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As hopes fade for passage of a draft law during the current Knesset term, frustration is mounting inside United Torah Judaism, where party leaders are now demanding immediate and tangible achievements for the chareidi public in exchange for continued coalition support.

According to a report published Monday, senior UTJ figures made clear during an internal faction meeting that the party no longer intends to provide automatic backing for coalition legislation without receiving concrete benefits in return.

The growing pressure follows increasing recognition within the chareidi parties that the long-discussed draft law regulating the status of yeshiva bochurim is unlikely to pass during the current government.

During the meeting, MK Meir Porush and Deputy Communications Minister Yisroel Eichler reportedly insisted that every future vote supporting coalition initiatives in the Knesset plenum must now be tied to legislation delivering immediate gains for the chareidi sector.

The strategy is aimed at allowing UTJ to present voters with meaningful accomplishments after efforts to advance the draft law effectively stalled.

As part of the negotiations, the faction reportedly agreed that in exchange for supporting legislation transferring certain Interior Ministry powers to Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, UTJ would demand advancement of the Daycare Law — legislation initiated by the party intended to benefit chareidi families.

The proposal was supposed to move forward this week with preliminary approval in the Knesset. However, according to the report, UTJ ultimately backed away and abstained during the vote on the transfer of powers without securing any concessions in return.

Party officials are also expected to push for additional legislation important to the chareidi public, including an override clause limiting judicial intervention and further measures designed to ease sanctions imposed on yeshiva students and regulate the legal status of lomdei Torah.

At the same time, tensions reportedly continue between Degel HaTorah and Shas over the question of possible election timing. Due to ongoing disagreements between the parties, UTJ lawmakers reportedly agreed that all faction members will present their positions next week regarding when elections should take place in an effort to establish a unified strategy.

Meanwhile, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri reportedly acknowledged during a separate Shas faction meeting that prospects for passing the draft law have effectively collapsed for the foreseeable future.

“Yesterday it became clear that the draft law will no longer pass during the current term,” Deri reportedly told party members.

Despite the pessimism, political insiders say Degel HaTorah’s position does not necessarily mean the party would actively oppose such legislation if Netanyahu somehow succeeds in assembling a majority independently. In that scenario, faction members could still vote in favor of the bill and allow the legislative process to move forward.

Federal agencies distributed approximately $186 billion in improper payments during fiscal year 2025, according to a new analysis by the Government Accountability Office, with Medicare, Medicaid, and welfare-related programs making up the overwhelming majority of the losses.

The total represented an increase of roughly $24 billion compared to the previous fiscal year, according to a report by the New York Post. The GAO found that 15 federal agencies reported improper payments across 64 separate government programs, with nearly 82% of the questionable payments classified as overpayments.

Among all federal programs, Medicare recorded the highest amount of improper payments, totaling $57 billion.

Medicaid ranked second, with an estimated $37 billion improperly distributed, while the Earned Income Tax Credit accounted for another $21 billion that went to recipients who were not eligible.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as food stamps, saw nearly $10 billion in improper payments.

Another $10 billion was linked to the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program, a pandemic-era initiative created to help theaters, museums, and entertainment venues survive the economic fallout of COVID-19 restrictions.

All other federal programs combined were responsible for an additional $51 billion in improper payments, according to the report.

The GAO noted that improper payments have plagued the federal government for decades, estimating that agencies have improperly distributed nearly $3 trillion since 2003.

The agency warned that the true number may actually be significantly larger, explaining that several programs viewed as highly vulnerable to payment errors were not included in the latest calculations.

The findings were released as a federal anti-fraud initiative spearheaded by Vice President JD Vance pressures states to tighten monitoring of federally funded assistance programs or face the possibility of losing federal dollars.

Kristen Kociolek, managing director of the GAO’s Financial Management and Assurance division, told The Washington Times that the sharpest jump in improper payments occurred during the COVID-19 years between 2020 and 2023, when emergency spending programs rapidly expanded.

The GAO said it has repeatedly called on Congress and federal agencies to strengthen oversight systems and accountability safeguards aimed at curbing fraud, payment errors, and abuse throughout the federal government.

{Matzav.com}

A group of coalition lawmakers from Likud, Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, and the chareidi parties submitted a request Monday for an urgent Knesset discussion over a controversial decision by the Israel Land Authority to block certain Torah learners from participating in subsidized housing programs.

The lawmakers accused the government of carrying out what they described as blatant discrimination against chareidi avreichim, arguing that the new policy unfairly targets bnei Torah while other non-serving sectors continue receiving housing benefits.

The request calls for a fast-track hearing in the Knesset Interior and Environmental Protection Committee following changes to eligibility rules for the government’s discounted housing lottery program, known as “Dira B’Hanacha” and “Mechir Lamishtaken.”

Among the MKs backing the request are Meir Porush, Simcha Rothman, Tali Gottlieb, Avi Maoz, Michel Buskila, Moshe Abutbul, and Tzvika Fogel.

The political uproar erupted after legal authorities instructed the Israel Land Authority to revise eligibility criteria in a manner linking housing benefits to military service status.

In the explanatory notes attached to the request, the lawmakers wrote that “following the Supreme Court ruling and instructions from the legal advisory authorities, changes were made to the criteria for eligibility to register for the government housing program ‘Dira B’Hanacha.’ As part of these changes, avreichim whose military status is not regulated were denied the ability to register for the program and participate in the lotteries, due to the legal linkage created between housing benefits and military service.”

The lawmakers argued that the policy creates discriminatory enforcement aimed primarily at the chareidi public.

“An examination of the reality on the ground reveals a severe picture of unequal treatment, constituting blatant and deliberate discrimination against the chareidi sector alone,” the request stated.

The MKs further claimed that while Torah learners are now excluded from the program, other sectors whose members also do not serve in the military continue to retain full eligibility for subsidized housing lotteries.

“While avreichim whose Torah study is their profession are excluded from the program and denied the basic right to housing, members of other sectors in Israeli society who also do not serve have not lost eligibility and continue enjoying full access to the lotteries and the opportunity to receive discounted housing,” the lawmakers wrote.

They warned that the new rules create an illegitimate distinction between different groups of Israeli citizens based on cultural and sectoral identity.

“This policy creates improper discrimination between one citizen and another based on sectoral and cultural affiliation,” the statement said. “Preventing housing solutions for the avreichim public, which is already suffering from a severe and unprecedented housing crisis, under the false pretext of ‘rewarding those who serve’ — while other sectors are exempted from these rules — is a shocking social and economic injustice that cannot be accepted.”

The lawmakers requested that the issue be placed urgently on the Knesset agenda and demanded that representatives from the Attorney General’s office, the Israel Land Authority, the Housing Ministry, and other relevant agencies appear before the committee to explain the decision.

The Israel Land Authority, however, rejected claims that the policy specifically targets chareidim. According to the agency, the updated directive applies equally to all Israelis classified as draft evaders, regardless of whether they are chareidi or secular.

The move followed pressure from the Attorney General’s office demanding immediate operational steps to revoke housing benefits from individuals obligated to serve in the military who failed to regularize their status.

Under the new procedures, the Housing Ministry now conducts automatic computerized synchronization with IDF manpower databases. Any citizen identified by the military system as draft-eligible without regulated status immediately loses eligibility to participate in government housing tenders.

The policy is expected to affect thousands of young chareidi families hoping to participate in upcoming housing lotteries. In some cases, even individuals who already won discounted apartment lotteries but have not yet finalized their purchases could reportedly lose their eligibility retroactively.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shmuel Yosef Fishbain zt”l, longtime Chief Rabbi of White Lake, who led the community with unwavering dedication, warmth, and mesiras nefesh for more than 55 years.

Rav Fishbain was a venerated figure of old-world rabbonus, a bridge to the great gedolim of prewar Europe and postwar America, and a living symbol of steadfast devotion to authentic Torah life and hashkafah.

For decades, his presence defined White Lake and much of the surrounding Catskills region. To countless families, vacationers, and year-round residents, Rav Fishbain was not merely a rov, but a trusted guide, a compassionate counselor, and a guardian of Torah values whose influence stretched far beyond the walls of his shul.

Born in Chicago in 1927, Rav Fishbain entered a world very different from the flourishing Torah landscape America knows today. His father, Reb Nochum Dov Fishbain zt”l, was among the pioneering builders of Torah in the Midwest and founded what was then the only yeshivos in Chicago. The elder Reb Nochum Dov’s untimely passing left a profound void when Rav Shmuel Yosef was still a young child.

In those difficult years, it was his mother, Miriam Devorah a”h, whose faith and sacrifice shaped the future of her sons. With extraordinary mesiras nefesh, at a time when sending children away to learn Torah was almost unheard of in many American cities, she dispatched Rav Shmuel Yosef and his brother to New York to learn in Yeshiva Torah Vodaas.

In Chicago, Rav Fishbain was raised in a home saturated with Torah and hachnosas orchim. His mother’s home became legendary for its open doors and warmth toward wandering Torah giants who traveled across America to strengthen Yiddishkeit in its fragile early years. As a child, Rav Fishbain merited hosting and observing some of the greatest figures of the generation, including Rav Elchonon Wasserman zt”l Hy”d, the Rayatz of Lubavitch zt”l, the Lomza Rosh Yeshivah, and numerous other gedolim and tzaddikim.

Those encounters left an indelible impression upon him. Throughout his life, Rav Fishbain would recount memories and stories from those formative years with vivid clarity, carrying within him a living connection to a vanished era of European Torah greatness transplanted onto American soil.

As a young man, Rav Fishbain immersed himself fully in Torah learning. He learned in Torah Vodaas and later in Telz, absorbing the greatness of the American yeshivah world during its formative decades. He also became closely connected to Rav Yisroel Zev Gustman zt”l at Yeshivas Netzach Yisroel, where Rav Fishbain himself eventually served as a maggid shiur, transmitting Torah with depth, clarity, and warmth.

Over the years, Rav Fishbain forged close relationships with many of the leading Torah figures and Rebbes of the generation. He maintained strong ties with the Bobover Rebbes, the Satmar Rebbe, the Tzelemer Rov, and the Skverer Rebbe, as well as with such luminaries as Rav Avrohom Pam zt”l, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l, Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l, Rav Eliezer Silver zt”l, Rav Avigdor Miller zt”l, among many others. His life was deeply intertwined with the great personalities who shaped postwar Torah Jewry in America.

Before arriving in White Lake, Rav Fishbain served as rov in several Catskills communities, including Ellenville and Hurleyville, serving both permanent residents and the thousands of summer visitors who flocked to the region each year. In the early 1970s, he assumed the rabbonus of White Lake, a position he would hold for the remainder of his life.

For more than half a century, Rav Fishbain stood as a pillar of Torah in the Catskills. Through changing times and shifting generations, he remained steadfast and uncompromising in his devotion to Torah, halachah, and authentic hashkafah. With tremendous mesiras nefesh, he carried the burdens of the community with dignity and humility, devoting himself entirely to the needs of his flock.

He was a rov whose life revolved around Torah and avodas Hashem, yet who remained approachable and deeply caring to every individual. Whether guiding families through life’s simchos and challenges, delivering shiurim, or preserving the traditions and standards of earlier generations, Rav Fishbain embodied the nobility and responsibility of the classic American rov.

Even in his later years, he remained a revered elder statesman of Torah Jewry in the Catskills, respected across the spectrum of the Torah world for his wisdom, integrity, and unwavering principles.

Rav Fishbain is survived by his esteemed Rebbetzin, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who continue his legacy of Torah and Yiddishkeit.

The levayah is expected to take place tomorrow in Monsey. Further details will be announced.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

A 74-year-old traveler heading to Greece narrowly survived a medical emergency at Ben Gurion Airport after collapsing in the duty-free section and suffering cardiac arrest, with two El Al employees rushing to his aid and reviving him before paramedics arrived.

The two workers, both volunteer emergency responders with Magen David Adom, received an alert through MDA’s emergency responder application and reached the scene within moments. Finding the man unconscious and without a pulse, they immediately began CPR.

As the resuscitation efforts got underway, they instructed a nearby passenger to retrieve a defibrillator from the airport’s public area. Within a matter of minutes, the device was used to administer two electric shocks, successfully restoring the man’s heartbeat.

An MDA intensive care ambulance crew arrived shortly afterward, continued advanced medical treatment at the scene, and transported the man to Sheba Medical Center in stable condition.

The responders, emergency medical technicians Efraim Friedman of Petah Tikva and Yosef Zaks of Modi’in Illit, described the dramatic rescue.

“We were standing near the elevator when suddenly we received an alert through the MDA responder app about an unconscious man. We went up one floor in the elevator and ran quickly to the scene. We performed resuscitation efforts, and within a short time his heart started beating again.”

They added: “He gradually regained consciousness and did not understand what had happened around him. We explained that we were taking him to the hospital, and he said he couldn’t because he was on his way to a flight. After we explained his medical condition, we evacuated him to the hospital in stable condition. It’s an emotional event – being in the right place at the right time – and thanks to the defibrillator placed in the public area at Ben Gurion Airport, we were able to save his life.”

A tense confrontation broke out within Israel’s police leadership over whether officers should assist the military in arresting chareidi draft dodgers following a recent Supreme Court ruling, according to a report published today.

The debate reportedly unfolded during a high-level meeting of senior police commanders, where Central District Commander Amir Cohen voiced strong opposition to military requests for assistance in planned operations targeting draft evaders.

“They are not going to tell us how to prioritize missions,” Cohen reportedly said during the discussion.

The controversy comes after Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that police must cooperate with the military in apprehending chareidim classified as draft evaders. Following the ruling, the IDF informed police that it intends to begin proactive enforcement operations in early June and requested security assistance from law enforcement.

During the meeting, Cohen argued that the police should avoid becoming entangled in what he viewed as a military issue.

“The army is dragging us into an event where we are dealing with deserters,” he reportedly said.

According to the report, several senior officers strongly objected to Cohen’s remarks, including representatives from the police legal advisory division and top investigative officials.

Senior officer Boaz Blatt reportedly responded sharply, telling Cohen: “There is no place for statements of this kind.”

“You are representing police officers and commanders here,” Blatt added.

Police Commissioner Dani Levy ultimately settled the dispute by making clear that the police would follow the court’s directive and cooperate with the military.

“There is a Supreme Court decision here. There is law and order — and we will do what the court said.”

{Matzav.com}

An extraordinary photograph that surfaced this week captured a rare halachic drama unfolding thousands of feet above the Atlantic, as renowned posek Rav Ezriel Auerbach was summoned to the cockpit of a flight passing over Greenland to resolve a complex question involving Sefiras HaOmer.

The image shows the senior posek standing beside the aircraft’s captain while examining the flight’s navigation route on the cockpit display screen.

Behind the unusual scene was a complicated halachic issue that arose during Rav Auerbach’s trip to the United States. Shortly after takeoff, the Rav began investigating when passengers aboard the flight would be able to count Sefiras HaOmer.

It soon became apparent that throughout the route, the aircraft would effectively remain in continuous daylight due to the flight path and time-zone progression, seemingly “skipping” nighttime entirely.

The matter deeply concerned Rav Auerbach, who sought to analyze the issue thoroughly. In order to assist with the inquiry, the chief pilot personally invited the Rav into the cockpit and presented him with the aircraft’s precise navigation map and global flight route.

During their discussion, the pilot explained that the plane would soon cross the Greenland region. Although sunlight was still visible at the aircraft’s cruising altitude, conditions on the ground below in Greenland had already entered twilight and darkness due to the geographic positioning and angle of the sun.

After carefully reviewing the geographical and navigational details, Rav Auerbach issued a halachic ruling that has since generated considerable discussion in the Torah world.

“Since on the ground beneath the aircraft it is currently twilight and nighttime, the airplane is halachically considered to be located in a place where it is night,” Rav Auerbach ruled.

Based on that ruling, Rav Auerbach instructed the passengers waiting for guidance — and personally followed the ruling himself — that during the brief period while the aircraft passed over the darkened region, it was both permissible and necessary to count Sefiras HaOmer.

Passengers aboard the flight reportedly hurried to fulfill the mitzvah during the flight itself.

One passenger related: “All of the frum passengers on this flight were especially moved that we merited to have the posek hador himself traveling with us and determining whether and when to recite the brachah. There was tremendous amazement among all of us at the remarkable fusion of science, technology, and Torah, which guides a Jew wherever he may be. There is nothing that the gedolei Yisroel and poskim cannot determine — even in the heavens above.”

{Matzav.com}

The Karlin-Stolin community was saddened this evening by the passing of Reb Aharon Menachem Eisenstein z”l, one of the elder and respected chassidim of Karlin-Stolin in Modiin Illit. He was 75 years old.

Reb Aharon Menachem was the son-in-law of the legendary composer and singer Reb Yom Tov Simcha Ehrlich zt”l, whose deeply moving and authentic Yiddishe melodies left a lasting impact on the Torah world.

The levayah is scheduled to take place tonight at 10:30 p.m., departing from the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim and continuing to Har Hamenuchos, where he will be laid to rest.

The niftar was born on the 25th of Tammuz 5710 to his father, Reb Zev Eisenstein z”l, and his mother, Rebbetzin Chaya a”h.

Upon reaching marriageable age, he married the daughter of Reb Yom Tov Simcha Ehrlich zt”l.

Those who knew Reb Aharon Menachem described him as an exceptional individual, refined in both character and spirit, beloved by all who encountered him. He was known for his warm smile, gracious demeanor, and ability to greet every person with genuine kindness.

He was deeply rooted in emunah and bitachon, and spent his days and nights immersed in the depths of Torah with great diligence, while also sharing Torah with others. He was closely attached, heart and soul, to the Stoliner Rebbe.

He merited to establish generations devoted to Torah, chassidus, and Yiras Shomayim.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Police announced Monday that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting of a 27-year-old avreich in Bnei Brak nearly three weeks ago, in an attack that took place moments after he dropped off his young daughter at daycare near his home.

The arrests come as relatives of the victim continue insisting that the avreich was likely targeted by mistake and has no connection whatsoever to criminal activity.

According to investigators, officers from the Dan District’s anti-crime unit arrested two men Monday morning suspected of involvement in the attempted murder. The victim was seriously wounded in the shooting, which occurred shortly after he returned from taking his daughter to her maon.

Family members said the avreich later described the terrifying moments leading up to the attack after regaining consciousness following surgery. He told relatives that he noticed two helmeted men sitting on a motorcycle outside his apartment building but did not view them as suspicious at the time.

According to his account, the pair remained outside while he brought his toddler daughter into daycare. When he returned to the street moments later, the gunmen allegedly opened fire. Several bullets struck him in the abdomen, causing him to collapse on the spot.

Emergency responders evacuated the avreich to Sheba Medical Center at Tel HaShomer in moderate-to-serious condition. He underwent lengthy surgery and was later reported to be out of danger.

Police said large forces were deployed immediately after the shooting was reported. Officers conducted searches throughout the area, established roadblocks, and gathered evidence from the scene as part of the investigation, which was assigned to the Dan District anti-crime unit.

Following what police described as extensive investigative activity over recent days, authorities arrested two suspects Monday morning — a 20-year-old resident of Hadera and a 26-year-old resident of Kadima-Tzoran.

Investigators suspect the two men attempted to murder the victim under aggravated circumstances and also accuse them of obstructing the investigation.

Both suspects were taken in for questioning and later jailed. Police are expected to request an extension of their detention Tuesday at the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court.

Meanwhile, the avreich’s family continues to maintain that the shooting was a tragic case of mistaken identity. Relatives described him as a devoted ben Torah with no ties to the criminal world. Police have not publicly addressed that claim, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu declared Monday night that Israel will sharply intensify its military campaign against Hezbollah, warning that the terror organization will face even stronger attacks as cross-border drone assaults continue to target northern Israeli communities.

In a video message released by his office, Netanyahu praised Israeli forces for their operations in Lebanon while making clear that the fighting is far from over.

“We are at war with Hezbollah. In recent weeks alone, our heroic soldiers have eliminated more than 600 terrorists. But we are not taking our foot off the gas pedal. I said we must press the pedal even harder,” Netanyahu stressed.

The prime minister also addressed Hezbollah’s increasing use of advanced drone technology, including cyber-guided unmanned aircraft that have posed growing challenges along the northern border.

“Yes, they are launching cyber-guided drones at us. We have a special team working on this, and we will solve that too. We need to increase the strikes and the intensity. We will strike them hard.”

Earlier in the day, Northern Command chief Rafi Milo delivered a forceful warning to Hezbollah during a ceremony honoring the Golan Brigade (474), as tensions escalated following a series of drone and explosive-drone attacks on the Galilee and Golan Heights.

Without explicitly detailing future plans, Milo strongly hinted that the IDF is preparing additional operations inside Lebanon.

“Harming civilians and civilian areas is not a reality that can be accepted or treated as routine.”

Milo emphasized that Israel would not allow continued attacks on residential areas in the north and accused Hezbollah of deliberately escalating the conflict by targeting civilians.

“We will not tolerate fire on the home front. Northern Command is at war. The Hezbollah terrorist organization deliberately chose to escalate the security reality in the north while directly targeting the civilian population. In doing so, the enemy has crossed a severe and unacceptable red line,” he added.

His remarks followed several drone strikes across northern Israel earlier Monday. In one incident, an explosive drone detonated near a children’s bus stop along the main road in the community of Shomera. No injuries were reported.

Later in the day, emergency crews responded to a fire that erupted near Rosh HaNikra after another explosive drone exploded in a wooded area. Firefighters worked to prevent the flames from spreading further.

{Matzav.com}

Elkana Bohbot, one of the producers behind the Nova Music Festival who spent 738 days held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, has revealed disturbing new details about the psychological torment he says he endured at the hands of his captors.

In a deeply emotional interview on the “Voice of Nova” podcast, Bohbot described one particularly horrifying episode in which Hamas terrorists used food and false kindness as part of a brutal act of emotional abuse.

“One day we had this meal he prepared for us,” Bohbot recounted. “They brought us lamb shank – it’s called mandi. It’s the richest meal in Gaza.”

Bohbot explained that the unusual meal arrived unexpectedly in the middle of the day, a shocking departure from the deprivation and uncertainty that defined life in captivity.

“Suddenly, in the middle of the day, he brings you a tray with lamb shank and rice. They cook it underground, and it’s delicious, rich – a very rich Arab dish – and he gives it to us.”

According to Bohbot, he and two fellow hostages, Ohad and Bar, rushed to eat the food quickly, afraid their captor might suddenly reconsider and remove it before they could finish.

After the meal, Bohbot tried expressing gratitude to the terrorist, believing the gesture reflected a rare moment of humanity.

“Listen, this is very honorable, this is food with a lot of respect,” he said.

But Bohbot said the captor immediately revealed the true reason for the lavish meal.

“Come, come, I’ll show you what respect is. I’ll show you why you ate this.”

The terrorist then showed the hostages footage of a deadly bombing attack targeting Israeli forces, informing them that Israeli combat engineers had been killed in the blast.

“Today we killed thirty of your soldiers – bon appétit.”

Bohbot said the emotional shock was overwhelming, describing the moment as one of the cruelest experiences of his captivity.

“He shows you the video, and you throw everything up. I’ve never experienced abuse like that in my life.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] President Trump used his Memorial Day address at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday to pay tribute to the 13 American service members killed during the ongoing conflict with Iran, while also reaffirming his vow that Tehran will never obtain nuclear weapons. One grieving military family attended the ceremony as Trump delivered his remarks following a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

“These incredible men and women gave their lives to ensure that the world’s number one state sponsor of terror will never have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said moments after laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

“Oh, and they won’t. They will never have a nuclear weapon. I’m sure you know that one.”

During the ceremony, Trump recognized the relatives of Air Force Capt. Ariana Savino, the 31-year-old Washington state native who was killed March 12 when a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft crashed over Iraq. The president asked the crowd to acknowledge the family with applause.

Trump reflected on the military losses sustained in the recent Iran conflict while contrasting them with another operation he described as swift and casualty-free.

“In two wars recently, we’ve lost a total of 13 service members,” he said.

“In Venezuela, which was a complete and total victory … we took that over in one day, lost no one. In Operation Epic Fury, we lost 13 wonderful souls — wonderful, special people.”

The remarks came just days after Trump revealed that the United States and Iran had reached what he described as a “largely negotiated” memorandum of understanding that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global maritime traffic, while postponing nuclear-related matters to a later phase of negotiations.

Senior administration officials clarified Sunday that a finalized agreement was still likely several days away. Trump also issued a statement urging caution as negotiations continue.

“Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes!”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated Sunday that Tehran was prepared “to assure the world that we are not after a nuclear weapon,” despite years of international concern over Iran’s uranium enrichment activities, which have approached weapons-grade levels.

At the same time, some Republicans on Capitol Hill have expressed concern that Trump could bring the conflict to a close without fully dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities, fueling debate inside the party over how the war should end.

The president also turned part of the ceremony into a tribute to America’s World War II heroes, singling out 97-year-old Battle of the Bulge veteran Harry Miller for recognition before the crowd.

“At 15, Harry Miller lied about his age to enlist and was soon fighting to stop the SS Panzer divisions, as part of the famed 740th Tank Battalion,” Trump told his audience.

“The Daredevils, they were called — of which he is among the last surviving members at 97 years old,” the president recounted.

“Within six months after the battle, Harry’s unit lost 42 comrades. He’s remembering them today.”

“Sgt. Miller, it is a true honor to have you with us.”

A powerful and emotionally charged gathering took place in Yerushalayim on the eve of Shavuos, as hundreds of avreichim from the prestigious Teshuvos V’Hanhagos network of kollelim gathered for their annual pre-Shavuos assembly led by the senior posek Rav Moshe Sternbuch.

The gathering reflected the tremendous growth of the network, which was founded by Rav Sternbuch and now includes six branches across Eretz Yisroel. Organizers noted that during the past year alone, two new branches were opened, one in Ramat Beit Shemesh Daled 3 and another in Modiin Illit.

At the same time, the number of lomdim expanded significantly, with 30 new avreichim joining the Har Nof kollel and an additional 18 joining branches throughout the network, which organizers described as centers of extraordinary Torah diligence and growth.

The dais was graced by leading Torah and Chassidic figures. The first speaker was Rav Sholom Ber Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo, who passionately addressed the hundreds of avreichim about the greatness of their mission.

Rav Sorotzkin stressed that the concept of “Toraso umnaso,” which exempts bnei yeshivos from military service, is not merely a slogan but a clear and authentic halachic definition established by the Torah itself.

“Ashreichem,” Rav Sorotzkin declared emotionally. “Fortunate are you, whose Torah is your occupation, and who merit to live under the leadership of the posek hador, our guide in this orphaned generation.”

Following him, Rav Nachman Biderman stirred the crowd with emotionally charged remarks. Opening with visible reverence, he proclaimed: “We have merited to stand before the Divine Presence itself — the posek hador, the master of the Holy Land of Eretz Yisroel.”

Turning to the assembled avreichim, Rav Biderman cried out passionately: “You are the ones who uphold the world! Through your Torah and your toil, the entire world continues to exist.”

He concluded by describing Rav Sternbuch as “the Moshe Rabbeinu of this generation,” leading lomdei Torah toward Kabolas HaTorah on Shavuos.

At a later stage of the gathering, renowned Chassidic speaker Rav Yehuda Deitsch addressed the audience with fiery words and emotionally uplifting melodies that inspired the crowd in preparation for Matan Torah.

In his remarks, Rav Deitsch elaborated at length, citing proofs from the Gemara regarding the greatness of receiving one’s rebbe, emphasizing how fortunate the avreichim were to bask in the presence of the posek hador.

He electrified the hall when he declared that the chain of “Moshe received the Torah from Sinai and transmitted it onward” continues even today.

“Now, in the year 5786, we still merit to receive Torah from the Moshe Rabbeinu of our generation,” he proclaimed. “We are witnessing with our own eyes that the very same Torah from Har Sinai still burns like fire within those who learn and toil in Torah.”

A hush descended upon the packed hall when Rav Moshe Sternbuch rose to deliver the evening’s central address, focusing on the essence of the joy of Shavuos and the responsibility facing the Torah world amid growing governmental pressures and attempts to draft bnei yeshivos.

At the beginning of his speech, Rav Sternbuch stated: “The secularists imagine that we are miserable because for us this is forbidden and that is forbidden, and at every moment there is something else prohibited,” he said painfully.

“But the truth is exactly the opposite! We are joyful, fulfilled, and overwhelmed with happiness because we have a direct connection to our Creator and merit true eternal life. The secular world, by contrast, lives like animals — eating merely in order to live and living merely in order to eat, until they die like animals. Blessed is Hashem, Who did not make our portion like theirs and separated us from those who stray. Therefore, on Shavuos we must rejoice tremendously and show the entire world how precious the yoke of Torah and mitzvos is to us, and that the Torah of Hashem is better to us than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”

Rav Sternbuch also shared personal memories from his youth in London during the final year before the outbreak of World War II, when he spent time in the presence of Rav Elchonon Wasserman Hy”d.

“I remember how Rav Elchonon, despite no longer being young, danced on Shavuos with incredible strength for more than an hour straight,” Rav Sternbuch recalled. “That unforgettable display of joy in Torah left an impression on us for the rest of our lives.”

He also spoke about the yeshiva of Rav Moshe Schneider in London, where learning on Shavuos night would periodically pause so the students could break into dancing and singing over the greatness of Torah, demonstrating that Torah Jews are not unfortunate people but the happiest of all.

Later in the speech, Rav Sternbuch addressed the current struggle surrounding the future of the Torah world in Eretz Yisroel, delivering sharp and forceful remarks regarding efforts to draft bnei yeshivos into the military.

“The secularists know very well in their hearts that we are the truly happy ones, and therefore they are intensely jealous of us,” Rav Sternbuch declared. “They fear that we will continue multiplying here in the Land and that they will no longer be able to live lives of abandonment as they wish. Therefore, their entire intention is to defile the people of Hashem and bring us into their army. Militarily, they do not need us there at all! Their only goal is to make us become like them, chas v’shalom. Our obligation is to distance ourselves entirely from them and from any contact with them, because impurity is absorbed even through contact. Only in this way can we preserve our holiness.”

Toward the conclusion of the gathering, Rav Sternbuch praised the tireless efforts of his son, Rav Chaim Ozer Sternbuch, who dedicates himself day and night to establishing and maintaining the kollelim. Rav Sternbuch blessed him that he should continue expanding Torah and witness further miracles in strengthening the boundaries of holiness.

After the address, hundreds of avreichim burst into spirited singing and joyous melodies celebrating the acceptance of the Torah.

The evening concluded with a surprise arranged personally at Rav Sternbuch’s request. Out of concern for the welfare of the lomdei Torah and their families ahead of Shavuos, each avreich received a personal envelope together with a generous package of premium dairy products for Yom Tov, distributed with substantial assistance and sponsorship from the Tara dairy company.

Filled with spiritual inspiration, renewed strength, and profound joy in Torah, the hundreds of avreichim returned home prepared for the holiness of Shavuos night and ready to continue serving as what organizers described as the true protective wall of Klal Yisroel.

Rebbetzin Esther Liba Zaks a”h, widow of Rav Hillel Zaks zt”l, longtime rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Knesses Hagedolah, passed away on Monday at the age of 91.

The levayah is scheduled to leave this evening at 7:30 p.m. from Yeshivas Knesses Hagedolah on Meshech Chochmah Street in Modiin Illit. The procession will continue to the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim and then to Har Hazeisim, where she will be laid to rest.

Rebbetzin Zaks was born in Yerushalayim on the 17th of Iyar, 5695, to her father, Rav Avrohom Moshe Chevroni zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chevron and author of Masaas Moshe, and her mother, Rebbetzin Rochel a”h, daughter of the famed rosh yeshiva Rav Moshe Mordechai Epstein zt”l.

In the 1950s, she married Rav Hillel Zaks zt”l, who would later serve as rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chevron and eventually found Yeshivas Knesses Hagedolah. Rav Hillel was niftar on the 22nd of Teves 5775. The shidduch was reportedly suggested to Rav Avrohom Moshe Chevroni by Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l during one of his visits to Eretz Yisroel. Following their marriage, the couple lived for a period in the United States.

They later returned to Eretz Yisroel, where Rav Hillel joined the staff of Yeshivas Chevron as a maggid shiur. A year after the passing of his father-in-law, Rav Avrohom Moshe Chevroni, he was appointed rosh yeshiva.

When the community of Maale Amos was established, Rav Hillel became its first rov. Several of the founders of the yishuv were talmidim of Yeshivas Chevron. The family later settled on Rechov Tzefania in Yerushalayim’s Geulah neighborhood, near the yeshiva.

In 1996, Rav Hillel founded Yeshivas Knesses Hagedolah in Modiin Illit, and the rebbetzin stood steadfastly at his side throughout the years, supporting the yeshiva’s growth and his tireless dedication to Torah and delivering shiurim without interruption.

Talmidim described her as a true “mother of the yeshiva,” devoted to the wellbeing of the bochurim and always available with a listening ear and practical assistance. She was deeply involved in the yeshiva and would often personally help with kitchen duties and food preparation for the students.

Students also recalled the extraordinary respect and admiration that existed between Rav Hillel and the rebbetzin, describing their relationship as a living example for others to emulate. One talmid recounted that Rav Hillel would often say regarding his wife, “What is mine and what is yours is all hers.”

She is survived by a distinguished family, including her son, Rav Yitzchok Zev Zaks, rosh yeshiva of Knesses Hagedolah, as well as her sons Rav Yisroel Meir, Rav Aharon, Rav Tzvi Hirsch, Rav Dovid, and Rav Menachem Mendel Yosef. Her sons-in-law include Rav Chaim Mann and Rav Tzvi Wilensky.

Tehei nishmasah tzerurah bitzror hachaim.

{Matzav.com}

The Monsey Torah community was plunged into mourning over Shavuos with the passing of Rav Yisroel Sinai Wagshal zt”l of Lanzhut-Monsey, a revered gaon, tzaddik, and longtime mashgiach who devoted his life to Torah, avodah, and chesed. He was 66 years old.

Rav Yisroel Sinai passed away during Shavuos after enduring years of severe suffering following a devastating stroke approximately eight years ago that left him bedridden and paralyzed.

A descendant of an illustrious line of Chassidic leaders and tzaddikim, Rav Yisroel Sinai was widely respected for his warmth, humility, and deep devotion to helping others. Throughout his life, he was known for receiving every person with unusual kindness and a radiant countenance.

He was the son of Rav Yehoshua Mordechai Elazar Wagshal zt”l, Av Beis Din of Lanzhut and one of Williamsburg’s prominent rabbinic figures, who himself was the son of Rav Alter Yaakov Yitzchok Wagshal zt”l, Av Beis Din of Lanzhut.

Through his mother’s side, Rav Yisroel Sinai descended from Rav Yaakov Halberstam of Tshakava zt”l, son of Rav Sinai of Zmigrod zy”a. His lineage traced back to many of the great Chassidic dynasties and luminaries of past generations, including Lizhensk, Zlotchov, Premishlan, Belz, Ropshitz, Dzikov, Melitz, Ohel, Sighet, Sanz, Dinov, Kozhnitz, Kosov, Sassov, Apta, and many others.

After his marriage to the daughter of Rav Moshe Chaim Rubin zt”l of Dinov, son of Rav Menachem Mendel Zeida Rubin zt”l of Glogov and son-in-law of Rav Yekusiel Yehuda Rosenberger zt”l of Dieresh, the couple established a distinguished home built upon Torah and Chassidus.

For many years, Rav Yisroel Sinai served as a dedicated mashgiach in several yeshivos, including Yeshivas Nitra and Yeshivas Noam Elimelech. He profoundly influenced countless bochurim through his teachings, encouragement, and exceptional love for every student.

Those who knew him described a man who lived entirely for Torah and for the welfare of fellow Jews, constantly involved in acts of gemilus chassadim and helping others quietly and selflessly.

He is survived by a distinguished family of children and sons-in-law who continue his legacy of Torah and yiras Shomayim.

Among his sons are Rav Alter Yaakov Yitzchok Wagshal, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Toras Moshe in Montreal and son-in-law of the Karlsburger Rebbe of Montreal; Rav Zalman Leib Wagshal, son-in-law of the Av Beis Din of Vodkert; and Rav Menachem Mendel Wagshal, son-in-law of Rav Avrohom Rokeach, Av Beis Din of Kozlov.

His sons-in-law include Rav Yoel Labin, son of the Balchov Rebbe; Rav Chaim Yechiel Alter Segal Lowy, Av Beis Din of Tosh Monsey and son of the Tosh Rebbe; Rav Berel Rotenberg, son of the Av Beis Din of Voidislev; Rav Itamar Meislish, son of the Av Beis Din of Vitzen; Rav Berel Leifer, son of Rav Shmuel Binyomin Leifer of Voidislev; and Rav Shlomo Meislish, son of Rav Mordechai Aharon Meislish, rav of Bais Medrash Ichud Avreichim Satmar and son of the Satmar Gaavad of Boro Park.

He is also survived by prominent rabbinic siblings, including Rav Shalom Wagshal, Av Beis Din of Lanzhut-Williamsburg; Rav Naftali Elimelech Wagshal, Av Beis Din of Apta-Williamsburg; and Rav Boruch Yehuda Wagshal of Lanzhut-Beit Shemesh, son-in-law of the Mishkenos Haroim Rebbe.

Among his sisters are the Peshvorsker Rebbetzin, the Ziditchov-Chareidim Rebbetzin, the Rebbetzin of the Netzach Menachem Spinka Rebbe, the wife of Rav Yehuda Elisha Horowitz, Av Beis Din of Ohr Hachaim, and the wife of Rav Naftali Kahn of Divrei Emunah Monsey.

The levayah was held at Bais Medrash Dinov on Albert Drive in Monsey and proceeded to New Jersey, where Rav Yisroel Sinai was laid to rest near his ancestors.

Tehei nishmaso tzerurah bitzror hachaim.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Mothers-in-Law,

First, we want to say something important: We truly love having you for Yom Tov.

Your presence brings warmth to the house, excitement for the children, family stories, traditions, and that special feeling that makes Yom Tov feel like Yom Tov. There is something beautiful about having another generation around the table and creating memories together.

We also know that you come because you want to help, spend time with your children and grandchildren, and simply be part of the family experience. We appreciate that more than you know.

With that said, we would like to gently offer one small request on behalf of daughters-in-law everywhere.

After the meal, if possible, please consider going to your room for a few hours to rest, relax, read, nap, or simply enjoy some quiet time — even if you don’t actually need the rest.

It may not seem like a major thing, but those afternoon hours can be incredibly helpful. They give us a chance to clean up the kitchen, reset the house, organize the next meal, and handle the million little things happening behind the scenes.

There is something much easier about moving around freely and getting things done without feeling like someone is watching us work, or feeling like we need to remain socially “on” while simultaneously trying to manage the house.

And if we are being fully honest, those few hours can also give everyone a little breathing room. Not because we do not love you, but because even people who love each other very much sometimes benefit from a little space during a long Yom Tov together.

Ironically, when everyone gets that break, the next seudah is usually even nicer. We return refreshed, calmer, happier, and more able to genuinely enjoy being together.

So please know: Disappearing for a little while in the afternoon is not abandoning the family. It may actually be one of the greatest acts of kindness you can give the family.

With love and appreciation,

The Daughters-in-Law

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A rare public clarification was issued Monday by the family of the Amshinover Rebbe after sources claimed that the rebbe had permitted ascending Har Habayis, sparking sharp reaction across the Torah world.

The unusual statement came from the rebbe’s son, Rav Moshe Milikovsky, who said that reports had badly distorted his father’s remarks and falsely portrayed him as endorsing visits to Har Habayis.

The controversy began after excerpts from an internal Amshinover publication titled Yirah V’Simchah. The excerpts were taken from what was described as a private halachic discussion held in the rebbe’s home roughly a year ago.

In response, Rav Moshe Milikovsky released an official statement — an exceptionally uncommon move for the typically quiet and private Amshinover court in the Bayit Vegan neighborhood of Yerushalayim.

“We were shocked by the removal of the Rebbe shlit”a’s remarks regarding Har Habayis from their proper context. The Rebbe did not, chalilah, permit ascending the mountain in opposition to the view of all the poskim. They took an internal halachic discussion that took place in the Rebbe’s home a year ago, which was published in an internal chassidic publication intended for those who understand the nature of the Rebbe’s responses, and dishonestly presented it as though the Rebbe permits or instructs people to ascend Har Habayis halachah l’maaseh, something that never entered his mind.”

The statement further stressed that the discussion was never intended as practical guidance or a public ruling.

“Certainly this was not a practical or ideological heter to ascend Har Habayis, but rather an internal halachic clarification, in which the Rebbe also expressed his opposition to acts such as waving the Shtei Halechem on Har Habayis in a manner not consistent with halachah. The Rebbe’s position is the same as that of all the poskim — that in our times one should not permit ascending Har Habayis in practice, something that could easily lead to an issur kareis chas v’shalom.”

A British military aircraft transporting UK Defense Secretary John Healey reportedly suffered GPS interference while flying near Russian territory earlier this week, forcing the crew to rely on backup navigation systems during the flight back to Britain.

The disruption occurred Thursday as the RAF jet returned from Estonia, where Healey had been visiting British troops participating in NATO exercises close to the Russian frontier. According to reports, the aircraft’s signal was jammed for roughly three hours after its GPS capabilities were knocked offline.

British officials believe Russia was likely responsible for the electronic interference, though it remains unclear whether Healey himself was specifically targeted. Reports noted that the aircraft’s route could be tracked publicly through online flight-monitoring services.

The UK Ministry of Defense has not yet issued an official response regarding the incident.

The episode came just one day after revelations that Russian military aircraft had aggressively confronted an RAF surveillance plane over the Black Sea last month in what British officials described as a highly dangerous encounter.

During that earlier confrontation, a Russian Su-35 fighter jet reportedly flew close enough to an RAF Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft to trigger onboard emergency systems and disable the plane’s autopilot functions.

A second Russian aircraft, identified as a Su-27, allegedly made six separate passes directly in front of the British plane, at one point coming within just six meters of the aircraft’s nose.

Following that incident, Healey commended the RAF crew for what he called their “outstanding professionalism” during the “unacceptable” Russian maneuvers. Britain’s Ministry of Defense later characterized the encounter as the most serious Russian provocation involving RAF aircraft since 2022, when a Russian pilot described as “rogue” fired a missile near another Rivet Joint aircraft over the Black Sea.

This is not the first time British officials have dealt with suspected Russian GPS interference. In 2024, an RAF aircraft carrying then-Defense Secretary Grant Shapps also experienced GPS jamming while operating near Russian-controlled airspace.

{Matzav.com}

A rare and highly controversial halachic discussion attributed to the Amshinover Rebbe has sent shockwaves through the Torah and Chassidic worlds after the official Amshinov publication released a conversation suggesting that certain areas of Har Habayis may be permissible to enter after proper immersion.

The unusual exchange appeared this past Shabbos in the internal Amshinov publication Yirah V’Simchah under the title “Shtei Halechem in Our Times,” and centered around questions posed to the Rebbe by his son regarding recent attempts by Temple activists to perform Shavuos-related rituals on the Har Habayis.

The conversation, which was obtained by Matzav.com through researcher and tour guide Yisroel Shapiro, has generated intense discussion.

During the discussion, the Rebbe’s son asked directly whether it is currently forbidden to ascend Har Habayis.

The Amshinover Rebbe responded: “A person who is tamei meis is permitted to enter Har Habayis itself. Only the cheil, which is farther inward beyond Har Habayis, is forbidden.”

When asked whether someone who immerses in a regular mikveh may enter Har Habayis, the Rebbe answered: “Yes, but again, only the beginning section of Har Habayis.”

Asked where that “beginning” area would be located today, the Rebbe replied: “Not deep inside. Farther in is already considered the cheil.”

Later in the conversation, the Rebbe explained that the Kosel Hama’aravi is connected to the wall of Har Habayis, citing the sefer Kaftor VaFerach, and acknowledged that the area beyond the Kosel wall is likely already considered part of Har Habayis itself.

At the same time, the Rebbe emphasized that “Har Habayis is not the Azarah. Har Habayis is Machaneh Leviyah,” and therefore, from a strictly halachic standpoint, entering the outer sections of Har Habayis after proper immersion would be permissible.

The discussion also addressed recent efforts by activists to perform the mitzvah of waving the Shtei Halechem offerings on Har Habayis during Shavuos, attempts that reportedly ended this year with the arrest of 13 activists by police.

“On the surface, there would seem to be a mitzvah involved,” the Rebbe remarked regarding the idea itself, but he immediately raised major halachic obstacles that would prevent such an act from being valid.

“You would have to bake them inside, and I do not understand how they would then be removed,” the Rebbe said, noting the serious issue of “nifsal b’yotzei.”

He also questioned whether there could be certainty today regarding valid kehuna lineage, proper identification of techeiles and argaman, and the exact location of the mizbei’ach.

When his son asked whether the laws of Shtei Halechem might parallel those of the Korban Pesach, the Rebbe responded: “Every individual is obligated in the Korban Pesach; Shtei Halechem is a communal offering.”

The Rebbe then reportedly added humorously regarding activists attempting to carry out sacrificial rituals on Har Habayis: “The Korban Pesach requires a mizbei’ach… Are they carrying a mizbei’ach with them as well?”

The publication of the conversation has reportedly caused astonishment among many Amshinov Chassidim, particularly because of the Rebbe’s well-known personal stringencies regarding mekomos hakedoshim.

One prominent Amshinover chossid said that the comments were viewed as extraordinary given the Rebbe’s famously elevated standards of reverence toward holy places.

According to longtime followers, the Amshinover Rebbe is known to avoid even placing his fingers into the crevices of the Kosel stones out of awe for the site’s holiness.

For that reason, many are stunned that the same Rebbe who conducts himself with such extreme caution at the Kosel would publicly articulate a detailed halachic explanation permitting entry into portions of Machaneh Leviyah on Har Habayis after immersion.

President Trump opened Memorial Day with a fiery series of Truth Social posts blasting Democrats, establishment Republicans, and critics of his administration’s ongoing negotiations with Iran, while insisting that any agreement reached would be far stronger than the Obama-era nuclear deal.

“Happy Memorial Day to all, including the Dumocrats, who disrespect our Military and all of the tremendous success that it has had over the last year. God Bless those that have made the ultimate sacrifice. I love you all!” Trump posted on Truth Social at 6:18 a.m. ET.

The president once again used a national holiday to target political opponents, continuing a pattern that has become familiar throughout both of his terms in office.

Earlier Monday morning, Trump lashed out at those attacking the administration’s diplomacy with Tehran, declaring that opponents of the talks “should go home and rest, they do nothing but create division and loss. In other words, they are losers!”

The Iran negotiations consumed much of the president’s weekend as White House officials worked to determine whether a formal agreement could soon be finalized. According to administration officials, a preliminary framework could be completed within days, although Trump later emphasized that he had directed aides not to move too quickly.

“I laugh at all of the Dumocrats, RINOS, and Fools who know nothing about the potential deal I am making with Iran, things that haven’t even been negotiated yet,” Trump seethed on Truth Social before gloating over recent primary defeats of Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).

“The deal with Iran will either be a great and meaningful one, or there will be no deal,” he continued. “It will be the exact opposite of the JCPOA disaster negotiated by the failed Obama Administration.”

Speculation surrounding the emerging proposal has already triggered concern among Republican foreign policy hawks, many of whom fear the administration could offer Tehran excessive concessions. At the same time, some Democrats have mocked Trump by arguing that the developing framework resembles the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action negotiated during the Obama years — the same nuclear accord Trump withdrew the United States from during his first administration.

A senior administration official said Sunday that the White House believes Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has approved the general outline of a possible agreement. According to the official, Iran has agreed “in principle” to eliminate its stockpile of enriched uranium as part of the broader framework for a peace arrangement.