Burns said in a Foreign Affairs magazine podcast on Thursday.

Burns said Iran is likely to use its control over the waterway as leverage in future negotiations with the United States, aiming to secure “long-term deterrence and security guarantees” while also extracting “some direct material benefits” such as passage fees to support post-war reconstruction.

“That,” he said, “sets up a really difficult negotiation right now.”

Israeli forces launched airstrikes on Saturday targeting Iran’s Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex in Khuzestan Province, striking critical infrastructure and bringing production at one of the country’s largest industrial sites to a standstill, according to Iranian officials and reports.

The strikes hit the massive facility near Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini, focusing specifically on two central utility units—Fajr 1 and Fajr 2—which provide electricity, gas, and industrial water to more than 50 petrochemical plants operating within the complex. According to The New York Times, two senior officials from Iran’s oil ministry confirmed that the attack forced a complete shutdown of operations across the entire site.

Hamed Shams, who oversees marketing and communications for the petrochemical sector within Iran’s oil ministry, wrote on social media that the damaged infrastructure supplies power to the surrounding plants and, in the summer, “plays a key role in providing electricity to 500,000″ people in Khuzestan Province.

Iranian authorities described the Bandar Imam facility as a cornerstone of the country’s petrochemical industry, with an annual output of 72 million tons. The complex supports a large portion of the local population—estimated at around 300,000 residents—and produces essential materials including polymers, chemicals, and inputs used in plastics, textiles, fertilizers, and medical equipment.

Two senior figures in the oil ministry said the shutdown represents a devastating economic setback for Iran, whose economy is already under strain. They estimated it could take roughly two years to rebuild the damaged utility systems and restore the facility to full capacity.

Khuzestan Province Governor Seyed Mohammadreza Mavalizadeh visited the site following the attack and told Iranian media that emergency responders and firefighting teams arrived quickly. According to his office, the strikes left five people dead and 170 others wounded. Footage circulating on social media showed heavy smoke and flames billowing from within the complex.

Mavalizadeh added that additional Israeli strikes hit other facilities in the area, including the Razi, Karoun, and Bandar Imam petrochemical plants. Iranian state television reported that the entire complex was evacuated after the bombardment.

“Attacking Mahshahr’s petrochemical plants means attacking the heart of Iran, the vital arteries of Iran’s economy,” Mehdi Bostanchi, who heads a private industrial complex and represents a group of Iranian industrial leaders, said in a social media post.

Petrochemical exports make up roughly a quarter of Iran’s total exports to about 60 countries, generating between $10 billion and $15 billion annually and serving as a major revenue stream as the country works to lessen its reliance on crude oil.

The strike is part of a broader escalation involving Israeli and American attacks on Iranian infrastructure in recent days, which have also targeted steel production facilities, pharmaceutical and research centers, as well as key transportation hubs including airports and seaports.

Astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission reported detecting a strange burning odor coming from the spacecraft’s advanced $23 million toilet system, which had already experienced issues shortly after launch.

“Regarding the smell, I just wanted to make sure you all were tracking the EGS notes of the kind of burning heater smell that was coming from toilet several times,” astronaut Chrisna Koch, who repaired the system on Thursday, radioed to mission control on Saturday, Space.com reported.

Koch added that the source of the odor could not be definitively determined, explaining, “It was never identified as the source, what it exactly was, but it was identified as an unknown smell,” Koch said.

According to the crew, the odor resembled that of an old electric heater being used after sitting idle for a long period, the report noted.

NASA engineers on the ground initially theorized that the smell might be linked to orange insulation located on the hygiene bay door of the toilet system.

Despite the unusual issue, mission control approved continued use of the restroom and indicated there were no “major concerns” related to the odor, according to Space.com.

The latest development follows an earlier malfunction shortly after liftoff on April 1, when the urine hose in the spacecraft’s Upper Waste Management System failed but was quickly repaired by Koch the next day.

A fourth individual has been taken into custody in connection with last week’s arson attack on ambulances belonging to Hatzolah in north London, according to the Crown Prosecution Service, as reported by the BBC.

Prosecutors told Westminster Magistrates’ Court that the suspect was apprehended this morning at the courthouse itself, where police were seen escorting a man out of the building. Authorities indicated that four people were involved in carrying out the attack.

Earlier that same day, three suspects already charged in the case appeared before the court and were ordered held in custody.

Those charged include two British men, ages 20 and 19, along with a 17-year-old who holds dual British-Pakistani citizenship.

All three face charges of arson with intent to damage property, along with recklessness regarding whether lives could have been put at risk.

The Metropolitan Police later confirmed that a 19-year-old man, previously identified by officers, was arrested at the courthouse on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and has been taken into custody.

The attack occurred in the early hours of March 23, when Hatzolah ambulances were deliberately set on fire in the parking lot of a shul in Golders Green. The court was told the destruction caused is estimated at nearly £1 million.

During proceedings, it was stated that there is strong evidence indicating the incident was a “premeditated and targeted attack against the Jewish community”.

In a related development, two additional men, ages 45 and 47, were arrested last week in connection with the case but were later released on bail pending further inquiries, with conditions extending until late April.

Prosecutors added that authorities are continuing to examine whether an Iranian-backed group that claimed responsibility for the incident had any role in the attack.

The investigation is being handled by counter-terrorism police, although officials clarified in a statement Friday that the case “has not been declared as terrorism” at this stage.

The incident comes amid a broader surge in antisemitic activity across London in recent years. Just last month, a Jewish-owned bakery in the city was vandalized following a pro-Palestinian Arab protest, during which demonstrators accused the business of “funding Israel.”

In December, anti-Israel protesters targeted another bakery in London that is owned by Israelis.

The previous month, police intervened to relocate an anti-Israel protest away from St. John’s Wood Synagogue after dozens of demonstrators gathered outside.

A month earlier, an Israeli academic delivering a lecture at City St. George’s, University of London, was disrupted when anti-Israel activists stormed the classroom, shouting accusations and issuing threats.

Iran’s top military leadership today dismissed President Donald Trump’s ultimatum threatening to destroy key Iranian infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened within 48 hours, signaling a further escalation in the standoff between the two countries.

Earlier, Trump issued a sharply worded message on Truth Social, warning Tehran to act immediately. He wrote, “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!”

In response, General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi condemned the warning in remarks carried by AFP, calling Trump’s threat “a helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action”.

He also issued a direct warning of his own, stating, “the simple meaning of this message is that the gates of hell will open for you”.

Since the outbreak of the current conflict, Iran has effectively blocked or severely disrupted passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The regime has declared the strategic waterway “closed,” while threatening commercial shipping and deploying military capabilities including fast attack boats, drones, missiles, and reportedly naval mines.

On Wednesday, Trump asserted that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had reached out to Washington seeking a ceasefire.

“Iran’s new regime president, much less radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE!” the President announced on Truth Social.

Trump made clear that any such arrangement would hinge on reopening the critical shipping route. “We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!”

Iran swiftly rejected that claim, with its Foreign Ministry describing the report as “false and baseless.”

Separately, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps insisted it maintains full authority over the waterway, declaring that the Strait of Hormuz “is firmly and decisively under the control” of its forces.

“This strait will not be opened to the enemies of this nation through the ridiculous spectacle by the president of the United States,” the statement added.