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Tens of thousands of mispallelim expected to visit Kever Rochel for the yahrtzeit of Rochel Imeinu this week will encounter major changes in transportation and access arrangements, with organizers introducing a new system modeled after the annual Lag Ba’omer gathering in Meron. Under the revised plan, buses will no longer bring passengers directly to the entrance of the kever, and visitors will instead be required to walk approximately ten minutes in each direction.

The new arrangements will take effect beginning Wednesday night and continuing through Thursday, 11 Cheshvan, when large crowds traditionally travel to Kever Rochel to daven on the yahrtzeit. Organizers hope the changes will eliminate the severe traffic congestion and lengthy delays that have repeatedly disrupted transportation during previous years.

According to sources, this year’s preparations have also involved a change in the company responsible for managing the event. For the first time, the production contract was awarded through a competitive bidding process following a directive from legal advisers at Israel’s Ministry of Religious Services.

In previous years, the annual gathering was organized by Azrieli Productions. This year, however, the contract was awarded to Kapayim Productions, which will oversee the logistical arrangements and coordination of the large-scale event.

The company’s producer visited the site during the past week to familiarize himself with the layout of the complex and assess the particular requirements of the chareidi public, which makes up a substantial portion of those who visit the kever during the yahrtzeit.

The preparations are taking place under significant financial constraints. According to the report, the entire budget allocated for this year’s event is just 900,000 shekels, considerably less than the amounts provided in previous years.

Organizers have also been required to cover expenses unrelated to the usual arrangements for the yahrtzeit, including the relocation of protective shelters that were installed at the complex during the war with Iran.

Until recently, the shelters were positioned near the entrance to the kever. To accommodate the anticipated crowds and free up space in the immediate vicinity of the entrance, they have now been transferred to the upper parking lot.

The relocation alone cost approximately 50,000 shekels, consuming more than five percent of the total event budget and leaving organizers with fewer resources for other aspects of the operation.

The most significant change for visitors, however, involves the route between the buses and the kever itself.

In previous years, buses carrying mispallelim were permitted to proceed through the security corridor leading from Checkpoint 300 to the entrance of the complex. Passengers were dropped off close to the kever, allowing them to reach the site with relatively little walking.

That arrangement frequently created serious transportation problems. The narrow entrance road and nearby traffic circle became congested as buses continuously entered and exited, resulting in substantial delays and lengthy waiting periods for those attempting to arrive or depart.

Under the new system, buses will stop before the yellow security gate rather than continuing through the corridor toward the kever. Passengers will disembark at that point and proceed on foot to the complex.

The walk is expected to take approximately ten minutes each way, and the same arrangement will apply to visitors returning to their buses after davening.

Organizers believe that keeping buses away from the narrow entrance will allow traffic to move more efficiently and prevent the bottlenecks that have plagued previous gatherings.

An official involved in managing the event compared the new arrangements directly to the transportation system used for the massive annual gathering at the kever of Rav Shimon bar Yochai in Meron.

“Just as in Meron, where buses drop off the public at the bottom of the mountain and there is a walk of approximately 20 minutes to the kever, we have adopted the same idea here,” the official told Emess. “It is far preferable to the collapse of the transportation system that occurred every year.”

Special accommodations will be available for elderly visitors and individuals with disabilities who cannot comfortably make the walk. Organizers will operate small electric vehicles, including golf carts, to transport those requiring assistance between the drop-off area and the kever.

Additional details published by the National Center for the Development of Holy Sites confirm that private vehicles and buses will not be permitted to enter the Kever Rochel complex during the yahrtzeit. Pedestrians will be allowed to travel along the designated route from the Rosemary Junction area to the kever, subject to security instructions.

Dedicated bus service will operate from the western parking lot of Teddy Stadium in Yerushalayim, near Gates 8 and 9. Routes 662 and 663 will transport passengers directly to the designated drop-off area near the yellow gate.

The special service is scheduled to operate Wednesday, October 21, from 3 p.m. until 6 a.m. Thursday, and again Thursday, October 22, from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. Passengers will be charged the regular urban public transportation fare and are being advised to load their Rav-Kav cards in advance, as reloading facilities will not be available at the site.

Regular bus routes 163 and 238 will not operate during the yahrtzeit arrangements, and several nearby bus stops will be temporarily closed. Officials have also warned that waiting times and congestion remain possible despite the new transportation plan.

The revised arrangements represent the first year that the Meron-style system will be implemented at Kever Rochel. Following the yahrtzeit, organizers intend to review the operation, evaluate the effectiveness of the changes and determine whether further adjustments will be necessary for future years.

{Matzav.com}

A late-night emergency alert warning that military police were attempting to arrest a Ger chassidishe yungerman in Arad sent local residents rushing to his home early Monday morning, only for the entire incident to turn out to be a false alarm. The officers involved were members of the regular Israel Police rather than the military police, and no arrest connected to the military draft was taking place.

The incident unfolded at approximately 1 a.m., when an urgent notification circulated through the chareidi community claiming that military authorities had arrived at a residence on Yehuda Street to arrest an avreich. The alert called on residents to immediately gather outside the home to support the man and his family and prevent the suspected arrest.

“Right now, the military police are attempting to arrest an avreich at his home in the city of Arad, at 28 Yehuda Street. The public is called upon to come and support the avreich and his family,” the original message stated.

The warning quickly prompted residents to head toward the address, reflecting the heightened sensitivity surrounding the ongoing arrests of yeshiva bochurim and avreichim who have been classified by military authorities as draft evaders.

Initial reports circulating in the community identified the individual as a member of Ger and claimed that military police officers had arrived at his residence to take him into custody. Approximately fifteen minutes after the original alert, additional messages indicated that the officers had departed.

However, representatives of Ger subsequently clarified that the incident had nothing to do with the arrest of a draft evader. They explained that the officers who had visited the location were from the regular Israel Police and had no connection to the military authorities responsible for enforcing draft requirements.

The clarification established that the emergency notification had been issued because the circumstances surrounding the police activity had been incorrectly interpreted as an attempted military arrest.

The alert was distributed by Tzeva Shachor, or “Black Color,” an emergency notification network that monitors military enforcement activity involving yeshiva bochurim and alerts local communities when arrests are suspected.

Following the incident, the organization issued an official clarification acknowledging that its initial warning had been incorrect.

“During the incident, several indications and factors were received that raised a well-founded concern about activity by the military enforcement authorities,” the organization explained. “In accordance with our obligation to act quickly for the benefit of the public, the necessary alert was activated.”

The organization said the misunderstanding became clear only after residents arrived at the location and established the circumstances of the police visit.

“Once the public arrived at the scene and all the details of the incident were clarified on the ground, we were pleased to discover that this was an incident unrelated to the military police,” the statement continued.

Tzeva Shachor emphasized that its personnel work to verify incoming reports while maintaining the ability to issue warnings quickly when yeshiva bochurim or avreichim are believed to be facing arrest.

The Arad incident follows several confrontations involving military police and chareidi residents in recent weeks. Earlier this month, hundreds of people gathered in Modiin after a military police operation targeting a suspected draft evader triggered a similar emergency notification.

In that incident, the alert network helped mobilize hundreds of residents within minutes, and Set featured imagethe attempted arrest was ultimately abandoned after confrontations developed between the crowd and security personnel.

According to Israeli television reporting, a subsequent IDF review found that approximately 700 people had gathered within ten minutes of the alert. Military officials concluded that the seven-member arrest team had been insufficiently prepared for the rapid arrival of protesters.

Tensions surrounding military enforcement have continued to produce demonstrations in other locations. On Sunday, protesters from the Yerushalmi faction blocked Highway 4 near the Yavne interchange following the detention of two yeshiva students. Police deployed stun grenades and a water cannon before reopening the roadway.

The mistaken alert in Arad ended without a military arrest or any confirmed confrontation involving military police. Nevertheless, the speed with which residents responded underscored the atmosphere of heightened vigilance within chareidi communities amid continuing military enforcement activity against those who have not reported for enlistment.

{Matzav.com}

Leading roshei yeshiva and members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah gathered in Bnei Brak on Motzoei Shabbos for an emergency election assembly, warning that a growing movement among some yeshiva bochurim against participating in the upcoming Israeli elections could seriously undermine the chareidi community’s political strength. Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch delivered particularly forceful addresses, stressing that every vote matters and that declining to participate could constitute a serious chillul Hashem.

The gathering, held at the Wolf Seminary in Bnei Brak, brought together members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, prominent roshei yeshiva and mashgichim from major yeshivos throughout Eretz Yisroel. The rabbonim addressed what they described as the extraordinary responsibility facing the Torah community in the current election, particularly amid ongoing battles over the status of yeshiva bochurim and the future of the yeshiva world.

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher opened the gathering with brief remarks about the importance of the election and the determination of the chareidi community to withstand efforts to weaken its institutions.

“We have the strength of Torah, we have the Gedolei and Meorei Yisroel according to whose guidance we live,” Asher declared. “You will not succeed in dismantling this large community!”

Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, addressed the gathering next, emphasizing that the obligation to make the necessary efforts to protect the Torah community is especially pressing under the present circumstances. He said the approach of participating in elections to safeguard Torah interests had been established by the Chazon Ish and followed by subsequent Gedolei Yisroel.

“We all know very well that the obligation of hishtadlus is clear, and on the contrary, in a situation like this, the obligation is doubled and redoubled to increase the number of representatives and the number of voters for the Gimmel list,” Rav Landau said. “This is the path that Maran the Chazon Ish, zecher tzaddik livrachah, instructed us to follow, and all the Gedolei Yisroel after him, to save Yavneh and its sages by sending representatives to the elections.”

Rav Landau warned that a decline in voter participation could be interpreted as a weakening of the community’s commitment to Torah, and he emphasized that personal grievances against particular individuals should not determine whether someone participates in the election.

“When the number of voters increases, the Name of Heaven is elevated, and we proclaim, ‘Moshe is true and his Torah is true,’ and ‘We have no other measure but this Torah,’” Rav Landau said. “And, Heaven forbid, a chillul Hashem could result if, for all kinds of reasons or complaints against individuals, people evade their obligation to vote. Even more serious is when the value of Torah is not the only value guiding them. Especially when every vote can be decisive, and every vote is counted and matters.”

He further cautioned that votes cast for other parties in predominantly chareidi communities could be used by opponents of the Torah world to argue that the younger generation is abandoning its traditions.

“Every vote in chareidi areas that goes to other things causes our persecutors to claim that, Heaven forbid, the next generation is distancing itself from the heritage of its fathers, rachmana litzlan,” Rav Landau warned.

Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, focused his remarks on what he described as a troubling change in attitude among certain segments of the yeshiva community. He acknowledged that some bochurim have begun questioning the value of voting, arguing that previous elections have failed to bring about meaningful changes.

“Seemingly, everything the rosh yeshiva, shlita, said is straightforward: Everyone must vote, and every rosh yeshiva must approach his talmidim and instruct them to vote,” Rav Hirsch said. “But in practice, we cannot ignore the fact that within the yeshiva world there is a certain negative awakening, with the argument: Why should we go vote now? After all, everything that was will continue without any change.”

Rav Hirsch rejected that reasoning, stressing that the strength of the Torah community depends on its ability to demonstrate broad public support. He urged roshei yeshiva to explain to their talmidim that political negotiations and communal efforts often involve considerations that are not visible to the general public.

“Heaven forbid, if the number of voters decreases, it is a terrible chillul Hashem, and that alone is sufficient reason to vote,” Rav Hirsch declared. “Our entire purpose in speaking to the bochurim is to tell them: Don’t think you know everything. There are things that can be accomplished that you don’t know about, and you must trust that there are certainly things that will be done, that there will be changes for the better. But that is only on condition that you come out to vote and that we have strength. Because without strength, it is impossible to carry out the changes.”

Rav Hirsch then presented a letter from his father-in-law, Rav Boruch Dov Povarsky, rosh yeshiva of Ponovezh, which had been read to him beforehand.

In the letter, Rav Povarsky cited the longstanding position attributed to the Chazon Ish that participating in elections represents a public declaration of allegiance to Torah and its authority.

“We have a tradition from the Chazon Ish that voting is an expression of ‘Hashem is G-d,’ and that we desire the rule of Torah and its mitzvos,” Rav Povarsky wrote. “One who votes sanctifies the Name of Heaven, and one who does not vote does the opposite.”

Rav Povarsky explained that the authority of Gedolei Yisroel is rooted in their lifelong dedication to Torah learning, and that their guidance must therefore be regarded as an expression of the Torah’s direction for the community.

“The Holy One, blessed be He, gave the Torah so that the Torah would tell us what to do,” the letter stated. “And how does the Torah tell us what to do? The talmidei chachomim who have learned Torah their entire lives — they are the Torah! And what they say is what the Torah itself says, and we listen to the voice of Torah. And the Torah says to vote.”

He went on to describe the current political struggle as an open confrontation between those devoted to Torah and those seeking to undermine the authority of Torah scholars.

“The war now is an open war by those who hate Torah and spirituality, the war of amei ha’aretz who hate talmidei chachomim,” Rav Povarsky wrote. “The entire war is about one thing: The Torah is found with the sages of Yisroel, and they want to destroy the Torah sages and Yiddishkeit, so that the sages of Yisroel will no longer instruct people how to conduct themselves, but the opposite, rachmana litzlan.”

Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, rosh yeshiva of Rashbi and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, also delivered an address emphasizing the seriousness of the election and the threats facing the Torah community.

“Regarding the importance of the elections before us, unfortunately, we are in a great war over Yiddishkeit, where they truly want to destroy the entire essence of Klal Yisroel, and we are obligated to demonstrate mesirus nefesh for this,” Rav Bergman said.

He identified the battle over the military draft of yeshiva bochurim as the central issue facing the community and stressed that the chareidi representatives must remain committed to protecting those engaged in Torah learning.

“These elections are solely about preserving the Torah world, so that no bochur should go into the army, Heaven forbid,” Rav Bergman said. “And our representatives will stand firm on this, with Hashem’s help. Everyone is obligated to act for this and vote for the United Torah Judaism list, and may the Holy One, blessed be He, help that all the decrees against us be annulled, and may we soon merit the arrival of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, speedily in our days.”

Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, rosh yeshiva of Mir and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, spoke about the extraordinary value of bnei Torah and the responsibility to protect the institutions in which they learn.

“Bnei Torah are more precious than gold,” Rav Finkel said. “Rav Chaim Kanievsky, ztz”l, once told me that if, Heaven forbid, a Sefer Torah falls together with a talmid chochom, one must first lift up the talmid chochom and afterward the Sefer Torah. Bnei Torah are the holiest thing. Bnei Torah are heavenly angels, because Torah is the greatest protection.”

Rav Finkel questioned how anyone could allow personal considerations or political frustrations to outweigh the instructions of Gedolei Yisroel at a time when the Torah community is facing mounting pressure.

“When the Gedolei Yisroel ask us to do a small thing in order to sanctify the Name of Heaven, we see that the spiritual flood and this war are increasing from day to day,” Rav Finkel said. “What difference do all the calculations and personal interests make? A person who refrains from voting now because of calculations and interests demonstrates that all the times he voted until now, it did not come from faith in the sages.”

Rav Shlomo Steinman, rosh yeshiva of Orchos Torah, drew on the tefillos of the Yomim Noraim to explain why public recognition of the Torah community carries religious significance.

“During the Yomim Noraim, we davened, ‘And so, Hashem, grant honor to Your people,’” Rav Steinman said. “Seemingly, we are supposed to flee from honor, so why are we asking for honor? The answer is that we are not seeking personal honor. We are asking that Klal Yisroel and those who learn Torah be honored!”

Rav Steinman recalled the teachings of his father, Rav Aharon Leib Steinman, who had emphasized that elections provide an opportunity for the Torah community to demonstrate its continued strength.

“Each individual cannot accomplish very much on his own, but when there are many people, that is what makes it possible to bring honor to Heaven publicly,” Rav Steinman said. “My father, ztz”l, would say that elections for the government are primarily a kiddush Hashem, demonstrating that the number of those who observe Torah and mitzvos has not diminished. And if, Heaven forbid, the community becomes smaller, it can cause a chillul Hashem. Regarding chillul Hashem, it is written that only death, Heaven forbid, provides atonement. But it is also written that making a kiddush Hashem can atone for a chillul Hashem. So we have an opportunity to make a kiddush Hashem by voting on behalf of those who learn Torah.”

Rav Sholom Ber Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Ateres Shlomo, described the election as an opportunity for the Torah community to publicly reaffirm its commitment to Torah and to the authority of Gedolei Yisroel.

“This is the first time that the declaration, ‘We have no other measure but this Torah,’ is purely about strengthening our connection to the Torah of Yisroel,” Rav Sorotzkin said. “And the Torah and the Holy One, blessed be He, are one. This is part of a public kiddush Hashem. To make a kiddush Hashem, this is the greatest possible gathering of the public. When we gather now for the elections, this is the largest public gathering there can be. It is a kiddush Hashem, as we proclaim that we have no other measure but this Torah.”

Rav Sorotzkin also spoke about the remarkable expansion of the yeshiva world despite what he described as growing pressure against Torah institutions and those devoted to full-time learning.

“We are currently living through a period of religious persecution, but at the same time, we see an expansion of the Torah world that has almost no parallel in its numbers, with extraordinary siyata diShmaya,” he said. “And within this, we also see the development of talmidei chachomim of a quality that has almost no parallel, with extraordinary siyata diShmaya.”

He returned to the same theme, suggesting that the difficulties facing the community have been accompanied by exceptional spiritual growth.

“And we see within this the development of talmidei chachomim of a quality unlike anything before,” Rav Sorotzkin added. “Perhaps it is precisely because of the persecution that we sense the greatness of the siyata diShmaya.”

The gathering continued with an address by Rav Daniel Wolfson, rosh yeshiva of Nesivos Aviezer, who spoke about the responsibility to follow the guidance of Gedolei Yisroel and the importance of participating in the upcoming election.

A letter from Rav Aviezer Piltz, rosh yeshiva of Tifrach and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, was also read aloud to those assembled.

Additional reporting on the gathering noted the participation of Rav Moshe Yehuda Schlesinger, rosh yeshiva of Kol Torah and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. His attendance followed controversy over his not having been invited to an earlier election gathering in Yerushalayim. During the Bnei Brak assembly, Rav Schlesinger spoke with Rav Landau and Rav Hirsch, and a special address at Kol Torah was reportedly being planned for later in the week.

The Bnei Brak gathering was part of a broader series of election-related assemblies organized by Degel HaTorah and United Torah Judaism in communities throughout Eretz Yisroel. Preparations were also underway for a major gathering in Ashdod, where Rav Landau and Rav Hirsch were expected to address the local Torah community.

At the conclusion of the Bnei Brak assembly, the formal resolutions of the gathering, prepared by Rav Dov Landau, were read aloud to the assembled roshei yeshiva and mashgichim.

המכתב של הרב פילץ

ההחלטות בתום הכינוס

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

כינוס גדולי ישראל (צילום: שוקי לרר)

הכינוס אמש (צילום: אבי ריין)

הכינוס אמש (צילום: אבי ריין)

הכינוס אמש (צילום: אבי ריין)

הכינוס אמש (צילום: אבי ריין)

הכינוס אמש (צילום: אבי ריין)

הכינוס אמש (צילום: אבי ריין)

הכינוס אמש (צילום: אבי ריין)

הכינוס אמש (צילום: אבי ריין)

הכינוס אמש (צילום: אבי ריין)

{Matzav.com}

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher has pledged to significantly expand educational opportunities for children from working chareidi families, declaring that the establishment of additional schools serving this population will be a central priority of his leadership. Speaking at a private gathering in Petach Tikvah on Motzoei Shabbos, Asher insisted that his commitment was a concrete plan of action rather than another campaign promise.

The meeting took place at the home of businessman Chaim Benedict and was attended by dozens of working chareidim. With Israel’s elections approaching, Asher used the gathering to discuss the difficulties families have encountered in securing appropriate educational institutions for their children and to describe his previous efforts to establish schools despite considerable opposition.

Asher recalled his involvement in creating educational institutions in Elad and Bnei Brak, revealing that the initiatives had encountered resistance from various quarters. He described the political battles surrounding those efforts and his determination to proceed even when others sought to block them.

“I was in Elad for three years. It was a world war until they threw me out of the office,” Asher told the gathering. “I established three schools. I said, ‘There will be a cheder, and I don’t care about anything else.’ I gave Wallis all the support he needed, and he opened the cheder.”

Asher emphasized that the institutions established through those efforts remain operational and continue serving families today. He pointed specifically to two schools associated with Moshe Stein, saying that he remains involved in assisting them whenever necessary.

“Two schools belonging to Moishe Stein are still operating today,” Asher said. “And I help them every time. Ask my assistants. They write down the names of the schools that need assistance, and I don’t even know which ones they are. These are schools that genuinely provide the answers to the needs of the entire chareidi population.”

The UTJ chairman said similar initiatives had been undertaken in other chareidi communities, pointing to efforts by Dudi Salz in Beitar Illit and Greenberg in Beit Shemesh to establish institutions suited to the needs of different families.

“I’ll tell you, in Beitar, Dudi Salz did it, and Greenberg has now done it in Beit Shemesh,” Asher said.

He indicated that his new position as chairman of United Torah Judaism would allow him to pursue the issue on a broader scale, with a particular emphasis on expanding the availability of schools for working chareidi families in communities throughout Eretz Yisroel.

“I intend, as chairman of United Torah Judaism — and I’m not saying this as an election promise… I’m not saying this as an election promise. I’m saying it because this is what I will actually do,” Asher declared.

He then reiterated his commitment, telling those present that his previous record demonstrated his willingness to take action.

“I will do much more. This is not an election promise; it is a work plan.”

In an unusual acknowledgment of the skepticism that often accompanies political commitments, Asher encouraged the businessmen attending the gathering to independently investigate his claims rather than simply accept his account.

“Ask them. Don’t ask me. Don’t believe anything I say. Okay? I’m a politician, don’t believe me. Let’s start with that. But check it out. You’re businessmen, you’re people who know how to do these things. Check it out.”

The gathering comes as United Torah Judaism intensifies its election campaign and seeks to strengthen its support among different segments of the chareidi community, including working families who have sometimes expressed frustration over the availability of educational institutions suited to their circumstances.

In recent days, the party has established campaign headquarters in communities across Eretz Yisroel as it works to mobilize voters ahead of the election.

Asher has set an ambitious electoral target for Yerushalayim alone, calling for United Torah Judaism to secure 70,000 votes in the capital as part of its broader effort to increase chareidi representation in the next Knesset.

{Matzav.com}

Singer Meydad Tasa has issued an urgent warning to his followers after discovering that unidentified individuals have created dozens of fraudulent social media accounts impersonating him and are using those accounts to send inappropriate and harassing messages to women.

In a video posted to his social media platforms, Tasa revealed that several women had already contacted him after being deceived by the impersonators, who are reportedly using sophisticated methods to make their fake profiles appear authentic.

The singer said the situation has become increasingly concerning as additional fraudulent accounts continue appearing, despite efforts to have them removed.

“There are people who have opened dozens of fake accounts in my name and are sending messages to girls and harassing them,” Tasa explained. “I ask anyone who sees something like this to report it to Meta immediately, so that we can stop them, obtain information about them, and deal with each one of them.”

Tasa said he has already reached out to Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and that the company has begun addressing the complaints. Nevertheless, the impersonation campaign has continued, with new accounts reportedly being created even as existing ones are flagged.

“I have already received several messages from girls who fell for this, because they are using very sophisticated tools,” he said. “We have already reported it to Meta, and they are working on it, but we are talking about dozens of accounts.”

The singer urged followers to exercise caution when receiving messages from accounts bearing his name or photograph, particularly when the communications appear suspicious or involve inappropriate requests.

He emphasized that public cooperation is essential to identifying the fraudulent profiles and preventing additional women from being misled or harassed.

“I ask everyone who sees something like this to report it and put a stop to it,” Tasa concluded. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

{Matzav.com}

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned Israel against launching another military offensive against Tehran, declaring that Iran has unfinished business of its own and accusing Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of attempting to draw the United States into another war to protect himself from imprisonment.

The warning came in response to Netanyahu’s recent statements about the need to complete Israel’s campaign against the Iranian threat, as tensions between Yerushalayim and Tehran remain high amid continued regional fighting.

In a message published on X, Araghchi accused Netanyahu of promoting further military confrontation for personal political and legal reasons, regardless of the consequences for Israel or the United States.

“Netanyahu is pushing the United States into another war to avoid prison, regardless of the consequences for Israel — let alone the President of the United States,” Araghchi wrote.

The Iranian foreign minister also responded directly to Netanyahu’s declaration that Israel intends to finish its work against the Islamic Republic, issuing a warning that Tehran retains objectives of its own.

“Beware, we also have unfinished business,” he declared.

The exchange follows an unusually explicit endorsement of Netanyahu by President Donald Trump ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections. Trump publicly urged Israeli voters to return Netanyahu to office, praising the prime minister’s leadership during the campaign against Iran and describing him as an essential partner for Washington.

Trump credited Netanyahu with helping confront and substantially weaken the Iranian threat, portraying the cooperation between the two governments as central to American and Israeli security interests.

Netanyahu welcomed the president’s endorsement and thanked him for his continued support. The Israeli prime minister pledged to maintain their close partnership and expressed confidence that the remaining Iranian threat could be eliminated “within the next two years, and perhaps sooner.”

The president’s endorsement was particularly significant because he had previously declined to commit himself publicly to Netanyahu’s reelection campaign. Despite their close cooperation against Iran, the two leaders have experienced disagreements in recent months over the conduct of the war and the handling of regional ceasefire negotiations.

In his latest statement, Trump described Netanyahu as a “Great Warrior Prime Minister” and an “even greater partner for peace,” praising his determination in confronting Tehran. Trump also warned that the United States might be forced to address the remaining Iranian threat without Israeli cooperation under Netanyahu’s leadership if voters selected another prime minister.

“If Israel has the wrong Leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this work ourselves, and I am not inclined to do so,” Trump wrote.

Trump further warned that Iran’s military and financial capabilities had suffered extensive damage during the war and that Washington was prepared to take additional action if Tehran refused to change course.

The latest exchange follows months of military confrontation between Iran and the United States and Israel. American and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes against Iran on February 28, triggering Iranian retaliation and a wider regional conflict. Although a ceasefire was reached in April and a diplomatic framework emerged in June, fighting subsequently resumed as negotiations failed to produce a lasting agreement.

Araghchi rejected Trump’s suggestion that the earlier military campaign had decisively weakened Iran. In another message, he challenged Washington’s claims of success and warned against another attempt to defeat the Islamic Republic.

“Last time you wanted to ‘finish the job’, Iran emerged even stronger. Want to try your luck again? Be our guest. But be careful, we have unfinished jobs too,” the Iranian foreign minister wrote.

The diplomatic confrontation is unfolding as Israel approaches its October 27 parliamentary elections, with Netanyahu facing a challenge from former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, who heads the Yashar party.

Eisenkot criticized Trump’s public intervention in the Israeli election campaign, objecting to the American president’s decision to endorse a particular candidate. The opposition leader has sought to distinguish his approach to national security and government leadership from Netanyahu’s, while the prime minister has emphasized his close relationship with Washington and his record of confronting Iran.

{Matzav.com}

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has acknowledged that his sister-in-law was previously identified as being on a federal terrorism watchlist during the Obama administration, a disclosure that has become a new issue in his campaign against Republican Mike Rogers. El-Sayed insists that his relative committed no wrongdoing and says she was removed from the list in 2016, while questions have emerged about his characterization of the legal proceedings surrounding her case.

The controversy surfaced Saturday evening when Fox News senior correspondent Mike Tobin approached El-Sayed in a hallway and questioned him about federal court records involving his sister-in-law, Mariam Jukaku. The documents identify Jukaku as a plaintiff in a 2016 lawsuit challenging her alleged inclusion in the Terrorist Screening Dataset, the federal government’s centralized database used to identify individuals suspected of connections to terrorism.

Tobin confronted the candidate with the court records and asked him directly whether the reports concerning his sister-in-law were accurate.

“There’s reporting in a lawsuit that now backs it up. And documentation with the lawsuit that Mariam Jukaku, who’s your sister-in-law, that she was on the terrorist watch list?”

“Yeah,” El-Sayed replied, according to Fox News.

El-Sayed immediately defended Jukaku, maintaining that she had been improperly flagged despite having done nothing illegal. He also sought to connect the controversy to Rogers, accusing his Republican opponent of helping establish a security system that unfairly subjects certain individuals to suspicion.

“She did nothing wrong and was captured on that and then sued and got off,” El-Sayed said. “You’ve got this system where folks are guilty until proven innocent because they’ve got different kinds of names, because of the infrastructure that people like Mike Rogers set up.”

The Democratic candidate also criticized the reliability of the federal screening system, claiming that even a “child” had appeared in the same database. His remarks suggested that he viewed the watchlist as an overly broad mechanism capable of wrongly identifying innocent individuals.

The timing of the disclosure has attracted additional attention because Jukaku’s reported watchlist difficulties occurred during President Barack Obama’s administration. Obama is scheduled to appear alongside El-Sayed at a Michigan campaign event on October 24, creating a potentially uncomfortable political situation for the Democratic candidate.

According to the federal lawsuit filed in 2016, Jukaku reported being subjected to unusually extensive airport security procedures in 2012. She alleged that she was never formally informed that she had been placed on a terrorism-related screening list, despite experiencing the additional scrutiny associated with such designations.

“The filing said she was believed to have been removed from the watchlist by 2016,” Fox News reported.

Although El-Sayed characterized the litigation as a victory for his sister-in-law, the actual history of the court proceedings appears more complicated.

A federal court initially issued a ruling favorable to Jukaku and other plaintiffs challenging the government’s watchlist procedures. However, a federal appeals court reversed that decision in 2021, meaning that the plaintiffs ultimately did not retain the favorable judgment.

Fox News also reported that a separate lawsuit seeking monetary damages was dismissed in 2017. Those developments raise questions about El-Sayed’s statement that Jukaku had successfully sued the government and won her case.

The FBI declined to provide information confirming whether Jukaku had ever been included in the database or whether her name had subsequently been removed.

“It is the U.S. government’s policy to neither confirm nor deny a person’s inclusion in the Terrorist Screening Dataset, commonly known as the terrorist watchlist,” the agency told Fox News.

Further examination of the court records shows that Jukaku was involved in two lawsuits filed with the assistance of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR. One sought her removal from the watchlist and a declaration that her constitutional rights had been violated, while the other sought financial compensation and legal expenses.

The filings describe an incident in 2012 when Jukaku reportedly discovered that her boarding pass carried an “SSSS” designation, a code requiring additional airport security screening. She subsequently submitted a complaint to the Department of Homeland Security challenging the treatment she had received.

The lawsuits alleged that the government’s screening procedures deprived individuals of adequate opportunities to challenge their inclusion in terrorism-related databases. Jukaku appeared at a CAIR press conference announcing the litigation.

The controversy comes amid increasing scrutiny of El-Sayed’s family background. Republican critics have raised separate allegations concerning relatives’ purported connections to the Muslim Brotherhood and organizations accused of supporting terrorism. El-Sayed has rejected suggestions that he or his family maintain extremist affiliations, while his campaign has described the accusations as “racist and untrue.”

Rogers, who is facing El-Sayed in the closely watched Michigan Senate contest, characterized the allegations as “disqualifying” on Saturday.

The two candidates are competing for the seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, with the November 3 election approaching. The race has drawn national attention because of its potential implications for control of the Senate, and the candidates are scheduled to participate in another debate on October 21.

Obama’s planned October 24 appearance with El-Sayed is expected to provide the Democrat with a major campaign boost as Republicans continue pressing questions about his family connections.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF on Monday disclosed an internal Hamas document revealing that the terrorist organization considered planting explosives near camps housing displaced Palestinian civilians in Gaza, with plans to detonate the devices as Israeli soldiers approached in order to create chaos and enable Hamas operatives to escape.

According to the Israeli military, the document, dated April 2024 and made public for the first time, outlines proposals by Hamas’ engineering department to deliberately create dangerous conditions in areas crowded with displaced civilians, using the resulting confusion to conceal the withdrawal of terrorists from advancing IDF forces.

The plans included placing explosive devices around displacement camps, positioning additional explosives along routes used by Gaza residents, and firing stun grenades into civilian encampments to provoke widespread panic.

The IDF said the proposals demonstrated Hamas’ willingness to place Palestinian civilians in danger as part of its efforts to protect its operatives and leadership from Israeli military operations.

“This was part of Hamas’ preparations to protect its leadership and operatives and evacuate them from areas where the IDF was expected to operate, while endangering and exploiting the civilian population in the area, fully aware that these actions were likely to cause direct harm to civilians,” the IDF emphasized.

The document describes a strategy under which Hamas terrorists would deliberately create confusion among displaced Palestinians at the very moment Israeli troops were approaching their positions. Rather than simply withdrawing from threatened areas, the operatives would exploit the panic generated by explosions near civilian shelters to make their escape.

The IDF said Hamas’ engineering personnel proposed detonating improvised explosive devices in the vicinity of camps housing families who had already been uprooted by the fighting. The explosions were intended to distract approaching Israeli forces while Hamas commanders and fighters evacuated the area.

The plans also included placing explosives along roads and pathways regularly used by Gaza residents. According to the military, these devices were intended to obstruct or slow the advance of Israeli troops, even though their placement would also endanger civilians traveling through those areas.

Another tactic outlined in the document involved launching stun grenades directly into the displacement camps. The resulting loud explosions and confusion were intended to frighten residents and divert attention from Hamas terrorists attempting to flee.

The document reportedly describes the tactical purpose of such actions as “creating smoke screens, distracting the enemy, and divert[ing] their focus and efforts away from the primary objective.”

The military released an image of the document as part of Monday’s disclosure, providing a glimpse into what it described as Hamas’ internal operational planning during the Gaza war.

The document dates to April 2024, a period when Israeli forces were conducting operations against Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip and large numbers of Palestinian civilians were sheltering in temporary displacement camps.

The IDF did not identify the specific camps targeted in the proposed operations or disclose whether the plans were ultimately approved or implemented. The military also did not specify when or where the document was obtained.

The newly disclosed material concerns proposed operations rather than a confirmed attack, and no evidence was presented establishing that the particular explosive devices described in the document were actually detonated near civilian encampments.

Israeli forces have previously reported discovering Hamas weapons, explosives, tunnels, and military infrastructure in and around civilian areas during operations throughout Gaza. The IDF has repeatedly accused the terrorist organization of exploiting civilian facilities and populated neighborhoods for military purposes.

The newly released document, however, describes a particularly troubling proposed tactic: intentionally provoking panic among displaced Palestinian civilians to facilitate the escape of Hamas personnel.

“This is further evidence that the Hamas terrorist organization is willing to endanger the lives of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip in order to advance its terrorist activities,” the IDF added.

{Matzav.com}

Former President Barack Obama has publicly defended Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota following a federal raid on her Washington, D.C., residence, accusing President Donald Trump’s administration of using federal law enforcement to target a political opponent. The investigation, which involves allegations of immigration fraud dating back to Omar’s arrival in the United States, has reportedly included the seizure of her cellphone and subpoenas issued to members of her family.

In a lengthy statement posted on X, Obama condemned the investigation, arguing that the federal government was improperly pursuing Omar because of her outspoken criticism of President Trump.

Obama declared that “it is a basic principle of American democracy that the government can’t selectively target individuals simply because of their political beliefs,” and maintained that this was “exactly” what the Trump administration was doing in its investigation of the Minnesota congresswoman.

Seeking to challenge the allegations surrounding Omar’s citizenship, Obama reviewed the circumstances under which she entered the United States and subsequently became an American citizen. He noted that Omar arrived in the country “with her father when she was 12 years old,” and that “five years later, her father became a naturalized citizen.”

The question of Omar’s age at the time of her father’s naturalization has emerged as a central issue in the investigation. Under the citizenship rules applicable at the time, certain minor children of naturalized American citizens could acquire citizenship through their parents, while those who had already reached adulthood generally had to pursue citizenship independently.

“If Ilhan had been 18 at the time, she would have had to apply for citizenship separately,” Obama said. “But because she was 17, she became a naturalized citizen automatically.”

Obama also pointed to Omar’s subsequent accomplishments, noting that she completed her college education, served “as a community organizer,” and eventually became “the first Somali-American legislator elected to public office in the U.S.”

He argued that federal investigators were pursuing an unfounded theory that Omar had misrepresented her age when her father obtained citizenship, potentially undermining the legal basis for her own citizenship.

“Now the Administration is actively trying to deport Congresswoman Omar, seemingly based solely on the unsubstantiated theory that she was actually 18 when her father was naturalized, and therefore is not a citizen,” Obama continued. “Federal agents have raided her home, confiscated personal records, and seized her phone — all to try and uncover a nonexistent smoking gun from 20 years ago that will somehow make their case.”

Obama then broadened his criticism beyond Omar’s case, accusing the Trump administration of repeatedly directing federal investigative and prosecutorial powers against individuals viewed as political adversaries.

“Think about that,” Obama added. “The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president. And it’s not the first time this has happened. Under President Trump, the Justice Department has repeatedly gone after those he considers his political enemies — from the Attorney General of New York, to the former head of the FBI, to members of the Federal Reserve.”

The former president’s intervention came after reports emerged that agents from Homeland Security Investigations, an investigative division of the Department of Homeland Security, had searched Omar’s Washington home in connection with the criminal inquiry.

Fox News Digital reported Thursday that federal agents had confiscated Omar’s cellphone during the search, while the Justice Department had also issued subpoenas seeking information from several of her relatives.

“Federal authorities seized a cellphone belonging to Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., during a Monday raid on her Washington, D.C., home as part of a criminal fraud investigation into her immigration paperwork,” Fox News Digital reports.

Investigators are reportedly examining whether Omar provided inaccurate information about her age when she immigrated to the United States in 1995. The allegations concern whether she was legally eligible to obtain citizenship through her father’s naturalization in 2000, or whether she had already reached an age that would have required a separate citizenship application.

Omar, who was born in Somalia and came to the United States as a refugee, has denied wrongdoing and has maintained that the investigation is politically motivated. She has not been charged with a crime.

New details have also emerged about evidence that may have prompted investigators to seek a warrant for the search. According to reporting attributed to The New York Times, messages discovered on a cellphone belonging to Omar’s sister, Sahra Noor, played a role in the decision to search the congresswoman’s residence.

Three individuals familiar with the investigation reportedly said that federal authorities had taken possession of Noor’s phone earlier this year while examining allegations that Omar and members of her family may have participated in immigration fraud during their move from Somalia to the United States in the 1990s.

Additional reporting indicates that investigators have examined whether Omar’s late father, Nur Omar Mohamed, accurately disclosed information about his previous military service in Somalia when applying for immigration benefits. Authorities are also reportedly investigating whether any family members deliberately misrepresented personal information to obtain legal status.

The investigation has expanded beyond the search of Omar’s home. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said federal agents executed multiple search warrants and described the evidence gathered as a “strong case.” He also indicated that investigators expected to present their findings to a federal grand jury.

White House border czar Tom Homan has separately said that immigration fraud, if established, could potentially provide grounds for denaturalization and deportation proceedings. Such action would require additional legal proceedings, and no determination has been made that Omar obtained citizenship unlawfully.

The timing of the investigation has added to the political dispute. The raid occurred just weeks before the November midterm elections, a period during which the Justice Department has traditionally exercised particular caution regarding investigative actions that could affect political campaigns.

According to additional reporting, a federal judge imposed restrictions on investigators’ access to certain materials seized from Omar’s residence because of constitutional protections afforded to members of Congress.

Obama’s statement represents one of the most prominent Democratic responses to the investigation, placing him directly at odds with administration officials who insist that the inquiry is supported by evidence and is unrelated to Omar’s political positions.

The investigation remains active, with federal authorities continuing to examine the allegations and Omar maintaining that she committed no wrongdoing.

{Matzav.com}

Benny Gantz, the former IDF chief of staff and defense minister who heads Israel’s Blue and White party, announced Monday that he is withdrawing from the upcoming Knesset elections, abruptly reversing his declaration just one week earlier that he would remain in the race regardless of political pressure.

The announcement represents a significant development in Israel’s election campaign, removing a prominent political figure from the contest and prompting immediate reactions from leaders across the political spectrum.

Gantz, who has repeatedly advocated the formation of a broad national unity government, said that his decision to withdraw does not mean he is abandoning his efforts to bring Israel’s competing political factions together.

“I will not run in the upcoming elections, but I will continue fighting for unity. This is the only solution that will prevent another disaster and protect Israel against all the challenges it faces, both at home and abroad,” Gantz stated.

A statement released by his office indicated that he intends to devote his efforts to advancing the establishment of a unity government that he believes would be better equipped to confront Israel’s domestic and security challenges.

Gantz is expected to address reporters Monday evening to explain his decision and outline his plans following his withdrawal from the race.

The withdrawal comes just eight days before Israel’s October 27 elections and follows weeks of mounting pressure on Gantz to leave the contest amid polls consistently showing Blue and White falling short of the 3.25 percent electoral threshold required to enter the Knesset.

Gantz had previously indicated that he would reconsider his candidacy if his party remained below the threshold during the final week of the campaign. Nevertheless, on October 10, he delivered a forceful statement insisting that he would continue running, arguing that neither the government nor the opposition was offering the broad unity he believed Israel needed.

“We are heading toward disaster. We must stop and save the country,” Gantz declared at the beginning of that address.

He accused political leaders on both sides of the divide of placing their electoral interests ahead of the country’s need for cooperation.

“Politicians from both blocs oppose the unity that I am promoting with all my heart. They want a decisive victory. The division serves their political interests.”

Gantz warned that the continued struggle between the rival blocs could produce additional elections and governments dependent on narrow parliamentary majorities, deepening internal divisions at a time of serious security concerns.

“They are leading Israel toward more elections, toward narrow governments that will tear us apart from within and cause our enemies to attack us again,” he said.

At the time, Gantz presented his determination to remain in the election as an essential part of his effort to prevent further political instability.

“I have decided not to surrender to our enemies. In order to fight our enemies, I must fight for unity among us, and that is why I am staying in the race until the very end.”

Monday’s reversal was welcomed by several opposition figures, including Gadi Eisenkot, the former IDF chief of staff who once served alongside Gantz in the National Unity alliance before establishing his own Yashar party.

“I thank my friend, Lt. Gen. (res.) Benny Gantz, for his correct and responsible decision to withdraw from the most fateful election contest since the establishment of the state. I thank him for his many years of contributions to Israel’s security and am confident that he will continue contributing to Israeli society in the future,” Eisenkot said.

Eisenkot had publicly urged Gantz to reconsider his candidacy, expressing concern that votes cast for Blue and White would be discarded if the party failed to secure sufficient support to enter the Knesset.

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, also praised the decision, describing it as an important development for the opposition.

“Gantz has made a responsible and correct decision. At a decisive moment for Israel’s future, our shared responsibility is to ensure the victory of the change bloc.”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, chairman of the Religious Zionist Party, interpreted Gantz’s withdrawal as evidence that opposition parties were taking steps to prevent votes from being lost on parties unlikely to cross the electoral threshold.

“Gantz’s withdrawal stems from his sense of responsibility not to waste votes for the left-wing bloc. Now, following his withdrawal, the left is perfectly organized in a way that ensures not a single vote will be wasted.”

Smotrich contrasted that development with the situation among parties on the right, criticizing former IDF general Ofer Winter and other smaller political movements for continuing their campaigns despite uncertainty about whether they would enter the Knesset.

“By contrast, on the right, there is currently a complete lack of responsibility on the part of Ofer Winter and the other splinter parties that are nowhere near the electoral threshold, yet insist on throwing votes in the trash and endangering the State of Israel by bringing to power a left-wing government with supporters of terrorism, which will bring disaster upon us.”

Smotrich concluded with a warning about the electoral consequences of votes going to parties that fail to cross the threshold.

“This is a genuine emergency. I call on Ofer and his colleagues to come to their senses and take responsibility. But more than that, I call on the public not to vote for parties that are not absolutely certain to cross the electoral threshold. If the right loses votes, the left will come to power. We must not gamble with the State of Israel!”

Gantz’s decision marks another major change in the political career of a former military chief who emerged as one of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s principal challengers during Israel’s successive election campaigns beginning in 2019.

Gantz entered national politics in late 2018, subsequently joining forces with Yair Lapid and Moshe Ya’alon to form the original Blue and White alliance. The party emerged as a major electoral force and repeatedly competed with Likud for leadership of the Knesset.

In 2020, Gantz entered a unity government with Netanyahu, serving as defense minister and alternate prime minister. The arrangement ultimately collapsed, and Gantz later joined the government headed by Naftali Bennett and Lapid.

Ahead of the 2022 election, Gantz joined forces with Gideon Sa’ar and Eisenkot under the National Unity banner, which secured 12 Knesset seats. That alliance subsequently fractured, with Eisenkot establishing his own political movement and several prominent figures departing Gantz’s camp.

In the current campaign, Gantz had sought to position Blue and White as an alternative to the competing political blocs, maintaining that Israel required a government capable of bringing together parties from across the political spectrum.

His party, however, struggled to attract sufficient support. Recent surveys placed Blue and White well below the minimum threshold for Knesset representation, raising concerns among other opposition figures that its continued participation could result in votes being excluded from the allocation of parliamentary seats.

The announcement leaves Gantz outside the upcoming electoral contest, although he has made clear that he intends to remain involved in public life and continue advocating for the formation of a national unity government.

Text messages recovered from the cellphone of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s sister reportedly provided federal investigators with evidence used to obtain a search warrant for the Minnesota Democrat’s Washington, D.C., residence, according to a New York Times report. The discovery represents a significant development in an ongoing federal investigation into allegations that Omar and members of her family may have provided false information to immigration authorities when they entered the United States in the 1990s.

Three individuals familiar with the investigation told the Times that federal authorities had confiscated a cellphone belonging to Omar’s sister, Sahra Noor, earlier this year. Investigators were reportedly examining whether the Somalia-born congresswoman and her relatives had participated in a coordinated effort to commit immigration fraud after fleeing their homeland during its civil war.

According to the report, information contained in communications between family members became part of the evidence presented to a federal judge in support of a warrant authorizing the search of Omar’s home on Monday, October 12. Agents from Homeland Security Investigations subsequently entered the residence and reportedly confiscated several items, including Omar’s cellphone, passport, personal computers and notebooks.

The investigation centers partly on allegations that Omar or her father may have misrepresented her date of birth on immigration documents, potentially allowing her to acquire American citizenship through her father’s naturalization when she otherwise would not have been eligible.

Federal investigators are reportedly seeking to establish whether Omar was 17 or 18 years old when her father became an American citizen in 2000. The distinction is significant because the citizenship rules in effect at that time allowed certain minor children to derive citizenship through a naturalized parent, while individuals who had already reached adulthood generally needed to complete their own naturalization process.

Omar and her family arrived in the United States as refugees after escaping Somalia’s civil war. Her father subsequently obtained American citizenship, and Omar has maintained that she legally acquired citizenship while she was still a minor.

Meanwhile, the investigation appears to have disrupted the public schedule of Omar’s sister, who currently resides in Kenya. Noor reportedly withdrew from a previously scheduled appearance in Rochester, New York, where she had been expected to promote her book, Salt in the Snow: A Somali Immigrant Story.

According to the New York Post, Noor attributed her cancellation to a “family emergency” following the federal search of her sister’s residence.

Investigators reportedly employed additional evidence-gathering techniques before executing the search warrant. NewsNation reported that federal agents had examined garbage discarded outside Omar’s home in an effort to obtain DNA evidence.

Law enforcement authorities are generally permitted to inspect trash left in areas accessible to the public without first obtaining a search warrant. The practice is commonly used in criminal investigations to recover discarded documents, biological material and other items that could help establish connections between individuals and suspected offenses.

The case is expected to eventually be presented to a federal grand jury in Minnesota, where prosecutors could seek additional evidence or an indictment if they determine that the investigation supports criminal charges.

One of the principal questions reportedly under examination is whether Omar’s age was accurately represented when she obtained citizenship through her father. Her father, Nur Omar Mohamed, previously served as an officer in the Somali military before the family relocated to the United States.

If investigators were to establish that Omar had already turned 18 when her father became a naturalized citizen, it could raise questions about whether she qualified for citizenship through him under the laws applicable at the time. Any effort to challenge her citizenship would require further legal proceedings, and an incorrect age alone would not automatically establish criminal wrongdoing or invalidate her status.

The investigation has also prompted sharp reactions from Republican lawmakers, including House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the third-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives.

Emmer told Fox News over the weekend that Omar should face imprisonment and deportation if investigators prove that she or members of her family deliberately falsified immigration records.

“That judge had to determine that there was probable cause that a federal crime has been committed [to approve a warrant],” Emmer said. “And I’ll tell you what, as long as it was Ilhan Omar, it was going to be scrutinized to the very detail.”

Emmer also offered his personal assessment of the congresswoman during his televised appearance.

“I think she is a liar,” Emmer also told Fox on camera. “I think she is a fraud.”

Federal authorities have reportedly issued subpoenas to additional members of Omar’s family as investigators continue gathering information about the circumstances surrounding their immigration to the United States.

The New York Post has also reported allegations concerning Omar’s father’s background in Somalia. According to the newspaper, Nur Omar Mohamed served as a senior military officer under dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, whose regime was responsible for widespread repression and mass killings before being overthrown in 1991.

The newspaper cited sources who alleged that Omar’s father concealed or misrepresented aspects of his identity when the family sought admission to the United States. Those claims have not been established in court, and the extent to which they form part of the current investigation remains unclear.

Additional reporting indicates that federal authorities are examining discrepancies in records concerning Omar’s year of birth. A 2019 request from her congressional staff reportedly resulted in the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library changing her listed birth year from 1981 to 1982, a difference that has attracted renewed scrutiny because of its potential implications for her citizenship eligibility.

The federal investigation is unfolding alongside a separate inquiry into Omar’s financial disclosures. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has acknowledged that investigators are examining multiple matters involving the congresswoman, including questions about financial information she reported.

Omar has denied wrongdoing, and her representatives have characterized the immigration investigation as an effort by President Trump to punish a political adversary.

“Trump has spread lie after lie about the congresswoman in a desperate attempt to justify his extraordinary abuse of power,” Omar spokeswoman Jackie Rogers told the Times in a statement.

“This is politically motivated and an escalation of Trump’s personal vendetta against her lasting over a decade.”

The political controversy has intensified as the investigation proceeds only weeks before the November midterm elections. Former President Barack Obama has also defended Omar, accusing the administration of improperly targeting a lawmaker because of her political views.

Meanwhile, Omar is seeking the return of materials seized during the search. Her attorneys have challenged aspects of the government’s handling of the evidence, including potential access to documents protected by constitutional safeguards governing congressional activities.

A federal judge has imposed special procedures intended to protect materials connected to Omar’s legislative duties, while the Justice Department has disputed allegations that investigators violated restrictions governing the search.

The Washington Post has separately reported that federal immigration officials examined Omar’s citizenship records during Trump’s first administration in 2019 but did not uncover sufficient evidence of wrongdoing to proceed at that time.

The current investigation has nevertheless advanced considerably further, with the seizure of electronic devices, subpoenas directed at relatives and evidence reportedly being prepared for grand jury review.

No criminal charges have been announced against Omar, and federal authorities have not publicly disclosed the contents of the family text messages that reportedly helped investigators obtain the search warrant.

{Matzav.com}

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MK Meir Porush, chairman of Shlomei Emunim, declared that United Torah Judaism will refuse to participate in Israel’s next government unless legislation protecting the status of yeshiva bochurim is enacted, insisting that the chareidi parties will not repeat what he described as the costly mistakes of the outgoing coalition. Porush also expressed confidence that Ger chassidim will follow their Rebbe’s instructions to vote, dismissed the electoral challenge posed by a new chareidi party, and voiced surprising support for introducing primaries within Agudas Yisroel.

In an extensive interview with Yishai Cohen of Kikar HaShabbat, conducted approximately a week and a half before Israel’s October 27 elections, Porush addressed growing frustration within the chareidi community over the arrest of yeshiva students, military draft orders, and the government’s failure to resolve the status of full-time Torah learners.

Porush acknowledged that the public’s anger runs considerably deeper than ordinary dissatisfaction.

“The public doesn’t feel ‘uncomfortable’ — it feels terrible! Very terrible. We hope these things will not happen, but for something to change, several basic things must happen,” he said.

He argued that meaningful change would require reforms to the judicial system, including appointments to the Supreme Court and changes in the legal establishment’s approach toward the chareidi community.

“Judges need to be appointed to the Supreme Court. It depends on who the justice minister is — someone who can ensure that the judges do not appear one-sided, that they are connected to the public and know how to judge. If we don’t have an attorney general who is specifically focused on harming the chareidi public, then the situation will certainly be different,” Porush said.

Reflecting on the past four years, Porush acknowledged that the chareidi parties had made a serious strategic mistake by allowing other coalition partners to advance their legislative priorities while the draft issue remained unresolved.

“What are you asking me we did wrong? We knew exactly what was going to happen!” Porush said. “Our arrangement regarding yeshiva students was supposed to be a law stating that Torah study is essential, together with judicial reform legislation. But what was the mistake of those who let the driver keep driving? They allowed four other laws to move forward: Bibi’s incapacitation law, Deri with his law, Ben-Gvir with his, Smotrich with his. And regarding ours, they told us ‘later,’ and we agreed, and we were nice and didn’t make a fuss — that was our mistake!”

Porush said that experience had fundamentally changed his approach to future coalition negotiations. He insisted that the chareidi parties would no longer accept promises that the draft issue would be addressed after a government was formed.

“There can never be compromises on the draft issue. Will we agree to postpone it? We will not agree to postpone it! That’s it. Either we have a law and we can have this matter settled, or there is no law and we are not part of it. This time, we are not making those concessions. We will not even allow laws that the coalition wants to pass until this matter is resolved. Did you vote for United Torah Judaism? You can know that no government of which we are a part will be established before there is a draft law. We are committed to that!”

Porush also declined to give Netanyahu an unconditional commitment of support ahead of the election, explaining that the chareidi parties do not want Likud to assume their participation in a future coalition is guaranteed.

“I always answer you: Let me get through the elections. Does Degel HaTorah say it is not part of the Netanyahu bloc? It doesn’t want Bibi to think for a moment that he has us, that he can move ahead without having to pay attention to us. No! You want us in the government? You want us to be part of this? Please, settle what you were supposed to settle four years ago. Just as you arranged ambassadors, representatives, budgets, everything you did for everyone else — please, now settle this matter,” he said.

Asked whether he would consider a new compromise proposal on the draft issue, Porush rejected the suggestion, saying he had received no authorization from the rabbonim to negotiate a different arrangement.

“I was not authorized by any of the rabbonim to bring a new arrangement. We are demanding something very simple: Whoever sits and learns should receive the deferment as was the case all these years. For 75, 76 years, this was regulated. Please regulate it again,” he said.

Although Porush avoided making an unconditional coalition commitment, he expressed confidence that Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc would secure the 61 Knesset seats needed to form a government.

Porush also criticized opposition figures, particularly Avigdor Lieberman, accusing them of allowing political considerations to override their previous relationships with chareidi representatives.

“Anyone you see who truly lives only for politics and has no truth in what he says — that’s what the situation looks like. After all, Lieberman, when he needed to form a coalition with chareidim for Moshe Lion, spoke with us: ‘I have votes, let’s unite.’ The moment he made him mayor, he ran away from us! These people simply disgrace themselves with their conduct,” Porush said.

Porush was equally dismissive when asked about the new HaTzibur HaChareidi party headed by Motti Leitner, which has attempted to attract dissatisfied chareidi voters and recently held a gathering attended by hundreds of people at Binyanei HaUma in Yerushalayim.

When Cohen suggested that the party’s growing activity could no longer be dismissed as a publicity stunt, Porush rejected the premise.

“I have no idea. You can ignore it!” he responded. “And if you’re asking me whether I saw in the pictures people identified with our party, Agudah, I didn’t see any! Nor did I see people from Degel HaTorah. Maybe these people voted for Ben-Gvir until now, maybe they didn’t vote. You know very well, and they know too, that in the end they aren’t getting in. So whoever wants to vote for them… I don’t want to say anything about anyone. I’m looking for votes for United Torah Judaism.”

Pressed about voters who feel alienated from the established chareidi parties and are seeking different representation, Porush responded with sarcasm.

“What can you do? You’d also like to be a Knesset member, wouldn’t you? There are people you know who want to be Knesset members. Do they go to the Knesset? Not everyone goes to the Knesset. Some people say, ‘I’ll try, why not, I’ll try.'”

Porush also rejected discussion of including a chareidi woman on the candidate lists of the newer parties, questioning why the subject was being raised in connection with United Torah Judaism.

“Where? In United Torah Judaism? You’re talking again about the HaTzibur party… What does the woman have to do with us? How many times do I have to tell you in the same interview?” he asked.

Turning to the internal tensions within Agudas Yisroel, Porush addressed the organizational separation of Shlomei Emunim and Belz from the Central Faction associated with Ger. He insisted that the move was related to the allocation of party funding and would not result in competing ballots in the upcoming election.

“We separated for the technical purpose of funding. Every Knesset member is entitled to a certain amount of money, so instead of it going into one account, we divide it according to the Knesset members into separate accounts. At the ballot box, we all vote for the same single ballot — Gimmel. There is nothing else,” Porush explained.

The issue has attracted considerable attention because of concerns that Ger chassidim, amid tensions within Agudas Yisroel, might refrain from voting or submit blank ballots.

Porush dismissed those concerns, saying Ger chassidim would follow the instructions of the Gerrer Rebbe as communicated through the chassidus’s newspaper.

“A chossid who sees what is written in the newspaper knows what the Rebbe wants them to do. Clear things are written there, and that’s what will happen,” he said.

In one of the more unexpected portions of the interview, Porush openly endorsed the possibility of holding internal elections to determine Agudas Yisroel’s Knesset candidates, arguing that the party’s own regulations permit such a system.

“The regulations of Agudas Yisroel from 5754 state that anyone who wants to become a Knesset member can be elected in one of two ways: either through primaries or through the national council. In our party, that option is open, and the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah approved it. You cannot say this is something unacceptable. I wish they would hold primaries! If you want me to put into practice in Agudas Yisroel what I did in the past, I’m prepared to act,” Porush said.

His remarks come amid longstanding disagreements over the allocation of positions among the chassidic factions represented by Agudas Yisroel. Porush has previously criticized the concentration of prominent party positions in the hands of the Central Faction, and his latest comments signal continued support for changes to the party’s internal selection process.

Concluding the interview, Porush described his efforts to persuade chareidi voters to support United Torah Judaism despite the frustrations surrounding the outgoing government’s handling of the draft issue.

“Every moment I have available, I call people, ask them and explain. Someone who is a chossid of a Rebbe who says it is forbidden to vote — I don’t argue. But everyone else — it is an obligation to vote! The public understands that only a strong United Torah Judaism will be able to stand up for the survival of the Torah world,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

White House border czar Tom Homan says federal investigators believe they have assembled a “strong case” against Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota in an ongoing criminal investigation involving allegations of immigration fraud. His remarks follow reported searches of the congresswoman’s Washington, D.C., residence last week, as federal authorities examine allegations concerning immigration documents submitted by members of her family decades ago.

Speaking during a Saturday interview with Fox News, Homan said investigators had briefed him on evidence uncovered during the inquiry, which has reportedly included multiple searches authorized by federal courts. According to Homan, those overseeing the investigation believe the information gathered thus far provides substantial grounds for continuing the case.

“If she violated law then she’d be held accountable,” Homan said, emphasizing that Omar’s position as a member of Congress would not shield her from prosecution if investigators determine that federal laws were broken.

Omar has not been criminally charged and has rejected the accusations against her. The Minnesota Democrat maintains that the investigation is politically motivated and has denied wrongdoing.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin similarly defended the investigation during a Thursday appearance on “The Charlie Kirk Show,” where he dismissed suggestions that the administration was targeting Omar because of her political views.

“We wouldn’t move forward, and President Trump didn’t want to move forward either, unless we knew that it couldn’t be politically driven,” Mullin told host Andrew Kolvet. “This individual wants to try making it about themselves. This was about enforcing once again our nation’s laws, and it’s a strong case.”

The investigation centers on longstanding allegations raised by President Donald Trump and other Republican officials concerning the accuracy of immigration paperwork filed by Omar’s relatives many years ago. Those allegations have prompted questions about whether members of the family may have obtained immigration benefits through false representations to federal authorities.

According to the report, federal investigators have issued subpoenas to several members of Omar’s family, including her brother and sister. Her cellphone was also reportedly seized as part of the inquiry, suggesting that investigators are examining communications and other potential evidence relevant to the allegations.

Mullin indicated that the potential legal implications could extend beyond individual immigration violations. He raised the possibility that coordinated fraudulent activity involving multiple individuals might fall under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly known as RICO, depending on the evidence and circumstances.

During Thursday’s interview, the Homeland Security secretary outlined a hypothetical situation involving an individual who knowingly submitted fraudulent immigration documents and then used that paperwork to facilitate the entry of additional people into the United States.

“Then that can be considered a RICO [Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations] case, right?” Mullin said. “Because there was conspiracy to deceive the American government, and therefore everything else that came in with it could then be looked at [part of] the same case.”

Mullin’s comments did not establish that prosecutors have decided to pursue racketeering charges against Omar. Such charges would require evidence satisfying the specific legal elements of the federal statute, and the congresswoman remains uncharged.

Additional reporting indicates that investigators are focusing in part on Omar’s age when her family obtained American citizenship in 2000. Authorities are reportedly examining whether she was 17, which could have made her eligible to receive citizenship through her father’s naturalization, or whether information about her age was misrepresented. No public finding has established that the documents were fraudulent.

Homan also acknowledged that a finding of immigration fraud could potentially lead to efforts to revoke Omar’s citizenship and remove her from the United States. He cautioned, however, that denaturalization is a lengthy legal process and would depend on what investigators can prove.

The investigation has generated significant controversy because it comes just weeks before the November midterm elections. Democratic leaders have accused the administration of using federal law enforcement against a political opponent, while administration officials insist that the investigation is based on legitimate evidence.

The controversy intensified Sunday when former President Barack Obama publicly criticized the investigation, arguing that the use of federal investigative powers against Omar should concern Americans regardless of their political loyalties.

Omar’s immigration history had previously been examined by federal officials in 2019 during Trump’s first administration. That review reportedly failed to uncover sufficient evidence of citizenship-related wrongdoing, although the current investigation has expanded to include additional allegations and potential criminal violations.

According to reporting on the latest inquiry, federal authorities are also considering whether the allegations, if substantiated, could provide grounds for denaturalization proceedings. No such outcome has been established, and Omar continues to deny the accusations against her.

{Matzav.com}

California Governor Gavin Newsom is calling for conditions to be imposed on American military assistance to Israel, signaling a further shift in the Democratic Party’s approach to the Jewish state as he positions himself for a possible presidential campaign in 2028. Newsom accused Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of damaging Israel’s international standing and undermining prospects for a Palestinian state.

The Democratic governor made the remarks Saturday during a campaign appearance in New Hampshire, where he spoke with the Washington Examiner about American foreign policy, Israel’s military operations in Gaza, and developments in Yehuda and Shomron.

“Aid has to be conditioned,” Newsom said, maintaining that the idea of restricting American assistance to Israel has gained substantial support among Democratic lawmakers.

Newsom argued that Netanyahu’s policies have severely weakened Israel’s relationships with other countries and eroded its standing among Americans, particularly as opposition to Israel’s military campaign against Hamas has grown within his party.

“Bibi Netanyahu has done a remarkable job of really isolating himself from the rest of the world and increasingly from the American people,” Newsom charged, adding that “the damage he’s done is incalculable.”

The California governor also described Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza as a “moral catastrophe,” continuing his increasingly outspoken criticism of the Israeli government.

Despite advocating restrictions on American military assistance, Newsom stopped short of specifying which weapons or defense programs he would seek to limit. He acknowledged that a distinction could be made between defensive capabilities, including Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, and weapons used in offensive military operations.

His comments come amid a broader debate within the Democratic Party over whether Washington should continue supplying Israel with military assistance without attaching political or operational requirements.

Earlier this year, a majority of Democratic senators supported an effort to prevent an American weapons sale to Israel. A separate proposal in the House of Representatives attracted opposition from more than 100 Democrats in July, although the effort ultimately failed by a substantial margin.

Newsom’s latest statements reflect an evolution in his public position on Israel. Although he has repeatedly criticized Netanyahu, he has also emphasized his support for Israel and previously traveled to the country following the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre.

During that visit, Newsom met with survivors of the terrorist attacks and expressed solidarity with Israelis affected by the atrocities.

In March, the governor faced criticism after describing Israel as an “apartheid state.” He subsequently distanced himself from that characterization and acknowledged that using the term had been a “regret.”

The renewed criticism comes as Newsom attracts growing attention as a potential contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028. His appearances outside California, including in New Hampshire, have fueled speculation about his national political ambitions.

Newsom has nevertheless indicated that his own presidential plans could depend on whether former Vice President Kamala Harris enters the race. Last month, he said he would not seek the nomination if Harris decided to pursue another presidential campaign.

Harris has acknowledged that she is considering another White House bid and has likewise adopted an increasingly critical position toward Israel’s conduct during the Gaza war.

Speaking last week at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, South Korea, Harris faulted both the Biden administration, in which she served as vice president, and President Trump’s administration for failing to exert sufficient pressure on Israel over its military operations.

“Most recently, the failure to use our leverage to curtail the Israeli government’s horrific conduct in the war in Gaza, both under the current administration, which offers [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu a blank check, and our administration before, where we should have acted sooner and more forcefully,” Harris said.

Her remarks included an acknowledgment that the Biden administration should have taken stronger measures against Israel earlier in the conflict, a position that has become increasingly common among prominent Democrats seeking to appeal to voters critical of American support for Israeli military operations.

Harris has also criticized Netanyahu over the American confrontation with Iran, accusing the Israeli prime minister of influencing Trump’s decision to undertake military action against Tehran.

During remarks in April, Harris linked the conflict with Iran to rising gasoline prices in the United States and claimed that Netanyahu had drawn Washington into a war that Americans did not support.

“Trump entered a war – and he got pulled into it by Bibi Netanyahu, let’s be clear about that – that the American people didn’t want. Among the many consequences of it is jacking up the price of gas,” she said.

Harris’s statements about Israel have generated controversy since her unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign, when she faced criticism over an exchange with an anti-Israel protester at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

During that event, a demonstrator accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza before being escorted out. Harris subsequently addressed the disruption in language that critics interpreted as lending credibility to the accusation.

“Listen, what he’s talking about, it’s real. That’s not the subject that I came to discuss today, but it’s real and I respect his voice,” she said.

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has threatened to unleash devastating attacks against Israel if Iranian energy installations are targeted, declaring that any such strike would turn Israel into “scorched earth” and force its inhabitants to flee toward Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. The warning comes as tensions between Tehran, Yerushalayim, and Washington intensify following President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s October 27 Knesset elections.

The threat was issued Sunday by IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohabbi, who posted an unusually aggressive warning on X. The message was subsequently taken down after the social media platform determined that it violated its rules.

“Any attack on Iran’s energy infrastructure, although it will immediately be repaired by our young scientists, will turn the occupied territories into scorched earth forever and drive its usurpers into the Sinai Desert,” Mohabbi wrote.

“The world will see what happens,” he added.

The statement represents an explicit threat of large-scale retaliation against Israel in response to any military operation targeting Iran’s energy sector. It also underscores the Iranian regime’s continued use of language denying Israel’s legitimacy, with Mohabbi referring to the Jewish state as occupied territory.

The confrontation has grown increasingly heated following Trump’s public support for Netanyahu’s reelection and his warning that the United States could resume military action against Iran if the regime does not change course.

Earlier Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded directly to Trump’s suggestion that Washington could take additional steps to complete its campaign against Tehran, challenging the American president to attempt another confrontation.

“Last time you wanted to ‘finish the job’, Iran emerged even stronger. Want to try your luck again? Be our guest. But be careful; we have unfinished jobs too,” Araghchi wrote on social media.

Araghchi also attacked Netanyahu, accusing the Israeli prime minister of trying to draw the United States into another war with Iran in order to protect his own political and legal interests.

“Netanyahu is driving America into another war to stay out of jail, whatever the consequences for Israel-let alone POTUS,” he added.

The Iranian foreign minister’s remarks followed Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu, in which the president portrayed the Israeli leader as a critical American partner in confronting the Iranian regime and argued that Netanyahu’s reelection would be important to maintaining pressure on Tehran.

In a Truth Social message directed at Israeli voters, Trump praised Netanyahu’s leadership and highlighted the two countries’ cooperation in countering Iranian threats.

“To the Great People of Israel: Bibi Netanyahu has been a Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combatting the Islamic Republic of Iran, with its 51 year old chant, ‘Death to Israel, Death to America! We will destroy the Little Satan and the Big Satan,'” Trump wrote. “What Country can survive when things such as this are allowed to be said, because eventually, they always end up being true?”

Trump maintained that American military and financial pressure had significantly weakened Iran’s capabilities, while cautioning that the United States remained prepared to take further action if Tehran continued its hostile policies.

“It would have been only a question of time until Iran would have put that ominous phrase into effect, but they have been systematically destroyed, both Militarily and Financially, and unless they change their ways, rapidly, we will soon finish the job.”

The president also made the unusual move of directly linking Israel’s upcoming election to Washington’s willingness to continue its efforts against Iran, warning Israeli voters that replacing Netanyahu could alter the division of responsibility between the two allies.

“If Israel has the wrong Leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this work ourselves, and I am not inclined to do so,” Trump warned.

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Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni launched a sharp attack against Naftali Bennett and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich during a campaign appearance in Haifa, accusing the two Religious Zionist politicians of pursuing policies aimed at drafting yeshiva bochurim into the Israeli military.

Speaking before thousands of members of Haifa’s chareidi communities just days ahead of the upcoming elections, Gafni warned that the political struggle over the future of bnei yeshiva remains a central issue facing the Torah community.

Gafni singled out Bennett, accusing him of making the conscription of yeshiva students the centerpiece of his political agenda.

“There is someone who wears a knitted yarmulke, his name is Naftali Bennett, and all he intends to do in Eretz Yisroel is draft yeshiva bochurim. That’s the only thing he has to talk about all the time,” Gafni declared.

The Degel HaTorah leader then turned his criticism toward Smotrich, grouping him with Bennett and other politicians whom he accused of failing to protect the interests of the chareidi community.

“Together with him is Bezalel Smotrich, another knitted yarmulke. And there are others. Most of them are like that. And people need to know that we care about Am Yisroel, and they don’t. We will stand guard with all our strength,” Gafni said.

The remarks came during a campaign visit to Haifa, where Gafni addressed large crowds of chareidi residents as political parties intensified their efforts to mobilize supporters ahead of Election Day.

Gafni’s comments highlighted the continuing tensions between chareidi political representatives and figures within the Religious Zionist political camp over military conscription and the status of yeshiva students.

With the elections approaching, Gafni pledged that Degel HaTorah would continue fighting efforts to impose military service on bnei yeshiva and would remain vigilant in defending the interests of the Torah community.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has sharply condemned the sale in Norway of a klaf from a Sefer Torah stolen during the Holocaust and desecrated by Nazi SS soldiers, who reportedly used the sacred parchment as wrapping paper. The ministry demanded immediate intervention by Norwegian authorities, denouncing the auction as a moral disgrace and criticizing reports that Norway is considering ending government funding for student visits to Nazi extermination camps.

The controversy centers on Valkyrie Historical Auctions, an Oslo-based auction house that offered the historic parchment for sale on Sunday. The klaf, believed to have been taken from a Polish shul during the Holocaust, was reportedly sold for approximately $8,500 despite the Israeli government’s objections.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the parchment was among the sacred Jewish possessions looted and desecrated by the Nazis during their campaign to destroy European Jewry. Rather than being preserved with the respect due to a Sefer Torah, the parchment was damaged and put to ordinary use as wrapping material by SS personnel.

The auction house’s own description acknowledged the item’s disturbing origins. According to the listing, a large portion of a Sefer Torah was discovered at a flea market in Poland several years ago, and the parchment being offered was believed to have come from an old Torah scroll stolen from a Polish synagogue during the German occupation.

The listing described the parchment as leather inscribed with Hebrew text in black ink. Although wrinkled and damaged by water, it remained legible.

The auction house promoted the item as suitable for framing and emphasized its direct connection to the Holocaust, presenting the sacred parchment as a historical collectible.

Israeli officials expressed particular outrage over the decision to place such an item on the commercial market, arguing that Jewish religious articles stolen during the Holocaust should not be treated as ordinary merchandise.

The auction reportedly included additional objects connected to Nazi persecution, among them tefillin looted from a Jewish victim, a garment bearing a yellow star, and various Nazi-era memorabilia.

Other items reportedly offered included Nazi insignia, photographs of Adolf Hitler and senior Third Reich officials, and propaganda material reflecting the regime’s racial ideology.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry linked the auction to reports that Norway intends to discontinue financial assistance for educational trips to former Nazi concentration and extermination camps, accusing Oslo of displaying deeply troubling priorities in its treatment of Holocaust history.

“Auctions of sacred texts looted by the Nazis—IN. Visits to extermination camps—OUT,” the ministry declared.

Israeli officials described the situation as a “moral low” and demanded that the Norwegian government intervene to prevent the sale of Jewish religious artifacts stolen and desecrated during the Holocaust.

Norway has maintained a government grant program supporting educational visits to former concentration camps and World War II memorial sites. Its official action plan against antisemitism for 2025–2030 called for reviewing the program, while its published 2026 budget proposal included continued funding. Reports of an impending cancellation have therefore not been independently confirmed.

The controversy has raised renewed questions about the handling of Jewish religious property seized during the Holocaust, particularly items that retain their religious significance despite the destruction and mistreatment they suffered under Nazi rule.

For observant Jews, a Sefer Torah is among the holiest objects in Jewish life, and its parchment is treated with exceptional reverence. The use of such parchment as wrapping paper by Nazi soldiers represented a deliberate degradation of an object central to Jewish religious practice.

The sale of the parchment for $8,500, after Israel had called for the auction to be halted, added to the diplomatic dispute. It was not immediately clear who purchased the item or whether any steps would be taken to seek its return to Jewish communal or religious custody.

{Matzav.com}