Feed aggregator

Israel’s Ambassador Danny Danon offered a sweeping, hard-edged assessment of Israel’s security landscape and diplomatic horizon during a one-on-one conversation with Arutz Sheva — delivered in the brief window between two meetings with newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz. Danon said the whirlwind tour he and Waltz conducted along Israel’s borders was intended to give the incoming Trump administration an unfiltered view of the dangers Israel continues to confront.

Danon described their shared visit to the Gaza periphery — including a stop with the family of fallen soldier Ran Gvili, whose remains are still held by Hamas — as a stark reminder of why the organization cannot be permitted to retain power. “Hamas will not stay here. Period. With all due respect to reconstruction and humanitarian issues, the main focus should be on the fact that Hamas cannot stay in power in Gaza,” he declared.

Pressed on whether President Donald Trump’s eagerness to move swiftly on diplomatic initiatives might produce pressure on Israel, Danon argued that Trump’s own plan provides clear guardrails. He emphasized that the document itself requires Israel to secure the release of every hostage before any political process moves forward. “When you read the resolution and the initiative of President Trump, it says very clearly that the next stage will be after all the hostages are back home and we are going to insist on this point that all of them must come back home,” he said.

Aerial assessments of the Golan Heights brought Waltz face-to-face with the volatility simmering along the Syrian frontier. Israeli troops attempted to apprehend a terrorist in Quneitra during the visit, though the suspect fled. Danon used that moment to stress that Israel will not allow Syria to become a repeat of Lebanon. “We want to see results on the ground. We learned the lesson. We saw what happened in Lebanon. We made a mistake allowing Hezbollah to build their forces on the border. We are not going to repeat that mistake on the Golan Heights. We will not allow those militias to build their presence, their bunkers, tunnels on the Golan Heights.”

Regarding Lebanon, Danon said Hezbollah’s attempts to rebuild under cover of a ceasefire are unacceptable, and that Israel expects Beirut to take real action — not simply issue statements. “The Lebanese government are talking about efforts to neutralize, but we want to see actions. It’s not enough to declare. If they will not take the necessary steps, we will have to step in and neutralize. We are not going to wait forever for the Lebanese government,” he warned.

Danon added that Washington would not fault Israel if it is forced to intervene. “If Lebanese will deal with that, that’s okay. If they will not deal with us, our colleagues in DC will understand that we have no other choice,” he said.

On the diplomatic front, Danon brushed aside recent European-backed attempts at the UN to advance Palestinian statehood as hollow political theater. He said the moves “has no meaning” and thanked the United States for opposing them, while accusing Spain, Norway, Ireland, and Slovenia of amplifying “anti-Israel propaganda at the UN and in the EU,” even amid the Gaza ceasefire.

Despite ongoing military operations, Danon said he sees Arab and Muslim countries edging closer to Israel in unprecedented ways. “I can feel it and I see that Muslim leaders and leaders from the Arab League are getting closer to Israel. We have better dialogues and I think it will happen sooner than later. I’m very optimistic about it. I know that President Trump it’s on his agenda to make it happen and I believe it will happen very soon.”

When asked whether future normalization — including with Saudi Arabia — might hinge on Palestinian statehood, Danon pointed to the existing peace treaties with Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco, none of which required the establishment of a Palestinian state. He argued that Arab leaders understand there is simply “no viable partner” within the Palestinian leadership, citing Hamas’s rule in Gaza and dysfunction inside the Palestinian Authority.

Danon praised Ambassador Waltz — a former U.S. Army Green Beret commander — as “a friend of Israel, of the Jewish people, very committed, very knowledgeable,” noting that his military background gives him an instinctive sense of the stakes Israel faces. “The fact that we actually have to fight for our freedom and that’s what we are doing for the last 24 months the entire n20ation fought. we called the reserves, 400,000 people showed up. He gets it.”

{Matzav.com}

A new LendingTree analysis paints a stark picture of the rental landscape in New York, revealing that no major metro saw a sharper escalation in the cost of a one-bedroom apartment over the past several years.

Though longtime residents hardly need a data report to remind them of the city’s punishing housing costs, the findings quantify just how sharply rents have climbed. While the typical increase across 50 major U.S. metros between fiscal years 2021 and 2026 was $457, New York’s one-bedroom Fair Market Rent soared by $854—jumping from $1,801 to $2,655.

Fair Market Rents, the federal metrics HUD relies on to set assistance thresholds, reflect what a standard, decently maintained unit costs at roughly the 40th-percentile level in each region. And by that measure, New York’s trajectory has been the steepest in the nation.

San Diego came in a distant second, with its one-bedroom benchmark increasing by $817 over the same period, rising from $1,642 to $2,459.

Across all surveyed metros, the typical one-bedroom rent climbed from $1,122 in FY 2021 to $1,578 in FY 2026—a 40.7% rise that has left many households stretched to the limit.

The report underscored the burden these jumps have created, describing them as a “massive strain” on renters. As the study put it, “The reality for most renters is that their wages have likely not kept up with these rent increases,” referencing U.S. Treasury data showing that 90% of Americans live in counties where housing costs have outpaced wage growth from 2000 to 2020.

{Matzav.com}

it is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of the esteemed Breslover mashpia, Rav Binyamin Zev Knopelmacher zt”l, after years of illness. He was 75.

Rav Knopelmacher was regarded as one of the most influential spiritual guides in Breslov, and for decades, thousands sought out his brocha, counsel, and heartfelt encouragement. His gentle manner, clarity of thought, and ability to uplift struggling souls made him a beloved figure whose impact reached far beyond his immediate circle.

He was born in Denmark to his father, Rav Yitzchak Knopelmacher zt”l, and was raised and educated in the Vizhnitz institutions of Torah and chassidus. In later years, he drew close to the Breslov community, where he eventually became one of its leading and most respected mashpi’im.

Countless individuals streamed to his home seeking advice, spiritual direction, or simply a word of inspiration. He devoted himself to strengthening avodas Hashem among the younger generation, instilling within them the pathways of Breslov with sincerity and warmth.

Faithful to Breslov tradition, he traveled annually to Uman for Rosh Hashanah to spend the Yom Tov near the tziyun of Rebbe Nachman.

Rabbi Knopelmacher leaves behind a family of children and grandchildren who follow the path of Torah and mitzvos.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli officials told Channel 12 News they were outraged by Islamic Jihad’s announcement on Tuesday claiming that the terror group had “handed over all hostages in its possession.” Coordinator for Prisoners and Missing Persons Gal Hirsch sent intelligence findings to the mediators, including aerial photographs and names of parties who are likely aware of the […]

CBS News appointed Tony Dokoupil as anchor of the “CBS Evening News” on Wednesday, charging him with taking on ABC’s dominant David Muir on one of the flagship shows for broadcast television. Dokoupil, who has been part of the “CBS Mornings” team since 2019, will start his new job on Jan. 5. He replaces the […]

Federal officials have taken a significant step toward implementing the new federal scholarship tax credit (FSTC), a program poised to reshape K–12 education funding nationwide and open the door to billions of dollars in private scholarship support. Agudath Israel of America on Wednesday applauded an announcement from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the […]

FLATBUSH: Three suspects were arrested by the NYPD, with assistance from Flatbush Shomrim volunteers at Quentin Road and East 21st Street, following a brazen gunpoint robbery in Flatbush, where the suspects crashed their vehicle on the sidewalk and fled on foot before being caught after a brief chase; an NYPD officer was injured during the […]

A large fire broke out tonight at the Right-Bank Market building in St. Petersburg, Russia. Local reports say at least two people have been injured.

Ukrainian SBU sea drones (USVs) struck the Comoros-flagged Russian shadow fleet tanker “Dashan,” in the Black Sea, marking the third tanker hit in two weeks.

Security video shows the moment a 10-year-old boy jumps out of a stolen SUV in Kenner, Louisiana.

Video captures the shocking moment a car zoomed by several airplanes on a busy taxiway at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California.

Rabbi Efrem Goldberg, Senior Rabbi of the Boca Raton Synagogue, released the following statement after meeting with Dr. Ali Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defense Affairs, Interior & Foreign Affairs Committee of the UAE: I had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Ali Al Nuaimi, whose leadership, vision, and courage continue to bring light to […]

The Federal Reserve reduced its key interest rate for the third time in a row Wednesday but signaled that it may leave rates unchanged in the coming months, a move that could attract ire from President Donald Trump, who has demanded steep reductions to borrowing costs. In a statement released after a two-day meeting, the […]

BREAKING: The Federal Reserve has cut rates by 0.25% to 3.5-3.75%, citing elevated uncertainty and rising employment risks. “Uncertainty about the economic outlook remains elevated.”

Oil companies offered $279 million for drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday in the first of 30 sales planned for the region in coming years under Republican efforts to ramp up U.S. fossil fuel production. The sale came after President Donald Trump’s administration recently announced plans to allow new drilling off Florida […]

A Republican proposal in the Senate that would route up to $1,500 directly into Americans’ health savings accounts has quickly earned President Trump’s enthusiastic backing.

Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, the president made clear why the idea appeals to him. “I like the concept. I don’t want to give the insurance companies any money,” he said, blasting the industry for its practices. “They’ve been ripping off the public for years,” he continued, calling Obamacare “a scam to make the insurance companies rich. … Billions and billions of dollars is paid directly to insurance companies.”

The legislation had been expected to reach the Senate floor this week. Its aim is to relieve the financial pressure on roughly 24 million people insured under Obamacare, many of whom are facing higher out-of-pocket costs.

A key feature of the bill is a direct cash allotment into health savings accounts: $1,000 for eligible Affordable Care Act enrollees aged 18 to 49, and $1,500 for those aged 50 to 64.

Eligibility hinges on several factors, including income. Individuals and families must earn no more than 700% of the federal poverty level to receive the benefit — meaning a single enrollee could qualify with income up to $109,550, and a family of four could qualify with income as high as $225,050.

In addition, only those enrolled in bronze-level plans — about one-third of ACA participants — or catastrophic plans are included. These plans come with steep deductibles but differ in premium costs: bronze plans can require paying up to 40%, while catastrophic plans generally carry minimal premiums.

The proposal sets aside as much as $10 billion for these health savings account payments. It explicitly bars any of the funds from being used on abortions or gender-reassignment procedures. Certain legally present immigrants may also qualify.

Notably, those on silver, gold, or platinum Obamacare plans — which offer higher coverage in exchange for higher premiums — do not qualify for the HSA deposits. The same exclusion applies to people insured through their employers, as well as those covered by Medicare or Medicaid.

Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, one of the bill’s architects, praised the president’s stance. “I absolutely agree with President Trump that we need to redirect subsidies from insurance companies and give patients the power,” he told The Post. He added, “Republicans want real solutions that actually make health care affordable and put money in families’ pockets. I applaud the President for his leadership on this issue.” Cassidy teamed up with Senate Finance Chairman Mike Crapo of Idaho to introduce the bill.

The Senate is expected to weigh this proposal Thursday alongside an $83 billion Democratic measure that would extend every Obamacare subsidy for another three years — a vote Democrats secured through last month’s shutdown-ending agreement.

The debate lands at a time when Trump is shifting his economic messaging ahead of the 2026 midterms, unveiling a slate of populist policies that include possible $2,000 tariff rebate checks and $1,000 Trump savings accounts for children.

Voters, meanwhile, continue to feel the squeeze of the roughly 20% cumulative inflation tied to Joe Biden’s term. Prices increased another 3% over the past year, according to the newest Bureau of Labor Statistics release.

The White House has rejected claims that tariffs are fueling higher consumer prices. Officials point instead to historic private-sector investment in U.S. manufacturing and a rebalancing of global trade agreements that they say benefits American workers.

At a Pennsylvania event earlier the same day, Trump underlined his economic message once more, declaring he has “no higher priority than making America affordable again.” He also defended his trade policies, telling attendees, “If we didn’t have tariffs, you would have no steel. We wouldn’t have one steel mill anywhere in the United States, and that would be really bad for national security.”

Addressing energy costs, he reminded the crowd, “When energy comes down, your other prices come down.”

He then highlighted tax relief already set to take effect. “We’re also putting thousands of dollars in the pockets of hard-working Pennsylvanians with the largest tax cuts in American history: That’s no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on Social Security for our great seniors,” he said. “And all of that kicks in on Jan. 1.”

The administration also framed the health-care legislation as part of its broader effort to fight runaway medical costs. White House spokesman Kush Desai criticized the opposing party’s approach. “The current system is not working to deliver health care at reasonable prices for everyday Americans. Democrats’ push to maintain these high prices by giving more money to insurance companies is not a real solution for President Trump,” he said.

Desai noted the president’s focus on negotiating with drug manufacturers and cracking down on systemic waste. “The President has instead focused on lowering prescription drug costs by hammering out deals with pharmaceutical companies, as well as taking on waste, fraud and abuse in the system to deliver results for patients, and will continue to deliver policy solutions that lower costs in the healthcare market for the American people.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli officials issued a sharply worded demand Wednesday after determining that Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives know the location of the remains of St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage whose body has not been recovered from Gaza. The revelation has injected renewed tension into ongoing negotiations and threatens to halt the next phase of the […]

Republican lawmakers are exploring three different health care proposals to navigate the fallout of the Affordable Care Act tax subsidies.

Jewish leaders across New York are pressing the City University of New York for a stronger response after a Muslim campus leader staged a walkout targeting a Jewish representative during an interfaith event. In a letter sent Tuesday to CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, a coalition of Jewish community officials and elected leaders accused […]

Sec. Scott Bessent on how President Trumps tax cut helps Americans in 2026: “They’re going to be getting very large refunds in the First Quarter… which could be between $1,000-$2,000 per household. Then, they’ll change their withholding, and they’ll get a real increase in their wages.”