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The United States is preparing to significantly reduce the military resources it makes available to NATO allies during future crises, according to a new report outlining major planned cutbacks involving bombers, fighter jets, naval forces, and reconnaissance assets.

German publication Der Spiegel reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed senior NATO officials during meetings in Brussels last week that Washington intends to scale back several key military commitments to the alliance.

Among the proposed changes, the United States would reportedly cut in half the number of strategic bombers available to NATO operations.

According to the report, American envoy Alexander Velez-Green also told alliance members that the number of U.S. fighter aircraft deployed for NATO missions would be reduced by roughly one-third.

The report further stated that the U.S. Navy plans to stop assigning nuclear submarines to NATO altogether and will also decrease the number of destroyers it contributes to alliance operations.

Sources cited by Spiegel said the United States additionally intends to retain full control over its reconnaissance drone fleet while limiting NATO access to American attack UAVs.

The move reflects a broader push to reduce America’s military footprint in Europe, a policy shift that has accelerated under President Trump, who has repeatedly criticized NATO countries for failing to adequately fund their own defense systems and for relying too heavily on Washington’s military power.

Trump has long argued that many NATO members allowed their armed forces to weaken while depending on the United States to shoulder the burden of European security.

At the same time, European governments have sharply increased defense spending in recent years following Russian invasion of Ukraine, amid growing concerns over Russia’s military ambitions and regional instability.

The United States currently maintains approximately 68,000 active-duty troops stationed throughout Europe, with the largest concentration based in Germany.

Israel’s currency has surged to its strongest level against the U.S. dollar in three decades, an extraordinary development given the ongoing regional turmoil that has gripped the country since October 7, 2023.

Since the beginning of May, the exchange rate has hovered around 2.85 shekels per dollar, a dramatic rise from the roughly 4 shekels per dollar seen in October 2023. The shekel has also strengthened sharply against the euro, with one euro falling from 4.34 shekels in October 2023 to approximately 3.39 shekels in May 2026.

The sharp appreciation comes as Israel’s broader economic data continues to outperform expectations. The Bank of Israel is projecting economic growth of 3.8% for 2026, inflation dropped to 1.9% in March, and unemployment has remained relatively low at 3.2%.

For Israeli consumers, the stronger shekel carries significant benefits. Imported goods become cheaper, particularly energy products purchased in dollars, while overseas travel has become far less expensive for Israeli families. At the same time, however, the strengthening currency has placed growing pressure on exporters — especially Israel’s technology sector — since Israeli products and services become more costly in foreign markets.

According to the Bank of Israel, several developments have contributed to the shekel’s rapid climb. The ceasefire in the Middle East helped calm investor fears, lowered the perceived risk attached to Israeli assets, and encouraged foreign capital to flow back into the country. In addition, the weakening of the dollar, tied in part to President Trump’s economic policies, has naturally boosted other global currencies, including the shekel.

Economists also point to another major driver behind the rally: the American stock market. Israeli pension funds maintain large investments in U.S. equities and often hedge currency exposure by selling dollars and purchasing shekels. As Wall Street continues climbing, those hedging transactions have accelerated, further strengthening the Israeli currency.

Between August 2025 and February 2026, those currency-hedging activities are estimated to have involved roughly $23 billion in additional transactions. Economist Alex Zabezhinsky estimated that this factor alone may account for as much as 40% of the shekel’s recent gains.

The dramatic rise in the shekel is now creating growing pressure on policymakers at the Bank of Israel. Business leaders and exporters have increasingly urged the central bank to lower interest rates in an effort to weaken the currency and provide relief to Israeli companies competing overseas.

For now, however, the Bank of Israel has kept its benchmark interest rate at 4% — still higher than rates in both the United States and the eurozone — a policy that continues attracting investors to shekel-based assets.

Officials face a difficult balancing act. While lowering rates could ease pressure on exporters, it also risks reigniting inflation at a time when Israel continues dealing with war-related uncertainty and volatile energy prices.

Concern is also beginning to grow within the Israeli government itself. Israeli exports have steadily declined in recent years, falling from more than $76 billion in 2022 to under $59 billion last year.

In response, Israel’s Finance Ministry recently announced a new funding initiative focused on artificial intelligence, aimed at helping companies hurt by the shekel’s sharp rise remain competitive in global markets.

{Matzav.com}

Israel is escalating its military campaign along the northern border, with Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu making clear that operations in Lebanon are being broadened in scope and depth, aiming to secure key territory and strengthen defenses for communities in northern Israel.

Speaking Tuesday at the start of a security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu addressed the widening military push, emphasizing close alignment between the country’s political leadership and its top military officials as operations move forward.

“Under my direction and that of the Defense Minister, together with the Chief of Staff, we are deepening our operation in Lebanon,” the prime minister declared, underscoring unified leadership behind the ongoing campaign.

He explained that Israeli forces are increasing their presence on the ground, focusing on consolidating control over strategically important areas while reinforcing a buffer zone designed to protect Israeli towns near the border.

“The IDF is operating with large forces on the ground and is taking control of strategic areas. We are fortifying the security zone in order to protect the communities of northern Israel,” Netanyahu said, outlining the operational objectives guiding the current phase of the mission.

Beyond ground maneuvers, Netanyahu pointed to continued concern over aerial threats, particularly the growing use of explosive drones, and highlighted a nationwide effort to counter them through new technological approaches.

“We are conducting a massive national effort to advance creative and innovative solutions against explosive drones,” he stated, indicating that Israel is investing heavily in advanced defense capabilities to address evolving threats.

Closing his remarks, Netanyahu offered strong public backing to Israeli troops engaged in the campaign, praising their efforts and expressing confidence in their mission as they operate in high-risk areas.

“We support and praise our heroic commanders and soldiers. They are operating deep inside the field. We trust you.”

{Matzav.com}

The public is being asked to offer tefillos for the full recovery of the Gerer Rebbe, who is scheduled to undergo a planned medical procedure today.

According to sources, the procedure is connected to a medical complication from which the Rebbe has recently been suffering involving the sinus and eye areas, after doctors determined that the condition was affecting his vision.

Initially, physicians explored the possibility that the issue stemmed from another medical problem, but following additional examinations, doctors decided to move forward with the planned procedure.

Sources within Ger stressed that the procedure was scheduled in advance and, according to current medical assessments, is considered relatively limited and is not expected to last long.

The procedure is expected to take place at a medical center in Herzliya.

Following the treatment, the Rebbe is expected to spend approximately a week resting and recuperating in Kfar Shmaryahu together with close aides and attendants.

The public is being urged to continue davening for the complete and speedy recovery of Rav Yaakov Aryeh ben Yuta Henya.

{Matzav.com}

Reb Gedaliah Kook shared an emotional update this week on the condition of his father, the renowned mekubal and tzaddik Rav Dov Kook, describing moving moments at his bedside, ongoing tefillos, and what the family views as repeated medical miracles surrounding the revered rav’s condition.

Speaking on the “Hafuch Al Hafuch” program with Reb Moshe Ben Lulu, Reb Gedaliah said his father remains hospitalized in intensive care, partially sedated and on a ventilator, though some improvement has been seen in recent days.

“The Rav partially opened his eyes during Yom Tov,” he said, while stressing that the situation remains serious and that Rav Dov still desperately needs the tefillos of Klal Yisroel.

Reb Gedaliah recounted a particularly emotional moment that occurred beside his father’s hospital bed.

According to him, family members played some of Rav Dov’s favorite niggunim, prompting a visible emotional response from the weakened mekubal, who also grasped his son’s hand.

“That was the greatest thing that happened,” Reb Gedaliah said emotionally.

At the same time, he clarified that the rav has not yet fully regained consciousness.

“He is not really in a state of full awareness — it’s more like flickering,” he explained.

He added that family members and talmidim remain constantly at the bedside, surrounding the rav with uninterrupted Torah learning and tefillah.

Reb Gedaliah also revealed difficult details about his father’s longstanding health struggles, particularly the condition of his legs after years of prolonged standing during heartfelt tefillos on behalf of Klal Yisroel.

“His legs are almost black,” he said painfully.

He described how doctors in the past repeatedly warned that Rav Dov’s condition was severe, yet the rav continued recovering against all expectations.

“The Rav is accustomed to miracles,” he said, recalling instances in which physicians feared amputation would be necessary, only for the situation to dramatically improve.

One especially striking story involved a serious infection Rav Dov suffered several years ago.

According to Reb Gedaliah, doctors instructed the rav to undergo a full course of antibiotics, but Rav Dov took only a single pill, relying on his deep emunah.

“We had absolutely no reason to think it would disappear on its own, and the doctors were shocked,” he recounted.

Several months later, the infection reportedly vanished entirely, and Rav Dov returned to standing for long hours in davening.

“We are only people of little faith,” Reb Gedaliah added.

Toward the conclusion of the interview, he urged the public to continue davening fervently for his father’s recovery and not lose hope.

“It is the tefillos of Klal Yisroel that are sustaining the Rav,” he said.

He asked the public to continue mentioning the rav’s full name in tefillah: “Harav Dov ben Shoshana,” emphasizing that the tremendous outpouring of prayers is deeply felt around the rav’s bedside.

{Matzav.com}

A heated debate broke out Monday in the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee over a Transportation Ministry proposal to reduce the frequency of annual vehicle inspections for private cars, with lawmakers and industry representatives clashing over whether the reform would improve convenience or endanger public safety.

Under the proposal being advanced by the Transportation Ministry, privately owned vehicles up to seven or nine years old would undergo licensing inspections once every two years instead of annually.

Committee chairman David Bitan immediately challenged the economic justification behind the move.

“The fact that a person saves 100 shekels a year has no impact whatsoever on the cost of living,” Bitan said. “On the other hand, there is the issue of vehicle safety.”

Bitan proposed an alternative model under which inspection frequency would be based primarily on mileage, while still requiring at least one inspection every two years.

“There is a complete imbalance in determining this according to years alone,” he argued. “Leased vehicles travel tens of thousands of kilometers each year, while others travel only a few thousand. It makes no sense to apply the same rule to everyone.”

MK Sasson Guetta backed the proposal and argued that if the Transportation Ministry truly wanted to ease the financial burden on citizens, it should reduce vehicle licensing fees rather than weaken safety standards.

Deputy Director-General of the Regulatory Authority Guy Mor defended the reform, insisting that the primary savings would come not from the inspection fee itself, but from the time citizens spend dealing with the process.

“When someone dedicates half a day to a vehicle inspection, that’s worth a lot of money. This represents a national savings of about one billion shekels per year,” Mor said.

He also stated that only five percent of road accidents stem from mechanical failures, comments that triggered sharp backlash from representatives of the automotive repair industry.

Ronen Levy, chairman of the Garage Owners Association, argued that European countries are actually increasing inspection frequency because of declining safety standards and odometer fraud.

Attorney Raz Nizri, representing the vehicle inspection institutes, presented opposing data based on research by Professor Moshe Becker, claiming the proposed reduction in inspections would increase accidents and cause economic damages estimated at 4.3 billion shekels annually.

According to Nizri, the Transportation Ministry is ignoring the real financial consequences of traffic accidents.

Representatives of the inspection institutes added that the average vehicle inspection lasts only 26 minutes and argued that “all the Transportation Ministry is saving citizens is the cost of a falafel portion and a bottle of grape juice.”

On the other side of the debate, Neta Lee Graiver, CEO of the advocacy group “Our Interest,” supported the reform and dismissed the warnings as exaggerated.

“As a citizen, I wait two and a half hours outside the inspection institute,” she said. “It’s troubling to hear professionals claim that this inspection ‘is worthless anyway.’”

Yosef Naim, chairman of the tire industry association, warned that poor road infrastructure is causing accelerated tire deterioration and claimed that more than half of the vehicles inspected by Transportation Ministry mobile enforcement units are found with severe defects.

Jonathan Ilan, a representative of the National Road Safety Authority, noted that 168 people have been killed in traffic accidents since the beginning of the year.

He clarified that the authority does not oppose reducing inspection frequency for newer private vehicles, where no proven link has been found between mechanical failure and accidents. However, he said older and heavier vehicles show a direct correlation between wear, mileage, and safety risks.

A police representative similarly voiced support for applying the reform only to newer vehicles.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Bitan demanded that the Transportation Ministry halt advancement of the reform until a comprehensive professional review is completed.

He again urged officials to examine a mileage-based model and instructed the ministry to return to the committee within a week with detailed answers.

“We managed until now with the existing system,” Bitan said. “We can wait a little longer to receive a reliable safety report — and not endanger human lives in the name of reducing regulation.”

{Matzav.com}

Legendary singer Avraham Fried revealed this week that a remarkable moment of hashgachah pratis during a recent visit to the Ohel of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in New York inspired him to launch an unexpected new musical project — recording Jewish lullabies for children.

Fried shared the story during an in-depth interview with journalist Binyamin Lipkin on the debut episode of the “L’Binyamin Amar” podcast on the COL website, where he discussed personal moments from throughout his celebrated musical career.

The singer recounted that during a recent visit to the Rebbe’s kever, he davened for continued success in his music and performances.

“I asked for brachah and hatzlachah in singing, to continue performing and singing, etc.,” Fried recalled.

After leaving the Ohel, Fried entered an adjoining room where videos of the Lubavitcher Rebbe are continuously shown.

To his astonishment, the particular video playing at that exact moment featured the Rebbe speaking publicly about music during a farbrengen decades earlier.

“How many clips are there of the Rebbe speaking publicly about singing at farbrengens?” Fried asked rhetorically. “There aren’t many.”

Fried described the timing as extraordinary and deeply personal.

“Tell me this isn’t hashgachah,” he said. “I’m looking at the video, and the Rebbe says: ‘Before babies begin to speak, it was customary to lull them to sleep, according to the custom of elderly Jewish women, with a lullaby, Torah di beste sechora [the best merchandise]. And it is known what the Rashba writes regarding the customs of elderly Jewish women in Israel, how carefully they must be preserved.’”

Fried said he felt at that moment as though the Rebbe was speaking directly to him.

Inspired by the experience, he immediately decided to move forward with a completely new type of project.

“On the spot I decided: I’m going to make lullaby albums now,” Fried announced.

A new Channel 13 poll published Monday night shows former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s new political party losing momentum, while Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s bloc continues edging closer to a governing majority.

According to the survey, Bennett’s “Together” party dropped three seats compared to the previous Channel 13 poll, while the Netanyahu-led bloc together with the chareidi parties now stands at 56 seats, compared to 54 seats for the anti-Netanyahu bloc.

If elections were held today, Netanyahu’s Likud party would emerge as the largest faction in the Knesset with 25 seats, the poll found.

Bennett’s “Together” party fell sharply to 23 seats, down from 26 mandates in the previous survey.

Meanwhile, the “Yashar” party headed by Gadi Eisenkot continued gaining strength and is now projected to become the third-largest party in the Knesset with 14 seats — an increase of two seats from the network’s earlier poll.

Among the chareidi parties, the numbers remained unchanged. Shas, led by Aryeh Deri, held steady at 10 seats, while United Torah Judaism remained stable with 7 mandates.

Religious Zionism, headed by Bezalel Smotrich, narrowly crossed the electoral threshold with 4 seats, while Otzma Yehudit under Itamar Ben Gvir received 10 seats.

The Democrats party, led by Yair Golan, was projected to win 9 seats, while Yisrael Beiteinu under Avigdor Lieberman gained one additional seat and rose to 8 mandates.

Among the Arab parties, Hadash-Ta’al was projected to receive 6 seats, while Ra’am, led by Mansour Abbas, dropped to just 4 seats.

According to the poll, the Netanyahu bloc together with the chareidi factions now stands only two seats short of the 61-seat majority needed to form a government.

The anti-Netanyahu bloc was projected to receive 54 seats, while the Arab parties collectively accounted for 10 mandates.

{Matzav.com}

Qatar has reportedly provided Iran with massive financial assistance in recent weeks, according to sources cited Tuesday, as Tehran struggles under mounting economic pressure and the lingering effects of the American naval blockade.

The report, published by Yisroel Hayom, claims the Qatari government transferred significant sums of money to the Iranian regime following a series of contacts between Doha and Tehran over the past several weeks.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Monday with Iranian Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati in a meeting that, according to the report, highlighted Qatar’s increasingly deep involvement in supporting Iran economically — far beyond its previously known role as a mediator in negotiations.

According to the report, Iran’s financial situation has deteriorated sharply due to the U.S. maritime blockade. The country is reportedly facing severe difficulties paying public-sector salaries, financing food and goods imports, and maintaining financial support for members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Sources quoted in the report said Qatar transferred substantial financial aid to Iran after diplomatic contacts intensified in recent weeks.

According to those sources, relations between Doha and Tehran expanded significantly following the ceasefire reached more than a month ago.

The report claimed one of Qatar’s main motivations was to prevent another Iranian strike against its territory after Qatar came under attack during the war.

Israel Hayom noted that following the ceasefire, both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were reportedly targeted in separate incidents, while Qatar remained untouched.

One source cited in the report said the two countries are also engaged in secret discussions aimed at reaching a broader arrangement that could include Qatari assistance in developing the enormous shared natural gas field jointly controlled by Iran and Qatar.

{Matzav.com}

Shas faction chairman Yinon Azoulay launched a sharp attack Tuesday against Israel’s attorney general and several coalition lawmakers following the decision to revoke yeshiva students’ eligibility for the government’s “Discounted Apartment” housing lottery program.

Azoulay accused the officials of effectively increasing the chances that terrorists and their families would benefit from the subsidized housing initiative while excluding Torah learners.

The Shas MK directed criticism at Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara along with coalition lawmakers Yuli Edelstein, Dan Illouz, Ofir Sofer, and Sharren Haskel over the controversy surrounding the housing program.

According to Azoulay, “The families of terrorists are thanking the attorney general today, along with those members of Knesset who call themselves ‘right-wing,’ who joined forces with the dismissed attorney general and with their own hands increased the chances of terrorists winning ‘Discounted Apartment’ lotteries by excluding Torah learners from participating.”

He continued by condemning what he described as a reversal of priorities in the Jewish state.

“It is unbelievable that in the Jewish state, instead of strengthening those who dedicate their lives to Torah study and to the Jewish identity of the state, they are strengthening terrorists.”

Azoulay also made clear that Shas does not intend to retreat from the fight over the issue.

“It won’t help you — we will not surrender. ‘The more they oppressed them, the more they multiplied and spread.’ Torah learners will continue to sit and learn, because money does not interest them.”

{Matzav.com}

Shin Bet chief David Zini met in the United Arab Emirates with former senior Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan, according to a report Tuesday by Kan News citing Israeli and regional sources.

The meeting has drawn attention because Dahlan has repeatedly been mentioned in international discussions as a leading candidate to play a major role in governing Gaza after the war.

Responding to the report, the Shin Bet issued a brief statement saying: “We do not comment on the schedule of the head of the service.”

Dahlan, once one of the most powerful figures in Fatah, previously headed the Palestinian Authority’s Preventive Security apparatus in Gaza. For years, he has lived in exile in Abu Dhabi.

In July 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that American, Israeli, and Arab officials had identified Dahlan as the leading candidate to oversee Gaza in the postwar era.

At the time, Dahlan rejected the idea publicly. Speaking to Sky News Arabia, he said: “I have stated more than once my refusal to accept any security, ministerial or executive role, and I call for the formulation of a realistic and practical international work plan that will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”

Earlier this year, it was also reported that former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with Dahlan in Abu Dhabi.

The revelation comes weeks after reports surfaced that Shin Bet director David Zini made a rare and highly unusual visit to the UAE amid the ceasefire and rising tensions involving Iran, signaling increasingly close security coordination between Jerusalem and Gulf states.

The Wall Street Journal reported this month that Mossad chief Dedi Barnea also traveled to the UAE during the war with Iran.

According to the newspaper, Barnea visited the country at least twice during the 40-day conflict in order to coordinate security matters related to the fighting.

Arab officials and another informed source told the Journal that the secret visits took place during March and April.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Former National Security Adviser John Bolton sharply criticized the Trump administration’s negotiations with Iran on Monday, arguing that any pause in military pressure gives Tehran valuable time to regroup and rebuild after weeks of Israeli attacks.

Appearing on CNN’s “The Lead,” Bolton said he believes the ongoing diplomatic effort should collapse rather than produce a ceasefire agreement.

“I hope the negotiations break down, because every day that goes by is a gift to Iran. It gives them 24 more hours to recover from the pummeling they took during the six weeks of Israeli attack. It gives them time to try and reconstitute their government, which increasingly looks dysfunctional and decision-making capability. And it postpones the day of reckoning. Ultimately, when the threat that they posed to control over the Strait of Hormuz is resolved in a way that they never come back and do it again, I think the ceasefire was a mistake.”

Bolton warned that the Trump administration risks squandering strategic gains achieved through military action against the Islamic Republic.

“I think these negotiations are a mistake. I think we’re on the verge of something that ultimately history will decide was a catastrophic loss for the United States. We have we have done significant damage to the Islamic Republic of Iran. And right now, we’re letting them undo the damage. And that that is a real tragedy, not just for us, but for the people in the region.”

CNN host Pamela Brown pressed Bolton on whether he would still oppose a deal even if Iran agreed to major American demands involving its nuclear program.

“So you think even if a deal is reached and, Iran commits to some of the sticking points that the U.S. wants, like moving all the enriched uranium out, that that would still be a failure.”

Bolton responded skeptically, saying the details of the negotiations appear to shift constantly and accusing Iran of deliberately dragging out the process.

“Well, the it’s very hard to know what the terms they’re discussing are since they change day by day. But but it seems a constant that the uranium issues kicked down the road for at least 60 days. This is what Iran wants. They want more time. 60 days turns into six months and then it turns into more than that. I don’t think Donald Trump is analyzing what America’s strategic interests are here. I think he’s looking at the price of gas at the pump, and he’s doing whatever he can to bring it down.”

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{Matzav.com}

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney sharply criticized Israel during a phone conversation Monday with Israeli President Isaac Herzog over Israel’s interception of a pro-Gaza flotilla last week, intensifying growing diplomatic friction between Ottawa and Israel.

According to AFP, Carney condemned Israel’s handling of activists aboard the vessel and accused Israeli authorities of mistreating those involved in the maritime confrontation.

An official statement released by the Canadian government said Carney denounced what he called the “appalling treatment” of activists on the ship and described the actions taken by Israeli forces as “unacceptable.”

The discussion came amid mounting international backlash over National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s filmed confrontation with participants aboard the anti-Israel flotilla headed toward Gaza. Among those aboard were 12 Canadian citizens.

During the call with Herzog, Carney pushed for an independent probe into the naval operation and also “strongly condemned” comments made by Ben Gvir, according to the government statement.

The diplomatic dispute marks the latest step in Canada’s increasingly confrontational response to the incident. Ottawa announced last week that it would summon Israel’s ambassador to formally seek answers regarding the treatment of Canadian nationals involved in the flotilla.

The controversy has also spread into Europe. France has barred Ben Gvir from entering the country, while French officials are reportedly working alongside Italy and Spain to encourage the European Union to impose sanctions on the Israeli minister.

Carney, who succeeded Justin Trudeau as both Liberal Party leader and Canadian prime minister, has previously drawn criticism for remarks viewed as hostile toward Israel.

During a campaign appearance in Calgary last year, Carney responded after a protester shouted, “Mr. Carney, there is a genocide happening in Palestine,” pausing to reply, “Thank you…I’m aware. Which is why we have an arms embargo.”

Afterward, Carney attempted to clarify the exchange, telling reporters he had not actually heard the word “genocide” and had instead been referring generally to Canada’s existing restrictions on arms exports.

“I didn’t hear that word,” Carney said. “It’s noisy. If you’re up there you hear snippets of what people say and I heard Gaza, and my point was I’m aware of the situation in Gaza.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu forcefully responded at the time, criticizing Carney’s rhetoric and defending Israel’s war effort.

“Canada has always sided with civilization. So should Mr. Carney. But instead of supporting Israel, a democracy that is fighting a just war with just means against the barbarians of Hamas, he attacks the one and only Jewish state. Mr. Carney, backtrack your irresponsible statement!”

Last summer, Carney also announced plans for Canada to recognize a Palestinian state, a move that sparked concern among several Jewish and multicultural organizations.

B’nai Brith Canada and a coalition of community leaders later sent Carney a letter warning against the decision. The letter stated that such recognition “could embarrass Canada, compound the crisis in the Middle East, and further push Israelis and Palestinians away from establishing a two-state solution.”

{Matzav.com}

As high-stakes negotiations over Iran’s nuclear material continue behind closed doors, President Donald Trump used Truth Social once again to underscore what he portrays as a dramatically tougher approach toward Tehran compared to previous administrations.

On Monday, Trump shared a viral-style image contrasting his handling of Iran with that of President Barack Obama, reinforcing his administration’s message that military pressure and uncompromising demands — not financial incentives — define current U.S. policy.

The image, formatted as a side-by-side “split-panel” meme, juxtaposed “Obama’s Iran Policy” against “Trump’s Iran Policy,” highlighting what Trump allies describe as a complete break from earlier diplomatic approaches toward the Islamic Republic.

One side of the graphic displayed massive bundles of money stacked on pallets and labeled “Pallets of Cash,” an apparent reference to the controversial cash payments delivered to Iran during implementation of the Obama-era nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA.

In sharp contrast, the second panel showed the U.S. Navy destroyer DDG 50 launching missiles during an intense naval confrontation, symbolizing overwhelming American military strength and Trump’s preference for forceful deterrence rather than economic concessions.

The post appeared shortly after Trump publicly declared that no final nuclear agreement with Iran would move forward unless international inspectors directly observe the destruction of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile.

In a Truth Social message, Trump outlined the conditions he expects for eliminating Tehran’s nuclear materials.

“The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!) will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place or, at another acceptable location, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, being witness to this process and event. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump wrote.

Trump said Saturday that details surrounding a possible agreement with Iran would be made public “shortly.”

Soon afterward, The New York Times reported that negotiations between Washington and Tehran are centered around one major condition involving Iran’s nuclear stockpile.

According to two American officials cited by the newspaper, the tentative framework being discussed would require Iran to surrender its highly enriched uranium reserves entirely — a condition the report said Iranian officials had tentatively agreed to.

Still, American officials acknowledged Sunday that the completion of the memorandum of understanding between the two sides may not happen immediately.

A senior U.S. official quoted by CNN said bureaucratic delays inside Iran’s government are slowing the process as Tehran works through internal approval procedures tied to the precise wording of the agreement.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

For years, liberal and Reform organizations have presumed to speak on behalf of Diaspora Jewry, including American Jews, while advancing their agenda at the Kotel.

This week, that changed.

A bill was introduced in the Knesset’s Constitution Committee that would grant the Chief Rabbinite official jurisdiction over the Kotel, designating it as a formal Makom Kodosh. The legislation would prohibit Nashot HaKotel from conducting protest activities at the site.

As expected, liberal and Reform representatives appeared at the committee –  loudly proclaiming, in the name of American Jewry, that such a move would sever the bond between the Jewish people and their holiest site.

For the first time, they were not the only voice in the room.

Our voters brought us into the WZO, and it was that representation that gave us the ability to walk into the Knesset and speak on their behalf. Standing before the Constitution Committee, we made a historic declaration: This is what American Jews actually want. This is what Diaspora Jewry wants. Stop speaking in our name.

“We are the ones who speak in our name,” said Rabbi Nechemya Malinowitz, a member of the leadership of Eretz HaKodesh, at the committee. “And what we want is a Kotel that remains kodesh.”

Also present was Esther Jacobs, who stood before the committee and spoke powerfully in the name of the women, declaring where they truly stand.

For the first time in an official capacity, the authentic voice of American Orthodox Jewry was heard in the halls of the Knesset, standing firm to protect the kedusha of the Kotel for generations to come.

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​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

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A report published by Middle East Eye claims that the United States and Israel are quietly advancing a dramatic proposal that would dismantle Jordan’s longstanding custodianship over the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Yerushalayim and replace it with a new governing structure more closely aligned with Israeli oversight and interests.

According to multiple American, Jordanian, Palestinian, Gulf Arab, and Western sources cited in the report, the initiative is being championed by President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. The proposal would reportedly end the authority of the Jordanian-backed Islamic Waqf and establish a new Israeli-created administrative body that would redefine the Al-Aqsa compound as a “multi-faith centre.”

Officials familiar with the discussions told Middle East Eye that the proposed framework would permit Jews “equal access” to the site and officially authorize organized Jewish prayer there in large groups.

Under the alleged arrangement, Israel would also gain substantial influence over the appointment of imams, mosque administrators, and preachers, while additionally taking part in approving the content delivered in Friday sermons.

Two American officials told the outlet that Washington had already prepared a draft outlining its vision for the future of the compound. According to those sources, the Trump administration envisions transforming Al-Aqsa from an exclusively Muslim religious site into a tourist destination representing all three Abrahamic faiths.

A Western official and another source briefed by Jordanian authorities said one proposal under discussion would create a rotating oversight structure involving multiple Arab countries.

According to those sources, Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates have already been briefed on the American initiative.

However, two Gulf Arab sources and another individual familiar with Jordanian deliberations said Saudi Arabia strongly opposes the proposal, viewing it as dangerously destabilizing.

Sources cited in the report said Israel first presented the concept to the Trump administration nearly ten years ago, but that the effort intensified after Huckabee assumed his diplomatic post last year. According to the report, Huckabee “repeatedly” urged Washington to move forward with the plan.

Huckabee, an Evangelical Christian and longtime supporter of Israel, has consistently backed Israeli settlement activity in disputed territories and has advocated for expanded Jewish rights on Har Habayis.

One source close to the Jordanian government told the outlet that “the Americans have been angry that the Jordanians cite their custodianship and raise complaints about Israeli actions at Al-Aqsa”.

The tensions have escalated in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Jordan’s parliament condemned Israeli efforts to seize Palestinian property and Islamic endowments in areas surrounding the mosque compound.

Sources interviewed by Middle East Eye said the proposal leaves unresolved questions surrounding Yerushalayim’s Christian holy sites.

Jordan’s royal family also serves as custodian of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Church of the Ascension, and maintains veto power over the appointment of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Yerushalayim.

“This plan says nothing about the Christian sites, which raises a whole new set of concerns,” one of the sources said.

A Jordanian government official insisted that the kingdom’s position regarding Yerushalayim remains unchanged and emphasized that the Hashemite custodianship is recognized internationally through treaties and formal agreements, including the 1994 peace treaty between Israel and Jordan.

The official said Jordan continues coordinating with Palestinian, Arab, and international partners to preserve the sites’ “Arab, Islamic and Christian identity” and block attempts to alter the historical status quo.

For decades, the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound has operated under a carefully maintained arrangement preserving its standing as an exclusively Islamic holy site.

Following the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel and Jordan reached an understanding under which the Islamic Waqf would retain control over internal religious administration while Israel handled outside security responsibilities.

Although non-Muslims may visit during designated hours, Jewish prayer at the site is officially prohibited under the current arrangement.

For Jews, the area is revered as Har Habayis, the location where the two Batei Mikdash once stood — first the Beis Hamikdash built by Shlomo Hamelech and later the Second Temple destroyed by the Romans.

Jordanian and Palestinian officials reportedly believe the emerging proposal resembles the arrangement imposed at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Chevron after the 1994 massacre carried out by an Israeli settler.

Following that attack, Israel formally divided the site between Muslim and Jewish worshippers, allocating 63 percent for Jewish prayer and 37 percent for Muslims despite the location’s significance to all three major monotheistic faiths.

For Jordan’s Hashemite monarchy, control over Al-Aqsa is viewed as a central pillar of the kingdom’s legitimacy and standing in the Muslim world.

The Hashemites trace their custodianship over Yerushalayim’s holy sites back to 1924 during the British Mandate period following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the end of the Islamic Caliphate.

After losing control of Mecca and Medina to the Saudi royal family, the Hashemites were granted responsibility for Muslim and Christian holy sites in Yerushalayim.

Jordan’s role was later formally acknowledged in its peace treaty with Israel, which recognized Amman’s “special role” concerning Yerushalayim’s Islamic holy places.

Still, Jordanian and Palestinian leaders have long argued that Israeli governments and nationalist activist groups have steadily weakened that arrangement over time.

Repeated Israeli police operations inside the compound, growing visits by nationalist Jewish activists, and calls by Israeli ministers to allow Jewish prayer at the site have fueled accusations that Israel is gradually reshaping the status quo.

Waqf officials have also accused Israel of severely restricting maintenance and repair work at the compound while imposing increasing limitations on Muslim worshippers.

Mustafa Abu Sway, deputy chairman of the Waqf council, declined to directly address Jordan’s diminishing influence but described the Hashemite role as “a cornerstone for stability in the region”.

He added that Palestinians regard the custodianship “strategically as a lifeline” and said Jordan has consistently defended the historic arrangement at international institutions such as UNESCO.

“The Hashemite Custodianship is a cornerstone for stability in the region, undermining it is tantamount to undermining the very principles for peace”.

The Yerushalayim Governorate said it had not been officially informed about such a proposal but declared that it “reject[s] it entirely”.

Officials there warned of what they described as a “dangerous escalation” in Israeli interference with Waqf operations, including restrictions placed on guards and employees and increasing visits by Jewish activists.

Two Gulf Arab sources told the outlet that Jordan would likely seek broader regional support to counter the reported American-Israeli initiative.

Despite Jordan’s growing diplomatic ties with the UAE, the sources said Saudi Arabia would almost certainly oppose any move that weakens the Hashemite custodianship.

“Saudi Arabia fully understands that if any moves are taken against the Hashemite custodianship, then that would inflame the entire region,” one Gulf Arab source said.

Another Gulf Arab source described the custodianship as “a pillar of regional stability”, adding: “The Saudis may have disagreements with Jordan on some issues, but on Yerushalayim and Al-Aqsa they understand the consequences of dismantling the existing arrangement”.

The report also said Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah has developed increasingly close ties with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in recent years, particularly after several Arab states normalized relations with Israel.

Still, the sources acknowledged uncertainty about how Saudi Arabia would react if the UAE or Bahrain publicly endorsed the proposal.

Since signing the Abraham Accords in 2020, both Bahrain and the UAE have dramatically expanded political, economic, and security cooperation with Israel despite growing outrage across the Arab world over developments in Yerushalayim and Gaza.

The UAE in particular has become Israel’s closest Arab ally, broadening ties in trade, defense, energy, and technology.

Officials cited in the report expressed concern that Emirati-backed interfaith initiatives promoting “multi-faith coexistence” could eventually be used to justify changes at Al-Aqsa.

In 2023, the UAE opened a major interfaith center housing a church, synagogue, and mosque together on one campus.

Bahrain has likewise maintained close cooperation with Israel and has defended those ties as strategically necessary in confronting Iran.

According to the report, Bahraini officials have generally refrained from publicly criticizing Israeli policy in Yerushalayim, increasing fears among Palestinian and Jordanian officials that Manama may ultimately support changes at the holy site.

“They [UAE and Bahrain] understand how explosive this issue is in the Arab and Muslim world,” one of the sources said.

“Given that they are closely aligned with Israel, they should be cautious about publicly supporting changes to the status quo,” they added.

Middle East Eye said it contacted the foreign ministries of Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE but received no response before publication.

After the article appeared, an American official issued a brief denial rejecting the report outright and calling the claims that Washington was working to remove Jordan’s custodianship “totally false.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Deputy Minister Yisroel Eichler launched a sharp attack Monday night against Israeli police and the judicial system over attempts to arrest yeshiva bochurim, accusing authorities of targeting Torah students whose “only crime,” he said, is learning Torah.

In a strongly worded statement, Eichler condemned what he described as efforts “to hunt down and arrest innocent yeshiva students in the streets.”

According to Eichler, “their only sin is Torah study.” He argued that the judicial system has become a “dictatorial regime of those who persecute Torah and those who learn it,” and charged that the police have been “dragged into carrying out humiliating arrests against Torah learners who committed no crime.”

Eichler also sharply criticized police conduct surrounding enforcement of military draft regulations, saying that “the police, which failed to eliminate crime, must take into account the historic consequences of a war between armed police officers and students.”

He further warned that “history will record a mark of shame upon those who persecute innocent Jews devoted to Torah.”

The deputy minister said the proper role of law enforcement is “to preserve public order and protect Jews whose entire desire is to uphold the Torah of Israel,” warning that what he called the ongoing persecution “could lead to innocent blood being spilled.”

Concluding his remarks, Eichler urged Israeli police officers “not to listen to the jurists,” claiming that they “are attempting to undermine the foundations of Jewish existence in Eretz Yisroel.”

{Matzav.com}