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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was unexpectedly passed over as a speaker during the funeral of Army Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad on Friday, despite arriving with prepared remarks and apparently expecting to deliver a eulogy, according to multiple sources familiar with the service.

Witnesses said Mamdani, who was seated in the fourth row at the Ozone Park church, appeared to review his planned remarks on an iPad as Gov. Kathy Hochul and other dignitaries—including Queens Borough President Donovan Richards—were invited to address mourners.

“They kept calling names and then he was never called,” one attendee said.

“Then he looked over at his staff, frustrated and seemed angry that he didn’t speak. When he realized his name wasn’t being called, he looked at his staff angrily and then eventually put his tablet away.”

City Hall did not respond to requests for comment regarding why the mayor was omitted from the program.

The incident comes as Mamdani remains one of the country’s most polarizing political figures, drawing criticism over his democratic socialist platform, his outspoken positions on Israel, and his opposition to the U.S. military campaign against Iran.

One source involved in organizing the funeral said Rampersad’s family, who are supporters of President Donald Trump, did not want the mayor to speak during the service.

Another person familiar with the planning said Mamdani’s political views ultimately led to the decision to exclude him from what is traditionally a role afforded to the city’s mayor during the funeral of a hometown service member.

“The family is more conservative and wanted to limit any political distractions,” the insider said.

Rampersad, 28, was one of three American soldiers killed on July 17 during an Iranian missile attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. Raised in Ozone Park, she graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice before following her uncle’s path into military service.

It remains unclear whether Mamdani met privately with Rampersad’s family after her death, as New York City mayors have often done in similar circumstances. No such visit appeared on his public schedule or on his social media accounts before Friday’s funeral.

Instead, critics pointed to a week filled with public appearances, including a housing-related event aboard a double-decker bus and interviews with national media outlets intended to raise his national profile.

The mayor has also faced criticism in recent days for focusing attention on his proposal for city-run grocery stores while opponents accused him of failing to adequately address pressing local issues, including a deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreak that claimed seven lives.

Although he never addressed the mourners in person, Mamdani’s communications staff released the speech he had prepared, labeling it “remarks as prepared.”

“It is often said that our fallen ‘gave their tomorrows for our today,’” Mamdani planned to say. “Sergeant Rampersad had tomorrows waiting for her: birthdays, ordinary mornings, evenings spent with her loved ones. But she gave every one of them up so that we could have ours — so that we could stand here today, safe and protected.”

Hundreds of relatives, friends, neighbors, fellow soldiers, and members of the community gathered at Calvary Assembly of God to pay their final respects. As some wiped away tears, the church echoed with Sgt. Rampersad’s favorite gospel hymns.

“She could talk to people in her rank, above her rank, and they would accept it since it was the way she did it,” Daisy Davis-Credle, president of the Queens Sunday School Association, said after the funeral.

“It’s not what you do, it’s how you do what you do. And she knew how to do that — they listened to her.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul addressed those assembled, followed by Ozone Park Residents Block Association President Sam Esposito, State Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr., and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards.

“I feel after reading and admiring this woman from a distance, I feel like she could be one of my daughters,” said Hochul.

Seated near freshman City Councilman Frank Morano of Staten Island, Mamdani remained silent after it became clear that his name would not be called.

“I was surprised the mayor didn’t speak,” said Morano, who is far from a Mamdani ally. “I didn’t understand why they would have lower-level officials speak and not the mayor.”

Following the service, NYPD officers carried Rampersad’s flag-draped casket from the church to a waiting hearse, which then joined a lengthy police procession that escorted the fallen soldier to her final resting place on Long Island.

Amazon says it has received approximately $600 million in tariff refunds from the federal government following a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated a series of import duties imposed by President Donald Trump. The company also announced that customers who paid higher prices because of those tariffs will receive refunds where possible.

The disclosure came during Amazon’s quarterly earnings call on Thursday, when Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky publicly confirmed for the first time that the retail giant had participated in the government’s tariff-refund program.

Amazon also distinguished itself from other major retailers by announcing that it intends to pass at least part of those recovered funds directly back to consumers. Other companies have generally indicated they would use any refund money to lower future prices rather than reimburse individual customers.

The refunds stem from the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision on February 20 in Learning Resources v. Trump, which concluded that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act did not authorize the president to impose the tariffs in question. As a result, the federal government was required to begin reimbursing importers that had paid those duties.

Olsavsky said Amazon’s refund was smaller than some analysts had anticipated because the company increased its inventory before the tariffs took effect and because Amazon is not listed as the importer of record for most products sold through its marketplace.

He also told analysts that the company “largely absorbed these costs rather than pass them on to customers” in the limited situations where the tariffs affected Amazon’s own business.

Amazon said customers whose purchases can be directly linked to specific import charges will automatically receive refunds once those transactions are identified.

For all other products, Olsavsky said the recovered funds will instead be reflected through lower prices across the platform.

The company reported operating income of $27.5 billion during the second quarter, noting that the tariff refunds reduced expenses within its North American operations.

Amazon’s announcement comes several months after consumers filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court in Seattle accusing the company of delaying its tariff refund claims in an effort to avoid angering President Trump. The case was later consolidated before U.S. District Judge Tana Lin.

The refund process has unfolded amid significant political attention.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection began accepting refund applications on April 20 through a newly established claims portal covering roughly $166 billion in tariffs paid by approximately 330,000 importers.

One day later, President Trump said during an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box that it would be “brilliant” for companies not to seek refunds, adding that he would remember those that chose to file claims.

Amazon is not alone in pursuing reimbursement. Apple, Walmart, Costco, Home Depot, General Motors, and Ford have also sought refunds from the federal government.

Apple disclosed Thursday that the refunds increased its earnings per share by approximately 5% during the most recent quarter.

Although the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs, it did not establish the exact procedures for repaying affected companies, leaving implementation to lower courts.

Since then, the U.S. Court of International Trade has directed that importers receive broad reimbursement. However, the Trump administration is appealing portions of that ruling, meaning the timing and scope of future payments could still change.

{Matzav.com}

Dozens of Chareidi demonstrators gathered on Shabbos near a café on Agrippas Street in Yerushalayim to protest the establishment’s decision to remain open on Shabbos, while Yisrael Beytenu chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman was dining inside.

During the demonstration, police said a female Border Police officer was assaulted, prompting security forces to intervene in an effort to restore order.

According to police, officers from the Lev Habira station, Yassam units, and Border Police personnel responded to the protest. At one stage, several demonstrators attempted to enter the café, but officers prevented them from doing so, removed those involved, and remained at the scene to separate the sides and maintain public order until the protest concluded.

Following the incident, Lieberman defended both his visit and the café’s decision to operate on Shabbos.

“This morning I came to a café in downtown Jerusalem to support the owners and the people whose only ‘sin’ was sitting down to drink coffee on Shabbat morning,” he wrote.

Lieberman went on to criticize what he described as attempts to impose Chareidi standards on the broader public.

“The State of Israel is a Jewish state, but it will not be a haredi coercive state,” he added.

He then launched a sharp attack on bnei yeshiva who do not serve in the military, accusing them of spending their time protesting rather than enlisting.

“Those draft dodgers who show up week after week to shout, threaten, riot, and clash with soldiers and civilians need another place to let their energy out – against Hamas, against Hezbollah, and against the Houthis.”

Lieberman concluded by pledging that if he has the authority to do so, those who avoid military service would be drafted rather than participating in demonstrations.

“On my watch, draft dodgers won’t have time to protest outside cafés or attack soldiers because they’ll be too busy putting on uniforms.”

[Video below.] Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivered a sharp rebuke of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing him of promoting antisemitic rhetoric that endangers Jewish residents and warning that his statements could have serious consequences for the city’s Jewish community.

In an interview with Fox News, Herzog said Mamdani rejects the Jewish people’s fundamental right to national self-determination and is fueling a dangerous climate of hostility.

He said that Mamdani doesn’t recognize “the Jewish people’s inherent right to have a nation of their own. And he’s basically spreading blasphemy, hate, antisemitic rhetoric. He should understand that he’s risking his own citizens, he’s risking their safety, well-being and life.”

Despite his criticism of the mayor, Herzog expressed confidence that New York City would ultimately endure beyond the current political moment.

“I think New York will continue way after Mamdani,” says Herzog. “And I hope he won’t create irreversible damage.”

Turning to relations between Washington and Jerusalem, Herzog praised President Donald Trump’s support for Israel, saying the relationship between the two countries remains exceptionally strong despite occasional disagreements.

Asked about US-Israel relations under US President Donald Trump, Herzog says that Trump “speaks from the heart when he speaks about his love and respect of Israel and his support of Israel.”

Herzog acknowledged that the two allies do not always see eye to eye on every issue, but emphasized that such differences have not diminished Israel’s appreciation for the president.

“We can have divisions over issues or some arguments, but that does not derogate from the enormous respect we have for President Trump,” says Herzog.

He went on to describe the U.S.-Israel alliance in deeply historic and spiritual terms.

“There is biblical and prophetic about the way our nations work together,” Herzog continues.

Herzog also addressed former International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan, claiming Khan had planned to visit Israel to discuss the country’s conduct during the war in Gaza but abruptly canceled the trip.

Herzog said that disgraced former International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan was supposed to come to Israel to meet him to investigate Israel’s conduct in the war in Gaza, but canceled last minute.

“And only in hindsight now we know clearly that it was in order to divert attention from the ….allegations,” says Herzog.

The Israeli president argued that the ICC case against Israel should be abandoned, asserting that Khan’s actions were motivated by personal interests rather than justice.

“The case has to be dropped and the ICC should … not fall into the trap of hate and lies that Karim Khan presented simply to cover for himself,” says Herzog.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced moments ago that the United States was prepared to launch a massive military strike against Iran but has agreed to temporarily hold off after receiving what he described as a request from Tehran and several Middle Eastern nations to allow negotiations to move forward.

In a dramatic post on Truth Social, Trump declared that the U.S. military was fully prepared to carry out an attack on the Islamic Republic but said he has chosen to delay any operation in hopes that a diplomatic agreement can be reached.

“The U.S.A. is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II,” Trump wrote.

According to the president, Iranian officials, along with other countries in the Middle East, appealed to Washington to postpone military action after what he said was an agreement on the framework of a potential deal.

“Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to.”

Trump said the proposed agreement would require Iran to immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, and eliminate its nuclear threat.

“This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.”

The president said he accepted the request to suspend military action, explaining that he believes doing so could benefit both the international community and the Iranian people, provided a deal is reached quickly.

“Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL.”

Trump also asserted that Israel supports the decision to pursue diplomacy rather than immediate military action.

“The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment.”

The president concluded his statement with a direct message to all parties involved in the negotiations.

“Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

{Matzav.com}

What was supposed to be the happiest day of his life turned into a desperate fight for survival. Instead of standing beneath the chuppah on Thursday night, a chosson, Meir Pinchas ben Hadassah Esther, a talmid of Yeshivas Oraysa in Yerushalayim, is recovering at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center, surrounded not by wedding guests but by friends from the yeshiva who have remained at his bedside.

The chosson was critically injured in a devastating head-on automobile accident in Monroe, New York, where he had traveled to raise funds to help cover the expenses of his upcoming wedding. He spent the past several weeks hospitalized in Westchester, heavily sedated and on a ventilator as doctors fought to save his life.

In recent days, after his condition stabilized sufficiently to permit travel, he was transported from the United States to Eretz Yisroel aboard a special medical flight. Upon arrival, he was admitted to Hadassah Ein Kerem, where he is continuing to receive advanced medical treatment.

In a tremendous display of chasdei Shomayim, encouraging news has emerged from the hospital. The chosson has regained consciousness, and his condition continues to show signs of improvement. Nevertheless, physicians and those close to him stress that he still faces a long and difficult road to recovery and remains in urgent need of abundant rachamei Shomayim so that he can once again stand on his own feet and ultimately merit to enter the chuppah.

His friends from Yeshivas Oraysa, who had expected to dance with him at his wedding just days ago, have instead rallied around him in the hospital. They continue to strengthen themselves in tefillah, undertake additional kabbolos tovos, and daven fervently for his complete and speedy recovery.

All are asked to daven for Meir Pinchas ben Hadassah Esther.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump publicly broke with longtime ally Jeanine Pirro today after her office moved to dismiss criminal charges against a former Olympic canoeist accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, insisting the damage was unquestionably caused by vandals.

In a Truth Social post, Trump sharply criticized Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, for abandoning the prosecution.

“I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, on the Reflecting Pool. I don’t know what she was thinking?” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, adding “it was a pure case of VANDALISM.”

The president acknowledged there may have been construction issues but maintained they were not responsible for the extensive damage.

“There may have been some contractor difficulty, but the major damage was caused by VANDALS!” the president added.

Pirro’s office announced Friday that prosecutors had uncovered new evidence that significantly weakened the case against David “Davey” Hearn.

Hearn had been indicted on July 2 on allegations that he was seen “forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner” of the Reflecting Pool with both hands on June 19, shortly after renovations ordered by President Trump had been completed.

Hearn pleaded not guilty and has consistently denied damaging the pool, insisting that “the condition of the Reflecting Pool was the same after I stepped away from the water as it was before I got there.”

According to prosecutors, new information provided by the Interior Department after Hearn’s indictment indicated that the deterioration was not caused by vandalism but instead stemmed from faulty work performed during the renovation.

The government said the damage “was the result of flawed installation by the contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings.”

Hearn was among several individuals arrested in June after portions of the Reflecting Pool’s blue coating peeled away, leaving floating debris in water that had also turned green with algae.

Trump, whose more than $14 million renovation project included resurfacing the Reflecting Pool with what he described as “American flag blue,” has repeatedly rejected the explanation that construction defects were to blame.

In another Truth Social post on Shabbos, the president argued that surveillance footage supports his claim that the damage was deliberate.

“Look for yourselves at the VANDALISM that took place at The Reflecting Pool. The material is being cut with a knife or a box cutter, for all to see!” Trump wrote.

The Justice Department said Friday that it only learned after reviewing additional Interior Department documents that the damage appeared to have resulted from a construction error rather than criminal activity.

Federal officials acknowledged they would not have sought a grand jury indictment against Hearn had those documents been made available before charges were filed.

Despite the Justice Department’s decision, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum continued defending Trump’s position on Shabbos.

“The evidence is clear, vandals have repeatedly caused damage to the Reflecting Pool. Some of these acts were even caught on camera,” Burgum wrote in a post on X.

Burgum also said his department had supplied prosecutors with all requested materials.

Burgum wrote that his office “also provided the U.S. Attorney’s office expert and eyewitness testimony to the damage done by vandals and provided every piece of evidence they asked for in the requested time line detailing each area of damage at the pool.”

Following the dismissal, Hearn’s attorney argued that the prosecution should never have been brought and demanded an apology from the federal government.

“The Government’s case against Davey Hearn should never have been brought,” Steven Levin, Hearn’s attorney, said in a statement. “Its dismissal today does not erase the abuse of government power in arresting and charging a patriotic American. The government’s approach was ready, shoot, aim. The federal government owes Mr. Hearn an apology.”

Pirro’s office also disclosed Friday that prosecutors had moved to dismiss at least one of the three other misdemeanor cases involving individuals accused of damaging the Reflecting Pool.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump’s media company has introduced a high-priced subscription service that gives customers advance access to his Truth Social posts before they are released publicly, a move that has already prompted calls from Democratic lawmakers for a federal investigation.

Trump Media & Technology Group announced the launch of Truth API, a premium platform that costs $100,000 per month and is geared toward businesses, institutional investors, and financial traders seeking immediate access to posts from Trump and other prominent Truth Social accounts before they appear to the general public.

According to the company, the service is intended for professional users who monitor financial markets and rely on rapid access to information. Trump Media noted that President Trump’s social media posts have, on multiple occasions, influenced trading activity and caused noticeable swings in sectors such as energy and oil.

The new offering has drawn swift criticism from congressional Democrats.

Senators Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren are urging the Securities and Exchange Commission to examine whether providing early access to the president’s posts could improperly benefit paying subscribers and create an unfair advantage in financial markets.

In a letter sent to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, the senators argued that the subscription model favors wealthy investors at the expense of the general public.

“It appears to be a scandalous misuse of the president’s office for his personal benefit, which harms everyday investors and the integrity of our markets, while enriching Wall Street and other wealthy stakeholders,” the senators wrote.

The controversy follows several instances in recent months in which President Trump’s public statements—particularly those involving Iran and U.S. energy policy—were followed by significant movements in oil prices and broader financial markets, underscoring the market-moving influence of his public remarks.

{Matzav.com}

Federal authorities are investigating a coordinated cyber campaign aimed at water utilities in at least seven states, with Iran emerging as the leading suspect behind the attacks, according to a report by The New York Times.

While officials say there has been no interruption to public drinking water supplies, the incidents have prompted heightened concern within the U.S. government over attempts to penetrate systems that regulate water quality and chemical treatment.

The investigation began after officials in Minnesota detected a cyber intrusion affecting local water infrastructure. Similar incidents were later reported in other states, including Michigan, expanding the scope of the federal probe. According to The New York Times, the FBI and the Environmental Protection Agency have confirmed that suspicious activity has been identified in at least seven states, although no contamination or disruption of drinking water has been reported.

According to U.S. officials, investigators currently view Iran as the primary suspect. However, they cautioned that the investigation remains in its early stages and that no definitive evidence has yet been uncovered to formally attribute the attacks to Tehran.

The reported cyber campaign has drawn comparisons to Iran’s attempted cyberattack against Israel’s water infrastructure in 2020. In that incident, hackers allegedly sought to manipulate chlorine levels in drinking water by infiltrating the computerized control systems of water pumps. Israeli authorities successfully thwarted the attack before any major damage occurred.

Investigators believe the attackers in the latest incidents attempted to gain control over systems responsible for monitoring water quality and regulating chemical dosing. Officials also suspect they may have tried to activate emergency procedures at multiple facilities. In response, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has urged water utilities nationwide to disconnect sensitive operational control systems from the internet whenever possible to reduce the risk of future attacks.

President Donald Trump, however, questioned whether Iran was actually responsible and downplayed the cyber incidents. Despite his comments, federal officials involved in the investigation continue to regard Iran as the leading suspect, while acknowledging that determining responsibility could take months.

Cybersecurity experts warned that the attacks represent a troubling shift in strategy. Unlike many previous cyber operations that focused primarily on espionage or disrupting computer networks, this campaign appears to have directly targeted critical infrastructure that millions of Americans rely on every day.

Montreal police have launched an investigation after a suspicious overnight fire heavily damaged a kosher restaurant in the city’s Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough, with members of the Jewish community expressing concern that the incident may have been motivated by antisemitism.

The two-alarm fire erupted at approximately 3:15 a.m. Friday at Nöam restaurant on Décarie Boulevard near Vézina Street, according to Service de police de la Ville de Montréal spokesperson Raphael Bergeron.

Although no injuries were reported, the restaurant sustained extensive damage. Bergeron said investigators have preliminary information indicating that an individual was present at the property when the fire began.

Police have obtained surveillance footage from the scene, which investigators are now reviewing as part of the ongoing probe.

Video obtained by CBC News appears to show a man wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants igniting the fire before fleeing the area.

While police have not determined a motive, many in the local Jewish community believe the attack may have specifically targeted the kosher establishment.

“Given the fact that it was a kosher restaurant, I find it hard to believe it wasn’t antisemitism,” said Howard Szalavetz, who owns the building.

Szalavetz said he was awakened by a phone call around 4 a.m. informing him that the property was engulfed in flames.

“I ran here, I was crying because there’s a lot of history in this building,” he said.

The building owner explained that he and his father purchased the property four decades ago, and that he once operated his own real estate business from the location.

Today, the building houses several businesses, including the kosher restaurant, a garage, and a car wash. According to Szalavetz, only the restaurant suffered damage in the fire.

“If my thoughts on the reasons for this are correct, then it’s a very sad state in society if this is what happens to good people, good hardworking people. They run a good business, they are good tenants,” he said.

The incident quickly drew condemnation from elected officials.

In a statement posted TODAY on social media, Liberal Member of Parliament Anthony Housefather called for investigators to treat the case as a possible hate crime.

“Absolutely disgusted to see what appears to be an arson attack on Nöam, a local kosher restaurant overnight. This attack on a Jewish [owned] business must be investigated as a hate crime [and] those involved in this criminal act must be caught [and] prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he wrote.

Housefather later visited the damaged restaurant, joined by Elisabeth Prass, the Member of the National Assembly representing D’Arcy-McGee.

Prass said she has dined at the restaurant before and was deeply disturbed by what had occurred.

“I couldn’t believe something like that would happen in our backyard so it was important for me to come here and speak to the owners and see it for myself,” she said.

“I think somebody who is a coward and who has a lot of anger in their heart came last night and set a business on fire what their motivations are we can’t be sure for now, but we can’t deny the fact that it was a kosher restaurant.”

Like Housefather, Prass said she hopes the suspect is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and that, if investigators determine the attack was motivated by hatred, it should be treated accordingly.

CDN-NDG Borough Mayor Stéphanie Valenzuela also responded to the incident, emphasizing that violence and intimidation have no place in the community.

“CDN-NDG is home to a strong, diverse and resilient community. Acts of violence and intimidation have no place in our neighbourhoods,” she wrote.

Valenzuela added that borough officials are in contact with law enforcement and will continue closely monitoring the investigation.

The United States is reportedly sending 10 additional aerial refueling aircraft to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, a move that would increase the number of American tanker planes stationed there to 40 as military tensions with Iran continue to intensify.

According to Israel’s Calcalist newspaper, the incoming aircraft will join approximately 30 U.S. refueling planes already positioned at Ben Gurion Airport.

The report, citing the Israel Airports Authority, said the unprecedented military presence has placed heavy strain on airport operations. Officials said the large number of tanker aircraft has contributed to civil flight delays of roughly two hours in recent days, with disruptions expected to increase once the additional planes arrive.

The timing is especially challenging, the report noted, because July and August are traditionally the busiest travel months at Israel’s main international airport.

The buildup comes despite an earlier effort to reduce the military footprint at Ben Gurion. On July 15, Israel’s Transportation Ministry announced that it had reached an agreement with U.S. officials to cut the number of American refueling aircraft at the airport to 20 by July 21, with the remaining planes to be transferred to Israeli Air Force bases.

U.S. tanker aircraft have been operating from Ben Gurion Airport and other locations throughout Israel since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran on Feb. 28.

The latest deployment follows growing reports in the Israeli media that both Washington and Jerusalem are making military preparations amid rapidly escalating tensions with Tehran.

Israeli news outlets reported on Shabbos that Israel’s defense establishment is preparing for the possibility of a major U.S. military strike against Iran. The reports came one day after President Donald Trump warned that the United States would hit Iran “very hard.”

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Defense Forces announced Friday night that it carried out a series of targeted strikes across the Gaza Strip, destroying five Hamas weapons storage sites—including one located beside Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah—as part of ongoing operations to eliminate terrorist threats.

According to the IDF, the operation was conducted under the direction of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and targeted facilities where Hamas had stockpiled large quantities of military equipment. The caches reportedly contained Kalashnikov rifles, anti-tank launchers, explosive devices, ammunition, and other weapons intended for future attacks.

The military said one of the targeted weapons depots was situated adjacent to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital and served as a hideout for Hamas operatives who used the location to conceal arms.

“This is another example of Hamas’ systematic use of and embedding within civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, to plan and carry out terrorist activities,” the IDF noted.

Israeli officials said the weapons stored at the sites were intended for use in attacks against IDF forces operating in the Yellow Line area, as well as Israeli civilians. The military said the strikes were carried out to eliminate that threat before the weapons could be used.

The IDF stressed that measures were taken in advance to reduce the risk of civilian casualties.

“Prior to the strikes, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the issuing of advance warnings, the use of precise munitions, and aerial surveillance.”

The military added that Israeli forces remain deployed in the area under the terms of the ceasefire agreement and will continue operating against terrorist threats.

“IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue to operate to remove any threat.”

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. State Department is urging Americans in parts of the Middle East to consider leaving the region and advising travelers to think twice before visiting, warning that rising tensions with Iran could quickly lead to airspace closures, flight disruptions, and attacks on American interests.

The advisory was issued through U.S. embassies in Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, cautioning that the regional security situation remains volatile.

“Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation.”

The State Department advised Americans already in the region to remain alert and be ready to leave if conditions deteriorate.

“Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions. Some airlines in the region have postponed resumption of earlier flight schedules; others have cancelled some routes. Americans in the region should consider departing, or be prepared to depart should there be escalation.”

The warning also extended to Americans planning future travel, encouraging them to avoid unnecessary trips to or through the Middle East.

“Americans outside the Middle East should seriously reconsider travel to and through the region. Those who do travel to or from the region should monitor information about airport and airline operations.”

The State Department also cautioned that U.S. diplomatic missions and other American interests could become targets of Iranian retaliation or attacks by Tehran’s allies.

“US diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted. Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other US interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world, including US businesses and other institutions.”

Officials emphasized that Iran’s recent actions have demonstrated the regime’s willingness to strike without warning and to expand its operations into areas previously untouched by the conflict.

“The situation in the Middle East remains fluid. The Iranian regime is unpredictable, as seen by its recent decisions to attack areas in the region without warning or provocations as well as to expand attacks to areas not previously targeted (such as Egypt). Americans should remain vigilant, as merely because US interests or businesses have not been attacked in a country in the past does not ensure their safety.”

Meanwhile, an Israeli source told Channel 12 that the region has reached a critical moment, with officials believing that “we are very close to the point of decision.” Although the White House has not yet made a final determination, the source said the possibility of a large-scale U.S. military operation against Iran is now under more serious consideration than at any previous point.

According to Israeli assessments, President Donald Trump is still evaluating both the scope of any potential military action and the manner in which it would be carried out. Officials remain uncertain whether Israel would participate from the beginning or whether the United States would initially act alone using American forces.

The source added that Trump has been presented with a proposal calling for precision strikes against key elements of Iran’s energy infrastructure. Israeli officials reportedly believe such an operation could place significant internal pressure on the Iranian regime while minimizing the impact on global energy markets.

{Matzav.com}

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman privately urged President Donald Trump to avoid launching large-scale airstrikes against Iran and instead pursue a path of de-escalation, according to a report by Axios citing U.S. officials and a source familiar with the discussions.

According to the report, the crown prince raised his concerns during a telephone conversation with Trump today as the president weighs possible military action against Iranian energy facilities. The deliberations follow Iran’s missile attack on a U.S. base in Jordan and continued threats to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Although speculation mounted Friday that military action was imminent, Axios reported that Trump has not yet given final approval for any retaliatory strikes.

Iran has warned that any large-scale U.S. attack would trigger retaliation against energy and infrastructure sites across Israel and neighboring Gulf states.

“The Saudis expressed concern and asked for clarity about the plan of action,” one US official told Axios.

A second source familiar with the phone call said Crown Prince Mohammed urged Trump to seek a diplomatic solution rather than authorize a broad military campaign.

Neither the White House nor Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Washington commented on the reported conversation.

The phone call came just days after Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met with Trump on Wednesday. According to the report, the meeting was added to the defense minister’s schedule after he first met with Vice President JD Vance to communicate Riyadh’s desire to reduce tensions, despite the United States and Saudi Arabia carrying out joint strikes earlier in the week against Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.

A source familiar with the discussions said the meetings were intended to convey the crown prince’s assessment of the conflict and the broader strategic situation in the region.

Saudi Arabia remains one of Washington’s closest allies in the Middle East and has played an influential role in shaping President Trump’s approach toward Iran at several key moments since the latest hostilities began.

Axios also reported that several other regional governments—including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Pakistan—have been urging both Washington and Tehran to avoid further escalation and return to diplomacy.

Today, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has reportedly served as an intermediary between the United States and Iran. Araghchi also held discussions with the foreign ministers of Turkey and Saudi Arabia regarding potential U.S. military action.

“Any hostile action by the US or Israel – or participation or cooperation by regional countries in such actions – would be met with a decisive and proportionate response from Iran’s powerful armed forces,” Araghchi told his Saudi counterpart, according to a statement on his Telegram channel.

A one-of-a-kind miniature Sefer Torah, measuring just 26 centimeters (10 inches) tall and featuring letters inscribed by many of the generation’s leading gedolei Torah, was presented as a special gift to the family of Brazilian philanthropist Alberto Abraham Safra in honor of his son’s bar mitzvah.

The extraordinary gift, presented by Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo, also included an intricately crafted miniature replica of the magnificent Aron Kodesh that stands in the yeshiva’s main bais medrash at the Safra Campus in Rishon LeZion.

The presentation came during a series of lavish bar mitzvah celebrations held in Eretz Yisroel over the past several days for the son of Safra, a prominent supporter of Torah institutions around the world. Hundreds of family members, friends, rabbanim, roshei yeshiva, and benefactors traveled from across the globe to participate in the festivities, which featured multiple events honoring both the bar mitzvah bochur and the Safra family’s longstanding commitment to the Torah world.

The centerpiece of Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo’s gift was what it called the “Torah of the Gedolim”—an exquisitely written miniature Sefer Torah measuring only 26 centimeters in height. The Torah was handwritten by a master sofer, with numerous leading gedolim personally writing individual letters as a merit for the bar mitzvah bochur and his family.

The Sefer Torah was housed in a traditional Sephardic-style Torah case engraved with the handwritten blessings and signatures of many of the generation’s foremost rabbinic leaders, making it both a sacred Torah scroll and a lasting keepsake of their personal brachos.

The presentation was made even more remarkable by its display. The Torah and its ornate case were placed inside a meticulously crafted miniature Aron Kodesh, built as an exact scale replica of the famous ark that adorns the main beis medrash of Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo at the Safra Campus in Rishon LeZion.

{Matzav.com}

An emotional scene unfolded in Haifa as Rav Shaul Alter, Rosh Yeshivas Pnei Menachem, paid a nichum aveilim visit to one of his talmidim, Rav Yisrael Stern, who is sitting shivah following the passing of his wife, Mrs. Elisheva Stern, a”h, daughter of Rav Eliezer Menachem Braun, z”l.

During the visit, the grieving husband shared the final moments he spent with his wife, recalling her deep devotion to Birchos HaShachar.

“Every day she would call me so I could answer amen to her Birchos HaShachar,” he said. “On her final day, we recited Birchos HaShachar together, and then we said Shema Yisrael together.”

Deeply moved, Rav Shaul offered words of emunah and consolation to the bereaved family.

“We must continue thanking Hashem until our very last breath. The Healer of the brokenhearted—only He can bind up their sorrow. What can a human being possibly say? What words are there?” he said.

Rav Shaul then reflected on the unique closeness to Hashem experienced by those whose hearts have been broken, citing the verse, “Karov Hashem l’nishberei lev—Hashem is close to the brokenhearted.”

“You don’t feel it,” he said, “but the brokenhearted are truly the ones closest to Him. ‘Karov Hashem l’nishberei lev‘—we have to make use of that.”

He added that this special closeness is not determined by pedigree, wealth, status, or public prominence.

“Karov Hashem l’nishberei lev—not grandchildren of great people, not wealthy individuals, not those with distinguished lineage, and not politicians,” Rav Shaul said.

His words were delivered in an atmosphere of profound grief, while offering the family comfort, faith, and encouragement to draw strength from their closeness to Hashem during their time of mourning.

{Matzav.com}

YERUSHALAYIM — A former employee at the Israeli Prime Minister’s Residence has filed a 300,000-shekel ($80,000) lawsuit against the Prime Minister’s Office, alleging that Sara Netanyahu subjected him to humiliation, verbal abuse, and workplace mistreatment throughout his employment.

The lawsuit, filed in the Regional Labor Court in Yerushalayim by Yechiel Ohev Ami, names the Prime Minister’s Office as the defendant and claims the alleged abuse was carried out by the prime minister’s wife.

According to the complaint, Ohev Ami, 61, who says he is the father of a son on the autism spectrum, began working in September 2025 as an operations assistant at the Prime Minister’s Residence. He alleges that from the outset he was instructed to follow Sara Netanyahu’s personal directives and that his workdays often began at 6:00 a.m. and continued until the early hours of the following morning.

The lawsuit claims that each morning he was required to wait in the security guards’ room until Sara Netanyahu woke up, prepare her breakfast exclusively in the guards’ kitchen on the lower floor, and serve it in multiple stages according to highly specific instructions. He alleges that even minor deviations—such as the plate used to serve an egg or the way vegetables were cut—resulted in yelling, insults, and verbal abuse.

Ohev Ami further alleges that he was instructed daily to clean the soles of dozens of pairs of shoes belonging to Binyomin and Sara Netanyahu using disinfectant wipes, while being careful not to place his hand inside the shoes, and to insert rolled-up paper into each pair. He also claims he was required to wipe down Sara Netanyahu’s handbag, suitcase wheels, dishes, and other household items. According to the lawsuit, he was also required to wash his hands and remove his shoes every time he entered the residence.

He alleges that whenever Sara Netanyahu hosted guests at the official residence on Balfour Street, he was required to remain on duty until the meetings concluded, even if they continued into the early morning hours. He also claims that she personally met with senior military and Shin Bet officials.

According to the complaint, the alleged verbal abuse intensified during the period of anti-government demonstrations outside the Prime Minister’s Residence. He claims Sara Netanyahu repeatedly shouted insults including, “Who’s the idiot?” “Who’s mentally disabled?” and “Who’s the fool?”

The lawsuit further alleges that he was required to crawl across the kitchen floor while cleaning it with small disinfectant wipes, wipe down silverware before washing it, and comply with numerous other highly detailed instructions. He claims that any mistake was met with shouting and profanity.

In one of the most serious allegations, Ohev Ami claims that on three separate occasions Sara Netanyahu physically shoved him against a wall. He also alleges that after he returned from a cigarette break, she told him, “I hope you get cancer,” and “I hope you die.”

According to the lawsuit, the most traumatic incident occurred when Sara Netanyahu allegedly told him: “I am the Prime Minister’s wife. I am the number one psychologist in Israel, and I have no competition. My treatment costs a great deal of money. I have diagnosed you—you are on the autism spectrum.”

Ohev Ami claims she then demanded that he pay her three months’ salary for the “diagnosis.” He argues that the remarks were especially devastating because he had previously shared with her that his son had been diagnosed with autism.

The lawsuit also alleges that the treatment he endured caused a significant deterioration in both his physical and emotional health. He says that on the day of the alleged incident, he attempted to file a complaint but instead was transported to the hospital by ambulance after experiencing severe emotional distress and chest pain. He later underwent surgery to receive a pacemaker.

According to the complaint, the final incident occurred on February 5, 2026, after Sara Netanyahu and her son, Yair Netanyahu, returned from the United States. Ohev Ami alleges that Sara Netanyahu criticized the way he swept leaves and shouted, “How does it feel to be the Prime Minister’s adviser like you tell everyone?”

He further claims that shortly afterward Yair Netanyahu approached him, grabbed his arm, and ordered him to “get out of the house immediately,” accusing him of failing to replace and wash his bed linens.

Ohev Ami says he was then removed from the residence and waited outside for approximately four hours, hoping to be allowed back to work. Two days later, on February 8, he was summoned to a pre-termination hearing, and on February 19 he officially received his dismissal letter.

The Prime Minister’s Office categorically denied all of the allegations.

“The Prime Minister’s Office completely rejects the claims raised in the lawsuit,” the office said in a statement. “These are baseless allegations that do not reflect reality, and the office will present its detailed response as part of the legal proceedings.”

The statement added that Ohev Ami was dismissed after a brief period of employment because of repeated professional shortcomings, poor performance, errors, difficulty working with colleagues, and failure to meet the demands of the position.

The Prime Minister’s Office further asserted that the allegations were raised only after his employment ended and after his request to return to work at the residence was denied. It described the lawsuit as “another attempt in the longstanding industry of extorting money from the state through false accusations against the Prime Minister’s wife.”

The office also noted that Sara Netanyahu recently prevailed in court against another former employee who had made similar allegations, saying the court ordered that employee to pay damages after rejecting the claims.

The Prime Minister’s Office said it is confident the facts will emerge during the legal proceedings and that it will provide a comprehensive response to every allegation in court.

{Matzav.com}

A new Maariv poll shows the Likud Party gaining strength following Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington and meeting with President Donald Trump, but the boost has not translated into a stronger coalition, which remains well short of a governing majority.

According to the survey, Likud rose by two seats to 22 mandates, while the coalition bloc as a whole remains unchanged at 49 seats.

The opposition bloc also falls short of a majority on its own, holding 57 seats. However, the newly formed Zionist Home Party, led by Chili Tropper and Yoaz Hendel, clears the electoral threshold with four seats, giving the anti-Netanyahu bloc a potential path to a 61-seat majority.

Among the Zionist opposition parties, the biggest losses this week were recorded by Beyachad and the Democrats, each dropping two seats. Yashar, led by Gadi Eisenkot, remains the largest party in the Knesset with 23 projected seats, while the Arab parties hold steady at a combined 10 seats.

Asked how they would vote if elections were held today, respondents produced the following results:

• Yashar – 23 seats
• Likud – 22
• Beyachad – 15
• Yisrael Beiteinu – 10
• The Democrats – 9
• United Torah Judaism – 8
• Otzma Yehudit – 7
• Shas – 7
• Hadash-Ta’al – 5
• Ra’am – 5
• Religious Zionism – 5
• Zionist Home – 4

Balad, with 1.8% support, and Blue and White, with 1.2%, would fail to cross the electoral threshold.

The poll also examined a scenario in which a new political party is formed by Benny Gantz, Ayelet Shaked, Yuli Edelstein, and Dedi Simchi. Under that scenario, the new party would receive 3.8% of the vote, enough for four Knesset seats.

Its entry into the race would push the Zionist Home Party of Tropper and Hendel below the electoral threshold, where it would receive only 2.4% support.

In that scenario, the coalition bloc would gain one seat, rising to 50 mandates, while the Zionist opposition would fall to 56 seats. The Arab parties would remain unchanged with 10 seats.

The survey also asked opposition voters who they believe should lead the center-left bloc in the next election. Among those respondents, 45% chose Gadi Eisenkot, 25% selected Naftali Bennett, 11% preferred Avigdor Lieberman, 10% backed Yair Golan, and 9% said they were undecided.

In head-to-head polling for prime minister, Bennett leads Netanyahu by five percentage points, 44% to 39%, widening his advantage by one point from the previous survey.

Eisenkot performs even better, leading Netanyahu by 48% to 38%—the largest margin recorded since the pollster began comparing the two.

Netanyahu fares better against Avigdor Lieberman, leading that matchup by 43% to 39%.

{Matzav.com}

ASHDOD, Israel — The community of Ashdod was plunged into mourning on Friday following the sudden passing of Rav Eliyahu Ezriel Greenwald z”l, a beloved Belzer chossid and one of the city’s foremost experts in the crafting of batim for tefillin. He was 55.

Rav Greenwald collapsed inside the Belzer Beis Pinchas beis medrash in Ashdod. His son, who happened to be in the building at the time, immediately began performing CPR, but despite the rescue efforts, Rav Greenwald was unable to be revived and returned his soul to his Creator.

Born on the 4th of Elul, 5731 (1971), Rav Greenwald was the son of Rav Chaim Greenwald, a distinguished Belzer talmid chochom renowned for his mastery of both the revealed and hidden dimensions of Torah, and Mrs. Sarah Greenwald, daughter of Rav Elazar Halevi Deitsch, one of the elder and respected Belzer chassidim in the United States and Yerushalayim.

His grandfather was Rav Yisrael Greenwald, the son of Rav Nachum Greenwald, brother of the Arugas HaBosem. Rav Chaim Greenwald also merited to spend time in the presence of his distinguished relative, the Pupa Rebbe, author of Vayaged Yaakov, during the Rebbe’s final days while studying in Serdahel.

In 1976, when he was just five years old, Rav Greenwald immigrated with his family to Eretz Yisroel. During his childhood, he received his early education directly from his father, who chose to teach his children personally rather than enroll them in a Talmud Torah.

As a bochur, he continued his studies in the Belzer yeshiva on Agripas Street in Yerushalayim. After marrying the daughter of Rav Berel Yakubovitz, he established his home in Ashdod, where he became a well-known and respected member of the Belzer community.

For many years, Rav Greenwald supported his family as a highly regarded batim-maker, producing tefillin batim that met the most exacting halachic standards. He earned a reputation as one of the leading craftsmen in the field, and his work was trusted by many seeking mehudar tefillin.

Friends and acquaintances remember him as a quiet, unassuming, and humble yungerman whose kindness matched his modesty. He was known for helping others whenever he could, performing countless acts of chesed without seeking recognition.

The levayah took place Friday afternoon, departing from his home on Yanai Street in Ashdod’s District 7 before passing through the Belzer Beis Pinchas beis medrash. He was laid to rest in the Kehillas Machzikei HaDas section of the Ashdod cemetery.

He is survived by his family, friends, and a grieving community that deeply valued his warmth, humility, and lifelong dedication to Torah and mitzvos.

Yehi zichro baruch.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Vice President JD Vance held a candid private meeting in Washington this week, using the face-to-face discussion to address growing tensions that have developed between them over Israel’s handling of the war and broader U.S.-Israel policy, according to American and Israeli officials, Axios reports.

The meeting, which took place Tuesday evening at Blair House, came after months of increasingly public disagreements. Vance has emerged as one of the most skeptical voices toward Netanyahu within President Donald Trump’s inner circle since the start of the war, becoming more critical of the Israeli prime minister as the conflict continued.

Vance also assumed a larger role in shaping U.S. policy on both the war and negotiations with Iran. He became one of the administration’s leading defenders of the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, an agreement Netanyahu opposed privately while avoiding direct public criticism in hopes that it would eventually unravel. The agreement ultimately collapsed several weeks later.

Officials said friction between the two leaders had been building for months. Netanyahu was reportedly frustrated by Vance’s public remarks accusing him of encouraging opposition to the Iran agreement and questioning his loyalty to President Trump. At the same time, Netanyahu privately expressed dissatisfaction with Vance’s influence over U.S. policy during the war.

For his part, Vance believed Netanyahu’s political allies and supporters in pro-Netanyahu media outlets in both Israel and the United States were working to undermine him politically and launch attacks against him.

Tuesday’s meeting gave the two leaders an opportunity to address those disagreements directly.

According to a senior Israeli official, Netanyahu raised concerns with Vance about the vice president’s recent criticism of Israel’s government and his comments regarding Israel’s standing among Republican voters.

“It was a frank and candid conversation,” the Israeli official said.

A U.S. official confirmed that description, saying simply, “The conversation was direct.”

While Vance’s office declined to comment publicly, another U.S. official characterized the meeting in positive terms, saying the two leaders had a “cordial and productive conversation about Middle East issues that are important to both countries.”

“The Vice President and the Prime Minister agreed to continue pursuing opportunities for Israel and the United States to cooperate in areas of mutual interest and shared goals,” that person said, adding that the meeting was not confrontational and that Vance and Netanyahu have a productive working relationship.

The private discussion followed several months of increasingly strained exchanges. During a phone call in March, Vance reportedly challenged Netanyahu over what he viewed as overly optimistic assessments of the war, particularly predictions that the Iranian regime could be toppled by a popular uprising.

Since the April 8 ceasefire, Vance has become the administration’s most vocal advocate for pursuing diplomacy with Iran, repeatedly arguing that President Trump’s objective should be preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon without drawing the United States into another prolonged military conflict.

In June, Vance publicly rebuked Israeli officials who criticized the Iran agreement, warning, “If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world.”

The criticism intensified in July, when Vance told Joe Rogan that some members of Israel’s government were attempting to influence U.S. policy in order to steer Washington away from diplomacy and prolong the conflict.

During that same podcast appearance, Vance also alleged that Jeffrey Epstein had ties to “the highest levels of Israeli intelligence.”

{Matzav.com}