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Qatar is pressing ahead with efforts to shift the Gaza ceasefire framework into its next phase, insisting that Israel should not be permitted to stall the process over the remains of two hostages still in Hamas’s hands. Majed al-Ansari, spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, made the comments during an interview on an Al-Araby Al-Jadeed podcast, emphasizing that resolving the matter of the bodies “is the most important” issue from Doha’s perspective.

Al-Ansari stressed that the agreement cannot be held hostage to this single point. “We don’t believe Israel should be allowed to obstruct the implementation of the agreement over these two bodies. At the same time, of course, the Palestinian side is working to retrieve the bodies and preempt any Israeli pretexts,” he said, describing ongoing regional efforts to keep the diplomatic track from derailing.

According to him, Qatar and its regional partners are intent on shifting from the opening stage of the ceasefire arrangement to the next benchmark, which he said is intended to lead to a more durable quiet. “The current endeavor for Qatar and its partners in the region is to move from the first phase to the second [of the plan], and thus achieve a sustainable peace that can comprehensively end the state of war in the Gaza Strip,” he explained. “There are significant challenges in reaching this stage of truce, but the focus now is on maintaining it long enough to reach a political solution in which all parties in the region, along with the international community and the United States, work together to make this plan a success and end the war.”

He added that any eventual thaw between Doha and Jerusalem would be contingent on meaningful movement toward resolving the broader Palestinian question, signaling that normalization is not on the table absent such progress.

The two remaining hostages whose bodies are still in Gaza were both abducted on October 7, 2023. Police officer Ran Gvili was killed while battling the Hamas onslaught at Kibbutz Alumim. Thai worker Sudthisak Rinthalak was seized from Kibbutz Be’eri, where he had been employed in agriculture.

In Tel Aviv last night, Ran Gvili’s father, Itzik, addressed the weekly demonstration demanding the return of hostages. He insisted that there must “no next phase” to the current ceasefire and “no ‘day after’ in Gaza,” until the last two bodies are brought home.

The framework guiding these negotiations is rooted in the opening phase of President Donald Trump’s 20-point proposal, which underpinned the truce-hostage deal announced on October 9.

The upcoming stage of the plan outlines several major shifts: a further Israeli pullback from the Yellow Line, the creation of an interim governing body for Gaza, the arrival of a multinational force to begin assuming security responsibilities from the IDF, the gradual dismantling of Hamas’s military capabilities, and the beginning of reconstruction.

However, the process remains stuck on multiple fronts. Beyond retaining the bodies of the two victims, Hamas continues to reject the core demand of demilitarization. Israel maintains that Gaza must be fully disarmed before Trump’s plan can proceed to its next chapter.

{Matzav.com}

UN personnel have recently been spotted operating uncomfortably close to active IDF zones, quietly filming and cataloging the landscape, an activity that senior commanders say has triggered intense concern within the army. According to Galai Tzahal’s reporting, officials fear that these recordings could slip into the hands of Hezbollah, giving the terror group fresh intelligence at a moment of high regional tension.

For years, distrust of UNIFIL has simmered beneath the surface, but the strain has sharpened significantly as Lebanon faces growing internal and international pressure to rein in Hezbollah. Israeli defense officials believe that UNIFIL’s behavior on the ground is increasingly unhelpful — and potentially dangerous.

Adding fuel to the fire, reporter Doron Kadosh disclosed this morning that the IDF recently intercepted a UNIFIL coordination document that described Israel as the “Israeli enemy.” The discovery prompted an immediate protest from the military. UNIFIL later issued an apology and insisted the phrasing resulted from copying Lebanese army terminology “without correction,” a claim the IDF found deeply troubling.

In a blunt assessment, a high-ranking IDF officer told the press, “There is nothing good about UNIFIL – they mostly get in the way. They contribute nothing, certainly not to the disarmament of Hezbollah. They hinder the IDF’s freedom of action – and we are very concerned that footage of our forces along the border is leaking to Hezbollah. The sooner they move out of the area and end their activity, the better.”

{Matzav.com}

The Association of chareidi Hesder yeshivos is raising a red flag over the draft legislation currently moving through the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee under MK Boaz Bismuth. Leaders of the network caution that, if enacted as written, the bill could unravel the unique framework that has successfully brought chareidi recruits into combat, tech, and classified IDF roles.

In a sharply worded letter submitted to the committee, the association reported that 14 participating chareidi Hesder institutions—collectively serving roughly 1,000 talmidim—stand to suffer major harm from provisions embedded in the proposal. The leadership warned that “This is not only an administrative malfunction but a moral and professional one, which could lead to the immediate dismantling of this important enterprise.”

At the center of the dispute is a clause that, according to the association, effectively bars a chareidi Hesder student from pursuing anything outside of pure Torah study. By prohibiting additional academic, technological, or professional coursework, the group argues, the bill imposes an unacceptable burden that “does not exist in Zionist Hesder yeshivos.” The letter stressed the irony that the very institutions that “actually recruit thousands to the IDF” are those being penalized.

Roshei yeshiva warned that, without changes, the damage would be swift and far-reaching. “If no amendment is inserted into the law, a critical momentum of recruiting chareidim in dedicated tracks will be halted, existing institutions will close, and a deterrent message will be sent to every young chareidi man considering combining Torah with service and meaning,” they stated.

A proposed legal addendum was attached to their submission, offering a practical solution: official recognition of chareidi Hesder yeshivos so they can operate within the law while maintaining their dual structure of Torah learning and military service. The draft outlines a framework that would allow certificate and engineering studies—similar to the opportunities already available in Religious Zionist Hesder programs—ensuring the model can continue to function and expand.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s freedom to defend itself does not hinge on Washington’s approval, the newly appointed U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, made clear in an interview marking his first weeks on the job. “Israel assesses its own security needs and will take whatever measures it deems necessary to protect its citizens,” he told Haaretz, underscoring that Jerusalem alone determines its defensive actions.

Even as he highlighted Israel’s autonomy, Issa emphasized that the United States remains deeply engaged with Lebanon’s leadership, pressing them to carry out their longstanding pledge to strip Hezbollah of its weapons. He said Washington is “strongly urging them to implement their own historic decision to disarm Hezbollah,” a commitment he described as central to Lebanon’s stability. The American stance, he explained, “is essential for restoring the authority of the Lebanese state and safeguarding the country’s future.”

Issa made it clear that the U.S. sees Hezbollah’s disarmament — along with stemming Iran’s broader regional influence — as a critical prerequisite for security. “Disarming Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations in Lebanon, as well as ending Iran’s proxy activities more broadly, is a key step to ensuring peace in Lebanon and across the region,” he said. He chose not to address whether diplomatic dialogue between Jerusalem and Beirut might materialize anytime soon.

His remarks come amid a fragile calm, one year after a U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire effort between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel has repeatedly accused Lebanon of refusing to fulfill its obligation to dismantle Hezbollah’s arsenal, while the group continues to rebuild military assets and operate along Israel’s northern frontier. Israeli strikes have targeted Hezbollah infrastructure, including the recent killing of the group’s Chief of Staff, Haytham Ali Tabtabai, in Beirut.

Following that strike, Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem responded defiantly in a televised address. He condemned the killing as “a blatant aggression and a heinous crime,” declaring, “We have the right to respond, and we will determine the timing for that.”

Issa, who also currently functions as the acting U.S. special envoy to the region after replacing Tom Barrack, outlined Washington’s goals for Lebanon: promoting “a durable peace between Lebanon and Israel and supporting Lebanon’s sovereignty,” countering Iran’s influence, and advancing economic cooperation. He said the U.S. hopes to encourage “a peaceful and prosperous future for Lebanon through strengthening commercial opportunities for Americans in Lebanon and with Lebanese partners.”

{Matzav.com}

Three Israeli women experienced a neis after an Arab terrorist threw an iron rod at their car as they were driving on Route 5 in the Shomron on Motzei Shabbos. The rod slammed into the windshield directly in front of the driver, lodging into the glass, but b’chasdei Hashem, she was not physically harmed. Merav […]

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BDE: YWN regrets to inform you of the petira of Dr. Abba Spero, z”l of Baltimore, father of famed speaker Rabbi Yechiel Spero. The Niftar was the beloved husband of Mrs. Sara Spero, and cherished father of Mr. Chaim (Rebecca) Spero, Rabbi Yechiel (Chumi) Spero, Mr. Moshe (Gila) Spero, Mrs. Chavi (Reb Chezky) Schneider, and […]

Ukraine used domestically produced Sea Baby naval drones to strike two Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea, an official from Ukraine’s security services told The Associated Press on Saturday. The two oil tankers, Kairos and Virat — said to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” that evade sanctions — were struck in quick succession […]

Joe Biden reemerges, saying he is working “as hard as he can” to secure more U.S. support for Ukraine.

Ukrainian naval drones hit two sanctioned tankers in the Black Sea as they headed to a Russian port to load up with oil destined for foreign markets

German police repelled a mob targeting an AfD youth conference. Between 25,000 and 30,000 protesters turned out, including Antifa agitators.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Putin’s negotiator Kirill Dmitriev, and Jared Kushner worked together in Miami on a business-driven peace plan for the Ukraine war. • Dmitriev proposed U.S. access to $300B in frozen Russian assets, joint Arctic mineral and energy projects, and even a joint Mars mission with SpaceX. […]

A 90-year-old man driving ~90 mph in a Volvo crashed into a Bay Area coffee shop on Thanksgiving and survived; police say alcohol may have been a factor, and the investigation is ongoing.

Northwestern will pay $75 million to settle federal discrimination complaints and regain access to about $790 million in frozen research funding. The government will close its investigations, and the university will comply with federal antidiscrimination laws. Northwestern will also end its Deering Meadow Agreement with pro-Palestinian protesters and launch a survey on campus antisemitism. Education […]

A confident far-right Alternative for Germany set up its new youth organization on Saturday even as thousands of protesters converged on the western city of Giessen, where the party held its meeting, some of them clashing with police. A convention of the anti-immigration party, known by its German acronym AfD, started more than two hours […]

FBI Director Kash Patel warns James Comey of imminent action, saying developments are expected in the coming days.

Southwest Airlines will soon require travelers who don’t fit within the armrests of their seat to pay for an extra one in advance, part of a string of recent changes the carrier is making. The new rule goes into effect Jan. 27, the same day Southwest starts assigning seats. Currently, plus-size passengers can either pay for […]

The chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, MK Boaz Bismuth, revealed Motzoei Shabbos that he has implemented a series of adjustments and stricter provisions in the updated version of the draft law, working hand-in-hand with the committee’s legal advisers. According to Bismuth, the goal was to reduce legal vulnerabilities and create a workable balance between the IDF’s manpower needs and the preservation of the Olam HaTorah.

Bismuth addressed the newly released text ahead of committee deliberations scheduled for this week, stressing that an “intensive and meticulous” drafting process was carried out with the full involvement of the legal team.

He explained that the latest version includes “a number of changes and tightened clauses” designed to fully comply with legal requirements and minimize the risks that plagued earlier iterations. “I worked in recent weeks on the wording of the law in full cooperation with the legal advisers of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee,” he said. “I made precise adjustments and changes to meet the legal demands and to prevent any future legal exposure.”

The committee chair emphasized that the updated draft seeks to strike a carefully calibrated compromise. With the IDF dealing with manpower shortages while the chareidi sector insists on safeguarding full-time Torah study, Bismuth described the proposal as “a responsible, balanced and stable law — a law that will return to the State of Israel the stability it has been lacking.”

Bismuth also made clear that the legislative process is already too far along to shift course. “The train has already left the station, and it will not stop until the law is approved in the Knesset plenum,” he declared.

His comments come amid reports over the weekend that the committee’s own legal adviser, Miri Frenkel-Shor, opposes portions of the draft Bismuth unveiled. The committee is expected to begin detailed discussions on the legislation in the coming days.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump issued a sweeping declaration Friday, announcing that he is voiding every document signed through the use of an autopen during Joe Biden’s presidency and threatening legal consequences if Biden insists he personally approved the signatures. Trump claimed he is prepared to have his predecessor “brought up on charges of perjury” if Biden says he was involved in authorizing aides to use the device.

For months, Trump has insisted that Biden was largely absent during his term, portraying the administration as one run by unelected staffers. In his latest Truth Social post, Trump asserted, “Any document signed by Sleepy Joe Biden with the Autopen, which was approximately 92% of them, is hereby terminated, and of no further force or effect. The Autopen is not allowed to be used if approval is not specifically given by the President of the United States.”

He went on to accuse Biden’s advisers of usurping authority, writing, “The Radical Left Lunatics circling Biden around the beautiful Resolute Desk in the Oval Office took the Presidency away from him. I am hereby cancelling all Executive Orders, and anything else that was not directly signed by Crooked Joe Biden, because the people who operated the Autopen did so illegally.”

Trump concluded his message with a direct warning: “Joe Biden was not involved in the Autopen process and, if he says he was, he will be brought up on charges of perjury. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Although Trump has already undone many of Biden’s directives, he has also implied that a number of Biden’s pardons may be invalid. Biden, however, told the New York Times this year that he personally authorized the use of his name in his final clemency decisions. Historically, autopen signatures have been recognized as fully legitimate when used by staff under presidential direction, and presidents of both parties have relied on the device for decades — including in rare instances to enact legislation.

Legal precedent supports the practice. A Justice Department opinion issued in 2005 during the George W. Bush administration concluded, “the President need not personally perform the physical act of affixing his signature to a bill he approves and decides to sign in order for the bill to become law.”

{Matzav.com}

A Hamas terrorist surrendered to Israeli forces today after crossing Gaza’s yellow line. He told the IDF he had been recently recruited by Hamas but now regretted the decision. The IDF also reported that three Palestinians who crossed the yellow line in southern Gaza today were killed.