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A dramatic confrontation unfolded shortly after midnight on Highway 1 leading to Yerushalayim when police attempted to detain a yeshiva bochur and transfer him to military authorities. The arrest was ultimately prevented after dozens of protesters rushed to the scene and blocked the roadway.

The incident took place near the Kiryat Ye’arim interchange. According to reports, demonstrators who were alerted to the attempted arrest quickly arrived and staged a protest, bringing traffic to a standstill in opposition to the effort to take the student into custody.

After a lengthy standoff and a heated demonstration, police reportedly withdrew from the area and released the yeshiva student.

The incident comes amid growing tensions following the arrest of two students from Yeshivas Maalos HaTorah on Erev Shabbos. In response, the central faction of the Peleg Yerushalmi is scheduled to hold large-scale demonstrations across the country on Sunday protesting the arrests of yeshiva students and their transfer to military prison.

The leader of the Peleg Yerushalmi, Rav Ezriel Auerbach, issued a strongly worded call urging supporters to participate in the protests.

In his statement, Rav Euerbach declared that this is not a time for silence and that every ben Torah has a doubled and redoubled obligation to protest what he described as the humiliation of Torah and its students, the criminal arrests, and the actions of military authorities and those cooperating with them from within and without.

As previously reported, two 21-year-old students from Yeshivas Maalos HaTorah were arrested on Erev Shabbos after failing to report to military induction offices in accordance with the directives of leading gedolim.

According to reports, the two students—including the son of the rosh yeshiva—were stopped by traffic police on Highway 6 while attempting to obtain a ride home.

After police identified the pair in the system as draft evaders, they were immediately handed over to military authorities and transferred to military prison.

The timing of the arrests, occurring just hours before the onset of Shabbos as families were preparing to welcome the holy day, sparked widespread outrage in segments of the chareidi community and intensified calls for the nationwide demonstrations scheduled for Sunday.

Police in Manchester, England recovered two large knives from two men believed to be from Yemen during a security operation that has drawn significant attention online.

Videos circulating on social media appear to show officers detaining the two men while confiscating the blades during the incident. According to reports accompanying the footage, the men told police that the knives were traditional items connected to their cultural heritage and were not being carried for criminal purposes.

The knives were reportedly jambiyas, curved daggers commonly associated with Yemeni culture and traditionally worn as part of ceremonial or cultural dress. Social media reports claimed the men were wearing traditional Yemeni clothing at the time of the encounter.

Authorities have not publicly released detailed information regarding the incident, and it remains unclear whether any arrests resulted in formal charges.

Police have also not publicly disclosed the precise circumstances that led officers to stop the men or whether the matter remains under investigation.

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Interest continues to surround last week’s historic lottery that divided the sacred heirlooms of the Siget-Satmar dynasty left behind by the Satmar Rebbe, the Berach Moshe of Satmar, zt”l.

While the division of the estate itself marked the conclusion of a process that lasted nearly two decades, attention has now shifted to two particularly significant items: a historic letter from the Divrei Chaim of Sanz and a pair of tefillin belonging to the Kedushas Yom Tov. Both are regarded within Satmar circles as treasures of extraordinary historical and spiritual importance.

In recent days, Satmar chassidim and students of chassidic history have been closely examining the details of the sacred items that once belonged to the Rebbes of the Siget-Satmar dynasty and were left behind by the Berach Moshe. The items were distributed among the heirs during a historic lottery held last Thursday, attended by the Rebbe’s grandchildren, current gabbaim, and senior figures within the chassidus who had been involved in the lengthy process, which finally reached its conclusion after twenty years.

Although the collection—estimated to be worth millions of dollars—was carefully cataloged and divided under strict supervision to ensure complete equality between the parties, two artifacts stand out as what many in Satmar refer to as the “tie-breakers,” owing to their unique significance and historical value.

The first item, which was awarded to the Satmar Rebbe Rav Zalman Leib, is considered one of the most important handwritten documents preserved in the dynasty’s archives. Within the chassidus, it is viewed as a document whose importance extends far beyond its historical value and is closely tied to the very continuity of the Siget-Satmar dynasty.

The document is the famed letter sent by the Divrei Chaim of Sanz to the Kedushas Yom Tov, the second Rebbe of the Siget dynasty. At the time, the Kedushas Yom Tov had been married for many years without children, and the Divrei Chaim wrote to bless him with offspring.

In the letter, the Divrei Chaim writes, among other things: “Let neither he nor his wife lose hope, for we are confident that you will not be denied children. May the good Hashem have mercy upon you, and may you soon be blessed with offspring through the blessing of Hashem.”

Within Satmar, the letter is regarded as far more than a rare historical document. It is viewed as the blessing from which the entire Siget-Satmar dynasty ultimately emerged. The Vayoel Moshe was known to say that the blessing was given with genuine ruach hakodesh, and that the expression “tzipinu” used by the Divrei Chaim reflected his prophetic foresight regarding the future continuation of the dynasty.

For the past two decades, the treasured letter was in the possession of the Satmar-Monsey Gaavad, Chaim Yehoshua Halberstam, son-in-law of the Berach Moshe. As a result of last week’s lottery, it has now become the property of Rav Zalman Leib of Satmar.

The second highly coveted item, which went to the Satmar Rebbe Rav Aharon, is a pair of Rabbeinu Tam tefillin that belonged to the Kedushas Yom Tov. The Kedushas Yom Tov presented the tefillin to his son, the Vayoel Moshe, upon his marriage, and they have long been regarded as one of the most important heirlooms in the dynasty.

Satmar sources note that over the years the Vayoel Moshe made various improvements and enhancements to the tefillin, including replacing some of the parshiyos and batim. Nevertheless, they continue to occupy a unique place within the family’s collection of sacred artifacts and are viewed as among the most historically and spiritually significant items in the possession of the dynasty.

The White House is forcefully rejecting a report that Chief of Staff Susie Wiles urged Vice President JD Vance to scale back his social media activity, dismissing the story as entirely fabricated.

The controversy erupted after The New York Times reported that Wiles and other senior administration officials had advised Vance to step away from online disputes, arguing that his frequent exchanges with critics were “beneath his office.”

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung publicly disputed the account, saying the alleged conversation never occurred.

“This isn’t true,” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung wrote on the social platform X, in response to a post from Jewish Insider editor-in-chief Josh Kraushaar, who shared the Times report on X. “We denied it to the New York Times and they refused to run our quote. Complete fake news. This supposed ‘conversation’ never happened.”

The claim was included in a broader New York Times article examining Vance’s relationship with President Trump and his potential future as a leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028.

Although the report included criticism from unnamed sources, it also featured comments from Cheung defending both Vance and his role within the administration.

“Vice President Vance has done a remarkable job of helping implement the president’s America First agenda,” Cheung told the Times. “Any false media narratives from unknown and unnamed sources fabricating stories clearly do not have any knowledge of the truth.”

Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz also pushed back on the report, accusing critics of unfairly targeting the vice president.

“Steven Cheung has stated clearly in the article and reiterated on X that this is completely fake news,” Bruisewitz wrote on X. “JD Vance is an exceptionally effective communicator and invaluable member of President Trump’s Team. Vance Derangement Syndrome is real, folks.”

The dispute comes as speculation continues to build over the Republican Party’s future leadership. Both Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are widely viewed as potential contenders for the GOP nomination in 2028, with recent polling showing the two administration officials running virtually even in hypothetical primary matchups as attention increasingly turns toward the post-Trump political landscape.

{Matzav.com}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country is preparing for what he believes could be a major Russian strike within the next 48 hours, citing intelligence shared by the United States and European allies that points to extensive military preparations by Moscow.

“Today at night, or tomorrow at night, we will have, we think that we will have big attacks from Russian side using drones, using cruise missiles and ballistic,” Zelensky said in a clip from an interview with Face the Nation scheduled to air Sunday. He added that intelligence officials “see the preparation” for it by Russia.

According to Zelensky, information provided by Western partners has helped Ukrainian authorities identify Russian military activity and preparations ahead of the anticipated attack.

The warning comes just days after Zelensky urged President Trump and members of Congress to provide Ukraine with additional Patriot missile interceptors, saying the country remains heavily dependent on its allies for protection against incoming missile strikes.

“Frankly, while we have achieved significant success in defending against all types of drones, Ukraine has not yet built its own capability to produce anti-missile defense systems. When it comes to air defense against missiles we rely on our friends and partners around the world,” Zelensky wrote in a five-page letter to Trump.

Zelensky said Russian forces continue to target Ukrainian civilians daily while also launching larger, coordinated bombardments on a regular basis.

“Two times a week, or two times per 10 days, they have big, massive attacks,” he said in the interview.

As an example, he cited a recent Russian assault involving more than 600 Iranian-made drones and approximately 90 missiles, including 30 ballistic missiles.

“It was very difficult to destroy it,” he said. “We used all our weapons, what we have, what we produce, and of course we used anti-ballistic missile. This is the biggest deficit for us.”

The interview also addressed recent incidents involving Russian drones crossing into or striking NATO territory. Earlier this week, a Russian drone hit a residential building in Romania, drawing a swift response from NATO officials.

“Russia’s reckless behaviour is a danger to us all,” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte wrote on the social platform X after speaking with Romanian President Nicușor Dan about the incident. “They continue to target civilians and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine. And last night showed yet again that the implications of their illegal war of aggression don’t stop at the border.”

Zelensky argued that the incidents are part of a broader effort by Russian President Vladimir Putin to pressure countries supporting Ukraine and discourage them from continuing their assistance.

“I think it’s political pressure,” he said. “It’s messages from Russia: Don’t help Ukraine.”

Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and the country’s former president, warned European nations to be cautious about becoming more involved in the conflict following the Romanian drone incident.

“Citizens of EU countries, You should realize your authorities have unilaterally entered into a war with Russia,” the Putin adviser wrote on X. “So be vigilant and don’t be surprised by anything. The peaceful sleep is over. But you know who to ask why.”

{Matzav.com}

The United States has confiscated or frozen approximately $1 billion in cryptocurrency tied to Iran, marking a major escalation in Washington’s effort to disrupt Tehran’s access to international financial channels, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Thursday.

Speaking at the Reagan National Economic Forum, Bessent revealed that the amount of Iranian digital assets seized by U.S. authorities has doubled since April, when officials reported nearly $500 million in frozen cryptocurrency holdings, according to BeInCrypto.com.

“Just outright grabbed the wallets,” Bessent said. “Some of them may be typing in right now and might not realize their wallet had been grabbed.”

The latest seizures are part of “Operation Economic Fury,” a campaign launched by the Treasury Department in March 2025 to dismantle networks used by Iran to evade international sanctions.

According to U.S. officials, Tehran has increasingly turned to digital currencies to move funds connected to oil exports and activities associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Much of that activity reportedly involved the stablecoin Tether (USDT) on the Tron blockchain.

Bessent said Iranian entities had been transferring between $400 million and $500 million each month through cryptocurrency networks before federal authorities intensified their enforcement efforts.

To carry out the operation, the Treasury Department has coordinated with major cryptocurrency companies, including Tether, as well as blockchain-tracking firms that help identify wallets linked to sanctioned organizations.

One of the most significant actions took place in April, when U.S. authorities froze roughly $344 million worth of USDT connected to Iranian financial networks.

Officials say the effort highlights the growing role of cryptocurrency in modern economic conflict. While digital assets were once viewed as a tool that could help sanctioned nations circumvent traditional banking systems, U.S. authorities argue that blockchain technology creates a permanent record that investigators can follow.

The crackdown comes as Iran grapples with mounting economic challenges, including a weakening currency, pressure on its banking sector, and declining revenue from oil exports.

Bessent said some of the confiscated funds are being safeguarded for the benefit of the Iranian people, while other assets could eventually be used to compensate victims of terrorism.

Treasury officials indicated that additional enforcement actions are likely in the coming months as the administration continues expanding its campaign against Iran’s financial infrastructure.

{Matzav.com}

Italian authorities have blocked a planned Kanye West concert in the city of Reggio Emilia, citing concerns about public safety and the potential for unrest.

The decision was announced Friday by Prefect Salvatore Angieri, who said that permits would not be granted for the two major concerts that had been scheduled on consecutive days in July at the northern Italian venue.

The move followed a formal request from members of the local Jewish community, who urged officials to cancel West’s appearance.

Nicoletta Uzzielli, who heads the region’s Jewish community, had pressed local leaders to replace the performance with an event that would bring “music back to the forefront as a universally unifying force.”

West, who now performs under the name Ye, has faced widespread criticism in recent years over a series of antisemitic remarks and expressions of support for Nazi ideology.

In 2022, the rapper threatened to go “death con 3 on the Jews” in an apparent antisemitic rant on X, which was then called Twitter. West followed this up by claiming that he can’t be antisemitic “because black people are actually Jew.”

His controversies continued last year when he purchased a Super Bowl advertisement promoting T-shirts bearing swastikas and later released a song titled “Heil Hitler.”

West later apologized for his conduct, saying his actions stemmed from manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder.

Most recently, authorities in both the United Kingdom and Poland barred him from entering those countries because of his past antisemitic statements.

In its explanation for denying approval, the regional prefecture cited multiple concerns. Officials pointed to the “cancellation of previous concerts by the American rapper in other countries and the real risk of counter-demonstrations.”

{Matzav.com}

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The IDF announced Sunday that Staff Sergeant Michael Tyukin, 21, of Ashkelon, was killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon after an explosive drone launched by Hezbollah struck Israeli forces in the area.

Tyukin served in the Givati Brigade’s Reconnaissance Battalion (846th). According to the military, he was killed while operating with his unit in southern Lebanon.

The fatal attack occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Motzoei Shabbos, when a Hezbollah explosive UAV hit the location where soldiers from the Givati Reconnaissance Battalion were conducting operations.

The latest attack adds to a growing toll since the Lebanon ceasefire took effect. According to Israeli figures, Hezbollah has killed 13 Israelis during that period. Nine of the victims—including eight soldiers and one civilian—were killed in attacks involving explosive drones.

The IDF said that four additional soldiers were lightly wounded in the same incident that claimed Tyukin’s life. All were evacuated for medical treatment, and their families were notified of their injuries.

{Matzav.com}

Residents across parts of the northeastern United States were startled Saturday afternoon when a meteor exploded high above the region, producing a powerful shockwave that rattled homes and triggered widespread reports of loud booms.

NASA said the meteor broke apart in the atmosphere, generating an acoustic blast that was heard across several states. According to the agency, the energy released by the explosion was roughly equivalent to 300 tons of TNT.

The event occurred shortly after 2 p.m. local time in the skies above an area spanning northeastern Massachusetts and southeastern New Hampshire.

Jennifer Dooren, NASA’s deputy news chief, confirmed the nature of the phenomenon in comments to AFP and stressed that it was not connected to any man-made object.

“This fireball was not associated with any currently active meteor shower, but it was a natural object and not a re-entry of space debris or a satellite,” Dooren explained. “The energy released at breakup is estimated to be equivalent to about 300 tons of TNT, which accounts for the loud booms.”

Before breaking apart, the meteor was traveling through Earth’s atmosphere at approximately 75,000 miles per hour. NASA said the explosion took place at an altitude of about 40 miles above the ground.

The sudden blast left many residents confused and concerned as the sound echoed across communities throughout the region. Social media quickly filled with reports from people describing thunderous noises and vibrations strong enough to shake houses and windows.

Many initially believed the sounds were caused by an earthquake, explosion, or military activity before officials confirmed that the source was a meteor disintegrating high above the Northeast.

{Matzav.com}

What is traditionally a brief and uplifting respite for thousands of yeshiva bochurim and kollel yungeleit after Shavuos turned into a weekend marked by fear, uncertainty, and widespread anxiety. Reports of arrests, roadside detentions, and efforts to avoid encounters with authorities dominated conversations across the Torah world, leaving many families deeply unsettled.

Each year, the Shabbos following Shavuos serves as a short break after weeks of intense learning. Thousands of bochurim and avreichim typically use the opportunity to return home, spend time with family, and recharge before resuming the summer zman.

This year, however, the atmosphere was markedly different. Instead of a sense of relief and renewal, many communities reported feelings of apprehension and unease amid a wave of arrests involving yeshiva students and avreichim who were subsequently transferred to military authorities.

Safe Houses and Sleepless Nights

Sources related that fears of unexpected police actions led to an extraordinary outpouring of communal support. Families in numerous neighborhoods, including areas not generally identified with the more insular chareidi communities, reportedly opened their homes to host bochurim for Shabbos.

Residents described a situation in which some families feared that authorities could arrive at their homes during the night. As a result, some bochurim reportedly spent Shabbos sleeping at alternate locations rather than at their registered addresses.

“Parents are simply afraid that military police will knock on their door in the middle of the night and take their sons into custody,” one resident said. “Some bochurim spent the nights in nearby apartments, away from their official home addresses. Every knock on the door startled entire families.”

The concern also extended into the yeshiva world itself. At one prominent Litvishe yeshiva in Yerushalayim, unusual activity was reported shortly before Shabbos as parents arrived in large numbers to pick up their sons directly from the campus. According to reports, students were advised to avoid public transportation and hitchhiking, which many feared had become potential points of detention.

Three Bochurim Arrested While Traveling Home

Those concerns intensified following several arrests that took place shortly before Shabbos and quickly became the focus of discussion throughout the chareidi community.

One incident involved three talmidim from Yeshivas Maalos HaTorah who were attempting to obtain rides home. According to reports, traffic police stopped the students for a routine identification check and discovered that they were listed as draft evaders.

The three were reportedly taken into custody and transferred to military authorities. They spent Shabbos in detention alongside approximately 40 other yeshiva students and avreichim who are currently being held under similar circumstances. Leaders within the Peleg Yerushalmi are reportedly preparing demonstrations and protest activities in response.

Kiryat Gat Arrest Sparks Outrage

A separate incident in Kiryat Gat generated particularly strong reactions and threatened to escalate tensions between the chareidi community and law enforcement authorities.

According to reports, a well-known Belzer chossid and avreich was arrested and transferred to military authorities after being identified as a draft evader.

Witnesses said that the arrest occurred while a crowd had gathered around a local incident. The avreich allegedly approached police officers in an effort to help calm the situation. Instead, officers checked his identification and, after determining his status, placed him under arrest.

The incident prompted unusually sharp criticism within Belz, where many viewed the arrest as crossing long-standing understandings between the chareidi community and law enforcement authorities.

The response was swift. Senior figures in the chassidus reportedly instructed dozens of police volunteers affiliated with Belz, as well as avreichim involved in various enlistment-related processes, to attend an emergency gathering scheduled for Motzaei Shabbos.

Officials involved in volunteer emergency and community organizations expressed concern that the episode could damage trust and hinder cooperation between the chareidi public and police authorities.

At the same time, Deputy Minister and MK Yisroel Eichler, along with leading Belz activists, became actively involved in efforts to secure the avreich’s release. According to reports, significant political pressure was brought to bear on senior figures within the security and law enforcement establishment.

After several tense hours, those efforts proved successful, and the avreich was released shortly before the onset of Shabbos.

Despite that release, tensions remained high throughout the Torah world after Shabbos. Many bochurim and avreichim expressed concern that routine activities once taken for granted now carry a degree of uncertainty and risk.

“The status quo has changed; the game has become dangerous,” one Yerushalayim rosh yeshiva said. “This Shabbos demonstrated that we have entered a new phase, and nobody knows what tomorrow will bring.”

{Matzav.com}

Health officials have expanded Ebola screening measures to New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport after federal authorities confirmed that an American physician contracted the virus during the ongoing outbreak in Africa.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that JFK began conducting enhanced health screenings on Friday, becoming the fourth major U.S. airport to implement the program. The airport joins Washington Dulles International Airport, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport in screening travelers arriving from affected regions.

The World Health Organization designated the current outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 15.

The outbreak originated in Congo’s northeastern Ituri Province before spreading into neighboring Uganda. According to the latest WHO figures released May 30, there have been 906 suspected infections and 223 suspected deaths linked to the outbreak.

Federal officials said Peter Stafford, a 39-year-old American physician working with the missionary organization Serge, unknowingly performed surgery on a patient infected with Ebola before the outbreak was identified.

Stafford tested positive for the virus on May 24. Authorities subsequently transferred him to a hospital in Germany, where he is receiving treatment.

Over the past week, the United States has redirected travelers arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan to designated airports where they undergo enhanced screening procedures aimed at identifying potential exposures.

Under newly revised federal rules, lawful permanent residents who have been in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days may also be barred from entering the United States.

“Public health entry screening serves as one component of CDC’s layered public health approach,” the CDC said in the May 29 announcement.

“These actions are based on current epidemiological evidence, ongoing risk assessments, and the highly serious nature of BVD (Bundibugyo). This order will be in effect for 30 days, effective immediately.”

Travelers selected for screening will be escorted to a designated area, where they will answer questions about their recent travel and any symptoms they may be experiencing. Their temperatures will be checked using non-contact devices, and CDC personnel will observe them for signs of illness.

The CDC continues to classify the immediate risk to the general American public as low. However, officials said they are closely monitoring developments and will adjust policies as conditions change.

In the meantime, the agency is advising anyone traveling to the United States from affected countries to monitor themselves for possible Ebola symptoms for 21 days after departure.

Symptoms associated with the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which carries an estimated mortality rate of between 30 and 50 percent, include fever, headaches, muscle aches, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and, in advanced cases, unexplained bleeding or bruising.

The CDC also said it is working to evacuate additional Americans from the region, including Stafford’s wife, Rebekah Stafford, 38, a physician who also treated the infected patient.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump remains in outstanding physical and mental condition and is fully capable of carrying out the responsibilities of the presidency, according to a medical report released by the White House on Friday evening.

The report summarizes the findings of Trump’s six-month physical examination, which was conducted earlier this week at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center by Dr. Sean Barbabella.

In the memo, Barbabella concluded that the president continues to enjoy strong overall health.

“President Trump remains in excellent health, demonstrating strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and overall physical function,” Barbabella wrote.

The physician also pointed to the president’s demanding workload and active routine as contributing factors to his condition.

“His demanding daily schedule, including multiple high-level meetings, public engagements, and regular physical activity, continues to support his overall well-being,” he added. “Cognitive and physical performance are excellent.

“He is fully fit to carry out all duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State.”

Among the findings highlighted in the report was an assessment that Trump’s cardiovascular health is significantly younger than his actual age.

According to Barbabella, the president’s “cardiac age” was estimated to be approximately 14 years younger than his chronological age.

The report also noted progress regarding a minor medical issue identified during an earlier examination. Barbabella said there had been “improvement” in the mild swelling previously observed in Trump’s lower legs.

In addition, the physician referenced the visible scar on Trump’s right ear resulting from the gunshot wound he sustained during the July 2024 assassination attempt.

The report stated that Trump continues to take two medications to manage cholesterol levels, along with a daily aspirin regimen.

Barbabella explained that the president’s use of aspirin, combined with his frequent public interactions and handshaking, contributes to the bruising occasionally visible on his hand, describing the condition as “common and benign.”

As part of the examination, Trump also completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, a widely used cognitive screening test, and achieved a perfect score, answering all 30 questions correctly.

{Matzav.com}

American drivers are seeing some relief at gas stations after prices dropped sharply over the past week, driven by falling oil prices amid renewed diplomatic efforts to extend the ceasefire with Iran and restore commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the decline, fuel costs remain significantly higher than they were before the conflict erupted.

According to AAA, the nationwide average price for regular gasoline stood at $4.356 per gallon on Friday, down nearly 17 cents from $4.529 one week earlier. California continued to have the highest average price in the nation at $6.040 per gallon, while Indiana recorded the lowest average at $3.722.

The decrease in gasoline prices has mirrored a pullback in crude oil markets as investors assess the possibility that oil shipments could soon resume through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors. Approximately 20 percent of global seaborne oil passes through the narrow waterway.

Iran has largely restricted passage through the strait since fighting with the United States and Israel intensified on February 28. The disruption sent oil prices soaring and pushed the national average price of gasoline from $2.98 per gallon before the conflict to more than $4.50 by mid-May.

On Friday, President Donald Trump met with senior national security officials at the White House to review a tentative proposal that would prolong the current ceasefire and reopen the strait to international shipping. Iranian officials, however, said no final agreement has yet been reached.

Recent declines in Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude futures have been fueled largely by optimism surrounding the diplomatic talks. Market analysts warn that any breakdown in negotiations could quickly reverse those gains.

Experts say that even if an agreement is finalized, consumers should not expect an immediate return to the lower gasoline prices seen before the conflict began.

“Reopening the Strait fully to oil shipments and nothing less” is what would meaningfully move pump prices, Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, told Newsweek, adding that getting back to prewar levels could take more than a year even after tankers begin moving again.

Denton Cinquegrana, chief oil analyst at Oil Price Information Service, told the same outlet a return to the prewar $2.98 average could stretch into the second half of 2027.

While oil prices have retreated from recent highs, futures markets continue to reflect concerns about supply. Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist at LPL Financial, noted that December 2026 Brent crude contracts are trading near $80 per barrel. That is down from approximately $88 a barrel a week ago but remains well above prewar levels.

Trump predicted on May 11 that gasoline prices would “drop like a rock” once the conflict ended. Energy analysts, however, have repeatedly cautioned that lower oil prices do not immediately translate into lower prices at the pump because of delays throughout the refining and distribution process.

Meanwhile, rising consumer demand is creating additional upward pressure on fuel prices as Americans prepare for summer travel. AAA, citing figures from the Energy Information Administration, reported that gasoline demand climbed from 8.76 million barrels per day to 9.25 million barrels per day over the past week.

Even after the recent decline, gasoline remains considerably more expensive than it was a year ago. As of May 30, 2026, the national average is roughly $1.20 higher than on the same date in 2025, when AAA reported an average price of $3.16 per gallon.

{Matzav.com}

A 21-year-old resident of eastern Yerushalayim has been charged with acting on behalf of a Hamas operative based in Cyprus and allegedly providing sensitive intelligence that could have facilitated a major terror attack at a hotel in central Yerushalayim, according to a report by i24.

Prosecutors allege that the suspect, who until recently worked at the hotel, was in contact with a Hamas handler for several months and supplied information about Israelis, security personnel, and potential targets throughout the country.

According to the indictment, the defendant collected and relayed details about security checkpoints, military and police activity, and various locations in Israel. As part of his job at the hotel, he allegedly documented soldiers and members of the security services who were staying there.

One of the most serious allegations concerns a large group of Israeli Air Force students who were scheduled to stay at the hotel. Investigators say the suspect provided his handler with extensive information about the group, including arrival dates, names, the number of participants, and the room numbers where they were expected to be housed.

The indictment further states that the Hamas operative later asked the suspect whether he would be willing to assist if a terrorist were sent to carry out an attack at the hotel. According to the charges, the suspect replied that he was “prepared to carry out a suicide attack myself.”

Authorities say the alleged attack never moved forward because the group’s planned stay at the hotel was canceled due to the war. During the investigation, the hotel’s manager confirmed that the Air Force students had indeed been scheduled to stay at the facility.

Prosecutors further allege that even after the cancellation, the suspect continued providing information to his Hamas contact. Among the materials he allegedly sent were a photograph of a female soldier’s military identification card and images of two prison guards who had visited the hotel.

{Matzav.com}

A young chareidi man from Mexico who was arrested upon arriving in Israel after being classified as a military draft evader has been released from prison and reunited with his family, bringing relief to members of the Mexican Jewish community.

The young man, who holds Israeli citizenship, was detained upon landing in Israel last Wednesday and transferred to Military Prison 10 after authorities determined that he was listed as a draft evader. His arrest sparked concern among relatives and community members in Mexico.

According to those familiar with the case, the man was married just one month ago and lives permanently in Mexico. He had traveled to Israel in order to spend time with his mother, who is battling a serious illness.

Following his arrest, family members turned to businessman and community activist Aviatar Elbaz for assistance. Elbaz became involved in the matter immediately, contacting the relevant authorities and presenting what he described as the young man’s humanitarian circumstances.

After several days of efforts on his behalf, authorities decided to release the young man from custody. Upon his release, he was reunited with his family.

Speaking to B’Chadrei Chareidim, Elbaz said, “I am happy that the case ended in the proper way and that, in the end, the young man was able to return to his family and his mother. Alongside enforcing the law, it is important to show sensitivity and humanity in exceptional cases.”

Sources said that the young man, who does not reside in Israel, is now working to regularize his status with the IDF so that he can return to his family and to his wife, whom he married only a month ago and who is awaiting his return in Mexico.

According to his family, the young man was unaware that he had been classified as a draft evader, as he has lived outside of Israel and does not reside in the country on a permanent basis.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply criticized a federal judge on Friday after a court blocked his administration’s effort to rename the Kennedy Center and halted plans to shut down the landmark venue for a major renovation project.

The dispute centers on a ruling by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who sided with a legal challenge brought by Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center board. The decision stopped a proposal that would have closed the performing arts complex beginning July 5 for an extensive two-year overhaul.

Reacting to the ruling, Trump argued that experts had warned of serious structural and safety concerns within the building and accused the judge of disregarding those findings.

“Judge Cooper was given a presentation by leading Building and Construction Experts as to how structurally dangerous the Building is, with rotting beams, parking areas that are subject to collapse, and various other Life and Safety problems, in addition to the fact that it also needs a MAJOR renovation, from an aesthetic standpoint, but he was not ‘swayed,’ and said he wants the Building to, incredibly, remain open and, therefore, dangerous,” the president wrote in a Friday post on Truth Social.

Trump followed up with a direct rebuke of the judge and suggested the ruling could place the public at risk.

“Judge Cooper should be ashamed of himself!” Trump added. “I cannot be involved with a situation where danger to the Public is allowed to flourish in plain and open sight.”

The president also announced that he had instructed the Department of Commerce to take steps that would place responsibility for the institution’s maintenance and future oversight under congressional authority.

In his written opinion, Cooper pointed to federal law governing the Kennedy Center and concluded that any change to the institution’s name would require action by Congress rather than a vote of the board.

“The Kennedy Center’s organic statute makes crystal clear that the Center is to be named for President Kennedy, and it cannot bear any other formal name or public memorial based on the Board’s unilateral say-so,” Cooper wrote in his ruling.

The renovation proposal is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to modernize prominent federal sites throughout Washington under the banner of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force.

Other high-profile redevelopment efforts pursued by the administration have also encountered legal opposition, including plans involving the East Wing of the White House and a separate project focused on renovating the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

President Donald Trump took aim at both Pope Leo XIV and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson today after the pontiff welcomed the mayor to the Vatican, criticizing the meeting and calling Johnson ineffective.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump questioned why the pope chose to meet with the Chicago mayor and tied the issue to his broader concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“Someone should explain to the Pope that the Mayor of Chicago is useless, and that Iran cannot have a Nuclear Weapon!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump accompanied the post with screenshots from Johnson’s X account that highlighted the mayor’s visit to the Vatican and his meeting with the pope the previous day.

Photos shared by Johnson showed him presenting Pope Leo with a small Chicago flag. Another image captured the two smiling together while holding a Chicago Cubs cap, despite the pope’s well-known loyalty to the White Sox. Leo, the first American pope in history, was born and raised in Chicago.

The president’s latest remarks appeared to further escalate his ongoing dispute with the pontiff, whom he has repeatedly criticized in recent weeks over foreign policy issues and public comments regarding international conflicts.

Trump has previously faulted Leo for remarks critical of the war involving Iran and for what he characterized as a lenient approach to crime. He has also argued that the pope’s positions suggest insufficient opposition to Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.

“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela,” he wrote, adding, “I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected.”

The president has also contended that the pope’s comments could place both Catholics and others at risk, accusing him of effectively tolerating Iran’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities.

For his part, Pope Leo has rejected suggestions that he should remain silent in the face of political disagreements. Responding to criticism from Trump, the pontiff previously stated that he is “not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel.”

{Matzav.com}

A New Jersey man is facing federal charges after authorities said he attacked immigration officers during a confrontation outside the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, allegedly biting two agents and injuring them badly enough to require hospital treatment.

Federal prosecutors identified the suspect as 26-year-old Brendan John Geier of Madison, New Jersey. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Geier was among a group of anti-ICE demonstrators who blocked a roadway near the detention center Thursday evening. Officers with ICE reportedly ordered the crowd to clear the area, but the group refused to comply.

The Justice Department alleges that tensions quickly escalated, with demonstrators physically confronting federal personnel. Prosecutors said Geier “engaged in a struggle with deportation officers, kicking officers and ultimately biting an officer’s forearm, and another’s knuckle. Both victims received treatment at a local hospital.” Authorities charged him with assaulting federal officers resulting in bodily injury. He appeared Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cari Fais.

Commenting on the arrest, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said federal authorities would aggressively pursue those accused of attacking immigration officers.

“We will not tolerate the vicious attacks on ICE officers we’ve seen in New Jersey the last few days. These riots are clearly not ‘peaceful protests’ as you can see from the photos of these horrific wounds. Assault a federal officer, you’ll be held accountable,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote in a Friday afternoon post on X.

Blanche also shared photographs on social media showing injuries sustained by ICE personnel, including visible bite wounds and bloodied arms.

In a separate statement, Blanche emphasized that federal authorities distinguish between lawful demonstrations and physical violence against law enforcement.

“Peaceful protest doesn’t translate to violently attacking federal law enforcement officers,” Blanche said in a statement. “Federal officers are protecting United States’ property and facilities. With virtually no local law enforcement support from New Jersey, rioters are regrouping and attacking. We will not tolerate the vicious attacks we have seen in Newark the last few days, and we will make arrests and hold people accountable for criminal conduct.”

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin echoed those remarks, pointing to the allegations outlined in the criminal complaint.

“As alleged in the Justice Department’s complaint, this violent rioter savagely bit an ICE law enforcement officer outside of Delaney Hall. The Trump Administration will always stand with our law enforcement officers,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin also added in the statement. “Anyone who assaults a law enforcement officer will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for New Jersey likewise stressed that violence against officers performing official duties would not be tolerated.

“As alleged, this defendant responded to lawful orders from federal officers by kicking one and biting two others who were performing their official duties,” U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey also said in the statement. “Assaulting law enforcement officers is unacceptable. Period. Federal officers must be able to carry out their responsibilities without being subjected to violence, intimidation, or obstruction. This Office will continue to prosecute those who, as alleged here, assault officers and interfere with the lawful execution of their duties.”

Federal investigators also condemned the alleged actions, arguing that the conduct crossed the line from protest into criminal behavior.

“To be clear, peaceful protest does not mean biting, kicking, or punching law enforcement officers,” Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark added in the statement.

“The repeated assaults on federal officers at Delaney Hall are criminal acts — not protected speech. Homeland Security Investigations is unwavering in its commitment to hold those who attack law enforcement fully accountable under the law,” Karabinas concluded.

Demonstrations outside Delaney Hall have now stretched into a second consecutive week, with tensions remaining high around the facility.

By Saturday morning, both anti-ICE demonstrators and supporters of immigration enforcement had gathered outside the detention center. Crowds on both sides continued to grow, while officers on bicycles patrolled the area and maintained separation between the opposing groups.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, who visited Delaney Hall on Memorial Day and voiced support for protesters opposing ICE operations, announced Friday that the New Jersey State Police would take over responsibility for security and public safety around the detention center.

Earlier in the week, Mullin criticized Sherrill, accusing her of preventing local law enforcement agencies from working alongside federal immigration authorities. The Department of Homeland Security said federal officers confronting violent demonstrators received little assistance from local police during the unrest.

{Matzav.com}