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The Knesset early Tuesday morning passed final approval for legislation expanding the role of rabbinical courts, permitting them to handle civil and financial disputes through arbitration, provided both parties explicitly agree.

The measure was approved in its second and third readings with 65 lawmakers voting in favor and 41 opposing it.

Under the new law, state rabbinical courts will be allowed to serve as arbitrators in monetary and civil matters, restoring a framework similar to what had been in place until 2006. That year, the Supreme Court ruled that rabbinical courts could not rule on civil cases beyond their defined religious authority.

Following that decision, rabbinical courts were barred from hearing such disputes even in cases where both sides voluntarily sought their involvement.

Supporters of the legislation emphasized that the authority granted is limited and conditional. Rabbinical courts may only take on cases where both parties consent, and only after a dispute has already emerged, rather than through prior agreements covering potential future disagreements.

Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Chairman MK Simcha Rothman praised the passage of the bill, calling it a straightforward and fair proposal.

“This is a simple and straightforward proposal that should have been accepted by everyone, because nothing is more liberal than this – allowing two consenting adults to decide they want their dispute resolved according to Torah law.”

Thousands of US Marines are expected to deploy to the Middle East this week as tensions with Iran continue, with their arrival aligning with President Donald Trump’s deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report published Monday.

The Wall Street Journal, citing two US officials, reported that the USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship based in Japan, along with the amphibious transport dock USS New Orleans, are set to enter the US Central Command area on Friday, carrying approximately 2,200 Marines.

According to the officials, the forces will require several more days after entering the region before reaching the Strait of Hormuz.

The deployment comes after Trump issued a warning to Iran over the weekend, demanding that it reopen the strategic waterway within 48 hours or risk military action targeting its power infrastructure.

Although that deadline was initially set to expire Monday, Trump later announced that he would extend it in order to provide additional time for diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran.

Trump also said that the United States has begun outreach to “very solid” individuals within Iran as part of efforts to facilitate talks.

Reports that followed suggested that Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, might be acting as Tehran’s representative in those discussions. However, Ghalibaf publicly denied that any such negotiations were taking place.

“Our people demand the complete and humiliating punishment of the aggressors. All officials stand firmly behind their Leader and people until this goal is achieved,” Ghalibaf wrote on social media.

According to the speaker, “No negotiations with America have taken place. Fake news is intended to manipulate financial and oil markets and to escape the quagmire in which America and Israel are trapped.”

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration is reportedly weighing the possibility of engaging Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, as a potential interlocutor in negotiations and even considering him as a possible future leader, signaling a shift toward diplomacy as the conflict continues.

According to a Politico report published Monday, officials in Washington are exploring options beyond military pressure and are looking at figures within Iran who might be willing to enter talks aimed at ending hostilities.

Ghalibaf, 64, who has previously issued threats of retaliation against the United States and its allies, is nonetheless being viewed by some White House officials as a pragmatic figure who could play a role in future negotiations or leadership, according to two administration officials cited in the report.

Those officials stressed that the administration has not settled on any one individual and is reviewing a range of potential figures to determine who might be open to reaching an agreement. They spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the internal discussions.

“He’s a hot option,” one official said, adding that no decisions have been made. “He’s one of the highest…But we got to test them, and we can’t rush into it.”

Responding to the report, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the United States will not negotiate through the news media.”

The report surfaced shortly after President Donald Trump announced a temporary halt to “any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure” for five days, in order to give diplomacy a chance. He also indicated that Washington is reaching out to “very solid” individuals within Iran.

Ghalibaf later rejected claims that he was involved in negotiations with the United States, issuing a firm denial on social media.

“Our people demand the complete and humiliating punishment of the aggressors. All officials stand firmly behind their Leader and people until this goal is achieved,” Ghalibaf wrote.

According to the speaker, “No negotiations with America have taken place. Fake news is intended to manipulate financial and oil markets and to escape the quagmire in which America and Israel are trapped.”

Despite those denials, administration officials cited in the report suggested that his remarks may have been intended for domestic audiences rather than reflecting the full picture.

“We’re in the testing phase of really trying to figure out who can rise, who wants to rise, who tries to rise,” one official said. “And then as people rise, we’ll do a quick test, and if they’re radical, we’ll take them out.”

A senior White House official added that Trump is seeking to reach a peace agreement within days, with progress tied to developments involving the Strait of Hormuz and a potential ceasefire.

“POTUS, like anyone, would rather have peace than war,” the official said.

{Matzav.com}

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New data released Monday reveals that the overwhelming majority of Iran’s attacks over the past three weeks have targeted Arab Gulf states rather than Israel, highlighting a significant strategic shift in Tehran’s campaign.

According to the report, which analyzes the period between February 28 and March 23, 2026, approximately 87% of Iran’s missile and drone launches were aimed at members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), while only 13% were directed at Israel. The findings are based on official statements from the IDF, Gulf defense ministries, and additional open-source intelligence.

Out of a total of 6,330 launches during the reporting period, the United Arab Emirates emerged as the primary target, absorbing nearly half of all attacks. The data shows that 3,056 strikes—48.3% of the total—were directed at the UAE.

Kuwait ranked second, with 1,061 attacks accounting for 16.8% of the total. Israel, despite being a central focus of Iranian rhetoric, was targeted 822 times, representing just 13% of the overall volume of attacks.

Additional figures show that Saudi Arabia sustained 648 attacks (10.2%), Bahrain was hit 429 times (6.8%), Qatar faced 289 strikes (4.6%), and Oman recorded 25 attacks (0.4%).

The report suggests that Iran’s strategy has centered on imposing economic and strategic costs on Gulf states, particularly by targeting energy and security infrastructure. Recent reported strikes on facilities in Ras Laffan, Qatar, and gas fields in Abu Dhabi are cited as examples of this approach.

Israeli military officials emphasized that the stark disparity—87% directed at Arab states versus 13% at Israel—indicates that the current conflict is largely about regional dominance and control over global energy resources. According to this assessment, Israel has played a secondary role in Iran’s targeting priorities.

Despite criticism of Gulf air defense systems, the data indicates that Iran is focusing the bulk of its efforts on destabilizing neighboring Arab states economically and politically, while leveraging the conflict with Israel as a broader strategic cover for advancing its regional ambitions.

{Matzav.com}

A legal dispute over a luxury vehicle has highlighted the blurred boundaries between business assets and personal property, after an Israeli court ruled that a husband must return a car he had taken from his wife during a marital conflict.

The case involves a couple married since 1991 who built a large family over the years. During the marriage, the husband operated a successful business through which various assets were acquired for family use, including a vehicle worth hundreds of thousands of shekels that was used exclusively by the wife.

As tensions between the couple escalated, the husband arranged for the vehicle to be taken from the wife while it was undergoing routine maintenance. He argued that because she had been dismissed from her position in the company, she no longer had the right to use what he claimed was a company-owned asset.

However, the Haifa District Court rejected the husband’s arguments on appeal, upholding the earlier ruling and emphasizing that the distinction between the couple’s business dealings and their personal lives had been “blurred” throughout the years.

The court determined that the vehicle had effectively been given to the wife as a personal gift for her exclusive use, rather than as part of any formal employment arrangement.

Judges also found that, despite the issuance of salary slips, the wife did not actually perform work for the company, and that the payments she received were part of the couple’s internal financial arrangements rather than evidence of a genuine employer-employee relationship.

The ruling further stressed the need for judicial intervention to prevent unilateral actions during ongoing disputes, warning against what it described as “coercive conduct” intended to alter the status quo while legal rights are still being determined.

In its final decision, the court ruled that jurisdiction over the matter lies with the family court, as the dispute is fundamentally personal rather than a standard labor-related case.

The husband’s appeal was denied, and he was ordered to immediately return the vehicle to his wife. In addition, he was required to pay 7,500 shekels in legal costs.

Bottom line: Shalom bayis is a good idea!

President Donald Trump surprised Israel and the international community by granting Iran an additional five days to continue negotiations, even as US and Israeli military operations remain ongoing, but wide differences between the sides continue to cast doubt on the chances of reaching an agreement.

Earlier today, Trump announced that he was postponing his ultimatum regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and moving forward with renewed talks with Iranian representatives. Despite his optimistic tone, officials acknowledge that significant disagreements remain between Washington and Tehran.

Speaking Monday evening, Trump said he believes an agreement to end the war could be reached in the near future and would help eliminate threats against the United States. “We’ve had great talks with Iran. We’ve spoken to them a lot, but this time they’re serious,” he said.

Despite those remarks, it remains unclear whether any concrete deal is actually taking shape or whether the talks are primarily aimed at buying time and calming global economic concerns.

During a conversation earlier in the day between Prime Minister bIBI Netanyahu and Vice President J.D. Vance, Netanyahu was updated on the ongoing contacts between Washington and Tehran. According to the message conveyed to Israel, the United States intends to stand firm on its red lines, which closely mirror Israel’s own position.

Those conditions reportedly include the removal of enriched uranium from Iran, a full halt to its nuclear program, the reinstatement of intrusive inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, limits on Iran’s ballistic missile program — with Washington pushing for a five-year freeze — and an end to Iranian funding of terrorist organizations.

Israeli officials have expressed skepticism that Iran would agree to such terms, viewing them as equivalent to a surrender. They have also questioned Trump’s optimism, particularly as Iranian officials continue to deny publicly that any agreements have been reached.

According to reports, Israeli officials are concerned that Iran may use the negotiations to stall for time, while Trump may ultimately accept a partial agreement that allows him to declare success without insisting on all of the stated conditions.

Additional reports indicate that Iran has conveyed messages suggesting that Lebanon should be included in any final agreement, further complicating the diplomatic process.

Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei, recently appointed as a military adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, responded to Trump’s earlier threat to target Iran’s electrical infrastructure — a threat that has since been withdrawn — with a warning. “This time it will not be an eye for an eye, but a head for an eye, and you will leave the Gulf. The war will continue until we are compensated for all our losses, all economic sanctions are lifted, and we receive international legal guarantees that Washington will not interfere in our affairs,” he said.

At the same time, there are indications that Iran may be open to certain concessions. According to Channel 12, Iranian negotiators have signaled a willingness to consider a temporary five-year freeze on their missile program. They have also indicated openness to discussions on reducing uranium enrichment, although the scope of those reductions remains unclear.

A central issue in the talks is Iran’s stockpile of approximately 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent, much of which is believed to be buried beneath damaged facilities in Fordo and Natanz. Iran has also reportedly expressed readiness to allow international monitoring of its remaining centrifuges, as well as to discuss curbing support for regional proxy groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and militias in Iraq.

However, conflicting messages from within Iran’s leadership continue to raise doubts about the seriousness of the negotiations. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has denied that any talks have taken place, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has signaled its intention to continue fighting “until the end.” These contradictions have led to questions about whether there is a clear authority in Tehran capable of negotiating a binding agreement.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, Iran has set extremely high conditions for ending hostilities, including demands that have slowed progress in the talks. Arab officials involved in mediation efforts said that discussions are focused in part on the future of the Strait of Hormuz.

One proposal under consideration would place the strategic waterway under the control of a neutral regional body to ensure free passage for shipping. Egyptian officials have also reportedly suggested a five-day ceasefire as a way to build trust between Tehran and Washington.

In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has demanded a new arrangement in which Iran would be allowed to collect fees from ships passing through the strait, similar to Egypt’s model in the Suez Canal.

Additional Iranian demands reportedly include guarantees that the war cannot resume, the closure of American bases in the Middle East, compensation for damages caused during the conflict, and an end to Israeli military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has emerged as a potential mediator, with discussions underway about a possible meeting between the parties as early as this Saturday in Islamabad. The effort is being led by General Asim Munir, Pakistan’s military chief and de facto leader, who is also facing internal pressure from the country’s Shiite population over the government’s stance toward Iran.

Trump said earlier that he is in contact with a “respected leader” in Iran, though not with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly. Israeli officials believe the discussions may be taking place with Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf, who denied the claim and described it as “fake news intended to manipulate markets and escape the quagmire in which the United States and Israel are trapped.”

However, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that a request for talks with Ghalibaf had indeed been received from the United States, although Tehran has not yet responded. Iran’s Foreign Ministry also confirmed that regional countries are attempting to mediate an end to the war.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu addressed Trump’s remarks on the negotiations, saying, “Earlier today I spoke with Trump. He believes there is an opportunity to leverage the tremendous achievements of the IDF and the US military to achieve the objectives of the war through an agreement, an agreement that will preserve our vital interests.”

{Matzav.com}

A major development in the world of chazzanus in Yerushalayim was made official today, as Yeshurun Synagogue revealed that the renowned Chazzan Yitzchak Meir Helfgott will assume the role of chief chazzan of the prominent shul, accompanied by choirs, Matzav.com has learned.

Helfgott will take over the position from Chazzan Nissim Saal, who has served as the shul’s chief chazzan for the past three years.

In a statement, the shul said: “The Yeshurun Central Synagogue is pleased to announce to the public the joining of the great chazzan, one of the leading cantors of our generation and a world-renowned figure and first-class master of prayer, Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Helfgott, who will serve as the chief chazzan of the Yeshurun Central Synagogue accompanied by choirs. The Yeshurun Central Synagogue community believes that his voice and vast experience will contribute greatly to strengthening spiritual life and prayer, and to uplifting the hearts of the Jewish people.”

The kehillah also expressed appreciation to Saal for his years of service, noting his impact on the shul’s atmosphere and communal life.

“We wish to express deep gratitude and appreciation to Cantor Rabbi Nissim Saal for three beautiful and blessed years of service at the synagogue. During his tenure, he contributed greatly to the atmosphere of prayer, to uplifting the spirit, and to strengthening community life, with dedication, pleasantness, and professionalism. We thank him wholeheartedly for his important contribution, and wish him much continued success in his path, that he continue to bring joy to hearts and increase the honor of Heaven wherever he goes.”

{Matzav.com}

Photos and footage circulating online appear to show an Iranian government aircraft flying over Tehran, despite the closure of the country’s airspace, which is reportedly under Israeli control.

The three-second clip, widely shared on social media, has drawn significant attention, as it seemingly contradicts the current restrictions on flights in the region.

According to a report by Israeli journalist Itay Blumental of Kan News, the aircraft was likely carrying senior Iranian officials en route to Islamabad, Pakistan, as part of efforts to advance talks between the United States and Iran. “We understand that this is part of a process taking place behind the scenes,” he said.

Blumental added that the flight may have been coordinated and approved by international actors, suggesting possible American involvement in facilitating the movement. “It’s possible that American officials informed Israel, which allowed the flight to take off,” he noted.

{Matzav.com}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that Kyiv has conclusive evidence Russia is continuing to provide intelligence support to Iran, warning that such actions are helping to extend the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Zelenskyy made the remarks after a meeting with Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, stating that the information in Kyiv’s possession leaves no doubt about Moscow’s involvement.

“Russia is using its own signals intelligence and electronic intelligence capabilities, as well as part of the data obtained through cooperation with partners in the Middle East,” he said on X after meeting the head of military intelligence.

In a later video address to the nation, Zelenskyy said additional indications have emerged pointing to ongoing Russian assistance to Iran.

“This is clearly destructive activity and must be stopped, as it only leads to further destabilization. All responsible states have an interest in ensuring security and preventing bigger problem,” he said.

He also warned that the consequences of this cooperation are already being felt beyond the battlefield, particularly in global markets and energy supply.

“Markets are already reacting negatively and this is significantly complicating the fuel situation in many countries. By helping the Iranian regime survive and strike more accurately, Russia is effectively prolonging the war.”

Russia, for its part, has denied the allegations. The Kremlin last week rejected a Wall Street Journal report claiming that Moscow had been providing Iran with satellite imagery and enhanced drone technology, dismissing the report as “fake news.”

Air travel through Ben Gurion Airport has been sharply reduced following new directives from the Transportation Ministry, with Israel’s major airlines moving into emergency operating mode and significantly cutting back flights and passenger capacity.

El Al announced that it is scaling its activity down to roughly 5% of normal operations. Under the new framework, the airline will operate up to 15 outbound flights per day, each limited to a maximum of 50 passengers. The reduced schedule will include only select routes to key destinations such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Paris, Rome, and Athens. The airline noted that inbound flights to Israel will continue without passenger restrictions.

Due to the limited number of available seats, passengers will be assigned based on the original booking date of their tickets, with priority given to urgent humanitarian and medical cases.

Israir also outlined a revised plan, stating that it will cut its operations to approximately half of its usual capacity. Outbound flights will likewise be restricted to 50 passengers per aircraft. The airline will focus on maintaining routes to nearby destinations, including Athens, Larnaca, Rome, Tbilisi, and Addis Ababa, which will serve as connecting hubs for onward travel.

The company further announced that all flights purchased through April 8 will be canceled under the new plan. Affected passengers will be offered the choice between a full refund or a travel voucher valued at 130% of the original ticket price, valid for up to 24 months. Travelers who had booked flights from Ben Gurion Airport to the listed destinations will be reassigned to flights departing from those same cities, in accordance with the updated schedules.

Both airlines emphasized that these measures are being implemented out of necessity due to the current security situation and government-imposed restrictions. They stressed that operations are being conducted with a focus on passenger and crew safety, while making efforts to maintain essential air links between Israel and the rest of the world.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu backed a Mossad strategy aimed at triggering a popular revolt in Iran at the outset of the war, but has grown increasingly frustrated that the expected uprising has not taken place, Times of Israel reports.

The New York Times, citing current and former US and Israeli intelligence officials, reported that Netanyahu raised the proposal during discussions with President Donald Trump as part of efforts to gain support for military action against Iran.

However, officials in both Washington and Israel are now expressing doubt that regime change is imminent, with current conditions seen as unfavorable for a mass uprising. Concerns over the regime’s violent crackdown on earlier protests, along with fears stemming from the ongoing US-Israeli air campaign, have dampened public willingness to take to the streets.

According to the report, expanding on earlier coverage by Channel 12, Mossad Director David Barnea presented Netanyahu with a plan ahead of the war that envisioned eliminating key Iranian leadership figures and then using intelligence operations to “galvanize the Iranian opposition,” igniting mass unrest in Iran by fomenting riots and other acts of resistance via intelligence operations, potentially leading to the regime’s collapse. The proposal was also reportedly shared with US officials at the White House.

The strategy was intended to bring about a rapid end to the conflict through internal upheaval. Instead, Iran’s leadership has consolidated its position, a scenario that some US officials had anticipated. While internal rivalries among religious factions could lead to infighting, the report noted that such a scenario would be unlikely to produce a democratic outcome. Suggestions that Kurdish militias might intervene have also not materialized.

Israeli officials have not entirely abandoned hopes for regime change, but the absence of widespread unrest has reportedly left Netanyahu disappointed. “Behind the scenes,” it said, Netanyahu “has expressed frustration that Mossad’s promises to foment revolt in Iran have not materialized.”

During an early wartime security meeting, the prime minister “complained that the plan was not working,” and vented that Trump “could decide to halt the campaign at any moment.”

A Channel 12 report aired Monday appeared to push back on the timeline, indicating that Mossad assessments suggest the regime could still collapse and that the Iranian public might eventually rise up, but only toward the later stages of the war, with the process potentially taking months or longer.

The Times also noted that former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen had been skeptical about the prospects for regime change and had instead focused on weakening Iran through sanctions and targeted killings of nuclear scientists.

By contrast, Barnea has prioritized efforts aimed at toppling the regime over the past year, with expectations that a wave of protests would emerge following the opening phase of the military campaign.

American officials, along with some Israeli counterparts, have remained doubtful that the war alone would bring about the collapse of Iran’s government.

One factor cited in the report is the reluctance of ordinary Iranians to risk their lives by protesting. Nate Swanson, a former member of the Trump administration’s Iran negotiating team led by Steve Witkoff, said that fear plays a major role.

He told the Times he had never seen a “serious plan” to cause an Iranian revolt.

“A lot of protesters are not coming into the street because they’ll get shot,” Swanson told the Times. “They’re going to get slaughtered. That’s one thing. But the second thing is that there’s a good chunk of people who just want a better life, and they’re just sidelined right now. They don’t like the regime, but they don’t want to die opposing it. That 60 percent is going to stay home.”

He said, “You still have fervent anti-regime folks, but they’re not armed, and they’re not bringing the majority of the population into the streets.”

In recent days, both Netanyahu and Trump have tempered expectations regarding regime change. Netanyahu has acknowledged uncertainty over whether the Iranian public will rise up, though he reiterated that one of the war’s objectives is “creating the conditions for the Iranian people to grasp their freedom, to control their destiny.”

Israeli officials continue to express cautious optimism that such a shift could eventually occur.

“I think that we need boots on the ground but they’ve got to be Iranian boots, and I think they’re coming,” Israel’s ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, said in an interview with CNN on Sunday. “What we have to focus on now is degrading to the point where they have no power left in this regime. Hopefully, that will trigger this combustion point where the people are able to take charge of their own lives.”

{Matzav.com}

A militant antisemitic organization has claimed responsibility for the torching of Jewish community ambulances in London, following a recent report linking the group to a series of coordinated attacks across Europe.

In the early hours of Monday morning, four ambulances belonging to Hatzolah were deliberately set on fire in Golders Green, a heavily Jewish neighborhood in North London. The incident comes after Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism identified the group “Ashab Al-Yamim” as being behind a wave of antisemitic attacks over the past two weeks. The organization, which is believed to have ties to Iran, later took responsibility for the London attack.

The arson took place at approximately 1:40 a.m. on Highfield Avenue, near a shul. During the blaze, several explosions were reported due to gas canisters inside the ambulances, shattering windows in nearby residential buildings and forcing local residents to evacuate.

Emergency services responded with six fire engines and around 40 firefighters, eventually bringing the fire under control after several hours. Dozens of residents were displaced, with about 30 individuals relocated to temporary shelter. Despite the intensity of the explosions and fire, no injuries were reported.

Security footage and eyewitness accounts circulating online indicate that several masked individuals poured flammable liquid, believed to be gasoline, onto the vehicles before fleeing the scene. Authorities are currently searching for approximately three suspects, and no arrests have been made so far.

London’s Metropolitan Police have classified the incident as an antisemitic hate crime and confirmed that the investigation is being conducted accordingly. The pro-Iranian militant group identifying itself as the “Islamic Right Movement” (Ashab Al-Yamim) claimed responsibility in a message posted on Telegram, stating that “prominent Zionist centers in London” were the intended targets.

The attack is part of a broader pattern of antisemitic incidents across Europe, including similar acts of arson and violence in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Greece, all of which have been attributed to the same organization.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the incident, calling it a “particularly shocking antisemitic arson attack” and a “serious” act of violence. He expressed solidarity with the Jewish community and stressed that antisemitism has no place in British society.

In recent days, Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism revealed the emergence of a new militant group, Harakat Ashab Al-Yamim al-Islamiyya (“Ashab Al-Yamim”), which has issued threats against Jewish communities in Europe and claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on Jewish institutions.

According to the ministry’s report, between March 9 and March 14, 2026, several coordinated attacks were carried out against Jewish targets across Europe. These included an explosion near a synagogue in Liège, Belgium; an attack on a Jewish site in Greece; the arson of a synagogue in Rotterdam, Netherlands; and an explosion outside a Jewish school in Amsterdam.

While most of the incidents resulted in property damage without casualties, officials emphasized that the pattern points to a coordinated campaign aimed at intimidation, psychological warfare, and spreading fear among Jewish communities across the continent.

The ministry warned that the rapid spread of attacks across multiple countries suggests the involvement of organized international networks and that the threat of further assaults on Jewish institutions in Europe remains high.

Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli said, “Jewish communities are not legitimate targets for threats, and the international community must act decisively against any entity attempting to carry out acts of terror and antisemitism. The incident in London joins recent events across Europe and continues to reflect a pattern in which terror networks associated with the Iranian axis are attempting to expand their sphere of activity into cities and Jewish communities across Europe.”

Ministry Director General Avi Cohen Scali added, “The emergence of the group Harakat Ashab Al-Yamim al-Islamiyya illustrates the evolving threat to Jewish communities worldwide. It combines online propaganda, local operational cells, and regional terror networks — all designed to instill fear in Jewish communities and project power beyond the Middle East. The ministry will continue working with governments and Jewish communities around the world to monitor, expose, and thwart such threats.”

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

What is happening with Pesach pricing is not merely frustrating, but outrageous, excessive, and deeply troubling.

Every year, we go through this cycle, bracing ourselves for higher costs and tightening our belts in preparation for Yom Tov. But what we are witnessing now has gone far beyond what can reasonably be explained by increased production costs or seasonal demand. This is no longer about expense; it is about a system that has spiraled completely out of control.

There is simply no logical justification for the staggering prices being charged for basic Pesach necessities. We are not talking about luxury items or optional indulgences. We are talking about fundamental staples — mayo, chicken, oil, and so on — the very building blocks of a Yom Tov table. Yet these items are priced in a way that forces families to hesitate, to calculate, and in many cases, to forgo even modest purchases. The moment a product is labeled “Kosher for Pesach,” its price often doubles or triples, as if the label itself grants permission to charge whatever the market will bear.

The numbers being discussed in our community are staggering, and they should alarm anyone paying attention. Families are routinely spending five, seven, even ten thousand dollars to make Pesach. How did we arrive at a point where Pesach has become such a crushing financial burden? Instead of approaching the Yom Tov with anticipation and joy, many approach it with anxiety, dread, and a sense of being overwhelmed.

What makes this even more difficult to accept is the sense that this situation is being tolerated rather than addressed. We are a community that prides itself on chesed, on achrayus, on sensitivity to the needs of others. We mobilize quickly to help individuals in crisis, we give generously, and we speak often about caring for the tzibbur. Yet when it comes to Pesach pricing, there seems to be a collective shrug, as though this is simply an unavoidable reality. It is not. When companies and retailers know that an entire community has no choice but to purchase these items, and prices are raised accordingly, it ceases to be standard business practice and begins to look very much like exploitation.

Behind these numbers are real families dealing with real strain. Parents are losing sleep trying to figure out how to cover the cost of Yom Tov without falling behind on other obligations. There are households quietly going into debt, relying on credit, or cutting back in ways that affect their dignity. There are conversations taking place at kitchen tables where every purchase is weighed and reconsidered, where the joy of preparing for Pesach is replaced by stress and pressure. This is not what Yom Tov should feel like.

Pesach is meant to celebrate cheirus, yet for many, the financial reality creates the opposite experience. Instead of feeling uplifted, people feel trapped by the cost, burdened by expectations, and unsure how to keep up. That should concern all of us.

At the very least, there needs to be a conversation about accountability and responsibility within the system. Pricing should not be treated as an untouchable reality. Community leaders, rabbonim, and those in positions of influence should be asking hard questions and advocating for change. Consumers, too, need to recognize the power they hold and the importance of speaking up rather than quietly accepting the situation year after year.

If nothing changes, the problem will only worsen. Each year will bring higher prices, greater strain, and a deeper sense of frustration. Pesach should be a time of simcha, of dignity, and of connection — not a time associated with financial anxiety and pressure.

It is time to say clearly that this situation is not acceptable. It is time to stop normalizing what has become completely abnormal. And it is time, finally, to demand better.

Sincerely,
Sickened By $8 Mayonnaise

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Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu publicly addressed comments made by President Donald Trump regarding possible diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing conflict, while emphasizing that Israel’s military operations remain active.

“Earlier today, I spoke with our friend, President Trump. He believes there is an opportunity to leverage the tremendous achievements of the IDF and the US military in order to achieve the objectives of the war through an agreement that will preserve our vital interests,” Netanyahu said.

Even as discussions about a potential agreement take shape, Netanyahu made clear that Israel is continuing its offensive operations across multiple fronts.

He added, “At the same time, we continue to strike both in Iran and in Lebanon, dismantling the missile and nuclear program piece by piece, and continuing to deal severe blows to Hezbollah.”

The prime minister also pointed to recent targeted actions against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and personnel, signaling that further steps are expected.

“Just a few days ago, we eliminated two more nuclear scientists, and more actions are forthcoming. We will safeguard our vital interests under all circumstances,” the Prime Minister concluded.

Trump, earlier on Monday, revealed that Washington and Tehran had engaged in direct discussions aimed at de-escalating the conflict, sharing details in a statement posted to his Truth Social platform.

“I AM PLEASE TO REPORT THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE COUNTRY OF IRAN, HAVE HAD, OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS, VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF OUR HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST.”

He went on to say that the tone of those talks had led to a temporary pause in certain military plans, contingent on continued progress in negotiations.

“BASED ON THE TENOR AND TONE OF THESE IN DEPTH, DETAILED, AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS, WITCH WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD, SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!”

Regulatory hurdles have cast doubt on whether the proposed merger between Maimonides Medical Center and NYC Health+Hospitals will be completed by its scheduled April 1 deadline.

The New York State Attorney General’s office has declined to grant administrative approval for the transaction, instead directing that the matter be reviewed by the Brooklyn Supreme Court. Because the deal cannot move forward without a court ruling, the process could be delayed for months.

The merger was first announced late last year by then-mayor Eric Adams, with city officials presenting it as a critical step to stabilize Maimonides, which has faced ongoing financial strain, by incorporating it into the municipal hospital system.

As a nonprofit institution, Maimonides requires approval from both the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau and the state Department of Health before any sale can proceed.

At a City Council hearing earlier this month, NYC Health+Hospitals CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz said the agreement was still on track for completion by April 1, despite incomplete paperwork and a legal challenge filed by members of Maimonides’ Board of Trustees seeking to block the deal.

However, roughly two weeks before that anticipated closing date, the Attorney General’s office determined that judicial review — rather than administrative approval — was necessary.

“In this matter, since there is a pending lawsuit about the transaction and significant community engagement, we concluded and advised that court review would be most appropriate,” said a spokesperson for the AG’s office.

According to the office, Maimonides must now file a petition with the Brooklyn Supreme Court. A judge will then hold a hearing and decide “whether the consideration and terms of the transaction are fair and reasonable, and that the purposes of the corporation will be promoted by the transaction.”

It remains unclear how long the court process will take or how Maimonides and NYC Health+Hospitals will proceed while awaiting a decision.

As part of the planned transition, Maimonides CEO Ken Gibbs had been expected to step down upon completion of the merger, with NYC Health+Hospitals executive Svetlana Lipyanskaya set to assume leadership.

Opponents of the merger say the Attorney General’s move validates their concerns. “The Attorney General’s office has now confirmed what we have been saying for months: this transaction cannot simply be rubber-stamped and must instead be reviewed by the courts,” said lawyer Martin Bienstock, who is representing plaintiffs in two separate cases against the merger. “The transfer of a multi-billion-dollar hospital to the City of New York demands full judicial scrutiny.”

Representatives for Maimonides and NYC Health+Hospitals did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the development or the merger’s outlook.

Supporters of the deal argue that the merger would provide much-needed financial stability for Maimonides, a private safety-net hospital that treated nearly 100,000 patients in 2024, including approximately 34,000 inpatient cases. About 80% of its patients are covered by Medicaid or Medicare.

The hospital has faced persistent financial challenges, reporting a $15 million loss through the first three quarters of 2025 while generating just $1.5 million in revenue. Katz told council members that Maimonides had been seeking a merger partner for years before turning to NYC Health+Hospitals.

By joining the city’s public system, Maimonides would benefit from higher Medicaid reimbursement rates, expected to bring in roughly $9 million per month, according to Katz. The agreement also includes a $2.2 billion state grant to support the transition and fund infrastructure improvements.

“By joining our system, Maimonides will be able to offer New Yorkers expanded access to high-quality care, seamless digital access to health records through MyChart, and ongoing financial stability,” Katz said at the hearing.

Still, the proposal has generated concern within the local community. Maimonides serves a significant Orthodox Jewish population, and critics fear the merger could compromise the culturally sensitive care the hospital provides. Hatzalah organizations in Borough Park, Crown Heights, Flatbush, and Mill Basin have voiced opposition, and Katz acknowledged that public opinion has been divided.

One lawsuit, filed last fall by seven members of Maimonides’ Board of Trustees and later amended, argues that the merger was rushed and could negatively affect patient care while undermining services tailored to the Orthodox Jewish community. The suit also contends that seeking approval from the Attorney General rather than the Brooklyn Supreme Court was unlawful.

A separate lawsuit filed on March 9 by a group of Brooklyn residents targets Maimonides, NYC Health+Hospitals, and the state health commissioner, aiming to halt the transaction.

That complaint alleges that Maimonides and the Department of Health attempted to bypass legal requirements governing nonprofit hospital sales and asks the court to block the merger until the case is resolved. Both legal challenges remain active.

President Donald Trump sharply criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday, likening the New York Democrat to a “Palestinian leader” and suggesting he is vulnerable to a primary challenge, while also addressing airport security concerns and the use of federal agents.

Speaking in Memphis, Tennessee, during a visit alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump took aim at Democratic leadership during a roundtable focused on the Memphis Safe Task Force. He argued that Democrats are mishandling the current conflict involving Iran.

“The Democrats are putting our country at great risk during this period of time, a period that they call a war. They call it a war, we call it a military operation,” Trump said about the situation with Iran. “Their leaders, during this time, are, as you know, as you want to say — they’re in a never-never land.”

Trump then turned his focus to Schumer, escalating his rhetoric with a line he has used before.

“Schumer is gone, he’s a Palestinian. He should be fighting on the side of Palestine. He’s actually become a Palestinian leader,” Trump said of Schumer, a Jew — a jab he has used repeatedly in the past.

He continued by accusing Schumer of shifting his political stance and acting out of concern for his electoral future.

“I’ve never seen a man change so much,” Trump continued. “He used to be pro-Israel, now he’s pro-Palestinian, I’ve never seen anything like it. He’s worried he’s going to lose his next election, which it only depends, if anybody runs against him. If anybody runs against him he’ll lose. But he’s gone very whacky and very dangerous for our country.”

Earlier in his remarks, Trump also addressed staffing issues at airport security checkpoints, placing responsibility on Democrats for shortages within the Transportation Security Administration and pointing to steps his administration has taken in response.

“They’re helping TSA, the agents, and they’re working together, so far very well,” Trump said, continuing.

“I actually suggested that in the airports they take off their masks and they did that. In the airports I didn’t like — I’m a big believer in the mask because we have — you know, Biden allowed hundreds of thousands of killers into our country. We’re rapidly getting them out, by the way. But they would go after these people if they knew exactly who they were. But in the airports it’s different. I didn’t love the look in the airport as you get off the plane. So, I made a request, and they agreed to it. So, they’re not going to be doing that. We will also bring out, if we don’t have enough, we will bring out the National Guard where we need it to help out at the airports.”

{Matzav.com}

Arkia Airlines has sharply criticized newly imposed government limits on air travel, arguing that the restrictions amount to a de facto shutdown of Israeli airspace and make normal flight operations nearly impossible.

Under updated directives from the Ministry of Transport, departures from Ben Gurion Airport are now capped at 50 passengers per flight, with takeoffs limited to just one per hour. In response, Arkia said it would proceed with its scheduled flights for now, including its direct service to New York departing at 13:15, but stressed that routine aviation activity cannot continue under these constraints.

In an effort to continue serving travelers, the airline announced plans to relocate the bulk of its operations to nearby airports in Aqaba and Taba. From those locations, Arkia intends to run full-capacity flights to destinations such as New York, Bangkok, and Hanoi. Meanwhile, only a limited number of flights will continue from Ben Gurion Airport, primarily to Larnaca and Athens, and largely for humanitarian needs.

Arkia also made clear that it will not attempt to prioritize certain ticket holders over others, stating that choosing between passengers who have already purchased seats is both impractical and contrary to the company’s principles.

{Matzav.com}