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The German newspaper Bild reported new details about the arrest of the 53-year-old Afghan man suspected of espionage for Iran, who allegedly planned attacks against Jewish targets in Germany. According to the report, the Mossad was the one who tracked down the man, a Danish citizen of Afghan origin and an operative of the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force. He arrived in Berlin with his wife and daughter to seek out Jewish targets for attack on behalf of Iran. Germany’s Federal Public Prosecutor said that the detainee, Ali S., was apprehended with the help of Danish police last Thursday in Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office reported that the man was recruited by an Iranian intelligence agency earlier this year to gather information on Jewish sites and specific Jewish individuals in Berlin. In June, he spied on three locations in the capital for this purpose. However, it appears that the security authorities were already following him at that time. According to German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, the suspect spied on Jews in Berlin on behalf of an Iranian secret service, and the information about him came from a “friendly foreign intelligence agency.” The German magazine Der Spiegel quoted German authorities as saying that a special unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued orders to prepare attacks against Jews in Berlin. The suspect was recruited and had photographed several Jewish-affiliated buildings in June. The suspect went so far as to attempt to hire people to carry out attacks on Jews. The crucial information regarding his activity came from the Mossad, but the Interior Minister said that several other foreign agencies cooperated on the matter. The president of the Central Council of Jews, Josef Schuster, stated, “The German government must take action against the Iranian regime—there can be no other consequence for this planned terrorist attack. It is a wake-up call to those who continue to downplay the hatred and annihilationist ideology of the mullah regime toward Israel and Jews around the world.” Iran’s plans “show the terrorist nature of this regime,” Green Party politician Volker Beck, president of the German-Israeli Society, said. For years, Iran has targeted Jews and Jewish sites in Germany. According to intelligence information about Iran’s list of potential targets, several well-known Jews in Germany receive police protection. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

In a significant legal breakthrough following years of courtroom battles, families of those who perished in the Meron tragedy are set to receive major financial compensation from the Israeli government and responsible entities, including the National Center for the Development of Holy Places and various insurance companies.

The development comes as part of an agreement formulated with the involvement of attorney Eran Becker, of the Eran Becker & Co. law firm, who represents several bereaved families. The deal has been endorsed by the Lod District Court under Judge Irit Cohen, and will soon be submitted for court approval with the consent of the families and the State Attorney’s Office.

According to the agreement, families of young victims—defined as those aged 24 and under—will receive substantial compensation. In one leading case handled by Becker, a bereaved family is expected to be awarded approximately 2.9 million shekels. Similar amounts have been proposed in other cases, scaled according to the age of the deceased.

For now, the compensation will be paid out by the State of Israel, the National Center for the Development of Holy Places, and the relevant insurance firms.

Attorneys Eran Becker and Moran Cohen Yonatan, representing some of the victim families, released a joint statement: “This compensation reflects not only the immense loss these families have endured, but also the responsibility that must be borne by the state and other involved bodies for the grave failures that contributed to this tragedy.
The warning signs were evident. Years of willful blindness led to a disaster that was tragically foreseeable. The agreement now awaiting court approval is a critical step—morally, legally, and publicly—in declaring that human life is not expendable, that the suffering of the victims matters, and that accountability must be upheld for the severe negligence that led to this catastrophe. We are proud of the families who chose not to remain silent, who fought for justice, and who stood firm in insisting that justice must not only be done but also seen to be done. No amount of money can bring back their loved ones, but this is an important milestone in the journey toward recognition, justice, and healing.”

The Meron disaster occurred on the night of Lag BaOmer 5781, during the annual hilulah of Rav Shimon Bar Yochai. Amid extreme overcrowding in a narrow passage near the Toldos Aharon bonfire area, 45 people were crushed to death, and over 150 were injured. It remains one of the deadliest civilian tragedies in Israel’s history. In its aftermath, a state commission of inquiry was established, which uncovered serious lapses in planning, oversight, and responsibility by various governmental and police authorities.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A major reversal has taken place in the UK’s World Zionist Organization (WZO) election process, as the World Zionist Congress has overturned a controversial ruling that had barred the chareidi Eretz HaKodesh UK list from participating in the elections. The Central Elections Committee (CEC) in Israel found that there was not enough proof to support claims of voter fraud.

The CEC criticized the decision made last month by the UK’s Area Election Committee (AEC), saying it was “extreme and disproportionate.” It also raised concerns that political motives may have influenced the suspension of EHK.

The UK committee’s initial decision was based on an advertisement circulated by EHK, which implied that men could register their wives and adult children to vote—a direct violation of WZO election procedures. The ad had read: “Husbands can register wives & any children 18+. Please bring their ID.”

EHK appealed the decision, prompting the CEC to conduct its own review. The committee ultimately ruled that the evidence presented did not demonstrate that any actual harm had occurred as a result of the advertisement. In its decision, the CEC wrote: “No one knows whether any person actually registered someone else. Thus, the damage is theoretical. The act of violation did not involve actual voting, nor the registration of ineligible voters. The registration process may be flawed, but not the registrants themselves.”

The CEC also acknowledged that EHK took prompt action once the issue was identified: “Shortly after the violation, Eretz HaKodesh realized the mistake and published correcting ads… The committee believes Eretz HaKodesh did what it could to minimize the damage.”

The committee further noted that the AEC had overstepped its role and failed to follow proper procedure. The CEC stated that it was “doubtful whether the regional election committee has the authority to disqualify a list for violating rules (as opposed to disqualifying ineligible voters or candidates).”

The CEC pointed out that disqualification is only permitted in specific scenarios, and violations involving how candidates register do not meet those criteria.

Moreover, the CEC criticized the UK committee for failing to conduct a proper inquiry: “The UK investigation committee should have summoned the relevant Eretz HaKodesh official to clarify the violation, its extent, and consequences. Since this was not done, and in absence of other evidence, it must be assumed the damage was theoretical.”

The committee’s conclusion was definitive: “The AEC UK took an extreme and disproportionate step of disqualification. The severity is emphasized by the fact that the decision was made by a political majority of rivals. AEC should have shown restraint in such matters.”

The CEC’s judgment, delivered by attorneys Mira Amsalem Beit-On and Chagai Siton, along with Judge Oded Mudrik, declared the UK committee’s disqualification of EHK to be “null and void.”

Despite the setback, the AEC still has the option of bringing the matter before the Zionist Supreme Court for further review.

{Matzav.com}

The Mossad escalated its digital offensive against Iran on Tuesday, leveraging a report from Tasnim News Agency that the regime had decided to keep the identity of its new Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters commander under wraps. The Israeli intelligence agency took to its Persian-language X account to post: “We know exactly who he is and know him well. Unfortunately, such basic information is hidden from the Iranian people. Please send us your guesses about his name.”

This post was Mossad’s second prominent message of the day and followed closely on the heels of Tasnim’s announcement that the Iranian government would not release the commander’s name “for his protection,” referencing the recent assassinations of his two predecessors in airstrikes attributed to Israel.

Earlier in the day, the same Mossad social media account alleged that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had “surrendered” and given the green light for direct talks with both Israel and the United States. The post framed the development as “the beginning of the end of the Islamic Republic” and added, “the countdown has begun.”

These statements are part of an ongoing Farsi-language psychological campaign that Mossad launched last month. The initiative has included mocking posts about top Iranian officials lurking on the account, advice on how to use VPNs, and cautionary messages telling Iranian citizens not to engage publicly with the content to avoid scrutiny from their government.

To date, Iranian state media has not officially confirmed the appointment of a replacement for Maj.-Gen. Ali Shadmani, who was killed in a recent strike. Meanwhile, Khamenei, now 86, made his last televised appearance on June 26, during which he insisted that Iran would “never surrender”—a declaration that directly contradicts Mossad’s narrative.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Major crime across New York City continued its downward trend in the second quarter of 2025, with murders, burglaries, robberies, and felony assaults all showing declines, according to new NYPD data released Tuesday. Overall, the seven major crime categories declined by 3.46% compared to the same period last year, with murders down nearly 14%, burglaries falling 7.8%, robberies down 7.1%, and felony assaults dropping 2.3%. Transit crime also declined, dipping 6.4% year-over-year in June and 1.1% for the quarter. “So far this year, we’ve had 100 fewer shootings compared to the same period last year,” Mayor Eric Adams told reporters. “And when you compare this six-month period to the same period in 2021, right before we came into office, shootings are down astronomically — 54%.” June alone saw citywide shootings fall nearly 30%, down to 75 incidents from 107 in June of last year. Shooting incidents in the second quarter declined 22.4% year-over-year, dropping from 255 to 198. “In the first six months of the year, New York City saw the lowest number of shooting victims and shooting incidents in recorded history,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement. “Records like this don’t happen by chance — they happen because of strategy, precision, and the relentless work of your NYPD officers.” Mayor Adams noted the summer months traditionally bring challenges for crime prevention and described the department’s “summer safety plan” as a critical component of maintaining progress. “Everyone knows when you’re into summer, you’re dealing with a whole summer safety plan,” Adams said. “You’re dealing with a whole shift in policing. We’re all concerned about the month of June.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump sparked controversy after threatening legal action against Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani during remarks made in Florida, drawing a sharp rebuke from New York Governor Kathy Hochul. “He’s picking a fight with 20 million New Yorkers,” Hochul warned, in response to Trump’s remarks regarding Mamdani’s stance on immigration enforcement.

While speaking to reporters, Trump was asked about Mamdani’s pledge to block ICE agents who conceal their identities while conducting deportations. Trump replied, “Well then, we’ll have to arrest him.”

Referring to Mamdani, who has been vocal about his democratic socialist platform and immigrant protections, Trump added, “We don’t need a communist in this country, but if we have one, I’m going to be watching over him very carefully on behalf of the nation.”

Although Hochul has not endorsed Mamdani’s mayoral bid, she quickly stood up for the Queens legislator following Trump’s threat. “I don’t care if you’re the President of the United States, if you threaten to unlawfully go after one of our neighbors, you’re picking a fight with 20 million New Yorkers — starting with me,” she posted on X.

On Tuesday, Mamdani officially secured the Democratic nomination for mayor, prevailing over Andrew Cuomo with 56% to 44% in the final round of the city’s ranked-choice vote tally.

Following Trump’s comments, Mamdani released a statement saying, “The President of the United States just threatened to have me arrested.” He added defiantly, “We will not accept this intimidation.”

{Matzav.com}

With great sadness, large crowds gathered late Monday night to accompany to his final resting place one of the most respected zekeinim of the Lelover chassidus, Rav Eliyahu Tikotsky zt”l. A revered talmid chacham, a remnant of a great generation, he passed away at the age of 85. His passing marks the end of an era and leaves a profound void in the streets of Bnei Brak and among the chassidim of Lelov.

Rav Tikotsky was born to his illustrious father, Rav Avraham Yehuda zt”l, a descendant of the Baal Shem Tov. As a child, he endured the bitter exile of World War II, surviving the harrowing chapter of the Holocaust and eventually escaping with the famed Mir Yeshiva to Shanghai.

In later years, he married the daughter of Rav Moshe Krasnianski zt”l and established his home in Switzerland. Eventually, he fulfilled his dream of making aliyah to Eretz Yisroel, where he became deeply attached to the Lelover Rebbes, to whom he remained loyally connected—heart and soul—until his final day. That devotion was warmly reciprocated, as the Rebbes valued and cherished him for his towering spiritual stature.

Rav Tikotsky was a talmid chochomof exceptional depth and breadth, immersed in Torah and avodah, his life illuminated by those twin pillars. He greeted every person with warmth and sincerity.

In his final years, he endured great suffering with remarkable faith and acceptance. On Monday night, shortly before midnight, he was niftar. Within hours, he was laid to rest in the Elad cemetery.

He leaves behind his wife, children, and grandchildren, all following in the path of Torah and mitzvos.

The family is sitting shivah at 9 Rechov Micha in Bnei Brak.

{Matzav.com Israel}

HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch spoke about Israel’s war with Iran in a recent sicha to members of the Teshuvos V’Hanhagos kollel. “The Arabs are now launching many rockets at Eretz Yisroel, causing destruction and devastation to several buildings, with some people killed and others wounded,” the Rav began. “But it’s important to understand: this is not, Chas V’shalom, a coincidence. Anyone who understands knows that this is the voice of Hashem—“קול דודי דופק פתחי לי אחותי רעייתי.” “In every generation, during times of crisis, our ancestors gathered in shuls and Batei Midrash to daven, cry out, and search their hearts to see what needed to be corrected within them. “The Torah says, ‘אם תלכו עמי קרי, והלכתי עמכם בחמת קרי.’ This means that if people say these events are just coincidences, Hashem will show us what it truly looks like when we are left to ‘coincidence’. “The Rambam says that if during times of trouble, people do not cry out but instead say, ‘this is just the way of the world,’ this is cruelty—and such a response will cause even more suffering.” “Hashem’s ways are hidden from us. We have never truly known what lies ahead—not even during the good times. Some people think they understand Hashem’s ways, and that’s why they suddenly have questions when bad things happen. But we know: if we have questions, that doesn’t mean there’s no meaning—it means we accept that nothing happens unless it’s declared from above, even the smallest movement. “We must not panic! We need faith in Hashem. As HaRav Schneider, zt’l would quote during a war: “Every bomb has an address.” A rocket doesn’t fall randomly—Hashem directs it exactly where it lands. And throughout all generations, this has been the way we survived Galus: with faith, without questions. “The Passuk says: “תאמר בלבבך רבים הגויים האלה ממני איכה אוכל להורישם, לא תירא מהם” That our duty now is not to fear them. The truth is that when people believe that the Yeshua comes from natural means this endangers us. Because the only true path to Yeshua is through trust in Hashem. “In Tehillim it says, “מאין יבוא עזרי.” The deeper meaning is only when we realize that our situation is one of absolute helplessness מאין—only then, when we no longer turn to human beings for help, will “יבוא עזרי.” “This is the time of Chevlei Mashiach—the labor pains before the arrival of Mashiach. The Mishnah in Sotah says, “ואין לנו על מי להישען אלא על אבינו שבשמים.” That is, at the end of Galus, we will come to understand that we have no one to lean on but Hashem. Only then will the Galus come, because we’ll finally recognize that we can do nothing on our own—it’s all the will of Hashem. “The Sefarim explain that the reason Hashem brings so many hardships upon us is to bring us to the realization that we desperately need His salvation. “This is clearly expressed in שירת האזינו: “כי ידין ה’ עמו ועל עבדיו יתנחם, כי יראה כי אזלת יד.” It means that Hashem will return to have mercy on us only when we recognize that, according to the laws of nature, there is no hope. As long as we continue to fool ourselves into thinking salvation can come through natural means, we cannot […]

President Donald Trump on Tuesday toured a newly constructed immigration detention facility in the heart of the Florida Everglades, promoting it as a prototype for how states can scale up enforcement and deportation efforts. Republican leaders praised the site as a bold step in supporting Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown.

Trump was joined by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and a group of federal and state officials as they walked through the compound, which was rapidly built by Governor Ron DeSantis’s administration. Completed in just over a week, the center is ready to begin holding migrants starting Wednesday. The facility currently has capacity for 3,000 detainees and can be expanded to hold up to 5,000. “We’re surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland and the only way out is, really, deportation,” Trump said. “This is an amazing thing that they’ve done here.”

Nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” by Florida officials, the site sits on a remote stretch of land roughly 45 miles west of Miami, enveloped by mosquito-infested swamps home to alligators and invasive pythons.

Construction crews assembled the compound in just eight days using tents, trailers, and temporary buildings. Florida is initially footing the estimated $450 million annual cost, which officials say will be reimbursed by FEMA. The setup reflects Florida’s effort to become a central player in implementing Trump’s immigration policy.

Inside the complex, detainees will sleep in bunks arranged in fenced-off sections. Authorities say the center will provide continuous air conditioning, medical services, outdoor recreation, legal counsel, and religious support. While the facility is temporary, it plays a key role in Trump’s plan to increase detention capacity from 41,000 to over 100,000.

Its isolated location is also intended to discourage unlawful entry into the country. Trump joked about the site’s natural fortifications, saying, “You don’t always have land so beautiful and so secure. You have a lot of bodyguards and a lot of cops that are in the form of alligators. You don’t have to pay them so much.”

Backers of the initiative say the compound is a smart, efficient response to a national challenge, while critics view it as an unregulated prison camp hastily built under emergency powers. Still, officials insist it’s a vital piece of the enforcement strategy.

To help speed legal proceedings, DeSantis is proposing that members of the Florida National Guard be sworn in as immigration judges to hear cases onsite, aiming to relieve pressure from an already overloaded court system. “I would ask every other governor to do the exact same thing,” said Noem. “This is unique because we can hold individuals here. They can have their hearings, to get due process and then immediately be flown back home to their home countries.” She added, “I hope my phone rings off the hook from governors calling and saying, ‘How can we do what Florida just did?’”

DeSantis announced that Florida is already preparing another detention facility at Camp Blanding, a National Guard base southwest of Jacksonville. That location is expected to accommodate 2,000 more beds, with construction set to begin after July 4.

Despite the significant investment, some have pointed out that the state already has space available. A report shared with the Associated Press revealed that as of late March, Florida had over 7,500 unused beds in county jails that could have been allocated for immigration detention.

Using emergency authority from a previous executive order issued during President Joe Biden’s term, DeSantis bypassed regulatory obstacles to seize land and begin construction. Critics argue this use of power amounts to a legal overreach.

But state officials argue the urgency justifies the approach. Trump’s deportation campaign has pushed federal detention levels past 56,000 in June—the highest since 2019. “Governor DeSantis has insisted that the state of Florida, under his leadership, will facilitate the federal government in enforcing immigration law,” said a spokesperson for the governor. “Florida will continue to lead on immigration enforcement.”

Protests have erupted at the airfield, drawing a mix of immigration activists, environmental groups, and Native American communities. Demonstrators have gathered near the site, calling attention to the detention center’s environmental and cultural consequences.

Located within Big Cypress National Preserve, the airstrip is near sacred sites and villages belonging to the Miccosukee and Seminole tribes. As construction continued through Shabbos, protesters waved signs, and drivers honked in solidarity.

Concerns over ecological damage have prompted environmental groups including the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Everglades to file a lawsuit last week aimed at stopping the project from moving forward.

WATCH:

Three senior leaders at the English hospital where nurse Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies and trying to kill seven others were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, police said Tuesday. The unnamed suspects being investigated for gross negligence manslaughter were arrested after a corporate manslaughter probe was expanded following Letby’s 2023 convictions for the infant deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital in northwestern England, said Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes of the Cheshire Constabulary. The three were released on bail. “This focuses on senior leadership and their decision-making to determine whether any criminality has taken place concerning the response to the increased levels of fatalities,” Hughes said. Letby, 35, is serving multiple life sentences after being convicted of seven counts of murder and attempting to murder seven other infants between June 2015 and June 2016 while working as a neonatal nurse at the hospital. Prosecutors said she harmed babies in ways that left little trace, including injecting air into their bloodstreams, administering air or milk into their stomachs through nasogastric tubes, poisoning them with insulin and interfering with breathing tubes. Experts dispute evidence against the nurse Letby, who testified that she never harmed a child, has continued to proclaim her innocence and support for her has grown as legal and scientific experts have questioned the circumstantial and statistical evidence used at her trial. A panel of international medical experts disputed the evidence against her and her lawyer said she was wrongly convicted. A judge who oversaw a public inquiry seeking accountability of staff and management at the hospital is expected to publish her findings this fall. Justice Kathryn Thirlwall said at the outset of the inquiry that she would not review Letby’s conviction, but take a deeper look into how failures led babies to repeatedly be harmed at the hospital. As that inquiry was underway earlier this year, an independent panel of more than a dozen medical experts issued a report that found no sign of a crime and concluded natural causes or bad medical care led to the demise of each of the newborns. “In summary, then, ladies and gentlemen, we did not find any murders,” Dr. Shoo Lee, a retired neonatologist from Canada, said at a London news conference in February. Letby’s lawyers and three former executives at the hospital unsuccessfully petitioned Thirlwall to halt the public inquiry after the medical panel released its findings. They argued that if the convictions are overturned, the inquiry might reach the wrong conclusions and waste more than 10 million pounds ($13.8 million) in taxpayer funds. Letby, who lost two bids to appeal her convictions, now has her case before the Criminal Case Review Commission, which reviews possible miscarriages of justice and could lead to one another shot at an appeal. The Crown Prosecution Service has said two juries convicted Letby and three appellate judges had rejected her arguments that the prosecution expert evidence was flawed. While the medical panel said there was no evidence Letby intentionally harmed any babies, they did find that medical workers at the hospital were not properly skilled in resuscitation and inserting breathing tubes, lacked an understanding of some basic procedures, misdiagnosed ailments and acted slowly in treating acutely ill babies. (AP)

Lebanese authorities have intercepted a staggering $8.2 million in cash at Beirut International Airport over the past week, according to a report in the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper citing a judicial source. The money was found stashed in the luggage of three passengers: two had arrived from Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, via Ethiopia, while the third had flown in from Istanbul.

During interrogation, the suspects claimed they were simply transporting money on behalf of Lebanese businessmen based in Africa. They reportedly provided investigators with the names of those who had entrusted them with the funds as well as the intended recipients. Lebanon’s attorney general has ordered the money to be held at the country’s central bank pending the outcome of the investigation.

A banking source told the newspaper that Hezbollah has historically cooperated with Lebanese entrepreneurs working in Africa, facilitating cash transfers through private jets and commercial flights. In exchange, the terror group reportedly took a cut of the smuggled funds. For years, Hezbollah allegedly relied on a network of loyal collaborators at Beirut Airport to carry out such operations. However, the source noted that Hezbollah’s influence at the airport has significantly weakened in the wake of the recent war.

Reporter Roi Kais added that, according to Lebanese sources, Hezbollah typically pocketed around 20% of the money it funneled into Lebanon from abroad, especially from countries in Africa and Latin America. These smuggling proceeds served as a key source of income for the organization, supplementing the financial support it receives from Iran.

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Trump on Tuesday threatened to arrest New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani if he refuses to cooperate with federal immigration authorities seeking to detain undocumented immigrants. Trump’s comments come as he has repeatedly attacked Mamdani, labeling him a communist and suggesting he would pull federal funding from the city if Mamdani were to win the general election. During a press briefing, Trump was asked about Mamdani’s vow — made during his primary victory speech — to block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from conducting deportations in New York City. “Well then, we’ll have to arrest him,” Trump said. “We don’t need a communist in this country, but if we have one, I’m going to be watching over him very carefully on behalf of the nation,” he added. “We send him money. We send him all the things that he needs to run a government.” Mamdani, who won the Democratic primary last week, pledged to use his office to prevent what he described as “masked ICE agents” from deporting New Yorkers. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman delivered a stark message to the Knesset on Monday, cautioning that Israel has no more than three years before another, more severe confrontation with Iran is likely. He pressed the government to overhaul the national budget and mandate that defense expenditures be set at 8 percent of the country’s GDP.

Addressing lawmakers from the Knesset podium and later at his party’s weekly meeting, the former defense minister asserted that Iran is actively seeking retaliation for the recent direct conflict with Israel and is already making headway in restoring its nuclear capabilities. “These are not theoretical threats,” he said. “The next stage will be more complex and more difficult.”

He slammed the current budget process as reckless and said defense funding should not be entangled in political deal-making. “The defense budget must never become a bargaining chip,” he said. Lieberman suggested passing a law to permanently peg defense spending at 8 percent of GDP, insulating it from future coalition bargaining.

Shifting to Israel’s policy on Gaza, Lieberman accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration of helping Hamas stay afloat by approving daily shipments of aid.

“Hamas is alive, breathing and kicking only because the ‘October 7 government’ is pumping medicine, fuel and food into Gaza,” he told reporters. He added that reservists escorting these convoys feel endangered and are limited to firing warning shots, leaving them vulnerable.

He further claimed that reserve soldiers from engineering units were being forced to demolish structures manually due to the absence of heavy equipment and proper armored vehicles. Meanwhile, he said, hundreds of millions of shekels in humanitarian assistance are being funneled into Gaza, funded by Israeli taxpayers.

Lieberman pushed the government to negotiate a deal to free the 120 hostages still being held by Hamas. “If the military pressure has run its course, what are we still doing there?” he asked.

Once the captives return, Lieberman suggested Israel take a page from its approach to Lebanon, pointing to the targeted killings of approximately 200 Hezbollah members by the IDF since November’s ceasefire in the north. “We will hunt down every terrorist who took part in the October 7 massacre until his last day,” he vowed.

The longtime parliamentarian demanded that the government overhaul its entire list of national priorities in anticipation of an eventual clash with Iran. His comments come as the coalition remains divided over the upcoming 2026 budget and as discussions intensify regarding Gaza aid expenditures.

Lieberman acknowledged that his call to revisit the national budget is politically risky and unlikely to win favor among coalition partners. Still, he warned that postponing action would leave the country vulnerable. “Iran’s nuclear program was hit hard,” he admitted, “but it was not destroyed and can be rebuilt. That is what the regime is working on with all its might.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Two Australian nurses who threatened to murder Israeli patients in a widely circulated video earlier this year have been barred from working under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for the next two years, officials announced. The pair, identified as Ahmad Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, were suspended from their roles in February after the shocking footage emerged and provoked outrage across Australia and around the world. Both now face federal charges and are scheduled to appear in court on July 29. The incident came to light after Israeli social media influencer Max Veifer published a video chat with the two nurses on February 12. During the conversation, after Veifer revealed he was Israeli, Nadir told him, “I’m so upset that you’re Israeli… eventually you’re going to get killed and go to [hell].” Abu Lebdeh went further, declaring she would refuse to treat Israeli patients and instead would kill them. Nadir, gesturing menacingly, claimed he had already sent numerous “Israeli dogs” visiting the hospital to “Jahannam,” using the Arabic word for Islamic hell. The threats drew swift condemnation from Jewish organizations, medical associations, and Australian politicians, who denounced the nurses’ conduct as dangerous, hateful, and incompatible with their professional oaths. Under the ban, neither individual may provide any medical or disability-related services funded through the NDIS, which covers Australians under 65 living with significant or permanent disabilities. Federal prosecutors confirmed that both defendants have been separately charged with offenses relating to threats of violence and hate speech. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Saudi Arabia is pressing Israel to fully dismantle Hamas’s rule in Gaza as a non-negotiable condition for advancing a historic normalization agreement, a source close to the Saudi royal court told i24NEWS. “Without removing Hamas, there will be no peace,” the source reportedly told Middle East correspondent Ariel Oseran, underscoring Riyadh’s firm line as regional and U.S. negotiators push to expand the Abraham Accords framework. According to the report, Saudi leaders envision the Palestinian Authority, headed by Mahmoud Abbas, stepping back into power in Gaza once Hamas is ousted. The revelation signals that any premature cease-fire or negotiated settlement with Hamas still in place could jeopardize not only Israel’s goals in Gaza but also its hopes of forging broader ties with Arab and Muslim countries — a central pillar of the Trump administration’s regional strategy. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Lululemon has filed a lawsuit against Costco that accuses the wholesale club operator of selling lower-priced duplicates of some of its popular athleisure clothing. Lululemon Athletica claims in its lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California that Costco has “unlawfully traded” on its reputation, goodwill and sweat equity by selling unauthorized and unlicensed apparel that uses knockoff, infringing versions of its patents. Lululemon alleges that Costco is known to use manufacturers of popular branded products for its private label Kirkland brand, but that the company and the manufacturers don’t tell consumers of the connection between them for many of the Kirkland-branded products. Because of this, Lululemon claims this leads at least some shoppers to believe that Kirkland-branded products are made by the authentic supplier of the “original” products. Lululemon claims Costco doesn’t try to dispel the ambiguity. “As an innovation-led company that invests significantly in the research, development, and design of our products, we take the responsibility of protecting and enforcing our intellectual property rights very seriously and pursue the appropriate legal action when necessary,” a Lululemon company spokesperson said in a statement. Some of the products Lululemon says Costco is making duplicates of include its popular Scuba hoodies, Define jackets, and ABC pants. Lululemon claims one of the duplicates that Costco sells is the Hi-Tec Men’s Scuba Full Zip, with the lawsuit showing a screenshot image of Costco’s website showing the item priced at $19.97. Lululemon sells several men’s jackets that cost more than $100 each. Costco, based in Issaquah, Washington, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. Lululemon is requesting a jury trial and wants Costco to stop selling the products that it considers to be duplicates. It is also seeking an unspecified amount in monetary damages. Lulemon was in a similar legal dispute with Peloton in 2021. Two years later the companies announced a five-year partnership that included Lululemon becoming the primary athletic apparel partner to Peloton. (AP)

President Trump announced on Tuesday that Israel has consented to the terms required to move forward with a proposed 60-day cease-fire agreement with Hamas.

“My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza. Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He emphasized the important role that regional mediators have played in pushing the deal forward, while issuing a clear message to Hamas. “The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring Peace, will deliver this final proposal. I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,” the president concluded.

Israel’s military campaign against Hamas has been ongoing since October 7, 2023, when the terror organization launched a deadly assault against the country.

The most recent truce between the two sides lasted from January 19 until March 18, marking the last time hostilities paused.

{Matzav.com}

I am filled with admiration and respect for the askonim and baalei battim who have invested countless hours and significant resources to build two new halls in Lakewood, providing a valuable option for those who prefer affordable chassunas rather than spending exorbitant sums on a five-hour wedding. At the same time, it is only fair to acknowledge and express deep hakaras hatov to the existing halls and caterers in Lakewood who have been offering affordable chassuna packages for many years — far below the standard market rates. Foremost among them is Bais Faiga, together with Greenwald Caterers, who for the past 30 years have hosted thousands of weddings at unbelievably low prices. For most of those years, this was achieved without outside subsidies or wealthy donors. R’ Itche Meir Greenwald has been catering these weddings from the very beginning, operating on a minimal profit, motivated not by status or askonus, but by a desire to serve the community. It is also important to note that the Bais Faiga/Ateres Chana chassuna packages, as well as other affordable options in Lakewood, include music, photography, videography, beautifully arranged artificial flowers, and a kallah’s bouquet as part of their offerings. In closing, I want to extend my heartfelt wishes of hatzlacha to the new halls and a sincere tizku l’mitzvos to everyone involved. My greatest hope is that the mosdos who rely on the rental of their chassuna halls to make their mortgage payments will not be negatively impacted by these new initiatives. Signed, A.S. The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review. 

Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that he intends to strongly press Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to put an end to the Gaza conflict during the latter’s upcoming trip to Washington.

In remarks to the press, Trump said Netanyahu shares the desire to conclude the fighting through a hostage deal and ceasefire. “He wants it too,” Trump noted.

Reiterating what he said earlier in the day, Trump expressed confidence that a resolution is near. “I think we’ll have a deal next week,” he predicted.

Trump also mentioned that his discussions with Netanyahu will cover the Gaza situation as well as what he called “the great success we had with Iran,” saying, “We want to get the hostages back.”

These comments came shortly after Netanyahu publicly announced on Monday that he would travel to the United States for a meeting with Trump.

The Israeli leader is scheduled to depart for Washington on Saturday and is expected to meet Trump on Monday, July 7. On the day prior to his departure, Netanyahu’s office reportedly held internal deliberations on the ongoing negotiations for a hostage deal with Hamas, which insiders say are making headway.

“There is a positive dynamic and lively activity on the issue of negotiations,” one senior Israeli official told The Times of Israel.

Following Trump’s public remarks suggesting Netanyahu now supports reaching a ceasefire and hostage deal, Israeli ministers told Channel 12 on Tuesday evening that, for the first time, Netanyahu appears inclined to wrap up the war effort sooner rather than later.

The same report indicated that indirect communication channels with Hamas could resume while Netanyahu is in Washington.

Israeli officials, speaking to Channel 12, noted that Washington is applying considerable diplomatic pressure on Qatar, which in turn is pressing Hamas. “We are more optimistic. There are solutions being put together, and more positive approach to moving forward,” one official said.

According to the network, Israel is now showing increased willingness to compromise on the phrasing regarding how the war concludes—more so than in prior talks.

This came after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday regarding the war effort, where IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly had a heated exchange with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir about the military campaign’s direction.

Zamir reportedly told them, “Hamas is dead,” citing the group’s minimal rocket fire—only one launched—during the recent 12-day conflict with Iran. The report said Smotrich and Ben Gvir responded by advocating for a more forceful application of Trump’s plan to relocate Gazans.

Zamir is also said to have warned against trying to seize full control of Gaza, arguing it would endanger the remaining hostages and expose Israel to serious legal risks on the international stage.

While the discussion was ongoing, Netanyahu repeated that the war would not end until Hamas is defeated. However, sources told the outlet he might redefine what “defeat” means in order to wrap up the conflict in the near term.

At a cabinet meeting on Monday, Netanyahu said he also plans to meet with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and various congressional leaders.

Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, already in Washington preparing for the visit, was expected to meet with Witkoff, Rubio, and Vance.

Witkoff is currently brokering the ceasefire-hostage negotiations. A draft of his latest offer, confirmed by two sources to The Times of Israel, proposes a 60-day pause in fighting. During this time, Hamas would free 10 living Israeli hostages and return the remains of 18 others. If a lasting ceasefire is achieved, the rest of the hostages would then be released.

Sources close to Hamas told the London-based Al-Sharq Al-Awsat that the group’s reply to the Witkoff plan was largely positive, though it included several conditions.

A source involved in the mediation told The Times of Israel that Hamas’s response included a provision that would make it more difficult for Israel to resume military action if permanent ceasefire talks fail after the 60-day truce ends.

This source noted that Hamas also sought to alter other elements of the proposal, suggesting that a longer and more detailed negotiation process would now be necessary.

One of the changes submitted by Hamas involves spreading the release of the 10 hostages over the entire duration of the ceasefire rather than splitting them into two groups on days one and seven, as the American plan had proposed.

According to the source, Hamas introduced this modification to ensure Netanyahu would not exit the talks once the hostages were released, as they claim he did during a previous temporary ceasefire in January.

Back in May, Netanyahu told families of the hostages that he was, in principle, supportive of Witkoff’s outline.

{Matzav.com}

A pillar of the Sanz chassidus has been lost with the passing of Rav Yitzchok Eizik Meir Zalmanowitz z”l, devoted meshamesh bakodesh to the Sanz Rebbe who was niftar at the age of 72 after an illness.

His levayah is scheduled for Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. outside the Ohel Nechemia beis medrash in Kiryat Sanz, Netanya, and will continue to the Sanz section of the Shikun Vatikim cemetery, where he will be laid to rest.

Rav Zalmanowitz was born on 29 Av 5712 to his illustrious father, Rav Yisroel Aryeh Zalmanowitz zt”l, author of Chayei Nefesh, who served as the rov of Acco and was the founding rov of Kiryat Sanz in Netanya, as well as head of its institutions. His mother was Rebbetzin Leah a”h.

His bris took place on 6 Elul in the old village of Kefar Yavneh, where none other than the Chazon Ish zt”l served as sandek. He was named Yitzchok Eizik Meir.

Raised in a home steeped in Torah and communal leadership, Rav Zalmanowitz learned as a child in the local cheder in Yavneh, later continuing in Kiryat Sanz after the family moved there when he was eight years old. He quickly distinguished himself as an exceptional student in Torah, yiras Shamayim, and middos tovos. He also spent a year learning in the Tchebin Yeshiva in Yerushalayim, where he learned b’chavrusa with Rav Yosef Moshe Schneerson, who is now the rosh yeshiva.

As a young man, he married Rebbetzin Chaya Tova, the daughter of Rav Chaim Shlomo Rabinowitz zt”l, a beloved figure in Yerushalayim and a descendant of the Rebbe of Peshischa.

The couple lived in Yerushalayim, where Rav Zalmanowitz was counted among the outstanding avreichim in the famed Kollel Rav Acha. In 5738, he was called by the Rebbe, the Shefa Chaim of Sanz zt”l, to serve as mashgiach ruchani in the Kiryat Sanz yeshiva ketanah in Netanya. His warmth, compassion, and refined character left an indelible impression on the talmidim, who recall him as a fatherly figure and role model of avodas Hashem.

From his youth, Rav Zalmanowitz was deeply attached to the Shefa Chaim, serving him with total devotion and meriting rare affection and closeness from the Rebbe.

Over forty years ago, he accepted the role of personal assistant to the Rebbe—then still the young rov of Kiryat Sanz—and for nearly four decades became the closest confidant and most trusted aide in the Rebbe’s court.

He and the current Rebbe were classmates and shared a profound bond. The Rebbe entrusted him with the most sensitive and significant matters of the chassidus, and for many years Rav Zalmanowitz was the primary conduit for all matters entering and leaving the Rebbe’s private domain.

Sanzer chassidim recounted that Rabbi Zalmanowitz never treated the role casually, even after decades of service. Each day, he would prepare himself with awe, purity, and reverence, approaching the Rebbe’s door with trembling respect as though it were his first day on the job. Despite the tremendous closeness he enjoyed with the Rebbe, his sense of awe never diminished.

In his later years, after falling ill, he asked the Rebbe for permission to retire from his position. However, the Rebbe instructed him to continue, and he remained in his role until just before his final hospitalization, from which he did not recover.

Rabbi Zalmanowitz was known for his boundless kindness, offering a listening ear and understanding heart to all who came to him, even during difficult periods in his own life. His signature smile warmed everyone he encountered.

He leaves behind a remarkable legacy of children, sons-in-law, and grandchildren who follow in his path.

He was predeceased a decade ago by his brother, Rav Eliyahu Zalmanowitz zt”l, who served as rosh kollel of Gorlitz in Bnei Brak.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}