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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Tuesday that the criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey, accused of threatening President Donald Trump, does not fall under the protections of free speech.

Earlier in the day, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina handed down an indictment against Comey on two counts connected to a since-deleted Instagram post. The post featured seashells arranged to spell out “86 47,” which prosecutors interpret as a serious threat, noting that Trump is the 47th president and that “86” can be used as slang for killing someone.

Comey issued an apology for the May 2025 post, explaining that he believed the seashell arrangement conveyed a political message and that “it never occurred to me” that “86 47” was associated with violence.

During a press briefing, Blanche was questioned about how to distinguish between constitutionally protected speech and a genuine threat.

“It’s not a very difficult line to look at,” he said. “And it’s not, in my mind, a difficult line for one to cross over one way or the other. You are not allowed to threaten the president of the United States of America. That’s not my decision. That’s Congress’ decision in a statute that they passed that we charge multiple times a year.

“And so, whether there is a defense, maybe there is, but the government will have evidence. I am not going to talk about the evidence that we have. That’s unfair to him. It’s unfair to the prosecutors. But it’s enough to say that the grand jury returned an indictment.”

Blanche was also asked whether proving Comey’s intent would be a challenge in court.

“This case was indicted today,” he said. “This conduct occurred about a year ago, May 15 of last year. There has been a tremendous amount of investigation. And how do you prove intent? In any case, you prove intent with witnesses, with documents, with the defendant himself, to the extent it’s appropriate. And that’s how we’ll prove intent in this case.”

He added that an arrest warrant has been issued for Comey and said authorities anticipate communicating with his legal team as the case moves forward.

“This case will proceed like hundreds of others do every year,” Blanche said. “There will be some sort of arraignment set by the judge or assigned to the magistrate judge. And when that happens, you’ll know about it. But this is being handled differently from the last time he was indicted.”

This is not the first time Comey has faced federal charges. In September, he was indicted in Virginia on felony allegations involving false statements tied to the Russia investigation and obstruction. However, that case was dismissed in November after a judge determined that the Trump administration had improperly appointed Lindsey Halligan as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

WATCH:

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz drew swift criticism Tuesday after asserting that state agencies played a key role in triggering federal fraud raids in Minneapolis, prompting a pointed response from FBI Director Kash Patel.

The exchange highlights escalating political friction surrounding a major federal investigation into alleged fraud, which critics argue developed during Walz’s tenure, while federal authorities have now taken control of enforcement efforts.

“Come again?” Patel posted on X in response to Walz, who claimed that Tuesday’s raids happened because Minnesota state agencies “caught irregular behavior and reported it.”

Patel pushed back forcefully, writing, “This FBI and DOJ with our DHS partners drafted and executed every search warrant today. But go ahead and take credit for our work while we smoke out the fraud plaguing Minnesota under your governorship.”

Walz’s post quickly gained traction online, drawing more than a million views within hours and sparking criticism, particularly from conservative commentators who argued that the fraud cases had unfolded during his administration and that mounting public scrutiny contributed to his decision not to seek another term.

Several critics took to social media to mock the governor’s remarks.

“Arsonist masquerading as a firefighter,” Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X.

“The main problem Tim Walz has now is that no one – Republican or Democrat – takes him seriously,” Republican strategist Tim Murtaugh wrote on X. “He’s proven that he’s that much of a boob.”

“The same guy who spent a whole hearing dodging questions about $9 BILLION in fraud in Minnesota and talking about ICE instead is now praising fraud control,” the Republican-led House Oversight Committee posted on X. “Tomorrow, we will pass legislation in the Committee to make sure it never happens again. Sit this one out, Tim.”

Rep. Derrick Van Orden also weighed in, posting, “.@GovTimWalz is a stolen valor…,” and adding, “This is par for the course.”

Sen. Rand Paul offered his own take, writing, “Well, the American people know we can actually thank @nickshirleyy and @VP.”

Other users online pointed to a statement from the city of Minneapolis clarifying that municipal authorities were not involved in the operation.

Earlier Tuesday, federal agents carried out coordinated raids at more than 20 locations across Minneapolis, including several childcare centers, as part of a broad investigation into alleged fraud involving businesses largely owned by members of the Somali community, sources told Fox News.

“Today the FBI with federal, state and local law enforcement is involved in court-authorized law enforcement activity as part of an ongoing fraud investigation,” a Department of Justice spokesperson said.

Authorities confirmed that 22 federal search warrants were executed across Minnesota as part of the operation, which sources emphasized was unrelated to immigration enforcement.

{Matzav.com}

Israel is stepping up its pressure on international mediators and the Lebanese government, warning that the coming weeks represent a critical deadline to secure a political arrangement before the current ceasefire expires in mid-May.

Officials in Jerusalem are emphasizing that the remaining time until that date constitutes what they describe as a final chance to reach an agreement. Beyond that point, patience is expected to run out.

A senior Israeli official told Kan News, “We cannot wait forever. We are giving two more weeks for negotiations, and that’s it.”

If talks fail to produce results, Israel is preparing for a renewed escalation, including a return to large-scale military operations targeting the Hezbollah terrorist organization.

At the same time, the Trump administration is actively engaged in quiet diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a symbolic breakthrough. One idea under consideration is arranging a direct meeting between Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, which U.S. officials hope could signal progress.

However, both Israeli and Lebanese sources are expressing doubt that such a meeting can take place under current conditions, citing internal political pressures in Lebanon and ongoing threats from Hezbollah.

In a notable development, President Aoun delivered a forceful speech on Monday in which he publicly backed the idea of engaging in direct talks with Israel.

“Negotiations are not treason,” Aoun declared, and pointed an accusing finger directly at Hezbollah: “The real treason is that of those who drag the country into war in order to fulfill foreign interests.”

Addressing critics within Lebanon, Aoun insisted that any meaningful diplomatic effort must begin with a ceasefire, while also taking aim at those opposing negotiations.

“When you went to war, did you ask for sweeping approval from the Lebanese people?”

{Matzav.com}

Dozens of members of the Peleg Yerushalmi broke into the Ashkelon home of the IDF’s chief military police officer on Tuesday evening during a day of widespread protests, prompting sharp condemnation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior defense officials.

The unusual incident unfolded as part of demonstrations against the recent arrests of chareidi draft evaders by military police. Protesters entered the private residence of Brig. Gen. Yuval Yamin, the head of the Military Police Corps. His family was evacuated from the home during the disturbance, and police reported that 25 suspects were arrested.

Earlier in the day, Rabbi Moshe Shmida, rosh yeshiva of Grodno Ashdod, had reportedly instructed his students during a shiur to keep plans confidential and organize a surprise protest in Ashkelon in response to the detention of two yeshiva students.

Police estimated that roughly 200 demonstrators gathered at the scene. According to a military source, several individuals climbed over the fence and forced their way into the yard. Yamin himself was not home at the time, but his wife and children remained inside, sheltering in place.

Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the breach, stating: “I strongly condemn the wild and violent attack against the head of the military police and demand firm action against those involved.” Representatives of the Peleg Yerushalmi responded to the criticism by saying: “Red lines have been crossed — leave Torah learners alone.”

Reports indicated that authorities had prior knowledge of the planned protest but were unable to prevent participants from entering the property. The family was subsequently removed from the residence for safety.

Police said in a statement: “Officers from the Lachish District are currently operating in the city of Ashkelon to restore public order after rioters arrived at the home of a senior IDF officer, trespassed into the yard, acted violently and disrupted daily life in the area. Police forces have begun arresting suspects involved in the disorder. The Israel Police views with utmost severity any violent behavior, disruption of public order, and trespassing into a private residence, and will act decisively to bring all those involved to justice, alongside continued efforts to maintain public order and public safety.”

Defense officials also issued strong reactions. The defense minister said: “I strongly condemn the deliberate break-in to the home of the head of the military police while his family was inside. Any harm or attempted harm to members of the security forces, and particularly to IDF commanders and soldiers, is crossing a red line. This is a group of violent criminals who must face the full severity of the law. I call on law enforcement authorities to act decisively, swiftly and with all the tools at their disposal to locate the suspects and bring them to justice. I fully back Brig. Gen. Yuval Yamin and make it clear: we will not allow harm to IDF commanders and soldiers.”

An IDF spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating: “A short time ago, a report was received of a deliberate break-in to the home of the chief military police officer, Brigadier General Yuval Yamin, while his family was inside. Security forces were dispatched to the scene and are working to locate the suspects.”

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir also condemned the event, saying: “I strongly condemn the attack. Harm to members of the security forces and their families constitutes a dangerous crossing of a red line. I fully support the head of the Military Police in the dedicated execution of his duties. This is a serious incident and requires determined action by all law enforcement and security authorities in order to bring those involved to justice.”

Political leaders from across the spectrum quickly responded. MK Yuli Edelstein said: “There is no place in our country for this extreme violence against IDF soldiers and their commanders. This is a fringe group of extremists that must be dealt with to the full extent of the law. It is time for the coalition to understand that the situation on the ground is boiling, and if they continue to abandon this arena to Supreme Court rulings time and again, there will be chaos. Only a real draft law will help the IDF, ease the burden on reservists, and prevent civil war.”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich added: “I strongly condemn the criminal break-in to the home of the head of the military police, Brig. Gen. Yuval Yamin. This is crossing a red line and I call on the Israel Police to act decisively to arrest the rioters, bring them to justice with full severity, and restore order to the streets.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said: “I strongly condemn the disgraceful behavior of a small group of anarchists from the extreme chareidi faction who broke into the home of the military police commander. Freedom of expression is not freedom of anarchy. I have full confidence in the police to bring the lawbreakers to justice.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel commented: “The break-in to Brig. Gen. Yamin’s yard is a crossing of a red line, and this is the interest we are paying on exemption laws. A state that funds an entire sector not to serve cannot be surprised when it disregards the law. Tonight’s events are a direct result of a distorted incentive structure. When there are budgets without obligations, anarchy becomes a method of operation. Instead of young people in this sector holding weapons at the front and going to work, the legal system allows them to hold signs and hold the state by the throat.”

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman said: “The October 7 government has surrendered to draft-dodging gangs. Breaking into the home of the head of the military police is crossing a red line, and I suggest everyone watch how many arrests are made and how many indictments are filed. We will put an end to the rule of the draft-dodgers.”

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz stated: “There is nothing Jewish about the violent protest of a group of extreme chareidim tonight in Ashkelon. This is crossing a red line, and if we do not wake up now, blood will be spilled! The Israel Police must act firmly against the rioters, and I also call on the leaders of the chareidi public and the rabbis — do not stand aside, the responsibility is yours. Service in the IDF is not only a legal obligation of every citizen — it is a Jewish right.”

Opposition leader Yair Lapid also responded, saying: “Breaking into the home of a senior officer is crossing yet another red line. Everyone involved must be arrested, tried, and sent to prison.”

Yesh Atid chairman Gadi Eisenkot added: “The intrusion of criminals who support draft evasion into the home of the head of the military police, Brig. Gen. Yuval Yamin, is an extremely serious and unacceptable event, stemming from government policy that allows and even promotes evasion of service during wartime.”

Throughout the day, protests organized by the Peleg Yerushalmi took place across the country in opposition to the draft law and sanctions against those who failed to enlist. The demonstrations led to major traffic disruptions, including significant blockages along Route 4 and at multiple locations in Yerushalayim. Clashes were also reported in the Bar-Ilan area of the capital.

Police later announced that order had been restored and all roads reopened in Yerushalayim and the Beit Shemesh area. The operations followed a series of violent disturbances during which protesters blocked light rail tracks and traffic lanes, burned Israeli flags, and threw stones at officers.

During the unrest, a police officer was assaulted and a suspect was arrested. Authorities said crowd-control measures were used to disperse demonstrators and emphasized that enforcement efforts would continue against anyone endangering public safety or attacking law enforcement personnel.

{Matzav.com}

The seven-front War of Redemption against Iran and its regional proxies is expected to continue throughout 2026, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said.

“Since the Oct. 7th massacre, the IDF has been engaged in combat in an ongoing multi-front war. We continue to remain prepared and vigilant for any scenario in all sectors,” Zamir told senior commanders at a military conference held at the Israeli Air Force’s Ramat David Base.

“We are still in a multi-front operation,” the military chief stressed, adding that 2026 “may continue to be a year of multi-front combat.”

As part of a new security doctrine developed in the aftermath of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, the IDF has established buffer zones on the front lines, adjacent to border communities in the north and south, he noted.

“We must be prepared to remain in these areas as long as sustained security for our communities has not yet been ensured,” Zamir said.

Ongoing diplomatic negotiations with Iran, Lebanon and Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip “are grounded in the achievements of the IDF, made possible by the troops and commanders in the air, at sea, and on land,” he continued.

Regarding the Islamic Republic, the chief of staff praised “Operation Roaring Lion,” in which he said the IDF “achieved unprecedented accomplishments and removed emerging existential threats.”

“We operated in a joint operation, together with the United States military, in extraordinary synchronization. We fulfilled every mission assigned to us and exceeded expectations,” he said, adding: “We must now ensure these achievements are translated into long-term strategic gain.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his address focused on Lebanon, saying the Jewish state has “the freedom of action to thwart immediate and emerging threats” posed by Iranian-backed Hezbollah. “This is the agreement we made with the United States and also with the Lebanese government,” he stated.

“There are still two major threats from Lebanon, from Hezbollah: The threat of 122mm rockets, and the threat of drones and UAVs,” the premier continued, saying the Israeli Defense Ministry and IDF were making “a very large technological effort” to eliminate these.

Netanyahu in his speech praised the military’s “monumental achievements” in Lebanon, including the elimination of Hezbollah’s long-range rocket array and the creation of the security zone, which he said prevents a cross-border invasion, as well as anti-tank fire.

“They have roughly 10% of the missiles they had at the start of the war,” noted the prime minister. “However, these still trouble the residents of the north, and I greatly appreciate their resilience and their standing steadfast.”

The two-and-a-half-year-old War of Redemption began when Hamas, other Iranian-backed Palestinian terrorist groups and Gazan “civilians” invaded the northwestern Negev from Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, massacring some 1,200 people, wounding thousands and taking 251 hostages back to the Strip. JNS

An unusual incident was reported in Beirut after a Lebanese student contacted the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson claiming that Hezbollah weapons were being stored inside her school, a claim that was later determined to be false and reportedly intended to avoid taking exams.

According to a report by Channel 12 journalist Sapir Lipkin, the student reached out via Instagram to IDF Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee, alleging that weapons belonging to Hezbollah were hidden within her school.

Further investigation revealed that the allegation was unfounded. Officials now believe the student made the claim in an attempt to evade academic testing.

Following the incident, the student and her parents were briefly detained by local authorities before being released. Meanwhile, residents in the area reported unusual drone activity in the vicinity of the school in the days after the claim became public.

In an official message sent to parents, the school administration warned that any student found to have harmed the institution or made statements about it that violate laws or regulations could face legal consequences.

Authorities added that the investigation is ongoing and emphasized that anyone found responsible for involvement in the incident will be held fully accountable, along with their parents.

A 22-year-old U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Polk has been charged with making threats to kill Jews at a synagogue and could face up to five years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana.

Federal prosecutors identified the suspect as Jakob Marcoulier, who was taken into custody and formally charged on April 23. Authorities say the alleged threats were made on the messaging platform Discord.

“Threats against synagogues and Jewish Americans are threats to the religious freedom promised to every single one of us,” stated Zachary Keller. “This office and our law enforcement partners are committed to protecting those freedoms.”

The FBI’s New Orleans field office became aware of the situation after receiving a tip from a concerned individual. Jonathan Tapp said both the bureau and the U.S. Army responded quickly once the report was made.

“This is a perfect example of how the public is law enforcement’s greatest partner,” Tapp stated.

According to the Justice Department, the initial report came in February, when an anonymous tipster alerted authorities that a Discord user known as “El Bostino” had issued threats directed at synagogues.

Investigators later obtained audio recordings from Discord in which the individual—allegedly Marcoulier—made explicit statements outlining a planned attack.

“FBI secured recorded audio from Discord in which the individual, later determined to be Marcoulier, made these threats, stating among other things that ‘after this deployment, if the Jews still have reign over our government, I am going to walk into a synagogue with my AK, with a 75-round drum mag, and all of my extra mags, with my level four plates, and my haka helmet that’s three plus, and I am going to kill every single Jew I know inside of that synagogue, and that’s my goal in life.”

Authorities say the suspect continued with additional remarks expressing intent to carry out violence.

The suspect allegedly added that “you guys will never do anything about but I will. I just have to finish this. I have to go back overseas and do what I have to do and then you’ll see me in the news. I promise you.” He is accused of also saying that “you guys don’t want to do anything for the [profanity] cause when it actually needs to happen” and “I’ll still kill these [profanity] in order to make sure the white youth is [profanity] secured.”’

{Matzav.com}

Federal prosecutors have accused former FBI Director James Comey of issuing a threat against President Donald Trump through a May 2025 Instagram post, according to newly released details in charging documents tied to his latest indictment.

According to the filing, authorities contend that Comey acted “knowingly and willfully” when he shared an image showing seashells arranged to display the numbers “86 47,” which prosecutors argue would be understood by a reasonable observer as a serious threat of harm.

“On or about May 15, 2025, in the Eastern District of North Carolina, the defendant, JAMES BRIEN COMEY JR, did knowingly and willfully make a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon, the President of the United States, in that he publicly posted a photograph on the internet social media site Instagram which depicted seashells arranged in a pattern making out ‘86 47,’ which a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the President of the United States,” count one reads.

The indictment, filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina, alleges that the post constituted a direct threat against the president, violating federal laws that prohibit threats targeting the president of the United States.

A separate charge alleges that Comey transmitted a threatening message across state lines, again pointing to the Instagram post and its alleged meaning as directed toward Trump, the 47th president.

Comey had previously described the image as a “cool shell formation” he encountered during a walk on the beach, but prosecutors argue that the surrounding context and phrasing give the post a commonly understood meaning that rises to the level of a criminal threat under federal law.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] King Charles III highlighted the enduring partnership between the United States and the United Kingdom during a landmark address to a joint session of Congress, marking the first time in 35 years that a British monarch has spoken before the body.

The speech, delivered on April 28, was part of Charles’s first official visit to the United States since ascending the throne in 2022.

Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Washington, D.C., on April 27 to begin their visit. Following his remarks to Congress, the couple is expected to attend a state dinner at the White House and participate in a wreath-laying ceremony honoring fallen service members, symbolizing the close military ties between the two nations.

In his address, Charles reflected on what he described as the deeply connected histories of the United States and the United Kingdom, characterizing their shared story as one of “reconciliation, renewal and remarkable partnership.”

He also referenced the recent shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25, an incident in which a suspect has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president.

“We meet, too, in the aftermath of the incident not far from this great building that sought to harm the leadership of your Nation and to foment wider fear and discord,” Charles said. “Let me say with unshakeable resolve: Such acts of violence will never succeed.”

The monarch spoke about his longstanding ties to the United States, noting that this visit marks his 20th trip to the country. He highlighted the shared democratic values of both nations and pointed to Britain’s increased defense spending as part of its commitment to the alliance.

Charles also addressed the upcoming 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, which will be commemorated later this year. He and Queen Camilla are scheduled to travel to New York City during their visit to mark the occasion.

“This atrocity was a defining moment for America and your pain and shock were felt around the whole world,” he said in his speech. “During my visit to New York, my wife and I will again pay our respects to the victims, the families, and the bravery shown in the face of terrible loss. We stood with you then. And we stand with you now in solemn remembrance of a day that shall never be forgotten.”

In addition to reflecting on history, Charles addressed current global challenges, including climate change, the importance of NATO, and the growing cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom in technology and innovation.

“From the bitter divisions of 250 years ago, we forged a friendship that has grown into one of the most consequential Alliances in human history,” he said.

Here is the full text of Charles’ speech before Congress:

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of Congress, representatives of the American People across all states, territories, cities and communities.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my particular gratitude to you all for the great honour of addressing this Joint Meeting of Congress and, on behalf of The Queen and myself, to thank the American people for welcoming us to the United States to mark this semiquincentennial year of the Declaration of Independence.

And for all of that time, our destinies as Nations have been interlinked. As Oscar Wilde said, “We have really everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language!”

We meet in times of great uncertainty; in times of conflict from Europe to the Middle East which pose immense challenges for the international community and whose impact is felt in communities the length and breadth of our own countries.

We meet, too, in the aftermath of the incident not far from this great building that sought to harm the leadership of your Nation and to foment wider fear and discord. Let me say with unshakeable resolve: such acts of violence will never succeed. Whatever our differences, whatever disagreements we may have, we stand united in our commitment to uphold democracy, to protect all our people from harm, and to salute the courage of those who daily risk their lives in the service of our countries.

Standing here today, it is hard not to feel the weight of history on my shoulder – because the modern relationship between our two Nations and our own peoples spans not merely 250 years, but over four centuries. It is extraordinary to think that I am the nineteenth in our line of Sovereigns to study, with daily attention, the affairs of America. So, I come here today with the highest respect for the United States Congress; this citadel of democracy created to represent the voice of all American people to advance sacred rights and freedoms.

Speaking in this renowned chamber of debate and deliberation, I cannot help but think of my late mother, Queen Elizabeth, who, in 1991, was also afforded this signal honor and similarly spoke under the watchful eye of the Statue of Freedom above us. Today, I am here on this great occasion in the life of our Nations to express the highest regard and friendship of the British people to the people of the United States.

As you may know, when I address my own Parliament at Westminster, we still follow an age-old tradition and take a member of Parliament ‘hostage’, holding him or her at Buckingham Palace until I am safely returned. These days, we look after our ‘guest’ rather well – to the point that they often do not want to leave! I don’t know, Mr. Speaker, if there were any volunteers for that role here today…?

As I look back across the centuries, Mr. Speaker, there emerge certain patterns; certain self-evident truths from which we can learn and draw mutual strength. With the Spirit of 1776 in our minds, we can perhaps agree that we do not always agree – at least in the first instance! Indeed, the very principle on which your Congress was founded – no taxation without representation – was at once a fundamental disagreement between us, and at the same time a shared democratic value which you inherited from us. Ours is a partnership born out of dispute, but no less strong for it.

So perhaps, in this example, we can discern that our Nations are in fact instinctively like-minded – a product of the common democratic, legal and social traditions in which our governance is rooted to this day. Drawing on these values and traditions, time and again, our two countries have always found ways to come together. And by Jove, Mr. Speaker, when we have found that way to agree, what great change is brought about – not just for the benefit of our peoples, but of all peoples.

This, I believe, is the Special ingredient in our Relationship. As President Trump himself observed during his State Visit to Britain last Autumn, ‘The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal. It is irreplaceable and unbreakable.’

This is by no means my first visit to Washington, D.C. – the capital of this great Republic. It is in fact my 20th visit to the United States, and my first as King and Head of the Commonwealth. This is a city which symbolises a period in our shared history, or what Charles Dickens might have called ‘A Tale of Two Georges’: the first President, George Washington, and my five-times Great Grandfather, King George III. King George never set foot in America and, please rest assured, I am not here as part of some cunning rearguard action!

The Founding Fathers were bold and imaginative rebels with a cause. 250 years ago (or, as we say in the United Kingdom, just the other day…) they declared Independence.

By balancing contending forces and drawing strength in diversity, they united thirteen disparate colonies to forge a Nation on the revolutionary idea of ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’. They carried with them, and carried forward, the great inheritance of the British Enlightenment – as well as the ideals which had an even deeper history in English Common Law and Magna Carta.

These roots run deep, and they are still vital. Our Declaration of Rights of 1689 was not only the foundation of our constitutional Monarchy, but also provided the source of so many of the principles reiterated – often verbatim – in the American Bill of Rights of 1791. And those roots go even further back in history: the U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society has calculated that Magna Carta is cited in at least 160 Supreme Court cases since 1789, not least as the foundation of the principle that executive power is subject to checks and balances. This is the reason why there stands a stone, by the River Thames at Runnymede where Magna Carta was signed in the year 1215. This stone records that an acre of that ancient and historic site was given to the United States of America by the people of the United Kingdom, to symbolise our shared resolve in support of liberty, and in memory of President John F. Kennedy.

Distinguished members of the 119th Congress, it is here in these very halls that this spirit of liberty and the promise of America’s Founders is present in every session and every vote cast.

Not by the will of one, but by the deliberation of many, representing the living mosaic of the United States. In both of our countries, it is the very fact of our vibrant, diverse and free societies that gives us our collective strength, including to support victims of some of the ills that, so tragically, exist in both our societies today.

And, Mr. Speaker, for many here – and for myself – the Christian faith is a firm anchor and daily inspiration that guides us not only personally, but together as members of our community. Having devoted a large part of my life to interfaith relationships and greater understanding, it is that faith in the triumph of light over darkness which I have found confirmed countless times. Through it I am inspired by the profound respect that develops as people of different faiths grow in their understanding of each other. It is why it is my hope – my prayer – that, in these turbulent times, working together and with our international partners, we can stem the beating of ploughshares into swords…

I am mindful that we are still in the season of Easter, the season that most strengthens my hope. It is why I believe, with all my heart, that the essence of our two Nations is a generosity of spirit and a duty to foster compassion, to promote peace, to deepen mutual understanding and to value all people, of all faiths, and of none.

The Alliance that our two Nations have built over the centuries – and for which we are profoundly grateful to the American people – is truly unique. And that Alliance is part of what Henry Kissinger described as Kennedy’s ‘soaring vision’ of an Atlantic Partnership based on twin pillars: Europe and America. That Partnership, I believe Mr. Speaker, is more important today than it has ever been.

The first reigning British Sovereign to set foot in America was my Grandfather, King George VI. He visited in 1939 with my beloved Grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. The forces of Fascism in Europe were on the march, and some time before the United States had joined us in the defence of freedom. Our shared values prevailed.

Today, we find ourselves in a new era, but those values remain. It is an era that is, in many ways, more volatile and more dangerous than the world to which my late Mother spoke, in this Chamber, in 1991.

The challenges we face are too great for any one Nation to bear alone. But in this unpredictable environment, our Alliance cannot rest on past achievements, or assume that foundational principles simply endure. As my Prime Minister said last month: ‘ours is an indispensable partnership. We must not disregard everything that has sustained us for the last eighty years. Instead, we must build on it’.

Renewal today starts with security. The United Kingdom recognizes that the threats we face demand a transformation in British defense. That is why our country, in order to be fit for the future, has committed to the biggest sustained increase in defense spending since the Cold War – during part of which, over fifty years ago, I served with immense pride in the Royal Navy, following in the Naval footsteps of my Father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; my Grandfather, King George VI; my Great-Uncle, Lord Mountbatten; and my Great-Grandfather, King George V.

This year, of course, also marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11. This atrocity was a defining moment for America and your pain and shock were felt around the whole world.

During my visit to New York, my wife and I will again pay our respects to the victims, the families, and the bravery shown in the face of terrible loss. We stood with you then. And we stand with you now in solemn remembrance of a day that shall never be forgotten.

In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, when NATO invoked Article 5 for the first time, and the United Nations Security Council was united in the face of terror, we answered the call together – as our people have done so for more than a century, shoulder to shoulder, through two World Wars, the Cold War, Afghanistan and moments that have defined our shared security.

Today, Mr. Speaker, that same, unyielding resolve is needed for the defence of Ukraine and her most courageous people – in order to secure a truly just and lasting peace.

From the depths of the Atlantic to the disastrously melting ice-caps of the Arctic, the commitment and expertise of the United States Armed Forces and its allies lie at the heart of N.A.T.O., pledged to each other’s defence, protecting our citizens and interests, keeping North Americans and Europeans safe from our common adversaries.

Our defense, intelligence and security ties are hardwired together through relationships measured not in years, but in decades.

Today, thousands of U.S. service personnel, defense officials and their families are stationed in the United Kingdom, as British personnel serve with equal pride across thirty American States. We are building F-35s together. And we have agreed the most ambitious submarine programme in history – A.U.K.U.S. – and we’re doing it in partnership with Australia, a country of which I am also immensely proud to serve as Sovereign.

We do not embark on these remarkable endeavours together out of sentiment. We do so because they build greater shared resilience for the future, so making our citizens safer for generations to come.

Our common ideals were not only crucial for liberty and equality, they are also the foundation of our shared prosperity.

The Rule of Law: the certainty of stable and accessible rules, an independent judiciary resolving disputes and delivering impartial justice. These features created the conditions for centuries of unmatched economic growth in our two countries. This is why our governments are concluding new economic and technology agreements – to write the next chapter of our joint prosperity and ensure that British and American ingenuity continues to lead the world.

Our nations are combining talent and resources in the technologies of tomorrow: our new partnerships in nuclear fusion and quantum computing, and in A.I. and drug discovery, holding the promise of saving countless lives.

More broadly, we celebrate the $430 billion in annual trade that continues to grow; the $1.7 trillion in mutual investment that fuels that innovation; and the millions of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic supported across both economies.

These are strong foundations on which to continue to build, for generations yet unborn. Our ties in education, research, and cultural exchange empower citizens and future leaders of both countries.

The Marshall Scholarship, named after the great General George Marshall, and the Association of which I am so proud to be Patron, are emblematic of the connection between our two nations. Since its founding, more than 2,300 scholarships have been awarded, opening doors for Americans from all walks of life to study at the United Kingdom’s leading universities.

As we look toward the next 250 years, we must also reflect on our shared responsibility to safeguard Nature, our most precious and irreplaceable asset.

Millennia before our Nations existed, before any border drawn, the mountains of Scotland and Appalachia were one; a single, continuous range, forged in the ancient collision of continents.

The natural wonders of the United States of America are indeed a unique asset, and generations of Americans have risen to this calling: indigenous, political and civic leaders, people in rural communities and cities alike, have all helped to protect and nurture what President Theodore Roosevelt called ‘the glorious heritage’ of this land’s extraordinary natural splendour, on which so much of its prosperity has always depended.

Yet even as we celebrate the beauty that surrounds us, our generation must decide how to address the collapse of critical natural systems, which threatens far more than the harmony and essential diversity of Nature. We ignore at our peril the fact that these natural systems – in other words, Nature’s own economy – provide the foundation for our prosperity and our national security.

The story of the United Kingdom and the United States is, at its heart, a story of reconciliation, renewal and remarkable partnership.

From the bitter divisions of 250 years ago, we forged a friendship that has grown into one of the most consequential Alliances in human history.

I pray with all my heart that our Alliance will continue to defend our shared values, with our partners in Europe and the Commonwealth, and across the world, and that we ignore the clarion calls to become ever more inward-looking.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice-President, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, America’s words carry weight and meaning, as they have since Independence. The actions of this great Nation matter even more. President Lincoln understood this so well, with his reflection in the magisterial Gettysburg Address that the world may little note what we say, but will never forget what we do. And so, to the United States of America, on your 250th birthday, let our two countries rededicate ourselves to each other in the selfless service of our peoples and of all the peoples of the world.

God bless the United States and God bless the United Kingdom.

WATCH:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday leveled strong criticism at Israel, alleging that a ship transporting what he called “stolen” Ukrainian grain had reached an Israeli port and was preparing to unload its cargo.

“In any normal country, purchasing stolen goods is an act that entails legal liability. This applies, in particular, to grain stolen by Russia,” Zelenskyy said in a statement. “Another vessel carrying such grain has arrived at a port in Israel and is preparing to unload. This is not – and cannot be – legitimate business.”

Zelenskyy further asserted that Israeli officials should be fully aware of the ships docking in their ports and the nature of their cargo. He said Israeli authorities “cannot be unaware of which ships are arriving at the country’s ports and what cargo they are carrying.”

According to Zelenskyy, Russia has been engaged in a consistent effort to confiscate grain from Ukrainian territories under its control and arrange for its export through intermediaries tied to occupying forces. He described these activities as violations of Israeli law.

“Ukraine has taken all necessary steps through diplomatic channels to prevent such incidents. However, we see that yet another such vessel has not been stopped,” he stated.

The Ukrainian leader also revealed that he had directed his Foreign Ministry to alert allied nations about the situation and was preparing further measures. “Based on information from our intelligence services, Ukraine is preparing a relevant sanctions package that will cover both those directly transporting this grain and the individuals and legal entities attempting to profit from this criminal scheme,” he said.

He added that Kyiv intends to work with European partners to ensure those involved in the shipments are included in sanctions imposed across Europe.

“Ukraine counts on partnership and mutual respect with every state. We are genuinely working to enhance security, particularly in the Middle East region. We expect that the Israeli authorities will respect Ukraine and refrain from actions that undermine our bilateral relations,” Zelenskyy concluded.

The remarks come amid escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Earlier in the week, Ukraine summoned Israel’s ambassador in Kyiv, Michael Brodsky, following reports that a ship carrying what Ukraine claims is stolen grain had docked at the Port of Haifa.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the ambassador would be formally presented with a protest and that discussions would center on what Kyiv called the need for “appropriate action.”

“Friendly Ukrainian-Israeli relations have the potential to benefit both countries, and Russia’s illegal trade with stolen Ukrainian grain should not undermine them,” Sybiha said.

He also voiced frustration over what he described as Israel’s lack of response to a previous incident involving similar allegations. Kyiv, he said, finds it “difficult to understand Israel’s lack of appropriate response.”

“Now that another such vessel has arrived in Haifa, we once again warn Israel against accepting the stolen grain and harming our relations,” he added.

Reports indicate that the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Panormitis recently entered Haifa Bay and is suspected of transporting grain originating from Ukrainian territories currently under Russian control. Ukrainian officials believe the cargo may have been transferred between vessels before reaching Israel.

This follows another incident earlier in the month, when a separate ship reportedly unloaded tens of thousands of tons of Ukrainian wheat in Haifa, drawing criticism from Kyiv.

Investigations referenced in those reports suggest that multiple shipments of grain believed to have been taken from occupied Ukrainian regions have arrived in Israel over recent months.

In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar rejected the accusations, emphasizing that diplomatic matters should not be handled through public statements.

“Diplomatic relations, especially between friendly nations, are not conducted on Twitter or in the media.”

“Allegations are not evidence. Evidence substantiating the allegations have yet to be provided,” Sa’ar said, adding that no official request for legal cooperation had been submitted prior to Ukraine’s public claims.

“The matter will be examined. Israel is a state that abides by the rule of law with independent law enforcement authorities. All Israeli authorities will act in accordance with the law,” he added.

Ukraine has signaled that it views the issue as serious and may pursue additional diplomatic steps depending on how Israel handles the situation surrounding the vessel.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid has told his ally Naftali Bennett that he is prepared to accept a lower placement on their shared electoral list if it would help bring Gadi Eisenkot into a larger unified bloc, according to a source close to Lapid.

The development follows an announcement Sunday night in which Lapid and Bennett revealed they were combining their parties into a joint slate under the name “Together – Led by Bennett.”

According to the source, Lapid has made clear that his own position on the list is secondary to the broader goal of consolidating forces to improve the opposition’s chances at the polls. “Lapid says his personal ranking is far less important than the need to unite forces and win the election.”

Bennett, emphasizing momentum, declared that he and Lapid were “racing forward to victory,” and extended an invitation to Eisenkot to join the alliance, saying that “our door is open to you too.”

However, a figure close to Eisenkot downplayed the significance of Lapid’s proposal, despite earlier reports that Eisenkot himself had floated the idea of a merger back in January. “That’s not the point at all. We’re only interested in what will bring victory to the bloc,” the source told The Times of Israel.

While Eisenkot expressed support for the partnership between Bennett and Lapid, referring to them as “allies,” he also cautioned that their joint effort might struggle to pull voters away from the right-wing camp aligned with Benjamin Netanyahu.

“For this victory to happen, we need to bring in more votes — that is our only test. Every union must be judged by that,” Eisenkot said on Sunday.

He later called on most opposition leaders to meet and coordinate a strategy aimed at securing a “Zionist majority” over Netanyahu in the elections scheduled for October.

A Channel 12 survey released Monday suggested that if Eisenkot were to join forces with Bennett and Lapid, the combined list could secure 41 seats. Still, the broader balance of power would remain largely unchanged, with Netanyahu’s bloc projected at 50 seats, Zionist opposition parties at 60, and Arab parties holding 10.

Reacting to the merger, Benny Gantz, head of the Blue and White party, argued that the move weakens efforts to replace the current government. He maintained that a wider coalition remains the preferable path forward. “harms the ability to replace this terrible government,” he said, adding that “the best solution is a broad, Zionist government.”

Gantz criticized the focus on internal rivalries rather than outreach to new voters. “Instead of calling out to right-wing voters, Likudniks, and religious Zionists who are looking for a new home today — and telling them that we will ensure the establishment of a broad Zionist government without extremists, that will handle conscription and security and economic challenges — they chose to continue entrenching themselves in intra-bloc battles and obsessing over ‘who’ will lead, rather than ‘where’ we will lead,” Gantz wrote on Facebook.

He added that both Bennett and Lapid had once again prioritized their own political interests over national concerns. “Both Bennett and Lapid are people I respect, but each of them has once again chosen what serves them personally, rather than what serves the country,” he wrote.

Positioning himself as an alternative, Gantz appealed to voters seeking change across the political spectrum. For those looking for “a victory for the entire people of Israel,” he said, “I am your insurance policy to do everything possible to replace Netanyahu and the government of extremists, and to ensure the establishment of a broad Zionist government. In today’s political arena, only Blue and White guarantees that an extremist government won’t rise here again, nor a narrow minority government that relies on Arab parties and would collapse in the face of the first security challenge.”

Recent polling places Blue and White below the electoral threshold, and Gantz was notably absent from the list of opposition leaders invited to Eisenkot’s proposed coordination meeting.

Gantz has also distinguished himself from other opposition figures by signaling openness to joining a Netanyahu-led coalition and by resisting efforts to classify him firmly within the opposition bloc.

During an appearance Monday on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity,” John Fetterman addressed criticism from fellow Democrats over plans to build a ballroom at the White House, a project that has begun construction but may be halted due to a federal court ruling.

Fetterman dismissed the pushback from his party, characterizing it as politically driven and referring to it as “TDS,” an acronym for Trump Derangement Syndrome.

Host Sean Hannity questioned why the project was facing resistance, noting that it would not be funded by taxpayers and would offer enhanced security. “I don’t know why,” Hannity said of the Trump ballroom. “It’s not going to cost the taxpayers a penny. It’s going to be one of the most secure buildings by far in the world. Why would there be any reluctance or resistance to building it when every future president will benefit from it?”

Fetterman responded by saying he could not find a logical explanation beyond political bias. “I really don’t understand. The only thing that I could explain that it’s the TDS, you know, for me. I mean, you know, I was right there. I was one or two tables away from the front table with the president and the vice president thing, and I’ve witnessed this, but even before that even happened, I was struck by- my gosh, we have the entire, you know, the line of succession right there in the very small kind of, you know, area there.”

He went on to describe the concentration of top officials at the event, underscoring what he viewed as a security concern. “You know, Johnson was there,” he continued. “Rubio was there. Of course, the president and Vance was there, too, and Hegseth and all those people there. I mean, people have forgotten perhaps what happened in Oklahoma City back in 1995. You know, somebody could have bombed a building for that, you know? And now, I was the only Democrat that refused to vote to shut the DHS down, and it is. And now we’re here in conflict of Iran. Iran’s already have the desire to assassinate the president, too.”

Fetterman concluded by pointing to the potential dangers of hosting major events in facilities not designed with high-level security in mind. “So, I think after tonight there, I’m thinking we really got lucky because it could have been far more even catastrophic, and I’m so grateful no one was hurt,” Fetterman added. “But that’s why I’m saying you know we need to have a secure facility for events just like this. We can’t ever allow to be exposed in that way to an attack that hotel was never designed to do that in a safe way when I witnessed that, that night.”

WATCH:

Israeli forces have carried out a major operation in recent weeks targeting Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure in southern Lebanon, uncovering and demolishing extensive tunnel systems built with Iranian backing.

According to the IDF, troops working in the Qantara region identified and dismantled two significant tunnels after receiving detailed intelligence. The passageways, stretching a combined distance of roughly two kilometers, were located about 10 kilometers from Israeli communities near the northern border. These tunnels are said to be part of a larger subterranean network exposed during Operation Northern Arrows, much of which had already been taken apart in areas such as Maroun el-Ras and Mays al-Jabal.

Inside the tunnels, soldiers found substantial supplies, including weapon stockpiles, living spaces, water storage, and equipment designed for extended use. The network appeared to function largely as a base for Hezbollah operatives, with one tunnel containing around ten separate sleeping quarters. Additional shafts were discovered linking the tunnels to launch sites aimed toward Israeli territory.

Military officials said the tunnel system was developed over approximately ten years, dug deep below ground level, and financed by Iran as part of Hezbollah’s broader plan to infiltrate northern Israel in a campaign referred to as “conquering the Galilee,” which envisioned attacks on both military personnel and civilians.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu addressed the operation, stating, “We blew up today a huge Hezbollah terror tunnel. We are destroying their terror infrastructure, we are killing dozens of terrorists – and there is more to come. We are operating within the security zone, south of the Litani, north of the Litani, and in the Beqaa in northern Lebanon.”

He also disclosed steps being taken to counter another emerging threat, saying, “I gave instruction a few weeks ago on a special project to eliminate the drone threats. It will take time – but we will also blow that up.”

{Matzav.com}

Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted for a second time by the Department of Justice, according to individuals familiar with the situation who spoke to The New York Post on Tuesday.

The specific allegations in the new case were not immediately disclosed. CNN first reported news of the indictment. One of Comey’s attorneys from his previous case, which centered on alleged false statements to Congress, declined to offer any comment.

It also remains unknown where the grand jury responsible for the indictment was convened, although Comey’s earlier case had been brought in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Officials from the Justice Department did not immediately respond when asked for comment.

Comey, now 65, was previously indicted on September 25 of last year on charges related to making false statements and obstruction of justice. That case was dismissed roughly two months later when a federal judge ruled that then-interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan had been improperly appointed and therefore “had no lawful authority” to pursue the indictment.

The earlier prosecution stemmed from testimony Comey gave during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on September 30, 2020, where he was questioned by Ted Cruz about whether he had approved leaks to the press regarding investigations into President Trump’s campaign ties to Russia and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s private email server.

“On May 3rd, 2017, in this committee, Chairman [Chuck] Grassley asked you point blank, ‘Have you ever been an anonymous source in news reports about matters relating to the Trump investigation or the Clinton investigation?’ You responded under oath, ‘Never,’” the line of questioning from Cruz began.

“He then asked you, ‘Have you ever authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports about the Trump investigation or the Clinton administration?’ You responded again under oath, ‘No.’”

Cruz then pointed to statements made by former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, noting that Comey’s answers appeared to conflict with McCabe’s public remarks.

The Texas senator said McCabe had “publicly and repeatedly stated that he leaked information to the Wall Street Journal and that you were directly aware of it and that you directly authorized it.”

“Who’s telling the truth?” Cruz asked.

To which Comey responded, “I can only speak to my testimony. I stand by the testimony you summarized that I gave in May of 2017.”

{Matzav.com}

The United Nations Security Council gathered Tuesday to address ongoing tensions in the Middle East, where Israel’s representative delivered pointed remarks about Lebanon and the role of Hezbollah.

During the session, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, took aim at what he described as the global community’s handling of the situation, arguing that discussions about Lebanon often ignore a central issue.

“You cannot talk about peace in Lebanon without mentioning Hezbollah. Lebanon will not be able to talk about sovereignty as long as Hezbollah continues to fire on Israeli civilians and operate without interference.”

Danon continued by urging members of the Security Council to press Lebanese authorities more aggressively, saying: “If the Security Council wants to help Lebanon, it should ask the Lebanese government hard questions: how many Hezbollah weapons have been seized, which tunnels have been destroyed, and what is being done to stop arms smuggling from Iran.”

He concluded by stressing that meaningful international backing should be tied to concrete action, not rhetoric. “International support for Lebanon must depend on results on the ground and not more empty statements.”

{Matzav.com}

Federal agents carried out coordinated raids at 22 sites across Minnesota on Tuesday morning, including several child care facilities, as part of a broad investigation into alleged fraud involving social services programs.

Authorities indicated that, unlike the winter operation known as Operation Metro Surge, this round of enforcement was not tied to immigration issues. Instead, it reportedly centered on businesses with connections to the Somali-American community.

“Today the FBI with federal, state and local law enforcement is involved in court-authorized law enforcement activity as part of an ongoing fraud investigation,” a Justice Department official told The Post.

Among the locations searched was the Quality Learning Center, a Minneapolis daycare that has drawn attention in the past for a spelling error on its exterior sign.

The latest enforcement action comes amid a broader push by President Trump to crack down on fraud nationwide. During his February State of the Union address, he declared a “war on fraud” and assigned Vice President JD Vance to oversee a task force spearheading the initiative.

Investigations in Minnesota have increasingly focused on abuses tied to programs launched during the pandemic, particularly those involving food distribution and autism-related services, where officials say significant taxpayer funds were misused.

Since September, federal prosecutors have brought charges against seven individuals accused of orchestrating a scheme that allegedly involved signing up children for nonexistent autism services, generating approximately $14 million in fraudulent claims. One of those charged has already admitted guilt.

In a separate case, prosecutors have charged at least 65 people in connection with the Feeding Our Future scheme, which authorities say siphoned roughly $250 million from government programs. Numerous defendants in that case have entered guilty pleas as the sprawling prosecution continues, a case that began under the Biden administration.

Federal officials estimate that fraud in Minnesota may total as much as $19 billion, with dozens of individuals already facing criminal charges tied to various schemes.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently acknowledged shortcomings in oversight during a congressional hearing, expressing regret that stronger safeguards were not implemented. He noted that he accepted responsibility for the failures by deciding earlier this year not to seek a third term in office.

{Matzav.com}

Dozens of rabbonim and roshei yeshiva from across the Religious Zionist community gathered for an urgent meeting at the home of Rabbi Chaim Druckman in Shapira following a Supreme Court ruling mandating that the IDF begin a pilot program integrating female soldiers into the Armored Corps. Participants warned that the move could have far-reaching consequences for religious soldiers serving in combat roles.

The session, which extended for more than four hours, brought together leading figures representing a wide range of the Religious Zionist spectrum. The primary focus of the discussion was the practical and halachic implications of the ruling on observant soldiers currently serving in the IDF.

Throughout the meeting, speakers sharply criticized both the IDF and the Supreme Court, arguing that religious soldiers are increasingly being placed in circumstances that conflict with their beliefs, halachic standards, and even the army’s own stated guidelines. Several participants noted that they regularly receive urgent inquiries from soldiers in the field—sometimes in the middle of operational activity—seeking guidance on how to navigate mixed-gender situations.

Those present emphasized that their concern is not centered on the broader issue of women serving in the IDF, but rather on the specific impact that mixed combat frameworks would have on religious soldiers. They warned that introducing female soldiers into combat units could effectively push observant soldiers out of frontline roles within the maneuvering forces.

By the conclusion of what participants described as a serious and intense discussion, there was unanimous agreement regarding the gravity of the situation. All those present concurred that a religious soldier who strictly adheres to halacha would be unable to serve within a mixed combat unit.

The rabbonim stressed that every possible effort must be undertaken to halt developments that could, in the near future, sideline religious soldiers from combat service and potentially fracture the IDF into separate tracks for religious and secular personnel.

Rabbi Yaakov Medan said, “We will not serve in a field unit where there is mixing with women. I am not opposed to women serving, but we will not serve in a place where there is mixing. When female soldiers were placed in all the artillery regiments, we unfortunately stopped serving in the artillery. I hope we will not be forced to do the same in the Armored Corps.”

Rabbi Meir Nahorai said, “We are an integral part of the IDF, but we absolutely cannot allow our students to serve in mixed-gender settings that put them in impossible situations, like what is now proposed in the Armored Corps. For two and a half years our people have been on the front and the Chief of Staff did not find time to meet with us? That cannot be. This should matter to him. He should understand that he is in a problem.”

Rabbi Yehuda Gilad clarified, “We are not speaking against women’s service. Many young women from the religious kibbutz serve in the IDF; we are speaking against mixed combat service. Religious students will find it difficult to serve in mixed combat service; this is highly problematic from a Halachic perspective. Of course, one must also speak about reservists, a very large percentage of whom are religious; for them this could be a major crisis.”

Senior roshei yeshiva also raised concerns about the long-term implications, warning of a potential deep divide within the army. Rabbi Zalman Melamed said, “It is impossible for an observant person to serve in a mixed environment. In the advanced Religious yeshivot we have decided that we will not go to the Armored Corps as long as there is no clear decision that there will be no mixing in the Armored Corps.”

Rabbi Shmuel Haber said, “I educate students according to Halacha; from a Halachic perspective mixed service is like eating non-kosher food, it is simply prohibited. We are strict about laws of modesty and therefore mixed service is forbidden. It is simple.”

Rabbi Chaim Wolfson added, “The Supreme Court ruling is tearing the army apart and effectively aims to exclude the religious soldier from the maneuvering force, we must protest the cancellation of the partnership that is so important to the people of Israel and especially in view of their significant contribution in recent times.”

Rabbi Yigal Levinstein emphasized, “In real time, in war and in field practice everything mixes. In combat, if a crew is hit you immediately reassign and soldiers get on the tank and those could also be female soldiers, what do you do in such a situation?”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iranian officials have conveyed to the United States that their government is currently in a “state of collapse,” as tensions continue over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and regional activity.

Posting on Truth Social, the president wrote: “Iran has just informed us that they are in a ‘State of Collapse.’ They want us to ‘Open the Hormuz Strait,’ as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation (Which I believe they will be able to do!). Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

At the same time, a U.S. official told Reuters that Trump is dissatisfied with a recently submitted Iranian proposal, pointing to what the administration views as insufficient attention to the nuclear issue.

“He doesn’t love the proposal,” the official said, referring to the president.

According to a prior report by The Wall Street Journal, Trump and top members of his national security team have voiced doubts about the Iranian offer. The proposal, delivered Sunday, reportedly calls for reopening the Strait of Hormuz while delaying any substantive negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

The president met with advisers on Monday morning to review the proposal, the report said. While he has not dismissed it entirely, officials indicated that Trump is concerned Iran may not be negotiating seriously and is sidestepping Washington’s key demand: ending uranium enrichment altogether and pledging never to develop nuclear weapons.

Iranian officials, for their part, said earlier Monday that their plan is to push off nuclear discussions until after the current hostilities conclude and issues surrounding Gulf shipping lanes are resolved. U.S. officials have maintained that any agreement must address nuclear matters from the outset.

{Matzav.com}

A widely circulated image purporting to show White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting suspect Cole Allen wearing an IDF shirt has been determined to be fake, with investigators concluding the picture was generated using artificial intelligence and bears signs of digital manipulation.

The image spread rapidly online following the Saturday night shooting and was cited by various conspiracy claims attempting to tie Israel, Zionists, and Jews to the attempted assassination of President Trump, despite no evidence supporting such connections.

Experts reviewing the image identified multiple irregularities consistent with AI editing, including noticeable alterations to Allen’s facial features. These included changes to the placement of moles and a reshaping of his ear, as well as distortions in the appearance of his fingers.

Authorities investigating the attack have also reviewed Allen’s online activity, which reportedly included posts on Bluesky expressing opposition to Trump and his administration, along with calls for his removal from office. In a lengthy, 100-page manifesto explaining his actions, Allen criticized President Trump over the Iran conflict, referencing “children blown up,” a position that contradicts claims portraying him as aligned with Zionist causes.

Allen, who has been described as a trained mechanical engineer and worked as a tutor, was apprehended by law enforcement after gunfire erupted inside the Washington Hilton, where President Trump, members of his Cabinet, and thousands of journalists had gathered for the annual event.

He appeared in federal court on Monday for the first time to answer to several serious charges, including attempting to assassinate the president.

The 31-year-old Torrance, California resident is facing three felony counts: attempted assassination of the President of the United States, transporting a firearm and ammunition across state lines with intent to commit a felony, and using a firearm during a violent crime.

If found guilty of the attempted assassination charge, Allen could be sentenced to life in prison.

During the hearing, he did not enter a plea.

Newly released recordings indicate that groups of chassidim are organizing to forcibly enter the gravesite complex at Mount Meron during Lag BaOmer, despite strict limitations imposed by authorities, raising concerns about potential disorder and violent confrontations.

The recordings, aired Monday by i24News in a report by journalist Ari Kalman, suggest that the effort is not limited to fringe elements but includes participants from multiple communities and groups. In the conversations, organizers can be heard outlining a detailed “break-in plan” for Thursday and Friday ahead of Lag BaOmer.

Participants in the recordings discuss preparing specialized equipment, including “cutters” and metal-cutting scissors, with the intention of breaking through fences and barriers expected to surround the mountain. One individual describes the layout of the area, saying, “There are four main entrances, you can do it from the back and from the front.”

Another participant confirms that equipment has already been prepared in advance, stating, “We have equipment that was prepared in Yerushalayim.” The groups’ stated intention is to reach the site “in any case,” disregarding the serious security warnings that led to the drastic scaling back of the traditional Lag BaOmer gathering.

Officials responsible for managing the event, including representatives from the Ministry of Yerushalayim Affairs and Tradition, warned that such actions could result in chaos and severe violence if crowds attempt to force entry against security forces.

Security officials are particularly concerned that a large, uncontrolled crowd in an open area—combined with the threat of rocket fire from northern fronts—could create a dangerous situation with the potential for mass casualties.

The decision to limit attendance to just 1,500 participants followed a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, during which security agencies presented a grave assessment of the risks involved.

“It could be more than a hundred fatalities,” a security official warned during the discussion, referring to the potential danger posed by rocket attacks from Lebanon targeting the gathering site.

Despite these warnings, voices within the groups involved suggest a strong determination to proceed.

“We will not give up on reaching the kever of Rabi Shimon bar Yochai,” participants said, signaling their willingness to confront law enforcement if necessary.

Following the government’s decision to cancel the event in its traditional format, all construction work at the Meron site was halted, and police moved in to dismantle infrastructure that had already been set up.

The move sparked significant anger within parts of the chareidi community, particularly given that nationwide Independence Day celebrations had taken place just days earlier without similar restrictions.

Law enforcement officials estimate that large numbers of police will be required to prevent any attempted breaches of the site, warning that such efforts will be met with firm action. Further updates are expected.

{Matzav.com}