A senior figure in the chareidi parties said Tuesday night that the Israeli draft law has not been abandoned, despite the government’s decision to delay its advancement because of the war and the need to pass the state budget.
According to the official, the halt in promoting the legislation is tied to the current security situation and the urgency of approving a budget that will fund Israel’s war effort.
“The draft law has not died but was postponed due to the war and the need to pass a budget to finance the fighting. After the war we will return to legislating the law with full force,” the official said.
The senior figure also criticized statements made by Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, describing them as politically driven. “The statements are meant to gather votes in order to pass the electoral threshold and to justify his retreat from the reforms.”
Smotrich himself addressed the delay in advancing the draft law, explaining that the government has decided to temporarily set aside divisive issues during wartime.
“In order to succeed in this mission we are putting aside issues that are in dispute and not appropriate for wartime. We are putting aside the draft law, which will not be advanced now.”
He added that passing the state budget quickly would enable Israel to continue its security campaign while maintaining economic stability.
“War is a time for unity and national responsibility. Passing the budget immediately will allow us to win the war and strengthen Israel’s economy in the coming years.”
{Matzav.com}As the war with Iran continues, the country’s Jewish community—estimated at roughly 15,000 people—is navigating a tense and uncertain reality while trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible.
Sources familiar with the situation say that, for now, conditions for Jews across Iran remain relatively stable. Community members are deliberately keeping a low profile in public and avoiding activities that might draw attention during the wartime period. At this stage, those monitoring the situation say there has been no unusual escalation in the regime’s treatment of Jews.
Individuals closely following the circumstances of the Jewish communities emphasize that the greatest concern now is simply their safety. “At this moment, all that remains is to pray that no harm comes to the Jews,” those familiar with the situation say, adding that discretion is essential under the current conditions.
According to sources with knowledge of the community’s internal decisions, all weddings and large gatherings within the Jewish community in Iran have been canceled. Community leaders believe it would be inappropriate to hold celebrations at a time when the country is under military attack.
Jewish community figures in several countries abroad who are in contact with those monitoring the situation have also issued a specific request to Israelis: they urge people not to attempt to communicate with Jews inside Iran, warning that such contact could put them in danger.
Last week it was reported that Iran’s Jewish community publicly condemned the Israeli and American strikes that resulted in the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Homayoun Sameh, the Jewish representative in the Iranian parliament, issued a statement praising the late leader.
“The leader was busy managing the affairs of the state until his last drop of blood and unjustly sacrificed his life for the Iranian nation,” Sameh said.
Sameh also released a condolence message following what he described as the “unjust death” of the leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In the message he blamed the killing on what he called the “Zionist regime,” saying the event had brought deep sorrow to Iran.
“The Iranian Jewish community sends its sincere condolences to the noble Iranian nation, to his family, and to all lovers of the Islamic Revolution over this heartbreaking and painful loss. There is no doubt that dear Iran mourns the death of a wise, patient, and compassionate leader — a personality who dedicated his blessed life to the path of independence, dignity, and pride of this land, and who always emphasized national unity, empathy, and peaceful coexistence among followers of the divine religions.”
{Matzav.com}
Iran’s parliament speaker declared Tuesday that Tehran has no interest in pursuing a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel, insisting instead that those he called the “aggressor” must face consequences.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf made the remarks in a message posted to social media, making clear that Iran intends to continue fighting rather than seeking a pause in the hostilities.
“Certainly we aren’t seeking a ceasefire,” Ghalibaf wrote in a post on social media.
“We believe the aggressor must be punished and taught a lesson that will deter them from attacking Iran again,” he added.
His comments followed a statement issued Monday by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps responding to remarks by US President Donald Trump, who had suggested that the war with Iran could conclude in the near future.
In remarks cited by Reuters, the IRGC said they would “determine the end of the war”, while warning that Iran could take steps to halt oil shipments from the region if attacks by the United States and Israel continue.
The statement added that Iran would not permit “one liter of oil” to leave the region under such circumstances.
Trump responded to the warning with a message posted on his Truth Social platform, cautioning Tehran against interfering with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
“If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far.”
He continued with an additional warning directed at Iranian leadership.
“Additionally, we will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again – Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them – But I hope, and pray, that it does not happen! This is a gift from the United States of America to China, and all of those Nations that heavily use the Hormuz Strait. Hopefully, it is a gesture that will be greatly appreciated.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the situation Tuesday, saying the United States will not permit any disruption to maritime traffic or energy shipments in the region.
The US is acting so that “the United States and all our allies can receive their energy needs. President Trump will not allow rogue Iranian terrorists to strop the freedom of navigation and the free flow of energy,” Leavitt said in a statement.
“If they (Iran) do anything to stop the flow of oil or goods within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the world’s most powerful military 20 times harder than they have been hit thus far,” she threatened.
Leavitt also sought to reassure Americans concerned about rising fuel costs, saying the price increases would not last.
She added that “the increase in gas prices is temporary and in the long term prices will fall. Once the military goals are achieved, we will live in a world where Iran can no longer threaten.”
At the same time, CBS News reported that US officials believe Iran could be preparing to place naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a move that would threaten one of the world’s most important shipping corridors.
Trump addressed the report on Truth Social, warning Iran not to take such a step.
“If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY! If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before. If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction!” Trump wrote.
{Matzav.com}
North Korea announced Wednesday that it supports the Iranian people’s decision to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader following the death of his father in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes last weekend.
Mojtaba Khamenei was selected earlier this week to take over leadership after his father was killed during the coordinated military operation carried out by the United States and Israel in Iran on Saturday.
North Korea’s official news agency KCNA reported that the country’s foreign ministry also issued a sharp condemnation of the attacks carried out by Washington and Jerusalem. The ministry criticized what it called the US and Israel’s “illegal” attacks against Iran, warning that such actions undermine global peace and contribute to rising instability.
Iran and North Korea have long maintained ties in the development of ballistic missile technology.
In 2013, reports surfaced indicating that the two nations had pledged to continue working together on the advancement of nuclear-capable missile systems.
A United Nations panel of experts later stated in 2021 that cooperation between the two countries on long-range missile programs had resumed the previous year, including the transfer of key components used in missile development.
{Matzav.com}
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Podcaster Joe Rogan said many supporters of President Trump feel let down by the ongoing war with Iran, describing the conflict as “insane” and questioning how it fits with the president’s earlier campaign promises.
Speaking on the latest episode of his podcast, Rogan suggested that the military action has left some of Trump’s backers uneasy because they believed he would avoid new foreign conflicts.
“Well, it just seems so insane, based on what he ran on. I mean, this is why a lot of people feel betrayed, right?” Rogan said during the latest episode of his podcast. “He ran on, ‘No more wars,’ ‘End these stupid, senseless wars,’ and then we have one that we can’t even really clearly define why we did it.”
Concerns about the war potentially expanding into a lengthy military commitment have also surfaced among several Republican lawmakers. Some members of the GOP have warned that the United States could risk becoming tied down in another prolonged overseas conflict after spending two decades fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Last week, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) cautioned that the current operation against Iran could evolve into what he described as another endless war, urging Trump supporters to remain attentive.
“I would say stay concerned,” Burchett told a reporter after being asked if he had a message for Trump supporters. “I mean, be concerned. Be vigilant. Hold our feet to the fire. Keep us honest on that issue.”
Public opinion surveys indicate that many Americans expect the confrontation with Iran to continue for some time. A recent Quinnipiac poll found that nearly three-quarters of respondents believe the fighting will last months or longer.
According to the survey, 71 percent of voters said they expect the war to continue for “months,” “about a year” or “longer than that.”
President Trump, however, offered a much more optimistic timeline earlier this week, suggesting that the conflict is nearing its conclusion.
“This was just an excursion into something that had to be done. We’re getting very close to finishing that too,” Trump said during a press conference Monday.
Trump’s remarks came only days after he made clear that the United States would settle for nothing less than “unconditional surrender” from Iran’s leadership.
{Matzav.com}
A small island in the Persian Gulf that is only about one-third the size of Manhattan has become a focal point in discussions about how the conflict with Iran could unfold, as analysts say its control could dramatically affect Tehran’s finances and influence President Trump’s strategy toward the regime, the NY Post reports.
Kharg Island sits roughly 16 miles from Iran’s coastline in the Persian Gulf. Because of its exposed position, experts say it could be difficult for Iran to defend while also being relatively easy for adversaries to isolate — factors that have reportedly attracted attention from planners within the administration.
“Kharg Island handles roughly 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. Take it out, and this means cutting off the military budget in addition to pulling the plug on the basic services that keep Iranian society functioning,” said Mohammed Soliman, a senior fellow at the DC-based Middle East Institute.
Soliman explained that even a temporary disruption of activity on the island could send shockwaves through Iran’s economy and internal stability.
“Losing Kharg for even a few weeks will create a security and societal crisis in Iran at the same time. Tehran doesn’t get to choose which one to deal with first,” said Soliman, author of “West Asia: A New American Grand Strategy in the Middle East.”
“The revenue shortfall would run into the billions monthly. You’d see the currency collapse further, inflation spike, subsidies buckle, and this will add more pressure on the country with no quick way to stop the bleeding.”
According to a source familiar with administration thinking, the question surrounding a move to seize the island is less about whether it will happen and more about the timing, given its strategic importance in the wider conflict.
The source said the Israel Defense Forces would prefer to capture the island sooner, while American commanders are believed to favor continuing strikes against Iran’s offensive capabilities before turning attention to Kharg.
Under that approach, taking control of the island would occur only after Iran’s military power had already been severely weakened, allowing the move to deliver maximum strategic pressure on the regime.
Although Iranian oil exports face heavy American sanctions, most crude shipped from Kharg ultimately ends up in China.
Since the war began on Feb. 28, oil shipments moving through the Persian Gulf have slowed dramatically. The disruption has rattled global markets, prompting sharp fluctuations in trading as Trump attempts to encourage commercial vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz by offering a new reinsurance plan along with U.S. naval escorts.
JP Morgan warned in a statement Monday that “a direct strike [on Kharg Island] would immediately halt the bulk of Iran’s crude exports, likely triggering severe retaliation in the Strait of Hormuz or against regional energy infrastructure.”
Axios was the first to report that Washington was considering a mission aimed at capturing Kharg Island.
Former administration official John Ullyot, who previously served in defense roles including at the National Security Council during Trump’s first term, said the island’s central role in Iran’s economy could provide the United States with major leverage.
Ullyot described the prospect of a military operation to take the island as a risky move that could nonetheless deliver major strategic benefits.
A US raid to capture Kharg would be “high-risk, high-reward,” Ullyot said.
“To take such a high percentage of the Iranian oil supply off the table would cripple the regime and would also give the US, as it has in Venezuela, a big say on where Iran’s oil supply would go,” he said.
“This is the whole source of their economy.”
Since launching the war with Iran, Trump has frequently pointed to events in Venezuela, telling audiences how he removed dictator Nicolas Maduro and replaced him with vice president Delcy Rodriquez, who later agreed to direct oil exports toward the United States and allow American companies into the country’s energy sector.
Ullyot said Trump appears aware of the dangers that come with occupying territory inside Iran itself, suggesting that large numbers of American troops may not be necessary because of Kharg Island’s geographic position.
“One option would be to do a naval blockade of the island,” he said.
“President Trump can essentially seize the island by having an aggressive blockade of the island, [which] he could use down the line to essentially make the Iranian oil supply subject to his call… It would also give him leverage to influence who would be, ultimately, the next leader or interim leader of Iran.”
Speaking Monday afternoon, Trump said he expects the conflict to conclude soon.
“I think you’ll see it’s going to be a short-term excursion,” the president said.
“So the rest is going to be a determination as to my attitude, along with the people in the Trump administration, what we want to do.”
{Matzav.com}
