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Deep concern continues to spread throughout the Torah world in Eretz Yisroel and across the globe over the deteriorating medical condition of the renowned mekubal and tzaddik, Rav Dov Kook of Teveria, who was hospitalized over the weekend and remains in need of extensive rachamei Shamayim.

Powerful and emotional scenes unfolded Monday night at the conclusion of the regular shiur delivered by his father-in-law, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, rov of the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood in Bnei Brak and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah.

Rav Zilberstein interrupted his shiur and, speaking through tears, addressed the hundreds of participants with brief but stirring remarks about the greatness of Rav Kook and the urgent need for tefillos on his behalf.

Using unusually lofty expressions rarely heard from him publicly, Rav Zilberstein described his son-in-law as someone upon whom the generation depends.

“He is a person that the generation stands upon, and he is now in serious condition,” Rav Zilberstein said emotionally. “He is truly a tzaddik yesod olam, beyond description. He is tremendously great in the wisdom of Kabbalah.”

Immediately after his remarks, Rav Zilberstein began reciting Kapitel 130 of Tehillim — “Shir Hamaalos Mimaamakim Kerasicha Hashem.” He recited the pesukim slowly, word by word, as the hundreds gathered responded after him passuk by passuk with intense emotion.

Following the recitation of Tehillim, Rav Zilberstein led a heartfelt Mi Sheberach for the complete and speedy recovery of Rav Dov Kook among the other ill members of Klal Yisroel.

The broader tzibbur is called on to intensify tefillos and supplications on behalf of Rav Dov ben Shoshana.

{Matzav.com}

[Photos below.] An emotional reception was held in Herzliya for two yeshiva bochurim who were released from Israeli military prison after being arrested over draft-related issues connected to their status as talmidei yeshiva.

The two bochurim, Nehorai Bachar and Netanel Yehuda, talmidim at Yeshivas Chazon Mordechai in Herzliya, were welcomed back to the yeshiva nearly three weeks after their arrest and imprisonment. The event featured a red carpet entrance, torches, live music, and dancing, with participation from family members, friends, rabbonim, and fellow talmidim.

The gathering was organized by the Nosnim Gav organization, which assists bnei yeshiva dealing with military draft issues and arrests.

During the evening, rabbonim from the yeshiva as well as representatives of Nosnim Gav and other organizations addressed the crowd, speaking about the importance of remaining steadfast in Torah learning even under difficult circumstances and with mesirus nefesh.

Bachar, whose arrest drew attention after he was allegedly lured outside the yeshiva by a phone call informing him that a package was waiting for him, recounted some of his experiences inside the military prison.

He described how, at first glance, he felt disconnected from many of the other detainees with whom he was incarcerated.

“One of them had never even said Shema Yisroel,” Bachar said. “He didn’t know how to say it, didn’t know anything, had never put on tefillin in his life — and davka they would come over quietly and say, ‘Maybe just me and you alone, quietly, without anyone knowing.’ There was a tremendous התחזקות there.”

Bachar urged other bnei yeshiva not to fear imprisonment.

“Don’t be afraid of it,” he said. “At first it’s a little difficult. In the beginning they treat us — it’s hard to say this — but like animals. But it passes. You learn their methods and manipulations that are meant to make you think it’s unbearable, but after a day or two or three you get used to it and it passes.”

He said he initially received the maximum punishment of 20 days, but after several days he no longer viewed the experience negatively.

“After the third day, it felt like one long day. I actually enjoyed it,” he said. “Don’t give in to them. It’s very important not to give in.”

Bachar also described refusing to perform guard duty when it conflicted with davening Shacharis with a minyan.

“They woke me up to do guard duty during the time of Shacharis with a minyan,” he said. “After I had finally been transferred back to a section where they allowed minyanim, they suddenly told me I had guard duty. I told them, ‘I just got back here and now you won’t let me daven with a minyan? I refuse. I’m not going.’”

According to Bachar, prison officials warned him that additional days would be added to his sentence.

“They told me, ‘We’ll add days by force!’” he recounted. “They added another day. Was it worth it? It was worth it. From that moment on, they never again prevented me from davening. Boruch Hashem, we were zocheh.”

Bachar also thanked the organizations that assisted him during his imprisonment, including Am Kadosh and Nosnim Gav.

“You’re inside and you have no idea what’s going on, what’s going to happen to you,” he said. “It’s your first time in prison, you don’t know anything, and I had nothing with me — they literally pulled me out of the yeshiva. Those are very difficult moments. But they gave me a shoulder to lean on. Suddenly you call and they tell you, ‘The entire nation is with you.’ It gives tremendous strength.”

He thanked his rosh yeshiva “who never stopped the tefillos for us, and we felt it,” as well as family members who visited him and sent letters and seforim.

“Every letter helps,” he said. “It strengthens you tremendously, especially when you know everyone is together with you.”

Concluding his remarks, Bachar expressed hope that the current draft-related policies targeting bnei yeshiva would soon come to an end.

“We should be zocheh that this terrible gezeirah be abolished,” he said. “A ben yeshiva from Bnei Brak or other chareidi cities who ends up there — it’s literally a Holocaust for him. This gezeirah has to end soon. All of Klal Yisroel should unite and daven and cry out over this, and be’ezras Hashem we should soon merit the coming of Moshiach, when there will be no army at all — only the army of Hashem. Amein.”

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of Yidden gathered Monday in Antwerp for a special atzeres tefillah following the filing of criminal charges against local mohelim amid growing fears over a severe gezeirah threatening the fulfillment of the mitzvah of bris milah in Belgium.

The gathering took place at the large bais medrash of Kehillas Machzikei Hadas and was led by the city’s mara d’asra, Rav Aharon Schiff, who delivered powerful divrei hisorerus, urging the tzibbur to strengthen itself through teshuvah and deep introspection.

The asifah opened with Mincha, after which Rav Schiff addressed the overflowing crowd about the gravity of the situation facing the kehillah.

“A difficult gezeirah has come upon the city,” Rav Schiff said. “We do not know why, but we must examine and improve our deeds, and ensure that we view others not with a tzaras ayin but only with goodness. The mohelim are people who are moser nefesh, and even during Pesach they traveled to distant places in order to perform bris milah and fulfill the mitzvah.”

Rav Schiff continued by comparing the current crisis to earlier religious battles faced by the community.

“We are in a matzav of ‘eis tzarah hi l’Yaakov,’ and this is not the first hardship we have faced,” he said. “In the past there were gezeiros against shechitah, and now we are confronting gezeiros against milah. Everyone knows that our mohelim are yirei Shamayim and shleimusdige Yidden.”

He stressed that difficult times should lead Yidden toward cheshbon hanefesh and teshuvah, rather than blaming others.

“The Rambam writes that when a time of suffering comes, Yidden must gather together, examine their deeds, and not dismiss it as coincidence,” Rav Schiff said. “When people understand that this is a message from Shamayim, the very act of gathering together can help remove the gezeirah.”

The Antwerp rov also warned against placing responsibility on others.

“Part of the eitzah of the yetzer hara is to place the blame on others instead of taking it upon oneself,” he said. “People say those involved did not do enough or failed to act properly. But before criticizing others, one should first fast and daven for a day or two, and only afterward speak about what needs correction.”

He added, “It is easy to blame someone else rather than look inward. Of course antisemitism exists, and that may all be true, but the Torah approach is for every individual to reflect on himself.”

Rav Schiff also connected the mitzvah of bris milah to Avrohom Avinu and the foundations of Yiddishkeit.

“Bris milah is an immense mitzvah for which Yidden throughout the generations were moser nefesh,” he said. “Hakadosh Boruch Hu gave this mitzvah with the words, ‘And I will give to you and your descendants.’ Avrohom Avinu was the amud hachesed, and we now stand before the זמן of Kabolas HaTorah.”

Following the divrei hisorerus, chapters of Tehillim were recited with deep emotion by the shliach tzibbur, Reb Bentzion Weissman, a prominent Belzer chossid in Antwerp. The entire tzibbur joined together in heartfelt cries and tachanunim for the salvation of the mohelim and for the removal of the gezeirah targeting bris milah.

העצרת באנטוורפןצילום: משה קאהן העצרת באנטוורפןצילום: משה קאהן העצרת באנטוורפןצילום: משה קאהן העצרת באנטוורפןצילום: משה קאהן העצרת באנטוורפןצילום: משה קאהן העצרת באנטוורפןצילום: משה קאהן העצרת באנטוורפןצילום: משה קאהן העצרת באנטוורפןצילום: משה קאהן העצרת באנטוורפןצילום: משה קאהן העצרת באנטוורפןצילום: משה קאהן העצרת באנטוורפןצילום: באדיבות המצלם העצרת באנטוורפןצילום: משה קאהן

{Matzav.com}

A new directive issued by Israeli Police Commissioner Daniel Levy ordering officers to transfer yeshiva students who are classified as military draft dodgers to the military police has triggered fierce criticism within the chareidi community and raised concerns from officials inside the police force itself.

Under the updated instructions, any police officer who encounters a draft evader during a routine interaction must detain him, notify the military police, and wait for a representative to arrive. Police officials attempted to ease concerns by clarifying that if military police representatives fail to arrive within 30 minutes, the detainee must be released.

Despite those assurances, chareidi figures involved in the draft controversy view the move as a dramatic shift from the policy that had been in place until now and warn that it could carry far-reaching consequences.

Chareidi activists involved in the enlistment issue sharply criticized the decision, claiming it was implemented under pressure from Israel’s attorney general, even though police officials themselves understand the potential fallout of such enforcement.

“Even within the police, they know there is no real way to arrest yeshiva students without it turning within minutes into an explosive situation,” a senior chareidi source said.

Criticism has reportedly also been voiced privately within the police force. Officials warned that the new directive places rank-and-file officers directly in the middle of one of the country’s most sensitive public disputes, without any realistic ability to manage the repercussions on the ground.

According to those officials, there are growing fears that the policy could lead to confrontations with extremist factions, mass protests, and road blockages that would require large deployments of police manpower during an already tense security period.

Members of the chareidi community are also expressing concern that the move could seriously damage relations between the police and the chareidi public. One of the key reasons police had previously avoided transferring yeshiva students to military authorities, they say, was the understanding that such a policy could discourage chareidim from interacting with law enforcement altogether.

“The concern is that a yeshiva student who genuinely needs police assistance, even as an ordinary citizen, will simply avoid going to the police,” a police source said. “If a chareidi young man fears that any encounter with an officer could end with detention and transfer to the military police, then this becomes a much broader issue than just the draft debate.”

In an official statement, police said: “Following media inquiries regarding the issue of detaining draft evaders, we wish to clarify the directive of Police Commissioner Daniel Levy, which was issued earlier this month and reiterated today to all national district commanders: During a random encounter between a police officer and a draft evader, the officer will detain the individual, notify the military police, and wait with the detainee until the arrival of a military police representative, who is required to arrive within 30 minutes of the report. If no military police representative arrives, the draft evader will be released and issued a summons by the officer to report to the military police.”

{Matzav.com}

The FBI is reportedly pursuing a massive nationwide contract for access to automated license plate reader systems, a move that would significantly expand the agency’s ability to monitor vehicle movements across the United States, according to newly reviewed procurement documents.

The records, obtained and reviewed by 404 Media, indicate the bureau is seeking access to a broad network of automated license plate reader, or ALPR, cameras capable of tracking vehicles — and potentially the movements of individuals — throughout the country without requiring a warrant.

Federal documents show the FBI considers the technology a critical intelligence and investigative tool and is seeking extensive nationwide coverage.

“The FBI has a crucial need for accessible LPRs to provide a diverse and reliable range of collections across the United States. This data should be available across major highways and in an array of locations for maximum usefulness to law enforcement,” a statement of work, which describes what data the FBI is seeking access to, reads.

ALPR technology works by continuously scanning passing vehicles and recording details such as license plate numbers, vehicle color, make, and model. The systems generate time-stamped records tied to specific locations, allowing authorities to reconstruct where a vehicle has traveled over time. Although the technology has existed for years, its use has expanded rapidly across the country in recent years.

According to the procurement documents, the FBI is seeking a cloud-based platform that would allow agents to search ALPR records using license plate information, vehicle descriptions, timeframes, and geographic locations.

The agency is requesting access covering virtually the entire United States, including areas east and west of the Mississippi River, as well as Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and tribal territories. Budget documents attached to the proposal indicate the FBI is prepared to spend as much as $6 million per geographic region, totaling approximately $36 million overall.

The contract would reportedly support the FBI’s Directorate of Intelligence, the branch responsible for the bureau’s intelligence-gathering operations. While the FBI is primarily known as a law enforcement agency, it also operates as a member of the broader U.S. intelligence community.

Only a small number of private companies are believed capable of supplying the type of expansive nationwide database the FBI is seeking.

One major player in the field is Flock Safety, whose ALPR cameras are installed in communities throughout the country. Public records previously obtained by researchers and 404 Media reportedly showed that Flock has more than 80,000 cameras connected to a national vehicle lookup network.

Federal agencies have previously tested access to the Flock system, including Homeland Security Investigations, the Secret Service, and the Navy’s criminal investigative division. Reports have also indicated that local police departments have conducted searches within the network on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Another company positioned to potentially fulfill the FBI’s request is Motorola Solutions, which acquired Vigilant Solutions and maintains one of the country’s largest ALPR databases. Much of Motorola’s data reportedly comes from cameras mounted on police vehicles as well as information gathered through its private-sector affiliate, Digital Recognition Network, which works extensively with vehicle repossession companies.

Reports last year indicated that ICE officials attended demonstrations of Motorola software capable of scanning a license plate and instantly searching billions of historical records showing where a vehicle had previously been observed.

The growing use of automated license plate readers has sparked increasing backlash in communities across the country, with critics warning the systems create vast surveillance networks capable of tracking ordinary Americans’ daily movements.

Josh Thomas, chief communications officer at Flock, told 404 Media in an email “We’re not going to speculate on prospective deals. But it’s worth noting that we already work with several federal agencies, all of whom are subject to the same obligations, constraints, and transparency mechanisms that apply to every other Flock customer. We also rebuilt our product from the ground up, starting last year, to ensure all local customers could trust that they can use Flock in full compliance with local and state laws. A big part of that is our Audit Assistance tool.”

Dozens of American military refueling aircraft are expected to continue operating out of Ben Gurion Airport until at least the end of 2027, according to Israeli media reports, in a move that is reportedly creating growing pressure on Israel’s civilian aviation system.

Israeli outlet N12 reported Monday that the aircraft, along with American military crews and support personnel, are expected to remain stationed at and around Israel’s main international airport for the foreseeable future as part of the ongoing US military buildup tied to regional tensions with Iran.

The deployment reportedly began during Operations Roaring Lion and Epic Fury, when American and Israeli forces coordinated strikes against Iranian targets and expanded military cooperation throughout the region. Reports earlier this year documented the arrival of US KC-46 and KC-135 refueling aircraft, as well as cargo planes, at Ben-Gurion Airport amid fears of broader regional escalation.

Israeli aviation officials are increasingly warning that the long-term military presence is disrupting normal civilian airport operations and could have major economic consequences for travelers and airlines.

Last week, Israel Civil Aviation Authority chief Shmuel Zakay reportedly sent a sharply worded letter to Transportation Minister Miri Regev, complaining that “Ben-Gurion is operating like a military base, not as a civilian airport.”

According to Israeli aviation officials, the parking and operational space occupied by American aircraft has reduced airport capacity at a time when international carriers are already hesitant to fully restore flights to Israel following months of regional instability.

Industry officials have warned that the continued military deployment could contribute to higher airfare prices by limiting available flight slots and discouraging foreign airlines from resuming regular service to Tel Aviv.

ישראיר CEO Uri Sirkis recently told the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee that the situation has significantly disrupted airline operations.

“We are currently allowed to have four overnight parking spaces at Ben Gurion Airport because of the US planes, and we were supposed to keep 17 planes in Israel,” he said.

Sirkis added that the shortage of space has forced airlines to adopt costly workarounds, including parking aircraft overnight in European cities and reversing flight schedules.

American military aircraft began arriving at Ben-Gurion in large numbers earlier this year as Washington expanded its military posture across the Middle East while weighing possible military action against Iran. Open-source flight analysts tracked dozens of refueling tankers and cargo aircraft entering the region during the buildup.

{Matzav.com}

Sheba Medical Center has launched a new underground hyperbaric medicine facility that hospital officials say is the only protected center of its kind in Israel, designed to continue operating even during wartime emergencies while treating wounded soldiers and civilians from across the country.

The new center, named in honor of Michal and Dr. Avraham Kedar, was built with a donation of approximately 22 million shekels from the Kedar family. Located within Sheba’s Rehabilitation Hospital in Tel Hashomer, the facility has already begun accepting patients referred both from Sheba and other hospitals nationwide.

The underground complex houses two state-of-the-art hyperbaric chambers that rank among the largest in Israel. Together, the chambers can accommodate up to 24 patients simultaneously. Hospital officials emphasized that the fortified underground location allows treatments to continue uninterrupted during missile attacks or other national emergencies, making it unique within Israel’s healthcare system.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves placing patients inside a pressurized chamber where they breathe concentrated oxygen. The treatment is used to accelerate healing and improve oxygen flow to damaged tissue in patients suffering from conditions such as severe infections, radiation injuries, diabetes-related wounds, and other chronic or complex medical complications. In some instances, the therapy can prevent amputations and prove lifesaving.

Sheba officials said the center is expected to become a national destination for hyperbaric medicine and will also support expanded medical research in the field. The hospital described the project as part of a broader wartime rehabilitation effort as Sheba continues caring for wounded soldiers and civilians injured during the conflict.

The project also represents a new philanthropic direction for Michal and Dr. Avraham Kedar, whose previous charitable efforts focused largely on education, culture, and innovation in Israel. After personally meeting wounded soldiers, the family said they understood the growing need for advanced rehabilitation infrastructure capable of serving both military personnel and civilians.

“We see it as a great privilege to partner with Sheba and take part in establishing an advanced medical center that is expected to improve the lives of many patients,” Michal and Dr. Avraham Kedar said. “We believe that combining medical innovation, clinical excellence and human mission is a way to create broad and lasting impact on Israeli society and its resilience.”

Prof. Amitai Ziv said the new facility will significantly strengthen the hospital’s rehabilitation capabilities and allow for broader treatment options for patients requiring long-term care.

“The establishment of the center at Sheba allows us to continue providing broad, comprehensive, precise and multidisciplinary care to patients, alongside research development in the field,” Ziv said. “We thank Michal and Dr. Avraham Kedar for their partnership and extraordinary donation, which has enabled us to provide the best possible response for our patients.”

Prof. Yitzchok Kreiss said the new center is intended to serve as a national medical anchor during a period of ongoing instability in Israel.

“In today’s changing reality, our role is to be a beacon of stability and excellence,” Kreiss said. “Our mission goes beyond clinical care; it is about breakthrough thinking and building social and national resilience. The new national center will serve as an anchor for the home front and provide advanced medical care to patients from across the country. Thanks to partners like the Kedar family, we will continue to make an impact and serve as a source of hope for Israeli society.”

{Matzav.com}

Sen. John Fetterman is continuing to distance himself from many Democrats on the issue of Iran, defending President Donald Trump’s military campaign and opposing efforts in Congress to force an end to the conflict.

In an interview with Semafor, Fetterman argued that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons outweighs partisan political considerations or pressure from political supporters.

“Something like this is much more important than just voting what your base might demand. Because I think things are much bigger and more important than that. And Iran with a nuclear bomb is one of those things,” Fetterman told Semafor in an interview published Monday, discussing opposition to legislation to end President Trump’s war with Iran.

Fetterman has repeatedly voiced frustration with lawmakers who oppose U.S. military action against Iran. Shortly after hostilities began, he publicly questioned why some senators were unwilling to support the administration’s approach.

“Every member in the U.S. Senate agrees we cannot allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon,” Fetterman said in a post on the social platform X in March.

“I’m baffled why so many are unwilling to support the only action to achieve that. Empty sloganeering vs. commitment to global security — which is it?” he asked.

Congressional Democrats, joined by several Republicans, have been attempting to advance resolutions aimed at limiting or ending the war unless Congress explicitly authorizes continued military action under the 1973 War Powers Act.

Last week, momentum behind those efforts increased as several Republican lawmakers crossed party lines to support Democratic-backed measures in both the House and Senate.

On Wednesday, three Republican senators voted in favor of advancing a Democratic resolution seeking to halt the war with Iran absent additional authorization from Congress. The effort ultimately failed when a procedural motion to remove the resolution from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was defeated by a 49-50 vote.

Fetterman stood apart from the rest of his party by becoming the lone Democrat to oppose moving the resolution forward.

Public opinion surveys meanwhile have shown growing unease among American voters regarding the conflict. A recent poll conducted by The New York Times and Siena College found that most registered voters believe Trump made the wrong decision in launching the military offensive against Iran.

The war has also created economic concerns tied to energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes — has been closed amid the fighting, fueling increases in oil and gasoline prices.

According to AAA, the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline reached approximately $4.52 on Monday afternoon.

{Matzav.com}

A senior Iranian official publicly mocked President Donald Trump on Monday after Trump disclosed that he had delayed a planned military strike against Iran to allow additional time for negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and a top adviser to Iran’s supreme leadership, ridiculed Trump’s announcement in a social media post.

“He sets a deadline for a military strike and then cancels it himself! All with the delusional hope of making the Iranian nation and officials surrender!” Rezaei wrote in a post on social media.

He further threatened, “The iron fist of the powerful Armed Forces and the great nation of Iran will force them to retreat and surrender.”

Rezaei’s comments came shortly after Trump revealed on Truth Social that the United States had been preparing to carry out a military strike against Iran on Tuesday but decided to postpone the operation because of ongoing diplomatic discussions.

Later Tuesday, Trump elaborated on the decision while speaking with reporters, indicating that a major military action had been imminent.

“We were getting ready to do a very major attack tomorrow. I’ve put it off for a little while, hopefully, maybe forever, but possibly for a little while, because we’ve had very big discussions with Iran, and we’ll see what they amount to.”

Trump said several Gulf nations had urged Washington to delay military action in hopes that diplomacy could still succeed.

“I was asked by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, and some others if we could put it off for two or three days, a short period of time, because they think that they are getting very close to making a deal. And if we can do that, where there’s no nuclear weapon going into the hands of Iran, I think, and if they’re satisfied, we will be probably satisfied also.”

The president said Israel and other regional allies were informed about the decision to hold off on the strike.

He stressed that the US informed Israel of the decision to hold off on the attack as well as “other people in the Middle East that have been involved with us.”

Trump described the current diplomatic effort as encouraging, though he cautioned that previous negotiations had also appeared promising before collapsing.

“It’s a very positive development, but we’ll see whether or not it amounts to anything. We’ve had periods of time where we thought [we were] pretty much getting close to making a deal, and it didn’t work out, but this is a little bit different,” said Trump, who added that the strike he halted would have been “very big and not something I wanted to do, but we have no choice because we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”

He also emphasized that he would prefer a negotiated settlement over military action if such an agreement could effectively block Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

He also said that “there seems to be a very good chance they could work something out. If we can do that without bombing the hell out of them, I’d be very happy.”

In a separate interview with the New York Post on Monday, Trump warned that Iran was aware that significant developments could occur soon as tensions continue rising despite the fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.

Trump stated in the interview that Iran knows “what’s going to be happening soon” as the fragile ceasefire between the US and the Islamic Republic continues to fray.

The president also said he was unwilling to offer Tehran additional concessions during negotiations.

Trump further stated that he is “not open” to further concessions to Iran.

The renewed diplomatic maneuvering follows reports that Iran recently transmitted a revised proposal through Pakistani intermediaries. According to reports, the updated proposal contained only modest adjustments compared to earlier drafts.

Sources familiar with the proposal said the new Iranian offer included broader language pledging that Tehran would not seek nuclear weapons, though it reportedly lacked concrete commitments regarding uranium enrichment levels or Iran’s existing stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Pakistani sources said the updated Iranian proposal included a commitment not to produce nuclear weapons, but did not address the issue of enriched uranium or developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge in the United States has dealt a major legal setback to Francesca Albanese, ruling that the controversial United Nations official can be formally served in a defamation lawsuit brought against her by two Christian pro-Israel organizations.

The decision was handed down May 15 by the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. The court authorized the plaintiffs to serve Albanese through email and social media platforms, overcoming earlier complications tied to international procedures and her current reported residence in Tunisia.

Under the court order, Albanese now has 21 days to respond to the lawsuit. If she fails to answer the complaint within that timeframe, the court could enter a default judgment against her.

The lawsuit was filed in September by Christian Friends of Israeli Communities and Christians for Israel USA, two Colorado-linked Christian charities that say they were targeted by Albanese in what they describe as a coordinated campaign intended to intimidate and damage pro-Israel groups.

According to the complaint, the dispute began after Albanese sent letters to the organizations ahead of publishing a United Nations report that the plaintiffs characterize as deeply biased against Israel. The charities allege that Albanese threatened them with possible exposure to international criminal proceedings related to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In the letters, Albanese accused the groups of “knowingly spreading malicious lies” and linked them to allegations involving genocide and war crimes connected to the conflict in Gaza.

The organizations argue that her accusations severely harmed their reputations, interfered with their charitable activities, and were made intentionally to cause damage. The plaintiffs are seeking financial compensation, a formal retraction, and a court order prohibiting Albanese from repeating the statements.

Albanese has repeatedly faced criticism over statements viewed by opponents as hostile toward Israel. More recently, several European foreign ministers condemned remarks she made during an Al Jazeera conference, where she stated: “The fact that instead of stopping Israel, most of the world has armed, given Israel political excuses, political sheltering, economic and financial support … We who do not control large amounts of financial capitals, algorithms and weapons, we now see that we as a humanity have a common enemy.”

She later denied interpreting her remarks as labeling Israel itself a universal enemy.

Albanese later claimed in an interview that she “never, ever, ever said ‘Israel is the common enemy of humanity,'” calling the accusations “completely false accusations.”

Her past comments regarding Israel and Jewish influence have also drawn scrutiny. Social media posts uncovered in 2022 showed Albanese referring to what she described as the “Jewish lobby” controlling the United States.

At the time, Albanese denied that the comments were antisemitic, insisting they had been “mischaracterized,” though criticism over her rhetoric has persisted.

Her remarks about Israel intensified after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, which she said should be understood within “context” and framed as a response to Israeli “aggression.”

Earlier this year, Albanese accused Israel of institutionalizing torture against Palestinians.

In late March, Albanese claimed that the world has given Israel “a license to torture Palestinians”, alleging that “torture has effectively become state policy” in Israel.

Israel’s diplomatic mission in Geneva responded sharply to those comments.

Responding to the comments, Israel’s mission in Geneva said in a statement, “Francesca Albanese is not a promoter of human rights; she is an agent of chaos… and any document she produces is nothing but a politically-charged, activist rant.”

The Israeli statement further charged that Albanese “advocates dangerous extremist narratives to undermine the very existence of the State of Israel,” it said.

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A labor agreement was reached Monday to end the strike that shut down the Long Island Rail Road, bringing relief to hundreds of thousands of commuters affected by the disruption to the nation’s busiest commuter rail network.

Kathy Hochul announced the breakthrough in a statement posted on X, saying the agreement balances worker compensation with protections for commuters and taxpayers. According to Hochul, train service is expected to resume beginning Tuesday at noon.

The strike began shortly after midnight Saturday after negotiations between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and leaders of five labor unions failed to produce a new contract. The rail system serves approximately 250,000 riders daily between New York City and Long Island.

Throughout the weekend, locomotive engineers, signal operators, machinists, and additional union members demonstrated outside train stations as the work stoppage continued.

To lessen the impact on commuters, the MTA began operating free but limited shuttle bus service Monday during peak commuting hours. Even so, many travelers were forced to rely on cars, buses, and subway lines to reach the city. Hochul had previously urged commuters to work remotely whenever possible.

Talks resumed Sunday afternoon and continued overnight into Monday under pressure from the National Mediation Board, the federal agency responsible for overseeing labor disputes involving railroads and airlines.

The unions, which collectively represent roughly half of the railroad’s workforce, argued that wage increases were necessary to keep pace with inflation and rising expenses. MTA officials countered that the unions’ earlier salary demands would likely result in increased fares for riders.

Contract discussions between both sides have been ongoing since 2023, with negotiations repeatedly breaking down over pay scales and employee healthcare costs.

The Trump administration stepped into the dispute in September after union leaders requested the appointment of a special panel of experts. Although the intervention temporarily prevented a strike at the time, negotiations remained deadlocked for months afterward.

The Long Island Rail Road operates across the 118-mile stretch of Long Island, serving communities from Brooklyn and Queens to the Hamptons, the well-known resort destination frequented by wealthy summer residents.

A large portion of the railroad’s passengers come from Nassau and Suffolk counties, home to nearly 3 million residents outside New York City.

Prior to this week’s strike, the last LIRR work stoppage occurred in 1994.

Transit officials said ridership on the emergency shuttle buses was significantly lower than anticipated. The MTA had expected approximately 13,000 passengers to use the buses Monday morning, but only slightly more than 2,000 riders utilized the service.

Transportation officials had strongly encouraged the roughly 250,000 daily riders to avoid commuting into Manhattan and instead work from home if they were able.

{Matzav.com}

New federal data released by the Department of Homeland Security shows that illegal crossings at the southern border have fallen dramatically under President Donald Trump, with fewer migrants apprehended in an average day this April than were caught during a single hour in late 2023 under the Biden administration.

The statistics also mark one full year in which no illegal immigrants were released into the United States after being encountered at the border, according to administration officials.

“Twelve straight months of ZERO releases at the border. Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, we are delivering the most secure border in American history,” said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

“The days of catch and release are over. We are enforcing the nation’s laws and sending illegal aliens back to their home countries.”

The numbers represent a dramatic shift from immigration levels seen during the Biden administration, when millions of migrants crossed into the country and border facilities frequently faced overcrowding.

According to DHS figures, Border Patrol agents averaged 298 apprehensions per day in April. By comparison, in December 2023, authorities were averaging roughly 336 apprehensions every hour.

Officials said apprehensions along the southern border have dropped 94% from the highest levels recorded during the Biden years as the Trump administration continues implementing aggressive immigration enforcement measures nationwide.

“What a difference, America! The U.S. Border Patrol released zero illegal aliens into our country again this month, unlike April 2024 when more than 68,000 were released under President Biden,” said CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott.

“Every minute of every day President Trump’s border security policies are making every American safer.”

DHS also reported that, on a fiscal year-to-date basis, the monthly average of southern border apprehensions has fallen to the lowest point recorded since 1992.

Officials said the decline in illegal crossings has coincided with a sharp increase in narcotics seizures at the border.

“The sustained decline in illegal border crossings and apprehensions—now at levels not seen in over three decades—shows the impact of robust enforcement policies,” DHS said in a statement.

“With daily apprehensions down 95% from the previous administration and 15 consecutive months of fewer than 9,000 southwest border apprehensions, the border remains more secure than at any point in history.”

Customs and Border Protection reported that nationwide drug seizures in April rose significantly compared to the same month last year. Authorities confiscated 60% more cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and fentanyl than in April 2024.

Officials said heroin seizures increased 73% compared with March 2026, while methamphetamine seizures climbed 63% over the same period. CBP also reported seizing 463 pounds of fentanyl during April alone.

{Matzav.com}

Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levy issued a new directive Monday ordering police officers who encounter draft dodgers during routine activity to detain them, notify the Military Police, and remain with the suspect until military authorities arrive.

Under the new policy, a strict time frame was established for handling such cases. According to the directive, Military Police personnel must reach the scene within 30 minutes after being contacted.

If no representative arrives within that half-hour window, officers are instructed to release the detaineee and provide a summons ordering the individual to report to the Military Police at a later date.

The move triggered an angry response from Shas, which accused the police commissioner of targeting yeshiva students instead of focusing on violent crime and public safety.

“At a time when acts of violence and crime are on the rise and murderers walk the streets freely, instead of the police tending to national security properly, they decide to direct resources to persecute the dear Torah students as if they were criminals,” the party statement read. “It is shameful that this happens in the Jewish state.”

The party also appealed directly to Levy, accusing legal authorities of trying to use the issue for political purposes.

“Sir Commissioner, don’t fall into the political trap that the Attorney General and her team are leading, which aims to topple the government. Don’t cast your hand against the yeshiva students and Torah learners.”

Jonathan Pollard delivered a blistering critique of both Israeli and American leadership during an extensive interview with Arutz Sheva and podcaster Martin “the Bulldog” Buksdorf, addressing issues ranging from Israel’s military policy and dependence on the United States to growing antisemitism abroad and the long-term future of the Jewish state.

Throughout the interview, Pollard repeatedly argued that Israel must free itself from overreliance on Washington and adopt a far more independent military and political posture.

“We are an American auxiliary. We are not an independent,” Pollard said, as he pushed for what he described as an “Israel first doctrine” built around military independence and sovereign strategic decision-making.

Pollard sharply criticized Israeli governments for what he described as excessive submission to American influence, claiming leaders in Yerushalayim too often shape policy around pressure from Washington. Referring to President Donald Trump, Pollard remarked, “He does not respect weakness,” while arguing that Israeli officials too frequently yield to U.S. demands.

During the conversation, Pollard also discussed his recent decision not to enter Israeli politics after briefly announcing plans to seek a seat in the Knesset. According to Pollard, the announcement triggered fierce backlash and threats from across the political spectrum.

“I got overwhelmed with death threats,” Pollard said, adding that many critics on the political left objected to his belief that Israeli hostages should be brought home “by strength, not by concession.”

Addressing criticism from supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Pollard stressed that he has repeatedly expressed appreciation to Netanyahu for helping secure his release from prison, while emphasizing that many others also played vital roles.

“There were a host of people who played very important roles in securing my release,” he said, specifically mentioning his late wife Esther, Ron Dermer, Miriam Adelson, Sheldon Adelson, and Rabbi Pesach Lerner.

A major portion of the interview focused on regional security threats facing Israel. Pollard warned that Iran, Turkey, and extremist organizations operating inside Syria represent growing dangers, and argued that Israel must prepare itself for future large-scale military confrontations.

Pollard also voiced alarm over increasing antisemitism throughout Western countries, saying many Jews living abroad still fail to grasp the seriousness of the threat. He described aliyah as both unavoidable and essential in light of growing hostility toward Jewish communities overseas.

“The only safe place for a Jew is right here in the Holy Land,” Pollard said, while faulting Israeli leaders for not adequately preparing for major future waves of Jewish immigration.

The interview additionally featured criticism of Israel’s bureaucracy and military procurement systems. Pollard argued that excessive hesitation, delays, and institutional caution have prevented Israel from implementing technologies and policies that he believes are critical for confronting modern security threats.

Toward the conclusion of the discussion, Pollard explained why he ultimately chose to remain outside the political system, saying it allows him to speak openly without party constraints.

“When you have this thing called party discipline, you can’t speak your mind,” he said. “Now it’s much more liberating to be able to sit as I am now… and discuss options, to discuss what we’re doing right, what we’re doing wrong.”

A soldier from the Nachal Brigade entered military prison Sunday evening to begin serving a 30-day sentence imposed after he wore a “Moshiach” patch on his uniform, sparking outrage among fellow soldiers and parents in his unit.

The soldier, identified only as A., had originally been scheduled to report to prison Sunday morning, but the growing public controversy surrounding the punishment reportedly led the IDF to alter the timing of his incarceration.

The soldier’s parents expressed disbelief over the decision and vowed not to remain quiet.

“We are digesting this, but we are in absolute shock!! We will not be silent in the face of this injustice.”

Members of the company reacted angrily to the punishment, saying it had deeply damaged morale throughout the unit.

“They lowered morale for all of us.”

One of A.’s platoon members, who fought alongside him in Lebanon and is currently engaged in operational activity in Samaria, published an emotional statement defending the imprisoned soldier and criticizing the army’s decision.

“For you, this is the patch controversy; for us, this is [about] our best friend. He was the heart of this family. To take a soldier who did everything for the country, and suddenly put him in prison for 30 days and remove him from combat service? It is inhuman. It crushes him and us, and since this happened, the entire company has been extinguished. The State is simply erasing everything for him in an instant.”

According to soldiers in the company, the punishment has dealt a major blow to the spirit of the unit, which they say achieved some of the army’s highest operational accomplishments during recent fighting in Lebanon.

After the decision to imprison the soldier was finalized Sunday, parents of fighters in the company issued a sharp statement accusing senior military leadership of selective enforcement and unfair treatment.

“We understand discipline, but patches exist throughout the army, in regular service and in the reserves. Why place an entire phenomenon on the shoulders of one innocent soldier who did what half the army does openly? There is outrageous discrimination here on the part of the senior command. The Chief of Staff leaves in their positions, without any punishment, figures who actively worked to dismantle the army from within, while against specifically a combat soldier they use the most crushing punishment. We will not remain silent about this.”

The parents also announced plans to begin a broader public campaign over the issue, saying they intend to continue the fight until the soldier’s name is cleared and the unit’s reputation restored.

“The struggle will not stop until justice is achieved, the name of the soldier and the entire company is cleared, and Jewish-Zionist pride and strength are restored to the fighters on the front line. At this time, the people of Israel need their heroes standing tall and proud of their identity, not under persecution and silencing.”

At a press briefing, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani was asked about a Nakba post on his official NYC social media accounts.

WATCH:

Authorities have identified the two suspected gunmen accused of carrying out a deadly shooting outside a mosque in San Diego that claimed the lives of three people before the suspects apparently took their own lives.

According to a law enforcement source, the suspects were identified as 17-year-old Cain Clark and 18-year-old Caleb Velasquez. Investigators believe at least one of the firearms used in the attack was taken from a parent’s residence. A suicide note referencing racial pride was also reportedly recovered, the source said.

Clark, who attended Madison High School, was known as a standout wrestler, according to posts published on the school’s social media accounts.

Police said both suspects were later discovered dead inside a white BMW several blocks away from the Islamic Center of San Diego. Investigators believe the pair died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Law enforcement sources said anti-Islamic writings were found inside the vehicle, while “hate speech” had allegedly been written directly on the firearms used during the attack.

Authorities revealed that at approximately 9:42 a.m., officers received a report involving a runaway juvenile after a concerned mother contacted police. Following the conversation, investigators reportedly began treating the situation as a potentially serious public safety threat.

According to police, the mother told authorities she believed her son was suicidal. She also allegedly reported that multiple firearms from her home were missing, along with her vehicle. Investigators were additionally informed that her son was traveling with another individual and that both were dressed in camouflage clothing.

Police declined to publicly confirm whether the missing juvenile was directly connected to the mosque shooting, though many of the details correspond with information obtained by The Post.

Three adults were killed in the attack, including a security guard identified by reports as Amin Abdullah, who was described as acting heroically during the shooting.

Officials said the suspects escaped the scene in a white BMW before they were later found dead.

“We are safe, the entire school is safe. All the kids, all the staff, and the teachers are safe and out of the Islamic Center,” center Imam Taha Hassane said in a video obtained by the California Post and circulated among California’s Muslim community.

Police said officers arrived at the Islamic Center within four minutes after the first emergency calls came in, prompting what authorities described as a rapid and “dynamic” response operation.

During the response, between 50 and 100 officers entered the Islamic Center complex as law enforcement teams swept through classrooms, prayer halls, and nearby structures to secure the area and search for additional threats.

The investigation remains active, and officials have not yet formally announced a motive behind the attack.

{Matzav.com}