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An emergency session of the UN Security Council is set for Monday, where members are expected to voice strong opposition to Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland as an independent state.

The move drew swift international criticism, with Somalia’s government in Mogadishu accusing Israel of a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty. Egypt, Turkey, the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Saudi-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation also issued condemnations.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, responded by stressing Israel’s approach, saying that “Israel will act responsibly and we will continue to cooperate with partners who contribute to regional stability.”

The European Union joined the growing chorus of criticism. In a statement, Brussels said, “The European Union reaffirms the importance of respecting the unity, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia pursuant of its constitution, the Charters of the African Union and the United Nations.” The statement added, “This is key for the peace and stability of the entire Horn of Africa region,” and noted that “The EU encourages meaningful dialogue between Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia to resolve long-standing differences.”

Israel announced the recognition on Friday, just days before Somalia is scheduled to assume the rotating presidency of the Security Council. In unveiling the decision, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the step was “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” adding that Israel and Somaliland would work together in “economic fields, on agriculture, [and] in the fields of social development.”

A joint declaration released yesterday by 21 countries — most of them from the Middle East or Africa — together with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, rejected Israel’s action “given the serious repercussions of such unprecedented measure on peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and its serious effects on international peace and security as a whole.” The countries, including Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran, also emphasized “the full rejection of any potential link between such measure and any attempts to forcibly expel the Palestinian people out of their land.”

The same statement warned that “the recognition of parts of states constitutes a serious precedent and threatens international peace and security, and violates the cardinal principles of international law and the United Nations Charter.”

Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, operates as a self-proclaimed republic with its own currency, passports, and military, and occupies a strategic location on the Gulf of Aden, across from Yemen and near Djibouti. Despite this, it has remained largely diplomatically isolated. Israel is now the only UN member state to formally recognize Somaliland’s independence.

In past discussions, Somaliland has occasionally been mentioned as a possible destination for Gazans leaving the war-torn Strip, a notion that has heightened sensitivities around Israel’s recognition.

Notably absent from the joint statement were the three countries that normalized relations with Israel in 2020 — the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco. Syria issued a separate declaration rejecting Israel’s move.

The US State Department also weighed in, saying it continues to recognize the territorial integrity of Somalia, “which includes the territory of Somaliland.”

{Matzav.com}

Hamas is moving to select a new leader within days or weeks, a decision that could shape the terror group’s strategy toward Israel, Iran, and the Arab world as the war in Gaza grinds on, according to a report by the Saudi outlet Asharq citing sources close to Hamas’s leadership. The report says Hamas has […]

Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland as an independent state has triggered furious backlash across the Muslim world, exposing fresh geopolitical fault lines and underscoring the quiet but widening divide between Israel’s Abraham Accords partners and much of the region. A bloc of 21 mostly Muslim countries, including Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran, as […]

Thailand and Cambodia signed a ceasefire agreement on Saturday to end weeks of fighting along their border over competing territorial claims. The agreement took effect at noon (0500 GMT) and calls for a halt in military movements and airspace violation for military purposes. Only Thailand has carried out airstrikes, hitting sites in Cambodia as recently […]

WATCH:

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen warned Saturday it would immediately respond to any military movements of separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates that undermine de-escalation efforts in the southern region of Yemen, as the United States urged diplomacy. “Any military movements that violate these efforts will be dealt with directly and immediately in order […]

The wife of a chareidi teacher who was wounded in a terror attack on Friday described harrowing moments following the assault, saying the terrorist attempted to crush her husband’s skull after running him down.

Among those injured in the attacks in the Afula and Beit She’an areas was Yaakov Gerber, 37, a melamed from Hadera who was struck by a vehicle in Afula. The attacker was later neutralized by a passerby. Gerber was evacuated to Rambam Medical Center, where he was treated in the trauma unit while conscious.

Gerber recounted the incident, saying he had been returning from the school in Hadera where he teaches and was walking on the sidewalk near the dormitories junction in Afula. “I saw a pickup truck coming toward me and mounting the sidewalk. At first I thought it might be an accident and that the driver had veered off the road, but he kept advancing. I tried to run toward a nearby field, but he hit me. I remember being on the ground and feeling blows to my head. Then people came to help and called an ambulance,” he said.

His wife, Naomi Gerber, who manages Meuhedet clinics in Afula, told Ynet on Friday that her husband suffered a head injury. “It horrifies me to think that this terrible terrorist hit Yaakov and then got out of the vehicle and tried to smash his skull with blows or with some other object—we don’t know exactly what,” she said. “We are praying that he recovers and that the injuries are reversible.”

Gerber was treated over Shabbos in a surgical ward. His condition improved, and he was released from the hospital on Saturday evening and returned home. He is a member of the chareidi community in Afula Illit, led by the city’s mara d’asra, Rabbi Betzalel HaKohen Kook.

In the broader terror attack carried out by a Palestinian illegal entrant from northern Samaria in the Jezreel Valley region, two people were murdered. Aviv Maor, 18, from Ein Harod Ihud, was stabbed to death near the kibbutz, and Shimshon Mordechai, 68, from Beit She’an, was killed after being run over in the city. Two additional people were injured: a 16-year-old boy who was struck at the first scene in Beit She’an and suffered light injuries, and Gerber, who was hit at the final scene in Afula, where the attacker was neutralized by a civilian.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yissachar Dov Rosenthal zt”l, the longtime rov of the Mishkenos Sha’ananim and Nachlaot neighborhoods of Yerushalayim. He was 96.

In recent weeks, Rav Rosenthal’s health had declined. During Chanukah he was hospitalized in serious condition. He was niftar on Shabbos morning at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.

Rav Rosenthal was born on the 21st of Iyar, 5689 (1929), to his father Rav Avraham Dovid Rosenthal, a renowned dayan who served as Raavad of the beis din founded by Rav Shmuel Salant and author of Be’er HaMelech, and to his mother, Rebbetzin Ruchama Keilah Yehudis, daughter of Rav Alter Yosef Zundel Shub.

He married Rebbetzin Sima, daughter of Rav Shlomo Tzadok Zeibald. Throughout her life, she devoted herself selflessly so that her husband could dedicate himself fully to Torah, rabbanus, and bringing Jews closer to their Father in Heaven.

Over the years, Rav Rosenthal was appointed rov of the Mishkenos Sha’ananim and Nachlaot neighborhoods in Yerushalayim, a position he held with distinction for decades. He also served as nasi of Yeshivas Ziv Yisrael.

He is survived by a distinguished family—sons and daughters, and many grandchildren and descendants—continuing his legacy of Torah and yiras Shamayim.

The levayah took place on Motzaei Shabbos, Parshas Vayigash, departing from Shamgar Funeral Home and proceeding to Har Hazeisim for kevurah.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

The meeting of the Chassidishe Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of the Agudas Yisroel faction of UTJ, which was scheduled to convene to determine the party’s official stance on the proposed draft law, was canceled due to the medical condition of the Gerer Rebbe.

During Shabbos, the Rebbe did not participate in tefillos, and following this development, a decision was made to postpone the gathering.

Estimates indicate that the meeting will likely be rescheduled for later in the week.

The canceled session was regarded as politically significant, as it was set to take place in the midst of intensive deliberations in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee over the draft law, which is being advanced by committee chairman Boaz Bismuth.

The meeting was expected to be attended by members of the Chassidishe Moetzes, including the Rebbes of Ger, Belz, Vizhnitz, Sanz, Boyan, Slonim, Biala, Seret-Vizhnitz, and Modzitz, along with the faction’s Knesset members, Yitzchok Goldknopf, Meir Porush, Yisrael Eichler, and Yaakov Tessler.

At this stage, it remains unclear whether all members of the Moetzes will be able to participate in the rescheduled session.

The Moetzes is expected to oppose the legislation. However, with only four Knesset seats, its opposition alone is insufficient to bring down the coalition. In contrast, Shas and Degel HaTorah, which together hold 14 mandates, are at present supporting the advancement of the law, giving it a projected majority of 64 Knesset members.

That picture could change if additional lawmakers from Likud or other coalition factions join the opposition. Among those who have already expressed reservations about the law in its current form are Yuli Edelstein, Dan Illouz, and Sharren Haskel. Should such opposition grow, the coalition’s majority could erode, making passage of the law significantly more complicate and potentially politically perilous for the government.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of mekubal Rav Chanania Aryeh Baron zt”l, one of the rabbonim of Yeshiva Beit El in the Old City of Yerushalayim. He was niftar on Shabbos at the age of 91.

Rav Baron was born on the 12th of Iyar, 5694, to his father, Rav Avraham Chaim, among the distinguished אנשי ירושלים והכותל המערבי for many decades. He was a devoted talmid of Rav Baruch Shalom HaLevi Ashlag and would frequently go to be mispallel and to hear shiurim in Zohar at the Ashlag beis medrash.

For many years, Rav Baron lived on Rechov Yismach Moshe in Bnei Brak. In recent years, he moved to Modi’in Illit, where he resided near his children. Despite the distance, he traveled daily to Yerushalauyim, where he was shoked al talmudo at Yeshiva Beit El in the Old City. He was a great baki in Toras HaKabbalah and was known as a tzaddik nistar.

In Iyar 5784, his wife, Rebbetzin Bracha Brenda Baron a”h, passed away.

The levayah took place tonight, Motzaei Shabbos Parshas Vayigash. It departed from his home on Rechov Chafetz Chaim in Modi’in Illit, continued from the beis medrash Toras Chacham on Rechov Ohaley Yosef 18 in Yerushalayim, and concluded with kevurah on Har HaMenuchos.

The family is sitting shivah at Rechov Chafetz Chaim 10 in Modi’in Illit.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli security forces have imposed a “complete siege and cordon” on the Palestinian city of Qabatiya in northern Samaria, from where a terrorist set out on his killing spree in northern Israel the previous day, Defense Minister Yisroel Katz stated this evening.

The Israel Defense Forces are “operating with full force against the terror hotspots in the village of Qabatiya from which the terrorist murder set forth,” he tweeted.

“We will continue to lead an uncompromising offensive policy against Palestinian terrorism in the terror camps in northern Samaria and throughout Judea and Samaria. Whoever provides backing and shelter to terrorism will pay the full price,” Katz added.

Two people were killed and two wounded in an attack that lasted 50 minutes in the Beit She’an Valley before the terrorist was shot and detained in the entrance to the city of Afula, according to Hebrew-language outlet Ynet.

The sole assailant, identified as Ahmad Abu al-Rub, a 34-year-old Palestinian man from Qabatiya, near Jenin, had been working illegally in Israel, the Kan public broadcaster reported.

He was subsequently hospitalized in moderate condition. On Saturday, he was released from the hospital and transferred to a security facility for questioning by the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet).

On Saturday, the Israel Border Police’s Yamam National Counter-Terrorism Unit and the Shin Bet arrested two brothers of Abu al-Rub, the police said in a statement. They were transferred for questioning by the Northern Police District’s Central Unit together with the Shin Bet.

“Following yesterday’s deadly attack in the city of Beit She’an, on Route 71, and in Afula, rapid investigative actions raised the suspicion that the terrorist had been inside the territory of the State of Israel together with his two brothers, aged 30 and 33, who had been staying in the Galilee area in recent days,” the statement read.

“Overnight, after indications emerged regarding the whereabouts of the two brothers—who had been acting to conceal their location—Yamam fighters, together with Shin Bet forces, and with the assistance of numerous forces from the Northern District, Border Police fighters and National Guard Border Police units, raided an agricultural structure near the town of Arraba and carried out their arrest,” the statement continued.

Arraba is an Arab city in Israel’s Lower Galilee.

The police said the arrests were followed by the apprehension of Abu al-Rub’s employer the previous day.

“The employer’s vehicle was used by the terrorist during the deadly killing spree. This evening, the police are expected to request an extension of the suspects’ detention at the magistrate’s court in Nazareth,” the Israel Police added.

Meanwhile, IDF soldiers continued to operate in the Qabatiya area throughout Saturday.

Military forces mapped the terrorist’s home and have begun sealing it before its demolition, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said.

The seizure and sealing order was signed by the head of the IDF Central Command, Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth.

The troops, together with commando forces, arrested several suspects involved in terrorist activities and questioned dozens of additional suspects at the scene, the IDF added.

The terrorist attack on Friday began some time before 12:30 p.m.

The Magen David Adom emergency medical services organization received a call about an injured woman on Route 71, near Kibbutz Ein Harod in the Gilboa region.

The woman, 19, had been run over and then stabbed. She was later pronounced dead at HaEmek Medical Center in Afula and identified as Aviv Maor from Ein Harod.

Shortly beforehand, a man aged 69, identified as Shimshon Mordechai, was fatally struck by a vehicle in Beit She’an. A 16-year-old boy was attacked in a separate ramming incident in the city and was reported to have light injuries. A 37-year-old man was later wounded when the terrorist got out of his car and attacked him with a rock outside Afula.

{Matzav.com}

Americans may be in for larger-than-usual tax refunds next filing season, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who says the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act could produce a noticeable windfall when returns are filed.

Speaking on the All-In Podcast, Bessent explained that the tax changes signed by President Donald Trump in July were applied retroactively to the start of the year. Because most workers did not revise their payroll withholding after the law took effect, he said many households may receive the benefit in the form of refunds rather than higher paychecks throughout the year.

“I can see that we’re gonna have a gigantic refund year in the first quarter because working Americans did not change their withholdings,” Bessent told the “All-In Podcast” hosts. “I think households could see, depending on the number of workers, $1,000- $2,000 refunds.”

An independent analysis points in the same direction. In a December 17 report, the Tax Foundation said that refunds are likely to be larger than usual in the upcoming filing season as a result of the OBBBA’s tax reductions for 2025.

According to the group, the legislation lowered individual tax liabilities by an estimated $144 billion for the year. Outside projections suggest that as much as $100 billion of that reduction could show up in the form of higher refunds. While the impact will vary by taxpayer, the foundation said the average refund could rise by as much as $1,000.

“But because the IRS did not adjust withholding tables after the law passed, workers generally continued to withhold more taxes from their paychecks than the new law required. As a result, instead of gradually receiving the benefit of the tax cuts through higher take-home pay during the year, most taxpayers will receive it all at once when they file their returns,” the Tax Foundation wrote.

The organization also outlined several provisions in the OBBBA that could drive refunds higher, citing expanded or new tax breaks such as a larger child tax credit, a higher standard deduction, an increased cap on the SALT deduction, and added deductions tied to senior income, auto loan interest, tips, and overtime pay.

{Matzav.com}

Podcast host Joe Rogan said the newly installed White House plaques commenting on past presidents cross a line and risk turning a historic institution into a political weapon.

Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience with comedian Shane Gillis, Rogan reacted strongly after reading the plaque describing President Joe Biden.

“This is so crazy,” Rogan said. “You shouldn’t be allowed to do this. Right?”

Rogan argued that such descriptions should be written by historians rather than the sitting president, saying the plaques undermine the dignity of the White House. He took particular issue with language on Biden’s plaque that labels him “Sleepy Joe Biden,” a nickname used by President Donald Trump.

“‘Nicknamed both “Sleepy” and “Crooked,”‘” Rogan said. “— by you! Nicknamed? Like the whole public got together — ‘I’ve got a name for this guy!’”

He warned that allowing one president to editorialize about predecessors could open the door for retaliation and chaos.

“Someone needs to tell him like, ‘Hey, this is not good. You can’t do that, because other people could do that too and then the White House stops being the White House,’” Rogan said, adding that it could become “whoever is in its house, where he could just go crazy and say everybody else is a crook.”

Gillis commented that the language was not helping Trump counter accusations that he governs like a strongman, though he suggested future presidents were unlikely to repeat the move.

“God, I hope not,” Rogan replied.

The discussion turned to hypothetical future leaders, with Gillis saying California Gov. Gavin Newsom would probably avoid similar behavior if elected president.

“Of course he would,” Rogan shot back. “He copies everything that Trump does. He even tries to talk like Trump on Twitter. You don’t think that he would put up plaques that talk about how corrupt Trump was and about how terrible — ‘He was quoted as lying over 5,000 times by The Washington Post,’ you know.”

The plaques were installed last week beneath photographs of past presidents lining the West Wing Colonnade, part of what has been dubbed a “Presidential Walk of Fame.” Several inscriptions ridicule the presidents depicted, while others insert flattering references to Trump.

Biden’s plaque, placed under an image of an autopen, calls him “the worst president in American history.” A plaque for President Obama describes him as “one of the most divisive political figures in American history.”

Another plaque referencing President Clinton highlights Trump’s 2016 election victory over Hillary Clinton, who served as first lady from 1993 to 2001. The plaque beneath President Reagan’s image states that the 40th president was “a fan of President Donald J. Trump long before President Trump’s Historic run for the White House.”

{Matzav.com}

A political science professor from Morgan State University sharply criticized U.S. military action in Nigeria, saying the strikes reflect what he views as a pattern of force used by the Trump administration rather than a coherent foreign policy response.

Appearing Sunday on The Weekend on MS NOW, Jason Johnson told host Eugene Daniels that the justification for the operation does not align with past rhetoric from President Donald Trump, particularly regarding African nations.

“Look, if the president of the United States suddenly decided that he cared about the very same countries that he called [garbage] countries five years ago — that the president of the United States sat there with a giant chess board … and was like, ‘Where should the Barbs go?’ OK, fine. Maybe this all makes sense, but it doesn’t,” Johnson said.

He argued that the airstrikes were less about humanitarian concern and more about demonstrating strength abroad.

“We know that this is just another opportunity for this administration to engage in violence in a Brown country in order to flex their power.”

Johnson also pointed to remarks made last week by rapper Nicki Minaj at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest 2025, where she called for greater attention to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, a claim frequently echoed by Republicans.

The professor questioned whether widely circulated figures about Christian deaths in the country are accurate.

“BBC did a whole investigation as to whether or not the numbers being spread by Republicans are even true. Has it been 100,000 people? Has it been 6,000 people? Are they conflating different kinds of numbers?” Johnson asked.

He further contended that extremist groups operating in Nigeria are not selectively targeting one faith community, pushing back on claims that Christians are uniquely under assault.

“They don’t care if you are a Christian or a Muslim or any other religion. They’re attacking everybody,” Johnson said, adding that Republicans are overstating the scope of anti-Christian violence.

Johnson did acknowledge what he described as a limited positive aspect of the operation, noting that it was carried out in coordination with Nigeria’s government rather than as a unilateral U.S. action, a nuance he said has largely been overlooked.

On Thursday night, Trump announced the strikes in a Truth Social post, saying the U.S. military carried out airstrikes in northwest Nigeria on Christmas targeting ISIS militants he blamed for killing Christians.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” Trump wrote.

The operation was later confirmed by U.S. Africa Command in a post on X.

The strikes came amid a recent wave of attacks in Nigeria involving Christian communities and institutions. Last month, gunmen attacked the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, killing two people and abducting dozens of worshipers, who were released nearly a week later.

Days afterward, armed attackers raided St. Mary’s School in Niger State, abducting more than 300 students and staff. Officials said 50 students between the ages of 10 and 18 managed to escape in the days that followed, while 253 students and 12 teachers remain in captivity.

{Matzav.com}

Rudy Giuliani said New York City still has the capacity to safely host massive public events if its leaders place confidence in law enforcement and base decisions on intelligence rather than fear, arguing that canceling celebrations in response to threats only emboldens enemies.

Speaking on Newsmax’s “Saturday Report” on Shabbos, the former mayor contrasted New York with Paris, which canceled live New Year’s Eve festivities this year amid ISIS-related concerns. Giuliani said the determining factor should be police preparedness, not political pressure or public anxiety.

“If it were me in New York, I would go ahead, but that’s because I know I have the greatest police department in the world,” Giuliani said, adding that the city is still being run by Mayor Eric Adams and not by “the communist who’s going to run it,” a reference to Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

Giuliani expressed confidence in current police leadership, describing Police Commissioner Jessica Sarah Tisch as a “fine police commissioner in the right tradition,” and said he remains “very confident” in the city’s ability to safeguard large crowds.

“If New York can’t pull this off, nobody can,” Giuliani said.

He drew on his own experience overseeing security for Times Square during the turn of the millennium, when al-Qaida threats raised serious concerns nationwide. Giuliani recalled that despite warnings linked to Osama bin Laden and the decision by other cities to cancel events, New York proceeded after intensive preparation.

“We invested an enormous amount of money. We started our security a month before,” Giuliani said.

“For three days before, police officers were on the ground making sure there was nothing there. It was a very close decision.”

Giuliani said that choice followed close consultation with then-FBI Director Louis Freeh and a reliance on NYPD assessments rather than outside pressure.

“If the greatest police department in the world couldn’t deal with a bunch of horrible terrorists, then we were in terrible trouble,” he said.

“We’re much stronger, much smarter, much more moral than they are,” Giuliani added.

He warned, however, that future political leadership could undermine public safety, saying he is deeply concerned about Mamdani’s views and the people advising him.

“He isn’t surrounded by a single sensible adult moderate adviser,” Giuliani said.

“People focus on his being a communist and an antisemite, but he’s also a supporter of Islamic terrorism — he supports Hamas, he doesn’t condemn them.”

Giuliani also criticized Mamdani’s opposition to police sweeps of homeless encampments, arguing that ignoring quality-of-life enforcement leads directly to increased violence.

“Instead of taking care of the small things, you’re making the small things bigger,” Giuliani said. “You’re breeding violence on the streets of the city.”

Shifting briefly to a more upbeat subject, Giuliani voiced support for upcoming plans to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, including special ceremonial ball drops in Times Square tied to both New Year’s Eve and Independence Day.

“It is important to celebrate our history, our tradition,” he said.

“Our culture is greater than any one person. If we take care of our part, we’ll squish out the immature, communist, terrorist-loving Jew haters,” Giuliani said.

Giuliani concluded by calling for unity, resolve, and vigilance as the nation enters a new year amid ongoing global security challenges.

{Matzav.com}

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Scott Jennings predicts President Trump could win the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize if he helps broker an end to the Russia‑Ukraine war, suggesting that successfully resolving the conflict might earn him the prestigious award.

A late-night social media post from Elon Musk ignited a fierce debate over New York City’s incoming leadership at the Fire Department, after Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced his choice to place longtime EMS official Lillian Bonsignore at the helm of the nation’s largest fire service.

Responding Friday to a circulating video that underscored Bonsignore’s lack of frontline firefighting experience, Musk delivered a blunt warning on X. “People will die because of this,” he wrote, adding shortly after, “Proven experience matters when lives are at stake.”

The criticism quickly spread as details of the appointment became widely known. Bonsignore, who spent 31 years with the FDNY as an emergency medical technician before retiring in 2022, is set to become only the second woman to run the department. She will also make history as its first openly gay commissioner.

Despite Musk’s dire prediction, the selection arrived with institutional backing. The three unions representing city firefighters, FDNY officers, and medics publicly endorsed Mamdani’s decision, signaling confidence from within the department’s ranks.

Online reaction, however, was swift and polarized. Musk’s post surged past 25 million views in its first day and drew more than 184,000 likes, as critics piled on with sharp commentary. “Here we go again,” wrote attorney and media personality Megyn Kelly.

Others were harsher. “Zohran Mamdani appointed Lillian Bonsignore as new FDNY Commissioner. Only problem is…she’s never been a firefighter. Word of advice, you can’t put out fires with rainbow flags,” posted Infowars host Breanna Morello. Eric Daugherty of RightLine News went further, declaring, “This is a freaking train wreck. Glad I don’t live in NYC.”

Supporters countered that the criticism ignored recent precedent. Retired NYPD lieutenant John Macari argued that operational firefighting experience has not been a prerequisite for the role in recent years. “The last 2 FDNY Fire Commissioners appointed by [NYC Mayor] Eric Adams had 0 actual FDNY operational experience,” he wrote. He continued, “Eric Adams current NYPD Police Commissioner [Jessica Tisch] also has 0 Law Enforcement experience. Lillian Bonsignore has 30 years of FDNY EMS experience. The overwhelming majority of calls handled by firefighters are EMS runs.”

Praise also came from a former occupant of the office. Former FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, who herself did not come up through firefighting ranks, applauded the move on LinkedIn. “When I was sworn in, I said it only meant something to be first if I wasn’t the last. I’m so happy I didn’t have to wait long for that to be the case,” she wrote. She added, “Mayor-elect Mamdani has made a terrific choice, and the City and FDNY are lucky to have her.”

Bonsignore is slated to take command of the department once Mamdani is sworn in on Jan. 1, assuming responsibility for America’s largest fire service at a moment of intense public scrutiny.

The transition comes amid other changes at City Hall. Earlier this week, Mayor Eric Adams announced a separate appointment to manage the department through the final days of his administration. Mark Guerra, who had been serving in an interim capacity, was named to replace Robert Tucker following Tucker’s resignation last month.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump is reportedly meeting with his economic team at Mar-a-Lago in the coming days to unveil what could be the most aggressive housing plan in U.S. history.

The president of the Kennedy Center on Friday fiercely criticized a musician’s sudden decision to cancel a Christmas Eve performance at the venue days after the White House announced that President Donald Trump’s name would be added to the facility. “Your decision to withdraw at the last moment — explicitly in response to the Center’s […]