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“The View” co-host Sunny Hostin said Monday that neighborhoods displaying large numbers of American flags make her feel “unsafe,” arguing that the Stars and Stripes has been appropriated by people she associates with racism and white supremacy.

Speaking during Monday’s broadcast, Hostin explained that seeing numerous American flags in a neighborhood causes her unease because, in her view, some individuals have transformed the flag into a symbol of racial extremism.

“There are times when I walk into a community and I see American flags all over the community and I suddenly feel unsafe, because there’s a section of this country that has co-opted the American flag and they equate being an American or an American flag with White supremacy and that should never be the symbol of White supremacy. But they have weaponized [the flag].”

Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin responded by emphasizing that the American flag represents every citizen, saying, “It belongs to all of us.” Hostin agreed with her, replying, “it does belong to all of us.”

Hostin noted that she had expressed similar concerns about the American flag several years ago on the program, indicating that her views have remained unchanged in 2026.

Her remarks followed comments from actress and guest co-host Michelle Buteau, who questioned the significance of celebrating America’s 250th anniversary over the Independence Day weekend.

“When you say this is the best nation — the best nation for who?” Buteau asked.

Hostin echoed the sentiment, responding, “Yeah, the best nation for who?”

Buteau then continued, “If we are celebrating 250 years — what are we exactly celebrating is what I want to know.”

The discussion arose during a segment focusing on a group of self-described neo-Nazis who were photographed riding a Washington, D.C., Metro train on the Fourth of July.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) intensified his criticism of fellow Democrats on Monday, accusing party leaders of ignoring warning signs surrounding embattled Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner and calling on Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and other prominent supporters to apologize for backing him after new allegations surfaced.

The latest controversy erupted after Politico published an interview Monday with Jenny Racicot, a 41-year-old Maine resident who said she dated Platner several years ago.

In the wake of the report, a growing number of Democratic officials have withdrawn their endorsements of Platner, while speculation has mounted that he may exit the race. Although he secured the Democratic nomination in Maine’s primary election, state law still allows the party a brief window to replace him on the ballot.

Fetterman has repeatedly criticized Platner throughout the campaign as various controversies emerged and has frequently voiced those concerns during appearances on Fox News.

Appearing Monday night on The Ingraham Angle, Fetterman discussed the newest allegations with host Laura Ingraham.

Ingraham noted that Fetterman had become one of Platner’s most outspoken critics and asked how he viewed the latest developments.

Fetterman praised Racicot for coming forward, describing her as “courageous” and “very brave,” while adding that he was “so sorry for what she’s been through.”

Ingraham responded by saying, “Your party was willing — your party leaders, not you — was willing to look past all of these other allegations against him,” adding, “from the … tattoo, the Nazi tattoo, to all the other Reddit posts that had been dug up. So they were willing to overlook all of that because he was their star.”

“Yeah. I refuse to overlook that,” Fetterman replied. “But honestly, I would really call Bernie Sanders to apologize for pushing this kind of predator more than anyone he helped him elect. Now apologize to the victims…”

Fetterman continued, “So I don’t know why you want to keep pushing these kinds of people…”

Ingraham pointed out that Platner has denied the allegations and said he was “basically reviewing his opinions,” while predicting that he was “obviously gonna drop out, correct?”

Fetterman responded that “He was already a dead man walking politically,” noting that “the entire Democratic party in Maine,” along with Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, had publicly urged Platner to withdraw.

“I don’t know why he’s trying to pretend that he’s not done,” Fetterman continued. “Those Pod Save America people that pushed that dirt bag — they dismiss those things in The New York Times article — maybe they ought to apologize to the women that clearly they didn’t believe or they dismissed.”

He also criticized other Democrats for supporting Platner, saying, “I know Democrats that have back-to-back endorsed and got all in on” former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), and “were on the Platner train as well, too.” Fetterman added, “So maybe stop getting in bed with absolute dirt bags, someone like Platner.”

During the interview, Ingraham played a portion of Racicot’s interview with Tapper, describing her account as “hard words to hear.”

Fetterman agreed, calling the allegations “terrible,” and faulting “so many Democrats” for previously dismissing earlier accusations by saying “it’s not a big deal or we don’t believe it or it’s politically motivated.”

When Ingraham asked whether he had any message for Platner, Fetterman did not hold back.

“I don’t have anything to say to that trash bag,” he replied, once again describing Platner as “a dead man walking politically.”

Fetterman concluded by expressing sympathy for “the poor women that have been brutalized by him,” and said he wanted to “salute the courage for the women to come forward.”

He also argued that Democrats who promoted Platner had placed the party’s chances of regaining a Senate majority at “serious risk” and should “maybe look in the mirror” and consider “the kind of person you were pushing.”

“Any normal person could have seen what was coming, the kind of person it is now,” Fetterman concluded, adding that he would “just call him out for what he is.”

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the Trump administration initiative that drove widespread federal workforce reductions and spending cuts, officially concluded its operations on July 4, marking the end of a program that reshaped much of the federal government over the past year.

In a farewell message posted on social media, the department quoted President Theodore Roosevelt, writing, “‘Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.’”

DOGE said its formal work may have ended, but insisted its broader objectives would remain in place. “While the formal mission of DOGE has come to an end, the mission to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse will continue,” DOGE added. “Good stewardship of taxpayer dollars and accountable government are not temporary initiatives. We hope those principles endure long into America’s next 250 years.”

The department’s expiration had been planned from the outset. On his first day back in office, President Trump signed an executive order renaming the U.S. Digital Service as the U.S. DOGE Service and directing every federal agency to “ensure” that DOGE officials received “full and prompt access to all unclassified agency records, software systems, and IT systems.” The order specified that the initiative would conclude during America’s semiquincentennial celebration.

Amy Gleason served as DOGE’s acting administrator from February 2025 until the agency’s closure. According to her LinkedIn profile, she now serves as chief product officer at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. During the early months of Trump’s second administration, Elon Musk directed DOGE’s activities and became the public face of its cost-cutting efforts.

Musk, who contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, served as a special government employee for 130 days and reported directly to the president. After leaving government service, he and Trump publicly clashed over Musk’s opposition to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Trump ultimately signed into law in July 2025.

During Musk’s tenure at DOGE, shares of Tesla fell sharply, and several incidents involving the burning of Tesla vehicles were reported.

By October, DOGE estimated that its initiatives had produced approximately $214 billion in savings through asset sales, canceled contracts, leases and grants, fraud prevention, reductions in improper payments, lower interest expenses, regulatory reforms, program changes, and workforce reductions. According to the department, that equated to roughly $1,329 per each of the nation’s approximately 161 million taxpayers and reduced the national debt by 0.54 percent, based on figures from a national debt tracking website.

The initiative also drew criticism over its costs. In December, Timothy White, executive director of the environmental advocacy group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), argued that the administration’s deferred resignation program cost taxpayers an estimated $10 billion during 2025.

“Ironically, this unreasonably costly mass idling of civil servants was done in the name of ‘government efficiency,’” PEER executive director Timothy White wrote in a letter to Shirley Jones, the managing associate general counsel at the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

Although DOGE has formally shut down, the administration requested an additional $35 million from Congress for fiscal year 2027 in reimbursable program funding connected to the initiative. The Hill reported that it sought comment from the White House regarding future cost-cutting efforts following DOGE’s closure.

Since President Trump returned to office, the federal workforce has shrunk by more than 272,000 employees through a combination of a hiring freeze, early retirement incentives, and reductions in force, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

OPM said nearly 140,000 federal workers accepted deferred resignation offers, allowing them to continue receiving full salary and benefits until officially leaving government service by Sept. 30, 2025.

The Departments of Defense, Treasury, Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and Interior recorded the largest number of departures through the program, including more than 48,000 employees at the Pentagon and over 23,000 workers at the Treasury Department.

Despite those reductions, hundreds of employees who had been laid off as part of DOGE initiatives were rehired during the fall, while court rulings allowed other federal workers to retain their positions.

Among DOGE’s earliest priorities was the Internal Revenue Service, where the department sought access to taxpayer return information for individuals and businesses, a move that sparked concerns among privacy advocates.

Several of DOGE’s top officials—including Musk, advisers Steve Davis and Katie Miller, the wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and general counsel James Burnham—departed the federal government in May 2025.

Even with the department’s closure, many former DOGE officials remain in influential government roles. Gavin Kilger now serves as chief data officer at the Pentagon, while Sam Corcos is the Treasury Department’s chief information officer.

Edward Coristine, the programmer widely known by the nickname “Big Balls,” who survived an attempted carjacking in Washington last August, is currently employed at the National Design Studio.

Joe Gebbia, another former DOGE official, now leads the National Design Studio, an initiative established by President Trump to modernize and improve federal government websites.

In a landmark decision aimed at ending years of uncertainty and controversy, Israel’s Ministry of Education has issued new nationwide regulations requiring all state schools to allow students who wish to lay tefillin on school grounds. The new directive establishes, for the first time, a uniform national policy governing the practice throughout the public school system.

The move follows several well-publicized incidents in recent years in which students faced opposition or confrontation when attempting to lay tefillin at or near their schools. Seeking to prevent similar disputes in the future, the Ministry has now released an official directive setting forth clear procedures that every state school must follow.

Under the new guidelines, every school principal must permit students who choose to lay tefillin during the school day and establish a school policy explaining how the practice will be accommodated. Schools will be required to designate a respectful location for students to lay tefillin, schedule designated times during the school day—limited to recess periods—and include the policy in the school’s official regulations.

The directive also states that students are responsible for bringing their own tefillin and ensuring that participating in the mitzvah does not cause them to miss class or disrupt the school day. The Ministry stressed that the policy is designed to allow students to fulfill the mitzvah while preserving the regular educational schedule.

In addition, the Ministry recommended that school administrators work together with teachers, parent organizations, and student councils to implement the new policy through open dialogue and cooperation. Officials said the goal is to create a respectful educational environment and maintain a positive atmosphere for all students, whether or not they choose to lay tefillin.

Education Minister Yoav Kisch praised the new policy, saying, “Laying tefillin in the Jewish state is not a matter for controversy or local interpretation. It is a fundamental right, a basic Jewish tradition, and a source of national pride. The lack of a clear policy over the years created unnecessary friction and uncertainty that harmed students, parents, and school administrators. The directive we are issuing today brings order to the situation. It gives principals clear guidelines and ensures that every student who wishes to do so will be able to daven and lay tefillin in a respectful, organized, and natural manner. Today we are strengthening Jewish identity and connecting the younger generation to its deep roots and our heritage.”

The Ministry of Education said the new regulations were developed after an extensive internal review prompted by numerous inquiries from schools and parents, as well as several incidents that highlighted how the absence of a nationwide policy had led to confusion, inconsistent enforcement, and unnecessary disputes over students laying tefillin.

According to the Ministry, the purpose of the new directive is to establish clear and consistent standards throughout Israel’s public school system, provide principals with an orderly framework for implementation, and ensure that every student who wishes to fulfill the mitzvah of tefillin is able to do so in a respectful and dignified manner.

{Matzav.com}

After years of bitter public attacks and legal battles, Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, says he and the president have repaired their relationship, revealing that the two reconciled several months ago following a personal exchange of messages.

Speaking on the “Cats & Cosby Show” on 77 WABC with John Catsimatidis and Rita Cosby, Cohen said the reconciliation took place about six months ago. He also claimed that, ironically, it was the actions of the “far left” that ultimately led to the restoration of his relationship with Trump.

“Out of nowhere, when I was sitting with my wife at a restaurant, my phone buzzed and it was a text from that friend who expressed to me the president’s genuine empathy for the h— that I was being dragged through … I deeply appreciated that text,” Cohen said. “I actually texted the president. I thanked him. Expressed my sincere hope that this long, exhausting feud between the two of us could finally end.”

According to Cohen, Trump responded almost immediately, telling him that it was “actually time for us to meet.”

Reflecting on the moment, Cohen said, “We both knew the cost of this war. In that moment the ice between us, it didn’t just melt, it broke.”

Cohen also said he believes he was embraced by political opponents of Trump only so long as he served their agenda.

“The left embraced me as their ultimate weapon against” Trump, he said, but after he “deviated from their script, the pack, they turned feral.”

During the interview, Cohen also addressed Trump’s past association with Jeffrey Epstein, insisting that he never witnessed any improper connection between the two. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein.

“I never once witnessed, I never heard of, I never saw, I never communicated, never saw in the office Jeffrey Epstein,” he said. “Never saw him speak to him … Those two things shattered [the left’s] narrative. The far left, they literally went on this absolute warpath against me.”

Cohen’s relationship with Trump unraveled publicly after he acknowledged during the 2024 hush money case, claiming he acted at Trump’s direction.

In 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and tax evasion. He later admitted to lying to Congress, receiving a prison sentence before being released in late 2021 after serving part of his sentence under house arrest.

He later became the prosecution’s central witness in the New York case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James against Trump and the Trump Organization, testifying that he had “reverse-engineered” Trump’s financial statements.

Trump was ultimately convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the criminal case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Last month, the president appealed both that conviction and the civil fraud judgment entered against him.

Cohen’s latest comments stand in sharp contrast to statements he made during the 2024 presidential campaign, when he insisted he would flee the United States if Trump returned to the White House.

“I’m out of here. I mean, I’m already working on a foreign passport with a completely different name,” Cohen told MSNBC’s Nicole Wallace. “I don’t know how it’s going to work, as far as dealing with my wife and my children. I certainly don’t want them moving to where I’m looking to go.”

Foreign nationals hoping to obtain U.S. citizenship by marrying an American citizen are encountering increased scrutiny and lengthier processing times under immigration policies adopted by the Trump administration, according to NPR. Although marriage remains one of the most common avenues to permanent residency and eventual citizenship, attorneys say the process has become significantly more demanding.

Current U.S. immigration law continues to permit American citizens to sponsor their foreign-born spouses for green cards and, ultimately, naturalization. However, immigration lawyers and advocates say recent policy changes have expanded background investigations, increased the number of required interviews, and, in some cases, left applicants vulnerable to deportation proceedings while their applications are still pending.

Administration officials insist the changes are designed to improve enforcement and combat immigration fraud, not to change the legal standards governing marriage-based immigration.

“Our enhanced screening and vetting processes help identify fraud, public safety and national security concerns before immigration benefits are granted,” U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Zach Kahler said.

He added that “the filing or approval of an immigrant petition does not confer any immigration status or protect an alien from removal.”

The agency also emphasized that submitting or even receiving approval for a family-sponsored immigration petition does not shield an individual from immigration enforcement if that person is otherwise violating U.S. immigration laws.

For decades, marriage to a U.S. citizen has offered one of the quickest paths to lawful permanent residency because spouses are categorized as “immediate relatives,” allowing them to bypass the annual visa quotas that apply to many other family-sponsored immigration categories.

Once a green card is obtained, eligible spouses generally may seek U.S. citizenship after three years, provided they continue living with and remain married to their American spouse while also satisfying other legal requirements, including continuous residence, physical presence in the United States, English proficiency, and successfully completing the civics examination.

The process typically begins when the American citizen files the necessary paperwork to sponsor his or her spouse for lawful permanent resident status.

Applicants must also prove that their marriage is genuine and was not entered into solely for immigration benefits, often by providing documentation demonstrating a shared household, combined finances, and other evidence of a bona fide marital relationship.

Federal statistics indicate that approximately 343,000 individuals received lawful permanent resident status through marriage in 2024, representing roughly one-quarter of all green cards issued during that year.

Immigration attorneys say those applications now undergo more rigorous examination, including additional interviews, expanded background screenings, and more frequent requests for supporting documentation.

“Marriage used to be a glide path to citizenship. Now there are more speed bumps,” immigration attorney Charles Kuck said.

Another immigration attorney, Rosina Stambaugh, said the stricter enforcement environment has caused growing anxiety among many families considering the legal immigration process.

“People are afraid,” she said, adding that some couples have postponed or chosen not to file immigration applications because they fear the immigrant spouse could be detained before a decision is reached on the case.

{Matzav.com}

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Speculation over the condition of Sen. Mitch McConnell erupted across social media Monday after conservative commentator Laura Loomer and journalist Desiree Townsend each claimed, citing unnamed sources, that the Kentucky Republican had been declared brain dead. McConnell’s office, however, firmly rejected the reports, saying the senator remains hospitalized and continues to recover.

Responding to the claims, a spokesperson for McConnell said the senator’s health is improving and that he remains actively involved with his staff despite being away from Washington.

“Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital. The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session,” the spokesperson told Breitbart News.

Before the statement from McConnell’s office, Loomer posted on X that a senior source she described as being close to the White House had informed her the senator had been declared brain dead and would not recover.

“High level source close to the White House tells me Mitch McConnell is officially brain dead. He’s not coming back,” Loomer posted.

Townsend later echoed the allegation, saying her own sources had conveyed the same information. She also asserted that McConnell’s Capitol Police protective detail remained stationed at the hospital.

“I have heard the same thing from my sources for days,” Townsend wrote. “At this point, I am at the hospital for when they eventually decide to move cut him off of life support and move his body. His Capitol police detail is still here as of 3:39pm ET.”

McConnell was admitted to a hospital on June 14, although his office has not revealed why he was hospitalized or provided specific information about his medical condition. At 84 years old, McConnell is the longest-serving Senate leader in American history and is currently serving the final term of his Senate career, which concludes in January.

Three days after McConnell entered the hospital, his wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, traveled to Beijing for meetings with Chinese officials. During her visit, she met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, who urged the United States and China to deepen cooperation and continue efforts to build what he described as a more stable relationship between the two nations.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump on Monday pointed to new price reductions at Walmart as evidence that his administration is making headway in lowering the cost of everyday essentials, a central economic priority as critics continue to fault the White House over the high cost of living.

According to Business Insider, Trump said Walmart agreed to cut prices on a variety of products, including ground beef, after his administration encouraged major retailers to help make household necessities more affordable as part of events commemorating America’s 250th anniversary.

Trump called on other large retailers to adopt similar measures, saying lower prices at the nation’s biggest retailer would provide meaningful relief to millions of Americans.

The White House said Walmart’s decision followed a request from the administration and was part of a broader initiative tied to the country’s 250th anniversary celebration aimed at reducing costs for consumers.

Reuters later reported that Walmart confirmed it would be lowering prices on a number of products sold in its stores, including meat, fresh produce, beverages, and other consumer staples. Ground beef was among the items that will see a price reduction.

The announcement comes as Trump continues to face attacks from Democrats and other political opponents, who argue that Americans are still struggling with elevated prices and contend that some administration policies have made affordability more difficult.

Critics have cited inflation, tariffs, and the administration’s handling of the conflict with Iran as factors they believe have contributed to higher costs for consumers.

They have also argued that the fighting involving Iran has injected uncertainty into global energy markets, raising concerns that disruptions to oil production and shipping lanes could drive up the price of gasoline, transportation, and a wide range of consumer goods.

Energy experts have noted that instability in key oil-producing regions has the potential to push crude oil prices higher while increasing broader economic risks through rising fuel and shipping costs.

The White House has rejected those claims, maintaining that Trump’s agenda is centered on lowering prices, increasing domestic energy production, strengthening the U.S. economy, and safeguarding America’s national security by preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Trump has repeatedly maintained that he inherited an economy burdened by inflation and says his economic agenda is designed to restore the purchasing power of working Americans.

The debate over affordability has emerged as one of the defining political issues confronting the administration, with grocery prices serving as one of the clearest indicators voters use to judge the health of the economy.

Food prices remain particularly important because grocery shopping is one of the most frequent and visible expenses faced by American households.

Newsweek reported that Trump has personally urged Walmart and other major retailers to lower prices as the administration seeks to demonstrate measurable progress in reducing everyday costs.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that many retailers have cautioned that tariffs could place additional pressure on prices by increasing costs associated with imported products and global supply chains.

Trump’s latest effort involving Walmart underscores the growing role major retailers are playing in the national debate over the economy, with the president insisting his policies are bringing prices down while critics argue that tariffs, international conflicts, and other administration decisions could continue to strain household budgets.

Two minors from Bnei Brak have been indicted in connection with a series of break-ins across the city, including the theft of approximately 100,000 shekels (about $30,000) worth of silver items from the private room of the Chernobyler Rebbe at the Chernobyler beis medrash on Rechov Aharonovitch.

According to police, the suspects—ages 14 and 16—are accused of carrying out three separate burglaries in recent months, targeting the Chernobyler beis medrash, a residential facility, and a supermarket in Bnei Brak. Following the investigation, prosecutors filed indictments against both youths and requested that they remain under house arrest until the conclusion of legal proceedings.

Police launched the investigation after receiving three burglary complaints from locations throughout the city.

Investigators say that in June, the two suspects entered the Chernobyler beis medrash, made their way into the Rebbe’s private room, forced open a safe, and stole silver items valued at approximately 100,000 shekels.

The stolen silver was ultimately recovered and returned to the beis medrash. According to local reports, however, the items were not located by police. Instead, they were discovered in the yard of a home on Rechov Harav Rozovsky in Bnei Brak by a civilian, who turned them over to police. Investigators then processed the silver for fingerprints before returning it to the gabbai of the beis medrash.

Police also allege that in May, the suspects broke into a residential facility on HaYarden Street by smashing a window and stealing cash and a checkbook from the administration office.

In April, the pair allegedly broke into a supermarket on Rechov Aharonovitch, making off with snacks and soft drinks.

Following the collection of evidence, investigators identified and arrested the two Bnei Brak teenagers.

The Tel Aviv District Police Juvenile Prosecution Unit has charged them with burglary of a house of worship and residence, theft committed jointly, breaking into a non-residential building with intent to steal, malicious property damage, and criminal trespassing committed jointly. Prosecutors have also requested that both minors remain under house arrest pending the completion of the court proceedings.

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Monday, declaring that the United States will either secure a diplomatic agreement with Tehran or “finish the job,” prompting a swift and defiant response from senior Iranian officials as negotiations over a permanent agreement continue.

“We’re either going to make a deal or we’re going to finish the job. OK. And it won’t be tough to finish the job. I’d rather make a deal, because I don’t want to affect 91 million people,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

He highlighted the military capabilities of the United States while emphasizing that Washington has not provided financial assistance to Tehran. “We can knock down their bridges in one hour, we can knock out their energy supply…they don’t have any money now. We haven’t given them any money,” he added.

Trump on Iran:

We're either going to make a deal, or we're going to finish the job, okay? And it won't be tough to finish the job.

I'd rather make a deal because I don't want to affect 91 million people. We can knock down their bridges in one hour.

We can knock out their… pic.twitter.com/FkyQ8piifO

— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 6, 2026

Iran quickly pushed back against Trump’s remarks. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned that Tehran would answer forcefully if the American president continued using what he described as disrespectful rhetoric toward the Iranian people.

“I say to the delusional president of the United States, who today threatened 91 million Iranians: Speak to the Iranian people with respect, or we will respond to you in another language,” Zolghadr said.

He also argued that similar threats by Trump in the past had failed to intimidate Iran’s “several-thousand-year-old civilization,” asserting that the outcome for the United States had instead been “defeat, desperation and requests for negotiations and a ceasefire.”

The sharp exchange comes as Washington and Tehran remain engaged in diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a lasting agreement following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries.

Those negotiations have unfolded against the backdrop of renewed military friction. In recent weeks, the United States carried out two strikes on Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz after accusing Tehran of violating the ceasefire agreement.

Following those operations, Trump cautioned that if Iran continued breaching the ceasefire, the United States could be compelled to “militarily complete the job.”

Meanwhile, Al Arabiya reported on Sunday that negotiators from both sides are expected to reconvene in Pakistan on July 11 to continue discussions on a permanent ceasefire.

According to the report, the upcoming talks are also expected to address Iran’s nuclear program, U.S. sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic, and the status of frozen assets belonging to the IRGC.

MK Yaakov Asher of United Torah Judaism delivered a forceful speech in the Knesset plenum, arguing that Israel’s continued existence depends on its commitment to Torah and Jewish tradition and warning that the growing embrace of secularism poses a greater long-term danger than external enemies.

During his remarks, Asher questioned why the Jewish people chose to settle in a region marked by such complex geopolitical challenges, answering that the nation’s presence in the Land of Israel is rooted in Hashem’s promise to the Jewish people.

“Our deed to this land is the Torah,” Asher declared, adding that the Jewish people’s right to the land is accompanied by an obligation to observe the Torah’s commandments and laws.

Asher also criticized what he described as increasing hostility toward Israel’s religious and chareidi communities, arguing that there is widespread incitement and disrespect directed at those who observe Torah and mitzvos. He pointed to expressions that have been used against chareidim, including references to “mezuzah kissers and grave worshippers,” saying such rhetoric reflects contempt for matters of holiness.

He went on to compare the public discourse in Israel with that of leaders in other countries, asserting that many world leaders openly speak about faith in G-d, while some Israeli public officials have avoided doing so for years.

Concluding his address, Asher recounted what he described as a lengthy conversation with an Iranian intellectual, who claimed that Israel’s enemies view the country as lacking sufficient faith.

“That is the real danger facing the State of Israel,” Asher said. “When people stand at this podium and belittle the Torah, halachah, and the mitzvos, that is the true existential threat to the State of Israel.”

{Matzav.com}

A dramatic new escalation unfolded overnight in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly launched missiles at commercial vessels, damaging two ships and fueling fresh concerns that the fragile calm between Washington and Tehran may be unraveling.

According to Axios, citing a U.S. official, the IRGC fired at least two missiles at commercial ships traveling through the strategic waterway late Monday night. The official said both vessels sustained substantial damage, though no injuries or fatalities were reported.

Earlier in the day, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced that an “unknown projectile” struck an oil tanker off the coast of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, igniting a fire aboard the vessel.

The latest attack comes as tensions remain elevated across the region, despite ongoing diplomatic contacts between the United States and Iran aimed at securing a lasting agreement after the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

The uneasy ceasefire has already been tested. In recent days, the United States carried out two separate strikes against Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz, saying the operations were in response to Iranian violations of the ceasefire agreement.

Following those incidents, President Donald Trump cautioned that the United States could be compelled to “militarily complete the job” if Iran continued to breach the ceasefire.

The Strait of Hormuz is among the world’s most strategically vital maritime corridors, serving as the passageway for approximately one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. During the wider Middle East conflict, Iran’s blockade of the waterway brought commercial traffic to an almost complete standstill, sending global energy prices soaring.

After reaching an initial framework agreement with the United States to suspend hostilities, Tehran reopened the Strait of Hormuz, allowing commercial shipping to resume through one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints.

MK Uri Maklev, chairman of the United Torah Judaism faction and a senior member of the chareidi negotiating team on the draft law, says the combination of the proposed Basic Law on Torah study and legislation freezing the arrests of yeshivah students could bring an end to the current wave of arrests. In a wide-ranging interview, he also accused former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and former Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuli Edelstein of repeatedly misleading the chareidi parties during negotiations, addressed Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s version of events, and discussed the political implications of Rav Dov Lando’s recent letter.

Speaking in an interview with Kikar Hashabbat, Maklev reflected on the collapse of efforts to pass a draft law and the growing legal and financial sanctions being imposed on Torah students.

Maklev placed much of the blame on Gallant and Edelstein, claiming they repeatedly backed away from understandings that had already been reached with the chareidi parties.

He also rejected reports that the chareidi factions had agreed to draft quotas amounting to 50 percent of an annual draft-age cohort or to a framework under which anyone not actively learning would immediately be inducted into the military.

Maklev likewise disputed Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s account of the order in which the coalition prioritized judicial reform and draft legislation.

Referring to Rav Dov Lando’s recent letter, Maklev indicated that the political relationship between Degel HaTorah and the broader right-wing bloc has changed significantly.

“We will do what is best for us,” he said. “I don’t think there will be a signature from all the faction leaders supporting it. We have no obligation to it,” referring to the right-wing bloc.

Asked how the situation had deteriorated to the point where yeshivah students are being arrested and financial penalties imposed on Torah students, Maklev responded, “It’s an obvious question. This is the result. There is Divine concealment. We went through many upheavals before reaching this point. At first we wanted to bring a government bill. Then the attorney general said the Defense Ministry had to provide an opinion. We sat with Gallant, and then he asked that Gantz also agree. My second home became the Kirya in Tel Aviv.”

Maklev sharply criticized both Edelstein and Gallant, accusing them of repeatedly deceiving the chareidi representatives.

“Without question, among the political figures, both of them misled us. The test is the outcome: Gallant and Edelstein misled us. Edelstein lied to us, and I never imagined he would do that. On the eve of the strike on Iran, we came much further than we ever thought we could agree to, and then he presented a different document. He backed away from the understandings reached before the strike on Iran. That was just another one of his lies.”

Addressing criticism directed at the chareidi parties over the failure to pass the draft law, Maklev insisted that party leaders fully appreciate the pain being experienced by the public.

“We are not disconnected from the issue. I personally feel it. We feel what the public is going through—the campaign of persecution and the hardships. We are living through this together. Of course people judge by the final result, but they also need to understand everything that happened along the way.”

Maklev also rejected Levin’s claim that the chareidi parties never requested delaying the draft law in favor of judicial reform.

“That’s not accurate,” he said. “I’m telling you differently. They explained to us why it would be better to first pass the judicial reform and only afterward the draft law.”

Responding to reports that the chareidi parties had accepted a target of drafting half of eligible recruits, Maklev said those claims were simply false.

“They said we agreed to targets of 50%. That’s not true! We did not agree to 50%! We spoke about 5,000 recruits out of the entire pool of approximately 80,000 eligible draftees. That’s less than 10%.”

He further insisted that the chareidi negotiating team never agreed that anyone not actively learning Torah would automatically be drafted.

“There was never such a thing. We didn’t agree to anything like that. First they must regulate the status of those who are learning, and only afterward can we discuss anything else.”

Turning again to Rav Landau’s letter stating that Degel HaTorah no longer feels bound to the right-wing bloc, Maklev said the letter marked a turning point.

“Something changed following the letter written by Maran Rav Dov Landau. I don’t think there will be a signature from all the faction leaders supporting it. We have no obligation to that bloc.”

At the same time, Maklev stressed that it is still too early to discuss coalition scenarios following the next election.

“We’ve said one thing: we’ll do what is best for us. I represent a public, and that public wants to hear that our first choice is a right-wing government. Even though we’ve taken blows from right-wing parties, it should not be assumed that we are automatically part of that bloc.”

Maklev concluded by explaining why United Torah Judaism continues to push for both the Basic Law on Torah study and the legislation freezing the arrests of yeshivah students.

“With the Basic Law on Torah study together with the law freezing the arrests, there is a possibility that the arrests will stop,” he said. “I assume these laws will have a majority in the Knesset.”

{Matzav.com}

Five former presidents of Israel’s Supreme Court issued a sharply worded public statement on Monday condemning the government’s decision regarding the Second Authority Council, warning that refusing to comply with High Court rulings would deal a severe blow to Israeli democracy.

The statement was signed by former Supreme Court Presidents Aharon Barak, Dorit Beinisch, Asher Grunis, Esther Hayut, and Uzi Vogelman.

Referring to the government’s decision, they wrote, “In light of the decision adopted yesterday by the Government of Israel regarding the Second Authority Council, we warn of the unprecedented gravity of this decision, whose clear meaning is a call by the government to disregard and disobey court orders.”

The retired justices continued, “Failure to comply with court orders and rulings is the final nail in the coffin of democracy. It is a step that completely disrupts the system of government and the rule of law in the state, leading to anarchy and concentrating all governmental authority in the hands of a single body. Such a reality would make the proper functioning of society impossible.”

They added that, “In order to prevent this destructive outcome, it is appropriate for the government to state the obvious—that court rulings and judicial decisions must be obeyed.”

Meanwhile, Bank of Israel Governor Prof. Amir Yaron also addressed the controversy during an interview with Channel 13 News.

“High Court judicial decisions are binding on all institutions,” Yaron said. “A government announcement that it will not comply with a High Court ruling undermines business certainty in the economy.”

A significant decline has been recorded in the number of chareidi recruits joining the IDF’s Chashmonean Brigade, with a new report attributing the drop to the recent wave of arrests targeting yeshivah students.

According to a report published by Walla, dozens of chareidi candidates who had already begun the screening and enlistment process for the Chashmonean Brigade have withdrawn or halted their applications in recent months.

The report states that during the most recent enlistment cycle in May, only about 97 new soldiers joined the brigade, despite an estimated annual pool of approximately 14,000 potential chareidi recruits.

Conversations with candidates cited in the report indicate that the recent increase in arrests has been the primary reason many chose to abandon the enlistment process. The broader public debate over drafting chareidim, together with pressure from within the chareidi community, has also affected their willingness to continue.

The findings echo comments made by Sgt. Maj. (Res.) Elchanan Wasserman, the former head of recruitment for the IDF’s Chareidi Chashmonean Brigade and current director of the Derech Yoav preparatory academies, in a recent interview.

During the interview, Wasserman issued a stark warning to policymakers and law enforcement officials regarding the arrest of yeshivah students who do not enlist.

“These arrests are taking us on a 100-meter sprint—but in reverse,” he said. “They are not helping increase chareidi enlistment; they are preventing it.”

{Matzav.com}

In a departure from the traditional vacation destinations favored by many admorim, the Vizhnitzer Beit Shemesh Rebbe has chosen to spend his summer retreat in the Shomron city of Emanuel, where he is expected to remain for an entire week. The unprecedented visit has generated tremendous excitement among the city’s chassidic residents, who are preparing to welcome the Rebbe for what is being described as a historic Shabbos.

Residents of Emanuel, home to a growing chassidic population, have warmly welcomed the announcement. It will mark the first time a Rebbe of such stature will spend an extended Shabbos and several days among the city’s residents.

The visit also represents a notable shift in the Rebbe’s customary summer plans. Until two years ago, the Vizhnitzer Beit Shemesh Rebbe would spend several weeks in the British resort town of Llandudno, Wales, together with his father-in-law, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe. Last year, after the Vizhnitzer Rebbe remained in Israel due to health concerns, the Beit Shemesh Rebbe traveled to Leżajsk, Poland, for a two-week retreat. This year, however, he has chosen to spend his vacation in Emanuel, a city known for its thriving Torah and chassidic communities.

The decision is closely tied to the steady growth of the Rebbe’s own chassidic community in Emanuel over recent years. The local congregation has expanded alongside dozens of Vizhnitzer chassidim affiliated with his father-in-law’s court. The Rebbe has consistently encouraged young chassidim to settle in the city and regularly visits to monitor the community’s development, though he has never before remained for such an extended stay.

According to the current schedule, the Rebbe is expected to arrive this Thursday, on the eve of Parshas Mattos-Masei, the 24th of Tammuz, and remain in Emanuel until the following Thursday, Parshas Devarim, the 2nd of Av.

Throughout the week, residents and chassidim will have opportunities to seek the Rebbe’s guidance and receive his brachos. The highlight of the visit will be Shabbos Parshas Mattos-Masei, when the Rebbe will lead the tefillos and conduct his tishen for the entire community. Large crowds are expected to attend the uplifting gatherings.

Members of the local organizing committee are completing final preparations for the Rebbe’s arrival, as Emanuel readies itself for what many residents expect to be one of the most significant events in the city’s history.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands gathered in Netanya as the Yenuka, Rav Shlomo Yehuda Be’eri, delivered a moving hesped and words of chizuk following the tragic murder of the mekubal Rav Amos Guetta zt”l. During his emotional address, the Yenuka shared a remarkable personal story about his first encounter with Rav Guetta nearly twenty years ago, offering a rare glimpse into the slain tzaddik’s extraordinary spiritual stature.

A profound sense of grief filled the gathering as the Yenuka came to comfort Rav Guetta’s family and the countless talmidim and admirers left devastated by his brutal murder.

Addressing the family, bnei yeshivah, and the assembled crowd, the Yenuka opened with visible emotion.

“I am in tremendous, tremendous pain,” he said.

He cited the Gemara in Maseches Rosh Hashanah, which compares the passing of tzaddikim to the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash, and quoted the words of the novi Yeshayah: “הצדיק אבד ואין איש שם לב” — “The righteous man has perished, and no one takes it to heart.”

The Yenuka emphasized that Rav Amos had devoted every ounce of his life, strength, and soul to Klal Yisroel, tirelessly bringing distant Jews closer to Torah, offering heartfelt tefillos, and caring deeply for every Jew who crossed his path.

He went on to compare the horrific murder to the killing of Zechariah Hanavi, whose blood was spilled unjustly. Crying out in anguish, he lamented that the generation had descended to such a painful low that “there is no consolation for such a loss.”

To highlight the severity of bloodshed, he referenced the Gemara in Maseches Yoma describing the Kohanim ascending the kevesh of the mizbei’ach, declaring, “There is no bloodshed more terrible or more horrifying than this. The heart cries out to the heavens.”

The most riveting moment of the address came when the Yenuka recounted his very first meeting with Rav Amos nearly two decades ago.

He explained that shortly after his eighteenth birthday, following a celebration held in Netanya, he traveled in the middle of the night—at approximately two o’clock in the morning—to Rav Guetta’s bais medrash to receive a brachah.

“I entered the bais medrash alone and saw an angel of Hashem,” the Yenuka recalled.

He described finding Rav Guetta seated alone in the empty shul, his head bowed, appearing either asleep or immersed in lofty spiritual realms.

The Yenuka stood beside him silently for approximately twenty minutes, davening quietly without disturbing him. When he finished, he kissed Rav Guetta’s head and garment before quietly leaving.

The following day, he related, Rav Guetta astonished those around him.

“Tell the Yenuka that I know he stood beside me for twenty minutes and davened,” Rav Guetta said. “I know he was with me.”

The Yenuka said the incident revealed the extraordinary spiritual level attained by Rav Guetta.

He added that from that first encounter onward, the two maintained a close relationship spanning many years, exchanging correspondence and messages through talmidim and trusted intermediaries.

As he concluded his remarks, the Yenuka called upon the thousands in attendance, the bnei yeshivah, and the broader community to preserve their revered rebbe’s legacy—a life defined by compassion, ahavas Yisroel, and an unparalleled commitment to bringing Jews closer to Torah.

He also offered heartfelt blessings to Rav Guetta’s son, Rav Moshe, while strengthening the widow and the rest of the family during their difficult time.

At the conclusion of the gathering, large crowds pressed forward hoping to receive the Yenuka’s blessing.

“Remember that he is alive and exists with us,” the Yenuka concluded. “He has not left us, and he will not leave us. His light remains with us forever,” he said, invoking the teaching of Chazal that tzaddikim are considered alive even after their passing.