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President Donald Trump on Sunday hailed a new American military task force targeting Iran’s weapons and supply networks, declaring that a sweeping U.S. naval blockade has severely restricted the flow of goods into and out of the country. At the same time, Trump warned that American forces remain prepared to launch additional devastating strikes against Iran if Tehran fails to reach an acceptable agreement with Washington.

“Task Force Iron Gate is in full force and effect in the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“Coupled with history’s greatest Naval Blockade, very little gets into, or out of, Iran!” he added.

The president’s remarks followed Saturday’s announcement by U.S. Central Command of the creation of Task Force Iron Gate, a specialized unit tasked with interfering with Iranian weapons shipments, sanctioned cargo, and illicit financial operations. The approximately 20-person team will be based in Tampa, Florida, and will concentrate on smuggling routes along Iran’s land borders and across the Caspian Sea.

In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Trump indicated that a new round of major American military strikes could be averted if Iran agrees to stringent nuclear restrictions and restores access through the Strait of Hormuz.

“It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement,” Trump said.

The president suggested that the military pressure already brought to bear on Iran had made further action less likely, although he made clear that he would authorize additional attacks if negotiations failed.

“The answer is highly unlikely it’s going to be necessary,” Trump said. “They’re a failing nation. It just came out, you saw this year, 301% inflation. Highly unlikely it will be necessary. I would if necessary, but we hit them really hard. I hit them so hard. You don’t know how hard I hit them.”

Trump portrayed Iran as a country suffering severe economic damage while facing overwhelming American military capabilities.

“ They’re withering away financially. We’ve hit them militarily. We could finish them off,” he warned.

“ We’re ready for it. I’ve got three aircraft carriers here. The other one just arrived. We have three. They’re fully locked and loaded,” Trump continued.

The president also revealed that U.S. military planners have identified dozens of bridges in Iran that could be destroyed rapidly if he orders another offensive.

“ We have 38 bridges in our sight that we can knock down in literally one hour,” Trump said. “They’ll all be down.”

Nevertheless, Trump said he would prefer not to inflict that kind of destruction on infrastructure that could take years to replace.

“ I don’t want to do that because, essentially, it’ll take 10 years to rebuild them,” he added. “I don’t like ripping down bridges. And the hardest thing to build is a bridge. It takes years, and I’m a good builder.”

The newly announced operation represents an expansion of Washington’s existing blockade, which has targeted Iranian ports for months. According to CENTCOM, the maritime restrictions have prevented Iran from exporting more than $25 billion worth of crude oil. The military says its new effort is intended to prevent Tehran from using overland routes and the Caspian Sea to circumvent those restrictions.

CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the expanded campaign would make it harder for Iran to obtain equipment needed to rebuild its weapons factories, replenish military supplies, and finance terrorist organizations.

The military also reported disabling a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly failed to comply with blockade enforcement orders. CENTCOM said American forces had redirected 147 commercial ships since July and disabled five vessels that refused to comply.

Iran’s military, meanwhile, dismissed the newly established task force as “word play,” signaling that Tehran was not publicly acknowledging the effectiveness claimed by Washington.

The escalating pressure came amid fresh reports of explosions on Iran’s Qeshm Island, a strategically located island near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that an American projectile had struck the island. The agency initially identified Qeshm as the only location where an impact had been reported.

Iran’s official IRNA news agency separately reported four explosions on Qeshm Island, with indications that several locations had been struck.

The circumstances surrounding the explosions remained disputed, with Iranian accounts differing over the number and locations of the blasts. Independent confirmation of the reported American attack was not immediately available.

The latest developments follow reports that American forces have conducted limited military operations against Iran in recent weeks, even as diplomatic efforts continue through Qatar to reach an agreement addressing Tehran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has submitted a nuclear proposal through Qatari intermediaries, while continuing to demand sanctions relief and other concessions. Washington has insisted that nuclear restrictions must be a central element of any agreement.

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman is signaling a willingness to reach an agreement with the chareidi parties over military conscription, saying his 2018 draft legislation could provide a starting point for negotiations aimed at forming a new government and preventing another election.

In a statement issued Sunday, Lieberman defended his recent contacts with chareidi political leaders, insisting that his readiness to negotiate does not mean he has retreated from his longstanding demands regarding military service. He also firmly rejected any coalition that would rely on the support of Ra’am or the Joint List.

“A willingness to compromise does not mean abandoning values and principles,” Liberman began.

The Yisrael Beiteinu leader sharply criticized political commentators and others who have questioned his motives since reports emerged of discussions with the chareidi factions.

“In recent days, I have been watching a parade of foolishness from a series of commentators, partisan journalists, bots, and people with preconceived notions, sometimes with a distinctly racist undertone. No matter what I say, what I do, or what the truth is, they are always busy attributing malicious motives and inventing conspiracies.”

Lieberman accused some of his critics of applying a double standard, arguing that they oppose his efforts to negotiate with the chareidi parties while favoring a coalition dependent on Arab factions.

“Those attacking me for trying to reach understandings with the haredi parties are among the same people who would prefer to establish a government dependent on Ra’am and the Joint List – parties some of whose Knesset members openly identify with Hamas, describe it as a charitable organization, and accuse the State of Israel of genocide and crimes against humanity,” he said.

He declared that he would not participate in such an arrangement, warning that it would endanger Israel’s security and ultimately strengthen Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu politically.

“I want to make this absolutely clear: It will not happen. I will not lend a hand to the establishment of such a government, which, in my view, would harm security and bring Netanyahu back to power.

“In the reality that has emerged, in order to prevent another election and bring an end to the Netanyahu era, there is no avoiding difficult decisions and making choices on issues where flexibility can be shown and understandings can be reached.”

The comments come amid complicated coalition negotiations following Israel’s October 27 elections, which left neither major political camp with enough seats to establish a government independently. The possibility of cooperation between Lieberman and the chareidi parties has attracted particular attention because of his years of opposition to exemptions from military service for yeshiva students.

Lieberman maintained that negotiations should not be confused with surrendering the positions on which his party campaigned.

“Reaching an understanding does not mean abandoning principles, and dialogue does not mean erasing red lines.”

On the central issue of military service, Lieberman reiterated his preference for a universal conscription requirement while acknowledging that the election results necessitate examining compromises.

” I still believe that the correct model is a conscription law that applies to everyone. At the same time, in light of the election results, we must examine possibilities for reaching agreements, including on the basis of frameworks developed in the past.”

He specifically pointed to the conscription legislation he introduced while serving as defense minister in 2018, suggesting that the earlier proposal could be revised to address Israel’s current military requirements.

“In 2018, I introduced a conscription bill drafted by the IDF and the defense establishment. Subsequently, the Shkedi Report was published, and the current coalition formulated its own bill.

“It is clear to me that following the events of October 7, even the law I proposed in 2018 requires changes and adjustments, but it still constitutes a suitable basis for reaching agreements.”

The 2018 proposal included enlistment targets for chareidi men and financial penalties for yeshivos if recruitment goals were not met. It also provided for exemptions under certain conditions. Its provisions differ from more recent proposals, including legislation advanced by Likud MK Boaz Bismuth, which introduced additional restrictions and sanctions. The competing frameworks have become a focus of renewed political debate as coalition negotiators search for a formula acceptable to the chareidi parties.

Lieberman emphasized that his willingness to reconsider earlier legislation does not diminish his commitment to expanding military service or improving conditions for soldiers.

“I have not abandoned the principle of conscription, nor my commitment to expanding benefits and improving the status of reservists and career military personnel.

“I would remind everyone that during my tenure as Finance Minister, I increased the salaries of soldiers performing mandatory service by 50%, and subsequently incorporated the ‘From Uniform to Studies’ program into the state budget.”

The Yisrael Beiteinu chairman also responded to speculation that his maneuvering was intended to position him for the premiership or interfere with Gadi Eisenkot’s efforts to establish a coalition.

“I am not acting out of personal ambition to become prime minister at any cost,” he wrote.

“I have always emphasized that, as far as I am concerned, it is an option, not an obsession. Since 2019, I have received countless tempting offers from the other side. I am not preoccupied with political maneuvering, nor am I trying to undermine anyone.”

Lieberman’s latest statement follows his announcement Friday that he was prepared to reconsider his longstanding refusal to sit in a government with the chareidi parties. He has maintained three central conditions for the next government: Netanyahu must leave office, Israel must avoid another election, and the coalition must not depend on Ra’am or the Joint List.

He ended his statement by insisting that his decisions would be guided by what he considers Israel’s national interests rather than personal political calculations.

“I act, and will continue to act, out of one commitment alone: the good of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. That is what has guided me throughout, and that alone will be at the forefront of my mind in every decision I make.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has accused Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of blackmailing Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levy and alleged that senior police officials are attempting to obstruct an investigation into suspected foreign interference in Israel’s recent Knesset elections.

In an explosive interview with Radio 103 FM, Ben-Gvir claimed that the attorney general had pressured Levy into changing his approach to police leadership and government policy. He also accused Deputy Commissioner Boaz Blatt, who heads the police Investigations and Intelligence Division, of deliberately interfering with the election investigation.

“Unfortunately, the Commissioner was blackmailed,” Ben-Gvir claimed. When asked who was responsible, he answered: “The Attorney General.”

Ben-Gvir suggested that Levy’s apparent change in attitude toward the government was connected to pressure from Baharav-Miara, although he did not publicly present evidence establishing that the commissioner had been blackmailed.

“Google it. It’s not too difficult to understand why the Commissioner made a 180 degree turn. He, as commissioner, would execute the government’s policies; I was satisfied with him,” the minister stated.

He further alleged that the attorney general had subjected Levy to aggressive treatment during official meetings.

“She (Baharav-Miara) is pressuring him; she screams at him during meetings. There are several things she’s pressuring him on.”

Asked to elaborate on the alleged pressure, Ben-Gvir pointed to the police spokesman, saying: “Aryeh Doron, check what his part in the story is.”

The minister also raised questions about possible building violations involving Levy’s private residence, suggesting that the issue could have been used to exert pressure on the police chief.

“Google ‘Police Commissioner construction violations,’ and you’ll see who his house’s construction supervisors were. The Attorney General terrorizes people.”

Ben-Gvir maintained that he personally takes extensive precautions to avoid even the appearance of improper benefits and said he would have advised Levy to exercise similar care.

“I don’t let the grocery store give me even a one-shekel discount. If someone gives me a gift, I say that I can’t accept it. If you are a public figure, watch yourself because people are watching you with seven eyes.”

The accusations against the police leadership were accompanied by an equally forceful attack on Blatt, following reports that he had imposed restrictions on the sharing of election-related investigative materials with the Shin Bet.

“I think Boaz Blatt is an emissary of the Attorney General, sent to close cases, cover things up, and sweep them under the rug,” the minister claimed. “Boaz Blatt is a fraud and a liar who has taken control of the Investigations and Intelligence Division and is running it as his own. The investigation was being handled by Meni Binyamin. What is he doing there?”

The dispute concerns an investigation into allegations that foreign interests attempted to influence the October 27 Knesset election, particularly the unprecedented turnout among Arab voters. According to additional reporting, Blatt’s directive required investigators to obtain his authorization before transferring election-related information or providing investigative assistance to the Shin Bet. The directive did not entirely prohibit cooperation between the agencies.

Ben-Gvir alleged that substantial foreign funding may have been used to influence voting, pointing specifically to suspicions involving Qatar and claims concerning the distribution of vouchers.

“Zini is talking about NIS 100 million that was transferred. We saw the vouchers. The suspicion is that Qatar was involved, and it is clear that there were various attempts at interference here. It is also clear that, even in the prisons, they transferred materials to the Joint List.”

The minister was referring to Shin Bet director David Zini and allegations involving approximately NIS 100 million in foreign funding. Investigators have been examining suspicions involving foreign actors, including Qatar, Turkey and the Palestinian Authority. However, the allegations have not been established as proven election interference, and no determination has been made that foreign activity changed the election results.

The Shin Bet has begun transferring intelligence materials to a special investigative team involving police representatives, following discussions about how the information should be shared. Senior officials have reportedly disagreed over the strength of the evidence and the appropriate scope of the investigation.

Israel Police declined to comment on Ben-Gvir’s accusations, and the minister has not publicly produced evidence substantiating his claims that Baharav-Miara blackmailed Levy or that Blatt deliberately attempted to conceal election wrongdoing.

Ben-Gvir also addressed the surge in Arab voter participation, responding to suggestions that the turnout represented a backlash against his policies as national security minister.

Speaking to interviewer Avishai Grinzaig, he argued that the possibility of Arab voters mobilizing specifically to remove him from office demonstrated the impact of his policies.

“You kept saying that Ben Gvir was worth nothing, and suddenly it’s blowing up in your face. Suddenly, it turns out that those very people you claimed I had no influence over all went to the polls to bring me down? That’s the greatest compliment I’ve ever received.”

He concluded by portraying the electoral mobilization against him as evidence that his approach had achieved results where previous governments had failed.

“The claim that if the Arabs came out to vote because of me, to bring down Itamar-Ben Gvir, that is the best proof that I have accomplished what others failed to do for 40 or 50 years,” the minister concluded.

A planned boycott of six Philadelphia restaurants by pro-Palestinian activists has triggered widespread condemnation after organizers scheduled the demonstration for Sunday, November 8, just one day before the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Nazi pogrom that marked a major escalation in the persecution of European Jews.

The protest, organized by an activist cycling group called Philly Bike On Your Left, targets Goldie, K’Far Café, Dizengoff, Huda, Mac Mart, and Schlesinger’s Deli. Promotional materials circulated ahead of the demonstration carried the declaration “No business for Zionists!” and called for the establishments to leave Philadelphia.

Jewish organizations and elected officials have denounced the campaign, arguing that singling out businesses associated with Jewish owners or supporters of Israel crosses the line from political protest into antisemitic intimidation.

The controversy has been intensified by its proximity to November 9, the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht, or the “Night of Broken Glass.” During the Nazi-organized violence of November 9–10, 1938, synagogues were burned, Jewish homes and businesses were ransacked, and Jews were subjected to widespread attacks throughout Germany, annexed Austria, and the Sudetenland.

The pogrom marked a turning point in Nazi Germany’s campaign against its Jewish population, following years of discriminatory legislation, economic exclusion, and organized boycotts.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, a Democrat, condemned the targeting of businesses on the basis of their Jewish ownership. Other Democratic officials in the city also criticized the demonstration.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration joined in denouncing the campaign, while Republican state Attorney General Dave Sunday characterized the targeting of the establishments as discriminatory.

Rep. Brad Schneider, an Illinois Democrat, issued a particularly sharp statement Saturday rejecting the organizers’ approach.

“Targeting businesses simply because they are owned by Jews and singling out Jewish Americans to make them feel unwelcome and unsafe is neither reasonable nor justifiable protest,” Schneider said Saturday. “It is rank antisemitism, plain and simple.”

Jewish communal leaders expressed alarm over the decision to organize an economic boycott of Jewish-associated establishments at a time when antisemitism remains a serious concern in the United States.

Simon Wiesenthal Center CEO Jim Berk questioned the justification for holding Jewish business owners responsible for the policies of the Israeli government.

“History rarely announces itself with shattered glass,” Berk warned, drawing attention to the historical progression from economic exclusion and public intimidation to more dangerous forms of persecution.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, together with the Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Committee, and StandWithUs, encouraged community members to support the restaurants by purchasing food from them rather than engaging in confrontations with protesters.

Organizers, meanwhile, insist that their campaign is directed against Zionism and businesses they accuse of supporting Israeli military operations, rather than against Jews because of their religion. They have rejected accusations of antisemitism and objected to comparisons between their demonstration and Kristallnacht.

The dispute has renewed scrutiny of the distinction between protests against Israeli government policy and campaigns that critics say unfairly target Jewish individuals and businesses.

Philadelphia has previously experienced similar controversies involving anti-Israel demonstrators and Jewish-owned restaurants.

In December 2023, protesters gathered outside Goldie, the falafel restaurant co-owned by Israeli-American chef Michael Solomonov, chanting accusations of genocide against Israel.

That demonstration drew criticism from the Biden White House and Philadelphia officials, who objected to the decision to confront a Jewish-associated business over the actions of Israel’s government.

The controversy moved beyond statements of condemnation on Sunday as the bicycle demonstration got underway near Rittenhouse Square. Hundreds of counterprotesters gathered along the route, while police deployed officers, motorcycles, and bicycles to maintain order. Long lines formed outside some of the targeted restaurants, including Huda, as customers turned out to show their support.

Local television station WPVI reported that police had made three arrests during the demonstration. The circumstances of those arrests were not immediately detailed.

The protest organizers maintained that their campaign had been misrepresented and denied deliberately selecting the anniversary of Kristallnacht. They said they had not been aware of the date’s historical significance when scheduling the event.

Meanwhile, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia helped organize a solidarity gathering at Dizengoff on Friday, attended by Pennsylvania First Lady Lori Shapiro, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, state lawmakers, religious leaders, and Jewish communal representatives.

A separate campaign by the nonprofit JewBelong placed billboards around Philadelphia encouraging residents to reject the boycott and support Jewish-owned establishments.

The restaurants targeted by the campaign include three businesses associated with Israeli-born chef Michael Solomonov’s CookNSolo restaurant group: Goldie, K’Far Café, and Dizengoff. Solomonov and business partner Steve Cook previously raised more than $100,000 for Friends of United Hatzalah following the October 7 Hamas attacks, a fundraising effort that has drawn criticism from anti-Israel activists.

Mac Mart owner Marti Lieberman expressed appreciation for the widespread support her business received as the demonstration approached.

The protest also revived memories of December 2023, when anti-Israel demonstrators gathered outside Goldie and accused Israel of genocide, drawing condemnation from the Biden White House and Philadelphia officials.

The timing of Sunday’s protest was particularly painful for Jewish residents because Kristallnacht commemorates the November 1938 Nazi attacks in which synagogues were burned, Jewish businesses and homes were destroyed, and approximately 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps. The pogrom accelerated the Nazi campaign to strip Jews of their property, livelihoods, and remaining civil protections.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz warned Sunday that Iran is attempting to revive its nuclear weapons ambitions and remains a serious threat to Israel, declaring that the military campaign against Tehran has not yet achieved all its objectives.

Speaking at the official memorial ceremony for Israeli soldiers killed during Operation Kadesh, held at Har Herzl in Yerushalayim, Katz cautioned that Iran continues to pursue dangerous activities despite the military blows it has sustained.

“The mission against Iran is not complete. Iran is attempting to renew its efforts to obtain nuclear weapons, alongside other serious activities that place the State of Israel in real danger. We cannot tolerate these threats.”

Katz’s warning comes amid renewed international diplomatic efforts involving Iran and growing uncertainty over Israel’s political future following last month’s Knesset elections.

The defense minister also appealed for unity across Israel’s political divisions, emphasizing that the country faces major security challenges requiring cooperation and national determination.

“As we prepare for the major missions that still lie ahead, we must be united. This is a time for unity, responsibility, and mutual solidarity,” he said.

Katz stressed that Israel’s ability to confront future threats would depend on both the capabilities of its armed forces and the determination of the Israeli public.

“To accomplish these major missions, we will need the full strength of the IDF and the full resilience of our people,” he concluded.

His remarks followed a video statement issued Saturday night by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who urged parties across the national camp and the Zionist political spectrum to establish a unity government rather than allow an alternative coalition dependent on Arab parties to take power.

Netanyahu warned that efforts were underway to install a new government as early as the coming week, arguing that such an arrangement could compromise Israel’s ability to confront Hamas, Iran and other regional threats.

“With such a government, Israel simply will not survive,” Netanyahu declared, referring to a potential coalition that would rely on parties he accused of supporting terrorism.

“Therefore, there is only one choice. Not national suicide, but national unity.”

The prime minister argued that a government dependent on Arab parties would be unable to pursue the military operations necessary to protect Israel.

“A government that depends on Hamas supporters will not fight Hamas,” he said.

Netanyahu also maintained that such a coalition would have difficulty confronting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, supporting Israeli soldiers operating in Gaza and Lebanon, and preserving Israel’s Jewish character. He warned that reliance on Islamist political factions could also contribute to serious internal unrest.

His proposed alternative was a broad government bringing together the parties of the national camp and other Zionist factions, which he said could provide the political stability necessary to address Israel’s security challenges.

The political uncertainty intensified after the October 27 election left Netanyahu’s bloc with 53 seats, compared with 48 for the four-party opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot. The Arab parties secured 19 seats, leaving neither major political camp with an independent parliamentary majority.

Eisenkot, who has rejected serving in a government headed by Netanyahu, has insisted that potential coalition partners accept several principles, including recognition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, mandatory national service and a commitment to dismantling Hamas’s military and governing capabilities.

Netanyahu concluded his appeal by urging political leaders to set aside their differences in the interest of national security.

“I call on everyone to demonstrate responsibility at this late hour,” he said.

“This is the imperative of the hour. This is essential to our very survival.”

{Matzav.com}

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri has decided not to serve in Israel’s 26th Knesset, withdrawing his name from the party’s parliamentary list following last month’s elections in a move that will reshape the Sephardic chareidi party’s representation in the new legislature.

The decision, reported Sunday, November 8, comes as Israel enters a critical period of coalition negotiations following an election that left the country’s political blocs struggling to assemble a governing majority.

Two other Shas figures, MK Moshe Abutbul and candidate Dror Amos, have also withdrawn from the party’s Knesset list. Their departures will allow Uriel Buso and Yossi Taieb, who were placed farther down the party’s electoral slate, to take seats in the incoming Knesset.

Deri’s decision means that although he remains chairman of Shas, he will not hold a parliamentary seat during the upcoming term. The announcement did not indicate that he was relinquishing his leadership of the party.

The announcement follows a crushing election defeat for Shas, which won just six seats in the October 27 election, down from 11 in the outgoing Knesset. The result represented one of the party’s poorest electoral performances in decades and prompted intense discussion within its leadership over the movement’s future direction.

In the days following the election, Deri reportedly offered to resign as chairman of Shas, accepting responsibility for the party’s losses. However, the party’s Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah rejected his resignation and instructed him to remain in charge, particularly as the chareidi community confronts major political battles over the draft of yeshiva bochurim.

Deri subsequently accepted the decision of the rabbonim and announced that he would continue leading Shas, even as he steps away from serving as a member of the Knesset.

In a statement issued Sunday, Deri explained that he had received the approval of the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah to relinquish his parliamentary seat in favor of younger representatives who had already demonstrated their abilities in the Knesset.

He said he intends to devote considerable time to traveling throughout Israel, meeting with local party representatives, activists and supporters, and rebuilding the movement’s connections with its traditional voter base.

Deri also made clear that his absence from the Knesset would not diminish his involvement in the party’s parliamentary affairs. He plans to continue convening weekly Shas faction meetings, directing the party’s lawmakers and closely supervising legislative and committee activities.

The changes mean that the six Shas representatives expected to be sworn into the new Knesset on Tuesday are Yinon Azoulay, Michael Malkieli, Yoav Ben-Tzur, Haim Biton, Uriel Buso and Yossi Taieb.

Azoulay, who occupied the second position on the Shas electoral list, will now become the party’s highest-ranking representative in the Knesset, although Deri will retain overall leadership of the movement.

Abutbul, who is also leaving the parliamentary list, has spent approximately 35 years in public service. He served for many years in municipal government in Beit Shemesh, including a decade as mayor, before entering the Knesset and later serving as deputy agriculture minister.

In announcing his departure, Abutbul said he wanted to make room for younger Shas representatives. He indicated that the decision had been made with the blessing of the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah and following consultation with Rav Reuven Elbaz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim.

Dror Amos, a reserve military officer, had been placed on the Shas list as part of an effort to broaden the party’s appeal among soldiers and their families. His withdrawal follows an election in which that strategy failed to produce the gains party officials had hoped for.

The departures will restore parliamentary seats to Buso, a former health minister, and Taieb, both of whom served in the outgoing Knesset but had been positioned below the six-seat cutoff on the party’s electoral list.

Additional changes to the Shas delegation may follow. Israeli media reports indicate that Yoav Ben-Tzur could leave the Knesset in several months, potentially allowing Yoni Mashriki to return to parliament, although that move has not been formally confirmed.

Deri’s decision leaves Shas in an unusual position, with its longtime chairman continuing to exercise political authority from outside the Knesset at a time when the party faces diminished parliamentary strength and uncertainty over its role in Israel’s next government.

Britain is spearheading a new international diplomatic initiative expected to enlist approximately 50 countries in a joint declaration demanding that Israel ease restrictions on humanitarian assistance to Gaza, permit journalists to enter the territory, and guarantee the continued operations of UNRWA.

The initiative, being advanced by Britain’s Labour government, is expected to be presented this week and would place renewed international pressure on Yerushalayim over its policies in Gaza. Israeli officials have already condemned the effort, accusing London and its international partners of concentrating their demands on Israel while failing to adequately address Hamas’s responsibility for conditions in the territory.

The proposed declaration builds on Britain’s “Gaza: Call to Action” initiative, launched in September with the backing of countries including Australia, Denmark, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

According to reports, the new document will present a condensed version of that initiative, containing three commitments by participating countries and eight specific demands directed at Israel.

Under the proposal, the signatory countries would pledge to increase humanitarian assistance to Gaza ahead of the winter months, with particular emphasis on providing shelter, drinking water, sanitation facilities and medical supplies.

The countries would also commit to supporting the rehabilitation of Gaza’s healthcare system, with the Palestinian Authority and international organizations playing central roles in the effort. The declaration reportedly links these reconstruction plans to the broader objective of advancing a two-state solution.

Another major component involves UNRWA, the United Nations agency responsible for Palestinian refugees. The participating governments are expected to insist that the organization be permitted to continue operating in Gaza, describing it as an essential provider of basic services.

The eight demands directed at Israel focus primarily on humanitarian access, medical treatment, international oversight and the movement of supplies into Gaza.

Among the measures being sought are expanded operations at Gaza’s border crossings, improved access through humanitarian corridors originating in Jordan and Egypt, and the elimination of what the proposed declaration describes as unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles delaying aid deliveries.

The countries are also expected to demand that Israel authorize the entry of essential equipment classified as dual-use materials, a category that includes items with civilian applications that could also potentially be employed for military purposes.

Additional provisions would require Israel to facilitate the transfer of sick and wounded Gaza residents to hospitals in Yehuda and Shomron and eastern Yerushalayim for medical treatment.

The declaration would also call on Israel to guarantee the safety of humanitarian workers and medical personnel operating in Gaza and to conduct transparent criminal investigations into attacks involving aid organizations and healthcare teams.

Another demand concerns media access. The participating governments are expected to press Israel to allow journalists and senior international delegations to enter Gaza freely, arguing that their presence would help provide a clearer understanding of conditions on the ground.

The British initiative has drawn a sharp response from Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, who accused the Labour government of overlooking Hamas while directing another series of demands at Israel.

“The Labour government has forgotten that Hamas exists. Time and again, the international community points an accusing finger at Israel while ignoring the terrorist organization’s responsibility for the situation in the Gaza Strip,” Danon said.

The Israeli ambassador argued that any meaningful effort to improve conditions in Gaza must begin with dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities and preventing the terrorist organization from regaining control of the territory.

“Instead of publishing another list of demands from Israel, it is time to demand the disarmament of Hamas and prevent the terrorist organization from returning to rule the Gaza Strip,” Danon said.

“Israel is not the enemy of Gaza’s residents; Hamas is the one that turned them into hostages. Anyone who truly wants a better future for the residents of the Strip must focus on dismantling the terrorist infrastructure and ensuring a reality in which Hamas can never threaten again. One-sided declarations will not advance peace or improve the humanitarian situation.”

The dispute also reflects longstanding tensions surrounding UNRWA, whose activities Israel has repeatedly criticized over allegations concerning the involvement of some agency employees in terrorist activity and connections to Hamas. The United Nations has maintained that the agency remains vital to humanitarian operations and has taken disciplinary action in cases involving employees implicated in the October 7 attacks.

The proposed declaration has not yet been formally adopted by the participating governments, and the final list of signatories and precise wording of its demands remain subject to confirmation.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am a ger tzedek learning in Kollel Chazon Ish. My grandfather, Joseph Zwanz, risked his life during the Holocaust to hide seven Jewish souls in his cellar. Years later, he sent me to Eretz Yisroel to meet the people he saved. I stayed, converted, and built a Jewish home.

Now, we are marrying off our first child, but we have nothing to pay for the wedding.

My wife works physically demanding jobs just to put bread on our table. We are drowning in debt.

Please help us bring our child to the chupah with dignity!

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Tizku l’mitzvos!

Nearly two-thirds of Israelis are dissatisfied with the results of last month’s Knesset elections, and a new survey suggests that the country’s political divisions may make forming a broadly acceptable government extraordinarily difficult, even after Gadi Eisenkot received the presidential mandate to assemble a coalition.

The November Israeli Society Index, conducted by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI), found that 62% of Israelis were unhappy with the election outcome, compared with just 33% who expressed satisfaction. More strikingly, of 10 possible governing coalitions examined by researchers, only one avoided rejection by a majority of respondents.

That configuration would bring together Likud, Eisenkot’s Yashar party, Beyachad and Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu, giving the four parties a combined 67 Knesset seats. However, the arrangement would require significant political compromises, particularly from parties that promised voters they would not join a Likud-led government.

According to the findings, 51% of Israelis and 57% of Jewish respondents would not automatically oppose such a coalition. The proposed government would exclude the chareidi parties, Otzma Yehudit, Religious Zionism and the Arab parties. Researchers did not ask respondents whether Netanyahu, Eisenkot or another figure should serve as prime minister.

The survey revealed particularly deep frustration among Jewish Israelis, 73% of whom expressed dissatisfaction with the election results. Of those surveyed, 44% said they were “not very satisfied,” while another 29% described themselves as “not satisfied at all.” Just 2% reported being “very satisfied.”

Arab respondents expressed nearly the opposite sentiment. Approximately 75% said they were pleased with the outcome, including 37% who were highly satisfied. The findings follow an election in which Arab parties achieved unprecedented parliamentary representation while Netanyahu’s outgoing coalition lost its majority.

Despite their sharply different reactions, Israelis broadly agreed that the election represented a significant moment for the country’s future. Three-quarters of respondents believed the results would have far-reaching consequences, whether positive or negative. Another 19% anticipated little meaningful change in their personal lives.

The difficulty facing coalition negotiators is that neither political camp can easily assemble a government without abandoning commitments made during the campaign. That problem was reflected in the survey’s examination of which governing arrangements Israelis would prefer under the current parliamentary circumstances.

The most popular option, supported by 36%, was a government composed of opposition parties together with the Arab factions. A national unity coalition involving Likud, Yashar and additional parties attracted 23%, while 17% favored a Netanyahu-led coalition that included at least one party from the opposition camp.

Another 14% preferred returning to the polls for another election.

Significantly, a coalition combining the opposition parties with the chareidi factions, a possibility that has received considerable attention in political discussions, attracted support from only 3% of respondents.

To assess the public’s preferences in greater detail, JPPI asked participants which of the 11 parties elected to the Knesset they wanted included in the next government and which they would refuse to accept, even if that meant holding another election.

Three parties associated with the political center received the strongest support for coalition participation. Eisenkot’s Yashar led with 65%, followed by Beyachad at 63% and Yisrael Beiteinu at 59%. Likud received 50%, Religious Zionism 44% and the Democrats 42%.

The results changed considerably when respondents were asked which parties they would categorically exclude. The Joint List faced the greatest opposition, with 62% refusing to accept it in a governing coalition. Otzma Yehudit was rejected by 50%, followed by Ra’am at 45%, the Democrats at 37% and Religious Zionism at 35%.

Likud and each of the two chareidi parties were rejected by approximately one-third of respondents. By comparison, the three centrist opposition parties encountered much less resistance, with rejection rates ranging from just 9% to 13%.

The divisions were especially pronounced when researchers compared Jewish and Arab respondents. Among Jewish Israelis, 76% opposed including the Joint List in a government, while 56% rejected Ra’am. The Democrats were opposed by 46% and Otzma Yehudit by 44%.

Among Arab Israelis, Otzma Yehudit was the least acceptable coalition partner, rejected by 77%. Likud was opposed by 68% and Religious Zionism by 57%. Only approximately 20% of Arab respondents rejected the chareidi parties, while opposition to the three centrist parties and the Democrats ranged between 5% and 17%.

Sharp differences also emerged between Jewish voters who supported Netanyahu’s outgoing coalition and those who backed the opposition. Supporters of Netanyahu’s bloc overwhelmingly opposed including the Arab parties or the Democrats in a government, while expressing relatively little objection to the chareidi parties.

Opposition-bloc voters expressed particularly strong resistance to Otzma Yehudit, with 85% rejecting the party. Another 57% opposed the Joint List, while rejection of Religious Zionism and the chareidi parties ranged from 54% to 59%. Likud was rejected by 45% of opposition voters.

The survey also revealed an important imbalance in attitudes toward a possible national unity government involving Likud and the centrist parties.

Among Likud voters, only 22% opposed including Yashar in a coalition, while 27% objected to Beyachad. But among Yashar supporters, 53% rejected a government involving Likud. The corresponding figure among Beyachad voters was considerably lower, at 30%.

Those findings suggest that Netanyahu’s supporters are substantially more receptive to cooperation with Eisenkot than Eisenkot’s voters are to a partnership with Netanyahu.

Using the rejection figures, JPPI researchers evaluated 10 possible coalitions, each holding at least 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset. A proposed government was considered acceptable to a respondent only if that person had not rejected any of its constituent parties.

The only combination that passed the 50% threshold was the four-party coalition of Likud, Yashar, Beyachad and Yisrael Beiteinu, which 51% of respondents did not rule out. All nine other proposed governments faced rejection from a majority of those surveyed.

The findings come as Eisenkot begins efforts to form a government after receiving the mandate from President Isaac Herzog on Sunday. His Yashar party won 21 seats, while the four-party opposition bloc holds 48 seats, Netanyahu’s bloc controls 53 and the Arab parties hold 19. Eisenkot has 28 days to assemble a coalition, with the possibility of a 14-day extension.

Despite the survey’s indication that a broad center-right coalition would encounter the least public resistance, the researchers cautioned that such an arrangement would require parties to abandon or substantially revise promises made before the election. The study also left unresolved the politically sensitive question of who would serve as prime minister.

[Video and photos below.] Thousands of Chabad shluchim representing 111 countries and more than 6,000 communities around the world gathered outside 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights on Sunday morning for the traditional group photograph of the annual International Kinus Hashluchim.

The massive gathering brought together Chabad emissaries from across the globe, assembling in front of the world headquarters of Chabad-Lubavitch for one of the most recognizable moments of the annual convention.

The annual Kinus Hashluchim brings together Chabad emissaries for several days of gatherings, workshops, shiurim and programs devoted to strengthening their work on behalf of Jewish communities worldwide.

For many participants, the convention provides an opportunity to reconnect with fellow shluchim whom they rarely encounter during the year, as their responsibilities often keep them far from established Jewish population centers.

The group photograph has become an enduring symbol of the Kinus, bringing thousands of emissaries together at the same location before they return to their respective communities and continue their activities.

The 43rd International Kinus Hashluchim began Wednesday, November 4, and has featured sessions addressing the challenges facing Jewish communities, including rising antisemitism, security concerns, Jewish education and the responsibilities of shlichus in an increasingly uncertain world.

The conference is scheduled to conclude TODAY with a major banquet at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison, where nearly 7,000 shluchim, supporters and communal leaders are expected to gather. The program will include addresses, presentations and the traditional international roll call recognizing Chabad representatives serving throughout the world.

The annual group photograph, a Kinus tradition dating back to 1984, was taken Sunday by photographers documenting the gathering, including Shalom Ross of COLlive.

VIDEOS AND PHOTOS [COLLIVE.COM]:

Kamala Harris suffered a stunning setback in an early test of Democratic presidential preferences, receiving less than 1% support in a straw poll of progressive activists while Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff emerged as the overwhelming favorite for the party’s 2028 presidential nomination.

The survey, conducted during this weekend’s Crooked Con gathering, placed Ossoff far ahead of other potential Democratic candidates with 38% of the vote. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York finished second with 17%, followed by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 14%.

Harris, who headed the Democratic presidential ticket in 2024 and had previously dominated numerous early surveys of potential 2028 candidates, received just 0.6% of the vote. She finished in 16th place, tied with Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, in a striking result that suggests considerable enthusiasm among some progressive activists for a new generation of Democratic leadership.

Approximately 1,000 votes were cast in the straw poll, which took place at a convention organized by Crooked Media, the progressive media company founded by veterans of the Obama administration. The event brought together Democratic activists, commentators and political figures to discuss the party’s direction following the 2026 midterm elections.

Although the survey was not conducted using scientific polling methods and does not represent Democratic voters nationally, its results offer a glimpse into the preferences of politically engaged progressives who could play an influential role in the next presidential primary.

Several prominent Democrats finished far behind the leading candidates. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro each received 4% support. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore each attracted 3%, while California Gov. Gavin Newsom received just 2.3%.

The results were particularly surprising because Harris had entered the midterm election season with substantial leads in many national Democratic primary polls. Newsom had also regularly appeared near the top of surveys measuring potential candidates for the party’s next presidential nomination.

Ossoff’s sudden emergence as the favorite among Crooked Con participants follows his decisive reelection victory in Georgia, where he defeated Republican Rep. Mike Collins in a race that had initially been considered one of the Democrats’ most vulnerable Senate contests.

His victory in a politically competitive state, combined with his reputation as an effective public speaker, has fueled speculation that he could become a serious contender for the White House in 2028.

There is, however, one major complication: Ossoff has explicitly ruled out seeking the presidency in the next election.

During a Senate debate last month, he was asked whether he would commit to serving the full six-year term if reelected.

“Yes, I will,” Ossoff replied. “I have zero interest in running for president. I’m running for Senate.”

Despite that declaration, his strong performance in Georgia has increased attention on his national political prospects, particularly among Democrats searching for candidates capable of winning competitive states.

The latest national polling, however, presents a substantially different picture from the convention results. In the RealClearPolitics average of potential 2028 Democratic primary candidates, Harris remains in first place with 21.8% support, followed by Newsom at 13.5%. Ossoff ranks fifth nationally with 10.8%.

The Georgia senator also differs from the Democratic Party’s progressive wing on several major policy questions. He has opposed Medicare for All, the Green New Deal and proposals to eliminate Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He has also rejected efforts to expand the number of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Political analyst Nate Silver added to the growing attention surrounding Ossoff during an appearance at Crooked Con, describing him as his “slam dunk” leading choice for the 2028 Democratic nomination.

“He seems like the uniformly ‘compromise candidate’ between the progressive and the more centrist factions of the party,” Silver said. “And he seems very talented.”

Additional results released by Crooked Media showed that Ossoff also led the convention’s second-choice preferences, receiving 22.6% support, compared with 16.4% for Buttigieg and 13.5% for Ocasio-Cortez.

The convention’s 990 participants delivered a particularly sharp rejection of Harris, who received just six votes despite remaining the national polling leader.

This afternoon, nearly 7,000 Jewish leaders will gather for the New York area’s largest sit-down dinner. The closing gala of the International Conference of Shluchim reflects on the inspiring lessons of the past year, honors those on the front lines, and serves as a springboard for impactful global initiatives. Today, nearly 7,000 leaders will come together at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison for the closing gala of the international conference of Shluchim-Kinus. This year’s Kinus is the largest yet and the gala will be streamed live to viewers around the world. “Most of the conference is closed to the public, but this evening lets people see what inspires the shluchim,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, executive director of the conference of Shluchim. “We want everyone who watches to see themselves in that mission and become a shliach in their own right, the Rebbe’s call to be an ambassador of light wherever you are.” The banquet has become the annual centerpiece event for Jewish communities worldwide. It features personal stories, tributes and the iconic International Roll Call. This year’s program will focus on the mission of shlichus, or emissary service, today, with stories of loss, resilience, Jewish identity and continued commitment. It comes at a moment of heightened tensions and renewed Jewish engagement. One central segment will honor Rabbi Eli Schlanger OB”M, who was killed less than a year ago in a terror attack at the Chanukah celebration he led on Bondi Beach in Sydney. His son, Nosson Schlanger, and father-in-law, Rabbi Yehoram Ulman of Sydney, will present “The Mission Lives On,” a tribute to him. Schlanger served as assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi for 18 years. On the first night of Chanukah last December, two gunmen opened fire on the celebration and killed him and 14 others. The evening will draw inspiration from his life’s mission and message of radical positivity and unapologetic Jewish pride. Rabbi Alex Kaller of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, will present “His Mission Lives On: From Moscow to Miami.” Kaller grew up in Moscow knowing little about Judaism. As a teenager, he lit a menorah there while the Rebbe watched by satellite. He will share what he learned decades later about that night. Gabriel Sonnino of Rome survived the Nazis after being rescued inside a building that today houses a Chabad House. He will tell his story in “A Flame Rekindled, a true embodiment of historic Jewish resilience. Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, will deliver the keynote address, “Across Israel. For Every Jew.” Leiter’s son Moshe Yedidya was killed in Gaza in 2023. Another son, Neria, was critically wounded in a terror attack in September. Leiter has asked people to pray for Neria Dov ben Chana. The event is where Chabad makes its annual resolutions, known as hachlatas. These commitments set the direction of Jewish life worldwide for the year ahead. Past galas have turned those resolutions into new institutions. In 2021, organizers pledged 360 new Jewish libraries and 120 new mikvahs. In 2022, the gala announced Zambia as the 110th country with a Chabad emissary and a $2.5 million overnight camping initiative. Last year, it announced a fund to send children to Jewish overnight camps. The gala closes a weekend of important meetings, forums and strategy talks in New York. The weekend also includes a moving visit to the Ohel and the iconic group photo. The evening will end with the International Roll Call, when representatives from around the world rise as their countries are named. From Paris and Sydney to countries where a single family sustains Jewish life, bringing to life the global Jewish community that is Chabad. WATCH LIVE:

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Brocha Spiegel a”h of Lakewood, wife of the Ostrove-Kalushiner Rebbe, Rav Moshe Spiegel zt”l. She was 95 years old.

A Holocaust survivor who endured the horrors of Europe and went on to build a beautiful family rooted in Torah and yiras Shomayim, Rebbetzin Spiegel represented a generation whose extraordinary resilience, unwavering emunah, and devotion to the mesorah helped preserve the traditions of prewar European Jewry on American shores.

For nearly two decades, Rebbetzin Spiegel resided in Lakewood’s Pine River Village, where she was known as the rebbetzin of the local Ostrove-Kalushiner shtiebel. Together with her husband, she helped sustain an atmosphere of Torah, tefillah, and chassidus, continuing the legacy of a distinguished rabbinic family whose roots extended back through generations of great tzaddikim.

Her husband, Rav Moshe Spiegel, previously served as the Ostrove-Kalushiner Rebbe in Long Beach, New York, following in the footsteps of his illustrious father, Rav Pinchus Eliyahu Spiegel, the Ostrove-Kalushiner Rebbe of the Bronx.

Rav Moshe was the eldest of seven children born to Rav Pinchus Eliyahu and his Rebbetzin, Basha, née Burstein. The family descended from a distinguished line of Torah and chassidus, tracing its heritage to the Chozeh of Lublin. Rav Moshe’s grandfather, Rav Naftali Aryeh Spiegel, was a son-in-law of Rav Yaakov Yitzchok Unger and a grandson of Rav Avrohom Elchonon Unger. He arrived in America during the late 1920s and was joined in the early 1930s by his three sons, Rav Moshe, Rav Elchonon Yochonon, and Rav Pinchus Eliyahu.

At a time when many Jewish immigrants were struggling to maintain their religious traditions amid the pressures of American society, the Spiegel family remained steadfastly committed to the mesorah they had inherited from their illustrious ancestors.

Rav Naftali Aryeh maintained a small shul on Faile Street in the Bronx and was renowned for his extraordinary detachment from worldly concerns. So completely was he immersed in Torah and avodas Hashem that he was said to have been unfamiliar even with the appearance of his own home.

On one occasion, his shammas dropped him off outside his residence, assuming that the Rebbe would simply walk inside. Instead, absorbed in thought, Rav Naftali Aryeh continued walking a short distance before realizing that he had lost his bearings. When the shammas returned approximately an hour later, he discovered the Rebbe standing nearby, uncertain which house was his.

That spirit of complete dedication to Torah was transmitted to the next generation.

Rav Pinchus Eliyahu Spiegel was known for his uncompromising adherence to every detail of halacha and minhag. Despite living in an environment where traditional standards were increasingly being abandoned, he refused to compromise on even the smallest chumrah. He was known never to have eaten meat in America. Together with his Rebbetzin, he raised his children with extraordinary care, ensuring that they attended outstanding yeshivos and received an upbringing steeped in authentic Torah values.

The family’s greatness was recognized by Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l, who maintained a close relationship with the Spiegels and held Rav Pinchus Eliyahu in exceptionally high regard. Rav Aharon would apply to him the words of the Gemara, “I have seen bnei aliyah and they are very few, and Rav Pinchus Eliyahu is one of them.” With a smile, Rav Aharon would add, “Ah Litvishe rebbe vos ken gut lernin,” describing him as a Litvishe Rebbe who knew how to learn.

The admiration was mutual.

On one occasion, Rav Pinchus Eliyahu accompanied another chassidishe rebbe to a shiur delivered by Rav Aharon at a gathering of the Agudas Harabbanim. During the presentation, Rav Aharon discussed a disagreement between the Vilna Gaon and the Rambam.

Afterward, the other Rebbe expressed surprise at the manner in which Rav Aharon had presented the disagreement, commenting sarcastically about the suggestion of a machlokes between the Gra and the Rambam.

Rav Pinchus Eliyahu immediately objected.

“Gedenkt! Dos iz Rav Aharon!” he declared. Remember, you are speaking about Rav Aharon!

It was within this remarkable atmosphere of reverence for Torah, uncompromising Yiddishkeit, and profound respect for gedolei Torah that Rav Moshe Spiegel was raised.

Throughout his life, Rav Moshe carried forward the ideals of his ancestors, distinguished by his pashtus, bitachon, emunah, and steadfast commitment to Torah and avodah.

His father eventually relocated from the Bronx to Long Beach, where he established the Ostrove-Kalushiner bais medrash. Following Rav Pinchus Eliyahu’s petirah, Rav Moshe assumed leadership of the bais medrash, continuing the family’s distinguished tradition.

In his later years, Rav Moshe moved to Lakewood, settling in Pine River Village, where he established the Ostrove-Kalushiner shtiebel in his home.

Throughout these years, Rebbetzin Spiegel stood alongside her husband, sharing in the responsibility of preserving the family’s cherished heritage and maintaining a home reflecting the values of the generations that preceded them.

For the residents of Pine River Village, Rebbetzin Spiegel was a familiar and beloved presence.

Rebbetzin Spiegel was predeceased by her husband, Rav Moshe, who was niftar at the age of 83.

She is survived by her children, Rav Naftoli Spiegel, Rav Shmuel Spiegel, Mrs. Wechsler, and Mrs. Frenkel, as well as grandchildren and further descendants who continue the family’s legacy.

The levayah was held today at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood, followed by kevurah in Woodbridge, New Jersey.

Yehi zichrah baruch.

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance could face a far more competitive battle for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination than previously anticipated, as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas weigh potential campaigns following the GOP’s disappointing performance in last week’s midterm elections.

The Republican losses have prompted fresh questions about the party’s political direction and whether Vance, widely considered the leading contender to succeed President Donald Trump, can maintain his front-runner status. According to a report published Sunday by The Washington Post, several prominent Republicans are increasingly considering entering the race rather than allowing the vice president an uncontested path to the nomination.

DeSantis has stepped up his media appearances in recent days as he evaluates another presidential campaign, according to three individuals familiar with his preparations. Kemp is also weighing a run, while Cruz has reportedly discussed working with veteran Republican strategist Jeff Roe of Axiom Strategies if he decides to enter the contest.

Bob Vander Plaats, who heads the influential Iowa evangelical organization The Family Leader, suggested that the Republican Party’s electoral setbacks have created an opening for ambitious candidates who believe they can offer a more effective political message.

Vander Plaats said that for any Republican convinced he can articulate the party’s future direction, “this would be your time.”

Vance, meanwhile, has sought to explain the Republican defeats by pointing directly to the administration’s military campaign against Iran, a position that has exposed differences between the vice president and Trump.

“The reason we lost is the war,” Vance wrote Wednesday on X, referring to the ongoing conflict with Iran. He also argued that Republicans had lost support among voters who backed Trump previously but were increasingly concerned about everyday expenses and the rising cost of living.

Trump responded favorably to Vance’s assessment, describing the post as “good,” although the president continued to defend his administration’s military decisions.

The president also appeared unwilling to assume that Vance would necessarily seek the Republican nomination in 2028. Asked about his vice president’s political future, Trump told reporters, “Maybe he won’t run.”

Vance had previously indicated that he would make a decision about a presidential campaign after the midterm elections. Despite the renewed speculation surrounding possible challengers, he continues to lead early Republican primary polling.

DeSantis has been particularly outspoken about the election results, portraying the Republican setbacks across much of the country as a serious warning for the party while arguing that Florida has demonstrated a more successful approach to governing and winning elections.

The Florida governor, who challenged Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination, finished well behind him in the Iowa caucuses that year. Trump received approximately 51 percent of the vote, compared with 21 percent for DeSantis, who subsequently withdrew before the New Hampshire primary.

Although DeSantis is reportedly considering another campaign, an individual close to him said he has not yet assembled a presidential organization or begun meeting with potential financial supporters. In a social media statement Friday, DeSantis also denied having contacted anyone about launching a campaign.

Kemp would bring a different political background to the contest. The Georgia governor established his independence from Trump during their earlier political disagreements and defeated Trump-backed challenger David Perdue in the state’s 2022 Republican gubernatorial primary, capturing approximately 73 percent of the vote.

Cruz, who previously sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, is another potential contender with national campaign experience. His possible partnership with Roe, a veteran political consultant, suggests that he is at least examining what would be required to mount another serious campaign.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also attracted interest from Republican donors who would like to see him enter the race. Rubio, however, has indicated that he intends to support Vance if the vice president decides to run.

Other Republicans being discussed as possible 2028 candidates include Florida Sen. Rick Scott, Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and former Vice President Mike Pence. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has also been mentioned as a potential candidate.

The midterm results have already prompted unusually harsh assessments from prominent Republicans. Cruz characterized the party’s defeat as a “Watergate-level repudiation,” while DeSantis described the outcome as a “close to an extinction-level event” for Republicans in many parts of the country.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also suggested that the election had substantially weakened Vance’s presumed claim to the nomination. “The scale of the Republican defeat is so great that it makes the race for the GOP presidential nomination wide open,” Gingrich wrote.

The fallout has raised broader concerns among Republican strategists about whether the party can rebuild its coalition while addressing voter dissatisfaction over the Iran war, inflation and economic conditions. Those issues are expected to feature prominently in the early presidential campaign.

According to a Republican strategist working with one prospective candidate, serious contenders are likely to begin formally entering the presidential race between January and April 2027, setting up what could become a crowded contest for the Republican nomination.

A New York City education administrator is collecting nearly $200,000 annually in principal-level compensation despite the cancellation of the school he was appointed to lead, raising questions about taxpayer spending and personnel decisions within the city’s Department of Education.

Caleb Haraguchi-Combs, 33, receives an annual salary of $192,374 after being selected in January to oversee the development of Next Generation Technology High School, a proposed Manhattan institution specializing in artificial intelligence and computer technology. The school, however, never received final approval and was abandoned in April, according to a report published Sunday by the New York Post.

Haraguchi-Combs previously worked as an assistant principal at Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics in East Harlem, earning $141,960 annually. His appointment as project director for the proposed school came with a salary increase of approximately $50,000, placing him at the compensation level ordinarily reserved for school principals.

Under the city’s education system, administrators appointed to develop new schools typically assume the principal’s position once those institutions open. In this case, however, the school was canceled before it could welcome a single student, leaving Haraguchi-Combs with the higher salary but without a school to administer.

The proposed technology-focused high school was intended to open in Manhattan’s Financial District, with an emphasis on artificial intelligence and computer science. Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels withdrew the proposal in April amid opposition to its merit-based admissions requirements and concerns about the growing role of artificial intelligence in education.

Despite the cancellation, Haraguchi-Combs remained on the Department of Education payroll at his increased salary. An official at Manhattan Center confirmed that he no longer works at his previous school.

When approached by a New York Post reporter outside his Brooklyn apartment building and questioned about his current assignment, Haraguchi-Combs declined to identify where he was working.

“You came to my house? Outrageous,” he told the reporter.

The Department of Education defended his continued employment, saying Haraguchi-Combs is currently “developing new proposals and supporting in-progress proposals,” describing such responsibilities as customary for project directors whose proposed schools do not ultimately open.

But an individual familiar with the department’s internal procedures challenged that explanation, arguing that administrators whose schools are canceled should ordinarily return to their previous positions unless they have already secured tenure as principals.

“Unless a principal has tenure, they get bumped back to AP if their schools don’t open,” the source said. Officials “never should have named a principal before the school was approved.”

Because Haraguchi-Combs never actually served as principal of the proposed institution, he would not have had an opportunity to obtain tenure in that position.

The arrangement has angered education department insiders who question why the administrator was not reassigned to an existing school, particularly when numerous city schools continue to face staffing and leadership challenges.

“What was the plan? There’s a lot of schools that could use a principal, there’s opportunities to appoint principals since then, it’s a huge waste of resources,” the DOE source said.

The controversy surfaced publicly after a group of anonymous Manhattan high school principals submitted a letter to senior education officials in October calling for an investigation into Superintendent Gary Beidleman.

Their complaints included concerns about administrative disorganization, questionable hiring practices, failures to comply with class-size requirements and the continued employment arrangement involving Haraguchi-Combs.

Haraguchi-Combs also has a second career as a hip-hop performer, releasing music under the stage name Cal Combs. He has produced two rap albums and describes himself as “half hip-hop artist, half English teacher.”

His 2017 album, “Carmel,” takes its name from the Indiana community where he previously lived. One track describes a drug transaction that turns violent, with lyrics referring to a concealed firearm and an encounter involving gunfire.

“So now I got a nine hidden in my backpack/I took all the things I learned and put them on backtrack . . . They said that they would meet us at the spot at seven thirty/we packed a bag and arrived five minutes early.”

Another song, “Roundabouts,” contains references to cocaine use, drinking and emotional distress.

“One more bump on that key/one more drink and I’m free/one more shot to forget/ how much I hate me.”

The lyrics have attracted attention amid the controversy over his education department position, although there is no indication that the songs describe actual criminal conduct by Haraguchi-Combs.

Zilvinas Silenas, president of the Empire Center for Public Policy, a nonprofit organization that monitors government spending and accountability in New York, criticized the salary arrangement as an affront to taxpayers.

“This is a new level for New York, when you are getting paid nearly $200,000 for a job you’re not doing, most taxpayers have never even dreamed of making that kind of money,” Silenas said.

According to his professional profile, Haraguchi-Combs began working in education in 2015 as an English teacher in Tokyo. He later adopted his wife’s surname and eventually moved into school administration in New York City.

The Department of Education has not publicly identified a specific school to which Haraguchi-Combs has been assigned or announced whether his salary or responsibilities will be reconsidered following the complaints.

President Donald Trump said Sunday that another major American military offensive against Iran is increasingly unlikely, expressing confidence that ongoing negotiations could produce a nuclear agreement while warning that the United States retains the ability to deliver devastating additional strikes if diplomacy fails.

In a telephone interview with CNN, Trump indicated that the decision to resume large-scale military operations would depend on whether Tehran agrees to a sufficiently strong deal addressing its nuclear program. He suggested that Iran’s deteriorating economy and the damage already inflicted by American forces have placed the regime under enormous pressure to reach an agreement.

“It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement,” Trump said. “The answer is highly unlikely it’s going to be necessary. They’re a failing nation. It just came out, you saw this year, 301% inflation. Highly unlikely it will be necessary.”

The president emphasized that Iran has been weakened both economically and militarily, arguing that Washington could inflict far greater damage if the regime refuses to negotiate acceptable terms.

“So it’s highly unlikely I’ll have to,” he continued. “They’re withering away financially. We’ve hit them militarily. We could finish them off.”

Trump’s comments represent a notably more optimistic assessment of the diplomatic situation than his earlier warnings about the possibility of renewed military action following last Tuesday’s midterm elections. Although the president had previously left open the prospect of another major offensive, he now appears increasingly hopeful that negotiations can achieve American objectives without a broader resumption of hostilities.

The administration has nevertheless maintained its maritime blockade against Iran, seeking to intensify economic pressure on Tehran while diplomatic discussions continue. The restrictions are intended to limit Iranian trade and further weaken the regime’s financial resources.

The continuing blockade has also contributed to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, where American and Iranian forces have reported additional incidents involving commercial vessels in recent days.

Qatar has been leading indirect discussions between Washington and Tehran, with mediators circulating proposals intended to establish confidence-building measures before broader negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. One framework under consideration would involve easing the American blockade and releasing some frozen Iranian funds in exchange for allowing international nuclear inspectors access to damaged facilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has demanded sanctions relief, access to frozen assets, compensation for wartime destruction and an end to regional hostilities. Washington has insisted that any agreement must address Tehran’s nuclear activities, including its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

The diplomatic developments follow limited American strikes against Iranian air-defense installations near Qeshm Island last week. Trump has maintained that the United States remains militarily prepared to respond if Iran threatens American forces or refuses an acceptable agreement.

The president’s comments also come as Democrats prepare to assume control of Congress in January following their midterm victories. Democratic lawmakers have indicated that they intend to pursue legislation limiting Trump’s authority to conduct additional military operations against Iran without congressional approval.

For now, the administration is continuing its combination of military deterrence, economic restrictions and diplomatic negotiations, with Trump making clear that he believes a negotiated agreement could eliminate the need for another major American attack.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog formally entrusted Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party and former IDF chief of staff, with forming Israel’s next government on Sunday, November 8, after 67 members of the newly elected Knesset recommended him for the premiership, giving him a significant advantage over Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

The decision, announced during a ceremony at the President’s Residence in Yerushalayim, marks a major turning point in Israeli politics following the elections for the 26th Knesset. Although Netanyahu’s Likud emerged as the largest individual party, Herzog determined that Eisenkot had the strongest parliamentary backing and the best prospect of assembling a governing coalition.

Herzog explained that his decision followed consultations with representatives of every party elected to the Knesset, as required under Israel’s Basic Law: The Government. He described the meetings as candid discussions that reflected the country’s political divisions and the competing priorities of its citizens.

“Upon receiving the official results of the elections for the 26th Knesset, I set about fulfilling the task assigned to me by Section 7 of Basic Law: The Government, and held consultations with the representatives of all the factions elected to the Knesset,” Herzog began. “These conversations were conducted with openness, candor, and transparency, and they represented the essential nature of the democratic process.”

“They also brought to the surface the disputes, the painful points, and of course, the multitude of voices within Israeli society and politics. They were frank and pointed conversations, addressing the most important issues of this time. And they reminded us all that every citizen of Israel has an equal voice, from every side, every view, every way of life, and every faith. I once again thank all the faction representatives who took part in the consultations.”

The president then detailed the recommendations he received, highlighting the decisive numerical advantage enjoyed by Eisenkot.

He added, “As I noted at the conclusion of the consultations on Thursday evening, the representatives of factions totaling sixty-seven members elected to the 26th Knesset recommended Yashar Leader Gadi Eisenkot to receive the mandate, while the representatives of factions totaling forty-six members of Knesset recommended the Prime Minister and Likud Leader, Benjamin Netanyahu. The representatives of one faction of seven members of Knesset chose to refrain from recommending any candidate.”

The seven lawmakers who declined to endorse either candidate belong to United Torah Judaism, whose decision to remain uncommitted has placed the chareidi party in a potentially influential position as coalition negotiations begin.

Although Eisenkot received recommendations from a majority of Knesset members, those endorsements do not automatically guarantee that all 67 lawmakers will join his government. The incoming prime ministerial candidate must still negotiate coalition agreements and secure the parliamentary support necessary to establish a functioning government.

“In light of this, and following talks I have held with various figures in recent days, it is therefore evident that Mr. Eisenkot has received the clear and unequivocal support of a majority of Members of Knesset on the most central question: who has the better chance of forming the next government that will win the confidence of the Knesset.

“Therefore, by virtue of my authority under Basic Law: The Government, I have decided to task the Leader of the Yashar party, Lieutenant General (res.) Gadi Eisenkot, with forming a government.”

Herzog also addressed the fact that Netanyahu’s Likud received more seats than any other individual faction, emphasizing that Israeli constitutional practice does not require the president to select the leader of the largest party.

Herzog emphasized, “I am well aware that Likud is the largest faction in the incoming Knesset. I noted this during the consultations as well. However, both on the basis of the facts I have set out, and on the basis of clear precedents set by my predecessors, who in several cases tasked the leader of a party that was not the largest with forming the government, I have decided, as I said, to task Gadi Eisenkot with forming a government.”

The announcement sets the stage for difficult negotiations involving parties with sharply differing positions on military conscription, religion and state, and Israel’s security policies. One of the most sensitive questions concerns the future of yeshiva bochurim and whether Eisenkot can secure support from chareidi lawmakers while satisfying parties demanding expanded military enlistment.

United Torah Judaism has indicated that its decisions will be guided by the instructions of the Gedolei Yisroel and by guarantees concerning the status of yeshiva students, Shabbos, kashrus and other religious matters. Those conditions could complicate negotiations with secular parties in Eisenkot’s prospective coalition.

In his remarks, Herzog emphasized the enormous security, diplomatic and domestic challenges facing Israel, beginning with the continuing threat from Iran and the need to shape regional arrangements following the war.

“The challenges facing the State of Israel are immense. Some demand urgent and immediate attention. Iran does not pause for a moment in its schemes and threats. We must work to build a diplomatic horizon in the region and for the day after the war. We must move forward with the Board of Peace and President Trump’s twenty-point plan for Gaza, and with negotiations with Lebanon and our other neighbors.

“All this, of course, while waging a determined and resolute fight against terror and the empire of evil on every front. We must push back against sanctions and diplomatic threats, and also contend with a new political situation in the United States.

“We must make progress in resolving the question of military service and the needs of the IDF. We must try to define the boundaries of, and the relations between, the branches of government, and fortify our democracy. We must fight with all our strength against crime and the terrible violence, especially the violence consuming Arab society. We must protect and strengthen our economy. And we must focus on healing the wound of October 7th, which remains open in our flesh.

“All these immense challenges, and many more, stand before us. The State of Israel needs a stable government that can meet them over time. This is the time to reach out a hand, to do everything for the unity of our people, and to strive for the best and most stable government possible for the people of Israel, which yearns for it.”

Herzog then turned directly to Eisenkot, urging him to approach the negotiations with a commitment to representing the entire Israeli public, including citizens who opposed his candidacy.

“Yashar Leader Gadi Eisenkot, I expect you to do everything in your power to establish a government that will serve the entire people, those who supported it and those who did not, and that will be a responsible and decent address for all sectors, faiths, ways of life, and worldviews.”

The president also spoke personally about Eisenkot’s decades of military service and the devastating losses his family suffered during the war.

“And on a personal note: dear Gadi, I have known you for decades, since you completed your command of the Golani Brigade. You bring with you outstanding qualities of leadership. You have commanded soldiers from every part of the Israeli people and Israeli society. Your face bears the scars of bullets from decades of command and combat, from your days as a combat soldier to your service as the 21st Chief of the General Staff of the IDF. And your soul bears the most terrible scar of all: the heaviest price of all, paid by you and your family with the fall of your beloved son Gal and your two nephews in the war.”

“In the coming days, Gadi, as you and your counterparts enter the negotiating rooms, I ask that you remember that the eyes of the entire nation, with all its pain, hopes, prayers, and fears, are upon you. Please act with wisdom, sensitivity, and care. I hope with all my heart that any government that is formed will lead to togetherness, connection, and healing among all parts of our people, for our very lives depend on it. We have only one country. I will be ready to help at any time toward this goal.”

Herzog concluded the ceremony by formally presenting Eisenkot with the appointment letter.

“Gadi Eisenkot, I hereby task you with forming the government, and I am therefore honored to present you with the letter of appointment for forming a government in Israel. I wish you great success in your mission. Thank you very much.”

Under Israeli law, Eisenkot now has 28 days, until December 6, to establish a coalition. Herzog may grant an additional 14 days, extending the deadline to December 20. If Eisenkot fails, another Knesset member, potentially Netanyahu, could be given an opportunity to form a government.

In remarks following the ceremony, Eisenkot appealed to Likud and Religious Zionism lawmakers to consider joining a government under his leadership, provided they accepted his governing principles. His party has called for a broad national emergency government while maintaining that Eisenkot must serve as prime minister.

The political arithmetic remains complicated. Netanyahu’s bloc holds 53 seats, Eisenkot’s Jewish-led opposition bloc has 48, and the two Arab parties control 19. Although the Arab parties recommended Eisenkot, several potential coalition partners oppose relying on their support.

United Torah Judaism’s seven seats could therefore become particularly important. Meanwhile, Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman has signaled a willingness to reconsider his longstanding opposition to joining a government with chareidi parties, potentially opening another avenue for negotiations.

Until a new coalition receives the Knesset’s confidence and takes office, Netanyahu will remain prime minister at the head of the outgoing government.

Fresh explosions in southern Iran and reports of multiple vessels being struck near the Strait of Hormuz have heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, even as Iranian officials suggested that last night’s blasts may have resulted from their own military operations rather than a new American offensive.

Iranian state television reported that authorities had not verified claims of missile attacks on Iranian territory following explosions heard in several southern locations, including Qeshm Island, a strategically important island in the Strait of Hormuz.

The developments came amid speculation about whether President Donald Trump would order another major round of strikes against Iran following last week’s U.S. midterm elections. Although Trump had previously suggested that additional military action was possible, there was no indication of a broad new American offensive. Tehran has warned that renewed attacks would trigger retaliation against American and Israeli targets.

The latest incidents instead appeared concentrated around the Strait of Hormuz and the neighboring Gulf of Oman, where the United States and Iran have continued targeting maritime traffic amid their wider military confrontation. The disruptions have severely affected the movement of oil, energy supplies and other essential commodities through one of the world’s most important shipping corridors.

Iranian state television suggested that the explosions heard last night could have been connected to Iranian military operations in the waterway. Iranian authorities reported that two vessels had struck mines, while a third ship had caught fire.

The United States separately announced that American aircraft had disabled a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman, east of the Strait of Hormuz, after the ship allegedly attempted to evade the American blockade of Iranian maritime traffic.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that two missiles had struck Qeshm Island, although it provided no official information about casualties or damage. Neither Washington nor Tehran immediately confirmed that account.

The island had previously been targeted by American forces on November 2, when Washington described a limited defensive strike against Iranian surface-to-air missile positions that posed a threat to U.S. military assets.

The latest maritime incidents are part of a continuing struggle over control of regional shipping routes. Since the United States and Israel began military operations against Iran in February, Tehran has attempted to disrupt Gulf energy exports by attacking vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. American forces responded in April by imposing a blockade on maritime movements to and from Iranian ports.

Last night, the U.S. military said American aircraft fired on the rear section of a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman, leaving it disabled after it allegedly attempted to pass through the blockade.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, meanwhile, announced that two oil tankers had caught fire after striking mines while traveling through what it described as an “unauthorized route” in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency subsequently reported that a third tanker had suffered an explosion and caught fire.

The competing accounts could not be independently verified, and the circumstances surrounding the incidents remained unclear.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations monitoring agency separately reported an incident involving a bulk carrier and military forces approximately 18 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan, a port city in the United Arab Emirates.

The agency did not immediately establish the extent of the vessel’s damage, and it remained uncertain whether the incident was connected to the American military action reported in the Gulf of Oman.

The U.S. military provided additional details about the vessel it disabled, identifying it as a St. Kitts-flagged commercial ship. U.S. Central Command said the crew disregarded repeated instructions to stop and made several attempts to circumvent the blockade. “The ship’s civilian crew ignored repeated warnings and attempted to violate the naval blockade against Iran multiple times,” CENTCOM said.

The American blockade was initially imposed in April, temporarily suspended in June and reinstated in July. Washington has maintained that the restrictions are intended to limit Iran’s ability to sustain its military operations and conduct international trade through its ports.

The conflict has also intensified beyond Iran’s borders, particularly in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, where fighting involving the Iran-backed Houthi movement has expanded in recent weeks.

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry reported that falling debris from an attempted attack had damaged an administrative building belonging to Saudi Aramco in Riyadh. Officials said there were no deaths or injuries, although the incident raised further concerns about the vulnerability of the kingdom’s energy infrastructure.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to bring the war to an end remain underway. Qatar, which has been serving as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran, rejected reports that negotiations had collapsed. Qatari officials said the country’s prime minister had confirmed that both sides were continuing to pursue a possible agreement.

An Iranian official disclosed Thursday that Tehran had delivered a new nuclear proposal to Washington through Qatari mediators. The United States was reviewing the proposal, according to the official, but Iran was insisting that seven conditions be satisfied before substantive negotiations could proceed.

Among Tehran’s demands are the removal of American sanctions, the release of Iranian assets frozen overseas and financial compensation for damage sustained during the war. Washington, however, has insisted that Iran’s nuclear program must be addressed at the outset of any negotiations.

Iranian national security official Mohsen Rezaei reinforced Tehran’s position last week, declaring, “As long as they do not execute our seven conditions, we will neither open the Strait of Hormuz nor have negotiations.”

President Trump, speaking Thursday about the possibility of additional military operations, said American forces remained “locked and loaded” and insisted that Iran would not be permitted to acquire nuclear weapons. Referring to Tehran’s proposed agreement, Trump said, “They’re not doing anything without our approval,” adding, “They’re not going to have a nuclear weapon.”

In a separate development, the Pentagon announced plans for a new task force aimed at intercepting advanced weapons and other prohibited materials being transported into Iran through its land borders and across the Caspian Sea. The initiative is intended to broaden American economic and military pressure beyond the existing maritime blockade.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards dismissed the American initiative as “wordplay,” arguing that Tehran had already prepared for such measures and maintained close coordination with neighboring countries to protect its supply routes.

A new Israeli television report has revealed that associates of Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman allegedly conducted months of discreet negotiations with senior chareidi figures during the election campaign, exploring the possibility of securing chareidi support for Lieberman to become prime minister even as his party publicly campaigned against military service exemptions for yeshiva bochurim.

According to Channel 13 political correspondent Yoeli Brim, the behind-the-scenes discussions took place while Yisrael Beiteinu was promoting its election slogan, “100% for those who serve, zero for draft dodgers,” raising questions about the extent to which Lieberman’s public campaign rhetoric reflected his private political calculations.

The reported contacts were conducted through a group of Lieberman associates that included Yerushalayim Mayor Moshe Lion, Lieberman’s chareidi adviser Avi Abuchatzeira and several businessmen. The discussions reportedly focused primarily on senior figures within United Torah Judaism, although no binding political agreements were reached.

At the center of the negotiations was a possible arrangement under which the chareidi parties would support Lieberman’s candidacy for prime minister in exchange for immediate action to halt the arrests of yeshiva students and legislation addressing their military service status.

The proposed framework was reportedly based on a draft law Lieberman advanced in 2018, when he served as Israel’s defense minister. The discussions explored whether that earlier proposal could serve as the foundation for a new agreement acceptable to the chareidi leadership.

The revelations come at a particularly sensitive moment in Israeli politics, following last week’s elections, which left neither the Netanyahu bloc nor the emerging opposition alliance with a straightforward path to forming a government.

Lieberman publicly signaled a significant change in his position on Friday, announcing that he was prepared to consider compromises even on the contentious issue of chareidi military conscription.

“On all other issues, it is permissible and desirable to show flexibility and compromise,” Lieberman wrote. “That includes the draft law.”

His remarks immediately attracted attention within the chareidi political establishment, where Lieberman has long been viewed as one of the most outspoken opponents of arrangements allowing yeshiva students to continue learning rather than enlist in the military.

Chareidi political figures responding to the development suggested that Lieberman’s willingness to retreat from a position central to his political identity represented a substantial concession.

“Lieberman paid in cash. He burned himself on the very issue on which he built his identity in recent years. That cannot be ignored,” chareidi sources said.

The report suggests that the contacts were not merely exploratory conversations but part of a deliberate effort by Lieberman’s associates to position him as a potential prime minister with chareidi backing.

Channel 13 reported that the intermediaries reminded chareidi officials of Lieberman’s earlier political relationship with their parties, before years of bitter disputes over the draft issue and other religious matters turned him into one of their most prominent adversaries.

The possibility of cooperation has taken on new importance since the elections left Netanyahu’s bloc with 53 seats, short of the 61 required to form a government.

According to the report, Netanyahu responded by personally contacting senior UTJ figures in an effort to prevent them from entering an agreement with Lieberman. His wife, Sara Netanyahu, was also reportedly involved in the telephone conversations, which continued until shortly before Shabbos.

UTJ has not established a formal negotiating team, and party officials emphasize that any proposed arrangement would require approval from the Gedolei Yisroel.

Some figures within UTJ believe that if the party ultimately agrees to support a government involving Lieberman, Shas could face considerable pressure to join as well, despite its current commitment to Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc.

There are, however, important obstacles to such an arrangement. President Isaac Herzog is preparing to give Gadi Eisenkot the first opportunity to form a government, meaning that any plan to install Lieberman as prime minister would likely require additional negotiations and potentially a power-sharing arrangement.

Separate reporting by Channel 12 has indicated that Lieberman has already lifted his longstanding political veto against cooperating with the chareidi parties and authorized other members of the change bloc to negotiate with them. A possible rotation agreement involving Eisenkot and Lieberman has also been discussed.

The allegations concerning the secret negotiating channel have been disputed. Emess reported that Yerushalayim Mayor Moshe Lion had strongly denied the claims when questioned earlier in the week. Yisrael Beiteinu also rejected Channel 13’s account, declaring that it was false and contained not a single word of truth. Channel 13 correspondent Yoeli Brim stood by his reporting.

Emess further reported that Lion and Abuchatzeira were both in New York at the time of publication, although there was no confirmation that their presence there was connected to coalition negotiations.

For now, the discussions remain informal, with no confirmed agreement between Lieberman’s representatives and the chareidi parties. The question of whether the reported contacts can develop into an actual coalition arrangement will depend heavily on the positions adopted by the Gedolei Yisroel and the outcome of Eisenkot’s efforts to form the next government.

{Matzav.com}