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As many politicians do, the mayor often has his staff set up lecterns on street corners, and he even did so on a city bus on Feb. 13.

The mayor stood in front of city transportation workers in hard hats and reflective vests as he delivered remarks behind a lectern on a Manhattan city street on Jan. 6, and spoke at a lectern on a street corner the next day in Jackson Heights in Queens.

He and others spoke at a podium in the snow in a park on Jan. 17 and in front of an apartment building in the Bronx on March 6.

Beverly Hallberg, president of District Media Group who trains politicians, business leaders and others on media strategy and public speaking, told JNS that Mamdani’s outdoor desk reflects his “being self-conscious about being mayor.”

“Instead of holding a document signing inside, where cameras could easily be let in, he goes outside to signal that he’s not a typical politician but a man of the people,” Hallberg said.

“At the same time, he wants to flex his authority as mayor of New York City, so he brings the desk outside to show he should be taken seriously,” she said.

Hallberg thinks there’s also another aspect to Mamdani’s choreographic decisions here.

“He may believe that clips of him signing outside play better with Gen Z audiences watching on TikTok,” she told JNS.

Outdoor lecterns, to Hallberg, aren’t unusual.

“Having a single fixed location for a speaker helps with sound and lighting, gives the speaker a place for notes and makes it easier for the press to capture clean photos and video outdoors,” she said.

“It’s the desk outside that’s the head-scratcher. I haven’t seen it done to the extent that Mamdani does it,” she told JNS. “Trump did sign executive orders at a desk on Inauguration Day at the Capital One Arena, but a desk being used for outdoor signings isn’t something I can recall being a recurring practice before this.”

Henry Olsen, senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and host of the Conservative Crossroads and Beyond the Polls podcasts, told JNS that he has seen lecterns on flat ground before.

“I presume it allows for better sound through the fixed mic, plus it conveys official status with the seal,” he said.

JNS shared photos that City Hall posted of Mamdani signing documents at the desk with the city seal on street corners.

“I have never seen a desk transported like your picture shows, nor have I seen a lectern on a bus,” Olsen said. “I presume he uses those to reinforce the idea that he is the mayor. He is so young, and the fact he has a beard means he could be subliminally viewed as unauthoritative if he stands alone, but that’s just conjecture.”

JNS found two examples of then-mayor Bill de Blasio signing documents at a desk on the street, one with a “black live matter” sign on July 15, 2020, and the other on May 14, 2021. JNS

Israeli troops have taken operational control of a destroyed stadium in southeastern Lebanon where slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah once threatened the Jewish state, the military said on Monday, confirming a major raid in the Bint Jbeil area.

“Bint Jbeil in the year 2000. Someone stood here, in this field, and claimed that Israel is a cobweb filled with spiders that must be exterminated. Today, that man is gone, the compound is gone, and his words are worth nothing,” Brig. Gen. Guy Levy, commander of the 98th Paratroopers Division, said in a statement shared with reporters.

“Our troops have operational control of the area, dismantling terror infrastructure and eliminating dozens of terrorists,” the general said.

“Behind us are the residents of the north whom we protect; ahead of us are national days that remind us why we are fighting and for what we are fighting,” Levy added, in reference to Israel’s Remembrance and Independence days, which are this year marked on April 21 and 22, respectively.

“With us are the very best forces: people of courage, capability, determination and steadfast spirit,” he said.

Nasrallah was killed on Sept. 27, 2024, in an Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah’s underground headquarters in the heart of Beirut’s southern district. Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed earlier on Monday that the Iranian-supported Hezbollah leader likely died of suffocation following the attack and had “a few minutes to think about how wrong he was in understanding the Jews—that we have changed.”

Levy’s remarks at the stadium where Nasrallah delivered his May 26, 2000, speech followed an IDF announcement that the 98th Division had carried out a targeted ground operation in Bint Jbeil over the past week.

The soldiers “struck and eliminated more than 100 Hezbollah terrorist operatives, both in close-quarters combat and through aerial strikes, dismantled dozens of terrorist infrastructure sites and located hundreds of weapons in the area, including weapons located in and around civilian infrastructure,” the army said.

A military official told JNS on Monday that the operation was launched following indications that Hezbollah terrorists planned to infiltrate Israel from Bint Jbeil. Following fierce fighting in the town, only a small number of terrorists remain and the threat has been neutralized, the official stressed.

“Full operational control of Bint Jbeil will be achieved within days,” the official predicted, noting that the IDF since the ceasefire with Iran has defined Southern Lebanon as the “main operational front” of “Operation Rising Lion” against the Islamic Republic.

Meanwhile, peace talks between Israel and Lebanon are expected to kick off at the U.S. State Department on Tuesday following Beirut’s promise to outlaw the Iranian terrorist proxy.

“As a result of this power we demonstrated, Lebanon turned to us in the last month, turned several times, to start direct peace talks,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address on Saturday night.

“This has never happened in history; well, it happened once decades ago [under Lebanese President-elect Bachir Gemayel, who was assassinated in September 1982], but now they turned to us and I approved it subject to two things: We want to reach the disarming of Hezbollah and we want a real peace agreement, a peace agreement that will last for generations,” the prime minister said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Monday said he discussed the negotiations with his Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani, who is set to meet with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut this week.

“I said that it’s important to sever the link between Iran and Lebanon. Iran effectively controls Lebanon through Hezbollah. This is how Iran once again involved Lebanon in a war against its will,” wrote Sa’ar on X.

According to Jerusalem’s top diplomat, “Hezbollah’s attack against Israel on March 2 served Iranian interests, not Lebanese ones—just like Hezbollah’s joining of Hamas’s attack on Oct. 8, 2023.”

Hezbollah began firing rockets, missiles and suicide drones at Israel on March 2, in retaliation for the Jewish state’s targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Khamenei was killed in the opening strikes of the war.

In response to the terrorist organization’s violation of the U.S.-brokered Nov. 27, 2024, truce agreement, Jerusalem launched an aerial campaign against Hezbollah and ordered IDF troops to advance and take control of additional areas in Southern Lebanon to halt cross-border attacks.

Hezbollah has continued in recent days to fire rockets and explosive-laden drones at northern Israeli communities, with air-raid sirens sounding again Monday afternoon. No major injuries have been reported in this week’s attacks.

The IDF Home Front Command on Saturday night announced the suspension of educational activities and restricted public gatherings in the north following an assessment that Hezbollah would intensify attacks on border communities.

The restrictions had been relaxed on April 9 following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. JNS

The United States moved forward Monday with a naval blockade aimed at restricting maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports through the Strait of Hormuz, following President Donald Trump’s pledge to put an end to what he described as Tehran’s “extortion” of countries relying on the key global shipping route.

US Central Command, headquartered in Tampa, Florida, said the operation would be carried out “impartially,” clarifying that ships traveling to or from ports outside of Iran in the Persian Gulf would be allowed to proceed without interference.

Shipping activity in the strategic waterway has slowed significantly in recent days. Data from the analytics platform Kpler showed that 14 vessels passed through the strait on Sunday, with even fewer ships entering or leaving in the days following the announcement of a two-week cease-fire between Washington and Tehran.

President Trump revealed the blockade decision on Sunday in a Truth Social post, declaring: “THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted.”

He continued by warning, “No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” referencing reports that Iran has attempted to impose fees of up to $2 million per oil tanker for transit through the strait.

Energy markets reacted quickly to the developments, with crude oil prices climbing back above $100 per barrel after US-Iran negotiations collapsed over the weekend in Pakistan.

Wall Street also saw an immediate impact at the opening bell, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.7% and the S&P 500 declined by 0.3%.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu cautioned that the current cease-fire with Iran remains unstable, warning it “could turn on a dime,” according to multiple reports.

Vice President JD Vance later briefed Netanyahu on the discussions held in Islamabad, Pakistan, concluding that the United States “could not tolerate Iran’s blatant violation of the agreement to enter negotiations.”

Speaking during a cabinet meeting on Monday, Netanyahu said that Vance emphasized the administration’s central objective of “removing all enriched material and ensuring that there will be no enrichment in the coming years.”

Netanyahu also dismissed speculation of disagreements between Jerusalem and Washington, stating, “The claims that there is a rift between us are completely false.” He added, “The exact opposite is true. Anyone who was present in these conversations, and in the daily discussions we hold with the president and his team, can attest to that.”

A major national organization focused on combating antisemitism sharply criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s handling of Jewish community concerns during his first 100 days in office, pointing to what it described as troubling policy decisions and insufficient action, the NY Post reports.

The Anti-Defamation League said that while Mamdani has spoken about opposing antisemitism, his actions early in his administration raise significant red flags.

“Mayor Mamdani wants credit for fighting antisemitism, but the policies, programs, and personnel that he has put in place in his first 100 days give us serious cause for concern,” Scott Richman, the NY-NJ regional director for the ADL told The Post.

“He has both neglected to proactively protect Jews and rescinded key antisemitism protections while calling himself a mayor committed to the Jewish community,” Richman said.

Soon after assuming office, Mamdani rolled back several executive orders enacted by his predecessor, Eric Adams, including measures that prohibited city agencies from participating in boycotts or divestment efforts targeting Israel.

Another policy reversal involved scrapping an order that adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, which Adams had said was intended to prevent “demonizing Israel and holding it to double standards as forms of contemporary antisemitism.”

Mamdani, a vocal critic of Israel, supports the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians. He has also appeared alongside activists viewed by critics as promoting antisemitic rhetoric, including Hasan Piker.

The ADL has long maintained that the BDS movement constitutes antisemitism because it seeks to undermine Israel’s legitimacy and economy.

“ADL believes that many of the founding goals of the BDS movement, which effectively reject or ignore the Jewish people’s right of self-determination, or that, if implemented, would result in the eradication of the world’s only Jewish state, are antisemitic,” the group says on its website.

Richman suggested that Mamdani could begin repairing relations with the Jewish community by approving legislation passed by the City Council that would authorize the NYPD to establish buffer zones preventing protests near entrances to synagogues and other houses of worship.

The proposal followed a violent confrontation outside the Park East Synagogue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side last November.

“ADL will continue to hold Mayor Mamdani accountable for his promises to be a mayor for all New Yorkers, including Jewish New Yorkers. He can start by signing the buffer zone bills passed by the New York City Council,” he said.

Additional concerns among Jewish leaders have centered on statements and actions attributed to Mamdani’s wife, first lady Rama Duwaji, which have fueled unease within the community.

Duwaji, a professional illustrator, created artwork for the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America as part of a campaign titled “PalestineOnTheBallot.com.”

Past social media activity linked to Duwaji has also drawn attention, including interactions with posts that praised Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, supported Palestinian militants, and criticized the U.S. military.

She has also contributed illustrations to the work of an author accused of making antisemitic remarks, including referring to Jewish people as “vampires.”

Some elected officials have urged Mamdani to moderate his rhetoric on Israel, warning that it risks inflaming antisemitic sentiment.

“His opinions on Israel are unconscionable. Some of the comments unintentionally contributed to antisemitism,” said Councilman Simcha Felder, who represents heavily orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in southern Brooklyn, including Borough Park, Flatbush, Gravesend, Mapleton, and Midwood.

Felder argued that many people see Judaism and Israel as closely linked, meaning accusations against Israel can have broader repercussions for Jews.

“The concept that there is a distinction between the two doesn’t hold water,” Felder said.

When asked what Mamdani should do differently, Felder offered blunt advice.

“Stop acting as if you are the US ambassador to the United Nations,” he said.

Polling has also reflected dissatisfaction among Jewish voters. A recent Marist College survey found that only 38% of Jewish respondents viewed Mamdani favorably, while 55% held an unfavorable opinion—making them the only religious group in the city to rate him negatively.

Brooklyn Assemblyman Kalman Yeger echoed those concerns, giving the mayor a failing grade on issues related to antisemitism and relations with the Jewish community.

“He continues to platform antisemites, gaslight the Jewish community, has appointed renowned Jew haters to positions of authority, and endorsed Jew aters for public office. I don’t think he’s even trying for a good grade,” Yeger said.

At the same time, some voices within the Jewish community have called for engagement rather than confrontation.

Michael Nussbaum, a longtime member of the Jewish Community Relations Council, said, “The Jewish community is still trying to find a way to work with the mayor. The mayor needs to open a dialogue with the larger Jewish community, not just one faction.”

Nussbaum also credited Mamdani with certain efforts, including cooperation with law enforcement leadership and involvement in plans for a Holocaust memorial in Queens.

“It’s a story still to be written,” he said of Mamdani and the Jewish community.

City Hall pushed back on the criticism, defending the mayor’s record and emphasizing ongoing outreach efforts to Jewish residents.

“Since taking office, Mayor Mamdani has made it a priority to consistently show up for and build relationships across New York City’s Jewish communities — listening deeply, celebrating holidays together, and engaging with the full richness of Jewish life across neighborhoods and traditions,” said Phylisa Wisdom, executive director of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism. “Every day, his administration is working to protect and support Jewish New Yorkers, because that work is inseparable from our broader mission: building a safer, more affordable, and truly inclusive city for all.”

Rescue units were deployed overnight to search for three yeshiva bochurim who went missing in the Arava region, as concerns grow over their safety.

The Arava Rescue Unit launched a search operation in the Small Crater area after the three 21-year-old chareidi hikers were reported missing during the night.

According to information received by the rescue teams, the last contact with the group was made the previous evening before communication was lost. Authorities believe the three may have strayed from the marked trail. Search crews are using drones to assist in scanning the rugged terrain.

The incident comes amid a series of recent tragedies involving young yeshiva bochurim during the bein hazmanim period. Just a day earlier, a fatal drowning was reported at the Ein Akev spring in the Negev.

Yehoshua Ram, 17, a first-year bochur at Yeshivas Grodna in Be’er Yaakov and a resident of Bnei Brak, passed away after drowning during a trip with friends.

Aerial rescue personnel from the Lehava unit, led by the unit commander, were dispatched to the scene following reports of a missing individual who had fallen into the water. After his clothing was located nearby, his body was recovered several hours later.

Meanwhile, search efforts are continuing for Avraham Yeshayahu Spiegel, 17, who has been missing since a drowning incident at Tsanz Beach in Netanya this past Friday. Emergency forces have significantly intensified their efforts. His 21-year-old brother was evacuated to the hospital in serious condition.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Central Command announced that American forces will begin implementing a maritime blockade targeting traffic to and from Iranian ports starting this morning at 10 a.m. Eastern, following orders issued by President Donald Trump.

CENTCOM said the operation will cover all ships traveling into or out of Iranian ports and coastal regions, including areas along the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

Officials stressed that the enforcement of the blockade will be applied uniformly, without regard to a vessel’s nationality.

At the same time, CENTCOM made clear that U.S. naval forces will not restrict navigation through the Strait of Hormuz for vessels transiting to or from ports outside of Iran.

Further instructions are expected to be issued to commercial shipping operators through formal maritime advisories prior to the start of the operation.

Ships operating in the region have been urged to stay alert to official maritime communications and to remain in contact with U.S. naval forces via bridge-to-bridge Channel 16.

The announcement follows comments made earlier Sunday by Trump, who indicated that the Navy would begin blocking activity connected to Iran and targeting vessels that had paid fees to Tehran.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump said Iran “will never be able to charge tolls” for passage through the key waterway.

He added that naval forces had been directed to stop any ship found in international waters that had paid such tolls.

“No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” Trump said.

Later Sunday night, Trump again confirmed that the blockade would take effect as scheduled.

“At 10 a.m. tomorrow, we have a blockade going into effect,” he told the press gaggle. “Other nations are working, so that Iran will not be able to sell oil and that will be very effective.”

The move came shortly after negotiations between the United States and Iran concluded without a final deal.

Although Trump said the talks “went well” and that “most points were agreed,” he acknowledged that key disagreements remain, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States could quickly devastate Iran’s critical infrastructure, delivering a stark warning following the breakdown of diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions with Tehran.

Speaking in a Fox News interview, Trump asserted that American military capabilities could inflict sweeping damage on Iran’s energy systems in an extremely short time frame.

“I could take out Iran in one day … in one hour. I could have their entire energy, everything, every one of their power-generating plants, which is a big deal. I hate to do it, because if you do it, it takes 10 years to build. … They’ll never be able to rebuild it,” Trump said.

His remarks came just hours after negotiations led by Vice President JD Vance concluded without producing an agreement, marking another failed attempt to ease hostilities between the two countries.

Trump also indicated that recent U.S. military action was meant to send a clear signal to Iran.

The president said he destroyed a bridge in Iran “just to show them because they came out with a statement.”

Israel issued a sharp diplomatic protest to Spain after an effigy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was detonated in a town in southern Spain, intensifying an already strained relationship between the two countries.

At the direction of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Foreign Ministry Director General Eden Bar Tal held a reprimand call on Sunday with Francisca Pedrós, head of the Spanish Embassy in Israel, following the incident in El Burgo, near Malaga.

The protest centered on what Israeli officials described as an antisemitic display during a local event in which a figure representing Netanyahu was blown up, prompting strong condemnation from Jerusalem.

During the call, Bar Tal stated that “this horrifying display is a direct result of the systematic incitement against the State of Israel by the government of [Prime Minister] Pedro Sánchez.”

He added, “Equally outrageous is the fact that, as of this moment, the Spanish government has still not seen fit to condemn this blatant antisemitic spectacle. Such conduct is completely unacceptable.”

Israeli officials emphasized that the incident reflects what they view as a broader pattern of hostility by Spain’s current government toward Israel, a stance they say has persisted since the events of October 7, 2023.

“The Sánchez-led government spreads false blood libels against Israel and IDF soldiers and is attempting to impose sanctions on Israel within the European Union. During the war against Iran, the Spanish government acted against Israel’s interests and those of our ally, the United States. Spain has aligned itself with the world’s most radical regimes – from Venezuela to Iran, where it intends to reopen its embassy.”

Bar Tal also pointed out that, on Friday, Sa’ar—working in coordination with Prime Minister Netanyahu—decided that Spain would not be allowed to take part in a civil-military coordination center in Kiryat Gat established as part of President Trump’s Gaza peace initiative.

“In light of the Spanish government’s extreme one-sided and anti-Israel positions, it can no longer contribute or serve as a constructive actor in implementing President Trump’s peace plan,” Bar Tal concluded.

The latest episode further deepens a prolonged diplomatic dispute between Israel and Spain that began amid disagreements over the Gaza war.

In November 2023, Spain’s ambassador to Israel was summoned after Sánchez said that “Israel is violating international law and is carrying out indiscriminate killings in Gaza.”

Tensions continued in April 2024, when Sánchez criticized Israel’s military response, calling it a “disproportionate response” that risks “destabilizing the Middle East, and as a consequence, the entire world”.

Shortly afterward, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares called for international sanctions against Israel, citing the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

President Donald Trump said Sunday night that a U.S.-backed blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would begin Monday morning, while emphasizing that Iran will not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons and signaling little concern about whether negotiations resume.

Speaking to reporters, Trump outlined the planned restrictions on maritime traffic tied to Iranian oil exports, describing a coordinated effort by multiple countries aimed at cutting off Tehran’s ability to sell energy on the global market.

“As you know, at 10 o’clock tomorrow, we have a blockade going into effect. Other nations are working so that Iran will not be able to sell oil, and that would be very effective..but there are many boats heading toward our country to fill up with oil and then go and take it. So they’re not going to go through the Hormuz Strait. And ultimately that’ll be corrected.”

.@POTUS: "At 10a tomorrow, we have a blockade going into effect — that'll be 10a tomorrow. Other nations are working, so that Iran will not be able to sell oil and that will be very effective." pic.twitter.com/gNdAkW60Z8

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 13, 2026

He added that, for now, foreign vessels are turning to U.S. supplies, pointing to increased domestic production as a factor allowing the shift.

“But in the meantime, they’re using us. We have more oil because of Drill Baby Drill. We have more oil than Russia and Saudi Arabia put together.

So if you look at Russia and Saudi Arabia, two big ones, we have much more oil than they have put together. And what’s happening is boats are coming over here, filling up. We don’t have to go through the Hormuz Strait.”

Addressing recent diplomatic efforts, Trump pointed to lengthy but unsuccessful discussions between American and Iranian representatives held in Pakistan over the weekend, portraying Tehran as weakened and under pressure.

“I think Iran is in very bad shape. I think they’re very desperate. We had a meeting that lasted 21 hours. We understand the situation better than anybody. And Iran’s in very bad shape,” Trump stated.

.@POTUS: "Iran is in very bad shape — and just so you understand, Iran will NOT have a nuclear weapon… There is no way. They still want it, and they made that clear the other night. Iran will NOT have a nuclear weapon." pic.twitter.com/Q15kbX5y2Z

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 13, 2026

He reiterated that the administration would not permit Iran to obtain nuclear capabilities under any circumstances.

“And just so you understand, Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. There is no way that they’re going to get it. They still want it. And they made that clear the other night. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump also indicated that renewed negotiations were not a priority, suggesting that the U.S. holds the advantage following recent military and strategic developments.

“I don’t care if they come back or not. If they don’t come back, I’m fine. Their military is gone. Their missiles are largely depleted. The manufacturing capability for missiles and drones is largely defeated. We’ve been very nice. We haven’t ripped down too many bridges. We did one only because they broke their word, they broke their promise. And remember, their promise was that they were going to open the Hormuz Strait. They didn’t do it. They lied,” said Trump.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian and American officials offered sharply different accounts after marathon negotiations in Pakistan collapsed without a deal, with each side faulting the other for the breakdown and signaling continued tensions over nuclear demands.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran entered the discussions prepared to reach an understanding but was met with what he described as unrealistic conditions from Washington that ultimately derailed progress.

“In intensive talks at highest level in 47 years, Iran engaged with US in good faith to end war,” the Iranian Foreign Minister wrote, adding, “But when just inches away from ‘Islamabad MoU’, we encountered maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade.”

“Zero lessons earned. Good will begets good will. Enmity begets enmity,” added Araghchi.

From the American side, Vice President JD Vance confirmed that the talks, which stretched over 21 hours, concluded without an agreement after Iran declined to accept key U.S. conditions.

Vance stressed that the administration had laid out its expectations clearly throughout the negotiations.

“We’ve made very clear what our red lines are, what things we’re willing to accommodate them on, and what things we’re not willing to accommodate them on. And we’ve made that as clear as we possibly could, and they have chosen not to accept our terms,” the Vice President said.

He explained that Washington’s primary objective remains preventing Iran from developing nuclear capabilities.

Vance explained that the US demands “an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon. That is the core goal of the President of the United States, and that’s what we’ve tried to achieve through these negotiations.”

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf echoed Tehran’s position, saying the United States failed to earn Iran’s confidence during the discussions.

Speaking after the talks, Ghalibaf said Iran had entered the negotiations emphasizing its “goodwill and necessary determination,” but pointed to lingering mistrust rooted in past dealings.

“My colleagues in the Iranian delegation presented forward-looking initiatives, but in the end, the other side could not gain the trust of the Iranian delegation in this round of negotiations,” he said.

He added that the United States now faces a decision about whether it can establish credibility moving forward.

Ghalibaf added that the US had come to understand Iran’s “logic and principles,” and now faces a decision on whether it can build the necessary trust. “Now is the time for the US to decide whether it can gain our trust or not,” he stated.

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President Donald Trump launched a sharp public attack on Pope Leo XIV, accusing the pontiff of being ineffective on both domestic and global issues, as tensions intensified between the White House and the Vatican over the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” Trump wrote Sunday night.

“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country,” he continued.

“And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History.”

The remarks came in response to recent statements from Pope Leo, who has repeatedly voiced opposition to the war involving the United States and Israel against Iran, warning against what he described as dangerous attitudes driving global conflict.

During a prayer service in Rome, the pope spoke out against what he characterized as the “idolatry of self” and a “delusion of omnipotence,” comments widely interpreted as criticism of world leaders advancing the war effort.

Although Pope Leo has not mentioned Trump directly, he has consistently urged an end to the fighting and called on leaders to pursue peace rather than continued military action.

In a Palm Sunday address, the pontiff warned that divine favor does not extend to leaders who act with violence, saying that God does not heed the prayers of those whose “hands full of blood” or those “who wage war.”

He also cautioned against invoking religion in support of military campaigns, stressing the dangers of linking faith with violence.

“Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death,” Leo said during Saturday’s evening vigil in Rome.

Within the administration, several officials have incorporated religious messaging into their public remarks, particularly in connection with the war effort. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has taken that approach further than most, leading prayers inside the Pentagon and at wartime press briefings.

Despite his criticism of the pope, Trump expressed admiration for the pontiff’s brother, Louis Prevost, highlighting his support for the president.

“I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA. He gets it, and Leo doesn’t!” Trump ranted.

Trump had initially welcomed Leo’s election as pope, describing it as “a great honor for our country,” but has since become increasingly dissatisfied with his positions.

“Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician,” the president added.

“It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church.”

{Matzav.com}

As search efforts continue along the Netanya shoreline for one missing bochur, while his brother remains hospitalized in critical condition, their father, Rav Shlomo Spiegel, a rosh chaburah in the Mir, has sent an emotionally powerful letter to his talmidim, calling for mechilah, hisorerus, and strengthened kabbalos tovos.

The two sons, Yissachar Dov and Avrohom Yeshaya, were caught in the sea. One was rescued and is in serious condition, while the second remains missing.

In the midst of this painful ordeal, Rav Spiegel reached out to members of his chaburah, asking forgiveness from anyone he may have wronged and urging increased sensitivity in areas of bein adam l’chaveiro, particularly during these days of Sefirah.

Tefillos are being recited for Yissachar Dov ben Shoshana and Avrohom Yeshaya ben Shoshana.

The full letter follows:

“Last Friday morning, in the hours before the storm descended upon me, I was sitting and reviewing the weekly parsha—shnayim mikra v’echad targum. As I came across the posuk, ‘And the entire house of Yisroel shall cry over the burning that Hashem has burned,’ I recalled that people say this week is considered a time prone to tragedies. I thought to myself, ‘Baruch Hashem, the week passed without anything happening.’ But I forgot that the week wasn’t over yet… and it happened specifically to me.

“I was marked by hashgacha pratis from the Ribbono Shel Olam! The truth is that we are always marked by hashgacha pratis, but usually we sense it faintly. This time, the marking was in bold red.

“We were in a state of euphoria from the ‘ceasefire with Iran,’ but the consuming fire of Nadav and Avihu did not cease. It joined together with the waters of the sea, and together they drowned bnei Torah.

“The fire that burns most during the days of Sefirah is the fire of bein adam l’chaveiro. We mourn during these days for the talmidim of Rabbi Akiva who did not treat one another with proper respect, and it seems that the severe punishments of this time stem from shortcomings in bein adam l’chaveiro.

“This tragedy belongs to all of Klal Yisroel, to the entire tzibbur of bnei Torah. But certainly those who are closest to the fire must reflect on their actions more than anyone else.

“Therefore, I ask complete mechilah from each and every member of the chaburah, past and present—avreichim and bochurim alike—anyone with whom I had any connection through this holy chaburah. Whether I hurt someone directly or indirectly—myself or any member of my family.

“Please! With tear-filled eyes, I ask each of you to say out loud [literally with your mouth, not just in your heart]: ‘I forgive Shlomo ben Chaya Tova and Shoshana bas Matil and their family.’

“Additionally, if anyone was harmed by me in monetary matters, please inform me and I will repay.

“And for those who wish to help: please take upon yourselves during these days to be extra careful not to hurt one another. Pause for a moment before delivering a sharp comment, and guard your speech. In many gatherings, people look for something to talk about, and the easiest topic becomes lashon hara or gossip—this one said this about you, that one said that. Please, stop your tongue and even your breath, and through that difficult restraint, we will merit to add another healthy breath to Yissachar Dov ben Shoshana and Avrohom Yeshaya ben Shoshana. May it be Hashem’s will.”

{Matzav.com}

In unusually sharp and forceful language, the Chief Rabbinate Council issued a direct and unprecedented attack on Israel’s Supreme Court following its decision to hold deliberations during Shabbos. The rabbonim made clear that this was not merely a legal disagreement, but a deeper battle over the Jewish identity and character of the state.

The council convened a special protest session in response to the ruling, condemning what they described as a cynical misuse of the concept of pikuach nefesh to justify court proceedings and demonstrations on Shabbos. According to the rabbonim, such reasoning reflects a worldview that is fundamentally at odds with Torah principles.

During the meeting, the council’s official statement was read aloud, strongly criticizing what it called an attempt by Supreme Court justices “to crown themselves with the authority of Torah” by determining what constitutes pikuach nefesh. “A decision as to whether something qualifies as pikuach nefesh is a Torah-based determination that must be evaluated by those entrusted with such matters,” the rabbonim stated. They emphasized that while the Torah places supreme value on human life, it cannot be used as a blanket justification for public desecration of Shabbos under the guise of protest rights.

The rabbonim also referenced previous tensions, pointing to what they described as a broader pattern of dismissiveness toward matters of holiness. “The offensive tone in which issues of chametz were presented as if they were merely a ‘diet,’ and the decision that demonstrations constitute pikuach nefesh, indicate a profound distance from Judaism,” the statement read.

Concluding with a stark warning, the council declared: “Whoever kicks at the sacred foundations of the nation is denying the very existential idea of the State of Israel as a Jewish state.”

The Israeli Supreme Court on Sunday evening authorized the publication of the names of two brothers accused of spying on behalf of Iran. The defendants are Meir Nachum of Beitar Illit and Yosef Nachum of Modiin Illit, who are charged with maintaining contact with an Iranian agent while using artificial intelligence tools and impersonating a soldier from Unit 8200. The brothers had sought to block the release of their identities, arguing that it could expose them to retaliation by Iranian elements and cause severe psychological harm.

Justice Alex Stein ruled that the names could be made public. Meir Nachum, 24, and Yosef Nachum, 28, are accused of engaging with an Iranian operative over an extended period, during which time one of them allegedly posed as a member of Israel’s elite intelligence Unit 8200 while communicating through AI-based platforms.

According to investigators, the Iranian agents initially reached the brothers through a Telegram-based “phishing” scheme. The connection reportedly continued for several months, during which the suspects carried out various security-related activities with the understanding that they were acting on behalf of Iran.

Prosecutors allege that Meir Nachum, identified as the primary defendant, received tens of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency from the Iranian agent. Among other actions, he is accused of contributing to the arrest of an innocent Iranian civilian. Yosef Nachum is charged with passing information to an enemy as part of a coordinated effort.

The brothers argued before the court that publicizing their names could endanger them by inviting retaliation and inflict serious emotional damage. However, Justice Stein rejected the request, stating that these claims were speculative and did not demonstrate a high likelihood of danger. He also noted that any psychological harm resulting from the publication would not be considered unusual compared to other defendants facing serious criminal charges.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu told members of Israel’s security cabinet that the country may ultimately need to dismantle Hamas’ weapons capabilities on its own, as a deadline for the group’s disarmament approaches without clear progress.

According to remarks reported Sunday evening, Netanyahu indicated that President Donald Trump shares the view that Hamas is unlikely to voluntarily surrender its arsenal.

Addressing cabinet ministers, Netanyahu said, “Trump understands that a foreign coalition will not succeed in disarming Hamas. He failed to assemble a coalition to open the Strait of Hormuz, so he also understands that building a coalition to disarm Hamas is less realistic—we will have to do it ourselves.”

The comments come as the timeline set for Hamas to relinquish its weapons is set to expire this week. Meanwhile, discussions tied to a broader diplomatic effort are ongoing.

A source familiar with talks involving Trump’s peace council and Hamas leadership said the coming days will be decisive. “This week we will know if Hamas will disarm as part of an agreement.”

The source added that the outcome could take different forms depending on developments. “This week we will know where things are headed. Whether there is voluntary disarmament or whether it will happen ‘by other means’,” echoing language previously used by Trump.

According to the source, negotiations are continuing at an intense pace, with the Trump administration and its representatives maintaining focus on Gaza even as attention shifts to Iran and Lebanon.

The report also noted that some of the contacts are being facilitated by Nikolay Mladenov, director-general of the peace council, who has reportedly met with senior Hamas officials in Cairo as part of the ongoing efforts.

Israeli police have arrested two additional suspects in connection with the 2019 murder of chareidi teenager Evyatar Azarzar, marking a significant development in the case six years after the killing.

The arrests were carried out Sunday by the central unit of the Tel Aviv District Police, following a recent breakthrough in the investigation. Earlier in the day, authorities had already detained a suspect in his 30s from Bnei Brak and indicated that further arrests were expected.

Later, two more suspects—also men in their 30s from Bnei Brak—were taken into custody, bringing the total number of arrests in the latest development to three.

According to a report by Li Ayash on i24, the two newly arrested suspects are already being held in connection with the 2020 murder of Michael Miller, who was killed in a hotel restroom in Tel Aviv.

All three suspects are scheduled to appear Monday before the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court for a hearing on extending their detention. Police also announced that a gag order previously placed on the case has now been lifted.

Earlier Sunday, Channel 13 News reported that four individuals had been arrested in connection with the murder. “We have strong evidence,” police sources said.

Evyatar Azarzar, 18, was found dead in December 2019 with signs of violence on his body, discovered in a pit in an open area near the Morasha Junction after he had been missing for approximately three weeks.

Azarzar, a resident of the Ramot neighborhood in Yerushalayim, was last seen on Shabbos Parshas Vayeitzei (December 7) at the intersection of Jabotinsky and Ben Gurion streets in Ramat Gan, near Bnei Brak. He then disappeared, until his body was later located.

President Donald Trump’s move to cut off negotiations with Iran and impose a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is being framed by some Republican leaders as a decisive show of strength, with former Rep. Pete King saying the United States has already secured victory and must now press its advantage.

Speaking Sunday on Newsmax’s “Wake Up America Weekend,” King welcomed the end of diplomatic talks, arguing they had yielded no progress. “Well, first, I’m glad that they called off the talks,” the New York Republican said. “They were going nowhere. To me, this was all just a subterfuge by Iran.”

King said Trump avoided being drawn into prolonged negotiations that would have benefited Tehran. He added that he would “give the president credit for not falling into a trap of endless negotiations, endless extensions.”

Declaring the outcome of the conflict, King said, “The fact is that the United States military has won this war,” and emphasized that continued pressure is necessary moving forward.

He said the immediate priorities should be reopening the Strait of Hormuz while continuing to address Iran’s nuclear activities. “To me, the main issue now is to reopen the strait and then work on the nuclear enrichment. But we cannot in any way accept the status quo,” King said.

King also argued that the blockade sends a broader signal to the international community, highlighting the global implications of the crisis. “I think sending a message that this is just not a United States issue. This does affect the entire world, and it has to be addressed,” he said. “I think the president is dramatically emphasizing that by us doing the blockading.”

He added that ensuring free navigation through the strait must remain a central objective while encouraging allied participation. “I think we have to begin the process to clear it and to make sure that there’s free access, freedom of waterways at the Strait of Hormuz,” he said. “But no, I think it is important that the president is bringing in the other nations, realizing it’s not just us, it’s everyone being affected by this.”

Responding to Iranian officials who have questioned U.S. credibility, King rejected those claims outright. “That’s typical of Iran. It’s absolute nonsense,” he said. “The fact is that for 47 years, they’ve been at war with us. They’ve threatened to destroy us, destroy Israel. Everything is going in that direction. Their word cannot be taken at all.”

Former Rep. Jack Kingston of Georgia offered a different perspective, suggesting Trump’s tone could open the door to broader international cooperation. “You know, I’m moving in the opposite direction. I feel like this is a tone that’s a lot different than it was a week ago,” Kingston said. “The president is kind of speaking more the language of the U.N. or NATO, our European allies.”

Kingston said the shift in messaging may resonate with key Western partners and encourage them to get involved. “I think this is the kind of language that France and Germany and Great Britain can respond to, and they are slowly moving toward helping us out and realizing that we are helping them out,” he said. “So I think that the president has made more of an international appeal with this sort of tone.”

He concluded by stressing the need for a unified global response to the situation. “I do think it is time for the nations of the world to unite, say, OK, listen, let’s agree. Iran is a thug nation. The Gulf of Hormuz is relevant to all of us. Energy certainly is. Free commerce is. Let’s all cooperate,” Kingston said.

Iran’s leadership remains firmly committed to advancing its nuclear ambitions and backing terrorist proxy groups, with little expectation of any meaningful policy change despite internal differences, Iranian opposition figure Ali Safavi said in an interview Sunday.

Safavi, a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran and a parliamentarian in exile, told Newsmax that the regime’s various factions operate with the same overarching goals. “Well, to be honest, various factions within the Iranian regime throughout the 47 years of rule of this dictatorship are all cut from the same cloth,” Safavi said on Newsmax’s “Wake Up America Weekend.”

He explained that while disagreements may exist at the tactical level, they do not reflect any real strategic divide. “They may differ in tactics, but strategically they are all in for the continuation of the nuclear weapons program, support for the proxy terrorist groups, and of course, suppressing the Iranian people,” he added.

According to Safavi, any perceived divisions among Tehran’s leadership are largely superficial. “So there may be some nuances, but at the end of the day, they’re basically the same,” he said. “And interestingly, those who came to the negotiating table, the speaker of the parliament, the foreign minister, and they’re both die-hard and veteran IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] commanders.”

He pointed to recent developments as further evidence supporting his assessment of the regime’s intentions. “And clearly, I think what happened yesterday proved what we have been saying all along, that this regime will never abandon its nuclear weapons program. It will never stop funding and training its terrorist proxies. And, of course, it will not abate in suppressing the Iranian people,” Safavi said.

Safavi also highlighted recent executions as an illustration of continued repression. “Case in point, the execution of 13 dissidents, including six members of the main Iranian opposition, the Mujahideen, last week,” he said.

Appearing alongside Safavi, Asaf Romirowsky, executive director of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, said he largely agrees with that assessment, emphasizing that internal disagreements do not weaken the regime’s hold on power. “The fact of the matter is, I have no disagreement with what my colleague is saying here,” Romirowsky said.

“I mean, the fact is that these axis of oppression forces are still controlled by the regime itself. There’s still enough power that the IRGC has. And so any opposition forces really are being squashed.”

Romirowsky added that while Iran’s leadership may have suffered setbacks, its guiding ideology remains firmly in place. While agreeing the leadership has been “decapitated,” Romirowsky said “the ideology is still alive and well, and they’re the ones who are controlling what’s going on.”

He also pointed to the strategic and economic importance of key waterways, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, as a critical factor moving forward. “Now, obviously, the main concern going forward, economically speaking, is going to be who’s controlling the Straits of Hormuz, and that is the IRGC,” Romirowsky said. “And we’re going to see probably more activity in that area for sure. So that’s part of what you’re going to see play out here.”

Romirowsky concluded that as long as the current leadership remains in power, repression will continue. “So long as they’re in power, this tyrannical regime and the suppressive, you know, repression forces are going to continue to squash any opposition forces,” he said.