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The commander of US Central Command, Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, met with President Donald Trump on Thursday to outline possible military courses of action involving Iran, according to a person close to the president cited by ABC News.
Also present at the meeting was General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the president’s senior military adviser, a second individual familiar with the conversation told ABC News.
The briefing coincided with indirect negotiations in Geneva between American and Iranian representatives over Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile activities. While no agreement was announced at the conclusion of the talks, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said progress had been made and indicated that “technical talks” would resume in Vienna, Austria, next week.
Despite the ongoing diplomatic channel, Trump has continued to signal that military action remains an option and has reinforced the US force posture in the Middle East.
In recent days, several Republican lawmakers and members of the administration have privately argued that Israel, rather than the United States, should spearhead any strike on Iran if diplomacy fails, according to two people familiar with those internal discussions.
It was not clear as of Thursday whether Trump had endorsed that approach. The president has reportedly grown increasingly dissatisfied with Tehran’s refusal to stop enriching uranium and curb its ballistic missile development.
ABC News reported that Trump typically weighs a broad range of viewpoints before reaching a final decision. Politico first disclosed that some senior advisers and Republican figures have pushed for Israel to assume the lead role in any military action.
At the same time, sources say a coordinated US-Israeli operation remains under consideration. The United States has deployed substantial naval and air assets to the region, placing ships and combat aircraft within operational range of Iranian targets.
“The media may continue to speculate on the President’s thinking all they want, but only President Trump knows what he may or may not do,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said, reiterating a line she has used repeatedly in recent weeks when asked about the administration’s plans regarding Iran.
{Matzav.com}A new Knesset seat projection published by Channel 14 indicates continued stability for the right-wing bloc, which would secure 65 mandates if elections were held today. The survey also shows Likud maintaining a clear lead as the largest party in the Knesset.
According to the poll, Likud drops by one seat compared to the previous survey but still stands at 33 mandates, keeping its position at the top of the political map.
In second place is the Joint List with 13 seats. The notable shift in the survey comes from Gadi Eisenkot, whose party Yashar rises to 11 mandates — an increase of two seats from the last measurement. Shas also gains one seat, reaching 11 mandates. In contrast, Naftali Bennett’s party weakens and falls to fifth place with 10 seats.
The Democrats maintain their standing with 9 mandates. Yisrael Beiteinu and United Torah Judaism each receive 8 seats, though the latter drops one mandate compared to last week’s poll. Otzma Yehudit remains steady at 8 seats, while Religious Zionism strengthens slightly to 5. Yesh Atid hovers just above the electoral threshold with 4 mandates, and Blue and White fails to cross the minimum threshold required to enter the Knesset.
When broken down by political blocs, the right-wing camp holds 65 mandates, while the left-wing bloc stands at 42. The Arab parties collectively account for 13 seats, preserving the current balance between the opposing camps.
On the question of suitability for prime minister, Binyomin Netanyahu continues to lead by a wide margin with 55 percent support — a three-point increase. Gadi Eisenkot ranks second with 19 percent and shows upward momentum, while Naftali Bennett declines sharply to 14 percent, marking a drop of seven points. Avigdor Liberman registers a modest rise to 6 percent, and Benny Gantz trails behind.
{Matzav.com}President Donald Trump on Thursday praised a federal court decision rejecting a lawsuit that sought to block construction of a new ballroom at the White House, describing the outcome as “great news for America.”
In a message posted on social media, Trump wrote that the judge had “thrown out, and completely erased, the effort to stop its construction” of what he called “the most beautiful Ballroom anywhere in the World.”
The president stressed that “not one dollar of Taxpayer money is being spent,” saying the initiative is financed solely by “Patriot Donors and Contributors.”
Trump added that the planned ballroom — which he has previously floated as a venue for future inaugurations and large-scale state functions — is “ahead of schedule, and under budget,” and said it would stand “as a symbol to the Greatness of America.”
Since it was first announced, the proposal has drawn debate. Opponents, including historic preservation advocates and ethics groups, have raised concerns that erecting a substantial new addition within the White House grounds could affect the historic nature of the executive residence, which is subject to federal preservation protections.
Backers of the project contend that constructing a permanent ballroom would eliminate the recurring need for temporary tents and off-site locations for major gatherings, enhance the White House’s ability to host official events and do so using private funding rather than public dollars.
{Matzav.com}
Three years after the passing of the longtime rov of Meron, Rav Elazar Stern has now been formally appointed as the official rav of Meron, succeeding his father, Rav Meir Zev Stern zt”l, who led the community for decades.
Rav Elazar was confirmed in the role today in an official capacity, solidifying what had already been his practical leadership in recent years.
For many years, Rav Stern has served as a respected posek and dayan, recognized for his clear rulings and depth in Torah scholarship. He is the author of the widely regarded seforim Gan Na’eh and the responsa work Birkas Elazar.
While residing in Ashdod, he served as rav of the Ma’orei Or community. Following his father’s passing, and in accordance with his father’s wishes, he relocated to Meron, where he continued serving in rabbinic leadership and halachic guidance for residents and visitors alike.
With today’s decision, the appointment has now received formal confirmation from the Meron Moshav committee, granting official status to Rav Stern’s role as rav of the sacred site.
{Matzav.com}
