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The International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors voted Wednesday to refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council over Tehran’s failure to cooperate fully with an investigation into uranium particles found at locations Iran had not declared as nuclear sites.

The decision represents the first time in two decades that the IAEA’s governing board has sent the Iranian nuclear matter to the Security Council over such concerns.

Western governments have raised questions about whether the unexplained uranium traces are connected to a covert Iranian nuclear weapons effort believed to have operated until 2003. Tehran has consistently rejected allegations that it has pursued an atomic bomb, insisting that its nuclear activities are exclusively peaceful.

The resolution was approved by 23 members of the IAEA’s 35-nation Board of Governors during a meeting at the agency’s Vienna headquarters. Russia, China and Niger opposed the measure, eight countries abstained, and another country was unable to participate in the vote because of outstanding financial obligations.

The United States, Britain, France and Germany jointly introduced the resolution.

The latest action follows a June 2025 determination by the IAEA board that Iran was failing to comply with its nuclear nonproliferation responsibilities, with the agency pointing at the time to Tehran’s insufficient cooperation with its investigation.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Vienna, Reza Najafi, condemned Wednesday’s decision, describing the resolution as a “political tool.” He charged that the move damages confidence in the IAEA’s “independence, impartiality and credibility.”

Najafi further maintained that the continuing military conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has prevented Tehran from providing inspectors with the access they require at Iranian nuclear installations.

His comments came amid continued fighting in the more than six-month-old war. The United States destroyed five Iranian oil tankers this week, after which Iran attacked American targets in Jordan as the two sides continued exchanging strikes.

Under the resolution, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi is asked to formally convey the agency’s concerns to both the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly, as provided for under the IAEA Statute.

The measure additionally demands that Tehran remedy its noncompliance and carry out steps sought by the nuclear watchdog so the agency can verify that Iranian nuclear material has not been diverted for prohibited purposes.

IAEA inspectors have been unable to access Iranian nuclear installations damaged by Israeli and American strikes since the 12-day war in June 2025. As a result, the agency has also been unable to establish the current condition and location of Iran’s inventory of uranium enriched to levels approaching weapons grade.

Najafi maintained that damage caused by the Israeli and U.S. attacks has rendered safe entry into the affected installations “materially impossible.” He said Iran has “neither stopped nor suspended its safeguards obligations,” while arguing that the continuing fighting and military threats have made it impossible for Tehran to fulfill those requirements at present.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi also denounced the resolution in a statement posted on X.

“They attack Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities, disrupt the normal verification process, and then use that very disruption as a pretext for passing a resolution at the IAEA Board of Governors,” Gharibabadi wrote.

“With these attempts to create an atmosphere, you can neither compensate for the failure of your policies and actions, nor will you be able to achieve anything at the Security Council.”

IAEA figures put Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity at 440.9 kilograms, or approximately 972 pounds. That enrichment level remains below the roughly 90% generally regarded as weapons grade.

Grossi has previously said that the quantity of highly enriched uranium in Iran’s possession could theoretically provide enough material for as many as 10 nuclear weapons if Tehran chose to pursue weaponization. He has also emphasized that having sufficient nuclear material for such a scenario does not establish that Iran currently possesses nuclear weapons.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he expects the war with Iran to end immediately following the November midterm elections, arguing that Tehran is deliberately trying to prolong the conflict in hopes of influencing the U.S. vote. Trump made the remarks as the seven-month conflict entered another period of escalating attacks.

“I think the war will end immediately after the election,” the President said, explaining that Iran “can’t hold out any longer.”

Trump contended that Tehran’s strategy is tied directly to the American elections, accusing Iranian leaders of hoping that political changes in Washington will ease the pressure they are facing. “They’re desperate to try and affect the election so that we could get a nice, weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon.”

The President’s comments came amid another escalation in hostilities between Washington and Tehran. Iran said Wednesday that it had targeted ships near the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. attacks on Iranian oil tankers, while oil prices climbed sharply amid fears of further disruptions to global energy supplies.

Trump also addressed the latest round of American military action against Iranian vessels and indicated that additional strikes could follow. “You’re going to see a lot more.”

The renewed fighting has added to economic pressures stemming from the conflict, with Brent crude climbing above $100 a barrel Wednesday for the first time since July. Trump said he believes oil prices will decline once the conflict comes to an end after the elections.

At the same time, Trump made clear that any future arrangement with Tehran would extend well beyond restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program. “I’m doing much more than a nuclear deal. There’s a lot more than nuclear… That’s 99.9, but there’s going to be a lot of other things on the table that wouldn’t have been on the table three months ago.”

Trump also left open the possibility that negotiations could eventually resume, although he indicated Wednesday that reaching a new agreement with Tehran is not currently a priority for his administration.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu announced Wednesday that he has directed his attorneys to take legal action against Haaretz and journalist Shlomi Eldar over a report alleging that the United Arab Emirates warned him about an impending Hamas attack shortly before the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.

Netanyahu categorically rejected the allegation, which surfaced less than two months before Israel’s Oct. 27 election and has fueled fresh attacks against him from his political rivals.

According to Haaretz, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed contacted Netanyahu roughly 10 days before Oct. 7 and cautioned him that then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a significant assault on Israel.

The newspaper further alleged that Netanyahu reacted without alarm, telling the Emirati leader that Israel was ready to deal with any potential attack.

The Prime Minister’s Office flatly denied that such an exchange ever occurred, saying Netanyahu had no communication with the UAE president between the beginning of September 2023 and the Hamas invasion on Oct. 7.

“This is a sinister libel with clear political timing, as part of the left’s election campaign, and there will be more such false libels,” Netanyahu said.

The Prime Minister’s Office said officials examined both Netanyahu’s telephone records and logs documenting visitors to his office and found nothing indicating that the alleged Emirati contact took place.

“A thorough examination not only of the Prime Minister’s call log, but also of the records of entries into the Prime Minister’s Office during this period, does not show any entry of the Emirati representative into the Prime Minister’s Office,” the PMO said.

Haaretz, for its part, said it was standing behind the report.

The newspaper’s political orientation has added another dimension to the increasingly heated controversy.

Haaretz is generally associated with Israel’s political left and has for years been one of the country’s most outspoken media critics of Netanyahu and the governments he has led.

Netanyahu has similarly maintained for years that his opponents on the political left and in the media have engaged in sustained efforts to drive him from office.

That bitter relationship has taken on added significance as Israel approaches an election in which Netanyahu’s leadership and his government’s actions surrounding the Oct. 7 attack have become major subjects of criticism from his opponents.

Netanyahu’s Likud party is attempting to remain in power amid difficult polling numbers, while rival politicians have pointed to the Haaretz report as further ammunition in their criticism of the prime minister.

Gadi Eisenkot, the former Israeli military chief whose centrist Yashar party has been challenging Likud in polling, cited the report in criticizing Netanyahu. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Democrats leader Yair Golan also used the allegations to assail the prime minister.

Approximately 1,200 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led Oct. 7 terrorist attack, while 251 people were abducted and taken hostage into Gaza.

Netanyahu’s office has maintained that senior Israeli security officials detected warning indications only in the hours immediately preceding the attack but did not alert the prime minister soon enough. His office has argued that an earlier warning to Netanyahu could have enabled action that might have prevented the massacre.

Netanyahu’s supporters have also pointed out that much of Hamas’ preparation and development of the infrastructure used for the assault likely occurred during the relatively brief period when Netanyahu was not prime minister and Bennett headed the government.

The allegation involving the UAE carries particular significance because the Emirates established diplomatic relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords. The UAE Foreign Ministry has not confirmed the account published by Haaretz.

Republicans are gathering in Dallas on Wednesday for the party’s first-ever national convention devoted to a midterm election, with President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, senior administration officials and congressional candidates converging on the city for a two-day push to rally GOP voters ahead of the Nov. 3 elections.

The unprecedented gathering at the American Airlines Center comes less than two months before Election Day, as Republicans fight to retain control of both the House and Senate. More than 100 speakers are expected to participate in a program highlighting the economy, immigration, taxes, healthcare and other major elements of the Republican agenda.

The event differs significantly from the party’s traditional presidential conventions. There will be no nominee to select, platform to approve or other official party business to conduct. Instead, the two-day gathering is designed primarily as a campaign showcase intended to energize Republican voters and sharpen the party’s message for November.

Trump will dominate much of the convention, appearing on both days of the gathering. The President is scheduled to deliver a major address Wednesday and return Thursday for the convention’s finale, while Vance will also have a prominent speaking role during the event.

A number of high-ranking members of the Trump administration are also appearing before convention attendees.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is among the administration officials on the program, alongside other Cabinet members and senior figures in the administration.

The participation of Attorney General Todd Blanche is particularly notable because attorneys general, as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officials, have traditionally maintained greater distance from overt campaign activity.

The convention lineup also features many of the Republican Party’s most recognizable elected officials and political leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Sen. Tim Scott, Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson and Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters.

Throughout the gathering, Republicans intend to highlight the Trump administration’s record while presenting voters with a contrast between the two parties on immigration, taxes, public safety and economic policy. Convention programming also includes discussions of healthcare, government spending and tax policy, along with broader presentations outlining the GOP’s vision for the country.

Democrats, meanwhile, are staging a competing political presence in Dallas during the Republican gathering. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is among the Democrats seeking to counter the GOP’s message, with Democrats emphasizing inflation, the cost of living and other issues as Republicans hold their convention.

The political stakes in Texas itself are also expected to receive considerable attention during the convention.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, is scheduled to speak as he campaigns against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico for the seat being vacated by Sen. John Cornyn. Paxton secured Trump’s endorsement before defeating Cornyn in the Republican primary runoff.

The Paxton-Talarico contest has emerged as one of the closely watched Senate races of the 2026 campaign, particularly because Republicans are seeking to preserve their Senate majority. Texas has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1988, but this year’s contest has attracted unusual national attention.

Trump and other prominent Republicans have increasingly focused attention on Paxton’s campaign as Election Day draws nearer. Paxton also unveiled a new advertisement targeting Talarico that is set to run during the convention.

The program includes Republican candidates competing in closely contested House districts as well, including races in South Texas that could factor into the battle for control of the House.

With both chambers of Congress at stake, Republicans are using the Dallas gathering to make the case for keeping their congressional majorities during the remaining two years of Trump’s presidency. The convention gives the party a national stage to promote its candidates, highlight the administration’s record and attempt to consolidate Republican support heading into November.

The RNC has billed the gathering as a historic opportunity to celebrate the Trump administration’s accomplishments, showcase Republican candidates and bring the party together around its midterm message. The party’s official convention site describes it as the first Republican midterm convention of its kind.

Trump is set to be the central figure through the convention’s conclusion Thursday, capping a two-day event built largely around the President and the Republican Party’s effort to translate enthusiasm among its voters into success at the polls in November.

After days of uncertainty and frustration for numerous Breslover chassidim traveling to Uman for Rosh Hashanah, an extensive effort to locate missing luggage has largely been completed, with dozens of suitcases already arriving in Uman and dozens more being transported there from airports in Romania and Moldova.

The development follows reports of widespread baggage problems affecting travelers making their way to Uman. Askanim who stepped in to coordinate the recovery effort said that all luggage located during their search is either already in Uman or currently being transported there in specially arranged vehicles.

The first group, consisting of 36 suitcases, has already reached Uman and is being held at the local lost-and-found center, where travelers can retrieve their belongings.

A second batch of 29 suitcases is currently being transported from Iași, Romania, to Uman.

Another 17 suitcases have departed from Chișinău International Airport in Moldova and are likewise on their way to Uman.

A fourth and final group of 20 suitcases has arrived in Iași. Those bags are expected to be loaded onto a designated vehicle and transported immediately to Uman.

In total, the operation involves 102 pieces of luggage that have been located and are either already in Uman or being brought there.

Those coordinating the operation said that, as far as their on-the-ground search is concerned, the effort has been successfully completed. Updates will continue to be provided until the final shipment of luggage reaches Uman.

The askanim said considerable resources were devoted to tracking down the bags and getting them to their owners as quickly as possible.

“We provided dedicated workers and vehicles out of a desire to assist the passengers and bring the luggage to Uman as quickly as possible.”

At the same time, organizers stressed that their volunteer effort does not replace the legal responsibility of the airlines for passengers’ missing baggage.

“At the same time, it is clarified that the official and legal responsibility for locating and handling the luggage remains with the airlines. Therefore, any passenger who, after all the groups arrive, does not find his suitcase is asked to continue tracking and handling the matter directly with the relevant airline.”

The successful recovery operation comes as tens of thousands of chassidim continue making their way to Uman ahead of Rosh Hashanah, bringing welcome relief to travelers who had arrived without their belongings and faced the prospect of spending Yom Tov without clothing and other essentials packed in their luggage.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

As Lakewood prepares for Yom Tov, dozens of local Kollel families are facing a very different kind of Tishrei — wondering how they will cover even the basic expenses for their families.

For Keren Zichron Tzipora (KZT), the calls have been coming nonstop. The organization exists with one mission: to financially support and uplift Lakewood’s devoted Yungeleit and their families, with a simple message: “We are honored to support your Torah.”

For some families, the clothing gift cards provided by KZT will mean the only new clothing their children receive all year. Baruch Hashem, 20 families were assisted this past week alone — but dozens more are still waiting.

With Erev Yom Kippur quickly approaching, KZT is turning to the Lakewood community to help close the gap.

$500 can sponsor a Kollel family’s Yom Tov, but every amount can make a meaningful difference.

As the Yom HaDin approaches, it is an opportunity to bring tremendous relief to a local family — and enter the new year with the zechus of supporting Torah right here at home.

Who will tip the scales this Tishrei? 

Please Donate Here

Other ways to partner:
Call 24/7: 732-702-8100

Zelle / Venmo / Paypal: kerenzichrontzipora@gmail.com

Mail a check to:
Keren Zichron Tzipora
1511 Newport Drive
Lakewood, NJ 08701

All donations are tax-deductible. Tax ID 87-3452793

Thank you for standing with our Yungeleit. Wishing you a Kesiva V’chasima Tova.

Iris Chaim, the mother of Yotam Chaim Hy”d, has filed a NIS 169,000 defamation lawsuit against chareidi attorney and commentator Dov Halbertal over a blistering social media post in which he accused her of exploiting her son’s death for fame and suggested that Hamas had effectively done her a favor.

The lawsuit was filed Monday in the Yerushalayim Magistrate’s Court following a Facebook post Halbertal published after Chaim’s name surfaced in reports and rumors about individuals who could potentially be given a reserved spot on the Likud electoral slate.

In the May 10 post, Halbertal attacked Chaim in exceptionally harsh terms, referring to her, among other things, as “this despicable woman” and as someone “obsessed with honor and publicity who has only been glowing since her son was murdered.”

Halbertal went on to write: “It can be assumed that she planned her entire path into politics in advance and is trampling on the blood of her son, who bequeathed her worldwide celebrity status.”

He concluded the post with an even more incendiary remark: “On her son’s grave she will write: ‘How good it is that you were murdered.’ What a kindness Hamas did for her.”

Chaim subsequently responded in a post of her own, denying that she had received any offer to enter politics through Likud or any other party.

“No one approached me, not from Likud and not from any other list or political party, and even if they do approach me, the answer will be no,” she wrote.

A letter warning Halbertal of impending legal action was sent on May 26. In his response, Halbertal did not deny writing the comments but said that a day or two after publishing them, he reconsidered their severity and voluntarily removed the entire post.

“I didn’t change it; I simply deleted it,” he wrote.

Halbertal maintained that the original post had received only several hundred views before its deletion and argued that it was only after Chaim responded and a screenshot began circulating online that the remarks spread widely and reached the media.

He also maintained that he had not invented the report about Chaim potentially receiving a reserved spot on the Likud slate, saying he had read about the possibility in an article by journalist Anna Barsky in Maariv.

Halbertal said he himself faced fierce criticism over the post, including attacks from within his own community.

“I received a severe punishment for publishing the post,” he wrote.

He also offered to issue another apology, meet with Chaim and even host the family at his home for Shabbos.

Chaim’s attorneys, Assaf Sharaf and Nili Schatz, rejected Halbertal’s explanations, describing his response as “the height of outrageous cynicism.”

According to the lawsuit, Halbertal’s comments were not written impulsively in a moment of anger but were published knowingly and with the intention of harming Chaim. The complaint also alleges that the photograph accompanying the post — showing Chaim with a portrait of her son Yotam behind her — was deliberately selected to intensify the harm and increase the “shock effect.”

No date has yet been scheduled for the first court hearing.

Responding to the lawsuit, Halbertal defended the principle of his right to express a harsh opinion while acknowledging that his language had been extreme.

“It is time to stop with these lawsuits. Today, terrible things are written about me on Twitter and I have never sued anyone; it is time to give more room to freedom of opinion. I wrote in a harsh manner and I am aware of that, but is it forbidden to write that a woman is dancing on her son’s blood? It is time to eradicate the phenomenon in which people are sued for hundreds of thousands of shekels. Lawsuits can be filed over facts, but not interpretations — even though they are harsh and biting. There is a fundamental issue here involving freedom of expression, and this is a bad law that creates silencing lawsuits.

“As for Iris Chaim, as far as I’m concerned, enough is enough: An article came out saying that she was running with Likud and she didn’t deny it, and then I wrote what I wrote. A day or two later, I realized that it was too harsh, deleted the post and thought the story was over.

“But then someone took a screenshot, it reached Iris and she posted it on her social media — which gave it tremendous momentum and led to harsh reactions against me. Had she not responded to it, no one would have heard about it. To sue for 100,000 shekels over something like this? She is responsible for that. Incidentally, I sent her a response in which I apologized, explained that I had deleted the post, noted that I understand the grieving father and invited her to spend Shabbos together — and suddenly I find myself facing a lawsuit.”

{Matzav.com}

Yerushalayim Mayor Moshe Lion rejected claims that the capital is becoming increasingly chareidi under his leadership, saying he has not closed a single road on Shabbos since becoming mayor and intends to preserve the longstanding status quo among the city’s diverse populations.

In a wide-ranging interview with Yishai Cohen of Kikar HaShabbat, Lion addressed religious tensions in Yerushalayim, the removal of his close friend MK Moshe Gafni from Degel HaTorah’s Knesset slate, violent protests against the light rail project on Bar Ilan Street, the city’s school system and the enormous crowds gathering for Selichos at the Kosel.

Lion also spoke personally about the recent passing of his father, Shalom, approximately two weeks ago.

“Look, on the one hand, people speak to me and say: Listen, it was misas neshikah. On the other hand, I miss him; there’s nothing you can do, that’s a fact. He was very, very close to me. It’s not for nothing that people say, ‘My father, the crown of my head.’ He was definitely close to me. We were also together constantly in recent years since my mother passed away. We were together all the time; he was with me every Shabbos, and he is very much missed, very much missed.”

Turning to the nightly Selichos gatherings at the Kosel, which have drawn tens of thousands of participants — particularly on Thursday nights — Lion described the scenes as extraordinary.

“First of all, it’s something beautiful, so something good is happening in Yerushalayim. As someone who stands on the balcony above and looks out at the crowd, it’s simply something amazing and moving.

“And really, it’s day after day. Meaning, it’s not just on weekends; it’s all the time, every day. And I have to tell you that we always sit down during the two months before Selichos to plan it together with Rav Rabinowitz, to plan it — even this year, we didn’t think it would be to this extent.”

Lion said he believes the crowds reflect a broader spiritual awakening among Israelis, including many who are neither religious nor chareidi.

“There is no doubt that something is happening among the people. There is no doubt that I feel there is a growing closeness. I also feel it, I also see the people who are now coming to Yerushalayim and touring Yerushalayim, and they are not necessarily religious or chareidi. They really love Yerushalayim. I think we have to remember that everyone came of their own free will. They didn’t come through coercion. They simply came out of their own personal desire to do it, a connection. Don’t interfere, let it work; it’s working wonderfully. Ultimately, everyone is drawing closer to HaKadosh Baruch Hu.”

Asked whether recent disputes surrounding businesses operating on Shabbos — including the controversy over Café BaSimta, which announced last week that it would close on Shabbos — signal a return to the religious battles that have periodically roiled Yerushalayim, Lion dismissed that possibility.

“I really don’t think so. I really don’t think this leads to religious battles. I think today the issue of a clear status quo is understood by all sides, and naturally there are always extremists here and extremists there. Simply don’t pay attention to them.

“The second you don’t pay attention to them, life continues normally. I need to make sure that we carry out the agreements between us, between all the different sectors in the city, the status quo. Once you maintain the status quo, don’t interfere. And if there are extremists, then there are police.”

Lion then directly rejected assertions that Yerushalayim has been undergoing a process of becoming more chareidi during his tenure.

“During my time as mayor, I haven’t closed a single road on Shabbos. It’s true that there isn’t much traffic on those roads on Shabbos anyway, but I haven’t closed a single road. And I don’t intend to do so.

“Yerushalayim is not becoming chareidi. I don’t want to say the opposite, but definitely not. On the contrary, Yerushalayim is continuing to be built, improving from one end to the other, and becoming a city that definitely competes with other cities in the country as a place to live. And when I say to live there — that means all residents: chareidim, secular Jews, Religious Zionists. Everyone wants to live in Yerushalayim. For that purpose, we are building housing units.”

The mayor also discussed the opening of the new school year, noting the enormous size of Yerushalayim’s student population.

“More than 300,000. You know, think about the fact that Tel Aviv has around 450,000 residents, meaning you’re talking about the equivalent of a city made up of students. And baruch Hashem, baruch Hashem, we got through the opening of the school year without problems.”

Lion acknowledged that Yerushalayim continues to suffer from a shortage of classrooms, but said considerable progress has been made since he entered office.

“When I came in, 3,000 classrooms were missing. We have reduced that number. Unfortunately, there was also a difficult period with COVID and the wars, which slowed public construction, the construction of classrooms, but I have no doubt that we will solve this problem. We are opposed to temporary structures.”

Lion also said the longstanding problem of girls struggling to secure places in seminars has been largely resolved this year.

“Almost all the girls are taken care of, unequivocally. By the way, that didn’t happen by accident. First of all, we have to remember that we opened at least two new seminars at a very high level, what we call A-A. Slowly, these seminars are filling up.

“We are doing everything possible so that there won’t be a single girl who doesn’t find the place she wants. Of course, once again, there are always cases at the margins here or there who weren’t accepted, but ultimately I can tell you that 99% of the problems have been resolved.”

The mayor also addressed the recent decision to remove Gafni, his longtime friend and the chairman of Degel HaTorah, from the party’s Knesset slate.

“The truth is that it hurts me, because I think he did wonderful public work. He was also a good friend; we worked together. But this is a decision of Maranan V’Rabbanan, and I cannot say a single word about it. But personally, when I look at him, it is definitely an unpleasant story.

“I spoke with him on Motzoei Shabbos. I spoke with him by phone. He sounded completely fine. He sounded like he accepted the decree as it is and accepted it.”

Lion was considerably sharper when discussing the continuing protests and vandalism targeting construction of the light rail along Bar Ilan Street, saying the disruptions have already inflicted hundreds of millions in damages.

“There is no doubt that there is damage there amounting to hundreds of millions. And the train will operate there, and I’m telling you that it will operate in another year. In another year it will operate; you’ll already see the cables. Who pays for the damage? You and I.”

Lion said the project could have been completed much earlier were it not for the repeated damage and disruptions at the construction sites.

“The fact is that we could have finished this line a long time ago, and we didn’t finish it because of the damage that was caused. I hope that now there is definitely a more serious response. Even now, as the line is being laid, there are still various centers of violence. By the way, it should be emphasized: These are generally not Yerushalayim residents. These are people who come from different places around the country on missions from donors abroad and just — it’s genuine craziness.”

Lion said he has personally met with leaders of the groups opposing the light rail but has struggled to understand the basis for their opposition.

“You don’t understand what they want. I’ll explain why: because the fact is that ultimately the primary users of the light rail are the chareidi population, because they use private vehicles less.”

{Matzav.com}

Uman is preparing for the arrival of approximately 40,000 Breslover chassidim and other Jews for Rosh Hashanah, with new figures highlighting the enormous short-term economic impact the annual pilgrimage has on the Ukrainian city.

The anticipated turnout is roughly in line with last year’s attendance. The influx of tens of thousands of visitors creates an intense surge in demand for rental apartments, hotels, restaurants, stores, transportation and a wide range of other local services.

Figures from Ukraine’s State Agency for Tourism Development and the local government show that one of the most significant sources of direct municipal revenue is the tourism tax. In 2025, Rosh Hashanah visitors paid a record approximately 20 million hryvnias into the city’s coffers, up from roughly 17 million hryvnias in 2024.

For 2026, the daily tourism tax has been set at 432.35 hryvnias per person for those staying in private accommodations and 216.18 hryvnias for guests staying in hotels and hostels. A system allowing visitors to confirm payment through scanning has also been introduced.

The money collected directly by the municipality is used for local needs, including infrastructure, education and healthcare. But the tourism tax represents only a portion of the financial activity generated by the annual Rosh Hashanah gathering.

Much of the economic benefit flows directly into Uman’s private sector. Apartment owners, restaurants, retailers and local entrepreneurs see sharply increased business as tens of thousands of visitors spend money throughout the city. Because those expenditures are spread among numerous businesses and individuals, there is no single figure representing the total amount injected into the local economy.

The massive influx also creates significant expenses for Uman. The municipality must devote additional resources to sanitation, garbage collection and cleaning during and after the pilgrimage. Last year alone, approximately 1.5 million hryvnias was reportedly spent cleaning the area surrounding the tziyun.

{Matzav.com}

A baffling dispute has emerged over the disappearance of a Sefer Torah from a Chabad house in Haifa’s German Colony, with police saying the missing Torah was located while the Chabad house insists that its only kosher Sefer Torah was stolen and remains missing — just three days before Rosh Hashanah.

Earlier this week, police initially announced that they had opened an investigation into the suspected theft of a Sefer Torah. That announcement was subsequently deleted, and police issued an update saying the Torah had been located and returned and that the incident apparently was not a theft.

But Rav Ben Tzion Gagula of the Chabad house told B’Chadrei Charedim that the police account does not reflect what happened.

“There was a theft, and the Sefer Torah was not returned,” Rav Gagula said. “The Sefer Torah that disappeared was the only kosher Sefer Torah in the shul. We are three days before Rosh Hashanah and we have no Sefer Torah.”

The Torah disappeared over this past Shabbos. Before Shabbos began, the mashgiach kashrus at a nearby hotel arrived at the shul accompanied by two guests.

“He put a new cloth on the Sefer Torah. The old cloth was torn. He found a donor who donated a cloth and put it on the Sefer Torah,” Rav Gagula related.

Contrary to the wording of the initial police announcement, the shul is not located inside the hotel. It stands across from the hotel and is also made available to hotel guests who need a place to daven.

“We give them the Chabad house so that they have a place to daven. It works in an organized manner with the hotel’s security. We gave them a key. They come, open and close,” Rav Gagula explained.

By the following morning, the Sefer Torah was gone.

“The door was locked, everything was locked,” Rav Gagula said. “Apparently they came in through the window.”

He said that when police officers arrived, they observed indications that appeared consistent with someone having entered through the window.

“The policewoman saw signs of a break-in in the area of the window, and there was also a muddy footprint near the window,” he said.

Police subsequently issued a public statement saying officers from the Haifa station had opened an investigation into the suspected theft of a Sefer Torah and were working to locate both the suspect and the missing Torah.

A short time later, however, that statement disappeared. A new police update said the incident apparently had not been a theft and that the Sefer Torah had been located and returned.

Officials at the Chabad house said they were stunned by the announcement.

“There was no such thing,” Rav Gagula said. “The Sefer Torah was not returned and we are at a loss.”

He said the police announcement has made the effort to recover the missing Sefer Torah substantially more difficult because members of the public now believe there is nothing left to search for.

“It ruined the entire issue of getting the Sefer Torah back. People read that the Sefer Torah was returned and think the story is over. If they hadn’t publicized that the Sefer Torah was returned, all the media would have applied pressure and maybe it would have been found already.”

At the same time, Rav Gagula said investigators themselves appear to still be actively working on the case despite the police spokesperson’s public account.

“From the investigators’ standpoint, they are continuing to work. They call me, ask questions, investigate people and look at security cameras,” he said. “That is to say, from the standpoint of the investigation there is activity, but the spokesperson’s office wrote as though there is nothing.”

With Rosh Hashanah only days away, the Chabad house is now attempting both to cope with the disappearance and to strengthen security at the shul. Plans being considered include installing additional surveillance cameras, bars and other security measures, along with purchasing a special safe for the Sefer Torah.

“We are trying to get back up from this powerful and painful blow,” Rav Gagula said. “This is the only shul in the neighborhood, and it serves many Jews.”

The Chabad house is also appealing to anyone who might have information about the missing Sefer Torah to come forward.

“We ask anyone who can help — to help, in any way possible. Our goal now is both to find the Sefer Torah and to secure the place so that something like this does not happen again.”

Israel Police, however, strongly disputed several elements of the Chabad house’s account in a statement.

“Contrary to what has been claimed, when the police officers arrived at the scene upon receiving the complaint, no evidence of a break-in at the shul was found, security footage in the area was examined and nothing indicating a break-in emerged.

“In addition, a key to the shul intended for use by hotel guests was found at the hotel, and there is no record or supervision of its use. It was also found that there is one camera inside the shul that is not connected.

“An examination conducted by police at the hotel located one Sefer Torah that, according to testimony, belongs to the shul. The complainant was summoned to provide additional testimony, but at this stage claims that he is unable to come during the coming month. The investigation is continuing.”

Joe Biden said Tuesday that the radiation treatment he underwent for advanced prostate cancer last fall “worked as intended,” offering an update on his health while urging men to speak with their doctors about screening and early detection.

Biden, 83, disclosed the latest details in an extended social media message marking Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, saying the observance has taken on particular significance for him since his diagnosis last year.

“The radiation treatment from last fall worked as intended, and I continue to do the things I care about, like finishing my memoir,” Biden wrote.

Biden also expressed appreciation for the physicians, nurses and other health professionals overseeing his care, saying their “skill, dedication, and compassion mean so much.”

Much of Biden’s message focused on encouraging other men to discuss prostate cancer screening with their doctors, particularly because the disease has a far higher survival rate when discovered at an early stage.

“Talk to your doctors. Ask the hard questions. Do it for yourself, and do it for the people who love you,” Biden wrote.

Biden said men considered to be at average risk should begin discussing screening at about age 50, while Black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer should begin those conversations sooner.

The American Cancer Society similarly recommends that average-risk men discuss screening with their healthcare providers beginning at age 50. It recommends beginning those conversations at 45 for Black men and certain men with a family history of the disease, and at 40 for some men at particularly high risk.

Biden’s office disclosed in May 2025 that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer that had already metastasized to his bones by the time it was detected.

Doctors discovered the cancer after Biden developed worsening urinary symptoms and a prostate nodule was identified. His office said the cancer was classified with a Gleason score of 9 and Grade Group 5. Despite the advanced diagnosis, officials said the cancer was hormone-sensitive, making it responsive to treatment intended to control the disease.

Biden subsequently received radiation therapy, completing the course of treatment last fall. His latest statement indicates that the radiation achieved its intended result, though he did not provide additional details about his prognosis or whether further treatment is planned.

Fox News Digital said it contacted Biden’s office seeking additional information about his present condition, treatment and prognosis.

Biden concluded his message by expressing gratitude to those who have offered support and prayers for him and his family since his diagnosis.

“It’s my hope and prayer that by sharing our experience and being part of this important conversation, we can help save lives,” he wrote. “And no matter what, keep the faith. God bless you.”

{Matzav.com}

Maran Rav Dov Landau made a notable appearance Tuesday night at the engagement celebration of MK Moshe Gafni’s granddaughter in Bnei Brak in what was widely viewed as a public demonstration of his continued confidence in the longtime Degel HaTorah chairman just days after the decision that Gafni will not serve in the next Knesset.

Rav Landau’s participation in the simcha attracted particular attention because of its timing and because he personally made the effort to attend the event amid the upheaval surrounding Degel HaTorah’s Knesset slate.

Rav Landau’s attendance was intended, among other things, to convey an unmistakable message that he continues to have full confidence in Gafni despite the decision to replace him as a Knesset representative.

Gafni, who has served in the Knesset for 38 years, was not included on the United Torah Judaism slate for the upcoming election. He will, however, remain chairman of the national Degel HaTorah movement.

The development follows Gafni’s publication Tuesday night of an emotional farewell letter reflecting on nearly four decades representing Degel HaTorah in the Knesset.

“About 38 years ago, I was called to the flag by Maran Rosh HaYeshiva Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt”l to serve as a representative in the Knesset on behalf of the Degel HaTorah movement,” Gafni wrote. “I was privileged, with Hashem’s help, to work alongside and under the guidance of the Gedolei Yisroel, those who are no longer with us and those who are with us today.”

Gafni emphasized in the letter that his departure from the Knesset does not mean his departure from public life. He said he intends to remain at the helm of Degel HaTorah and continue working on behalf of the chareidi community through the movement.

Against that backdrop, Rav Landau’s decision to personally attend the Gafni family simcha took on added significance.

The appearance was seen as signaling that the recent overhaul of Degel HaTorah’s parliamentary representation should not be interpreted as a repudiation of Gafni himself. Although his 38-year Knesset career is coming to an end, Gafni remains chairman of Degel HaTorah and, according to sources, continues to enjoy the confidence of Rav Landau.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu will make a tightly scheduled 24-hour visit to New York later this month to address the United Nations General Assembly, despite the controversy sparked by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s previous calls for his arrest, Israel’s ambassador to the U.N. said Tuesday.

Ambassador Danny Danon said Netanyahu’s appearance at the annual gathering of world leaders remains essential, declaring that “there is no option” but for the Israeli leader to make the trip.

Danon accused Mamdani of “doing politics” when the mayor branded Netanyahu a “war criminal” and called for him to be arrested. Mamdani subsequently acknowledged that New York City lacks the legal authority to carry out such an arrest.

“You know, it became very trendy to do politics by blaming Israel,” Danon said. He added, “For us, it’s important the prime minister will come.”

The controversy stems from the International Criminal Court’s November 2024 arrest warrant for Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over allegations connected to Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Mamdani has cited that warrant in explaining his position on Netanyahu.

The ICC alleged that there were grounds to believe Netanyahu had used “starvation as a weapon of warfare” by limiting humanitarian assistance and deliberately targeting civilians during the Gaza war. Israel has rejected the accusations.

Although New York City itself cannot enforce the ICC warrant, Mamdani has urged the federal government to act on it. Both the United States and Israel are outside the ICC, while the Trump administration has imposed sanctions on ICC personnel amid its opposition to the court.

According to Danon, Netanyahu will land in New York late on September 23, deliver his address to the General Assembly on the afternoon of September 24, and depart for Israel that same night.

The unusually brief visit comes as the annual gathering of representatives from the U.N.’s 193 member states coincides with the Jewish holiday period and an Israeli election campaign in which Netanyahu is seeking to remain prime minister.

Danon also predicted demonstrations surrounding Netanyahu’s appearance, warning that protests would “create more chaos” on New York City streets during the General Assembly’s high-level week, which runs from September 22 through September 28.

Netanyahu’s address last year was met with a large-scale walkout by delegations as he took the podium in the General Assembly hall. Danon said he anticipates another highly visible protest this time around, saying, “I expect that there will be something like another show.”

Still, Danon said the anticipated demonstrations and disruptions would not prevent Netanyahu from delivering his message to the international body.

The Israeli leader is accustomed to such scenes, Danon said, “and I’m sure he will deliver his speech despite those attempts.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump urged Russian President Vladimir Putin during an hour-long phone call Tuesday to bring the war in Ukraine to a swift conclusion, arguing that an end to the fighting could pave the way for a full restoration of relations between Washington and Moscow and major new economic opportunities for both countries.

The conversation came days after Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, traveled to Moscow and Kyiv as part of a renewed American effort to break the diplomatic stalemate over the more than four-year-old war. Both Trump and Putin gave a positive assessment of those meetings, according to Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov.

“Donald Trump clearly emphasized the desirability of bringing the conflict to an end as soon as possible, which would immediately open up prospects — impressive and far-reaching ones at that — for the full restoration of relations between the U.S. and Russia,” Ushakov told reporters.

According to the Kremlin’s account, Trump emphasized that renewed relations could extend well beyond diplomacy and include a significant expansion of commercial ties between the two countries.

“In his view, this would have a particular impact on trade and economic ties, promising enormous benefits for both countries. Donald Trump is keen to see a breakthrough achieved during his presidency. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin supported this approach,” Ushakov said.

The call lasted approximately one hour and focused largely on efforts to reach a settlement in Ukraine. The White House had not immediately issued its own detailed account of the conversation following the Kremlin’s readout.

The latest diplomatic push followed weekend meetings in which Witkoff and Kushner held more than three hours of talks with Putin in Moscow before traveling to Kyiv. The trip marked the first visit to the Ukrainian capital by the two men as part of their peace efforts.

Ushakov said Trump and Putin viewed the envoys’ meetings favorably, saying the two presidents had rated the outcome “with a plus sign.” The Kremlin said the diplomatic channel involving Witkoff and Kushner would remain active.

Putin, meanwhile, used Tuesday’s call to present Trump with his assessment of the military situation and to outline what Moscow believes Washington could do to bring about a faster end to hostilities. Ushakov did not disclose the specific proposals, saying much of the conversation was confidential.

Despite the renewed diplomacy, major differences between Russia and Ukraine remain unresolved. Moscow has continued to press demands that include Ukrainian territorial concessions and abandonment of its NATO ambitions, conditions Kyiv has rejected. No concrete breakthrough was announced following the weekend meetings or Tuesday’s Trump-Putin conversation.

Putin also addressed mounting European concerns about Russia’s intentions beyond Ukraine. According to Ushakov, the Russian president told Trump that Moscow has no plans to attack European countries.

“It was underlined that we don’t have any aggressive plans regarding Europe,” Ushakov said, according to an account of the conversation.

The assurance comes amid heightened concern among European governments over alleged Russian sabotage operations and other hostile activity. Moscow has rejected accusations that it is preparing aggression against Europe and has accused European governments of using fears about Russia to justify increased military spending and continued assistance to Ukraine.

The war itself continues despite the diplomatic activity. Russia and Ukraine resumed deadly aerial attacks following a brief pause associated with the weekend talks, while fighting continues along a front stretching roughly 1,250 kilometers.

Trump’s message to Putin nevertheless placed the prospect of normalized U.S.-Russia relations at the center of his appeal for an agreement. According to the Kremlin, Trump argued that ending the war could rapidly reopen economic and diplomatic opportunities that have largely disappeared since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Putin indicated that he agreed with the broader approach, Ushakov said, though the Kremlin did not announce that the Russian leader had accepted a ceasefire or altered Moscow’s negotiating demands.

The two presidents also agreed that prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine should continue, one of the few areas where the sides have repeatedly been able to reach agreements during the conflict.

Ushakov characterized the Trump-Putin conversation as constructive and said both leaders agreed to maintain direct contact. They are expected to speak again by phone when necessary as the diplomatic effort continues.

For now, the call produced no publicly announced peace agreement. But it underscored Trump’s push to persuade Putin that ending the Ukraine war could lead to a broader reset between Washington and Moscow — including the restoration of political relations and potentially substantial economic ties.

{Matzav.com}

A growing number of Portuguese entertainers have withdrawn from an upcoming Lisbon comedy festival over the participation of Jewish American comedian Jerry Seinfeld, whose outspoken support for Israel has prompted boycott demands and controversy surrounding the event.

The inaugural Lisbon International Humour Festival, known as Commedia a La Carte Fest, is set to run from October 29 through November 1. Despite several performers dropping out and mounting pressure online, festival organizers have not announced any changes to the remaining lineup, according to Euronews.

Actress Inês Aires Pereira became the latest performer to withdraw on Saturday, announcing that she would no longer present her show “Namastê” at the festival.

Although Pereira did not specifically mention Seinfeld, she said that “one of the names persistently defends ideas and acts that I consider indefensible.” She added: “We cannot relativise or normalize a genocide.”

Her remarks were widely understood as referring to Seinfeld, one of the festival’s headline performers, who has publicly and repeatedly voiced support for Israel since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks.

The Portuguese comedy duo Cebola Mol, made up of Eduardo Madeira and Filipe Homem Fonseca, also announced Saturday that they were dropping out of the event.

“We will celebrate justice, freedom and joy with you on another occasion,” they wrote on social media. Their post included an image of the pair with a watermelon, which has become a widely used symbol of support for the Palestinian Arab cause, particularly on social media.

Other scheduled participants had already pulled out before Saturday, Euronews reported. The “Tributo Pop” concert, featuring Carolina Deslandes, Tatanka and Bárbara Tinoco, along with the group Conjunto Cuca Monga, were the first acts to withdraw. Comedian Pedro Tochas and visual artist Vhils, whose real name is Alexandre Farto, subsequently followed.

Those performers have said they will neither appear at nor attend the festival, though they have not publicly explained the reasons behind their decisions.

The withdrawals have fueled additional boycott and cancellation demands, particularly across social media. Among the performers still scheduled to participate are Herman José, Clarice Falcão and Matilde Breyner, along with César Mourão, Vasco Palmeirim, Pedro Ribeiro and Vera Fernandes. Festival organizers have given no indication that Seinfeld’s scheduled appearance could be canceled.

Seinfeld’s vocal backing of Israel has repeatedly drawn attention since October 7. Two months after the massacre, the comedian traveled to Israel for a solidarity visit after families of hostages invited him to meet with them and listen to their accounts. During a subsequent interview with Bari Weiss, Seinfeld became emotional while discussing that trip.

His support for Israel has also made him a target of protests during several public appearances. In May 2024, protesters demonstrated while Seinfeld received an honorary degree from Duke University. A month later, pro-Palestinian Arab hecklers disrupted his performance in Sydney while chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

Seinfeld ridiculed the disruption, telling the audience: “We have a genius, ladies and gentlemen. He solved the Middle East!” He continued sarcastically, “It’s the Jewish comedians, that’s who we have to get! They’re the ones doing everything.”

Months later, in October 2024, Seinfeld publicly voiced support for the IDF while attending a New York Mets game at Citi Field after a fan informed him that his brother was watching from the Gaza border.

Seinfeld smiled before responding, “Let’s go, Mets! Let’s go, IDF!”

Another interaction attracted attention last February when a fan approached Seinfeld for a selfie, flashed a victory sign and shouted “Free Palestine”. Seinfeld dismissed the encounter and walked away, saying, “I don’t care about Palestine.”

Several months afterward, during an appearance at Duke University in North Carolina, Seinfeld compared the Free Palestine movement to the Ku Klux Klan, arguing that the KKK was at least explicit about its hatred.

“When you say ‘Free Palestine’ you are not admitting what you really think. So actually, compared with the Ku Klux Klan, I think the Klan is even a little better in this respect, because they can say openly: ‘We don’t like black people, we don’t like Jews.’ OK, that’s honesty.”

Despite the withdrawals and calls for a boycott, Seinfeld remains scheduled to take the stage at Lisbon’s MEO Arena on November 1. Tickets for his performance are priced between 60 and 250 euros, and some seating sections have already sold out.

{Matzav.com}

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Tuesday defended his government’s sweeping new measures targeting Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, including a ban on goods produced there, sanctions against individuals and businesses, and a formal declaration that Britain considers Israel’s presence in Palestinian-claimed territory unlawful.

Burnham insisted that the moves are aimed at the policies of Israel’s government and not at Israelis themselves, saying Britain could no longer remain passive if it hopes to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution.

“Today we are announcing carefully judged, targeted steps that are not aimed at the Israeli people, but at the unacceptable policies of the current Israeli government,” he wrote.

Under the new policy, Britain will bar imports from what it terms “illegal settlements,” formally adopt the position that “the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful,” and sanction people and companies accused of assisting, financing or benefiting from Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria.

Burnham said companies and investors connected to planned construction in the E1 area will also be subject to the sanctions.

In defending the decision, Burnham contended that “settlement construction” is increasingly jeopardizing the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state. He pointed to the authorization of 104 new communities since Israel’s current government took office in December 2022 and cited UN figures reporting more than 1,500 incidents of violence by Israeli civilians against Palestinian Arabs this year.

Burnham singled out Israel’s move to permit construction tenders in E1 ahead of the October elections, arguing that development in the strategically located area would make a future Palestinian state increasingly difficult to establish.

“This would cut a swathe through the heart of the West Bank – snuffing out the hope of realising a two-state solution. It cannot be allowed to happen,” he wrote.

Alongside the sanctions and trade restrictions, the British government is unveiling additional humanitarian assistance for Gaza. Burnham pointed to the devastation there, saying more than 70,000 people, including at least 20,000 children, have been killed, millions have been displaced, and Gaza’s population has been pushed into roughly one-third of the territory.

“The suffering of the Palestinian people is a scar on the conscience of the world,” Burnham wrote, while emphasizing that he continues to condemn both Hamas and its October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel.

“I have condemned the monstrous terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 in the strongest possible terms – and continue to condemn Hamas. However, it does not justify the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza or the West Bank.”

Burnham maintained that the measures should not be viewed as sanctions against Israel itself. Rather, he said, they are designed to pressure the Israeli government while avoiding punishment of Israelis who disagree with its policies.

“The Israeli people are not responsible for the actions of their government. And nor is the Jewish community in the UK. Blaming British Jews for the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is wrong, plain and simple. And it is antisemitism, plain and simple.”

The prime minister said he met with representatives of the British Jewish community last week and assured them that his government remains committed to fighting antisemitism and protecting Jewish citizens.

Burnham portrayed the measures as an attempt to keep alive the prospect of Israelis and Palestinian Arabs eventually living peacefully and securely alongside one another, saying that goal continues to have broad support in Britain.

“We are taking these steps because it is the right thing to do,” wrote Burnham.

Israel responded with a series of retaliatory steps. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that Israel will shutter the British Consulate in Jerusalem and impose additional measures against British activities and representatives.

Sa’ar said the response, approved in coordination with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, followed what he characterized as a succession of anti-Israel actions taken by Britain’s Labour government.

Israel’s countermeasures include closing the British Consulate in Jerusalem, expelling British representatives from the International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat, ending a British program that trains Palestinian Authority forces in Judea and Samaria through the “British Support Team in Ramallah,” and barring 12 British elected officials and other British nationals accused of antisemitic or anti-Israel activity or of denying Israel’s right to exist.

UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis also issued a forceful denunciation of the British government’s decision, warning that sanctions directed at Jews living in Judea and Samaria marked “a dark day for British Jews.”

“This is truly a dark day for British Jews,” Mirvis said. “Today our Government has chosen to ignore the deep concerns expressed by so many of us.”

The Chief Rabbi charged that rather than advancing prospects for peace, the government’s actions give greater legitimacy to hostile anti-Israel rhetoric.

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Israel’s political parties submitted their final candidate lists Tuesday night, closing one of the last major procedural stages before the Oct. 27 election for the 26th Knesset and ending two frantic days of political deals, internal battles and last-minute maneuvering.

By the time the doors of the Central Elections Committee closed, the major parties had finalized the candidates they will present to voters. Eighteen lists had already been submitted Monday, including Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid’s B’Yachad, Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar, the Democrats, Yisrael Beytenu, Otzma Yehudit and Ra’am. Likud, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Religious Zionism and Blue and White were among the major parties that waited until Tuesday. Sept. 8 was the official deadline for submitting candidate lists.

The final hours were particularly dramatic on the right and within the chareidi parties, where negotiations continued almost until the deadline.

Likud: Netanyahu Unveils His Picks

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his reserved positions on the Likud slate to bring several prominent newcomers into the party, including Talik Gvili, the mother of fallen IDF soldier and slain hostage Ran Gvili; political commentator Yaakov Bardugo; and IDF reservist Elisha Madan, who lost both legs while fighting in Gaza.

Gvili received the ninth position, Bardugo was placed 11th and Madan 15th. Attorney David Peter was placed 16th, former Labor MK Eli Goldschmidt 26th, and Itzik Bonzel, father of fallen IDF soldier Amit Bonzel and a founder of the Gvura Forum, 29th.

Netanyahu heads the Likud slate, followed by Eli Cohen, Amir Ohana, Yariv Levin and Miri Regev. Defense Minister Israel Katz is sixth and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar seventh. The party submitted a 35-member list.

The maneuvering came as Netanyahu spent the closing days before the deadline trying to prevent smaller right-wing parties from wasting votes by failing to cross Israel’s 3.25% electoral threshold. His efforts produced some results, but not the broad right-wing consolidation he had sought.

Shas Adds IDF Reserve Officer to Top Six

Shas made changes of its own, though nothing approaching the upheaval taking place within United Torah Judaism.

Aryeh Deri remains in the top position, with Yinon Azoulay moving into second place, followed by Michael Malchieli, Yoav Ben-Tzur and Haim Biton.

The most notable newcomer is Dror Amos, a lieutenant colonel in the IDF reserves who heads the Haifa Religious Services Council. He was given the sixth position on the slate.

He is followed by Moshe Abutbul, Uriel Buso, Yosef Taieb, Yonatan Mishraki, Yosef Elantnov, Erez Malul and Simon Moshiashvili. Veteran Shas figures Yaakov Margi and Moshe Arbel are not on the new slate after asking not to run.

Amos’ placement is particularly noteworthy with the chareidi draft issue expected to remain a major subject throughout the campaign.

United Torah Judaism: An Era Ends

The most dramatic changes in chareidi politics came within United Torah Judaism.

Veteran Degel HaTorah MKs Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev, two of the most recognizable figures in the party for decades, will not return to the Knesset on the new slate. Their departure followed a decision by Rav Dov Landau to refresh Degel HaTorah’s parliamentary representation. Gafni was asked to continue as chairman of the national Degel HaTorah organization.

Yaakov Asher has emerged at the head of the revamped Degel lineup, followed by Yitzchok Pindrus, with new figures joining the party’s parliamentary ranks.

But the upheaval went considerably further on the Agudas Yisroel side.

Following a bitter internal confrontation, Meir Porush of Shlomei Emunim and new Belzer representative Elyakim Stark established a separately registered political framework, Chomas Toras Yisroel, through which they will participate in the joint UTJ slate.

The move does not mean that Shlomei Emunim and Belz are running against UTJ. Instead, it gives them separate political and financial standing within the overall alliance, alongside Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisroel.

The arrangement came only after a day of extraordinary internal acrimony between the Porush camp and allies of Yitzchok Goldknopf, with accusations flying between the factions over control of Agudas Yisroel and the distribution of political power.

The result is that UTJ will still appear before voters as one electoral list, but the internal structure behind that list has changed substantially.

New Parties Target Chareidi Voters

The election is also seeing several new parties attempt to attract chareidi voters dissatisfied with the established parties.

The Hatzibur Hachareidi party, headed by Beit Shemesh Deputy Mayor Motti Leitner, submitted its slate under the requested ballot letters “Zach.” Asher Fredi was placed second, Dr. Nechumi Yaffe third and Ziva Glantz fourth.

The party is seeking support particularly among working chareidim and has promoted expansion of the state-chareidi education system and secular studies, greater participation in the workforce and service by chareidim who are not learning Torah full time, while maintaining exemptions for full-time Torah learners.

Another new party, Hakhel, has taken aim at the traditional method by which chareidi representatives are selected. The party held open primaries in which 14,469 people reportedly voted. Bnei Brak City Council member Shlomo Elboim, associated with the Ger breakaway community, finished first with 5,282 votes, followed by Yitzchok Chala and Baruch Adler.

Its central argument is that chareidi voters themselves should have a direct role in choosing their representatives instead of receiving predetermined candidate lists selected by party institutions and chassidic groups.

On the opposite end of the chareidi spectrum, Tzeva Shachor — Magen Olam HaTorah also submitted a slate. The party, associated with more hard-line opposition to the chareidi draft, requested the ballot letters “Ner” and is seeking support from voters who believe the established chareidi parties have not taken a sufficiently uncompromising position on the enlistment of bnei yeshiva.

Smotrich and Feiglin Join Forces

Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich finalized his alliance with Moshe Feiglin, placing Feiglin second on the joint slate.

Smotrich holds the first position, followed by Feiglin, Orit Strock and Simcha Rothman. The list also includes newcomers Itamar Eitam and Reut Ben Haim.

MK Ohad Tal, who finished fourth in Religious Zionism’s primary, was pushed down to the 12th position following the merger and reserved placements. Tal said that despite his personal disappointment, he supported the arrangement.

The Smotrich-Feiglin agreement was part of a broader effort to reduce the possibility that right-wing votes would be lost among parties failing to clear the electoral threshold. Netanyahu had publicly pressed right-wing factions to unite, warning, “When we unite, we win. When we splinter, we lose.”

Those efforts stopped short of a broader agreement. Itamar Ben-Gvir rejected calls for Otzma Yehudit to reunite with Smotrich, while former IDF Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter also resisted pressure to merge his new party with another right-wing list.

Gantz Stays in the Race

Benny Gantz ended another lingering question Tuesday by formally submitting an independent Blue and White slate.

Gantz remains first, followed by Pnina Tamano-Shata and former Beit Shemesh Mayor Aliza Bloch. Roee Konkol is fourth, followed by Rotem Avidar Tzalik and Alon Schuster.

Gantz moved ahead with the independent run despite Blue and White having polled below the 3.25% electoral threshold for months. The decision leaves him outside the three other major opposition frameworks: Bennett and Lapid’s B’Yachad, Eisenkot’s Yashar and the Democrats.

The Lists Are Set — Now the Campaign Begins

Tuesday night’s deadline means parties can no longer spend the campaign reshuffling candidates or negotiating new electoral mergers. Israel uses a closed-list proportional representation system, meaning voters choose a party rather than individual candidates, making the composition and order of each slate particularly consequential.

The final submissions also leave a crowded field in which the 3.25% electoral threshold could play an important role. No Israeli party has ever won an outright majority in the 120-seat Knesset, making the number and composition of parties that clear the threshold important to subsequent coalition negotiations.

With the lists now locked in, the campaign enters its final seven weeks.

Israelis head to the polls on Oct. 27.

{Matzav.com}

A new chareidi party formed around opposition to the military draft submitted its candidate list for Israel’s 26th Knesset on Tuesday, setting the stage for a potentially significant challenge to the established chareidi parties in the upcoming election.

The party, Tzeva Shachor (“Black Color”) – Defender of the Torah World, formally presented its slate to Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg.

Heading the list is Rav Eliyahu Boimerind, who leads the Ma’atrei Shevi’i network of Friday night kollelim in Eretz Yisroel and is a son-in-law of the late Rav Yosef Neuwirth. The second spot was given to Rav Dror Degani, a rosh kollel, followed by Rav Yonatan Yissachar, also a rosh kollel. Rav Yitzchak Rabin HaKohen, an av beis din in Bnei Brak and head of the Shaarei Tzion kollel network, holds the fourth position.

At the Central Elections Committee, Yaakov Chaim Miller, representing Tzeva Shachor – Defender of the Torah World, initially requested the Hebrew letters “דת” as the party’s ballot symbol. After learning that the letters were already taken, Miller asked for time to consult with party officials. Attorney Dean Livne, acting director-general of the Central Elections Committee, suggested the letters “נר,” which the party ultimately requested.

Party officials said their campaign would focus almost exclusively on fighting efforts to draft yeshiva bochurim and avreichim into the IDF, rejecting proposed compromises over the longstanding draft deferment arrangement.

“The sole overriding objective of our list is to prevent the persecution of religion regarding the draft decree and to act in every legitimate way against the decree,” the party said. “We will not agree to any of the new formulas involving various compromises, other than the longstanding deferment arrangement as it existed and as it was practiced since the establishment of the state. This is the only way, and every other framework or arrangement involving compromises and changes to this format must be fought.”

The party is also touting polling that it says demonstrates that its candidacy could amount to far more than a symbolic protest against the veteran chareidi political establishment.

According to a poll conducted by veteran Israeli pollster Rafi Smith and presented by the party, 22% of the chareidi public supports Tzeva Shachor. Party officials say that level of backing could potentially translate into four to five Knesset seats.

{Matzav.com}