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President Donald Trump spoke by phone Thursday night with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to review the rapidly developing situation in Iran, according to a report published Friday by Axios, citing two individuals with knowledge of the discussion.

The call marked the second direct conversation between the two leaders within 48 hours, as Trump considers a range of responses that include possible U.S. military action as well as renewed diplomatic efforts with an Iranian regime under pressure from mass protests and internal instability.

Officials from both the White House and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office declined to provide details or comment publicly on the calls.

According to Axios, during an earlier conversation on Wednesday, Netanyahu pressed Trump to hold off on any immediate military strike, arguing that Israel needed additional time to prepare for potential retaliation from Iran. The report said that this appeal was one of several considerations that contributed to Trump’s decision to delay authorizing U.S. military action.

U.S. officials have indicated that force remains on the table if Iran resumes the killing of protesters, while Israeli officials believe that a strike is still possible in the near term despite the current pause.

Axios also reported previously that Netanyahu sent Mossad Director David Barnea to the United States to coordinate closely with American officials on Iran-related matters. Barnea is expected to hold talks Friday in Miami with White House envoy Steve Witkoff.

The report detailing the second Trump-Netanyahu call appeared before Trump addressed reporters’ questions about whether pressure from Arab or Israeli leaders influenced his decision not to strike Iran. Trump dismissed that notion, saying, “No one convinced me. I convinced myself.”

He pointed to recent developments inside Iran as a key factor, adding, “You had, yesterday, scheduled, over 800 hangings. They didn’t hang anyone. They cancelled the hangings. That had a big impact.”

Later Thursday night, speaking at an Israeli-American Council conference in Miami, Witkoff expressed optimism that diplomacy could still avert conflict. He said any agreement with Iran would need to tackle multiple core issues, including its uranium enrichment program, its stockpile of ballistic missiles, the removal of roughly 2,000 kilograms of enriched uranium held by Tehran, and an end to Iran’s backing of proxy forces across the region.

Describing Iran’s internal economic crisis, Witkoff said, “I think if Iran, which is stumbling it its economy. It’s a pretty serious situation. Inflation is well north of 50%.” He added that Tehran still has a path toward a negotiated outcome, saying, “If they want to come back to the League of Nations, we can solve those four problems diplomatically and that would be a good resolution and the alternative will be a bad one.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran’s leadership had halted a large number of planned executions of anti-regime protesters, crediting the move with averting what he described as an imminent wave of hangings.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump publicly acknowledged the Iranian government’s decision, writing: “I greatly respect the fact that all scheduled hangings, which were to take place yesterday (Over 800 of them), have been cancelled by the leadership of Iran. Thank you!”

Later, while speaking with reporters, Trump was asked whether pressure from Arab or Israeli officials had persuaded him to refrain from launching a military strike against Iran. He rejected that suggestion, responding, “No one convinced me. I convinced myself.”

He went on to emphasize the significance of the reported reversal by Tehran, saying, “You had, yesterday, scheduled, over 800 hangings. They didn’t hang anyone. They cancelled the hangings. That had a big impact,” according to his remarks.

Trump’s comments followed earlier statements made two days prior, when he asserted that the killing of protesters in Iran had stopped at a moment when a potential U.S. military action appeared close. At that time, he told reporters in the Oval Office, “We have been notified pretty strongly that the killing in Iran is stopping, and there’s no plan for executions or an execution.”

He added that the information had come from reliable sources but cautioned that the situation would continue to be monitored. “I’ve been told that in good authority. We’ll find out about it, I’m sure. If it happens, we’ll be very upset.”

Additional details emerged Thursday night from Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who spoke at the opening session of the 10th Israeli American Council National Summit in Florida. Witkoff said that, acting on Trump’s instructions, the United States had contacted Iranian officials on Wednesday to convey concerns over reports of impending mass executions. “And that’s been shut down, I think, as everyone knows, the President has announced that. He’s the only one in the world who has that indomitable strength that can bend people. I watch it happen. It’s quite remarkable to watch it happen.”

When asked whether he anticipated military action against Iran, Witkoff said he hoped diplomacy would prevail. “Well, I hope there’s a diplomatic resolution. I really do. There are four issues: Nuclear enrichment, missiles, they have to cut back on their inventory, the actual material that they have, which is roughly 2,000 kilograms which is enriched anywhere between 3.67% to 60%, and the proxies, of course.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump warned Friday that federal intervention in Minnesota would bring a swift end to unrest tied to immigration enforcement, declaring that state and local leaders are incapable of restoring order.

“In Minnesota, the Troublemakers, Agitators, and Insurrectionists are, in many cases, highly paid professionals. The Governor and Mayor don’t know what to do, they have totally lost control, and our currently being rendered, USELESS! If, and when, I am forced to act, it will be solved, QUICKLY and EFFECTIVELY! President DJT”

The statement was posted to Trump’s Truth Social account as protests continued to intensify in the Twin Cities following several high-profile encounters involving federal immigration agents.

Although Trump did not spell out what steps he might take, his warning came as tensions rose over the expanding role of federal authorities in immigration-related operations across Minneapolis and surrounding areas.

Demonstrations escalated sharply after the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis woman, during an incident connected to Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity.

The growing unrest has also placed renewed focus on the tactics used by immigration officers during vehicle stops and arrests, prompting public criticism and legal scrutiny.

The Associated Press reported Friday that Aliya Rahman, a U.S. citizen, was pulled from her car and detained by immigration officers in Minneapolis, an incident that further fueled anger among demonstrators.

Also on Friday, the AP reported that a federal judge ordered the release of a Liberian man arrested by immigration agents in Minneapolis, ruling that the detention violated Fourth Amendment protections.

Trump’s remarks followed earlier comments in which he suggested he could invoke the Insurrection Act, a rarely used law that allows a president to deploy military forces domestically under narrowly defined circumstances.

Minnesota officials have urged residents to remain calm while condemning what they describe as an expanded federal footprint, as protests continue and multiple investigations and court challenges move forward.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Friday that he could impose tariffs on other countries if they resist his effort to bring Greenland under U.S. control, tying the issue directly to what he described as American national security interests.

“If they don’t go along with” his push, Trump said, economic penalties could be used. Speaking at the opening of a White House healthcare roundtable, he added, “We need Greenland for national security. So I may do that,” referring to the possible use of tariffs.

Trump has repeatedly argued in recent months that the United States must control Greenland for strategic reasons. The island is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, a status that has been a central point of dispute in Trump’s remarks.

Inside the administration, officials have examined a range of approaches to the issue, including the idea of purchasing the territory, though no formal proposal has been announced.

Greenland and Denmark have consistently rejected the notion, stating that the island is not for sale and has no desire to become part of the United States.

Denmark’s position has been echoed by several European leaders, who have publicly backed Copenhagen and said Washington has no right to take control of the Arctic island.

Trump’s comments marked the first time he publicly suggested tariffs as a potential tool to advance his stance on Greenland.

{Matzav.com}

A senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued an explicit threat against President Donald Trump on Thursday, vowing violent retaliation in response to the president’s warnings about possible U.S. military action against Tehran.

Speaking publicly, Gen. Mohsen Rezaei warned that Iran would respond directly to Trump’s statements about the use of force. “Trump has said his hand is on the trigger. We will cut off his hand and his finger,” Rezaei said, according to Iran International.

Rezaei also made clear that Iran would reject any attempt at de-escalation once hostilities begin. “If we move forward, there will be no talk of a ceasefire anymore,” he said.

In his remarks, the general accused the United States of ignoring Iran’s restraint and cautioned against further escalation. “You do not pay attention to the restraint and strategic patience we have shown,” Rezaei added. “Stop right now. Step back, otherwise none of your bases in the region will be safe.”

The comments were delivered amid reports that the United States has begun repositioning military assets closer to the Middle East. Sources confirmed that at least one U.S. aircraft carrier has been moved toward the region as tensions between Washington and Tehran intensify.

Officials have not disclosed which carrier is involved. Military officials say the voyage could take roughly a week, with additional forces potentially deploying afterward, expanding the range of military options available to Trump.

Rezaei is a longtime powerbroker within Iran’s military and political establishment. He led the IRGC from 1980 until 1997 and currently holds several senior roles, including vice president for economic affairs and secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council for Economic Coordination. He is also a prominent figure within the Principlist Resistance Front of Islamic Iran.

Internationally, Rezaei has faced legal and financial consequences. In 2006, Argentine authorities issued an international arrest warrant for him over his alleged role in the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires. The U.S. Treasury Department later sanctioned him in 2020, citing his involvement in advancing destabilizing activities.

The escalating rhetoric comes as Iran faces growing internal unrest. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 2,677 people have been arrested, with another 1,693 cases currently under investigation.

{Matzav.com}

Mossad Director David Barnea arrived in the United States on Friday for discussions focused on developments in Iran, according to Israeli officials and others familiar with the visit.

The trip is part of ongoing coordination between Israel and the United States as large-scale protests continue inside Iran and Washington weighs possible military steps in response to the Iranian regime’s actions.

According to those familiar with the matter, Barnea is expected to meet in Miami with White House envoy Steve Witkoff, who has been managing a direct channel between the United States and Iran. Witkoff has remained in contact with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi throughout the unrest. It is still unclear whether Barnea will also meet with President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence over the weekend.

Barnea’s visit follows a phone call earlier this week between President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that centered on the situation in Iran. During the conversation, Netanyahu reportedly asked the United States to hold off on any military action in order to give Israel additional time to prepare for a possible Iranian response.

Israeli officials have raised concerns that potential U.S. strikes, as currently under discussion, would focus primarily on Iranian security forces and might not significantly weaken the regime itself. U.S. officials, meanwhile, have said that military action remains on the table if Iran resumes deadly force against protesters. Israeli assessments suggest that even with a delay, a U.S. strike could still take place in the near future.

At the same time, U.S. military preparations are continuing, with additional forces and equipment being moved into the region. These reportedly include the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group, along with expanded air defense systems, fighter jets, and possibly submarines.

In parallel, Abbas Araghchi has suggested reviving nuclear negotiations during his contacts with Witkoff. Israeli officials are concerned that Tehran could use renewed talks to ease international pressure and buy time, though some believe the current crisis may push the Iranian regime to consider concessions it has previously refused.

{Matzav.com}

The body of Moshe Ludmir, a talmid at the Boyan Yeshiva in Modiin Illit, was recovered on Friday, bringing an end to a days-long search after he disappeared earlier in the week.

Moshe had gone to the Modiin Stream near his yeshiva on Tuesday together with another student in order to enter the water. During the outing, he was carried away by the strong current. The second boy was rescued later that same day and alerted authorities, prompting an extensive search effort that continued until Friday.

Sixteen years old, Moshe was from Beitar Illit and had only recently begun studying at the Tiferes Yisrael Ruzhin Boyan Yeshiva in Modiin Illit, marking his first year at the yeshiva.

Describing the operation, Lieutenant Commander Shlomi Harosh, who heads the Binyamin Region of the Israel Fire and Rescue Service, said: “This is a tragic event in which a young man lost his life. This was a complex and challenging search because there was a lot of drift in the stream and in the water crossings under the bridges along the stream, as well as the stormy weather that prevailed during the first days of the search.”

Police officials stated that search activity was carried out without interruption over the course of four days, involving close coordination among law enforcement, rescue services, and civilian volunteers.

A police spokeswoman provided further details, saying: “On the morning of the fourth day of searches conducted by the Judea and Samaria District police, along with numerous emergency security and rescue personnel, alongside hundreds of volunteers, the body of the missing young man who had been swept away in the Modi’im Stream was located.”

{Matzav.com}

Agudath Israel of America commends the Trump administration for easing restrictions on religious workers through a newly issued Interim Final Rule published today in the Federal Register. The rule removes longstanding limitations on religious worker visas (R-1), marking an important step in supporting faith-based institutions and the communities that rely on them.

Under prior regulations, non-citizens in the US serving in religious capacities on R-1 visas were required to leave the United States for a minimum of one year once their visa expired at the end of its five-year term before they could apply for and obtain a new R-1 visa. This requirement imposed significant hardships on religious workers as many of them serve in leadership positions such as rabbis and teachers causing serious disruptions for the schools and institutions they serve. The new rule eliminates this mandatory waiting period, allowing religious workers to apply for and receive a new R-1 visa without being forced to spend a fixed period of time outside the United States.

“Agudath Israel of America welcomes the Department of Homeland Security’s thoughtful and much needed rule change regarding religious workers.” said Mr. David Grunblatt, partner at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP and chair of Agudath Israel of America’s Immigration Committee. “For too long, religious organizations have faced the painful loss of dedicated rabbis, ministers, teachers, and other essential religious workers simply because their temporary visas expired before the lengthy green card process could be completed. By removing the requirement for religious workers to leave the country for a full year after reaching the maximum period of stay, DHS is providing much needed stability for our institutions and the communities they serve. This interim final rule promulgated by USCIS, recognizes the vital role that religious workers play in American society and helps ensure that synagogues, churches, and other faith-based organizations can continue their sacred mission without unnecessary disruption. We commend DHS and USCIS for their commitment to supporting religious life in the United States.”

Agudath Israel of America has long advocated for reforms to the R-1 visa program and continues to urge Congress to pass the bipartisan Religious Workforce Protection Act. That legislation would eliminate the need for individuals on an R-1 visa to leave the US at all while further strengthening protections for people of faith in the workforce.

{Matzav.com}

FOX Business’ Madison Alworth reports cities in Florida and Texas are ready to attract businesses and individuals fleeing New York City’s increasing regulations, rent freezes, and expanded city-run services.

WATCH:

DRAMATIC FOOTAGE: An IAF Black Hawk helicopter crashed Friday morning during a recovery operation after it was forced to make an emergency landing earlier this week because of severe weather. The IDF said the helicopter landed Tuesday in an open area in Gush Etzion after encountering difficult weather conditions. The aircraft was damaged in the […]

Mossad chief David Barnea traveled to the United States on Friday for talks focused on Iran, amid intensified regional tensions. * Barnea is scheduled to meet in Miami with Steve Witkoff, who is leading Washington’s direct contacts with Iran. The talks focus on Iran’s nuclear enrichment, missile stockpile, enriched uranium reserves, and Iran-backed terror groups.

NEC Director Kevin Hassett on the effects of Trumps’ tax cut in 2026: “Our expectation is that you’re going to have the biggest refund season ever.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in the Middle East and Iran during a phone call, the Kremlin said. According to the Kremlin, Putin offered Russia’s help in mediating on Iran and said he supports intensifying political and diplomatic efforts to ensure stability and security in the region.

HASSETT: “In some places, up to 20% of the [housing] market is owned by institutions. The institutions have tax an advantage over ordinary homebuyers… it’s something that President Trump just doesn’t think is right.”

Israeli security forces arrested a 51-year-old Israeli woman from northern Israel on suspicion of acting on behalf of Hamas during the war, the Shin Bet and Israel Police said. * The suspect, Rania Dandan of Kiryat Motzkin, was arrested in recent weeks in a joint operation by the Shin Bet and the police’s Coastal District. […]

President Donald Trump revealed Thursday that a new governing body, described as a Gaza “board of peace,” has been established as part of the second phase of a U.S.-supported framework aimed at ending the war in Gaza.

Announcing the move on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “It is my Great Honor to announce that THE BOARD OF PEACE has been formed,” adding that the names of those appointed to the body would be released “shortly.”

Trump went on to praise the new panel in sweeping terms, declaring, “I can say with certainty that it is the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place.”

The announcement follows the recent unveiling of a separate 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee that is intended to oversee the daily administration of Gaza once major combat operations conclude.

According to Trump, that committee will operate under the authority of the newly created board of peace, which he said he will personally chair.

The broader plan also envisions the arrival of an International Stabilisation Force that would be tasked with maintaining security in Gaza and assisting in the training of approved Palestinian police units.

Reacting to the developments, senior Hamas official Bassem Naim said Thursday, “The ball is now in the court of the mediators, the American guarantor and the international community to empower the committee.”

The U.S.-backed initiative originally took effect on Oct. 10, leading to the release of all hostages held by Hamas and bringing an end to active fighting between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist organization in Gaza.

While the second phase of the plan has now begun, it is unfolding amid continued claims of humanitarian aid shortages and sporadic violence.

For Palestinians, a central unresolved issue remains the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, a provision included in the framework but one that lacks a specific implementation schedule.

At the same time, Hamas has declined to publicly agree to full disarmament, a condition Israel has stated is non-negotiable.

Addressing the issue earlier this week, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff wrote on Truth Social that Washington expects Hamas to “comply fully with its obligations.”

Separately, Hamas has begun preparations for internal elections intended to reconstitute its leadership, much of which has been eliminated during the war.

A Hamas official told AFP on Monday that the vote is expected to take place “in the first months of 2026.”

Trump shared Witkoff’s remarks on Thursday and added his own endorsement of the transitional leadership, writing, “These Palestinian leaders are unwaveringly committed to a PEACEFUL future!”

He also outlined broader regional backing for the initiative, stating, “With the support of Egypt, Turkey and Qatar, we will secure a COMPREHENSIVE Demilitarization Agreement with Hamas, including the surrender of ALL weapons, and the dismantling of EVERY tunnel.”

{Matzav.com}

A major Siyum HaShas and Hachnasas Sefer Torah were held at Yeshiva Lev Eliyahu in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of Yerushalayim, drawing leading rabbonim and roshei yeshiva from across the spectrum of the Torah world.

The event took place in the yeshiva’s main beis medrash with the participation of Rav Yitzchak Yosef, alongside senior roshei yeshiva and rabbanim. The talmidim completed the study of the entire Shas in memory of the late rosh yeshiva, Rav Yaakov Zechariah zt”l, and in memory of a close supporter of the yeshiva, Raphael Halevi ben Esther.

Among the speakers were Rav Yitzchak Yosef; Rav Yechiel Chaim Sofer, rosh yeshiva of Kaf HaChaim; Rav Shlomo Yedidya Zafrani; Rav Ovadia Chazan; Rav Elchanan Sharabani, rosh yeshiva of Lev Eliyahu LeTze’irim; members of the yeshiva’s staff; and the yeshiva’s director-general, Meir Zechariah.

Speakers recalled the mesirus nefesh of the late rosh yeshiva zt”l for Torah learning and teaching, and offered words of chizuk to the bochurim during a period they described as one of mounting pressure on those dedicated to Torah study.

In a forceful address, Rav Shlomo Yedidya Zafrani told the bochurim: “If they come to arrest you, tell them that you are already detained by the Torah. Why is the Yom Tov called Atzeres? Because we received the Torah and we are ‘held’ by the Torah. If you want not to be detained, be detained by the Torah. Give yourselves over to Torah learning. Fortunate are you that you merit completing the entire Shas together.”

Following the remarks, a formal Siyum HaShas was conducted by Rav Eliyahu Moshe HaKohen Saban, one of the yeshiva’s rabbeim who spearheaded the initiative and encouraged the bochurim throughout their intensive learning of the masechtos. The evening concluded with the writing of letters in a new, beautifully crafted Sefer Torah, which was brought into the yeshiva in a celebratory procession marked by song and dance in honor of the Torah.

ישיבת לב אליהו (42) ישיבת לב אליהו (1) ישיבת לב אליהו (2) ישיבת לב אליהו (3) ישיבת לב אליהו (4) ישיבת לב אליהו (5) ישיבת לב אליהו (6) ישיבת לב אליהו (7) ישיבת לב אליהו (8) ישיבת לב אליהו (9) ישיבת לב אליהו (10) ישיבת לב אליהו (11) ישיבת לב אליהו (12) ישיבת לב אליהו (13) ישיבת לב אליהו (14) ישיבת לב אליהו (15) ישיבת לב אליהו (16) ישיבת לב אליהו (17) ישיבת לב אליהו (18) ישיבת לב אליהו (19) ישיבת לב אליהו (20) ישיבת לב אליהו (21) ישיבת לב אליהו (22) ישיבת לב אליהו (23) ישיבת לב אליהו (24) ישיבת לב אליהו (25) ישיבת לב אליהו (26) ישיבת לב אליהו (27) ישיבת לב אליהו (28) ישיבת לב אליהו (29) ישיבת לב אליהו (30) ישיבת לב אליהו (31) ישיבת לב אליהו (32) ישיבת לב אליהו (33) ישיבת לב אליהו (34) ישיבת לב אליהו (35) ישיבת לב אליהו (36) ישיבת לב אליהו (37) ישיבת לב אליהו (38) ישיבת לב אליהו (39) ישיבת לב אליהו (40) ישיבת לב אליהו (41)

Israel and the United States signed a joint statement today in Jerusalem on cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence. The signing follows Israel’s accession last month to the Pax Silica initiative, which brings together leading countries in artificial intelligence. Among the nine countries participating in the initiative, Israel was selected as the first to […]

CIA Director John Ratcliffe met in Caracas with Venezuela’s interim president, marking the first senior U.S. visit since the U.S. military seized Nicolás Maduro. * The Trump administration sees the interim government as the best short-term path to stability, according to U.S. officials. * Discussions focused on intelligence cooperation, economic stability, and ensuring Venezuela is […]

Steve Witkoff said that when the final 20 surviving hostages were freed and later visited the White House, President Trump called it the greatest day of he’s ever had in the White House.