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The Knesset has given final approval to legislation repealing former Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana’s kashrus reform, marking a major legislative victory for MK Michael Malkieli.

In a dramatic vote that concluded overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, the Knesset plenum passed the repeal in its second and third readings. The bill was approved by a vote of 46-41.

The legislation, considered MK Malkieli’s flagship initiative, completely overturns Kahana’s kashrus reform, which was enacted in 2021 and sparked fierce opposition throughout the Torah world.

Following the vote, Malkieli, who spearheaded the campaign to repeal the reform, expressed great satisfaction with the outcome.

“After years of determined struggle led by Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, we have merited to correct the Kahana reform, which threatened to breach the walls of kashrus in the Holy Land,” Malkieli said.

He added, “The new reform will bring with it many improvements, some of them historic, in every area of kashrus. The reform will strengthen Israel’s Chief Rabbinate and the rabbis of Israel. It will also regulate the employment of kashrus supervisors and, contrary to the false claims spread by interested parties, will even help lower the cost of living for all Israeli citizens.”

What the New Law Includes

Under the newly approved legislation, the provisions that allowed private kashrus organizations to operate are repealed. The authority to issue kashrus certificates will now rest exclusively with the Council of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, authorized local rabbis, and the IDF Military Rabbinate, as appropriate.

The law also regulates numerous aspects of the kashrus system, including kashrus standards, the operation of bodies involved in providing kashrus services, supervision procedures, the separation between kashrus supervisors and the businesses they oversee, and government oversight of the entire kashrus framework.

The explanatory notes accompanying the bill state:

“On November 18, 2021, the Economic Program Law (Legislative Amendments for Implementing the Economic Policy for the 2021-2022 Budget Years) was published. Chapter 17 of the Arrangements Law, entitled ‘Streamlining the Kashrus System’ (Amendment No. 3), introduced changes to the kashrus system, including the imported food kashrus framework.

“As part of that amendment, the field of kashrus was, in effect, privatized. It provided that supervision services and kashrus certificates could be issued, among others, by private kashrus organizations, based on kashrus standards established, among others, by rabbis who are not public employees.

“The Council of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the Chief Rabbis of Israel who headed it strongly opposed Amendment No. 3. They maintained that the unique characteristics of the kashrus system require kashrus services to remain under public administration in order to safeguard the public interest, including transparency, objectivity, and public accountability. In this way, they argued, the granting of kashrus certification and its oversight would not be influenced by the significant economic interests present within the food industry, which could lead to conflicts of interest and improper considerations.”

Chief Rabbi Backs the Legislation

Israel’s Chief Rabbi, HaGaon Rav Kalman Meir Bar, voiced unequivocal support for the legislation during committee deliberations before the vote. In his remarks, the Chief Rabbi sharply criticized the reality that had developed in Israel’s kashrus market following Kahana’s reform.

“The public wants to know that it can rely on the kashrus certificate and on the body standing behind it,” Rav Bar said. “Kashrus is not a marketing brand but a public responsibility requiring professional, continuous, and reliable oversight.”

Background to the Reform

Matan Kahana’s kashrus reform was enacted in November 2021 as part of the Economic Arrangements Law. It authorized private kashrus organizations to provide supervision services and issue kashrus certificates based on standards established, among others, by rabbis who were not government employees.

From the outset, the Council of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and Israel’s Chief Rabbis strongly opposed the legislation, arguing that the nature of kashrus supervision requires it to remain a public service in order to preserve transparency, objectivity, and accountability to the public.

{Matzav.com}

Although a new poll suggests Kamala Harris would hold an early advantage in hypothetical 2028 presidential matchups, Republican strategists are dismissing the findings, arguing that the former vice president would actually be the easiest Democratic nominee for the GOP to defeat.

During an appearance on Newsmax’s “Finnerty,” Patrick Allocco, founder of the Zoose Political Index, rejected the results of a new Zogby Analytics survey showing Harris leading Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio by five percentage points in potential 2028 general election contests.

“It looks to me like Zogby may have dusted off his final 2024 presidential poll,” Allocco told host Rob Finnerty, pointing out that the polling firm had also projected Harris ahead of President Donald Trump before the 2024 election.

“It was a big miss then, and it’s a big miss now,” he said. “Our data shows Kamala would actually be the dream matchup for Republicans. The more voters are reminded of the Harris record, the less attractive she becomes as a viable candidate. And she already has a national electoral loss on her resume.”

Finnerty noted that Zogby’s final 2024 polling understated Trump’s eventual margin of victory, suggesting that the latest survey should likewise be treated cautiously.

Pollster Jim McLaughlin, who served on Trump’s 2024 campaign, echoed that assessment and said he would welcome a Harris candidacy in the next presidential election.

“I would love to be able to run against her,” McLaughlin said, arguing that many voters continue to associate Harris with the Biden administration’s handling of border security during the period when she served as the administration’s border czar.

McLaughlin also maintained that numerous public polls during the 2024 campaign overstated Democratic support, while his own polling consistently showed Trump ahead in the key battleground states that ultimately decided the election.

The conversation then turned to the Democratic Party’s future, with Finnerty asking Allocco whether the party, given its internal disagreements over Israel, could nominate a Jewish presidential candidate in 2028.

Allocco responded that such a nominee remains possible, but said the more pressing issue is the party’s lack of a clear direction.

“I think you’ve got such a deeply divided Democratic field right now and a party that doesn’t know who their identity is,” he said. “The one thing you need to focus on is who the progressive standard-bearer is going to be … because they are going to have an influence on the outcome of the nominee.”

The interview also addressed speculation involving Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., after he joined Republican Sen. Dave McCormick in creating a joint fundraising committee.

McLaughlin dismissed suggestions that Fetterman could ultimately become a Republican, arguing that despite occasionally breaking with progressive Democrats—particularly in his support for Israel—the Pennsylvania senator has continued to vote with his party on the overwhelming majority of issues.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu is reportedly preparing for a trip to the United States, with Israeli media indicating that he is expected to travel to Washington early next week. Although plans appear to be taking shape, the White House says no official visit has yet been placed on the president’s schedule.

The reports come roughly two weeks after the Prime Minister’s Office announced that Netanyahu and President Donald Trump had spoken by phone in honor of America’s 250th Independence Day. During that conversation, the two leaders agreed to hold an in-person meeting in the United States in the near future.

Despite those reports, a White House official disputed that an official visit has been finalized. Speaking to Channel 12 News correspondent Barak Ravid on Tuesday, the official said, “A visit from Bibi is not on the schedule at this time”.

Israeli officials later told Ynet that Netanyahu is nevertheless expected to leave for Washington this coming Motzoei Shabbos.

According to the report, Netanyahu hopes to meet with Trump while in Washington, although no formal meeting has yet been confirmed. The prime minister is also expected to attend the funeral of Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham during his stay in the United States.

The anticipated visit follows a report by Axios earlier Tuesday that Trump urged Netanyahu during a telephone conversation last Thursday to begin reducing Israel’s military presence in Syria and to pursue a similar course in Lebanon.

According to a U.S. official cited by Axios, Trump expressed concern that Israel’s continued deployment inside Syrian territory could heighten regional tensions and increase the risk of further escalation. The official quoted Trump as saying, “They don’t want you there. You should redeploy,” adding that the same message applied to Lebanon.

In response, the Prime Minister’s Office said Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s need to maintain security buffer zones along its borders during the discussion.

Trump also addressed his relationship with Netanyahu during an interview Monday on The Hugh Hewitt Show, dismissing suggestions that ties between the two leaders had cooled and describing their relationship as “very good”.

“I get along with Netanyahu; sometimes I disagree with him, and I tell him that,” said the President, who rejected claims that he had distanced himself from Netanyahu.

“I didn’t throw Bibi under the bus. He’s doing a great job. Without the two of us, there wouldn’t be an Israel,” Trump stated.

Americans may soon be paying more than $4 per gallon for gasoline once again as escalating military tensions between the United States and Iran disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. Analysts warn that if the conflict continues, fuel costs could climb rapidly and place renewed strain on consumers already grappling with higher living expenses.

According to fuel-tracking firm GasBuddy, the national average price for regular gasoline reached $3.84 per gallon on Tuesday, an increase of nearly 10 cents over the past week. Compared with a year ago, gasoline prices have climbed 22.2%.

The sharp rise in fuel prices presents a fresh political challenge for President Donald Trump and Republicans, who are preparing for November’s midterm elections while seeking to preserve their narrow majorities in Congress.

Gasoline prices last exceeded the $4-per-gallon threshold in late March after Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz. Prices later retreated below that level in June following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending the war.

A return to $4 gasoline would place additional financial pressure on American families already coping with persistent inflation.

Retail fuel prices have climbed in tandem with crude oil prices after last week’s collapse of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran and the subsequent reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on Iran. Because crude oil is the primary ingredient used to produce gasoline, increases in oil prices are typically reflected at the pump.

Shipping data released Monday showed that tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to its lowest level in two months, underscoring the growing disruption to global energy markets.

Before the conflict erupted, roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply moved through the Strait of Hormuz. Fuel prices have also been pushed higher by reduced refining capacity in Russia following intensified Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.

“I now expect the national average price of gasoline to reach $4 per gallon in the next 7-10 days, if not sooner, while the U.S. average diesel price is likely to again reach $5 per gallon by the end of this week, potentially as soon as Friday,” GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan wrote in a blog post on Monday.

De Haan added that motorists in some states could see gasoline prices surpass the $4 mark even sooner.

The latest increase in fuel costs also threatens to reverse recent progress in lowering inflation after energy prices helped moderate consumer costs in June.

“While June’s inflation data reflected easing price pressures largely due to lower energy costs, a sustained increase in gasoline prices throughout July could quickly alter that narrative,” said Simon-Peter Massabni, head of business development at XS.com.

“The impact extends beyond fuel itself. Higher gasoline prices feed into transportation costs, freight rates, and broader logistics expenses, which eventually pass through to the prices of goods and services across the economy,” Massabni said.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, warned that if the fighting intensifies and the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed for several weeks, already-depleted global oil inventories will shrink even further.

Under that scenario, he said, oil, gasoline, and other energy prices would surge sharply, while shortages of physical fuel supplies could begin to emerge around the world.

{Matzav.com}

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Israeli security forces arrested four Palestinian Authority residents attempting to enter Israel illegally during a targeted enforcement operation near Jerusalem, including one man suspected of planning an imminent terrorist attack. An Israeli citizen accused of transporting two of the suspects was also taken into custody.

The arrests were made over the course of several hours during a joint operation by Israel Police and Border Police at the Tunnels Checkpoint and the a-Za’im Crossing.

In one case, officers stopped a vehicle that had aroused suspicion and conducted a search. Upon opening the trunk, they discovered two illegal infiltrators from the Arab city of Tulkarm concealed inside as they allegedly attempted to enter pre-1967 Israel unlawfully.

A preliminary security screening determined that one of the two men was a wanted terrorist sought for questioning on suspicion of planning an imminent terror attack and attempting to enter Israel to carry it out.

In a separate incident at the same checkpoints, officers thwarted another attempted illegal entry. Two additional Palestinian Authority residents, from the villages of Azariya and Za’atara, were arrested after they allegedly tried to pass through the checkpoint using forged Israeli identification cards.

Police also arrested the driver transporting the pair, an Israeli citizen and Jerusalem resident suspected of assisting the attempted illegal infiltration.

All five suspects were transferred to Israeli security authorities for further interrogation and investigation.

Yisrael Beytenu chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman declared that if he is part of Israel’s next government, it will not grant even the smallest exemption from military service to Torah students. In a wide-ranging and combative interview with Yishai Cohen, Lieberman launched a blistering attack on the Chareidi leadership, accusing it of repeatedly breaking agreements, insisting that every Chareidi man must serve, and revealing what MK Moshe Gafni allegedly admitted to him behind the scenes regarding the draft law Lieberman promoted in 2018.

The interview also touched on Lieberman’s criticism of the Netanyahu government, his refusal to sit in a coalition supported by Arab parties, whether he intends to seek the premiership, and the personal rift that ended his longtime friendship with Shas chairman Aryeh Deri.

Discussing the ongoing debate over military service, Lieberman insisted that he would support no exemptions whatsoever for Torah students.

“There will not be even a fraction of an exemption,” he declared.

He also rejected the proposal put forward by Gadi Eisenkot to exempt three percent of each annual draft class of Torah students and disclosed that MK Moshe Gafni privately acknowledged to him, “You were right in 2018.”

Turning to the conflict with Iran, Lieberman addressed the recent escalation, including U.S. strikes on Iranian targets and Iran’s attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

“What is clear is that the Iranians are determined to use the ‘Hormuz bomb.’ They invented the ‘Hormuz bomb’ during the war, even before an atomic bomb, and they are using that card very aggressively. It is beyond my understanding. It was obvious, and I don’t know how they failed to take it into account.”

Lieberman argued that Israel has failed to secure a decisive victory over Iran and warned that the Islamic Republic has emerged from the conflict stronger than before.

“No decisive outcome has been achieved. What we are seeing is that the Iranians are returning fire, they have enough launchers, they have taken control of the domestic arena, and this crazy regime is emerging stronger from this entire event. We must understand: You do not launch a military campaign without understanding how you are going to achieve victory—and there is no victory.”

He also dismissed reports describing an alleged secret meeting between Mossad Director David Barnea and former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

“It is absolute madness. This entire publication is absolute madness. All the commentary we have seen on the television channels is absolute madness. It is a total loss of control.”

Speaking more broadly about Israel’s military campaigns in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen, Lieberman accused the government of pursuing a failed strategy.

“This government is incapable of achieving victory because it continues the policy of containment, allows the other side to grow stronger, and shows weakness in the use of force. There is no chance they will achieve victory.”

Lieberman noted that when the current coalition was formed, he predicted it would survive no more than a year and a half. Asked how it nevertheless managed to complete a full term, he argued that it did so at the expense of the Israeli public.

“This is a coalition at the expense of the public. In order to survive, we have seen division and incitement during wartime—division unlike anything the people of Israel have ever experienced. There is only one side here, and that is the side of the prime minister, who is prepared to sacrifice the entire country simply to remain in power. This is a sectoral coalition in which everyone is looking after his own constituency.”

Referring to recent opinion polls, Lieberman expressed confidence that the opposition would ultimately prevail.

“Yesterday we had 59 seats in Channel 12’s poll, and I have seen polls showing 62. They deserve respect, but I trust what I hear on the ground more, and we will form a stable coalition.”

Lieberman also ruled out any possibility of joining a government that depends on Arab parties.

“Certainly not. Without the Arab factions, absolutely. We will not sit with them—not through abstentions and not in a minority government. We will not sit with Netanyahu, and we will not sit with Arab parties. Before the election we will surpass 60 seats with a surplus.”

Asked who should lead a future opposition government, Lieberman declined to rule himself out as a candidate for prime minister.

“First, we need to remove the government of the October 7 massacre. This is the worst government in the history of the State of Israel since 1948. Everything else we will decide afterward. There are many considerations involved in forming a government. Right now I am focused on one mission: bringing down this government. In terms of experience, ability to perform, and understanding the political map, I believe I have an advantage over everyone else, but I am putting that discussion aside for now. I wish everyone success.”

Questioned about his deteriorating relationship with the Chareidi public after years of political cooperation, Lieberman insisted that the change had not come from him.

“Something happened to the other side, not to me. When I hear Rav Yitzchak Yosef saying, ‘If you receive a draft order—tear it up and throw it into the toilet,’ and Rabbi Maya saying, ‘Even someone who does not study Torah may not enlist,’ that is what I hear.”

Lieberman reiterated that any government in which he serves will grant no exemptions to Torah students and criticized Eisenkot’s proposal for limited exemptions.

“There will be no exemptions! Not even a fraction of an exemption! Gadi demonstrated that he lacks experience. Anyone who says there is a contradiction between Torah study and military service does not understand our sources.”

He went on to accuse the Chareidi leadership of repeatedly reneging on agreements.

“I personally brought forward a law that I coordinated with Aryeh Deri and Moshe Gafni, and they helped me pass it in its first reading, but in the end there was not a single time that the Chareidi leadership did not deceive.”

Lieberman then revealed a private conversation he says took place two weeks ago with MK Moshe Gafni, during which Gafni allegedly expressed regret that Lieberman’s 2018 draft law never became law.

“Two weeks ago, Gafni and I were sitting behind the Knesset plenum. He reminded me that in 2018 I told them, ‘One day you will miss this law.’ He told me, ‘How right you were, and how sorry we are,’ but that opportunity is gone.”

Lieberman concluded by pledging that he would refuse to join any coalition that does not require universal military service for Chareidim.

“There will be no exemptions. Either there is one hundred percent enlistment, or there is no government. Period. As clearly as possible.”

At the end of the interview, Lieberman was asked how his close personal friendship with Aryeh Deri had deteriorated into one of the fiercest rivalries in Israeli politics.

“We were excellent friends. When someone is your friend, you expect him to be your friend—not to sell you for ‘a bowl of lentils’ and not to pursue personal interests. Friendship comes before everything. It has nothing to do with politics. It is personal. Friendship is above everything.

“When I expect nothing from someone, I have no problem with him. But he was a close friend—for decades. Something happened that had nothing to do with politics. It was personal. Once the value of friendship is violated, it is very difficult to move forward.”

A wave of joy spread through the Brisk Yeshivah after Rav Avraham Yehoshua Soloveitchik delivered his first shiur in nearly two months, marking a significant milestone in his ongoing recovery following a prolonged illness.

According to sources, the shiur was delivered Monday at its customary time of 3:30 p.m. in the Rosh Yeshiva‘s home in Yerushalayim. Attendance was kept intentionally small, with only his sons, who have been caring for him throughout his illness, members of the extended Soloveitchik family, and a select group of senior talmidim from the yeshivah invited to participate.

Although Rav Soloveitchik remains connected to an IV and is still in the midst of his recovery, he delivered the shiur from his home. The shiur lasted approximately one hour and ten minutes, only slightly shorter than his regular shiurim, which typically run for about one hour and twenty minutes.

During the shiur, the Rosh Yeshiva shared with those present that his physicians had agreed with his desire to resume teaching Torah, believing that returning to his lifelong routine of delivering shiurim could contribute to rebuilding his strength and aid in his physical recovery.

Rav Soloveitchik also apologized that he is not yet able to resume delivering shiurim to the hundreds of talmidim who normally attend. At this stage, he explained, his medical condition permits him to teach only from his home and only to the small group approved to be present.

{Matzav.com}

Fresh off the passage of the law freezing the arrests of yeshiva bochurim, the Knesset plenum continued its marathon legislative session Tuesday night, shifting its attention to a major kashrus reform bill as lawmakers race to complete key legislation before the Knesset dissolves later this week.

The legislation, sponsored by MK Ohad Tal of the Religious Zionist Party, would eliminate the current framework that allows private kashrus organizations to issue kosher certifications. Under the proposal, exclusive authority to grant kashrus certification would once again rest with Israel’s Chief Rabbinate, authorized local rabbanim, and the Military Rabbinate, where applicable.

In addition to restoring centralized authority over kashrus certification, the bill establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework governing kashrus standards, the status and employment of mashgichim, oversight and appeals procedures, and an annual reporting requirement to the Knesset.

During earlier deliberations in the Committee for Public Initiatives, lawmakers incorporated additional oversight and appeals mechanisms into the legislation. The revised bill also includes provisions regulating the employment of mashgichim, including measures intended to eliminate the direct employment relationship between kashrus supervisors and the businesses they oversee.

Opponents of the legislation argue that concentrating authority in the hands of the Chief Rabbinate would effectively create a monopoly over kashrus certification, reduce competition, and potentially increase costs for business owners.

Coalition officials expect debate on the measure to continue well into the night, with final second- and third-reading votes anticipated shortly after 1:00 a.m. If the bill passes, the Knesset is expected to immediately proceed to debate legislation that would split the responsibilities currently held by Israel’s attorney general.

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister MK Sharren Haskel of the New Hope party announced her resignation from the government Tuesday evening, just hours after the Knesset gave final approval to the law freezing the arrests of yeshiva bochurim.

Haskel, who opposed the legislation, stepped down shortly after the bill passed its second and third readings in the Knesset plenum, amid growing tensions within the coalition over the controversial measure.

Coalition leaders wasted little time responding to her decision. MK Boaz Bismuth, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, ridiculed Haskel’s resignation in a sharply worded statement.

“If you think that after this performance someone is going to cast you in another political party, you should know the line is long. After a year of discussions in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee under my chairmanship, I’ve seen quite a few Knesset members give much more convincing performances.”

Haskel’s resignation comes against the backdrop of the heated political battle surrounding the law halting the arrests of yeshiva bochurim, which was approved by the Knesset despite opposition from several members of the governing coalition.

The Sanzer Chassidus is preparing to significantly expand the battle over the arrests of bnei Torah, announcing a broad protest campaign after an avreich and a yeshiva bochur from the chassidus were arrested for failing to report for military service and are currently being held in Military Prison 10.

A dramatic message was distributed Tuesday afternoon to thousands of Sanz chassidim across Israel, calling on them to prepare for what organizers described as a determined and far-reaching campaign on behalf of the two detainees.

The avreich, who was arrested last Friday, is the father of two young children and a grandson of the late Sanzer Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Eliyahu Shemerler, zt”l, as well as the late Stropkover Rebbe, zt”l. A second detainee, a yeshiva bochur affiliated with Sanz, was arrested Monday night in Bnei Brak.

In response, community leaders and organizers from Sanz communities throughout the country convened Tuesday at Kiryat Sanz in Netanya for an emergency strategy meeting to coordinate a series of demonstrations demanding the immediate release of the two prisoners from military custody.

According to individuals familiar with the plans, organizers intend to stage multiple coordinated protests simultaneously in several of Israel’s largest Chareidi population centers, with the goal of creating a large-scale, organized, and highly visible public demonstration.

The decision by Sanz to actively join the protest movement marks a significant expansion of the ongoing demonstrations against the arrests of bnei Torah. Until now, most major protests and road blockades have been concentrated primarily in Yerushalayim and other central Israeli locations. The addition of Netanya, the longtime center of Sanz Chassidus, is expected to broaden the geographic scope of the protests and create additional flashpoints.

Leaders within Sanz emphasized that they will not remain silent while the avreich and yeshiva bochur remain imprisoned, with emotions throughout the chassidus running high as preparations intensify for the coming days.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus broke with House Democratic leadership on Tuesday in the latest example of support for Israel dividing the Democratic Party.

Hours after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to colleagues saying that he would oppose an amendment to end $3.3 billion in U.S. aid to Israel, Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), chair of the Progressive Caucus, sent a competing letter urging House Democrats to reject the aid to Israel.

“The Democratic Party needs a new approach to Israel and Palestine,” Casar wrote. “The American people are crying out for an end to U.S. tax dollars subsidizing Israel’s military.”

“After the Israeli government has killed more than 70,000 people in Gaza and helped lead the United States into a destabilizing, deadly war with Iran, we are called to act,” he stated.

The House is expected to vote later this week on an amendment from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) to strip funding for Israel from the 2027 national security and State Department appropriations bill.

Massie lost his primary in May, in an election that focused in large part on his opposition to U.S. aid to Israel. He has used much of his remaining time in the House to pursue anti-Israel measures, including calling to re-investigate the 1967 Israeli attack on the USS Liberty and amendments to strip out Israel-related provisions from annual appropriations bills.

The Jewish state receives about $3.8 billion annually in U.S. aid, including $3.3 billion in foreign military funding to purchase arms and $500 million for cooperative missile defense programs.

Massie’s proposal to end most of that aid, which also includes some spending on humanitarian programs, has further divided a Democratic caucus in which support for Israel has become a major fault line and cost several incumbents their seats in primary challenges from the anti-Israel left.

In his letter on Tuesday morning opposing the Massie amendment, Jeffries acknowledged the difficult political calculus that many Democrats face and called for a “major reset” of U.S.-Israel relations.

“There are good faith reasons that will result in members voting in a variety of different ways with respect to the amendment,” Jeffries wrote. “Moving forward, it is my strongly held view that for the good of Israel and the Palestinian people, American policy in the Middle East must change.”

Jeffries called for a restructuring of the next 10-year agreement between Israel and the United States, saying that the Jewish state was “capable of paying for its own sophisticated weapons” and that the United States should support the creation of a Palestinian state. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a message to Iran’s leaders on Tuesday, warning that should they decide to attack Israel, the Jewish state’s response will be greater than the last round.

“Don’t count on it to be quiet if you attack us. Don’t count on a rerun. It will be a different broadcast—far more powerful,” the prime minister said while addressing the Negev Conference in Dimona, a regional forum focused on the economic development of Israel’s south.

“We are prepared for any scenario,” he said. “Gone are the days when someone hits us, and we don’t even strike them with a single blow.”

Israel and Iran last exchanged strikes on June 7, when Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for an Israeli attack against its proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel hit Iran’s Mahshahr petrochemical complex in return.

Since then, the Islamic Republic has so far refrained from hitting Israel, even as U.S. and Iranian forces intensify their exchange of volleys.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps instead attacked Bahrain, Jordan and three tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz in response to the latest U.S. strikes.

Two of the vessels, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, which were linked to the United Arab Emirates, briefly caught fire, the Associated Press reported. The Emirati Defense Ministry said the attacks killed one mariner and wounded eight others.

Bahrain’s Defense Force said its air defenses intercepted “a number of treacherous Iranian aerial attacks,” adding that “the deliberate use of missiles and drones to target civilians and private property constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.”

A Jordanian military source told the state-run Petra News Agency that the army “successfully intercepted and shot down four missiles that breached Jordanian airspace from Iranian territory early Tuesday.”

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered more strikes against Iranian regime targets on Monday in response to the Islamic Republic’s attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Also on Monday, Trump told Fox News that the United States will be “taking over” the Strait of Hormuz.

In a subsequent Truth Social post, Trump declared the Strait open and that, from “this point forward,” the United States will be known as “the guardian of the Hormuz Strait.”

He said that America is reimposing the Iranian blockade, “so named because it is only stopping Iran’s ships or customers from entering or leaving. All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait.”

However, Washington said it will charge 20% on all cargo shipped, plus “costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World,” Trump added.

CENTCOM said the blockade on all “maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports” would go into effect at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday. JNS

{Matzav.com}

One of Israel’s most sweeping public transportation reforms in decades has been pulled from the Knesset agenda after Chareidi parties objected over concerns that it could eventually undermine the longstanding status quo regarding Shabbos.

The Metropolitan Transportation Reform, which was approved by the Knesset Economics Committee last month for its second and third readings, was expected to come before the Knesset plenum on Tuesday. Instead, lawmakers removed the legislation from the agenda amid opposition from Chareidi coalition partners.

The proposed reform would transfer broad authority over public transportation planning and management from the Transportation Ministry to newly established metropolitan authorities. Although supporters repeatedly emphasized during committee deliberations that the legislation would not authorize local governments to operate public transportation on Shabbos or alter existing arrangements, Chareidi lawmakers remained concerned that future administrations could use the new framework to erode the status quo.

As previously reported, the legislation had already faced significant obstacles before clearing the Economics Committee, with one of the primary disputes centering on who would lead the newly created metropolitan transportation authorities.

During negotiations led by Economics Committee Chairman MK David Bitan, a compromise was reached under which the director of Israel’s National Public Transportation Authority would head the Gush Dan metropolitan authority for an initial transition period of 18 months. After that, the position would be transferred to a representative of the Tel Aviv municipality, followed by elections among all member municipalities.

The Transportation Ministry opposed that arrangement, insisting that the National Public Transportation Authority retain control for three years instead. The disagreement delayed the legislation and added another layer of political complexity to the reform.

Under the version approved by the Economics Committee, the Gush Dan metropolitan authority would include Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak, Ramat Gan, Holon, Bat Yam, Givatayim, Herzliya, and Ramat Hasharon, with Rishon LeZion and Kiryat Ono expected to join later.

According to sources, Bnei Brak would hold only about 13 percent of the voting power within the metropolitan authority. City officials expressed concern that neighboring municipalities could approve major public transportation policies without meaningful input from the predominantly Torah-observant city.

Beit Shemesh sought to be excluded entirely from the legislation, fearing that Jerusalem would control an overwhelming majority of the voting power within the Jerusalem metropolitan authority. That request was ultimately granted, and Beit Shemesh was removed from the framework. Mevaseret Zion was also excluded, while Tzur Hadassah was added to the Jerusalem metropolitan authority. At the same time, Rechasim was incorporated into the Haifa metropolitan authority.

Alongside the metropolitan transportation reform, the Economics Committee separately approved legislation repealing amendments to the Parking Law. Under the revised measure, private parking facilities will once again be permitted to charge by the full hour and then in 15-minute increments. That provision passed independently and is expected to take effect four months after the law is officially published.

With the metropolitan reform now off the Knesset agenda, it remains unclear when it will return for debate and a final vote. Its future is expected to depend on negotiations between the coalition and the Chareidi parties, particularly over guarantees that the legislation will not lead to any erosion of the Shabbos status quo.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is signaling that the U.S. military campaign against Iran will continue to escalate, declaring that the strikes will not stop until he decides they have achieved their objective. He also warned that critical infrastructure, including energy facilities, power plants, and bridges, could soon become targets unless Tehran agrees to negotiations.

Speaking with Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, Trump said the campaign is being deliberately phased, with Iran’s energy sector reserved for later stages of the operation.

“I’ll save the energy targets for last, but ultimately we’ll hit energy targets,” Trump told Fox News reporter Trey Yingst in an interview.

Trump also described an aggressive timetable for the ongoing military action, saying the intensity of the strikes would increase over the coming days.

“We’re going to hit them very hard tonight. We’re going to hit them very hard tomorrow night. We’re going to hit them very hard the night after, and then next week it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants,” Trump said.

The president went on to warn that even broader attacks on Iran’s infrastructure would follow if its leadership refuses to enter negotiations with the United States.

“Next week comes the bridges. We’re going to knock out all their power plants. We’re going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate.”

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the sudden petirah of Rav Mordechai HaKohen Beck zt”l, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Tiferes Moshe in Monsey and Av Beis Din of Kehillas Segulas Yisrael.

Rav Beck suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while on his way to his yeshiva to begin another day of teaching Torah. He was 80 years old.

Emergency personnel rushed to the scene and made extensive efforts to revive him, but despite prolonged resuscitation attempts, they were unable to save his life. His passing leaves behind thousands of heartbroken talmidim and hundreds of members of his kehillah who looked to him as their spiritual guide for decades.

Rav Beck was born on April 22, 1946, in Pressburg (Bratislava), Czechoslovakia, shortly after the end of World War II. Born to parents affiliated with Munkatcher Chassidus, he belonged to the first generation of Jews born in postwar Europe. His family later immigrated to Montreal, Canada, where he was raised.

Recognizing his son’s exceptional abilities, his father, Rav Yehudah Beck zt”l, sent him to the Nitra Yeshiva established by Rav Michoel Ber Weissmandl zt”l. There he studied under Rav Yaakov Hornstein zt”l before continuing his learning at Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, where he became a talmid of Rav Shneur Kotler zt”l.

A pivotal chapter in his life began when he moved to Yerushalayim to study at Yeshivas Brisk under Rav Berel Soloveitchik zt”l. Rav Beck quickly distinguished himself as one of the yeshiva’s outstanding talmidim, earning a reputation for his brilliant analytical mind, profound understanding, and mastery of the Brisker approach to Torah study.

His rebbi once remarked that while most talmidim required four years to fully grasp the intricate Brisker method, Rav Beck mastered it in only two years. During those years he also became the longtime chavrusa of Rav Avraham Yehoshua Soloveitchik, the current Rosh Yeshiva of Brisk.

Years later, Rav Avraham Yehoshua wrote of his close friend: “He was known for his exceptional talents and vast knowledge, both in breadth and analytical reasoning, among the finest talmidei chachomim… He became renowned for his unique lectures marked by sharpness, depth, and clear reasoning, and his name became known as one of the great disseminators of Torah.”

Rav Beck himself often expressed profound reverence for the Brisker method of learning. In the introduction to one of his seforim, he wrote: “The Brisker Rav always revealed the truth exactly as it is, and truth itself pointed the way. The nature of genuine truth is that once it is uncovered, the matter suddenly becomes remarkably simple.”

In 1969, after returning from Eretz Yisrael, Rav Beck married the daughter of Rav Tzvi Elimelech Kahana zt”l, one of Satmar’s prominent chassidim. Following his marriage, he developed a close relationship with the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Yoel Teitelbaum.

After spending a short period in Williamsburg, he moved to Lakewood before returning once again to Yerushalayim to continue learning under Rav Berel Soloveitchik. In 1979, he returned permanently to the United States, where he was appointed a Rosh Yeshiva at Nitra Yeshiva, the very yeshiva where he had studied in his youth.

In 1991, Rav Beck relocated to Monsey. About a decade later, after the resignation of the previous rav, Rav Yaakov Dovid Schlesinger zt”l, he was chosen to serve as the rav and Av Beis Din of Kehillas Segulas Yisrael. At the same location, he founded Yeshivas Tiferes Moshe, which today is home to approximately 80 bochurim and avreichim. The yeshiva became known for combining the classic Brisker method of learning with a firm and uncompromising Torah outlook.

Every Thursday, Rav Beck delivered a unique shiur devoted to emunah, Jewish thought, and Chassidus, often addressing current events through the prism of Torah and instilling a clear worldview in his listeners.

In recent years, under the leadership of his brother-in-law, Rav Shmuel Birnbaum, an extensive effort was launched to publish Rav Beck’s many shiurim. His son, Rav Yehudah Beck, edited the popular Parshas Mordechai series on numerous masechtos of Shas, compiled from recordings and talmidim‘s notes.

His levayah was held Tuesday afternoon, departing from his beis medrash in Monsey, before proceeding to the local bais hachaim.

The Department of Homeland Security has reportedly instructed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers across the country to temporarily stop conducting routine vehicle stops following two fatal shootings involving ICE agents in Texas and Maine. The move, if confirmed, represents a major change in the agency’s enforcement strategy as both incidents remain under investigation.

The Daily Wire first reported the directive on Tuesday, saying it was issued in response to the recent fatal encounters, which have prompted protests and intensified criticism of ICE’s enforcement methods.

According to the report, three Department of Homeland Security sources said ICE personnel nationwide have been told there will be “no more vehicle stops for now,” except in limited circumstances, such as when executing criminal warrants or participating in joint operations with other law enforcement agencies.

The reported policy change could have a substantial impact on immigration enforcement. Traffic stops have long been one of ICE’s primary methods for apprehending illegal immigrants away from their residences, where agents often face greater legal hurdles and believe suspects may have easier access to weapons.

One agency source told the Wire, “Numbers are going down, we can’t do [anything].”

Newsmax contacted the Department of Homeland Security seeking confirmation and comment regarding the reported directive but had not received a response as of publication.

The reported order follows Monday’s deadly confrontation in Biddeford, Maine, where ICE agents fatally shot a 26-year-old Colombian national during an attempted vehicle stop.

According to an ICE spokesperson, the driver tried to flee the scene, leading one officer to open fire while “fearing for public safety.”

Federal and local investigators, including the FBI, are reviewing the shooting, and DHS said its Office of Inspector General has also been notified of the incident.

Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine, told CNN that Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin informed him that the man who was killed was not the person ICE agents had originally set out to arrest.

The Maine shooting came just days after another fatal ICE-related shooting during a traffic stop in Houston.

According to The Associated Press, acting ICE Director David Venturella acknowledged that Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national who had lived in the United States for many years, was not the individual agents had intended to apprehend.

DHS has said officers believed Salgado Araujo matched the description of the suspect they were pursuing. The department also stated that an agent fired in self-defense after Salgado Araujo allegedly rammed an ICE vehicle.

Reuters reported that the two deadly incidents occurred as the Trump administration has intensified immigration enforcement efforts, with both shootings triggering anti-ICE demonstrations in Texas and Maine.

The Associated Press also reported that the Houston ICE agents involved were not equipped with body cameras during the encounter. DHS has said those officers are expected to receive body-worn cameras within the next 60 days.

If the reported directive is officially confirmed, the temporary suspension of routine vehicle stops would represent one of the most significant operational changes for ICE in recent years as federal authorities continue investigating both fatal shootings.

Americans may be one step closer to ending the twice-yearly ritual of changing their clocks after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation on Tuesday that would make daylight saving time permanent across most of the country. The measure now moves to the Senate, where similar efforts have stalled in the past.

The legislation, known as the Sunshine Protection Act, cleared the House by a 308-117 vote. If enacted, the country would remain on the current daylight saving schedule year-round—currently observed between March and November—unless individual states chose to opt out before the law takes effect.

As the final vote was announced, Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn., who was presiding over the House session, celebrated by playing the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” from his phone while reading the results.

President Donald Trump has strongly backed the proposal, which was introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla. In a Truth Social post on May 21, Trump pledged that he was “going to work very hard to see The Sunshine Protection Act signed into Law.”

“It’s time that people can stop worrying about the ‘Clock,’ not to mention all of the work and money that is spent on this ridiculous, twice yearly production. It will also be a very nice WIN for the Republican Party. Take it!” Trump wrote.

With House approval secured, the measure now awaits consideration in the Senate.

A similar Senate proposal lost momentum last year after Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., blocked an effort to pass it through unanimous consent in October.

Cotton argued that making daylight saving time permanent could create unintended problems in many parts of the country, noting that sunrise would not occur until 9 a.m. or even later in some areas. He warned that darker mornings could make commutes more hazardous and leave many Americans beginning their workday before daylight.

His office did not immediately indicate whether he intends to oppose an expedited vote on the legislation if it comes before the Senate again.

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., said voters in his district have long supported ending the clock changes, though he questioned whether the Senate would ultimately move the bill forward.

“I’m kind of digging the fact that we’re going to fix it, I hope,” Burchett said. “See if the Senate takes it up. They probably won’t, but we’ll see.”

Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., also voiced support for the proposal, saying the issue should unite lawmakers from both parties while pointing to financial and health benefits.

“I think it’s popular. It shouldn’t be controversial. It should be bipartisan. It saves money,” McCormick said. Drawing on his experience as an emergency room physician, he added that “you get more depression, you get out of joint” with the time adjustments.

Public frustration with changing the clocks twice each year remains widespread, according to a 2025 AP-NORC survey. While most Americans dislike the current system, opinions remain split over whether the nation should adopt permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time. Congress previously came close to addressing the issue in 2022, when the Senate unanimously approved permanent daylight saving time, but the bill never received a House vote.

The United States has experimented with permanent daylight saving time before. During the 1970s oil crisis, President Richard Nixon signed legislation establishing the system for a two-year trial in an effort to reduce energy consumption. However, widespread dissatisfaction over extremely dark winter mornings led Congress to repeal the law before the full trial period had ended.

State lawmakers have also taken action in recent years. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, nearly every state has considered legislation addressing the twice-yearly clock changes, and 19 states have already passed laws authorizing permanent daylight saving time if Congress grants federal approval.

Daylight saving time was first adopted temporarily during both World War I and World War II before becoming the national standard under the Uniform Time Act of 1966. Under current law, clocks move ahead one hour each March and fall back one hour every November.

Not every part of the United States follows the practice. Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and several other U.S. territories do not observe daylight saving time.

{Matzav.com}

In a major development for the olam haTorah, the Knesset on Tuesday gave final approval to legislation halting the arrest of yeshiva bochurim who have not reported for military service. The bill passed its second and third readings by a vote of 58-54, following a heated and emotional debate.

Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu participated in part of the Knesset deliberations but was not present for the final vote. According to sources within Likud, Netanyahu had hoped Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana would personally preside over the session, but Ohana instead delegated that responsibility to his deputy, MK Limor Son Har-Melech.

When Netanyahu entered the plenum during the debate and while lawmakers voted on several reservations to the bill, opposition members repeatedly interrupted the proceedings with chants of “shame” and “go.”

Not all coalition members supported the legislation. MK Yuli Edelstein, MK Sharren Haskel, and MK Dan Illouz of Likud, together with MK Moshe Solomon of the Religious Zionist Party, voted against the measure. Religious Zionist Party Minister Ofir Sofer and MK Michal Woldiger did not participate in the vote.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi presented the legislation on behalf of the government and engaged in several sharp exchanges with opposition lawmakers during the debate.

As required under Knesset ethics rules, the chareidi members of Knesset disclosed during the proceedings that members of their own families could potentially be affected by the legislation.

MK Moshe Gafni, chairman of Degel HaTorah, hailed the bill’s passage as a milestone for the Torah community.

“We promised, and we delivered. This is an important step in protecting the Torah world and its students.”

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri also celebrated the vote, describing it as a historic correction of an injustice against bnei Torah.

“Today, with G-d’s help, we passed the law to end the arrests of Torah students. Today, the Knesset is sending a clear message to the dismissed attorney general: Enough persecution. Enough hatred toward Torah scholars. Who would have believed that in the Jewish state, yeshiva students, the cherished Tribe of Levi of the Jewish people, would be treated as criminals? Today, we began correcting that injustice.

“The overwhelming majority of the people of Israel love the Torah, respect its scholars, and understand that they safeguard the identity and spirit of the Jewish people. On this day, I remember the words of my teacher, Rav Ovadia Yosef, zt”l, who was deeply pained by the harm done to yeshiva students and said that the Jewish people are protected from their enemies by their Torah study. He also loved and embraced the soldiers of the IDF, who risk their lives for Israel’s security, and blessed them to return home safely. That is the way of the Torah, to embrace everyone and unite everyone. Do not allow the dismissed attorney general and those who incite to divide us. With God’s help, we will continue to prevail, together.”

Opposition parties immediately announced plans to challenge the legislation. Yisrael Beytenu and several members of Yesh Atid confirmed that they had filed a petition with Israel’s High Court of Justice seeking to overturn the newly approved law.

In their petition, Yesh Atid lawmakers argued that the legislation institutionalizes unequal treatment among Israeli citizens.

“This is what the Knesset and the government regard as their crowning achievement after four years in office and three years after the events of October 7: deepening discrimination between one citizen and another, applying one set of rules to secular, traditional, and religious Israelis subject to military service, and a different set of rules to those subject to conscription from the chareidi community.”

Opposition leader Yair Lapid sharply criticized the coalition following the vote, accusing it of abandoning both the military and the broader public.

He called the coalition a “government of refuseniks, draft dodgers, and the corrupt,” and charged that it had voted “against the IDF, against the Chief of Staff, against Judaism, and against mutual responsibility. That is how they will be remembered. Soon we will return, and together we will amend.”

{Matzav.com}