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Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu marked the one-year anniversary of US President Donald Trump’s second term on Monday, publicly lauding the American leader and underscoring the close coordination between Israel and Washington as efforts continue to shape postwar plans for Gaza.

In a message shared on social media, Netanyahu offered warm congratulations, writing, “Congratulations to President Donald Trump and the United States of America for an incredible first year of a second term – A year like no other.”

Since Trump returned to office on January 20, 2025, the two leaders have maintained frequent contact, holding five face-to-face meetings along with multiple phone conversations to discuss regional and strategic matters.

Their most recent in-person meeting took place on December 29, 2025, at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where discussions centered on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire framework, Iran, and other security-related concerns.

Last Friday, the White House revealed new details about Trump’s Gaza initiative, announcing that the “Board of Peace,” chaired by the president, would “play an essential role in fulfilling” 20 components of his proposal aimed at permanently ending the war in Gaza and advancing reconstruction efforts.

According to the announcement, the board’s mandate includes “providing strategic oversight, mobilizing international resources, and ensuring accountability as Gaza transitions from conflict to peace and development.”

Earlier in the day, Netanyahu addressed the Knesset, where he spoke about developments in Gaza and reports indicating movement toward the next stage of negotiations with Hamas.

Clarifying Israel’s position, Netanyahu declared, “Phase two means one simple thing: Hamas will be disarmed, and Gaza will be demilitarized, either through the easy way or the hard way.”

He also stressed that Israel would categorically oppose any foreign military presence from certain regional actors, stating, “Turkish and Qatari soldiers will not be in the Strip.”

{Matzav.com}

Amid mentions by the president, use of active-duty Army troops on American soil to quell unrest via an 1807 federal law hasn’t taken place since verdicts announced in 1992 following the beating of Rodney King. Published reports indicate troops are ready to go from Alaska to Minnesota, and second-term Republican President Donald Trump’s comments indicate […]

Did you ever realize that most of the good in your life slips by unnoticed? Small wins. Big saves. Tiny moments that show He’s with you. And then what happens? We forget. Like… • The bus that waited. • The appointment that suddenly opened. • The friend who texted at the perfect second. • The […]

A formal signing event for U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace was scheduled to take place Thursday alongside the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, according to an invitation that circulated publicly.

Israeli journalist Barak Ravid shared what was described as a White House notice inviting “the chief of state or head of government” to participate in signing the “Board of Peace Charter” at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.

President Isaac Herzog was expected to be present at the Davos gathering, while Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu did not plan to attend. Netanyahu had earlier confirmed that he had received an invitation to join the new body.

Details about the composition of the Board of Peace remained unsettled, with some international leaders signaling their intention to participate and others voicing doubts or saying they required additional time to consider involvement. The United Nations also raised concerns, suggesting that the initiative could challenge or erode the UN’s existing mandate.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu declared Monday that neither Turkey nor Qatar will have a military presence or exercise real authority in Gaza after the war, even as the United States moves forward with a framework that includes officials from both countries in overseeing the territory’s postwar administration.

Speaking before the Knesset, Netanyahu acknowledged that the issue has been a point of friction between Jerusalem and Washington, describing it as a “certain argument” with the United States. He insisted, however, that Israel’s core security interests would not be compromised.

Addressing lawmakers from the Knesset podium, Netanyahu said that despite the White House’s announcement that senior Turkish and Qatari representatives would sit on the Gaza Executive Board — a body tasked with supervising postwar governance in the Strip — the two countries would wield no meaningful power. According to the prime minister, they would have “no authority and no influence” in the mechanisms being set up by President Donald Trump’s administration.

In recent weeks, before Washington publicly unveiled the board, Netanyahu’s office had repeatedly stressed that Israel would block any Turkish or Qatari foothold in Gaza once the fighting ends. After the US announcement, the prime minister shifted his emphasis, drawing a firm distinction between political involvement and boots on the ground.

“Turkish soldiers and Qatari soldiers will not be in the Strip,” Netanyahu told the plenum.

While Ankara has expressed interest in contributing troops to a multinational force envisioned to oversee security in Gaza, Qatar has not pursued such a role. Sources familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel that Doha’s military is not considered suitable for such a mission, and the idea was never seriously explored.

Netanyahu’s remarks came during a so-called “40-signatures debate,” a monthly parliamentary procedure that allows lawmakers to compel the prime minister to appear and respond to criticism if enough MKs sign a petition. This month’s session was initiated by Ra’am chairman Mansour Abbas, who sought to grill Netanyahu over spiraling crime and violence in Arab Israeli communities.

As is often the case, the debate quickly expanded far beyond its original topic. With the government racing to pass the 2026 state budget and elections looming later this year, both coalition and opposition figures used the forum to trade sharp attacks on a wide range of national issues.

In his address, Netanyahu also reiterated that Hamas would be stripped of its weapons under the next phase of the Gaza framework, and he issued a stern warning to Iran. He rejected allegations that he has concealed information about the failures surrounding the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack, saying he has “nothing to hide.” He also took aim at opposition leaders, particularly Yair Lapid.

Lapid, for his part, accused Netanyahu of botching the Gaza war, bending to extremist partners in his coalition, and weakening the IDF. He charged that Israel has become increasingly isolated on the international stage and that public trust in the prime minister has eroded. Avigdor Liberman, head of Yisrael Beytenu, went further, asking whether Netanyahu had “forgotten what it means to be a Zionist.”

Netanyahu also addressed reports that he had not been fully briefed on the decision to include Turkey and Qatar on the Gaza Executive Board. Despite that, he said Israel would not hesitate to confront Washington when vital interests are at stake.

“When it comes to Israel’s essential interests, we can argue, we can sharpen our positions, and we can also reach understandings,” he said, adding that disagreements do not undermine relations with Trump, whom he described as Israel’s strongest ally in the White House.

On Gaza, Netanyahu reiterated that Hamas’s disarmament remains non-negotiable. He also pledged to bring back the body of the last fallen hostage still held by Hamas, police Master Sgt. Ran Gvili.

“Phase two is very clear: Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarized,” Netanyahu said. “These objectives will be achieved — either the easy way or the hard way.”

{Matzav.com}

An early appraisal of President Donald Trump’s health care plan found the changes could save $50 billion or add as much $350 billion in new costs over a decade. Trump on Thursday called on Congress to enact his Great Healthcare Plan, which he said would lower drug prices and insurance premiums. The plan has parts […]

In the immediate aftermath of the evacuation of dozens of infants from a daycare center in Yerushalayim—and the confirmation that two of them had died—sharp criticism of the judicial system emerged from within the chareidi community, with senior figures arguing that recent policies created the conditions that led to the disaster.

Moshe Arbel of Shas tied the incident at the unlicensed, so-called “pirate” daycare to court rulings that resulted in the removal of state daycare subsidies for families of married yeshiva students who are not registered for military service. Arbel said the policy had forced families out of regulated frameworks and into unsafe alternatives.

Addressing the issue directly, Arbel stated: “In the State of Israel, the children of illegal infiltrators are entitled to daycare centers and preschools. In the name of the battle against the haredi public, the children of yeshiva students are expelled from supervised daycare centers. The blood of innocent infants, who never tasted sin, cries out from the ground. We must all stop the persecution – children’s lives must be kept outside of any political struggle.”

Chareidi journalist and commentator Yisrael Cohen echoed that criticism, placing responsibility squarely on legal authorities. He wrote: “The blood is on their hands! Just a reminder that the Attorney General and the judicial system pushed an entire haredi public into a corner, canceled daycare subsidies for haredi toddlers, and parents were economically forced to move them to private daycare centers. Today’s severe incident is already the painful and tragic result.”

Earlier on Monday, two four-month-old infants were pronounced dead at Hadassah Mount Scopus and Shaare Zedek Medical Center after being rushed there unconscious from the daycare facility. Paramedics from Magen David Adom carried out extended resuscitation attempts, but were ultimately unable to save the infants.

A total of 53 infants were removed from the daycare. The remaining children were taken to hospitals for evaluation and were later described as being in mild condition. As the investigation progressed, three caregivers and assistants were taken into custody for questioning after authorities determined that the daycare had been operating without the required license.

In response to the events, the National Council for the Welfare of the Child said it was in “deep shock” and called for immediate scrutiny, declaring: “The police and the Ministry of Education must immediately examine not only severe negligence, but also the issue of the preschool’s operating license.”

The council further warned that regulatory failures place vulnerable children at risk, adding that “swift and comprehensive action is needed to ensure that frameworks which do not meet legal licensing requirements, standards, and supervision are not allowed to operate, and that they do not endanger the lives of those who cannot even warn of immediate, life-threatening dangers.”

{Matzav.com}

Protesters gathered outside the U.S. consulate in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, condemning recent attacks on Kurdish forces in northern Syria.

Denmark sends a number of troops to defend Greenland from the Trump.

Aerial footage shows the damage caused by devastating wildfires in Chile.

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For those who crave serious Torah, total immersion, and an atmosphere charged with intensity and purpose, the announcement of the Agudah 5786 Yarchei Kallah in Yerushalayim lands like a jolt of electricity. This winter, Agudath Israel of America will once again bring together lomdei Torah from around the world for five unforgettable days of learning in Yerushalayim, from Sunday, February 15 through Thursday, February 19, 2026.

The Yarchei Kallah is a full-throttle ascent into a single sugya, treated with focus, clarity, and discipline, from the first seder to the last. In the span of one week, participants work toward real mastery, guided by a carefully structured program that pairs high-level shiurim with serious hachanah and in-depth preparation.

At the center of the week are shiurim from Gedolei Yisroel, whose presence sets the tone and elevates the entire experience.

The atmosphere is unmistakable. Hundreds of bnei Torah learning shoulder to shoulder. The hum of chavrusos locked in debate. Tables filled from early morning until late at night. A sense that every moment matters, that this is time reclaimed and used properly.

And while the learning is intense, everything around it is designed to support it. Comfortable hotel accommodations, gourmet meals, and seamless logistics allow participants to stay focused, energized, and fully present in the beis medrash, without distractions pulling them away.

The Yarchei Kallah has long been known as a place where people come to reset their learning, raise their level, and reconnect with why they learn in the first place. In Yerushalayim, during these charged winter days, that impact is felt even more sharply.

For those ready to push harder, think deeper, and experience what a week of real Torah immersion can feel like, the Yarchei Kallah 5786 is on the calendar — and it promises to be nothing short of powerful.

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The UK government has launched a formal investigation into antisemitism in schools following an incident in which a Jewish member of Parliament was barred from visiting a school in his own constituency. UK Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson announced the probe in an article published Sunday in *The Telegraph*, vowing that the government […]

The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court on Monday approved a police and prosecution request to carry out autopsies on the bodies of two infants who died in the devastating daycare tragedy in Jerusalem — Leah Tzipora Golubentzitz A”H, three months old, and Aharon Katz, four months old. During the hearing, the families were represented by Shenir Elmalich […]

An antisemitic confrontation erupted at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle International Airport after a woman verbally abused a Jewish man who was carrying a Sefer Torah, according to video that has circulated widely on social media. The incident unfolded in a public area of the terminal, drawing the attention of nearby travelers.

The footage captures the woman repeatedly yelling at the man, “Leave France, I’m Muslim.” At one point, she is seen spitting at him as he continues to hold the Sefer Torah.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2013265556330127615

As the exchange grew increasingly heated, a second man at the scene stepped in and positioned himself between the two in an apparent effort to defuse the situation. His actions appeared aimed at preventing the confrontation from escalating into physical violence in the crowded airport setting.

The video was shared on X by Chen Mazzig, an Israeli activist known for his advocacy work and opposition to the BDS movement. Commenting on the incident, Mazzig wrote: “Spitting on a Jewish man carrying a Torah scroll is not random aggression. It is deliberate humiliation. It is an attack on faith, identity, and presence. A man carrying a Torah scroll should be able to walk through an airport without being humiliated. The fact that this even needs to be said shows exactly where we are.”

As of the latest reports, neither airport officials nor French law enforcement have released a statement addressing the incident or indicating whether any action has been taken.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump’s plans to acquire Greenland could cost U.S. taxpayers up front and over the long term. Denmark’s leaders have said the semi-autonomous Danish territory isn’t for sale. So have Greenland’s leaders, who depend on fishing and subsidies from Copenhagen. Denmark’s central bank noted in a recent report that Greenland’s “economy is slowing down, […]

Demonstrators gathered Monday night at the Bar Ilan Junction in Yerushalayim to protest authorities’ intention to perform autopsies on the bodies of two infants who died earlier in the day at a daycare facility in the Romema neighborhood.

The protest took place as the families of the infants voiced their opposition to the procedure. Participants shut down major thoroughfares in the area, bringing traffic to a standstill.

Angry demonstrators blocked the intersection of Bar Ilan and Yirmiyahu streets, halting buses and private vehicles, and some were heard shouting insults at police officers, including calling them “Nazis.” Police later moved in to clear the intersection, using force to disperse the crowd and reopen the roads.

חרדים קיצונים מפגינים נגד נתיחת הפעוטות שמתו באסון בגן הילדים בשכונת רוממה. חוסמים אוטובוס. כזכור, לפני שבועיים נער נדרס למוות בסיטואציה כזו בדיוק, במרחק שני רחובות מכאן pic.twitter.com/4Jq0a4bedP

— Inbar Twizer ענבר טויזר (@inbartvizer) January 19, 2026

At the same time, the Institute of Forensic Medicine completed initial external examinations of the infants. Officials said the examinations did not determine a cause of death, prompting prosecutors and police to seek approval for full autopsies to establish what led to the tragedy.

Authorities also confirmed that three caregivers who operate the daycare center were taken in for questioning as part of the criminal probe into the circumstances surrounding the infants’ deaths.

The daycare manager’s attorney, Uri Korb, said: “Our client has no knowledge of how this terrible and tragic disaster occurred, and she is fully cooperating with the investigation in order to assist in clarifying the circumstances of the incident. We trust the law enforcement authorities to carry out their work.

{Matzav.com}

The World Economic Forum has disinvited Iran’s foreign minister from this year’s Davos conference, following mounting international outrage over the Islamic Republic’s deadly crackdown on anti-regime protests. In a statement, the World Economic Forum said the decision was driven by the heavy civilian death toll in Iran in recent weeks. “The tragic loss of lives […]

The Trump administration is set to hold the Board of Peace charter signing ceremony on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in Davos, Switzerland.

BREAKING: Chareidim are currently protesting at several locations across Jerusalem following police intentions to carry out an autopsy on the body of one of the infants who was Niftar earlier today in the daycare disaster. The main protest is taking place at the Yechezkel–Shmuel HaNavi intersection, where dozens of demonstrators have gathered. Trash bins have […]