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Iran’s top diplomat issued a sharp response Friday to remarks by President Donald Trump regarding the unrest unfolding across the Islamic Republic, accusing Washington of courting escalation.

Speaking out on social media, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized Trump’s message, framing it as a product of outside forces hostile to negotiations. “Trump’s message today, likely influenced by those who fear diplomacy or mistakenly believe it is unnecessary, is reckless and dangerous,” Araghchi wrote.

He went on to warn against any external involvement in Iran’s domestic affairs, stressing both popular resistance and military readiness. “As in the past, the Great People of Iran will forcefully reject any interference in their internal affairs. Similarly, our Powerful Armed Forces are on standby and know exactly where to aim in the event of any infringement of Iranian sovereignty,” Araghchi added.

The foreign minister also rejected characterizations of the demonstrations as violent, saying the protests were largely peaceful. In doing so, he pointed to Trump’s own actions during periods of unrest in the United States, noting the deployment of the National Guard in American cities.

Araghchi’s comments followed a stark warning from Trump, who said the United States could step in if Iranian authorities resort to lethal force against demonstrators. “If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Meanwhile, Iranian media reported Thursday that the clashes and riots linked to the broader protest movement had resulted in five deaths within a 24-hour period.

Footage from one of the demonstrations showed protesters setting ablaze a statue of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ Quds Force, who was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq in January 2020.

{Matzav.com}

A marked improvement has been reported in the condition of Rav Meir Greineman, who was hospitalized last week and has now returned home and resumed his regular Torah schedule.

Rav Greineman, the last surviving nephew of Chazon Ish, was taken to Sheba Medical Center late Friday night after losing consciousness while learning with his grandson. He was admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit, where doctors closely monitored his condition.

After several days of treatment and observation, his health stabilized, and he was now discharged from the hospital to his home in Bnei Brak.

Last night, just one week after the incident, Rav Greineman returned to his established routine and delivered his regular shiur in his home to talmidim of Yeshivas Beis Medrash Elyon.

All are asked to continue davening for Rav Meir ben Tzivia.

{Matzav.com}

Two yeshiva bochurim who had been held in military prison for refusing to report for IDF service were released and greeted by friends with singing, dancing, and a red carpet laid out in their honor.

After ten days in military custody, Yair Saada, a talmid of Yeshiva Kisei Rachamim, was freed on Thursday morning. At the same time, Yitzchak Rebibo, a talmid of Yeshiva Rabbeinu Chaim Ozer, was released after spending 17 days in military prison. Dozens of friends arrived to welcome the two, breaking out in song and dance as the young men emerged.

Saada was arrested on December 25, by military police after refusing to present himself for military service. The arrest took place at his family home in Be’er Sheva. At the time, Saada was unwell, suffering from a high fever, and had been brought home by his parents from yeshiva. Several hours later, military police arrived and arrested him while he was in bed.

Rebibo was arrested earlier, on December 16, 2025, in Ramat Gan, shortly after lighting neiros Chanukah with his family. Three weeks before his arrest, military police had already attempted to detain him on charges of draft evasion but were unsuccessful. He was later tracked by authorities and arrested several weeks afterward.

An earlier attempt to arrest Rebibo on November 26, near the Bnei Brak–Ramat Gan border sparked large demonstrations. Alerts circulated through protest hotlines associated with the Yerushalmi faction, drawing hundreds of demonstrators to the scene. Large numbers of yeshiva students and avreichim, mobilized by assistance organizations, protested the arrest attempt.

{Matzav.com}

Retired NYPD Chief of Department John Chell warns of a ‘massive’ problem if NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani ‘alienates’ himself from police officers due to rhetoric and political appointments on ‘Fox News Live.’

WATCH:

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A new survey released Friday in Ma’ariv indicates a modest uptick for Likud, which gained two seats in the latest weekly polling. The findings come after Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s visit to the United States and his meeting with President Donald Trump. The poll was conducted by the “Lazar Research Institute.”

As Likud strengthened, the governing coalition as a whole also improved its standing, rising by two seats to a total of 52. At the same time, the bloc opposing Netanyahu—excluding Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am—slipped to 58 seats, largely due to a drop in support for Naftali Bennett’s party, which fell from 21 seats to 19.

Based on the poll’s breakdown, if elections were held today Likud would emerge with 27 seats. Naftali Bennett’s party would secure 19 seats, while the Democrats, Yesh Atid, Yisrael Beiteinu, and Otzma Yehudit would each receive 10. Yashar would follow with 9 seats, Shas with 8, and United Torah Judaism with 7. Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am would each earn 5 seats.

The Religious Zionist Party remains below the electoral threshold, though it is currently the closest among parties that have not crossed it. Trailing further behind in the rankings are the Reservists’ Party, Blue and White, and Balad.

{Matzav.com}

Amid escalating unrest across Iran, President Donald Trump warned Friday morning that the United States could step in if Iranian security forces open fire on demonstrators. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J.TRUMP,” signaling a readiness to act should the situation deteriorate further.

Reports from Iranian media a day earlier indicated that violence linked to the protests has already proven deadly. According to those accounts, five people were killed over a 24-hour period during clashes tied to the broader wave of demonstrations spreading across the country. The deaths were said to have occurred during confrontations with police in Lorestan, in western Iran.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the unrest by calling for a focus on public welfare, saying the government must guide the nation in assisting all citizens. He stressed that “the livelihood of the people is a red line,” and added, “There is no problem that cannot be solved.”

U.S. officials have also publicly aligned themselves with the demonstrators. Earlier in the week, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz expressed solidarity with those protesting Iran’s leadership. “The people of Iran want freedom. They have suffered at the hands of the Ayatollahs for too long,” Waltz wrote on social media.

He continued by stressing American backing for the demonstrations nationwide, saying, “We stand with Iranians in the streets of Tehran and across the country as they protest a radical regime that has brought them nothing but economic downturn and war.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli issued a forceful response after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani moved to undo executive actions aimed at countering antisemitism that had been put in place by his predecessor, Eric Adams.

Chikli argued that the mayor’s early decisions were deliberate and revealing. “It is no coincidence that one of Mayor Mamdani’s first actions was an attempt to cancel the IHRA definition of antisemitism. He knows very well that, according to that definition, he himself falls under the category of antisemitic,” Chikli said. “Instead of confronting reality, he is trying to change the rules.”

He went on to accuse the mayor of pursuing a broader rollback of policies tied to Israel and antisemitism. “It does not stop there. At the same time, he is working to lift the ban on boycotts of Israel and to erase official statements made by his predecessor, a friend of Israel, Eric Adams, regarding antisemitism in New York. This is a systematic attempt to erase the fight against antisemitism and to legitimize extremist positions under the guise of social justice.”

Chikli warned that the location of these developments heightened their significance. “The fact that such moves are taking place in New York City, the city with the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel, is a serious warning sign.”

In closing, he offered a stark assessment of the situation. “We must say things clearly. Today, the mayor of New York is an overt antisemite and a supporter of terrorism. Anyone who tries to obscure this reality or wrap it in polite language is cooperating with a dangerous process that threatens not only the Jewish community of New York but the very legitimacy of the fight against antisemitism in the Western world,” Chikli concluded.

Mamdani was sworn in as mayor shortly after midnight on January 1 and quickly moved to cancel executive orders issued by Adams. Among the actions set to be rescinded was a June 2025 order that formally adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism. Another order, signed last month, barred mayoral appointees and city agency staff from participating in boycotts or disinvestment campaigns targeting Israel.

The mayor’s actions drew swift condemnation from Jewish leaders across the United States. William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said: “Mayor Mamdani’s decision to cancel New York’s adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, along with related presidential orders aimed at addressing antisemitic discrimination, is a troubling indicator of the direction he is leading the city, just one day after taking office.”

Daroff warned that the policy shift could have concrete consequences. “Its cancellation reduces New York’s ability to identify and respond to antisemitism at a time when the number of incidents continues to rise. New York City should clearly lead in moral integrity and determination in confronting antisemitism. This decision signals the opposite direction.”

{Matzav.com}

Federal authorities announced Friday that an 18-year-old from the Charlotte suburbs has been taken into custody on terrorism-related charges tied to an alleged plan to carry out violence on New Year’s Eve.

According to law enforcement, Christian Sturdivant of Mint Hill, North Carolina, is accused of preparing to target a grocery store and a fast food restaurant using knives and hammers. Details of the alleged plot were first reported by WSOC-TV.

Investigators said the case was handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Charlotte office, which determined that Sturdivant was “directly inspired to act” by ISIS.

Officials drew a connection between the disrupted plot and a deadly attack carried out last year in New Orleans, when an ISIS-inspired assailant drove a truck into crowds celebrating New Year’s Eve on Bourbon Street. That attack, carried out by Shamsud-Din Jabbar, left 14 people dead and 57 others wounded as festivities were coming to an end.

{Matzav.com}

Venezuela is open to negotiating an agreement with the United States to combat drug trafficking, the South American country’s President Nicolás Maduro said in a pretaped interview aired Thursday on state television, but he declined to comment on a CIA-led strike last week at a Venezuelan docking area that the Trump administration believed was used […]

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly aligned himself with demonstrators challenging Iran’s ruling authorities, posting a message of solidarity on X late Friday.

Writing in Farsi, Ben-Gvir addressed Iranians directly, declaring, “The Iranian people deserve to be free, free of the murderous dictator Khamenei.” He closed the message with a statement of support, adding, “We are with you!”

The post also featured an AI-generated image depicting a shattered bust of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei alongside a noose and a burning flag of the Islamic Republic. Text embedded in the image read “Death to the dictator” in Farsi and “The dictator must fall” in English.

Earlier the same day, President Donald Trump issued a warning tied to the ongoing unrest in Iran, cautioning Tehran against violent repression of demonstrators. “If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” he wrote.

{Matzav.com}

BREAKING: The FBI says it has foiled an ISIS-inspired plot to attack a grocery store in North Carolina on New Year’s Eve. Christian Sturdivant, 18, of Mint Hill, was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS after allegedly planning a mass-casualty stabbing attack. Prosecutors say a search of his home uncovered […]

World Zionist Organization Chairman Yaakov Hagoel issued a sharp rebuke of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after the city moved to revoke its prohibition on boycotts targeting Israel, calling the decision “deeply troubling.”

Hagoel underscored the heightened dangers facing Jews worldwide, saying, “Jews around the world have been facing relentless Antisemitic campaigns since October 7, 2023. Just two weeks ago, 15 people were murdered in a brutal Antisemitic terrorist massacre in Sydney, Australia.” He pointed to that climate as reason for heightened vigilance, not policy reversals he believes could embolden hostility.

Emphasizing public safety, he warned that local leadership carries responsibility for the wellbeing of Jewish residents, stating that “the Jewish communities of New York must be able to live in safety, and I sincerely hope that Mayor Mamdani does not continue down a path that fuels Antisemitism against the Jews living in his city.”

He framed the moment as requiring firm lines rather than accommodation, declaring, “This is the time for zero tolerance toward Antisemitism.”

Hagoel also said the World Zionist Organization is actively coordinating with communities to address threats, adding, “The World Zionist Organization is in close contact with Jewish communities and will do everything in its power to protect Jews in New York and around the world.”

{Matzav.com}

The teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made her first known visit to a sacred family mausoleum, a step that experts say bolstered her status as her father’s potential heir. The visit, which occurred on New Year’s Day on Thursday, even sparked speculation that the girl, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae and […]

Fire and Rescue officials who arrived this week to close a well-known yeshiva in Elad ultimately agreed to delay the shutdown after being deeply impressed by the atmosphere of Torah learning and holding an extended discussion with the rosh yeshiva.

Personnel from Israel Fire and Rescue Authority conducted a safety inspection at Yeshivas Knesses Yechezkel, led by Rav Baruch Mordechai Ettinger. Following the inspection, officials initially determined that the yeshiva did not meet legally required safety standards and ordered its immediate closure.

However, after a lengthy conversation with Rav Ettinger and a visit inside the beis medrash—where they encountered the powerful sound and intensity of ongoing Torah study—the inspectors agreed to postpone the decree for several months. This reprieve is intended to allow the yeshiva time to bring its facilities into compliance with safety regulations.

At the same time, Fire and Rescue officials instructed that most of the dormitories, which are housed in caravans lacking proper fire-safety standards, must be closed within a few months unless significant upgrades are completed.

In response, the yeshiva’s administration has been working around the clock to find immediate solutions and prevent any interruption to the learning. According to information obtained by Matzav.com, the yeshiva is considering launching a matching fundraising campaign to raise the approximately 2.5 million shekels required to carry out the necessary safety renovations and repairs.

{Matzav.com}

Porsche Recalls Over 170,000 Vehicles Over Faulty Rearview Cameras Porsche has issued a recall for more than 170,000 vehicles due to a defect in the rearview camera that could raise the risk of a crash. The recall affects 2019–2025 Cayenne and Cayenne E-Hybrid models, as well as 2020 to 2025, 911 and Taycan vehicles. Owners […]

TRUMP: Tariffs are an overwhelming benefit to our nation, as they have been incredible for our national security and prosperity (like nobody has ever seen before!). Losing our ability to tariff other countries who treat us unfairly would be a terrible blow to the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this […]

Russian ballistic missiles struck a residential area in Kharkiv, destroying a five-story apartment building and damaging nearby shopping centers and a hospital. Reports of at least 16 people injured in the attack, including one person in critical condition.

IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin reflects on the biggest moments of 2025 — and shares his wish for 2026.

Russian authorities reportedly paid $500,000 to have Russian rebel Denis Kapustin assassinated, but the operation turned out to be a deception. The Kremlin initially celebrated reports that Kapustin, who defected to fight alongside Ukraine, had been killed in a drone strike on December 27. It later emerged that Ukrainian intelligence had staged his death, and […]

New details reveal that just one month before the October 7 massacre, Israel actively pressed Qatar to expand the flow of cash into the Gaza Strip, funds that went directly to the Hamas government. At the time, Israel’s security establishment assessed that Hamas was not interested in a full-scale escalation and was instead using limited confrontations along the border fence as leverage to extract additional economic concessions.

According to a report by Ynet, a key meeting took place in September 2023 at a hotel in Yerushalayim. During that meeting, official Israeli representatives asked a senior Qatari official to increase the transfer of funds to Hamas in Gaza, citing threats by the terror organization to escalate violence in the enclave.

The central figure at the meeting was Mohammed al-Emadi, the Qatari official who for years oversaw the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars into Gaza. These transfers were carried out with the knowledge and approval of successive Israeli governments.

The report states that Israel’s entire security system believed Hamas was not seeking a broader conflict. Instead, officials assessed that Hamas was deliberately managing friction near the border in order to secure economic relief and additional concessions.

Israeli officials also received assurances from Qatar that Hamas was interested in preserving stability. At the same time, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar reportedly demanded an increased allocation of fuel for Gaza’s power station during the August–September period, citing the extreme summer heat.

During September, Mossad chief David Barnea traveled to Doha for meetings with senior Qatari officials to coordinate the continuation of the cash transfers. According to the report, Qatari officials directly asked whether they should keep transferring money to Hamas. Barnea responded affirmatively, acting under the explicit instructions of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

The report further notes that Barnea had opposed the transfer of Qatari funds to Hamas even before assuming his role as Mossad chief. Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, as well as his predecessor Nadav Argaman, were also firmly against allowing Qatari money to reach Hamas. Despite this opposition, Netanyahu repeatedly set the priority of maintaining calm in Gaza at almost any cost and instructed officials to coordinate that policy with Qatar.

It now emerges that Israel was not merely interested in continuing the existing funding mechanism. According to the report, Israeli officials sought to expand the financial transfers and grant additional economic concessions, largely in line with Sinwar’s demands, in what is described as a desperate attempt to purchase quiet.

In hindsight, the cost of that policy is now tragically clear.

{Matzav.com}