[Video below.] Zohran Mamdani refused to walk back his harshest descriptions of President Trump on Sunday, reaffirming his view of the president as a “fascist” and “despot” even as he praised their unexpectedly constructive first meeting. Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the incoming New York City mayor made clear that his opinion of Trump hasn’t budged. “That’s something that I’ve said in the past. I say it today,” Mamdani said when pressed on whether he still sees the president as a fascist.
Despite the charged language, Mamdani emphasized that he believes he can work productively with Trump. He said the two found real areas of agreement during their Oval Office conversation on Friday, particularly around the shared goal of making New York City more livable and financially accessible. “What I appreciated about the conversation that I had with the president was that we were not shy about the places of disagreement,” Mamdani said. “We also wanted to focus on what it could look like to deliver on a shared analysis of an affordable crisis for New Yorkers.”
That dynamic was on full display during their post-meeting press conference, when a reporter asked Mamdani point-blank whether he still considers Trump a fascist — a label he has applied repeatedly in the past. As Mamdani hesitated, Trump jumped in: “That’s OK. You can just say yes. It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind.” The moment underscored the odd blend of candor and cooperation between the two men.
Mamdani said he explained to Trump that both of them benefited electorally from the same underlying anxiety: New Yorkers’ fears about soaring living costs. He recounted conversations with voters on Fordham Road in The Bronx and Hillside Avenue in Queens, strong Democratic neighborhoods where many nonetheless cast ballots for Trump. “I shared with the president that when I asked those New Yorkers why did they vote for the president, they told me again and again it was cost of living, cost of living, cost of living,” Mamdani said.
He also welcomed Trump’s willingness to engage in a detailed discussion about the city’s immense barriers to building new housing — something Trump knows firsthand from his years developing properties in New York. Mamdani said they reviewed everything from the city’s restrictive zoning codes to the protracted ULURP approval process. “We spoke about the need to change so many of those situations such that a developer doesn’t tell you the thing more expensive than labor or materials is waiting,” he noted.
On the policy front, Mamdani reiterated his ambition to raise taxes on high earners and corporations to help finance his sweeping agenda, which includes free child care, fareless buses, and expanded affordable housing. Those changes would require signoff from Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state legislature, but Mamdani signaled flexibility on how to pay for his proposals. “And what I’ve also said is more important than how we fund something is that we fund something,” he said. “And if there are additional or alternate revenue streams to do so, I will accept them, and I will celebrate them because the most important thing is to actually deliver for the New Yorkers who, right now, can’t even conceive of having a family in New York City because of how expensive we’ve made childcare across the five bureaus.”
The incoming mayor also doubled down on his position that NYC’s police force does not need more officers, maintaining that the existing 35,000 uniformed members are sufficient. That stance contrasts with the priorities of Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch — who has agreed to stay on under Mamdani — and who has publicly advocated for expanding the NYPD’s ranks.
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{Matzav.com}
The IDF announced Sunday that a targeted operation in Beirut, directed by Israel’s Intelligence Directorate, killed Haytham Ali Tabataba’i — Hezbollah’s Chief of General Staff and one of the most influential military minds inside the terror group. Israeli officials described the strike as a major blow to Hezbollah’s upper echelon and a critical disruption to its operational rebuilding efforts.
Tabataba’i’s career stretched back to the 1980s, when he first enlisted in Hezbollah’s ranks. Over the decades, he rose steadily, eventually holding some of the group’s most sensitive positions. He previously commanded the elite Radwan Force and later oversaw Hezbollah’s entire military effort in Syria, where he was credited with embedding the organization deeply into the Syrian battlefield and expanding its capabilities.
Once the Gaza–northern front war erupted, Tabataba’i was tapped to manage Hezbollah’s operational array—responsible for synthesizing intelligence, coordinating units, and shaping the group’s force structure. During Operation Northern Arrows, after Israeli strikes eliminated much of Hezbollah’s senior field command, he became the central figure running the war effort against Israel from Lebanon.
After that operation concluded, Tabataba’i was elevated to Chief of General Staff. In that role, he undertook an aggressive campaign to reconstruct the organization’s fighting units and reinforce its readiness for a future confrontation with Israel. He wielded enormous influence inside Hezbollah, using his connections and experience to expand the Radwan Unit and strengthen the terror group’s operational infrastructure.
Following the strike, the IDF emphasized that it “will act against efforts to rebuild and rearm the Hezbollah terrorist organization and will operate to remove any threat posed to Israeli civilians,” while reiterating that the military “remains committed to the understandings reached between the State of Israel and Lebanon.”
The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the Beirut operation was aimed squarely at Tabataba’i, describing him as second only to Secretary General Naim Qassem in the organization’s hierarchy. “A short while ago, in the heart of Beirut, the IDF attacked the Hezbollah Chief of Staff, who had been leading the terrorist organization’s buildup and rearmament. Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the attack upon the recommendation of the Defense Minister and the IDF Chief of Staff. Israel is determined to act to achieve its objectives everywhere and at all times,” the statement read.
Israeli officials noted that in recent years Tabataba’i supervised Hezbollah’s special forces and became its highest-ranking active military commander once the rest of the senior chain of command had been eliminated. His significance was well known internationally: the U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice program had placed a $5 million bounty on information leading to his capture.
Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the operation, issuing a sharp warning to Hezbollah’s leadership. “We will continue to act forcefully to prevent any threat to the residents of the north and the State of Israel. Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have his hand cut off. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I are determined to continue the policy of maximum enforcement in Lebanon and anywhere else. We will not allow a return to the reality of before October 7th.”
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli action, accusing Israel of escalating the conflict and ignoring international appeals. “The Israeli strike in Dahieh is further proof that Israel does not heed the repeated calls to halt its attacks. We once again call on the international community to assume its responsibility and intervene to stop the attacks in Lebanon and against its people. Israel refuses to implement international resolutions and rejects all efforts and initiatives proposed to end the escalation and restore stability.”
Inside the IDF’s senior command post in the Kirya, Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir oversaw the real-time strike alongside Operations Directorate head MG Itzik Cohen, Operations Division head BG Yisrael Shomer, Operations Brigade head BG Meni Liberty, and other commanders. Briefing after the hit, Zamir said, “We struck the most senior commander in the Hezbollah terrorist organization. The strike was intended to prevent the organization from further strengthening its capabilities and to deliver a precise blow to those who attempt to harm the State of Israel.” He added, “The IDF remains committed to the understandings agreed upon between the State of Israel and Lebanon, but we will not allow the Hezbollah terrorist organization to strengthen or rearm, and we will act to remove any threat to the civilians of the State of Israel.”
The Beirut attack followed a string of IDF operations against Hezbollah operatives. On Saturday, Israeli forces eliminated Kamel Reza Karnabsh, who had been rebuilding Hezbollah’s presence in the Meifadon region of southern Lebanon. In a separate 91st Division mission, another operative was killed near the village of Khoula; the IDF identified him as the group’s local representative who coordinated military and economic activities and facilitated the takeover of private property for terror purposes.
{Matzav.com}
President Trump launched a scathing rebuke at Ukraine on Sunday, accusing its leaders of showing “zero gratitude” toward the United States even as Washington pushes a controversial cease-fire framework now under fire for resembling a Russian “wishlist.” “UKRAINE ‘LEADERSHIP’ HAS EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS, AND EUROPE CONTINUES TO BUY OIL FROM RUSSIA,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, venting frustration over what he sees as lopsided expectations placed on the U.S.
He went on to complain that America continues to shoulder most of the military burden for Ukraine’s defense. “THE USA CONTINUES TO SELL MASSIVE $AMOUNTS OF WEAPONS TO NATO, FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UKRAINE (CROOKED JOE GAVE EVERYTHING, FREE, FREE, FREE, INCLUDING ‘BIG’ MONEY!),” he added, contrasting his approach with that of his predecessor and warning that Washington’s support is being taken for granted.
The president’s outburst came as the 28-point proposal intended to wind down the war ignited political chaos in Washington and European capitals. After the document leaked last week, senators publicly claimed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had suggested the United States was not the true author of the blueprint, fueling speculation that the terms mirrored Moscow’s long-standing demands rather than a balanced diplomatic offer.
State Department officials quickly attempted to shut down that narrative, insisting the U.S. did, in fact, draft the plan. The proposal calls for dramatic changes on Ukraine’s side, including giving up the entire Donbas region—territory Russia has failed to capture outright despite years of fighting.
Other major concessions demanded of Kyiv include agreeing never to join NATO, reducing its armed forces from about 900,000 soldiers to 600,000, and granting sweeping amnesty to all participants in the conflict. That provision would ensure Russian fighters avoid prosecution for war crimes.
In contrast, the terms ask relatively little of Russia, raising alarm among Ukraine’s allies and intensifying the political storm surrounding the peace proposal.
{Matzav.com}
Years before the onslaught of October 7, Hamas was quietly assembling a broad, methodical intelligence apparatus aimed squarely at Israel’s military infrastructure. Israeli assessments now indicate that the terror group mobilized roughly 2,500 operatives to collect, refine, and analyze data in a way that would ultimately allow them to carry out one of the most devastating attacks in Israel’s history.
Military officials say the groundwork stretches back to 2018, when Hamas began monitoring Israeli soldiers on an unprecedented scale. Analysts believe the organization systematically tracked close to 100,000 servicemembers on social media, gathering digital traces and piecing together patterns of behavior, movement, and unit affiliation.
The group’s methods went far beyond scrolling through public feeds. In a report aired by military correspondent Doron Kadosh on Galai Tzahal, it was revealed that Hamas operatives deployed armies of fake “avatar” profiles—crafted through advanced social-engineering techniques—to infiltrate private accounts, conversations, and even closed WhatsApp groups used by young Israelis entering combat units.
What followed was a relentless intelligence-production cycle. Hamas assembled daily briefings on troop movements, Iron Dome placements, operational rotations, and deployments between sectors. By cross-matching thousands of snippets—everything from a parent posting pictures at a discharge ceremony to TikTok clips filmed on bases—they created an extraordinarily detailed picture of IDF installations. Their files included the placement of cameras, the angles of rear gates, the layout of barracks and armories, and the location of readiness rooms.
This mountain of intelligence was then transformed into practical training tools. Hamas constructed precise 3D models and full physical replicas of IDF posts along the Gaza border. They also obtained advanced simulation software, enabling Nukhba units to rehearse infiltration scenarios with virtual-reality headsets that mirrored the real bases down to minute details.
Israeli security officials had been aware that Hamas was experimenting with mock bases, but not of the depth or accuracy involved. One senior officer admitted, “We never imagined how accurate they were,” while an Air Force officer added, “Hamas knew the base better than I did – even though I served there for many years.”
{Matzav.com}Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back hard this weekend against mounting skepticism surrounding the contentious 28-point peace outline for the Ukraine War, asserting that the document originated in Washington and reflects a balance of perspectives from both Kyiv and Moscow. “The peace proposal was authored by the U.S. It is offered as a strong framework for ongoing negotiations,” Rubio said. “It is based on input from the Russian side. But it is also based on previous and ongoing input from Ukraine.”
The doubts that erupted after the plan surfaced last week only intensified when analysts pointed out that the text appeared to have been translated from Russian, prompting questions about who actually drafted it. That backdrop made Saturday’s developments especially jarring, as members of a bipartisan Senate delegation — including Sen. Mike Rounds — told reporters after meeting Rubio at the Halifax International Security Forum that the Secretary of State had indicated the document resembled a Russian wish list.
Those claims triggered a swift rebuttal from the State Department. Spokesperson Tommy Pigott rejected any suggestion that Moscow had produced the proposal, stressing that such allegations were “blatantly false,” though he offered no clarification for the contradictions coming from Capitol Hill.
The plan itself continues to stir unease. Under its terms, Ukraine would be required to relinquish the Donbas region entirely — territory Russia has been unable to conquer outright despite more than ten years of conflict. The framework also calls for Ukraine to commit to staying out of NATO, reduce its armed forces by roughly one-third, and grant sweeping amnesty to all wartime participants, which would effectively shield Russian personnel from war-crimes charges. Meanwhile, the proposal asks little from Moscow in return.
Reports have indicated that special envoy Steve Witkoff helped spearhead the initiative, working with both Ukrainian and Russian interlocutors. Once the details became public, major European powers quickly voiced misgivings. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that any legitimate accord must meet core principles. “Any credible and sustainable peace plan should first and foremost stop the killing and end the war, while not sowing the seeds for a future conflict,” she stated. She continued by laying out the fundamental conditions: “First, borders cannot be changed by force. Second, as a sovereign nation, there cannot be limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces that would leave the country vulnerable to future attack and thereby also undermining European security.” Her final point underscored Europe’s role in the region: “Third, the centrality of the European Union in securing peace for Ukraine must be fully reflected. Ukraine must have the freedom and sovereign right to choose its own destiny. They have chosen a European destiny.”
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk added another layer of uncertainty by openly demanding clarity about authorship. “Together with the leaders of Europe, Canada and Japan, we have declared our readiness to work on the 28-point plan despite some reservations,” he wrote on X. “However, before we start our work, it would be good to know for sure who is the author of the plan and where was it created.”
The debate unfolded against the backdrop of President Trump’s recent sit-down with Volodymyr Zelensky, after which Trump suggested that ending the war along the existing battle lines could be the most realistic path forward. The White House has since defended the 28-point framework as a plausible route to cease-fire negotiations. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that stance last week. “President Trump has made it very clear since day one, and even on the campaign trail, that he wants to see this war come to an end. He has grown increasingly frustrated with both sides of this war, Russia and Ukraine alike, for their refusal to commit to a peace agreement,” she said. She added, “It’s a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine, and we believe that it should be acceptable to both sides, and we’re working very hard to get it done.”
Kyiv, however, has publicly bristled at the steep concessions demanded of Ukraine. Zelensky, speaking through a translated statement, framed the choice as existential. “We are facing one of the most dangerous periods in Ukrainian history, a choice between losing our dignity and freedom and losing US support,” he said. “We choose dignity. My answer is my oath of office. I did not betray Ukraine in Feb 2022 and we won’t betray in now.”
{Matzav.com}
In a pointed public message, Ponovezh Rosh Yeshiva Rav Berel Povarsky told media personality Yisroel Cohen that the proper response to critics of the yeshiva community is to emphasize that Torah study serves as the true protection of the Jewish nation.
The remarks came following a special gathering at the home of Rav Povarsky, which was attended by Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch. The meeting focused on safeguarding the status of yeshiva students amid the current political efforts surrounding the draft framework known as the “Bismuth outline,” which the Degel leadership agreed to allow to advance to the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
After the gathering concluded, Rav Povarsky spoke privately with Yisroel Cohen and articulated the full chareidi position on the issue. He stressed the principle that Torah is the spiritual protection of the Jewish people and the foundation of the nation’s survival.
During the conversation, the Rosh Yeshiva’s aide, Rabbi Yosef Strauss, introduced Cohen and noted his role in defending Torah learners in mainstream media. Rabbi Strauss asked the Rosh Yeshiva how such ideas should be conveyed to the broader public.
Rav Povarsky responded directly: “Tell them that the boys are not going to the army, but they are going to the place where they save the entire Jewish people. And that is very important.”
He went on to explain that the Jewish people, unlike nations such as the English or French, exist only through the merit of Torah, which has protected and sustained them for thousands of years.
Rav Povarsky concluded with a clear message of faith: “Hakadosh Boruch Hu loves the Jewish people, and everything is only in the merit of learning Torah.”
{Matzav.com}
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Yerushalayim police have arrested a 14-year-old boy suspected of assaulting Knesset member Yoav Ben-Tzur and damaging his vehicle during a violent protest last week against the government’s advancing draft law.
Police said the arrest was made overnight following an operational and investigative effort by officers from the Yerushalayim District’s crime-fighting unit, led by the Lev HaBirah station. According to authorities, the teenager was apparently part of the demonstration that turned violent as activists protested the ongoing legislative process and the government’s plans for regulating the status of yeshiva students.
The suspect was taken to the Lev HaBirah police station for interrogation.
Police emphasized that the investigation is continuing, with officers working to locate additional individuals suspected of being involved in the assault. Evidence and testimonies are still being collected.
Officials condemned the incident in strong terms, stating that “this is a serious case in which criminal elements attempted to harm an elected official, and every tool available to law enforcement will be used to bring all those involved to justice.”
They added that “the Israel Police will continue to act firmly and with zero tolerance against lawbreakers and violence of any kind, including any attempt to harm public officials, disrupt public order, or endanger residents.”
{Matzav.com}
Republican New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino described President Donald Trump’s sit-down with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as nothing short of a strategic masterstroke, telling Newsmax that the encounter played out like “a well-played game of chess.”
Speaking on Newsmax’s “Finnerty” with guest host Todd Starnes, Paladino argued that Trump walked away positioned as the clear winner. In her view, Mamdani now faces a political squeeze in which he will either succeed — giving Trump indirect credit — or falter and bear the political repercussions alone.
Paladino said the tone inside the Oval Office earlier that day was a sharp departure from the blistering campaign rhetoric. Trump, she noted, “gave him every benefit of every doubt” and intentionally “set up Zohran to be that person that has to answer to his DSA [Democratic Socialists of America] base here in New York City.”
That moment, she said, now leaves the mayor-elect accountable to progressive supporters who expect him to uphold affordability promises and other campaign commitments, all while standing beside Trump in such a high-profile setting.
Although she does not think New York is on the brink of collapse, Paladino warned that the true measure of Mamdani’s leadership will come in the first few months of his administration. She summed up the dynamic bluntly: “He was like the child in the room and Trump was the president.”
The backdrop to Friday’s meeting is the bitter campaign season during which Trump had denounced Mamdani as a “communist” and threatened to cut federal funding if he prevailed. Despite that history, the two men held a notably cordial exchange at the White House, discussing affordability, public safety, and other key issues.
To Paladino, the meeting demonstrated Trump’s understanding of political leverage. By extending a gesture of goodwill, she said, he effectively boxed Mamdani into a difficult position — requiring federal cooperation while staying faithful to a progressive movement that expects sweeping change. “It isn’t negotiation. This is politics,” she said.
Looking ahead, she noted that the challenges for the incoming mayor revolve around whether he adheres to his ideological convictions or bends under broader expectations from Washington and New York’s wider electorate.
With Mamdani set to take office on Jan. 1, Paladino suggested that the White House appearance may be only the opening move in a long political game. She predicted that while Mamdani might surprise some skeptics on the right, Trump’s strategy will remain untouched. “He’s going to surprise conservatives all right, because he’s going to have to fall into line, otherwise suffer the consequences,” Paladino said.
{Matzav.com}
