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Ashley L. Jackson, the daughter of “civil rights leader” and infamous anti-Semite Rev. Jesse Jackson, has revealed that she has converted to Judaism following what she described as a deeply personal spiritual journey spanning several years.

In an opinion essay published in The Washington Post, Jackson wrote that she formally completed her conversion – a non-Orthodox conversion – on June 12 after years of study, personal reflection, health challenges, and an ever-deepening connection to Jewish life.

Jackson, a writer, producer, and founder of the nonprofit Push The Next Generation, recalled a memorable moment two years before her father’s passing, when he accompanied her to Shabbos services at her synagogue. Despite being a lifelong Baptist minister, she said he embraced the experience with warmth and enthusiasm.

She wrote: “As the Saturday morning service proceeded, my father sat in the front row – holding my hand, dancing to prayers in a language he did not speak, eating the Sunkist candies the congregation had tossed to celebrate a bar mitzvah.”

Explaining why she ultimately chose Judaism, Jackson said she discovered a religious tradition that reflected the principles she had been taught throughout her upbringing.

“I was raised to believe that faith must lead to action,” she wrote. “In Judaism, I found an enduring expression of this belief.”

She said she was especially drawn to Judaism’s emphasis on lifelong learning, meaningful ritual, and the ideal of Tikkun olam—repairing the world. Jackson added that hearing the shofar for the first time on Rosh Hashanah left a lasting emotional impression on her.

Jackson also reflected on what it means to identify as both Black and Jewish, acknowledging that the intersection of those identities can bring unique struggles while also offering opportunities for greater understanding.

She wrote that “racism and antisemitism can surface in even the most intimate and familiar spaces”, but also described “the meeting of two diasporas” and the shared histories of Black and Jewish communities.

In her essay, Jackson argued that relations between the African American and Jewish communities have become increasingly strained in recent years, even though both groups have long shared a commitment to justice, equality, and human dignity.

“About 1 percent of American Jews identify as Black,” she wrote. “Their experience – my experience – shows that the alienation between these two communities can be overcome.”

She also recounted the emotional reception her father received during his synagogue visit after the rabbi invited him to come forward for a blessing.

“Before she could speak, the congregation was already on its feet,” Jackson wrote. “My father – one of the most recognizable Baptist ministers in America – wept as the congregation offered him a spontaneous ovation.”

After completing her conversion, Jackson chose the Hebrew name Miriam Yiskah. She explained that the name Yiskah was selected as “a feminine echo of Jesse”, serving as a lasting tribute to her father’s memory.

Closing her essay, Jackson said she hopes her own story will help strengthen ties between communities during a period marked by growing antisemitism and anti-Black prejudice.

“I feel as though I have been entrusted with a sacred charge,” she wrote. “Amid widespread concerns about antisemitism and anti-Blackness, it is necessary to recall that our differences do not preclude unity.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Monday that while he and Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu have “some disagreements,” the United States and Israel remain closely aligned on confronting Iran. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump also asserted that Tehran only agreed to negotiations after suffering devastating military losses in recent U.S. strikes and expressed optimism that a deal could still be reached.

While traveling aboard Air Force One en route to Waterford Township, Trump said Iran’s willingness to negotiate is a direct consequence of the damage inflicted by recent American military operations. He argued that the regime would never have sought talks had the campaign failed.

Speaking about Netanyahu, Trump praised the Israeli leader’s wartime leadership, saying, “I think he’s done a great job. We’ve pretty much destroyed their military.”

Trump said diplomatic contacts with Iran are now underway, though he cautioned that the outcome remains uncertain.

“They want to meet, and we’re meeting. We’ll see what happens. There’s a chance we can make a deal.”

According to Trump, Iran’s outreach came only after the United States demonstrated overwhelming military strength.

“Without what we did, they wouldn’t even be talking to us,” he said. “They requested a meeting through their surrogates and directly and we’re meeting.”

He added that investors have reacted positively to the developments, pointing to gains in the markets and falling energy prices.

“Oil dropped very big today. Stock markets as of about an hour ago was like through the roof.”

Asked whether he was prepared to wait for results from the negotiations, Trump indicated he was in no rush.

“I have plenty of time.”

Describing the impact of the military campaign, Trump said Iran’s strategic coastline had been severely damaged while maritime navigation through the Strait remained secure.

“The whole shoreline is wiped out. The Strait is in very good shape. And we’re talking right now.”

Trump also revealed that Iranian officials had appealed to Washington to stop additional strikes.

“Their people said, please don’t drop, don’t shoot.”

While expressing hope that diplomacy would succeed, Trump warned that military action could quickly resume if negotiations fail.

“We’re having good talks, so we’ll see what happens. I think there’s a good chance something could happen. And if it doesn’t, we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago.”

Reflecting on the recent conflict, Trump said Iran’s armed forces had suffered extensive damage.

“Iran took a beating over the last 14 days, and they asked us very nicely, please stop.”

Addressing concerns about America’s military readiness, Trump dismissed suggestions that U.S. stockpiles were running low.

“We have plenty. We have a lot of ammunition.”

He said the administration is rapidly rebuilding inventories after, in his view, the previous administration depleted supplies by sending large quantities of weapons to Ukraine.

“When I left, the cupboards were full,” he said. “We’re building it very rapidly. Plants are being built, the Patriots in particular.”

Turning to his relationship with Netanyahu, Trump acknowledged there have been occasional differences but emphasized that both governments remain largely in sync regarding Iran.

“We have a little difference, but pretty close.”

Trump argued that American intervention prevented a far greater threat to Israel by crippling Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“If I didn’t get involved, if I didn’t blow up those nuclear essentially soon-to-be nuclear weapons… Israel would have been terminated.”

Asked about reports that Russia may have supplied Iran with intelligence on U.S. military installations, Trump said he intends to investigate the matter.

“We’ll find out if that’s true. I’ll ask Putin about it.”

Even if the reports prove accurate, Trump maintained they made little difference on the battlefield.

“It hasn’t had much impact because we’ve knocked the hell out of it.”

Trump also suggested that Iranian assets under U.S. control could ultimately be used to compensate for damage caused by Iran.

“We’re going to use Iran’s money to pay for the damage they did.”

Shifting to domestic issues, Trump said the American economy continues to strengthen, highlighting what he described as a resurgence in manufacturing.

“The car companies are doing better than they’ve ever done,” he said, adding that new factories were being built and claiming Toyota was shifting operations from Mexico because of tariffs.

Trump also declared that inflation is declining while blaming the previous administration for creating the economic problems he inherited.

“I inherited the worst inflation in history from Biden. But costs are going down rapidly.”

He reiterated his call for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, arguing that doing so would accelerate economic growth.

“Rates should be lowered. This country could be at 8%, 9%, 10%, 12% GDP.”

Defending his overall economic agenda, Trump said the United States is stronger than ever and pointed to Netanyahu’s upcoming visit as further evidence of the close U.S.-Israel relationship.

“The strongest we’ve ever been,” he said, adding, “Israel. Bibi’s coming. He’ll tell you.”

Discussing relations with Turkey, Trump described President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a personal friend while recognizing Ankara’s strained ties with Israel.

“Turkey has been a tremendous ally for me,” he said, while acknowledging Ankara “is not a big fan of Israel” or Netanyahu.

Asked whether diplomacy or additional military action represented the better path forward with Iran, Trump again praised Netanyahu’s leadership during the conflict.

“Bibi has been great. He’s a wartime prime minister. We did very well together.”

Turning to Congress, Trump criticized senators for leaving Washington before approving the SAVE Act.

“The SAVE Act has to be done. They shouldn’t leave town.”

He also accused Democrats of opposing voter identification requirements and proof of citizenship while supporting higher taxes, transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, and open borders.

“The Democrats are going to vote 100% against voter identification and proof of citizenship,” he said.

Trump concluded by expressing confidence that the United States continues to lead the world in artificial intelligence development.

“We’re leading now China substantially in AI and we’re going to keep it that way.”

Ending on an optimistic note, Trump declared that America’s position remains unmatched.

“We’re leading everybody and everything. We have a country that’s doing well.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is urging Congress to permanently eliminate the twice-yearly clock changes, calling on the Senate to approve legislation that would put an end to daylight saving time shifts after the House already passed the measure.

Speaking at a July 27 rally at a General Motors plant in Michigan, Trump encouraged lawmakers to scrap the longstanding practice of moving clocks ahead in the spring and back in the fall.

President Donald Trump voiced his support for ending the mandatory clock changes, arguing that Americans should no longer have to reset their clocks twice each year.

“Let’s get rid of daylight saving time stuff, OK?” Trump said July 27 at a rally at a General Motors plant in Michigan.

Trump noted that the House has already approved legislation allowing states to stop changing their clocks, and said he hopes the Senate will now send the bill to his desk. The Senate previously passed similar legislation in 2022.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, has acknowledged that the proposal’s path forward remains uncertain, saying it is unclear whether supporters can secure the 60 votes necessary to overcome procedural hurdles.

“Hopefully, the Senate is going to approve that one,” Trump said. “The House approved it and we’re going to get rid of that.”

Under the current system, most Americans set their clocks ahead by one hour each March and turn them back one hour each November. The seasonal time change is intended to provide more evening daylight during the warmer months while shifting additional daylight to the morning during the winter.

Backers of ending the biannual time change argue that repeatedly disrupting sleep schedules contributes to health problems and increases the risk of traffic accidents.

Arizona and Hawaii, along with the U.S. territories of Guam and Puerto Rico, already do not observe daylight saving time. Another 19 states have passed legislation that would eliminate the clock changes once federal law allows them to do so, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

“Locking the clock all year long would have positive impacts on sleep schedules, energy conservation, motor vehicle safety and our economy,” Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky, said July 13.

The proposal, however, continues to face opposition in the Senate. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, has argued against making daylight saving time permanent and could use Senate procedures to slow or block the legislation. He contends the sun would rise at “dangerously late hours” if daylight saving time were adopted year-round.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a criminal grand jury investigation into Simad Holdings and its controlling shareholders, brothers Michael and David Shabsels, according to a filing submitted to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, marking a dramatic escalation in the company’s unraveling, The Real Deal reports.

The investigation is being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. As part of the criminal probe, federal prosecutors have requested that Simad produce company records and other documents.

In addition to the criminal investigation, Simad disclosed that it is also aware of a separate civil investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York involving alleged fraud connected to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The company said it is cooperating with both investigations.

The latest developments significantly intensify the legal and financial crisis surrounding Simad, which operated 30 well-known summer camps across the United States, and the mounting legal troubles facing its founders, David and Michael Shabsels.

The company raised approximately $200 million from Israeli bondholders in December but failed to make its first scheduled bond payment in May. Simad later disclosed that roughly $34 million belonging to bondholders had been transferred to companies controlled by the Shabsels brothers. Although the company demanded repayment of the $34 million, along with accrued interest, and the brothers initially agreed, Michael Shabsels later informed the company that he was unable to return the funds.

Both Simad and the Shabsels brothers filed for bankruptcy protection in June. Since then, the company has been placed under the management of a restructuring officer and has previously disclosed that it is also the subject of a criminal investigation by the Israel Securities Authority. As part of its restructuring efforts, Simad is selling off several of its camp properties, including Mohawk Day Camp, Camp Chen-A-Wanda, and Camp Achim.

According to the filing, the Justice Department’s criminal investigation encompasses Simad, the two brothers, and a network of companies under their control.

Over the years, David and Michael Shabsels established dozens of corporate entities tied to both their summer camp operations and broader real estate investments.

The brothers amassed a real estate portfolio of more than 80 properties, including shopping centers, apartment buildings, office properties, and SplashDown Beach Water Park in New York’s Hudson Valley. Their financing strategy relied heavily on creating separate ground leases, allowing them to own both the land beneath a property and the property itself while obtaining loans against each interest separately. The approach was designed to maximize borrowing capacity and secure financing approaching the full value of the assets.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu emerged victorious in a high-stakes internal Likud showdown on Monday after party members overwhelmingly approved his controversial proposal to expand the number of reserved slots under his control on the party’s Knesset list.

Nearly 3,400 members of the Likud Central Committee participated in the vote, deciding on three proposals advanced by Netanyahu. The centerpiece of the package was his request to increase the number of reserved positions on the party’s electoral slate.

Voting began at 11:00 a.m. and continued until 8:00 p.m. By the close of polling, 3,387 Central Committee members had cast ballots, representing 72.7 percent of those eligible to vote.

At the heart of the contest was Netanyahu’s proposal to increase the number of reserved slots from five to eight within positions 2 through 29 on the Likud list for the next Knesset election. When the ballots were counted, the proposal passed by a wide margin, handing the prime minister a decisive win.

The additional reserved positions are widely viewed as a way for Netanyahu to strengthen the party’s slate ahead of the next election. Although the proposal generated significant debate within Likud, most ministers and Knesset members avoided publicly opposing it. The lone prominent exception was MK David Bitan, who released a video before the vote urging party members, saying, “Vote against the proposals.”

Central Committee members also considered a separate proposal allowing incumbent Likud lawmakers to compete in the party’s regional districts. The measure is expected to benefit lawmakers such as Avichai Boaron and others whom Netanyahu hopes will secure places on the party’s election list through district races.

That proposal narrowly passed by just six votes. The razor-thin outcome immediately sparked allegations of voting irregularities, with opponents raising the possibility of legal challenges in court.

Committee members also approved an additional amendment to the party’s constitution.

In the days leading up to the vote, the Prime Minister’s Office mounted an intensive campaign to rally support, with ministers and Likud lawmakers releasing videos urging Central Committee members to back Netanyahu’s proposals.

The Mamdani administration is facing mounting backlash after New York City published a searchable online database listing the names and home addresses of property owners whose residences could be subject to the state’s new pied-à-terre tax. Critics say the move unnecessarily exposed the personal information of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and raised serious concerns about privacy and public safety.

The city’s Department of Finance released the database, identifying what it says are non-primary residences across the five boroughs valued at more than $1 million. The public list includes both the names of the owners and the addresses of the properties, making the information easily searchable by anyone.

Council Minority Leader David Carr blasted the decision, arguing that many of the listed properties may not even qualify for the tax and that numerous owners are likely to challenge their inclusion.

“It’s a reckless and foolish move, especially considering there are potentially thousands of properties on this list that do not qualify as second homes or whose owners will successfully dispute their inclusion,” Carr, a Republican representing Staten Island whose own home appears in the database, told The Post.

The release follows Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s recent social media message alerting affluent homeowners that notices about the new tax were on the way. In the post, he appeared to warn owners to expect official correspondence regarding the levy.

“Check your mailbox when you’re back in the five boroughs, because you’ve got mail,” Mamdani wrote.

Explaining the rationale behind the tax, the mayor added, “The best city in the world deserves the best parks, libraries, and schools in the world. That’s only possible when we all pay our fair share.”

Mamdani has made taxing wealthy New Yorkers a central part of his agenda and has championed the pied-à-terre tax approved by Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Democratic-controlled Legislature. Opponents, however, have warned that the measure could depress the city’s luxury real estate market and discourage investment.

Earlier this year, Mamdani also proposed increasing New York City’s property taxes by 9.5 percent unless Albany approved additional taxes targeting wealthy residents. At the time, he cited a projected $12 billion budget shortfall, a figure that was later revised downward to approximately $5.4 billion.

City Hall has projected that the pied-à-terre tax will generate roughly $500 million annually. However, New York City Comptroller Mark Levine’s office estimates the actual revenue will likely fall between $340 million and $380 million per year, with collections potentially declining over time.

The database includes numerous well-known New Yorkers, among them filmmaker Woody Allen, longtime Vogue editor Anna Wintour, and actress Cynthia Nixon, who has publicly supported Mamdani.

Even more surprising than the celebrity names was the sheer scope of the list. The Post counted more than 960,000 residences and property owners included in the database, despite the tax originally being presented as applying to only about 31,000 homes.

The list also appears to include numerous modest middle-class neighborhoods that bear little resemblance to the luxury second homes the tax was intended to target. Among them are approximately two dozen homes on Chaffee Avenue in the Bronx’s working-class Throggs Neck neighborhood.

Another neighborhood with dozens of listed properties is Challenger Drive on Staten Island, where many homes appeared in the database despite no clear indication that they are second residences.

The average home values on Chaffee Avenue and Challenger Drive generally range from the mid-$500,000s to the low $800,000s, far below the multimillion-dollar vacation homes many believed the tax would target.

The database also includes at least one clearly unusual entry: the Breezy Point Shopping Center in Queens, a commercial shopping plaza that is plainly not a vacation residence.

Carr argued that the administration’s policy could ultimately drive affluent homeowners and investment out of New York.

“All the mayor is doing is tanking the luxury home market in NYC and sending millions of dollars in real estate business to other states. But the upside is Mamdani is a shoo-in for ‘Realtor of the Year’ in Texas and Florida,” Carr railed.

Steven Fulop, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, said the publication of homeowners’ personal information extends far beyond a debate over taxation and creates unnecessary risks.

“Publishing individual property owners’ names and home addresses raises real safety and privacy concerns that go well beyond the tax debate itself. Transparency about how a new tax is administered doesn’t require putting private citizens’ addresses into a searchable public database that can put people in harm’s way,” he said.

“In a political climate this polarized, the mayor didn’t need to invite that kind of risk — we should be looking for ways to dial down tensions, not heighten them. We’d urge the administration to revisit this approach.”

The controversy comes as Mamdani continues advancing an aggressive tax agenda aimed at funding major spending initiatives. Since taking office, he has backed approximately $23 billion in tax increases and has begun a sustained campaign in Albany seeking additional taxes on property owners and other high-income New Yorkers.

Iran’s anti-American propaganda campaign has taken a disturbing new turn, with a newly released video reportedly encouraging supporters of the Islamic regime to assassinate First Lady Melania Trump while also threatening the President’s son, Barron Trump. The video follows a series of threatening displays in Tehran directed at President Donald Trump and members of his family amid soaring tensions between Washington and Tehran.

The propaganda video, titled “How to Kill Melania Trump,” reportedly features images of the First Lady traveling in her motorcade and visiting various locations throughout New York City. It also identifies several high-end designer stores she is known to frequent, a detail that has heightened concerns over the video’s explicit nature.

Toward the conclusion of the video, the threats expand to include Barron Trump, 20, making him the latest member of the President’s family to be singled out in the regime’s propaganda campaign.

The video comes just days after massive billboards appeared across Tehran displaying calls for the deaths of President Trump and several of his family members, including Melania Trump, Barron Trump, and Ivanka Trump. The displays were part of an increasingly aggressive messaging campaign that has featured images and slogans threatening retaliation against the President and his relatives.

Melania Trump has maintained a relatively low public profile in recent weeks. She did not attend Friday night’s White House Correspondents Association dinner, with a source close to the First Lady telling the New York Post that she had a “scheduling conflict.”

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Mitch McConnell announced Monday that he remains in a rehabilitation facility as he continues recovering from a lengthy hospitalization, revealing that he has not yet been medically cleared to resume his duties in Washington or return home to Kentucky.

A statement from the Office of the Attending Physician said McConnell has been making steady progress since leaving the hospital and has been undergoing an intensive rehabilitation program focused on restoring his strength through rigorous physical therapy.

“He is not yet medically cleared to leave the rehab facility and return to the office,” the OAP said.

McConnell also addressed his recovery, saying he remains focused on returning to work as soon as possible. He explained that he is following his doctors’ recommendations and continuing an aggressive rehabilitation regimen.

The senator said he is “working hard to get back to my full schedule of work in the Senate and in Kentucky, keeping up with intense physical therapy per my doctors’ orders.”

Because of his ongoing recovery, McConnell said he will be unable to attend one of Kentucky’s signature political gatherings, marking a rare absence from the annual event.

McConnell said, “Unfortunately, that means I won’t be able to make it to Fancy Farm, Kentucky, this Saturday.”

The Fancy Farm picnic, held each year in western Kentucky, is one of the state’s premier political events, drawing elected officials and candidates from both parties who address large crowds in a lively campaign-style atmosphere.

Expressing his disappointment, McConnell said missing the gathering is especially difficult because it has long been one of his favorite traditions.

McConnell said, “There’s no place I’d rather be on the first Saturday in August than with the good people of western Kentucky, feasting on pork and mutton.”

[Video below.] Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio forcefully defended Muslim socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a contentious appearance on Fox News Monday, echoing Mamdani’s attacks on Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and declaring that Netanyahu is “literally a war criminal.” The remarks add to the growing political firestorm over Mamdani’s repeated calls to have the Israeli leader arrested if he visits New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September.

During the interview, de Blasio acknowledged the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre in southern Israel, in which approximately 1,200 people were murdered, but argued that Israel’s military response in Gaza had exceeded what he considered justifiable. He insisted, “Two wrongs don’t make a right,” while making clear that he supports Mamdani’s criticism of Netanyahu.

De Blasio’s comments come just days after Mamdani released a video announcing that his administration had examined whether New York City possessed the legal authority to arrest Netanyahu during a potential September visit. After consulting with city attorneys, Mamdani acknowledged that the city has no such authority, though he nevertheless continued referring to the Israeli premier as a “war criminal” and urged the federal government to enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant instead.

The controversy stems from Mamdani’s long-standing campaign pledge to seek Netanyahu’s arrest should he enter New York City. Although he has since conceded that municipal officials cannot carry out such an arrest, the issue has sparked nationwide debate and drawn sharp responses from leaders across the political spectrum.

President Donald Trump weighed in on the dispute last week, making clear that Netanyahu would be protected during any visit to the United States. Trump declared that the Israeli prime minister “will not be arrested” while on American soil, directly rejecting Mamdani’s position.

The escalating feud has also prompted a public exchange between Mamdani and Netanyahu. After Mamdani recently declared that Netanyahu is “not welcome” in New York City, the Israeli prime minister vowed to travel to New York regardless and dismissed the accusations against him, describing the International Criminal Court’s allegations as baseless while accusing Mamdani of encouraging hostility through his rhetoric.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity connected to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Israel has categorically rejected the allegations, calling the ICC politically motivated and lacking jurisdiction over Israeli officials. The United States likewise does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction over American or Israeli nationals.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Three women were wounded in a stabbing attack on a street in northern Paris on Monday, two of them seriously, after a man allegedly attacked them without warning before being subdued and arrested. Although the suspect reportedly declared that “Allah sent me to kill,” French authorities are not currently treating the incident as a terrorist attack.

The attack occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. The three victims, ages 19, 24, and 36, were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said one woman suffered a stab wound to the back while another was stabbed in the abdomen. Both remain in serious condition, though neither is believed to be in life-threatening danger.

The suspect was apprehended by an off-duty police officer who happened to be in the area. After spotting the attacker, the officer pursued him and, with the assistance of several bystanders, restrained the suspect until uniformed police officers arrived.

French authorities have not yet released the identity of the suspect or announced an official motive. According to Nuñez, the attacker made what he described as “incoherent statements” during the assault. However, a source familiar with the investigation told Le Parisien that the suspect claimed “Allah sent him to kill.”

Despite that statement, investigators currently believe the suspect may be suffering from mental illness, and the case is not, at this stage, being investigated as an act of terrorism.

The stabbing came just two days after a deadly vehicle-ramming attack in Paris carried out by a man who had previously attempted to join ISIS. In that attack, one woman was killed and 29 others were injured.

{Matzav.com}

Russia appears to be positioning itself for a dramatic expansion of its war against Ukraine once September’s State Duma elections conclude, with new political messaging, legislative moves, and military preparations suggesting the Kremlin is preparing for a more intensive phase of the conflict, according to a new assessment by the Jamestown Foundation.

As those warnings mount, Ukrainian forces have continued carrying out deep strikes inside Russian territory. In a national address on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow is getting ready to launch a large-scale mobilization campaign while also preparing to deploy tens of thousands of additional North Korean troops.

The assessment comes as Ukraine sustains one of its most extensive long-range attack campaigns since the war began.

Using drones and missiles, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted oil refineries, military logistics hubs, and strategic infrastructure in and around Moscow, highlighting Kyiv’s expanding ability to strike well beyond the battlefield.

At the same time, analysts say the Kremlin has noticeably altered its public messaging.

According to the Washington-based Jamestown Foundation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov’s recent statement describing Russia’s campaign as “a real war” marks a significant shift from the language Moscow has used since launching its invasion in 2022.

Throughout the conflict, Russian officials had consistently referred to the fighting only as a “special military operation.”

Jamestown believes Peskov’s remarks may be designed to prepare the Russian public for a broader military call-up and a prolonged war effort rather than any serious move toward negotiations.

The report highlights four key developments that, taken together, suggest the Kremlin is laying the groundwork for escalation.

The first is reports from sources said to be close to President Vladimir Putin claiming he has “resolved to escalate” the war instead of pursuing a negotiated settlement, reinforcing previous assessments by Western intelligence that his objectives extend far beyond Ukraine.

The second involves growing expectations within Russia that Putin could announce a nationwide mobilization shortly after September’s parliamentary elections.

According to the report, while the elections themselves do not determine Putin’s political future, they provide an opportunity to demonstrate public and elite support before unveiling potentially unpopular military decisions. Jamestown suggests Peskov’s comments may have served as a test of public reaction.

A third warning sign is proposed legislation requiring Russian citizens to obtain exit visas before traveling abroad.

Although the measure is initially aimed at travel to countries Russia considers “unfriendly,” analysts believe it could also make it far more difficult for military-age men to flee the country if another draft is ordered, similar to the mass departures that followed Russia’s partial mobilization in 2022.

The fourth indicator cited by the report is the Kremlin’s continued expansion of its nationwide Cossack mobilization system.

Jamestown says Russia is building reserve formations expected to eventually number about 60,000 personnel while simultaneously creating specialized drone units, expanding reserve training exercises, and strengthening volunteer battalions already fighting in Ukraine.

The report also points to increasing military cooperation between Moscow and North Korea as another major concern.

Speaking Saturday, Zelenskyy said Russia has been preparing since June to receive an additional 30,000 North Korean troops in the Voronezh region.

Russia and North Korea signed a mutual defense agreement in 2024, and Pyongyang has already sent an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 personnel to support Russian military operations.

“Russia wants to receive another 30,000 troops from North Korea,” Zelenskyy said, warning that the partnership is allowing North Korea to gain valuable combat experience while advancing its military technology.

According to Politico, such a deployment would significantly deepen North Korea’s direct involvement in Europe’s largest ground war since World War II.

Zelenskyy also argued that Russia’s battlefield losses continue to exceed the pace of new recruitment.

He said Moscow has enlisted roughly 221,000 soldiers during 2026 while suffering approximately 225,500 casualties, including an estimated 131,000 troops killed.

Despite those losses, Ukrainian intelligence believes the Kremlin still intends to launch another mobilization campaign later this year.

The Institute for the Study of War similarly concluded that Putin is likely to wait until after the September elections before announcing another politically unpopular draft, while continuing to signal that Russia remains committed to achieving its maximum military objectives rather than freezing the conflict.

For Western officials, analysts say the combination of increasingly forceful Kremlin rhetoric, legal measures that could facilitate mobilization, the rapid expansion of reserve forces, and growing North Korean military involvement all point toward preparations for a significantly larger phase of the war as 2026 progresses.

Whether those moves ultimately lead to a nationwide mobilization or a major new offensive remains unclear.

Even so, analysts say the overall pattern increasingly suggests the Kremlin is preparing for escalation—not negotiations—as the next stage of the conflict.

President Donald Trump said the United States has temporarily suspended a broader military campaign against Iran to give diplomacy one more chance, but made clear that the pause will be short-lived if negotiations fail to produce results.

In an interview with Axios, Trump explained that he ordered a halt to expanded U.S. strikes so talks with Tehran could continue. He said the current discussions are centered on securing an agreement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz while reviving negotiations on a wider nuclear accord.

“We are in very deep talks with Iran. If they don’t work out, we will go back to very strong military action,” the President said.

Pressed on how long he is willing to let diplomacy play out, Trump indicated that Iran has little time to act.

“Not much time. Either it goes fast or not at all,” he said.

Trump said he made the decision on Friday after countries helping mediate the negotiations urged him to hold off on further military action and give the diplomatic process another opportunity.

“All of the people that deal with Iran asked me: ‘Don’t fire,'” Trump said, adding that he believes Iran wants to reach an agreement.

Summing up his reasoning for pausing the strikes, Trump said, “Nothing gained, nothing lost.”

The President also pointed to the market reaction following the pause, noting that oil prices declined while stocks climbed after the decision to suspend additional military operations.

Trump is expected to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, where Iran is expected to be a central topic of discussion.

“I am going to talk to Bibi about the fact that if I weren’t president, Iran would have had nuclear weapons by now and Israel would have been destroyed,” Trump said.

{Matzav.com}

Previously unseen documentary footage reportedly shows the late Sen. Lindsey Graham aggressively lobbying President Donald Trump and foreign leaders to dramatically expand the military campaign against Iran during the final months of his life. The recordings include a striking exchange in which Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu reportedly cautioned Graham against widening the conflict, urging restraint over a proposed strike on Hezbollah.

The footage, reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, comes from more than 400 hours of filming conducted over the last three years by British filmmaker Alex Holder for an upcoming documentary titled Lindsey’s Game. The project offers an inside look at the South Carolina senator’s influence on Trump’s second-term foreign policy in the weeks leading up to Graham’s unexpected death on July 11.

One of the documentary’s most notable moments reportedly took place on March 4, just days after the United States and Israel launched their current military campaign against Iran.

As Graham prepared to travel to Florida to persuade President Trump to expand the conflict by targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon, he first discussed the proposal during a phone conversation with Netanyahu.

The Israeli prime minister, speaking on speakerphone, urged Graham not to pursue the idea.

“We’re concentrating right now on Iran,” Netanyahu said, according to the footage.

“If we tell Hezbollah that we’re going all the way, we threaten them, but if we actually do it, then they have no reason not to go all the way against us.”

After hearing Netanyahu’s reasoning, Graham abandoned the proposal, responding, “That’s actually good counsel.”

The documentary also reportedly captures Graham’s enthusiastic reaction to the opening phase of the campaign against Iran.

“Look what we’ve done here. I almost cried,” he told the filmmakers, according to Ynet’s account of the Wall Street Journal report. He also recounted a conversation with President Trump, saying, “I talked to Trump this morning, he’s jacked, he said, ‘Best thing I have ever done.’ He loves blowing stuff up.”

According to CNN, Graham went on to compare the wartime partnership between Trump and Netanyahu to that of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.

In another scene, during a March phone conversation with former Biden National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Graham reportedly predicted that Iranian government forces would begin losing control of major cities within three to four weeks—a forecast that events on the ground ultimately did not bear out.

Holder followed Graham over several years, accompanying him on numerous overseas trips, including meetings with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aimed at building international backing for the Iran campaign, as well as discussions with senior Israeli officials and members of the Mossad, according to reporting summarized by Political Wire.

The report notes that some individuals who spoke with Graham by telephone were apparently unaware their conversations were being recorded for the documentary.

The footage also reportedly reveals disagreements within President Trump’s foreign policy team.

According to The Times of Israel, Graham told Sullivan that Trump’s Middle East envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were “too conflicted” to oversee diplomacy with Iran and argued that responsibility should instead rest with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Holder said the documentary’s final interview with Graham took place at a bagel shop in Columbia, South Carolina, just weeks before the senator’s death. In that conversation, Graham expressed disappointment after President Trump signed a preliminary agreement with Iran in June.

“He’s letting this thing slip away,” Graham said. “I got to go talk to him.”

Graham, 71, died on July 11 after suffering an aortic dissection following his return from a trip to Ukraine.

Holder is continuing to edit the hundreds of hours of recorded material and hopes to release Lindsey’s Game in the coming months.

A Bronx mother who gave 12-year-old Jacob Freytes the bicycle he rode just one day before he was fatally struck by a stray bullet is blaming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for allowing gang violence to spiral out of control in the neighborhood where the tragedy unfolded, the NY Post reports.

Jacob, the son of a retired NYPD sergeant, was riding his bicycle to Wanda Deli Grocery near the Grand Concourse shortly before 5 p.m. Shabbos when gunfire erupted. Investigators believe a suspected gang member opened fire at rivals, and one of the bullets struck the innocent boy, killing him.

Miledy Rosario, a mother of four whose own 12-year-old daughter was one of Jacob’s close friends, said city leaders have failed to address the persistent gang activity that has plagued the Mount Eden neighborhood for years.

“I feel that the mayor that’s celebrating in the parade right now should take better care of this block, because there’s a lot of gang members,” Rosario said, referring to Mamdani’s appearance in the Bronx Dominican Day Parade on Sunday.

She said violence at that intersection has become a recurring problem that city officials have failed to stop.

“There’s a lot of gang members. This is not the first time this thing happened here. This has been happening a lot of times. He [the mayor] should know that there is a lot of gangs on that block there, and they had to be a cleanup,” Rosario said.

Rosario argued that promises to combat crime have not translated into meaningful action and noted the apparent absence of police officers at the location on the day of the shooting.

“He’s talking about stopping violence. But it is still continuing. And so if they don’t clean that block there, we’re gonna continue to see the same thing,” she added. “Before there was police on that corner. But yesterday there was no one there.”

The grieving mother also recalled her final conversation with Jacob just one day before the shooting. After purchasing a new bicycle for her daughter, she offered Jacob the old one, an act of kindness that would take on heartbreaking significance less than 24 hours later.

“I bought a new bicycle for my daughter, and I asked him, ‘Hey, do you want [her’s]?’” she told The Post.

“He said, ‘Oh, thank you so much. 
I’m gonna talk to my mom.’ And they gave him permission to have the bicycle. … And, you know, he was really happy,” Rosario said.

Fighting back emotion, Rosario said the random nature of the killing has left her terrified for her own children.

“I’m a mom of four kids, and I’m really scared. This kid was just running around on a bicycle, and got shot. 
Jacob didn’t deserve this.”

Authorities say the Mount Eden neighborhood has long been contested by the violent Trinitarios and Sev Side Pinni street gangs, and investigators are examining whether members of those organizations were involved in the shooting.

Police arrested 45-year-old William Ferrer outside his residence on Sunday in connection with Jacob’s killing.

According to law enforcement sources, Ferrer has an extensive criminal history stretching back to 1999, including prior arrests involving drug possession, marijuana possession, driving while intoxicated, and possession of stolen property.

Following the shooting, Mamdani issued a statement expressing sympathy for Jacob’s family and the other victims.

“My heart breaks” for Jacob’s “family, friends and all those who loved him.”

“Their loss is unimaginable. I am praying for the speedy recovery of the other two victims of this shooting. I’m grateful for the hospital staff, and the NYPD for their work to find those responsible for this heinous act,” Mamdani said.

“Our children should be able to ride their bikes on a nice summer day in their neighborhood without fear of being shot. We cannot accept this violence as normal.”

Jacob’s father, Jesus Freytes, is a retired NYPD sergeant who previously served in the same Bronx precinct where his son was killed.

Rosario’s daughter, Marlyn, who had been friends with Jacob, struggled to comprehend the senseless loss, saying her classmate “was at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Daniel Rosario, Miledy’s husband, said the shooting has devastated not only his own family but many neighborhood children who regularly played with Jacob.

“My kids are traumatized. My daughter, who was just talking to you, was in tears yesterday. Crying all night. You see them running around the street now, but they are traumatized,” he said.

Remembering the simple moments the children shared together, he added, “[Jacob] put up a little hoop outside our apartment door, and he would play basketball. He had a little ball. And my son told me last night, ‘Dad, I won’t be able to play basketball no more.’ The kids are traumatized.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump on Monday highlighted a blistering social media post condemning Tucker Carlson after the commentator announced that he was leaving the Republican Party, sharing criticism that accused Carlson of abandoning conservative principles and becoming increasingly hostile toward Israel.

The post, authored by conservative media personality Wayne Allyn Root, cited a New York Post editorial attacking Carlson and claimed the former Fox News host had undergone a dramatic ideological transformation.

According to Root, Carlson “caught a case of ‘Jew Derangement Syndrome.'” Which “led him down a dark, destructive path. A conservative patriot hero who destroyed his life and committed career suicide. Never seen this before. Tragic.”

President Trump also shared a link directing readers to the New York Post editorial referenced in Root’s post.

In its editorial, the New York Post blasted Carlson’s decision to abandon the Republican Party, arguing that his departure should be welcomed rather than mourned.

The newspaper wrote that the “only sensible response is, ‘Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.'”

The editorial contended that Carlson has embraced what it characterized as an “eccentric, toxic agenda,” accusing him of becoming “mysteriously pro-Vladimir Putin,” “obsessively anti-Israel,” and “weirdly ashamed of America.”

It also rejected Carlson’s suggestion that large numbers of Republicans would follow him out of the party, describing the prediction as “bizarre,” while also criticizing his recent remarks directed at Vice President JD Vance.

The editorial concluded by arguing that Republicans “can happily cheer his exit” and added that it hopes Carlson “gets the professional help he so plainly needs.”

{Matzav.com}

A Jewish community outside Paris was left reeling after thieves stole at least 12 Sifrei Torah during a carefully orchestrated overnight break-in at the Grand Synagogue of Levallois.

The shocking theft was discovered Monday morning by the shul’s Rav, Rav Chalom Lellouche, as he was preparing the shul for a bar mitzvah celebration, according to the French newspaper Le Parisien.

Authorities were immediately alerted, and police have launched an investigation into the burglary.

Despite the shul being equipped with security cameras and an extensive surveillance system, preliminary findings indicate that two suspects managed to break into the building and make off with the Sifrei Torah in what investigators believe was a meticulously planned operation.

Levallois Mayor Agnès Pottier-Dumas condemned the theft, saying the Jewish community had been attacked “at what is most sacred and precious to it.”

{Matzav.com}

Naftali Bennett declared Monday that, if he returns to power as Israel’s next prime minister, one of his first moves will be to officially designate Qatar as an enemy state, accusing the Gulf nation of bankrolling terrorism and orchestrating a worldwide campaign aimed at undermining Israel.

Speaking at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) National Security Conference, the former prime minister and chairman of the Beyachad (“Together”) party said Qatar poses a direct threat to Israel and should be treated accordingly.

“In the next government, I will declare Qatar an enemy state,” Bennett said. “It is a cancer that sends metastases into the West, and even into the office of Israel’s prime minister.”

Bennett expanded on his accusations, arguing that Qatar’s actions go far beyond regional politics and are part of a broader effort to weaken and ultimately eliminate the Jewish state.

“Qatar is a violent antisemitic cancer that sends metastases into the West and even into the office of Israel’s prime minister, with the goal of destroying the State of Israel,” he said.

He also blamed Qatar for playing a central role in supporting Hamas and other Islamist terror organizations, saying the country’s involvement has had deadly consequences for Israel.

“As the principal financier of Islamist terrorism, headed by Hamas, Qatar’s hands are stained with the blood of our sons and daughters who were murdered, raped, burned, and abducted on October 7,” he said.

Bennett further alleged that Doha has spent years building an extensive international influence apparatus designed to damage Israel’s standing abroad, singling out the Al Jazeera network as a key component of that strategy.

“Qatar has built a global influence operation to destroy Israel. In a sophisticated manner, it operates and funds the antisemitic Al Jazeera network, which amplifies Hamas’s messages and incites against Israel,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, Bennett argued that any official investigation into the failures surrounding the October 7 massacre should closely examine Qatar’s role, asserting that such a finding would inevitably lead to recognizing the country as a hostile state.

“Had even the most basic commission of inquiry into October 7 been established, one of its first conclusions would have been that Qatar is an enemy state, and that its leaders seek to destroy Israel,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

In a rare diplomatic and interfaith encounter, a delegation of senior rabbis from across the Muslim world—including Iran’s chief rabbi—was received Monday at the Lusail Palace in Doha by Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to offer condolences following the passing of the Emir’s father and predecessor.

The delegation represented the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States and was headed by Rabbi Mendy Chitrik, chairman of the organization and Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Istanbul. During the visit, the rabbis conveyed their condolences to the Qatari ruler over the death of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Joining Rabbi Mendy Chitrik were his son, Qatar’s Chief Rabbi Eliyahu Chitrik, and Iran’s Chief Rabbi Yehuda Gerami.

According to the organization, the Emir thanked Rabbi Chitrik for the delegation’s visit and expressed his appreciation for the condolences offered on behalf of the alliance.

Also participating in the meeting were Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, as well as Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Khulaifi, Chief of the Amiri Diwan.

The Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States said the purpose of the visit was to extend condolences to the Emir, the Qatari royal family, and the people of Qatar following the death of the country’s former ruler.

The organization noted that it provides religious leadership and support to Jewish communities throughout the Muslim world, including serving the Jewish community and Jewish visitors in Qatar through Rabbi Eliyahu Chitrik.

Following the audience at the palace, Rabbi Mendy Chitrik expressed his gratitude to the Emir for hosting the delegation.

“My sincere thanks to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for warmly receiving our delegation of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States,” Rabbi Chitrik said.

He added, “Grateful for His Highness’s support in ensuring Jewish life can flourish in Qatar and for enabling my son Rabbi Eliyahu Chitrik to serve the Jewish community and its many visitors.”

{Matzav.com}

A new radio panel has sparked debate within the Chareidi community over whether yeshiva bochurim should be visiting the Knesset during the ongoing military draft crisis. While the participants agreed that such visits are not inherently prohibited, they argued that, in the current political climate, they project the wrong image and could damage the public standing of the Torah world.

The discussion aired during the debut of a new segment, Bein HaSedorim, on Kol Chai Radio’s Seder Shlishi program, hosted by Yossi Chaim Maimon. Panelists Yanki Haas, Pinchas Ben Ziv, Pinchas Binder, and Nati Shulman weighed in after yeshiva bochurim were seen in the Knesset visitors’ gallery during debates directly affecting the Chareidi community.

Shulman acknowledged that there is nothing inherently wrong with visiting the Knesset but argued that the timing makes it a serious mistake from a public relations standpoint. “There’s nothing wrong with it—go ahead. Watch a soccer game at home, in your room, or in your office, but don’t go to the Knesset when every headline is attacking yeshiva students,” he said.

Binder agreed, saying that because the Chareidi public is currently under intense scrutiny, yeshiva bochurim should be especially mindful of how their actions are perceived. “Nobody sees the students who are actually learning because they’re in the yeshivos. Who do people see? The weaker students. There’s no need to poke anyone in the eye,” he said.

Haas emphasized that every yeshiva bochur represents the Torah world wherever he goes. He said students must think carefully about the place, the timing, and the manner in which they appear in public, particularly at a symbolic institution such as the Knesset.

Ben Ziv argued that journalists and media figures have no authority to determine who qualifies as a yeshiva bochur. Nevertheless, he said he believes such visits are inappropriate. “It’s obvious that it’s not appropriate for him to go there, just as it’s not appropriate for him to go to many other places,” he said.

The panel also noted that entry into the Knesset requires authorization from someone inside the building, suggesting that responsibility does not rest solely with the students themselves but also with those who facilitated their visit.

The discussion concluded with broad agreement that the Torah world should not feel obligated to apologize to critics who are determined to attack it regardless. At the same time, the participants stressed that bnei yeshivos have a responsibility to exercise good judgment, act with dignity, and promote Kiddush Hashem, particularly during a period when even a single photograph of a handful of yeshiva bochurim can be used to paint the entire Chareidi community in a negative light.

As thousands of yeshiva students face uncertainty over their military status, Israel’s Employment Service has clarified that Chareidim who have not resolved their draft status cannot be denied employment solely because of their military standing. The clarification comes in response to questions about whether such individuals may work at polling stations during the upcoming Knesset elections.

Following an inquiry  regarding the employment of young Chareidi men who have not regularized their status with the military authorities, the Employment Service said it does not examine the military status of job seekers. At the same time, it stressed that eligibility requirements for election-related positions are determined exclusively by the Central Elections Committee.

Earlier Sunday, the Central Elections Committee and the Employment Service announced a broad partnership to recruit thousands of workers for Israel’s 26th Knesset elections. The hiring campaign includes positions such as polling station attendants, logistics personnel, technical support staff, administrative employees, and other election-related roles.

In light of that announcement, the Employment Service was asked whether Chareidi draft evaders would be eligible to participate in the recruitment effort for Election Day jobs.

Responding to the inquiry, the Employment Service stated: “The Employment Service is obligated to operate in accordance with the principle prohibiting discrimination (Section 42 of the Employment Service Law) and to refer job seekers regardless of their military status, and there is an absolute prohibition against requesting or making use of a military profile.”

The agency added, however, that employees of the Central Elections Committee are subject to separate legal eligibility requirements.

“However, employees of the Central Elections Committee are subject to unique and stringent eligibility requirements established by law, including prohibitions relating to political affiliation or certain criminal convictions, and the Employment Service is not authorized to intervene in those requirements or in the employment relationship itself.”

Earlier in the day, the Central Elections Committee also addressed the question.

In its response, the committee said: “The Central Elections Committee attaches great importance to the participation of the entire population in the election operation, whether as polling committee secretaries and election integrity supervisors, committee members, or observers, all subject to the provisions of the law. The committee is responsible for conducting the elections, but, as is well known, it is not an authority with investigative or law enforcement powers.”

The committee further explained: “The eligibility requirements for these positions are established by law. Anyone who meets those requirements may be appointed to the position. In any event, the committee’s consistent position is that the polling station is neutral territory, and considerations unrelated to the proper conduct of the elections should not be introduced into it.”

The clarification comes as the Central Elections Committee and the Employment Service move forward with plans to recruit thousands of workers for the upcoming election. Under the initiative, the Employment Service will assist in filling polling station, logistics, technical support, administrative, and other positions through a dedicated recruitment website and direct outreach to job seekers across the country.

The announcement also follows an earlier decision by the Central Elections Committee that no enforcement operations targeting draft evaders will be conducted on Election Day, ensuring that all eligible voters can cast their ballots without fear of arrest.

At the same time, officials emphasized that employment for Election Day remains governed by the legal eligibility requirements established by the Central Elections Committee.

{Matzav.com}