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A violent police crackdown on chareidi demonstrators near Bnei Brak on Thursday sparked widespread outrage among chareidi political leaders, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir launching a blistering attack on Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levy, Shas demanding an immediate investigation, and United Torah Judaism chairman Yaakov Asher calling for disciplinary proceedings against officers accused of brutally assaulting protesters.

The confrontations erupted during a demonstration near the Geha Interchange at the entrance to Bnei Brak, where police attempted to disperse protesters blocking traffic. Footage circulating from the scene showed demonstrators lying injured on the roadway, some bleeding heavily, while emergency medical personnel treated and evacuated the wounded.

According to reports from the scene, at least 25 people were injured during the confrontations, with at least ten transported to hospitals, including individuals suffering from head injuries. Police reportedly used stun grenades during the dispersal operation, prompting accusations that officers employed excessive and indiscriminate force.

The incident drew an unusually sharp response from Ben Gvir, who accused Police Commissioner Danny Levy of changing his approach toward chareidi protesters following Tuesday’s Knesset election results in an effort to ingratiate himself with the country’s prospective new political leadership.

“The police commissioner has been behaving for several days like someone who wants to please the next government, thinking he will find favor in the eyes of Yair Golan,” Ben Gvir declared.

“The outrageous images from the Geha Interchange are part of Levy’s new agenda of currying favor with the leftists,” he continued. “It is regrettable that Levy, who for a year and a half carried out everything I requested, is now, the day after the elections, acting unlawfully against the chareidim and turning them into his punching bag.”

Ben Gvir’s remarks amounted to a direct public confrontation with the commissioner of the police force he oversees, with the minister suggesting that Levy’s handling of Thursday’s demonstration was politically motivated.

The national security minister’s accusations came amid heightened political uncertainty following the elections, with parties across the political spectrum assessing the implications of the results for the formation of the next government.

UTJ chairman Yaakov Asher also condemned the police response, emphasizing that opposition to road blockages does not justify the use of severe violence against demonstrators.

“Although we oppose blocking roads, we cannot remain silent in the face of the disturbing footage showing protesters, including a young man with special needs, lying on the ground, injured and bleeding,” Asher said.

“Such conduct crosses a red line that cannot be ignored,” he added.

Asher called directly on Commissioner Levy to take immediate action against the officers involved.

“I call on Police Commissioner Danny Levy to act immediately and summon for disciplinary hearings the officers who acted unlawfully and with severe violence,” he said.

Shas issued its own condemnation, accusing police of employing shocking violence against chareidi demonstrators and demanding a comprehensive investigation into the events.

“The shocking violence by police officers against chareidi protesters this evening is extremely serious and requires an immediate and thorough investigation,” the party said in an official statement.

“The disturbing footage of protesters being evacuated one after another in ambulances after being beaten with batons demonstrates the consequences of the wild incitement against the chareidi population and the treatment of their blood as if it were permissible to shed,” the statement continued.

“This cannot be allowed to pass without a response!”

MK Meir Porush likewise accused the police of applying a double standard in their treatment of demonstrations, contrasting the force used against chareidi protesters near Bnei Brak with the handling of anti-government demonstrations in Tel Aviv.

“Once again, we are witnessing the police failing to respect the chareidi public’s right to protest and choosing to employ brutal violence at demonstrations they do not approve of,” Porush said.

“Only a few kilometers separate the Geha Highway from Kaplan Street, but it seems as though we are talking about two different countries: the State of Tel Aviv, where people are permitted to set fires and riot without interference, and the State of Bnei Brak, where chareidim can be treated as subhuman.”

The demonstration was organized by members of the Yerushalmi Faction in protest of the arrest of yeshiva bochur Alon Smadja, who was detained by military police last week over his draft status. The arrest has intensified anger among opponents of the military draft, who fear additional arrests of yeshiva students in the coming weeks.

Protesters blocked both directions of Highway 4 between the Aluf Sadeh and Em HaMoshavot interchanges, bringing traffic on one of central Israel’s busiest highways to a standstill.

Police said officers had attempted to communicate with the demonstrators before declaring the gathering unlawful and beginning dispersal operations. Authorities maintained that participants refused orders to clear the highway and continued blocking traffic.

Police also reported that three officers were injured during the confrontations, including one struck in the head by a stone and another who suffered broken ribs. Separately, an i24NEWS reporter and cameraman were reportedly assaulted by demonstrators while covering the protest.

In a statement, police defended their responsibility to maintain public order, saying they recognize the right to demonstrate but will not permit road blockages, disturbances or conduct that endangers public safety.

The police statement did not directly address the allegations of excessive force or the footage showing injured demonstrators. As of the latest reports, no formal announcement had been made regarding disciplinary action against the officers involved.

The incident has intensified tensions between chareidi representatives and the police at a time when the arrests of yeshiva bochurim remain a central issue confronting the chareidi community. Thursday’s scenes, and the unusually sharp criticism directed at Commissioner Levy by the minister responsible for the police, have placed additional pressure on law enforcement officials to explain the circumstances surrounding the injuries and the force used to disperse the demonstration.

{Matzav.com}

A new online petition is calling on the Hershey Company to begin producing Cholov Yisroel chocolate, seeking to convince the American confectionery giant that there is a substantial market of frum consumers eager to purchase its products if they were available with Cholov Yisroel certification, Matzav.com has learned.

The initiative, titled “Petition for Hershey Cholov Yisroel Chocolate,” is circulating through a Google Form and encourages families who observe Cholov Yisroel to make their preferences known directly to the company.

The petition’s central argument is straightforward: Although many frum consumers would welcome the opportunity to purchase Hershey’s chocolate, the company may not realize how much demand exists for a Cholov Yisroel alternative.

“Many people who observe Cholov Yisroel find it challenging to not be able to have Hershey’s chocolate,” the petition states. “However, one very important party does not know how much we want Hershey to be Cholov Yisroel: Hershey itself.”

Organizers hope that collecting responses from interested consumers will provide Hershey with evidence that producing a Cholov Yisroel product could represent a worthwhile business opportunity.

“The key to getting Hershey to introduce Cholov Yisroel chocolate is showing the company that consumers want it,” the petition explains. “We know we want it. Now, let’s make sure Hershey knows it, too.”

Hershey is among the most recognizable names in the American chocolate industry, with products that have been familiar to generations of consumers. For families who adhere to Cholov Yisroel standards, however, Hershey’s regular dairy chocolate products are generally not an option, even when they bear conventional kosher certification.

Cholov Yisroel refers to milk produced under Jewish supervision in accordance with halachic requirements. Many frum families exclusively consume dairy products meeting that standard.

While the kosher food industry already offers numerous Cholov Yisroel chocolates and candies, the petition focuses specifically on the appeal of Hershey’s products and the possibility of bringing one of America’s best-known chocolate brands into the Cholov Yisroel market.

The organizers are asking supporters to complete a short online form that requires their name, allows them to provide an email address, and asks whether they would like Hershey to introduce Cholov Yisroel chocolate.

Participants can select either “Yes” or “No” and are also invited to submit personal comments explaining why such a product would matter to them.

The petition specifically encourages parents to share the experiences of children who cannot enjoy Hershey’s chocolate and raises the example of frum families visiting Hersheypark, the popular amusement park in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

“Do your kids get sad when they can’t have it? Is being at Hershey Park hard without the chocolate?” the form asks, inviting families to describe their experiences in their own words.

The organizers believe these personal accounts, combined with the number of responses collected, could help demonstrate to Hershey that the proposal is supported by genuine consumer interest.

“This petition will be presented to Hershey to demonstrate how many consumers are interested in purchasing Cholov Yisroel Hershey’s chocolate,” the organizers write. “Companies make business decisions based on consumer demand, and the more clearly we demonstrate that demand, the stronger our case becomes.”

The campaign reflects the growing purchasing power of the frum kosher consumer market, where food manufacturers must often consider specialized certification requirements alongside broader questions of production costs, distribution, and consumer demand.

Producing a Cholov Yisroel version of an established chocolate product would potentially involve changes to milk sourcing, manufacturing arrangements, and kosher supervision. The petition does not specify how Hershey might address those requirements or whether the company has previously considered such a product.

It also does not indicate whether Hershey has been formally approached or has responded to the initiative.

For now, the effort is focused on gathering expressions of interest, with organizers hoping that a strong response will encourage the company to explore the possibility.

“Take 30 seconds to sign this petition and help us show Hershey how much we want a Cholov Yisroel option!” the appeal concludes.

The petition can be completed HERE.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump and senior members of his administration helped Flávio Bolsonaro, the defeated Brazilian presidential candidate, escape Brazil and enter the United States after authorities ordered him to surrender his passports amid criminal investigations, according to a report published Thursday by The New York Times.

Bolsonaro, a 45-year-old Brazilian senator and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, arrived in Miami on Wednesday morning with his wife and two daughters after a circuitous journey through Argentina and Ecuador. His departure came just days after he lost Brazil’s presidential runoff election to incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The New York Times reported that Trump and his aides played a direct role in facilitating Bolsonaro’s departure and ensuring that he would be admitted into the United States. Brazilian news outlet UOL, citing the Times investigation, reported that Jason Miller, a longtime Trump political adviser, arranged the private aircraft that carried Bolsonaro to Miami.

The operation unfolded as Brazilian authorities were attempting to restrict Bolsonaro’s movements in connection with investigations involving alleged money laundering and other financial misconduct.

Brazil’s Supreme Court had ordered Bolsonaro to surrender his passports, citing concerns that he might leave the country while the investigations remained active. Authorities subsequently canceled his Brazilian travel documents and sought the surrender of any foreign passports he possessed.

Rather than comply with the order, Bolsonaro departed Brazil on Tuesday night, crossing the land border into Argentina with his family before boarding a private aircraft.

According to Argentina’s immigration authorities, Bolsonaro, his wife, Fernanda, and their two daughters entered Argentina’s Misiones province late Tuesday through the Tancredo Neves International Bridge, which connects Brazil and Argentina.

The family subsequently boarded a private plane bound for Guayaquil, Ecuador, at approximately 11:30 p.m. local time.

From Ecuador, the aircraft continued to Florida, landing at Miami’s Opa-locka Executive Airport on Wednesday morning.

Brazilian media reported that Bolsonaro used an Italian passport to cross into Argentina, while his wife and daughters traveled with Brazilian documents. The route allowed the family to leave South America without returning to Brazilian territory.

The aircraft was reportedly operated by Baires Fly, an Argentine private aviation company. Flight-tracking information confirmed the plane’s journey through Ecuador before its arrival in Miami.

The Trump administration had already taken steps to facilitate the family’s admission into the United States.

A senior State Department official confirmed that Bolsonaro and his family would receive authorization to enter the country. Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo subsequently reported that Bolsonaro was admitted under a humanitarian entry classification permitting him to remain in the United States for up to one year, through October 2027.

The humanitarian authorization is distinct from a conventional visa, although American officials have indicated that visas would also be provided to the family.

According to Folha, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was involved in efforts to facilitate Bolsonaro’s departure, although sources described differing views within the administration over the extent of American assistance.

Trump publicly acknowledged Wednesday that his administration had permitted Bolsonaro to enter the United States.

“We gave him a pass to come into the country,” Trump told reporters before departing for Ohio.

“But I won’t get involved. It was a very strange election,” the president added.

Trump also suggested that Bolsonaro and his family had been treated unfairly by Brazilian authorities, although he declined to endorse the defeated candidate’s claim that he was the rightful winner of the election.

Bolsonaro lost Sunday’s presidential runoff to Lula, who secured approximately 51.8% of the vote compared with Bolsonaro’s 48.2%.

Despite the defeat, Bolsonaro has refused to concede and has alleged that the election was fraudulent, without presenting evidence establishing widespread irregularities.

International election observers, including representatives of the Carter Center and the Organization of American States, reported no irregularities that would call the outcome into question.

Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court has likewise defended the integrity of the vote.

In a public statement issued after arriving in the United States, Bolsonaro accused Brazilian authorities of using the judicial system to persecute political opponents.

“Facing the political weaponization of Justice in Brazil, I decided to move with my family to the United States, where we are safe. I personally thank President Trump and the American government for welcoming us,” Bolsonaro wrote in a statement translated from Portuguese.

“I want to make it clear: I did not flee Brazil; I left for the sake of Brazil,” he added.

Bolsonaro has said that he intends to continue leading Brazil’s political opposition from abroad, although his departure has generated uncertainty within his Liberal Party.

His decision to leave came shortly after he had publicly indicated that he would remain in Brazil to challenge Lula’s administration following the election.

The Brazilian president sharply criticized Bolsonaro’s departure, suggesting that his decision to leave the country raised questions about his conduct.

“A person who sneaks out of their country must have something to hide,” Lula said Tuesday.

“The act of leaving Brazil is shameful,” he added.

Bolsonaro faces multiple investigations in Brazil involving allegations of financial misconduct.

One inquiry concerns alleged money laundering and financial connections to individuals suspected of involvement in illicit gambling operations. Another examines financing arrangements connected to a film about his father, including money allegedly provided by a banker facing separate allegations of financial wrongdoing.

Bolsonaro has denied wrongdoing and maintains that the investigations are politically motivated.

His departure occurred despite the passport restrictions, although Brazilian authorities had not issued an arrest warrant against him at the time he crossed into Argentina.

The episode has also drawn attention to the involvement of other Latin American governments.

Argentine President Javier Milei, a political ally of Trump and the Bolsonaro family, has maintained close relations with Brazil’s conservative opposition. The family’s transit through Argentina and Ecuador has prompted questions about whether officials in those countries helped facilitate the journey.

Bolsonaro publicly thanked Milei and Trump for assisting him.

The situation adds another complication to relations between Washington and Brasília, which have been strained by political disagreements involving Trump, Lula, and the Bolsonaro family.

Trump has repeatedly criticized Brazil’s judicial proceedings against Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence following his conviction for involvement in an effort to overturn the results of Brazil’s 2022 presidential election.

Flávio Bolsonaro’s brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, has also spent considerable time in the United States. He was convicted in absentia in Brazil earlier this year in connection with efforts to pressure American officials over Brazilian judicial proceedings.

The latest developments raise questions about the extent to which the Trump administration was involved in organizing Flávio Bolsonaro’s departure, beyond granting him permission to enter the United States.

While American officials have confirmed that Bolsonaro was allowed into the country, the reported role of Trump advisers in arranging transportation suggests a broader effort to assist the defeated candidate.

It remains unclear whether Brazilian authorities will seek Bolsonaro’s return or pursue additional legal measures over his departure in defiance of the passport surrender order.

For now, Bolsonaro and his family remain in the United States, where the defeated presidential candidate has indicated that he intends to continue his political activities while challenging the legitimacy of Lula’s reelection.

{Matzav.com}

Maran Hagaon Rav Dov Landau, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, has issued an unusually forceful warning against people who travel late on Erev Shabbos, declaring that their actions can cause bus drivers to be mechalel Shabbos as rabbonim in Bnei Brak call for stricter precautions following the transition to winter time.

The warning comes as Shabbos begins significantly earlier with the return to standard time in Eretz Yisroel, leaving less time for travelers to reach their destinations and for public transportation drivers to complete their routes and return home before shkiah.

In a strongly worded response to a question about people who delay their Friday journeys, Rav Landau condemned those who justify traveling late by pointing to the possibility of traffic congestion.

“These people are criminals,” the Rosh Yeshiva wrote.

He continued by warning that late travelers bear responsibility for the consequences their decisions may have on drivers who would otherwise observe Shabbos.

“Furthermore, they cause drivers, many of whom would otherwise keep Shabbos, to desecrate Shabbos because their late travel causes the drivers to violate Shabbos!” Rav Landau wrote.

The Rosh Yeshiva’s remarks were published alongside a separate letter from Bnei Brak’s rabbonim, Harav Chaim Yitzchok Isaac Landau, Harav Shevach Tzvi Rosenblatt, and Harav Masoud Ben Shimon, urging residents to make their Erev Shabbos travel arrangements considerably earlier than usual.

In their letter, titled “Pnei Shabbos Nekabelah,” the rabbonim instructed travelers to plan their journeys so that they arrive at their destinations at least two hours before hadlokas neiros.

In pressing circumstances, they directed that travelers reach their destinations no later than 80 minutes before shkiah.

The rabbonim explained that delays caused by traffic or other unexpected circumstances can leave bus drivers with insufficient time to return to their homes before Shabbos, potentially resulting in serious violations of Shemiras Shabbos.

Their warning emphasizes that responsibility for preventing chillul Shabbos extends beyond the individual traveler. Those who choose to travel at the last minute must also consider whether their decisions could place drivers in a position where they cannot finish their work and return home before Shabbos.

The rabbonim also issued specific instructions to business owners in Bnei Brak, directing that stores close at least half an hour before hadlokas neiros and remain closed until at least half an hour after Shabbos ends on Motzoei Shabbos.

Customers were urged not to pressure storekeepers or employees into extending business hours as Shabbos approaches, even when they are attempting to complete last-minute purchases.

The letters were accompanied by practical measures undertaken by the Bnei Brak municipality to address the problem of late-running public transportation.

Mayor Chanoch Zeibert and Deputy Mayor Michael Kakon, who oversees the city’s transportation portfolio, have held discussions with public transportation company executives to ensure that Friday bus services conclude sufficiently early to allow drivers to return home before Shabbos.

Municipal officials are working with the companies to prevent delays and establish appropriate schedules during the winter months, when the earlier onset of Shabbos creates additional logistical challenges.

{Matzav.com}

“Mommy, if I beat cancer once, why did it come back?” 

Chaim Rubin is only 7 years old.

A year ago, after more than a year of difficult treatments, his parents finally heard the words they had been praying for: Chaim had beaten cancer.

He went back to school, back to his friends, and back to simply being a child.

But at the beginning of Av, everything changed again.  

The seizures returned, and then came the devastating news:

The medulloblastoma was back.

Chaim has already started treatment to help control the disease, but to give him the chance he desperately needs, his family must now get him to the United States for advanced treatment.

The hospital requires a significant deposit upfront, and after already using their savings and everything they had available, the family simply cannot do this alone.

They need our help now.

Every donation can bring Chaim one step closer to the treatment he needs and another chance to fight.

 Please open your heart for Chaim ben Yael.

Donate today!

Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly praised American billionaire Elon Musk as a “real genius” for building the world’s largest satellite internet network, while revealing that Moscow remains in close contact with the SpaceX founder despite the political tensions between Russia and the United States.

Putin made the remarks Wednesday while touring a technology exhibition at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, where Russian officials presented their efforts to develop a domestic satellite communications system capable of competing with Musk’s Starlink network.

The Russian leader acknowledged that his country remains far behind SpaceX in deploying satellites, offering an unusually candid assessment of the technological gap between Russia and the American company.

“Elon Musk is a genius, he’s just a real genius,” Putin declared during a presentation by Russian Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev.

The minister had been discussing Russia’s development of Rassvet, a satellite internet network intended to provide broadband communications through a constellation of low-Earth-orbit satellites.

When Putin asked how many satellites Musk had operating in space, Shadayev estimated that the American entrepreneur had more than 5,000.

“Over 5,000 — while we are only taking our first steps. But we are proud that we have begun to do this, and started to do it independently,” Putin responded.

The Russian president said the next challenge for Moscow would be expanding its satellite network substantially, explaining that the country needed “to move from quality to quantity.”

According to independent satellite tracking data, SpaceX’s actual constellation is considerably larger than the figure discussed during the presentation, with approximately 10,000 satellites currently operating in orbit.

Russia, by comparison, has launched slightly more than 30 satellites as part of its effort to establish a competing system, highlighting the considerable distance Moscow must cover before it can challenge Starlink’s global reach.

Putin then made a disclosure that attracted particular attention, acknowledging that Russian officials continue communicating with Musk and other American counterparts on matters involving satellite operations.

“We are in close contact with our American partners — including Mr Musk — because it is very important, in orbit, not to get in each other’s way and to maintain a certain level of discipline and order,” Putin said.

He emphasized that the cooperation continues despite the broader political disagreements between Moscow and Washington.

Putin said both countries recognize the importance of coordinating their activities in space and maintaining established operational standards, adding that Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, and other companies remain involved in those contacts.

The remarks did not establish whether Putin and Musk have communicated personally or whether the contacts have taken place through representatives of their respective organizations.

The disclosure is particularly significant because SpaceX’s satellite technology has played a major role in Ukraine’s military operations since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukraine has relied heavily on Starlink for battlefield communications, drone operations, and coordination between military units. Its military has also used Starshield, a specialized version of the satellite communications system developed for government and defense applications.

The network’s importance became the subject of renewed controversy earlier this month when Ukrainian officials reported restrictions affecting satellite internet speeds, disrupting certain military activities and complicating efforts to intercept Russian attack drones.

The interruptions reportedly forced Ukrainian forces to postpone some operations and raised concerns about the country’s dependence on satellite communications infrastructure controlled by a private American company.

The controversy unfolded amid worsening relations between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, following disagreements over American policy toward Russia and the continuing war.

Musk and the Trump administration denied responsibility for deliberately disrupting Ukrainian military communications.

Musk subsequently accused Ukraine’s military of violating SpaceX’s terms of service by using its civilian Starlink network for purposes that were not authorized under its operating agreements.

Ukrainian officials announced over the weekend that Starlink and Starshield services had been restored to normal operation, although the episode renewed debate over the strategic implications of relying on commercial satellite networks during wartime.

Russia has been working to reduce its own dependence on foreign communications infrastructure by developing Rassvet, a network being built by Russian aerospace company Bureau 1440.

The project is intended to provide high-speed internet access across Russia and potentially other regions through hundreds of satellites operating at relatively low altitudes.

Russian officials envision the system serving civilian communications needs while also offering capabilities relevant to national security and military operations.

The first group of 16 Rassvet satellites was launched in March, followed by additional deployments during the summer. Moscow hopes to expand the constellation through a series of future launches.

Putin’s remarks also follow earlier indications that Moscow is interested in maintaining technological contacts with Musk despite the conflict in Ukraine.

In 2025, Kirill Dmitriev, a senior Russian investment official, publicly expressed interest in collaborating with Musk on a potential mission to Mars.

{Matzav.com}

Beginning November 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, all passengers boarding international flights to the U.S. will be required to sign a declaration confirming that they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the previous 21 days. The declaration can be seen here, though airlines may make a digital version available, as well.

What travelers need to know:

• The requirement applies to all passengers, including U.S. citizens and Green Card holders.
• The declaration must be completed before boarding, either digitally or on paper.
• Passengers who do not complete the declaration may be denied boarding.

The measure was introduced by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a precaution against the spread of Ebola. For the official announcement, visit the CDC website.

Travelers should check with their airline for instructions before departure.

{Matzav.com}

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri has informed close associates that he intends to resign from the leadership of the Sephardic chareidi party following its devastating performance in Tuesday’s Knesset elections, prompting senior rabbonim to rush to his home in an effort to persuade him to reconsider.

The development, reported Thursday afternoon by several Israeli news outlets, comes as updated election results show Shas falling to just six Knesset seats, down from the 11 it secured in 2022. The result represents the party’s weakest electoral showing in more than three decades and has triggered a major crisis within its political and rabbinic leadership.

“I intend to resign from the leadership of the movement following the failure in the elections,” Deri reportedly told associates on Thursday.

According to Israeli reports, Deri has remained largely secluded at his home in Yerushalayim’s Bayit Vegan neighborhood since the election results became clear, limiting his contact with individuals outside his immediate circle.

During the afternoon, Rishon LeTzion Harav Dovid Yosef and senior members of the Shas Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah, including Harav Avraham Salim, Harav Shmuel Betzalel, and Harav Yehuda Cohen, visited Deri’s residence in an attempt to convince him to remain in his position.

Deri reportedly told the rabbonim that his decision was not simply an emotional reaction to the election results, but rather the culmination of concerns he had been considering for some time.

“I am tired of leading the movement. I no longer have the strength. This is no longer for me. I was already thinking of resigning before the elections, and now the decision has become stronger for me,” Deri was quoted as telling the rabbonim.

The reported announcement has set off intensive efforts within Shas to prevent a leadership upheaval at a particularly sensitive moment for the party, which is confronting both a substantial loss of parliamentary representation and internal criticism over its campaign strategy.

With approximately 97.3% of the votes counted Thursday afternoon, Shas had dropped to six seats, while United Torah Judaism stood at seven. The latest allocation followed an updated count that awarded Likud an additional seat at Shas’s expense.

If the result holds, it would mark the first time in years that United Torah Judaism has surpassed Shas in Knesset representation, reversing the longstanding balance between the two chareidi parties.

The electoral setback has fueled criticism of Deri from within Shas, with some party figures accusing the leadership of miscalculating where its greatest electoral competition would come from.

According to reports by Kan News and other Israeli outlets, Shas strategists concentrated heavily on preventing voters from defecting to Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party, while failing to recognize the extent to which traditional Shas supporters were moving toward Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s Likud.

Other critics have argued that the campaign placed excessive emphasis on attracting traditional voters in outlying communities while neglecting the party’s core chareidi constituency.

The party’s losses have also been linked to frustration over the outgoing government’s failure to enact legislation protecting the status of yeshiva bochurim amid the ongoing military draft controversy.

Even before Deri’s reported resignation announcement, Israeli media had reported growing calls within Shas for a change in leadership.

Channel 14 reported Thursday morning that some party officials viewed Deri’s suggestions of resignation as an attempt to secure renewed public backing from the rabbonim and party leadership. Other figures, however, were reportedly discussing the possibility of replacing him.

The reported resignation plans also come amid complicated relations between Deri and elements of Shas’s rabbinic leadership, particularly over the party’s handling of the draft issue and the division of authority between its political chairman and the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah.

Earlier Thursday, Rishon LeTzion Harav Yitzchok Yosef issued a public letter of encouragement to Shas activists and representatives, explicitly praising Deri for his dedication to the movement.

In the letter, Rav Yosef described Deri as someone who devotes himself to the party’s success and commended the nearly 300,000 voters who supported Shas despite the difficulties confronting the Torah world.

The letter was widely viewed as a significant expression of support for Deri amid the mounting criticism of his leadership.

Deri has led Shas for much of its modern political history, first assuming the party’s leadership in 1990 and returning to the position in 2013. His political career has been closely associated with the legacy of Maran Harav Ovadia Yosef zt”l, under whose leadership Shas became a major force in Israeli politics.

No formal resignation has yet been submitted or publicly announced, and the efforts by senior rabbonim to persuade Deri to remain in office were continuing Thursday afternoon.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Yitzchak Yosef has issued a special letter of encouragement to Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, the party’s rabbonim, representatives, and activists following its disappointing performance in Israel’s Knesset elections, urging them not to become discouraged and expressing confidence that relief for the embattled Torah world is approaching.

The letter comes as updated election results indicate that Shas has fallen to just six Knesset seats, down from the 11 it won in the previous election, prompting criticism of the party’s campaign and renewed questions about its political leadership.

Despite the electoral losses, Rav Yosef emphasized the significance of nearly 300,000 voters who supported Shas, describing their participation as a powerful demonstration of commitment to Torah and Jewish tradition at a time when yeshiva bochurim and avreichim face mounting pressure over the military draft.

Addressing the letter to supporters of the Shas movement throughout Eretz Yisroel, Rav Yosef expressed his appreciation to those who devoted themselves to the election campaign.

“With the conclusion of the sacred campaign on behalf of the Torah of Israel and the tradition of Israel in Eretz Yisroel, I wish to bless and strengthen all those engaged in this sacred work,” he wrote, specifically acknowledging party activists, elected representatives, roshei yeshiva, community rabbonim, yeshiva bochurim, and kollel yungeleit.

Rav Yosef reserved particular praise for Deri, whose leadership has come under scrutiny following the party’s substantial electoral losses.

He described the Shas chairman as a devoted representative of the rabbonim who continues to dedicate himself to the movement’s success.

“Above all, our dear friend, the chairman of the movement, the shlucha d’Rabbonon, Rav Aryeh Deri, who sacrifices himself for the success of the movement,” Rav Yosef wrote, praising Deri alongside the activists who worked tirelessly to advance the objectives established by his father, Maran Harav Ovadia Yosef zt”l.

The public expression of support comes amid reports of dissatisfaction within Shas over the campaign’s direction, including criticism that the party devoted too much attention to attracting traditional voters while failing to adequately mobilize its core chareidi constituency.

Rav Yosef’s letter, however, focused on strengthening those who participated in the campaign and reminding them of the broader significance of their efforts.

In his letter, Rav Yosef described the chareidi community as a minority that has steadfastly upheld the primacy of Torah and remained committed to its principles despite considerable opposition.

He acknowledged that the party’s message had not reached every segment of Israeli society as effectively as its supporters had hoped, but stressed that their efforts had not been in vain.

“Your reward is very great,” he wrote, invoking the teaching of Chazal, “Lefum tza’ara agra,” that the reward is commensurate with the effort and hardship involved.

Rav Yosef also addressed the ongoing difficulties confronting the yeshiva world, describing the current period as one in which those devoted to Torah study face persecution because of their determination to continue learning and observing Torah.

Nevertheless, he pointed to the nearly 300,000 men and women who voted for Shas as a source of encouragement.

“Nearly 300,000 men and women answered the call of ‘Mi LaHashem Eilai,’ chose Torah, and increased the honor of Hashem’s name in the world,” he wrote.

Concluding his message, Rav Yosef expressed hope that the difficulties facing yeshiva bochurim and avreichim would soon be resolved.

“Therefore, we must strengthen ourselves and take encouragement, for our salvation is near, and those who study Torah will be able to continue their learning without interference,” he wrote.

He concluded with the words, “Chazak, chazak, venischazek,” calling upon supporters to remain steadfast despite the election results.

Following publication of the letter, representatives of Rav Yosef issued a separate statement rejecting reports of internal divisions within Shas. They accused unnamed individuals of spreading false reports intended to create conflict within the Sephardic community and insisted that the party’s rabbinic leadership, political representatives, and activists remained united.

The statement followed a Channel 13 report that figures associated with Rav Yosef were seeking to convene the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah to review the election results and formally appoint him president of the council, potentially changing the balance of authority within Shas.

Rav Yosef’s letter did not directly address those reported proposals, but his explicit praise of Deri constituted a public expression of support for the chairman at a time of considerable political pressure.

{Matzav.com}

Qatar has issued a sharply worded denial of allegations that it secretly financed efforts to increase Arab voter turnout in Israel’s Knesset elections, accusing Israeli politicians of spreading disinformation and attempting to blame the Gulf state for their own political setbacks.

The unusually confrontational response follows reports that Israel’s Shin Bet security agency has opened an investigation into suspicions that Qatar and Turkey provided funding to individuals involved in mobilizing Arab voters ahead of Tuesday’s election.

In a statement issued by a spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, Doha rejected the allegations and ridiculed what it described as a succession of contradictory accusations concerning its involvement in Israeli politics.

“If these allegations were to be believed, Qatar would apparently own all of Israel,” the statement declared.

Qatari officials argued that Israel’s political establishment has repeatedly accused Doha of influencing different and sometimes opposing political factions, pointing to earlier allegations involving Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, subsequent claims concerning financial support for the Israeli left, and the latest suspicions involving Arab political parties.

The Foreign Ministry described the accusations as “equally ridiculous and dangerous,” accusing Israeli political figures of demonstrating an “excessive obsession” with Qatar.

According to Doha, the repeated references to Qatar in Israel’s political debate reflect an effort to divert attention from domestic political failures rather than address the concerns of Israeli citizens.

Qatari officials also accused Israeli politicians of using the Gulf state as a scapegoat instead of working to “improve the lives of citizens.”

The statement made clear that Qatar does not intend to remain silent while its name is repeatedly invoked in Israel’s internal political disputes.

The diplomatic confrontation follows an unusually urgent request from Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg, who instructed Shin Bet director David Zini to investigate intelligence suggesting that foreign money may have been used to influence voter turnout in Israel’s Arab communities.

According to Israeli reports, the intelligence raised suspicions that substantial funds originating in Qatar were transferred through intermediaries to support unlawful election-related activity. Some of the suspected financial channels had reportedly been used previously to transfer money associated with terrorism. These allegations remain under investigation, and no finding establishing Qatari involvement has been announced.

Sohlberg asked the Shin Bet to use its investigative powers to determine whether the allegations could be substantiated or disproved and to provide findings, if available, within a week. He emphasized the importance of protecting the integrity of the electoral process while acknowledging that he could not independently attest to the accuracy of the suspicions.

The investigation has also generated questions about when Israeli security officials first became aware of the suspected foreign financing. Israeli media reported that the Shin Bet possessed relevant intelligence before Election Day, prompting criticism over why the information was not brought to the Central Elections Committee earlier.

Separately, Israeli police have arrested seven suspects in an investigation involving alleged election bribery in the Negev, where investigators reportedly discovered cash in envelopes associated with Ra’am. Police have emphasized that the criminal investigation is separate from the Shin Bet’s inquiry into possible foreign interference.

Likud officials have linked the allegations to the Arab parties’ electoral gains, accusing political opponents of benefiting from improper efforts to influence the vote. Police, however, have said there is no evidence supporting claims that the election itself was stolen.

Ra’am chairman Mansour Abbas has denied any connection between his party and the alleged foreign financing. He welcomed an investigation into possible election interference and said his party would cooperate with law enforcement.

{Matzav.com}

Federal investigators reportedly uncovered evidence during a 2016 investigation suggesting that Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota had entered into a fraudulent marriage with a man alleged to be her brother, but prosecutors did not pursue charges because the suspected conduct was considered too old to prosecute, according to a new report published Thursday.

The revelation comes as Omar faces renewed federal scrutiny over her immigration history, including an investigation that led Homeland Security agents to search her Washington, D.C., residence earlier this month. Investigators are examining whether Omar or members of her family provided false information in immigration documents, although no charges have been announced against the congresswoman.

According to the New York Post, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security investigated Omar’s marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi in 2016, when she was pursuing a seat in the Minnesota Legislature. Investigators reportedly identified evidence raising questions about the legitimacy of the marriage, but prosecutors concluded that the five-year statute of limitations prevented them from pursuing certain potential criminal charges.

The precise nature of the evidence uncovered during that investigation has not been publicly disclosed, and the allegation that Elmi is Omar’s brother has not been independently established.

A person familiar with the earlier investigation told the newspaper that the “Biden US Attorney in Minnesota shut it down” after assuming office in 2021. That account has not been independently confirmed.

Omar has repeatedly denied accusations that she married Elmi to help him obtain legal immigration status, dismissing the claims as a racist conspiracy theory promoted by political opponents.

The latest report follows additional allegations published Wednesday concerning Omar’s former husband, Ahmed Hirsi, and Elmi’s arrival in Minnesota in 2009.

An acquaintance of Hirsi told the Post that Elmi moved into the household shared by Omar and Hirsi and was introduced as Omar’s brother from London. The source described Elmi as an “extremely feminine Somali guy” who “was walking around in tight female clothing, which is heavily frowned upon in the Somali community.”

According to the acquaintance, Hirsi identified Elmi as “it was his wife’s brother from London and that Ilhan had ‘embarrassed all of us by bringing him here’. Ahmed used very strong words and said it was ‘disgusting.’”

The source further claimed that Elmi’s presence became a subject of discussion within Minneapolis’s Somali community.

“All of the Somalis in Minneapolis were gossiping and trying to find out who this guy was,” the acquaintance said. “Then everyone realized it was … Ilhan’s brother. Everybody was shocked … [Hirsi] explained that she had married him legally to get him papers and that [Hirsi] was only Islamically married to her.”

The acquaintance also alleged that “Ahmed and Ilhan used to argue over her brother all the time” and said he “saw them arguing and shouting in public.”

Following Elmi’s departure from Minnesota around 2012, the source claimed that “Ahmed praised God for taking him away from his family.”

These accounts remain allegations attributed to an unnamed individual and have not been independently substantiated.

The renewed federal investigation escalated on October 12, when Homeland Security Investigations agents executed a court-authorized search warrant at Omar’s Washington residence. Authorities removed electronic devices and other materials as part of an ongoing criminal inquiry.

The Post reported that investigators seized Omar’s cellphone, personal computers, notebooks, and passport. Reuters separately reported that federal agents had collected her phone and issued more than a dozen subpoenas while examining possible immigration-related offenses.

The Justice Department has confirmed the existence of an ongoing criminal investigation but has not publicly identified any charges against Omar.

In a court filing this week, federal prosecutors asked a judge to keep the search warrant application sealed, arguing that investigators were still examining the seized evidence and had not determined whether criminal charges would be filed or against whom.

Another issue under examination concerns discrepancies in records identifying Omar’s year of birth.

Omar has said she obtained American citizenship in 2000, when she was 17, through the naturalization of her father, Nur Omar Mohamed. However, some records identify her birthdate as October 4, 1981, while others list October 4, 1982.

The distinction could be legally significant because the earlier birth year would mean Omar had already turned 18 when her father became a citizen, potentially affecting her eligibility for citizenship through him.

The Post previously reported that members of Omar’s staff contacted official biographical databases in 2019 to have her birth year listed as 1982 rather than 1981.

Omar’s campaign told the Associated Press in 2018 that she did not possess a birth certificate because her family had been displaced during Somalia’s civil war.

The investigation also raises questions about possible legal consequences if authorities establish that false information was submitted during the immigration process.

Federal criminal charges involving immigration fraud and false statements are subject to statutes of limitations, depending on the offense. Civil proceedings seeking to revoke citizenship obtained unlawfully or through material misrepresentation are not subject to the same general time restrictions.

Reuters reported earlier this month that federal authorities were examining whether Omar or relatives provided inaccurate information when they entered the United States as refugees in the 1990s or during subsequent citizenship proceedings.

Omar has strongly rejected the investigation, accusing the Trump administration of using federal law enforcement to target a political opponent.

“For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation,” Omar said following the search of her home.

President Donald Trump has denied personally directing the search, saying decisions about the investigation belong to the Justice Department.

{Matzav.com}

With Israel’s election results still being finalized and no clear parliamentary majority emerging, attention is turning to the complicated process of forming the country’s next government, a procedure that could stretch over several months and potentially end with Israelis returning to the polls.

The elections for the 26th Knesset have left political leaders facing difficult coalition negotiations, while Israeli law establishes a series of deadlines governing how long candidates have to assemble a government and what happens if their efforts fail.

The immediate priority is completing the ballot count, including the special double-envelope votes cast by soldiers, hospitalized patients, diplomats, and others unable to vote at their regular polling stations. The Central Elections Committee must publish the official results within seven days of Election Day, after all votes have been counted and verified.

Once the results are certified, President Isaac Herzog will begin meeting with representatives of the parties elected to the Knesset. Under Basic Law: The Government, the president has seven days to conduct consultations during which each faction can recommend the lawmaker it believes should receive the opportunity to form a coalition.

Although the leader of the largest party is frequently given the first opportunity, Herzog is not legally obligated to follow that practice. He can select any consenting Knesset member whom he considers most likely to assemble a government capable of securing parliamentary approval.

The lawmaker chosen will initially receive 28 days to negotiate coalition agreements, divide ministerial responsibilities, and secure sufficient support to establish a government.

If negotiations remain unfinished when that period expires, the president can authorize an extension of up to 14 days, allowing the first candidate a maximum of 42 days to complete the task.

Should those efforts fail, Herzog will face a decision. He can appoint another willing Knesset member to attempt to form a government, or he can formally inform the Knesset speaker that he sees no realistic prospect of any candidate succeeding.

A second candidate, if appointed, receives 28 days to build a coalition. Unlike the first candidate, the second cannot receive an extension.

If that attempt also collapses, or if Herzog determines that no viable candidate exists, the process enters a final parliamentary stage. Knesset members then have 21 days to gather the signatures of at least 61 lawmakers supporting a particular member of the Knesset for prime minister.

If the required majority submits a written request, the designated lawmaker receives 14 days to establish a government.

Failure to secure those 61 signatures, or the inability of the final candidate to form a coalition within the allotted period, would trigger the dissolution of the Knesset and another national election.

The possibility of a prolonged political stalemate has become increasingly realistic following Tuesday’s election. With most ballots counted, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s coalition was projected to secure approximately 53 seats, while the main opposition parties held 48 and the Arab parties controlled 19. Neither Netanyahu nor opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has demonstrated a clear path to a governing majority.

Herzog has already urged political leaders to approach the negotiations with an open mind and avoid forcing the country into another election. Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot have indicated that they intend to pursue the premiership.

The newly elected Knesset is scheduled to convene on November 10, even if coalition negotiations remain unresolved. Until a new government wins a parliamentary confidence vote and takes office, Netanyahu’s outgoing government will continue serving in a caretaker capacity.

If all three opportunities to establish a government are exhausted without success, another election must take place within 90 days of the Knesset’s dissolution.

{Matzav.com}

[Audio below.] An extraordinary recording of a telephone conversation between Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and a Gerer chossid has become one of the most talked-about moments of Israel’s election, after the chossid calmly confronted the prime minister over four years of unfulfilled promises to the chareidi community, even as Netanyahu raised his voice and desperately sought help getting chareidi voters to the polls.

The conversation took place Tuesday evening, approximately 90 minutes before voting stations closed, when Netanyahu personally contacted Itche Dzalovsky, a Gerer chossid and well-known chareidi broadcaster who operates a popular telephone news hotline. The prime minister was deeply concerned about reports that significant numbers of chareidi voters, particularly within Ger, were staying home rather than supporting the parties aligned with his government.

What followed was a remarkable exchange in which Netanyahu repeatedly demanded to know whether chareidim would vote, while Dzalovsky refused to abandon the central issue: the government’s failure to deliver on its commitments concerning the military draft and the protection of the yeshiva world.

“Itche, what’s happening with the chareidim?” Netanyahu asked at the beginning of the conversation.

LISTEN:

Dzalovsky began explaining that the community was furious over the government’s handling of the draft issue and the promises that had gone unfulfilled.

Before he could finish, Netanyahu interrupted angrily, demanding to know whether chareidi voters understood the consequences of refusing to participate in the election.

“Tell me, are they crazy? Do they want a left-wing government?” Netanyahu exclaimed.

Dzalovsky remained composed.

“They want a government that will deliver on what it has repeatedly promised,” he responded.

Netanyahu’s agitation intensified. At one point, his wife, Sara Netanyahu, could be heard shouting in the background that everyone would die if the election went the wrong way.

The prime minister continued pressing Dzalovsky, warning that a government supported by Arab political parties would threaten the future of the Torah world.

“Do they want to die? They want to destroy the Torah world, and they’re not coming out? That’s what I want to know,” Netanyahu demanded.

Dzalovsky responded that the community’s objective was precisely to preserve its religious way of life.

“They want ultra-Orthodox Jews to be able to observe the Torah and its commandments to the depths of their souls, without having their religion trampled,” he explained.

Netanyahu repeatedly tried to steer the conversation back to the immediate electoral question, asking whether chareidim were actually heading to the polls.

But Dzalovsky insisted that the prime minister was overlooking the reason for their reluctance.

“But they’ve had four years of promises being broken consistently,” he said.

Netanyahu brushed aside the complaint, insisting that there was no time to revisit past commitments when the election was about to end.

“Fine, but that’s not the question right now. Are they going out to vote or not? That’s what I’m asking,” Netanyahu replied.

Dzalovsky delivered perhaps the most pointed assessment of the entire conversation.

“They’re not convinced there’s anyone who will keep his word.”

When Netanyahu asked him to repeat himself, Dzalovsky did so, making clear that the problem was a fundamental loss of confidence in the government’s assurances.

The Gerer chossid explained that after years of commitments that had not been fulfilled, it was extremely difficult to persuade people that another promise would be meaningful.

With the clock running down, Netanyahu asked whether anything could still be done to change the situation.

Dzalovsky suggested that the prime minister contact the Gedolei Yisroel, including members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah, and provide concrete guarantees that his commitments would be honored.

Netanyahu responded incredulously.

“I’m going to give them guarantees now, with an hour and a half left, tell me?”

Dzalovsky replied that accomplishing in 90 minutes what had not been accomplished over four years would indeed be extremely difficult.

As the conversation drew to a close, Netanyahu appeared to acknowledge that Dzalovsky was offering him little hope of a last-minute turnaround.

“So, in short, you’re telling me there’s nothing to be done, right?” the prime minister asked.

“That’s what I think. I think it’s really, really impossible,” Dzalovsky answered.

“Thank you, Itche. Goodbye,” Netanyahu said, ending the conversation.

The recording quickly circulated across Israeli media and social networks, attracting considerable attention because of the unusual spectacle of an ordinary chareidi broadcaster confronting the prime minister so directly.

The exchange also drew praise from Israeli television personality Guy Lerer of Channel 13, who said he was astonished by Dzalovsky’s willingness to challenge Netanyahu without becoming intimidated by the prime minister’s increasingly forceful tone.

Lerer wrote that he initially suspected the recording was artificially generated because the conversation seemed so extraordinary. After confirming its authenticity, he praised Dzalovsky for repeatedly returning to the government’s broken promises despite Netanyahu’s attempts to redirect the discussion.

According to Lerer’s account, Netanyahu had initially sought to deliver an election appeal through Dzalovsky’s chareidi news hotline. Dzalovsky declined to broadcast the requested statement, and the subsequent telephone conversation became the recording that spread throughout the country.

The incident occurred against the backdrop of deep frustration within Ger over the Netanyahu government’s handling of the military draft issue.

In the weeks preceding the election, Israeli media reported that Netanyahu’s political allies feared tens of thousands of Gerer chassidim might refrain from voting for United Torah Judaism, the party they had traditionally supported.

The dissatisfaction followed the government’s failure to enact legislation addressing the draft status of yeshiva bochurim, despite commitments made to the chareidi parties during the previous coalition negotiations.

Former Housing Minister Yitzchok Goldknopf, a senior Gerer representative, had already resigned from the government amid the dispute, reflecting the deterioration in relations between the chassidus and Netanyahu’s coalition.

Reports before Election Day indicated that Ger’s usual election mobilization efforts were largely absent, fueling concerns within Likud and United Torah Judaism that a significant bloc of dependable voters would remain at home.

{Matzav.com}

A California woman has taken the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles to federal court after officials revoked her personalized license plate displaying a reference to the controversial anti-Israel slogan “from the river to the sea,” arguing that the decision violates her constitutional right to free speech.

Iasmine Abdennabi, who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area’s East Bay region, filed the lawsuit Monday after losing an administrative appeal challenging the DMV’s order to surrender her plate, which bears the letters “RVRTSEA.”

The phrase has become a fixture at anti-Israel demonstrations and is widely understood by critics as advocating the elimination of Israel as a Jewish state. Supporters of the slogan, however, contend that it represents a demand for Palestinian rights and freedom throughout the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

Abdennabi obtained approval for the plate after submitting her application on December 15, 2023, approximately two months after Hamas terrorists carried out their October 7 massacre in Israel. The DMV subsequently issued the plates in May 2024.

In her federal complaint, Abdennabi maintains that the message was intended to advocate equal rights “for all persons living between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea.”

The plate eventually drew objections from other California motorists, who complained that the state had authorized a message they viewed as promoting hatred and violence.

“I was shocked that (the DMV) would have issued this,” one driver wrote in a complaint, citing California’s restrictions on offensive personalized license plates. “It supports terrorism and encourages violence.”

The complaints prompted the DMV to reconsider its approval and begin proceedings to cancel the plate.

In October 2025, state officials directed Abdennabi to return the plates “on the ground that the plate configuration carried connotations offensive to good taste and decency in that the configuration can be read as ‘river to sea’ and interpreted as racially or ethnically degrading and negative to a specific group.”

Abdennabi contested the determination, but an administrative law judge sided with the DMV in May. The decision became effective September 16.

In upholding the revocation, the judge concluded that “the plate configuration can and does connote and/or refer to ‘genocide or creates a risk of inciting violence,'” making it impermissible under California’s personalized license plate regulations.

The administrative ruling also noted that the woman could continue expressing her political views through other forms of vehicle messaging, including bumper stickers and license plate frames.

Her new lawsuit challenges the state’s ability to prohibit the wording on a government-issued license plate, raising First Amendment questions about the distinction between private political expression and messages displayed on state property.

The DMV has declined to discuss the pending litigation and had not filed its response to the federal complaint as of the latest report.

The dispute comes against the backdrop of another controversy involving a California vanity plate that appeared to mock the October 7 Hamas massacre. The DMV previously apologized for authorizing a plate reading “LOLOCT7,” which drew criticism from people who believed it celebrated the terrorist attack.

The vehicle owner’s relatives disputed that interpretation, explaining that the combination referred to a Filipino grandfather and his Tesla Cybertruck. They said “Lolo” is the Tagalog word for grandfather, “CT” represented the vehicle, and the numeral “7” referred to his seven children.

In the latest case, Abdennabi’s attorney is preparing to request a court order preventing the DMV from taking possession of the disputed plates while the lawsuit proceeds. As of Tuesday, they remained on her vehicle.

The federal complaint, filed October 26 in the Northern District of California, names DMV Director Steve Gordon as the defendant. Abdennabi is seeking an order overturning the revocation and a declaration that the state violated her First Amendment rights.

Her attorney has pointed to a 2020 federal ruling that found California’s restriction on personalized plates deemed offensive to good taste and decency unconstitutional. That earlier decision could become a central issue in the new legal challenge.

The Lawfare Project, a Jewish civil rights organization, raised concerns about the implications of the slogan. Its communications director, Jayne Zirkle, told JNS that Hamas has used the phrase in its own messaging.

“Free speech matters. So does the right of Jewish Americans to live without intimidation,” Zirkle said. “When terrorist organizations use rhetoric calling for Israel’s elimination, the implications for public safety cannot be dismissed.”

{Matzav.com}

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem declared Wednesday that Israel’s election results would have no impact on the Iran-backed terrorist group’s confrontation with the Jewish state, insisting that Hezbollah would maintain its armed campaign regardless of which political coalition assumes power in Yerushalayim.

In a written statement carried by AFP, Qassem said Hezbollah had no interest in the identity of Israel’s next government and would continue demanding the withdrawal of Israeli forces from territory Lebanon claims as its own.

“We do not concern ourselves with who governs Israel, but let it be perfectly clear that it cannot continue its occupation and must leave our land,” Qassem said.

The Hezbollah chief also rejected demands that his organization surrender its weapons, maintaining that its armed operations would continue as long as Israeli forces remained in the disputed areas.

“The resistance will continue… and will stand up to the aggression directed against it and against Lebanon, and there is no room to discuss the disarmament” of Hezbollah “as long as the occupation persists and its aggression continues,” he added.

The statements come as Israeli and Lebanese authorities struggle to implement a security agreement reached in June that calls for Hezbollah to relinquish its weapons, Israeli troops to withdraw in stages from areas covered by the arrangement, and the Lebanese military to assume responsibility for security in those locations.

Hezbollah did not participate in the negotiations that produced the agreement and has repeatedly refused to enter direct diplomatic talks with Israel.

The organization has also resisted efforts to disarm it, despite the agreement’s provisions and continued international pressure for the Lebanese government to establish exclusive control over weapons and military activity within its territory.

Israel has accused Hezbollah of repeatedly violating ceasefire arrangements, including through military activity and efforts to maintain its armed infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

Israeli forces have continued targeting Hezbollah positions in the region, with Israeli officials describing the operations as responses to violations and threats posed by the terrorist organization.

Qassem’s latest declaration signals that Hezbollah intends to maintain its opposition to disarmament despite Israel’s political transition and the continuing diplomatic effort to implement the Israeli-Lebanese security agreement.

Recent reports indicate that Hezbollah has also been working to replenish its weapons stockpiles and rebuild military capabilities damaged during its conflicts with Israel. Lebanese security sources told Reuters this week that the organization has received additional Iranian funding and has been preparing for the possibility of renewed fighting.

Qassem went further in his latest statement, reportedly describing the Israeli-Lebanese framework agreement as invalid and arguing that it conflicts with Lebanese law and constitutional arrangements. He also characterized Israel’s inconclusive election outcome as a sign of weakness.

{Matzav.com}

A warning issued by frum community members about the potentially devastating consequences of voting illegally is now generating an unexpected backlash, as videos of the warning circulate beyond the Jewish community and are being seized upon by outside commentators as purported evidence of voter fraud within the Orthodox Jewish population.

The controversy stems from videos released last week by askanim and even a frum politican, who urged green card holders and other noncitizens not to vote, warning that several members of the community had reportedly been detained by immigration authorities after casting ballots despite being ineligible to participate in American elections.

The messages were intended to alert community members to the serious legal and immigration consequences of voting without U.S. citizenship. However, the supposed acknowledgment that individuals from the community had allegedly been detained following unlawful voting has now attracted attention from commentators outside the frum community, who are interpreting the statement as evidence that illegal voting has occurred among Orthodox Jews.

In one video circulating online, an outside commentator points to the fact that a Jewish elected official publicly acknowledged that people from “our community” had voted and subsequently been sent to immigration detention centers.

The commentator argues that the statement should prompt an investigation into possible voter fraud within the community. He also invokes President Donald Trump’s newly announced $1 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals responsible for voter fraud, suggesting that the politician’s remarks could provide grounds for pursuing such a reward.

The video represents a striking reversal of the original message’s purpose. What began as an effort to prevent community members from inadvertently jeopardizing their immigration status is now being circulated by critics as a reason to scrutinize voting activity within the community itself.

The original warnings came last week as federal authorities intensified enforcement against noncitizens accused of unlawfully registering to vote or participating in elections.

The warnings said that several individuals from the frum community had been stopped at airports and placed in detention centers after authorities discovered that they had voted despite lacking American citizenship.

Askanim urged residents to circulate the warnings through family and neighborhood messaging groups so that others would understand the potential consequences before Election Day.

The issue received additional attention last Wednesday when Agudath Israel of America and the Aleph Institute issued a warning reminding noncitizens that receiving voter registration materials or even a ballot does not establish legal eligibility to vote.

The organizations explained that individuals can sometimes become registered through administrative processes, including motor vehicle transactions, despite not being legally qualified to participate in elections.

Rabbi Yossi Grossbaum, the Aleph Institute’s director of immigration affairs, also warned that immigration consequences can arise even when an individual did not intend to violate the law.

“Even an unintentional mistake can have serious consequences for a person’s immigration status,” Grossbaum said. “We urge anyone with concerns to seek qualified legal guidance. For those already facing detention or immigration proceedings, Aleph is available to provide support and help pursue possible avenues for resolution.”

The statements were directed toward preventing further incidents and assisting individuals facing immigration difficulties. Nevertheless, their circulation outside the community has created an entirely different discussion, with critics focusing on the reported incidents themselves rather than the warnings intended to prevent them.

The timing has added another dimension to the controversy.

On Monday, October 26, Trump announced that he would offer $1 million to individuals who provide information about voter fraud that results in an arrest and conviction.

“Anybody reporting Voter Fraud in the past Elections, or the upcoming 2026 Midterm Election, will be paid $1,000,000 upon the arrest and conviction of those that created the Fraud!” Trump wrote.

The president reiterated the offer while speaking to reporters, although the administration has not publicly detailed the procedures for submitting information or how the proposed payments would be funded.

The commentator circulating the frum community video has now connected the frum community’s warnings to that announcement, calling for scrutiny of the reported incidents and raising the possibility of obtaining the reward.

There is an important distinction, however, between reports that individual noncitizens may have voted unlawfully and allegations of a broader or organized effort to influence elections.

The warnings did not allege that community organizations or political campaigns had directed noncitizens to vote, nor did it establish how many individuals were involved, in which elections they may have voted, or whether their actions were intentional.

No evidence presented in the circulating commentary establishes a coordinated voter fraud operation within the frum community.

The broader issue of noncitizen voting has nevertheless become a major focus of federal law enforcement ahead of next week’s midterm elections.

Federal prosecutors recently announced charges against dozens of lawful permanent residents in California accused of illegally registering to vote or casting ballots. The Justice Department has described the enforcement campaign as part of an effort to protect election integrity, while some voting-rights advocates have questioned the handling of cases involving individuals who say they misunderstood registration procedures or their eligibility.

For green card holders, the stakes can extend well beyond criminal prosecution. Unlawful voting can create serious obstacles to naturalization and, depending on the circumstances, expose individuals to immigration proceedings and possible removal from the United States.

The controversy surrounding last week’s warnings illustrates how quickly a community-specific warning can take on a different meaning once it reaches a broader audience.

For the frum organizations that issued the warnings, the immediate concern was ensuring that individuals who are not American citizens do not mistakenly vote and place their legal status in jeopardy.

For outside commentators now circulating the footage, the focus has shifted to whether the reported cases warrant investigation and prosecution.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Ted Cruz is raising serious national security concerns about Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, alleging that his family and political connections to the Muslim Brotherhood could put American intelligence personnel and military operations at risk if he is elected to the U.S. Senate next week.

The Texas Republican delivered his warning Wednesday on his podcast, “Verdict With Ted Cruz,” while campaigning in Michigan for Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers. Cruz argued that El-Sayed’s background warrants heightened scrutiny because senators can be entrusted with some of the nation’s most sensitive classified information.

“If [El-Sayed] wins, I believe that poses an unprecedented national security risk,” Cruz said.

Cruz expressed particular concern about the possibility of El-Sayed receiving a position on the Senate Intelligence Committee or Armed Services Committee, where members regularly review classified intelligence and information about American military activities.

“I believe if Abdul El-Sayed has access to that, classified materials, that it will endanger the lives of service men and women,” Cruz warned. He also suggested that American intelligence operatives working abroad could face increased risks.

El-Sayed has categorically denied any affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood. During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” moderator Kristen Welker asked whether he or his relatives maintained connections to the organization. El-Sayed responded, “No”.

Cruz challenged that response, accusing NBC of failing to confront the Democratic candidate with information that the senator believes raises questions about his denial.

Among the material Cruz highlighted were social media statements attributed to El-Sayed’s sister. One post, reportedly published in June 2012, declared, “My family has long been MB Muslim Brotherhood,” while another, from July 2013, reportedly expressed concern about relatives who supported the organization in Egypt.

The senator also pointed to a 2011 Huffington Post article by El-Sayed discussing Egypt’s political future following the uprising against President Hosni Mubarak. In that piece, El-Sayed argued that a Muslim Brotherhood-led government “would look nothing like Iran.”

Cruz presented the writings as indications of sympathy toward the Brotherhood, although political commentary about the organization does not, by itself, demonstrate membership or an operational relationship.

Other issues cited by Cruz included a 2012 letter supporting Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood figure who won Egypt’s presidential election, along with allegations concerning El-Sayed’s father-in-law and his involvement with American Islamic organizations.

According to Cruz, El-Sayed’s father-in-law donated $300,000 to a super PAC supporting the Democratic candidate and previously held leadership roles connected to the Islamic Society of North America and the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Both organizations were identified as unindicted co-conspirators during the federal Holy Land Foundation terrorism-financing case. Neither organization was convicted of a crime as a result of that designation, and the designation does not establish that El-Sayed has connections to terrorism.

El-Sayed has repeatedly rejected the accusations and has publicly distanced himself from the Muslim Brotherhood. In an October interview with Fox News, he stated, “I have never been a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. I never will be a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.”

Cruz nevertheless maintains that the combination of family associations, political writings and campaign-related connections deserves serious attention from Michigan voters.

The dispute has intensified in the final days before the November 3 election, with Rogers and other Republicans seeking to make El-Sayed’s alleged Brotherhood connections a central issue in the Senate contest.

At a campaign appearance outside Detroit on Wednesday, Cruz escalated his criticism by referring to El-Sayed as a “jihadist leprechaun.” He again warned that the Democrat’s election could jeopardize American lives if he gained access to sensitive intelligence.

However, independent examinations of the allegations have not established that El-Sayed belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood or has maintained an organizational relationship with it. El-Sayed has also explained that he was raised apart from his biological mother, whose alleged involvement in the organization decades ago has become a focus of Republican criticism.

The Muslim Brotherhood originated in Egypt in 1928 and subsequently developed branches and affiliated movements across the Middle East. Hamas emerged from the Palestinian branch, and American authorities have moved to designate certain Brotherhood chapters as terrorist organizations.

Cruz pointed to a 1991 Brotherhood memorandum describing a goal of “eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within,” and praised President Donald Trump’s efforts to designate specific Brotherhood branches as foreign terrorist organizations.

“The evidence is overwhelming,” Cruz declared, insisting that Michigan voters should weigh his allegations before deciding whether to send El-Sayed to Washington.

{Matzav.com}

The Arab Ra’am party, led by Mansour Abbas, has gained an eighth Knesset seat at the expense of the Joint List, according to updated Israeli election results released Thursday morning, bringing the combined strength of the Arab parties to 19 seats as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s coalition remains short of a parliamentary majority.

With approximately 91% of the ballots counted as of 5:49 a.m., Ra’am climbed from seven to eight seats, while the Joint List dropped to 11. The latest figures left Netanyahu’s current coalition with 53 seats and the opposition bloc with 48, with neither side holding the 61 seats necessary to establish a government.

Likud continued to lead the individual party standings with 26 seats, followed by Yashar with 21 and Together with 12. The Joint List stood at 11 seats, while the Democrats and Ra’am were each projected to win eight.

Yisrael Beytenu, United Torah Judaism, Otzma Yehudit, and Shas were each credited with seven seats, while the joint Religious Zionist Party-Zehut slate was projected to receive six.

The two chareidi parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, therefore remained at a combined 14 seats, while the Arab parties’ representation increased to 19 seats, divided between the Joint List’s 11 and Ra’am’s eight.

The latest shift came as the Central Elections Committee continued processing results from polling stations across the country and began counting special ballots submitted in double envelopes.

Election officials announced that the counting of double-envelope ballots commenced at 1 a.m. Thursday, following the completion of the necessary intake, scanning, and verification procedures.

These ballots are used by voters who cannot cast their votes at their designated polling stations, including IDF soldiers, hospitalized patients, prisoners, diplomats serving overseas, and individuals voting at specially accessible polling locations.

To safeguard the integrity and secrecy of the election, each ballot is placed inside a regular envelope, which is then inserted into an outer envelope containing the voter’s identifying information. Officials verify that the individual has not already voted before separating the envelopes and mixing the anonymous ballots together.

The verified envelopes are then transferred to the designated counting facility in the Knesset parking lot.

By 1 a.m., the committee had received results from 11,712 of Israel’s 12,018 regular polling stations, accounting for 5,126,759 voters. The remaining polling locations were undergoing routine checks before their results could be finalized.

The growing representation of the Arab parties has complicated the coalition arithmetic. Their combined 19 seats could become decisive in determining whether an alternative government can be established, although several opposition parties have expressed opposition to relying on Arab political factions.

President Isaac Herzog is expected to begin consultations with the newly elected parties after the official results are published, before selecting a Knesset member to attempt to form the next government.

Election officials cautioned that the figures remain provisional and that additional ballots, verification procedures, and final calculations could alter the number of seats allocated to individual parties.

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of Israel’s Yashar party, announced Wednesday night that he intends to establish a new government committed to military conscription, launching a sharp attack on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his Chareidi coalition partners following Tuesday’s Knesset elections.

In his first extensive public remarks since election night, the former IDF chief of staff described the results as a rejection of the current government and pledged to work toward establishing an alternative coalition that would take a fundamentally different approach to military service and the drafting of yeshiva bochurim.

Eisenkot issued his statement after spending Wednesday holding political meetings, consulting with party officials, and exploring possible coalition arrangements in the aftermath of the election.

“I am concluding a long day of meetings, conversations, and preparations aimed at implementing the will of the voters,” Eisenkot said.

He acknowledged that substantial political negotiations lay ahead but insisted that his party remained committed to its objectives.

“We still have many long days of work ahead of us, but we are focused on the enormous responsibility placed upon us: bringing change to Israel and establishing a Zionist conscription government,” he declared.

Eisenkot’s emphasis on creating a government committed to military enlistment places the controversial draft issue at the center of his political agenda, raising the prospect of a direct confrontation with the Chareidi parties over the continued exemption of full-time yeshiva students from compulsory military service.

He also accused Netanyahu’s political alliance of suffering a major electoral setback, arguing that voters had delivered a clear message of dissatisfaction with the current leadership.

“This is the will of the people, who expressed a vote of no confidence in the government of October 7 and draft evasion, and in the entire bloc of draft dodgers. A bloc that has reached its lowest point in two decades,” Eisenkot said.

His remarks were directed at Netanyahu’s right-wing and Chareidi allies, whom Eisenkot has repeatedly criticized over their positions on military conscription and responsibility for the failures surrounding the October 7 attacks.

The draft controversy has become one of the most divisive issues in Israeli politics, with Chareidi representatives insisting that legislation protecting the status of yeshiva bochurim and preserving full-time Torah study must be a central condition of their participation in any governing coalition.

Eisenkot’s declaration comes as Israel faces a difficult political situation following an election that has not produced a clear parliamentary majority for either major camp. Any effort to form a government will require complicated negotiations among parties with competing political priorities.

Despite those challenges, Eisenkot expressed confidence that his newly established party had emerged as a serious alternative to Netanyahu’s leadership.

“I feel the weight of the responsibility and the trust placed in me by hundreds of thousands of citizens who believe in the State of Israel and Zionism. Thank you for your trust! Thanks to you, we made history. In just one year, we established a new nationwide party in Israel that represents a worthy and responsible alternative government,” he said.

Eisenkot credited his party’s activists and supporters for its rapid rise, describing the election results as an important achievement for a political movement that had existed for only a year.

He concluded by thanking those who had worked on the campaign and promising to pursue the political changes he had advocated throughout the election.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the voters, all the supporters, and all the activists who spread out across the country yesterday. For your sake and on your behalf, we will fulfill the great mission before us. We will act and succeed. I promise,” Eisenkot said.

His latest remarks indicate that the future of military conscription legislation, particularly the status of yeshiva bochurim, will remain a major issue as Israeli political leaders begin negotiations over the formation of the next government.

{Matzav.com}

The Township of Lakewood, NJ will discontinue municipal garbage collection for private schools and houses of worship beginning January 1, 2027, a significant change that will force hundreds of local yeshivos, schools, shuls, and other religious institutions to make alternative arrangements for disposing of their trash.

The decision, which is expected to save the township approximately $2 million annually, comes as Lakewood struggles with a substantial municipal budget shortfall and faces pressure to reduce spending as part of efforts to secure financial assistance from the State of New Jersey.

According to information obtained from the township, the elimination of garbage collection for private educational and religious institutions is not a voluntary policy change, but rather a condition imposed by state officials in connection with financial assistance intended to stabilize Lakewood’s finances.

The Lakewood Township Committee stated that “the change is being required by the state as a condition for the Township to receive financial assistance to help stabilize its budget. As a result, Township officials have little choice but to implement the policy.”

The new arrangement means that private schools and shuls that have relied on township sanitation trucks will have to secure their own garbage collection services, presumably through private waste disposal companies, beginning with the new calendar year.

For Lakewood’s extensive network of yeshivos, Bais Yaakov schools, shuls, and other religious institutions, the change could create a substantial new operating expense. Many of these institutions serve hundreds of residents and generate considerable amounts of waste through daily activities and communal functions.

The costs of private sanitation services will vary depending on the size of each institution, the volume of waste generated, and the frequency of collection required. Larger schools and institutions with extensive food service operations could face particularly significant expenses.

The announcement comes amid growing concerns over Lakewood’s financial condition, which has already prompted cuts to other municipal services and subsidies.

Earlier this year, township officials eliminated a $2.75 million municipal subsidy for courtesy busing provided through the Lakewood Student Transportation Authority, citing the municipality’s worsening financial position.

Lakewood Mayor Ray Coles recently described the mounting financial pressures facing the township, including rising fuel costs, increased expenses for police and sanitation vehicles, higher health insurance premiums, and escalating utility costs.

“Our expenses have gone through the roof,” Coles said.

The township also faced an exceptionally expensive winter, with snow removal costs reportedly reaching approximately $8 million. Its financial difficulties were compounded when the state rejected a request to increase property taxes by approximately $12.9 million.

The possibility of eliminating municipal garbage collection for shuls and yeshivos had already been raised in recent discussions about Lakewood’s budget crisis. The newly announced January 1 implementation date now gives affected institutions just over two months to prepare for the transition.

New Jersey’s Transitional Aid to Localities program provides financial assistance to municipalities experiencing severe structural budget problems, but recipients are subject to extensive state oversight and may be required to implement additional fiscal controls.

State guidelines provide for oversight of municipal hiring, purchasing, and other financial decisions, as well as further measures directed by the Division of Local Government Services.

Lakewood officials have attributed the new sanitation policy to the requirements associated with obtaining state financial assistance.

The township’s existing municipal code already provides that commercial and institutional properties must arrange for private waste collection when municipal service is not available. The new policy would therefore shift affected schools and religious institutions into a system in which they are responsible for obtaining and paying for their own service.

Unlike a typical municipality, Lakewood has an exceptionally extensive network of nonpublic educational institutions serving tens of thousands of children. The township is also home to numerous shuls, kollelim, and other communal facilities, many of which operate on limited budgets supported by tuition, donations, and fundraising.

The elimination of township-funded sanitation service will effectively transfer an expense previously borne by the municipality directly to these institutions.

Although the township expects to save approximately $2 million, the overall financial burden will not disappear. Instead, the affected schools and religious organizations will have to absorb the costs themselves or pass the costs on to already-overburdened parents and taxpayers.

{Matzav.com}