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President Donald Trump announced Wednesday morning that Russia has released 74-year-old American Stephen Hubbard after more than four years in captivity, crediting a personal appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin for securing his freedom without requiring the United States to release a Russian prisoner in exchange.

Trump celebrated the development as an extraordinary diplomatic achievement, saying Putin agreed to free the retired American teacher following a telephone conversation between the two leaders last week. The president also sharply criticized Joe Biden, accusing his administration of failing to secure Hubbard’s release despite having years to negotiate with Moscow.

Hubbard, a Michigan native and U.S. military veteran who had been living in Ukraine when Russian forces invaded in 2022, was imprisoned after Russian authorities accused him of serving as a mercenary for the Ukrainian military. He was convicted in October 2024 and sentenced to nearly seven years behind bars.

Announcing the release on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Stephen Hubbard, taken four years ago by Russia during the Biden Administration, was just released from prison, at the request of President Donald J. Trump, made directly to President Vladimir Putin in a telephone conversation last week.”

The president said Hubbard had already begun his journey back to the United States and would soon be reunited with his relatives.

“Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family,” Trump announced, adding that “it’s great to have you back.”

Trump described the circumstances surrounding Hubbard’s freedom as particularly significant because, according to the president, Moscow had agreed to the release without demanding the return of any Russian national imprisoned in the United States.

He characterized the arrangement as “unprecedented,” asserting that Putin had agreed to the request “out of respect for President Trump.”

“There was no ‘swap’ necessary for this release.”

The president then turned his attention to Biden, arguing that Hubbard should have been brought home years earlier and that the previous administration had failed to make meaningful progress in securing his freedom.

“This major return should have taken place long ago through the Biden Administration, which got nowhere in its negotiations with the Kremlin,” Trump wrote.

In another Truth Social message, the president delivered an even more pointed criticism of his predecessor.

“Biden should have done the Hubbard release long ago! What a difference a President makes!” he declared.

Hubbard’s ordeal began shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A veteran of both the U.S. Air Force and the National Guard, Hubbard had settled in eastern Ukraine, where he was living with a Ukrainian partner.

In April of that year, Russian troops detained him in the city of Izyum, near Kharkiv, an area that had fallen under Russian occupation during the opening months of the war.

Russian authorities subsequently accused Hubbard of joining a Ukrainian territorial defense formation and participating in military activities against Russian forces.

According to Russian prosecutors, the American had undergone military training, received weapons and ammunition, and agreed to serve in exchange for a monthly payment of $1,000.

The allegations ultimately led to criminal proceedings in Moscow, where Hubbard was tried behind closed doors. In October 2024, a Russian court found him guilty of mercenary activity and imposed a prison sentence of six years and ten months.

Russian state-controlled media reported that Hubbard had admitted guilt during the proceedings, but his American legal representatives later challenged that account and maintained that the allegations against him were untrue.

Martin de Luca, an attorney representing Hubbard in the United States, said in June 2025 that his client had denied ever belonging to a Ukrainian military or combat organization.

According to de Luca, Hubbard described being seized unexpectedly by Russian soldiers at his residence in Izyum, rather than being captured while participating in military operations.

The conflicting accounts raised serious questions about the circumstances of his detention and the credibility of the Russian prosecution, particularly because the trial was conducted without public access.

Hubbard’s detention was further complicated by the Russian government’s refusal to provide American diplomatic officials with regular consular access.

The State Department said Moscow had denied U.S. representatives the opportunity to meet with Hubbard, leaving American authorities and his family struggling to obtain reliable information about his condition and whereabouts.

Reports indicated that he was transferred among at least five Russian detention facilities before his trial, making it particularly difficult for his attorneys and relatives to track his movements.

It was not until April 2025 that his American legal team learned he was being held in a prison facility in Russia’s Mordovia region, east of Moscow, according to de Luca.

By that point, Hubbard had already spent approximately three years in Russian custody, much of it under circumstances that remained largely concealed from the outside world.

In January 2025, Washington formally designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained, a classification that allowed the American government to pursue his case through specialized diplomatic channels dedicated to securing the release of U.S. citizens imprisoned abroad.

Additional reporting Wednesday confirmed that Hubbard’s release coincided with a visit to St. Petersburg by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, who met with Putin for discussions concerning the ongoing war in Ukraine and broader relations between Washington and Moscow.

During the meeting, Putin announced that Hubbard had been freed and was at St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport. Witkoff thanked the Russian leader for authorizing the release, which came after Trump’s direct intervention.

The development also followed Trump’s decision last week to suspend certain sanctions against Russia shortly before they were scheduled to take effect. Although the president emphasized that no prisoner exchange or formal concession was required to secure Hubbard’s freedom, he subsequently indicated that the sanctions decision had played a role in the negotiations.

The release represents another successful effort by the Trump administration to bring home an American imprisoned in Russia. Earlier in his second term, Trump secured the freedom of American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who had been serving a lengthy Russian prison sentence on drug-related charges.

Hubbard was the last American in Russian custody who had been formally designated by Washington as wrongfully detained, although other U.S. citizens remain imprisoned in Russia on various charges.

For Hubbard, the announcement ends more than four years of imprisonment that began during the opening months of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and continued through a secret trial, a lengthy prison sentence, and repeated transfers between detention facilities.

His release brings to a close a case that had frustrated American diplomats and left his relatives uncertain about his welfare for years, while giving Trump another opportunity to highlight his personal diplomacy with Putin and contrast his administration’s record with that of Biden.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ordered the Israeli military to prepare for a major new offensive against Iran earlier this month, including strikes on nuclear facilities, power stations and Iranian regime targets, but the operation was called off after President Donald Trump opposed resuming the war ahead of the November 3 U.S. midterm elections, according to a report published Wednesday by the Financial Times.

The British newspaper, citing three individuals familiar with the discussions, reported that Israeli military planners had developed an extensive aerial campaign intended to unfold over several days, with the operation initially scheduled to begin during the weekend of October 10.

The proposed offensive would have targeted a broad range of Iranian infrastructure, including civilian electricity facilities, nuclear installations and sites associated with the country’s ruling regime.

Despite preparations by the Israel Defense Forces, the operation was ultimately shelved, largely because Trump was unwilling to support renewed military action against Iran at this stage.

The president has made clear that he does not intend to launch additional American strikes against Iran before the congressional elections, even as Washington continues applying military and economic pressure on Tehran.

On October 8, Trump publicly stated that the United States would refrain from attacking Iran until after November 3. He also indicated that diplomatic contacts with Iranian officials were continuing, suggesting that his administration was still exploring the possibility of reaching an agreement.

The Financial Times report follows earlier reporting by Axios that Netanyahu had personally discussed the possibility of renewed strikes with Trump amid mounting Israeli concerns over Iran’s efforts to rebuild its damaged nuclear infrastructure.

Israeli officials have reportedly been particularly concerned about the possibility that Tehran could resume uranium enrichment at a deeply buried underground installation known as Pickaxe Mountain.

The facility has attracted attention because of concerns that Iran could use underground infrastructure to protect sensitive nuclear activities from future military attacks.

According to the reports, Netanyahu viewed the possibility of Iran restoring its nuclear capabilities as a serious threat requiring additional military action, while Trump favored delaying any new offensive until after the American elections.

The decision to postpone the operation does not mean that the military option has been abandoned.

Both Netanyahu and Trump have continued issuing warnings to the Iranian leadership, and military preparations reportedly remain in place should a decision be made to resume hostilities.

The Financial Times indicated that Israeli and American military officials are continuing to evaluate possible developments, with operational plans remaining under consideration.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly, responding to questions from the newspaper, emphasized that Iran is facing substantial economic and military difficulties.

She said American pressure on Iranian ports, together with efforts to maintain the flow of oil exports from the Persian Gulf, has been producing results.

Kelly also reiterated the administration’s position that the United States would not carry out additional strikes against Iran before the November 3 midterm elections.

Meanwhile, the IDF has been placed on heightened alert amid the possibility of further regional escalation.

According to the report, the Israeli military ordered the cancellation of leave for all soldiers beginning Thursday and continuing until after Israel’s October 27 elections.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir explained that the heightened readiness was intended to ensure that the elections could proceed safely and on schedule, despite the tense security situation.

The Prime Minister’s Office declined to respond to questions from the Financial Times regarding the reported plans and the discussions with Washington.

The reported disagreement comes as Washington continues pursuing diplomatic contacts with Tehran, while maintaining pressure on Iran through sanctions and restrictions affecting its maritime trade and oil exports.

Trump has described the discussions with Iran as productive, although no agreement has been announced that would resolve the underlying disputes over the country’s nuclear activities and regional conduct.

For now, the planned October offensive remains on hold, with neither Washington nor Yerushalayim announcing a timetable for any renewed military operation against Iran.

{Matzav.com}

Authorities in France and Italy are preparing for another round of potentially violent demonstrations this weekend, deploying military personnel, strengthening police operations and introducing emergency security measures following days of unrest that have left businesses vandalized, stores looted and hundreds of people detained.

The disturbances began as protests against the rising cost of living, with demonstrations in France also fueled by dissatisfaction among high school students over conditions in the education system. What initially began as public demonstrations escalated over the weekend into violent confrontations with police, property destruction and widespread disorder that continued into the beginning of this week.

Both governments have responded by announcing additional security measures ahead of the weekend’s planned protests, amid concerns that the violence could intensify.

In Paris, police announced that a nighttime curfew would remain in effect for another night, with the possibility of further extensions depending on developments. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that personnel from Operation Sentinelle, the country’s domestic military security mission, would be mobilized to take over certain security responsibilities, freeing police officers to concentrate on controlling the demonstrations.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also pledged to parliament that authorities would carry out a “massive” police deployment on Shabbos, with the objective of achieving an “immediate return to order.”

In Italy, Milan has emerged as the principal center of the disturbances, prompting the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to dispatch 500 soldiers to the city. The deployment is intended to demonstrate what officials described as a “firm response by the state” to the violence.

The Italian government is also reportedly seeking expedited approval of tougher security legislation aimed at preventing further disorder. The proposed measures include extending preventive detention periods for minors, strengthening enforcement against violent youth gangs and restricting gatherings involving individuals considered threats to public order.

The consequences of the unrest have already become visible throughout Milan’s prominent shopping districts, where several internationally recognized luxury retailers have taken extraordinary precautions to protect their merchandise.

Chanel, Tiffany & Co. and Dior were among the brands that reportedly emptied their display windows and kept their stores closed amid fears of additional attacks and looting.

The precautions followed a weekend in which branches of Decathlon, Arc’teryx and Vodafone were reportedly targeted by looters during the disturbances.

Much of the violence occurred after masked individuals joined otherwise peaceful demonstrations and began confronting police officers. Rioters set garbage containers ablaze, shattered storefront windows and damaged property, including in the vicinity of Milan’s famous cathedral.

Police responded with tear gas and water cannons in an effort to disperse the crowds and restore order.

According to the reported figures, authorities detained 271 young people in connection with the disturbances. Of those, 32 were arrested, including 23 minors. The report also identified 13 foreign nationals among those involved, although it did not clearly specify whether they were included among the 32 arrests or the larger group of detainees.

Another 28 individuals were referred to judicial authorities for further proceedings.

Italian authorities have also confirmed that 14 police officers were injured during the Milan clashes. The violence extended beyond Milan, with disturbances reported in Bologna, Brescia, Bergamo and Turin, where police made additional arrests.

The unrest has been particularly severe in France, where violent demonstrations have spread beyond Paris to Marseille, Lyon and other cities. French authorities have reported more than 2,400 arrests, while nighttime curfews and restrictions on gatherings have been imposed in several affected areas.

Luxury businesses in France have also suffered extensive damage. Stores operated by major fashion houses, including Louis Vuitton, Dior, Celine and Saint Laurent, were among those targeted by looters, prompting retailers to strengthen security and remove valuable merchandise from vulnerable locations.

In Milan, a group calling itself the October 17 Movement has vowed to continue organizing demonstrations every Shabbos, raising the possibility of further confrontations between protesters and security forces.

The governments in Paris and Rome are now preparing for the next scheduled demonstrations as police and military personnel work to prevent a repetition of the widespread looting and destruction witnessed over the weekend.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is declining to commit to supporting Vice President JD Vance in the 2028 presidential election, saying that any discussion of who should succeed him is premature and that his administration’s immediate priority is getting through the upcoming midterm elections.

Trump made the remarks Tuesday during an appearance with Vance in the Oval Office, where reporters questioned him about whether he intended to endorse his vice president for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028. Although Trump spoke highly of Vance, he stopped short of promising him his backing.

“He’s a very talented person and he’s a very good person,” Trump said when asked about a possible endorsement.

The president then revealed that he and Vance had not even discussed the possibility of the vice president running to succeed him.

“I don’t think we’ve ever talked about it,” Trump said, looking toward Vance.

“No, sir. I said that too,” Vance responded.

Trump appeared amused that the subject had not come up between them, particularly given the widespread speculation about Vance’s political future.

“Who would believe that?” Trump said, “I don’t talk about it with him. He doesn’t talk about it [with me]. It’s early. We have to get through the midterms. We’ll see how it goes.”

The comments came just one day after Vance publicly expressed confidence that Trump would support him if he ultimately decided to pursue the presidency, while acknowledging that the president might prefer to remain neutral during the early stages of a Republican primary contest.

Speaking Monday with journalist Mark Halperin on the 2Way platform, Vance discussed the possibility of entering the 2028 race and the considerable influence Trump’s endorsement would carry among Republican voters.

“I think I would get his endorsement, but I also think there’s something to be said for people actually running their own race,” Vance said. “And because the president’s endorsement is so dispositive, you could absolutely see a scenario where the president says, ‘You know what? We need to let like this race play out and not preemptively prejudge the results.’”

Vance also conceded that there were significant unknowns about how he might perform as a presidential candidate, including the intense scrutiny and demands that accompany a national campaign.

“Like sometimes you know media scrutiny, pressure, policy. I can be terrible at it, and that is the sort of thing that maybe you know, so I don’t know,” he continued.

Despite his expectation that Trump would eventually support him, Vance stressed that the two men had reached no private understanding concerning the 2028 election.

“if I run, I think the president would endorse me. But I also haven’t talked to him about it yet.”

The vice president has repeatedly avoided making a firm commitment about his political plans, leaving open the possibility that he might not seek the Republican nomination at all.

During a CBS News town hall in Michigan, Vance was asked directly whether he could envision deciding against a presidential campaign.

“Of course there’s a chance,” he replied.

Vance pointed to his family as a major factor in that decision, explaining that his wife, Usha, and their four young children would have to weigh heavily in any consideration of another demanding national political campaign.

“We’ve got four little kids, my wife has never loved politics. She loves public service,” Vance said.

“I think you know you can do a lot of good in this job, and I’ve tried to do as much good as possible.”

The vice president also described himself as someone who prefers to put off major personal decisions, indicating that he is in no rush to begin considering the demands of another campaign.

“The way that I think about life, big life decisions – my wife will tell you this: I’m a procrastinator. I hate thinking about it,” he said.

Vance suggested that he would begin giving the matter more serious consideration following November’s congressional elections, allowing him to concentrate for now on his responsibilities in the Trump administration.

Trump has previously identified Vance as his “most likely” successor, placing him in a prominent position among Republicans discussed as potential presidential contenders. Nevertheless, the president has yet to formally endorse Vance or anyone else for the party’s 2028 nomination.

The latest exchange underscores the distinction between Trump’s favorable assessment of his vice president and his willingness to make an early commitment in a presidential contest that remains more than two years away.

Other reporting has also identified Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a possible contender for the 2028 Republican nomination. Trump has previously described Vance and Rubio as a potential “dream team,” without specifying which of the two he would prefer to see leading a future presidential ticket.

Vance nevertheless remains an early favorite among Republican voters. A RealClearPolitics polling average cited this week placed him at 39.1% support in the prospective Republican primary field, compared with 23.8% for Rubio and 11.1% for Donald Trump Jr.

{Matzav.com}

Federal authorities have charged the operator of an Illinois medical laboratory with orchestrating a massive COVID-19 testing fraud scheme that allegedly generated more than $66 million in bogus government claims, including charges for at least 380,000 tests that prosecutors say were never performed.

Rajesh “Raj” Patel, 52, of Schaumburg, Illinois, was indicted by a federal grand jury on five counts of wire fraud. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison if he is convicted.

Investigators allege that Patel, who served as co-owner and chief operating officer of a laboratory in the Chicago metropolitan area, took advantage of federally funded pandemic testing programs by submitting claims for nonexistent tests and collecting tens of millions of dollars in reimbursements.

“This defendant allegedly exploited a global crisis for personal gain, fabricating hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 tests, then billing the taxpayer for it,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald, head of the Justice Department’s Fraud Division.

According to the indictment, the operation began taking shape around March 2021, when Patel’s laboratory entered into arrangements with a medical staffing company that was supposed to collect COVID-19 specimens and provide the corresponding patient information.

The laboratory paid the staffing business tens of millions of dollars for those services. Federal investigators, however, contend that a substantial number of the purported patients either did not exist or had never provided specimens for testing.

Prosecutors say Patel subsequently generated fabricated test results to support claims for laboratory services that had never taken place. Between May 2021 and April 2022, the laboratory allegedly produced false negative COVID-19 results for at least 380,000 tests that were never conducted.

Those manufactured results were then used to seek reimbursement through a federal program established to cover COVID-19 testing for uninsured individuals during the pandemic.

Authorities estimate that the laboratory submitted approximately $66.2 million in fraudulent claims and received roughly $44.1 million in government payments. Of that amount, prosecutors allege, Patel personally obtained approximately $28 million.

The FBI said the allegations illustrate how programs intended to provide medical assistance during a national emergency became targets for individuals seeking to exploit government funding.

“Pandemic assistance programs were designed to provide a lifeline to vulnerable members of society,” said Ryan Whalen, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Chicago office. “Those who are entrusted with federal healthcare dollars have a responsibility to bill honestly and accurately.”

The prosecution comes amid continuing federal efforts to investigate and recover money allegedly stolen through COVID-era assistance programs, many of which distributed enormous sums under emergency procedures designed to get financial help to businesses, healthcare providers and individuals as quickly as possible.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, discussing pandemic fraud during a Newsmax interview last month, said the rapid distribution of government assistance created opportunities for widespread abuse.

“We all remember during COVID how it was … it really was like a piggy bank,” Kobach said during an appearance on “National Report.”

Kobach specifically pointed to the Paycheck Protection Program, which provided federal assistance to businesses struggling during the pandemic, as an example of a program in which he believed insufficient safeguards allowed fraudulent applications to slip through.

“This PPP program, I heard from various businesses how easy it was and how little checking there was when the money was handed out,” Kobach recalled, referring to the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses. “And I think many people just assumed they were going to get away with it.”

Although identifying the overall scope of pandemic-related fraud is relatively straightforward, Kobach said the more difficult challenge involves tracking down individual offenders, bringing criminal charges and recovering money that has already been distributed.

“But the hard work of actually prosecuting the cases, doing the investigations, and then getting the money back is what’s happening right now,” he said.

“It’s something that’s going to take many years, multiple administrations to start clawing all this money back,” he added, “and then create an atmosphere of deterrence so that the fraudsters say, ‘Hey, you know what, my buddy’s in jail right now and I’m not going to be able to get away with this.'”

The Justice Department said the case is being investigated by the FBI’s Chicago field office and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Trial attorney Claire Sobczak Pacelli of the department’s Health Care Fraud Section is handling the prosecution.

Federal officials also pointed to the broader crackdown on healthcare fraud. Since 2007, the Justice Department’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force program has charged more than 6,200 defendants accused of collectively billing federal healthcare programs and private insurers over $45 billion.

The Patel indictment follows other major pandemic-related fraud prosecutions in Illinois. In June 2025, Chicago laboratory owner Zishan Alvi was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for a separate COVID-19 testing scheme that resulted in more than $14 million in improper government payments. Alvi was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeit millions of dollars in assets.

The Justice Department has additionally established a National Fraud Enforcement Division to pursue fraud involving federal benefits and assistance programs, working alongside the Trump administration’s broader initiative to identify and combat misuse of taxpayer funds.

Patel has not been convicted, and the charges against him remain allegations. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

{Matzav.com}

Elon Musk reportedly directed SpaceX to restrict a military satellite communications service used by Ukrainian forces, interfering with drone missions against Russia and raising serious questions in both Kyiv and Washington about who authorized the decision and whether President Donald Trump knew about it in advance.

According to a report published Tuesday by The Wall Street Journal, the restrictions took effect on October 14 and reduced the speed and operational capabilities of Ukrainian drones relying on Starshield, a military communications system developed by Musk’s SpaceX.

The move reportedly affected Ukrainian forces conducting both offensive strikes and defensive operations, adding another complication to Kyiv’s military campaign against Russia.

The Journal, citing American officials and individuals familiar with the circumstances, reported that Musk and Trump spoke by telephone shortly after news of the restrictions emerged. One person familiar with their discussions indicated that the two had also addressed the matter before the limitations were implemented.

Those accounts have prompted questions about the administration’s prior knowledge of the decision and the extent to which it was coordinated with senior American officials.

According to the report, some officials believed Musk had acted independently in ordering the restrictions, while others indicated that he had consulted high-ranking administration figures before taking action.

The system involved is Starshield, SpaceX’s specialized satellite communications platform designed for national security applications and licensed for use by the United States government. It is distinct from the company’s conventional Starlink internet service, which has also played an important role in maintaining communications in Ukraine.

Musk has previously maintained that decisions governing the military use of Starshield ultimately fall under the authority of the American military and the president. Trump, meanwhile, said Friday that he did not believe either he or Musk was responsible for limiting Ukrainian access in a manner that disrupted battlefield operations.

The controversy comes during an increasingly strained period in relations between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with disagreements emerging over military strategy, American assistance and Washington’s efforts to negotiate an end to the war with Russia.

Trump has criticized Ukrainian strikes against Russian oil refineries as his administration attempts to address rising energy costs. Washington’s efforts to loosen restrictions affecting Russian diesel supplies have also contributed to tensions with the Ukrainian government.

Satellite communications have become indispensable to Ukraine’s military since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian troops have used satellite connectivity to coordinate battlefield movements, communicate between units and operate unmanned aerial systems.

The reported Starshield restrictions have consequently intensified Ukrainian concerns about the dependability of American military support at a time when the Trump administration is pursuing a diplomatic settlement with Moscow.

Ukrainian officials have separately expressed unease about the continuity of American intelligence assistance, although U.S. officials have rejected allegations that Washington deliberately suspended intelligence sharing.

Ukrainian officials have provided additional details about the battlefield consequences. Presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov said the restrictions interrupted connections to military-grade terminals traveling at high speeds, with service reportedly cut off above approximately 100 miles per hour. He said Ukrainian forces received no advance warning, resulting in disrupted missions.

“Our defence forces did not receive a warning about this limitation, and this led to the disruption of several missions,” Beskrestnov said.

Ukraine’s 7th Rapid Reaction Corps also reported that some operations had to be canceled because of the connectivity problems. Ukrainian officials said the disruption affected drones used both to strike Russian targets and to intercept incoming attacks.

The controversy has also produced conflicting explanations from Washington. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly denied issuing an order to restrict the service, while Musk has pointed to the American government’s authority over military applications of Starshield. CBS News separately reported that Musk had held several discussions with administration officials before the decision, seeking to understand Trump’s position.

Musk, SpaceX and the White House did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment on the Journal’s findings, which Reuters said it could not independently confirm.

The restrictions emerged as Russia continued launching missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure, leaving large numbers of residents without electricity. Ukrainian officials warned that disruptions to satellite communications could further weaken their ability to defend against those attacks.

The dispute has also drawn attention to Ukraine’s dependence on technology controlled by a private American company. With no immediately available European replacement offering comparable capabilities, Ukrainian military planners face difficult questions about maintaining critical battlefield communications if access to Starshield becomes unreliable.

Meanwhile, Ukraine indicated Tuesday that American intelligence sharing had resumed following separate concerns about interruptions in the flow of information. The restoration came as Washington continued diplomatic efforts to secure a negotiated settlement, with American envoy Steve Witkoff preparing for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has publicly confirmed for the first time that he made an unannounced visit to Israel earlier this week and held discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, but declined to disclose what the two men discussed, amid growing speculation about possible renewed military action against Iran.

President Donald Trump also refused to elaborate on the visit when questioned by reporters, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the high-level meeting, which took place as Washington and Yerushalayim continued intensive consultations over Iran’s nuclear activities and the possibility of another military confrontation.

Speaking overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, Hegseth acknowledged that he had traveled to Israel and met with Netanyahu during the visit.

“I was there to visit our troops, and I had an opportunity to speak with the prime minister,” Hegseth said.

Asked about the substance of their conversation, the defense secretary made clear that he would not disclose the details.

“Of course, the contents of our conversation are not something I can discuss, but they have been good partners, and I appreciate that,” he said.

The visit reportedly took place Monday, October 19, just eight days before Israel’s scheduled October 27 elections. It was conducted without a public announcement, and neither the Pentagon nor Netanyahu’s office initially provided information about the trip.

The unusual secrecy surrounding the visit has attracted attention because of its timing, coming amid reports of disagreements between Washington and Yerushalayim over whether Israel should resume large-scale attacks against Iran before the American midterm elections.

Trump was also questioned about Hegseth’s brief trip and whether he could reveal what had been discussed during the meeting with Netanyahu.

“I can’t do that right now, no,” the president replied.

Neither Trump nor Hegseth indicated whether the talks involved specific military plans, Iran’s nuclear program or the ongoing diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran.

The confirmation comes alongside a Financial Times report that Netanyahu had recently instructed the IDF to prepare for an extensive military offensive against Iran, only for the operation to be postponed following opposition from Trump.

According to that report, Israeli military planners had developed plans for several days of aerial strikes beginning around the weekend of October 10, with potential targets including Iranian nuclear installations, power infrastructure and facilities associated with the regime.

Trump reportedly opposed launching another round of attacks ahead of the November 3 congressional elections, while leaving open the possibility of further military action afterward.

The White House has maintained that the United States does not intend to carry out additional strikes against Iran before the midterms, even as American military forces remain prepared for possible developments.

Against that backdrop, Hegseth’s previously undisclosed meeting with Netanyahu has raised questions about whether the administration is reviewing military options or coordinating its approach with Israel in anticipation of developments after the elections.

There has been no official confirmation that the meeting involved any decision regarding future attacks.

At the same time, diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing renewed hostilities are reportedly continuing through regional intermediaries.

According to the Arabic-language newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Pakistan and Qatar have been facilitating indirect contacts between Washington and Tehran in an effort to prevent another outbreak of fighting.

The reported proposal would involve transferring approximately $6 billion in interest accrued on Iranian funds frozen in Qatari banks, in exchange for an Iranian measure concerning international oversight of its nuclear program.

The details of the arrangement have not been independently confirmed, and there has been no announcement of an agreement between the United States and Iran.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu delivered a pointed warning to Israel’s adversaries during a visit this week to an Israeli Air Force base, emphasizing the military’s readiness to respond if necessary.

“We have the readiness, the determination and the capability to strike our enemies the moment it becomes necessary,” Netanyahu declared.

The prime minister’s remarks came as the Israeli military maintained heightened readiness amid concerns about possible escalation involving Iran.

Trump has also continued addressing the Iranian situation publicly, indicating that his administration is considering how best to achieve its objectives in its confrontation with Tehran.

“We are making very good progress with Iran,” Trump said. “We just have to make a final decision about how we want to win. Do we want to win the nice way, or the not-so-nice way?”

Additional reporting has identified the location of the meeting as the Ovda Air Force Base in southern Israel, where American fighter jets and refueling aircraft are stationed. Netanyahu’s spokesman, Doron Spielman, confirmed that the discussions addressed regional threats and cooperation between the two countries on both offensive and defensive military operations.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz reportedly attended the meeting as well. According to Israeli media reports, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and several other senior officials were not included in the discussions, apparently because of the sensitive nature of the visit.

Spielman also said Hegseth thanked Israel for hosting thousands of American military personnel and discussed the close relationship between Trump and Netanyahu.

The visit took place one day after Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu ahead of the Israeli election, describing him as “a Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combatting the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Despite confirmation that Iran and regional security were discussed, American and Israeli officials have not disclosed whether the meeting produced any new military agreements or decisions concerning future operations against Tehran.

{Matzav.com}

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Iran has flatly rejected American demands that it surrender its stockpile of enriched uranium, with senior Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei declaring Tuesday that Tehran will retain all of its nuclear material and will refuse to resume negotiations with Washington unless the United States first meets Iranian conditions.

Rezaei delivered the uncompromising message during discussions in Tehran with Pakistani army chief Asim Munir, whose visit is part of Pakistan’s efforts to mediate between the United States and Iran as fears grow of another military confrontation in the region.

“Not even a tiny bit of enriched nuclear material will leave Iran. Such materials constitute a major asset and national wealth for the Iranian people, intended for use within the country,” Rezaei said, according to Iranian state television.

The Iranian official also made clear that Tehran has no intention of returning to the negotiating table without preliminary concessions from the Trump administration.

“There will be no negotiations until America takes steps to build trust – a process that must begin with the fulfillment of Iran’s conditions.”

The latest declarations highlight the considerable distance separating the two countries on one of the most contentious issues in their nuclear dispute: whether Iran can retain possession of uranium it has already enriched.

Washington has insisted that Iran’s enriched uranium be removed from the country under any prospective arrangement intended to address concerns about its nuclear program. Iranian officials, however, have consistently characterized the material as a national asset that must remain under Tehran’s control.

The disagreement has persisted despite earlier suggestions from President Donald Trump that Iran was prepared to accept American demands. In April, Trump asserted that Tehran had “agreed to everything” and would cooperate with the removal of its enriched uranium.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry subsequently challenged that characterization. Spokesman Esmail Baghaei maintained that “the transfer of uranium to the US has not been presented as an option.”

Baghaei went further in describing the importance Tehran attaches to retaining its nuclear stockpile.

“Iran’s enriched uranium is as sacred to us as the soil of Iran and will under no circumstances be transferred anywhere,” he said at the time.

The renewed Iranian refusal comes as Pakistan attempts to establish a diplomatic channel capable of preventing the confrontation from deteriorating further. Munir arrived in the Iranian capital Tuesday with a Pakistani delegation for meetings with senior officials, as Islamabad seeks to encourage renewed communication between Tehran and Washington.

Pakistan’s diplomatic involvement comes against a backdrop of heightened military tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Iranian media have reported missile launches and military exercises in recent weeks, contributing to concerns that the confrontation could develop into another round of hostilities.

The developments also follow an unannounced trip to Israel by U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who met Monday with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Hegseth acknowledged the visit Tuesday but declined to disclose what he and Netanyahu discussed, offering only a general description of his meetings in Israel.

“I was there visiting our troops, (and) had a ‌chance ‌to talk to the ‌prime minister. ‌Of course, the nature of our conversation is not ‌something I would talk about, but they’ve been good partners, and I appreciate that,” Hegseth told reporters.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reinforced the demands during his own meeting with Munir, insisting that Washington must first lift its blockade of Iranian ports, ease restrictions on Iranian oil exports and end military hostilities before meaningful negotiations can resume.

Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also pressed Pakistan to secure American acceptance of a seven-point Iranian proposal intended to serve as the basis for renewed negotiations.

Pakistan previously helped arrange a ceasefire and hosted discussions that produced an understanding in June aimed at easing the conflict, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing outstanding economic and nuclear disputes. That diplomatic initiative subsequently stalled as disagreements between Washington and Tehran remained unresolved.

The nuclear dispute is particularly sensitive because Iran has enriched uranium to 60% purity, a level approaching the 90% generally associated with weapons-grade material. Tehran continues to maintain that its nuclear activities are intended for peaceful purposes, while Washington has demanded substantial restrictions on the program.

The latest Iranian declarations leave Pakistan facing another difficult diplomatic challenge, with Tehran demanding American concessions before talks can begin and Washington continuing to insist on significant changes to Iran’s nuclear activities.

Shas launched a blistering attack on Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara on Tuesday, accusing her of attempting to influence the upcoming Knesset elections through the arrest of yeshiva bochurim, after 42 Chabad students returning from New York were detained by Military Police at Ben Gurion Airport.

The party condemned the arrests and announced that MK Yinon Azoulay, acting on instructions from Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, had begun contacting senior IDF officials to demand the immediate release of the bochurim.

The incident occurred just one week before Israel’s October 27 elections, amid mounting tensions over military conscription and the detention of chareidi yeshiva students who have not reported for service.

In its statement, Shas accused the attorney general of engaging in “blatant and unprecedented political interference in the election campaign” by allegedly directing enforcement actions against yeshiva bochurim.

The party further accused Baharav-Miara of ordering “violent arrests of yeshiva students,” despite temporary legislation that Shas said had been enacted to prevent political interference during the election period.

Shas said it “strongly condemns the arrest this morning of Chabad yeshiva students at Ben Gurion Airport.”

The party did not provide evidence that Baharav-Miara had personally ordered Tuesday’s arrests. Earlier this month, however, the attorney general instructed the IDF to resume enforcement against individuals who had failed to comply with military enlistment orders.

Following the arrests, Azoulay, who chairs the Shas Knesset faction and serves on the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, began intervening with senior military officials.

According to the party, Deri personally instructed Azoulay to pursue the matter and demand that the bochurim be released without further delay.

The controversy began Tuesday morning when dozens of Chabad bochurim landed in Eretz Yisroel after spending the previous year studying at the central Chabad yeshiva at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

The students had participated in the traditional year of study known as kevutzah, during which bochurim from Eretz Yisroel spend an extended period learning at Chabad’s international headquarters.

After passing through passport control, the returning students were detained by Military Police because their military-service status had not been properly arranged.

Relatives who had come to the airport to welcome them home were left waiting as the bochurim were taken aside for processing.

Footage circulated from the airport showed the detained students being escorted onto a bus.

The arrests provoked particular anger within Chabad, where arrangements have historically existed allowing bochurim to complete their studies, marry and spend a period learning in kollel before entering military service.

The continuing absence of legislation regulating the status of yeshiva students has complicated those longstanding arrangements.

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher also condemned the arrests, warning that intensified enforcement against yeshiva bochurim could interfere with the election process.

“There is concern about a deliberate attempt to create chaos and disrupt the elections,” Asher said. “I call on Judge Solberg to intervene immediately and stop the disruption of the elections.”

Asher was referring to Supreme Court Justice Noam Solberg, chairman of the Central Elections Committee.

The UTJ chairman argued that the detention of yeshiva students during the final days of the election campaign could provoke demonstrations and create uncertainty among chareidi voters.

Meanwhile, Shas maintained that the arrests reflected a broader pattern of enforcement actions against Torah learners.

In an interview with Kan Moreshet last week, Deri had already sharply criticized Baharav-Miara over the arrest of yeshiva bochurim.

“You can see that it is all the attorney general, the dismissed anarchist, who wants to forcefully bring down the right-wing government and is trying to intensify this issue with all her might,” Deri said.

Later Tuesday, the IDF released details of the measures taken against the 42 detained Chabad bochurim.

According to the military, 27 of the students expressed willingness to enlist and were found eligible for service. They received suspended sentences and were released, with the expectation that they would begin the enlistment process in the coming period.

Another 13 students declined to cooperate with the enlistment process and were sentenced to military imprisonment.

Two additional bochurim, whose failure to comply with military summonses had continued for more than 540 days, were transferred directly to military prison.

The IDF maintained that the arrests were carried out as part of its regular enforcement of the Defense Service Law and that the detained individuals were processed according to established procedures.

The arrests came as Israel’s chareidi political parties intensified their demands for legislation protecting the status of full-time Torah learners, with Shas and United Torah Judaism both making the issue a central part of their election campaigns.

By Tuesday evening, 27 of the detained bochurim had been released, while the remaining 15 were being held in military custody.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu warned Tuesday that Iran may attempt to interfere with Israel’s October 27 parliamentary elections by activating one of its terrorist proxy organizations, saying intelligence gathered by the Mossad indicates that Tehran could seek to disrupt the voting process.

Speaking in an interview with i24NEWS less than a week before Israelis head to the polls, Netanyahu said Israeli intelligence agencies have obtained information suggesting that the Iranian regime is considering using organizations under its influence to interfere in the election.

The prime minister did not identify which Iranian-backed group might be involved or specify what form the attempted interference could take. However, he portrayed the threat as part of Tehran’s broader campaign against Israel, which includes supporting terrorist organizations and spreading anti-Israel propaganda through online platforms.

Netanyahu said Iran’s efforts to undermine Israel extend beyond military confrontation, with the Islamic Republic employing affiliated groups and information campaigns to advance its objectives against the Jewish state.

The prime minister also used the interview to renew his call for the removal of Iran’s ruling regime, arguing that replacing the government in Tehran is essential to permanently eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat.

“That’s the directive I gave to the Mossad and the IDF,” Netanyahu said, describing the objective he has established for Israel’s security services and military.

He maintained that the downfall of the Iranian regime would have enormous implications for its terrorist allies throughout the Middle East, particularly Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.

According to Netanyahu, both organizations depend heavily on Iranian support and would be unable to sustain themselves without the regime currently governing Tehran.

He predicted that the organizations would ultimately collapse, “because neither of them will survive once this regime falls.”

Netanyahu’s remarks came amid continuing tensions between Israel, Iran and the United States, with President Donald Trump indicating that Washington is considering its next steps in the confrontation with Tehran.

The prime minister was also questioned about reports that US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had traveled to Israel on Monday for discussions with senior Israeli officials.

Rather than address the reported visit or reveal the subjects discussed, Netanyahu declined to comment.

“I didn’t say there was such a visit, and I don’t discuss visits, I’m not saying that,” he responded.

The interview also addressed the political unrest in France, where violent disturbances have prompted Netanyahu to criticize President Emmanuel Macron’s handling of radical Islamist movements.

Netanyahu described the scenes unfolding in France as “heartbreaking” and accused the French government of failing to take adequate steps to confront the threat of radical Islam.

“They didn’t prepare, and they simply gave up. They surrendered to the invasion of radical Islam.”

The prime minister recalled a conversation with Macron following the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre, saying the French president had advocated a diplomatic approach to resolving the conflict.

Netanyahu said he had rejected that proposal, warning Macron that Hamas represented a terrorist threat that could eventually endanger European countries as well.

“‘Emmanuel, that’s not going to happen. What you have here is ISIS. Hamas is ISIS, and in some ways, even worse. And if we don’t eliminate them here, you’ll have them in Paris.’ And that’s exactly what’s happening.”

Netanyahu also defended President Trump’s public endorsement of his reelection bid, rejecting criticism that the American president was improperly involving himself in Israel’s domestic political affairs.

“At least he’s saying it honestly! What did Obama, Clinton, Biden do?” Netanyahu asked, suggesting that previous Democratic administrations had also sought to influence Israeli politics, although they had been less open about their preferences.

Trump’s endorsement has become a significant development in the closing days of the Israeli campaign. The president has publicly backed Netanyahu as the leader best equipped to confront Iran, while Vice President JD Vance has declined to endorse a candidate, saying his immediate political focus remains on the upcoming American midterm elections.

Netanyahu also intensified his criticism of opposition leaders, arguing that they lack the experience and determination necessary to confront Iran and other threats facing Israel.

He singled out former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, one of his principal political opponents, questioning his approach to the Iranian nuclear program.

“Gadi Eisenkot, who says we need to learn to live with a nuclear Iran?” Netanyahu asked.

The prime minister further argued that an opposition-led coalition would be forced to rely on Arab political parties for parliamentary support, potentially limiting its ability to pursue the security policies he considers necessary.

In a separate interview with i24NEWS several days earlier, Netanyahu had already raised concerns that hostile forces might attempt to manipulate the election by engineering security incidents intended to influence public opinion.

“There will likely be an attempt to interfere in the elections, at least, that is what the signs suggest,” he said at the time.

“They may try to orchestrate security-related incidents in order to convince the Israeli public that the achievements are not all that significant.”

Despite those concerns, Netanyahu insisted that the election should proceed as planned.

“As far as I am concerned, the elections will certainly take place on schedule; however, they are attempting to disrupt, or at the very least, influence the elections.”

Israeli security officials have reportedly been examining potential threats to the election, including terrorist attacks, targeted violence and foreign interference. Netanyahu recently convened senior security officials to review the situation as the country approaches Election Day.

The prime minister’s latest warnings also coincide with renewed American-Israeli consultations over Iran. Hegseth’s previously unannounced visit to Israel has since been independently confirmed, with officials reporting that he met Netanyahu at Uvda Air Force Base in the Negev to discuss regional threats and military cooperation.

With Israelis scheduled to vote on October 27, Netanyahu is presenting the election as a choice over the country’s future security strategy, while his opponents argue that a change in leadership is necessary after years of war and political turmoil.

{Matzav.com}

MK Meir Porush, chairman of Agudas Yisroel’s Shlomei Emunim faction, has dismissed the newly established Chareidi Public party headed by Moti Leitner, insisting that the movement poses little threat to United Torah Judaism and questioning whether its supporters ever voted for the established chareidi parties in the first place.

In an interview with Yishai Cohen of Kikar HaShabbat, Porush was asked about the growing attention surrounding Leitner’s party, particularly after hundreds of supporters attended an election gathering at Binyanei HaUma in Yerushalayim over the weekend.

The interviewer suggested that the turnout demonstrated that the movement could no longer be dismissed as a political gimmick, with hundreds of chareidim openly expressing dissatisfaction with the existing political establishment.

Porush was unimpressed.

“You can ignore it,” he responded. “If you’re asking whether I saw people in the pictures who are identified with our party, with Agudah, I didn’t see any. Not from Degel HaTorah either.”

Porush suggested that the new party’s supporters may have come from outside United Torah Judaism’s traditional voter base.

“It could be that these people voted for Ben-Gvir until now. It could be that they didn’t vote at all,” he said.

He also expressed skepticism about Leitner’s chances of winning representation in the next Knesset, saying that even the party’s supporters understood the difficulty of crossing the electoral threshold.

“They know very well, and so do you, that in the end they aren’t getting in,” Porush said. “Whoever wants to vote for them… I don’t want to speak about anybody. I’m looking for votes for United Torah Judaism.”

Asked what he would tell chareidim who say they are dissatisfied with the existing political parties and want something different, Porush offered a sarcastic response.

“What can you do? You would also like to be a Knesset member, wouldn’t you?” he asked the interviewer. “There are people you know who want to be Knesset members. Do they all get into the Knesset? Not everybody gets in. Some people say, ‘I’ll try. What’s the harm? I’ll try.’”

The interview also touched on the fact that Leitner’s party has included a chareidi woman among its Knesset candidates, a departure from the longstanding practice of the established chareidi parties.

Porush rejected the suggestion that the development was relevant to United Torah Judaism.

“Where? In United Torah Judaism?” he asked. “You’re talking again about the Chareidi Public party. What does that woman have to do with us? How many times do I have to tell you the same thing in one interview?”

The Chareidi Public party has been attempting to attract voters who believe the established chareidi political parties have failed to adequately address their concerns. Its campaign has generated considerable attention, particularly because of its willingness to challenge traditional political arrangements within the community.

Porush, however, maintained that the party’s emergence should not be interpreted as evidence of significant defections from Agudas Yisroel or Degel HaTorah.

His remarks came during a broader interview in which he addressed the upcoming elections, the military draft controversy and the conditions under which United Torah Judaism would consider joining the next government.

On the draft issue, Porush acknowledged that the chareidi parties had made a serious mistake during the outgoing government’s term by allowing other coalition partners to advance their legislative priorities while the status of yeshiva students remained unresolved.

He said that legislation concerning Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Aryeh Deri, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich had moved forward, while the chareidi parties were repeatedly told that their own legislation would come later.

“And we agreed, and we were nice, and we didn’t make a fuss,” Porush said, describing what he considered a major political error.

He insisted that United Torah Judaism would not repeat that mistake after the elections and that any future coalition agreement must include a firm arrangement protecting the status of full-time Torah learners.

Porush also addressed internal developments within Agudas Yisroel, including the administrative separation between Shlomei Emunim and the party’s Central Faction. He maintained that the arrangement concerned campaign financing and did not represent an electoral split, emphasizing that the factions would continue running together on the same United Torah Judaism ballot.

In a notable comment about internal party governance, Porush expressed support for holding primary elections within Agudas Yisroel, pointing out that the party’s regulations permit representatives to be selected either through primaries or through its national council.

“I wish they would hold primaries!” he said, adding that he would be prepared to work toward implementing such a process.

Despite his criticism of Leitner’s independent campaign, Porush stressed that his own priority was strengthening United Torah Judaism’s representation in the Knesset.

He said he was personally contacting voters, explaining the stakes of the election and urging participation among those whose rabbinic leadership permits voting.

“Only a strong United Torah Judaism will be able to stand up for the Torah world,” Porush said.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States is approaching a critical decision on how to achieve its objectives against Iran, raising the possibility of renewed American military strikes while refusing to disclose details of high-level defense discussions between Washington and Israel.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump indicated that his administration was weighing its next steps in the confrontation with Tehran and suggested that the remaining question was whether American objectives could be achieved without additional military force.

“We just have to make a final decision. Which way do we want to win? Do we want to win the nice way or the not nice way?” Trump said.

Trump on Iran:

We just have to make a final decision on Iran. Which way do we want to win, the nice way or the not nice way?

But we're doing very well. pic.twitter.com/gaMEki2tMS

— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 20, 2026

The president’s remarks came amid growing speculation that Washington could launch another round of attacks against Iranian military targets, following weeks of escalating warnings between American and Iranian officials.

Trump also disclosed that he had contacted several European governments to gauge their willingness to join the United States in its confrontation with Iran. According to the president, the countries he approached declined to participate, although he insisted that American military capabilities were more than sufficient without foreign assistance.

“We don’t need any help, but I was testing them,” he said.

The president was additionally asked about Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s surprise trip to Israel on Monday, during which the Pentagon chief held talks with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Hegseth’s previously unannounced visit attracted particular attention because of its timing, coming as Washington and Yerushalayim continued consultations over the Iranian threat and the possibility of further military operations.

When a reporter asked whether he could reveal what Hegseth and Netanyahu had discussed, Trump declined to elaborate.

“I can’t do that now, no.”

The president’s refusal to discuss the meeting left unanswered questions about the extent of American-Israeli coordination and whether preparations for another confrontation with Iran had advanced.

His comments followed increasingly aggressive statements from Tehran, where senior Iranian officials have warned that any new American attack would trigger retaliation against US forces stationed throughout the Middle East.

Iran’s new defense minister, Mehrdad Ahlaghki, issued one of the strongest warnings earlier this week, declaring that the Islamic Republic was prepared for another round of fighting and would respond forcefully to any American military operation.

Ahlaghki specifically addressed speculation that the United States might deploy the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast weapon, commonly known as the Mother of All Bombs, against Iranian military installations.

The massive conventional bomb is among the most powerful nonnuclear weapons in the American arsenal, and reports that Washington could consider using it have fueled concern in Tehran about the potential scale of another American offensive.

The Iranian defense minister claimed that his country’s military had already developed measures intended to counter such an attack.

“We have taken the necessary measures to deal with such an action, and we continue our work with confidence,” he declared.

Ahlaghki then directed a warning at Trump, threatening that American personnel in the region would pay a heavy price if Washington ordered another strike.

“If he drops one bomb, he should check how many of his forces he will have to remove from the region lying down,” Ahlaghki said.

The exchange followed a recent Newsmax interview in which Trump was questioned about reports that American military planners were examining the possibility of using the powerful conventional bomb against heavily fortified Iranian targets.

One potential target reportedly under consideration is Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried facility associated with Iran’s nuclear program near Natanz. The site has drawn particular attention because of concerns that its underground location could make it difficult to destroy using conventional airstrikes.

Trump did not confirm that he had authorized the use of the weapon, but he stressed that the MOAB is entirely different from a nuclear bomb.

“The mother of all bombs is not nuclear. It’s not nuclear at all. This is just an extremely large bomb. It’s like a tiny nuclear bomb. But the mother of all bombs is one big bomb, but it’s not nuclear.”

The president also explicitly rejected the suggestion that the United States would need nuclear weapons to achieve its military objectives against Iran.

“No, I wouldn’t use nuclear [against Iran]. We don’t have to. We’re the greatest nuclear power in the world.”

The possibility of renewed strikes comes after American and Israeli forces conducted major operations against Iranian targets earlier this year. Despite those attacks, concerns remain about Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, missile capabilities and its ability to rebuild military facilities.

Additional details about Hegseth’s Monday visit emerged from Israeli officials, who confirmed that the meeting with Netanyahu took place at Uvda Air Force Base in the Negev.

According to Netanyahu’s spokesman, Doron Spielman, the two discussed regional security threats and cooperation between the United States and Israel in responding to those threats through both offensive and defensive measures.

Hegseth also expressed appreciation for Israel’s hosting of thousands of American military personnel. The presence of those forces has become an important element of the two countries’ coordination during the confrontation with Iran.

The unannounced meeting took place just over a week before Israel’s October 27 parliamentary elections, with Netanyahu seeking another term as prime minister. Trump has publicly endorsed Netanyahu, while American officials have continued consultations with Israel over Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities.

Hegseth also visited American personnel serving in the region and emphasized their readiness to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, Iran’s newly appointed defense minister, whose full name is Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi, has outlined plans to move more of the country’s weapons manufacturing infrastructure into protected underground and mountainous facilities.

The Iranian official, a longtime figure in the country’s defense industry who has been subject to international sanctions over missile-related activities, said Tehran intends to strengthen its military production capabilities despite the threat of additional American and Israeli attacks.

{Matzav.com}

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher has recalled an emotional encounter with Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman zt”l, describing how the revered rosh yeshiva broke down in tears over the challenges facing the Torah world, as the controversy surrounding the military draft and arrests of yeshiva bochurim continues to dominate Israel’s election campaign.

Speaking during an interview with Menachem Toker on Kol Chai radio, Asher reflected on the profound concern Rav Shteinman displayed for the future of yeshivos and the responsibility borne by those entrusted with representing the chareidi community.

The recollection comes at a particularly sensitive moment, with Israel’s October 27 Knesset elections approaching and widespread anger over the detention of yeshiva bochurim who have not reported for military service.

Asher, who recently assumed the leadership of United Torah Judaism, has made the legal protection of full-time Torah learners a central issue in his public statements. He has repeatedly maintained that legislation establishing the status of yeshiva students must be a prerequisite for his party’s participation in the next government.

The MK has also sharply criticized the timing of recent arrests, accusing legal authorities of pursuing enforcement measures that could provoke demonstrations and interfere with the election campaign.

In statements issued Tuesday following the detention of Chabad bochurim at Ben Gurion Airport, Asher said he had been warning for some time about attempts to disrupt the electoral process through intensified arrests.

He argued that such measures would do little to increase military enlistment and could instead create fear and uncertainty among chareidi voters.

Asher called on the chairman of the Central Elections Committee to intervene and instruct police to halt what he described as unnecessary, deliberately initiated arrests during the final days before the election.

The controversy has intensified following reports that dozens of Chabad bochurim returning from New York were detained at Ben Gurion Airport over their military-service status.

Asher has also expressed concern about the possibility of enforcement action near polling places, raising questions about whether eligible chareidi voters might be discouraged from participating in the election.

During his conversation with Toker, Asher reportedly addressed assurances concerning election-day enforcement, indicating that election officials had conveyed that arrests connected to voting would not take place.

His recollections of Rav Shteinman came against the backdrop of the broader debate over the responsibilities of chareidi representatives and the importance that gedolei Yisroel have historically attached to protecting Torah institutions.

Rav Shteinman, who was among the leading figures of the Litvishe Torah world until his petirah in 2017, played a central role in guiding Degel HaTorah and its representatives through numerous political and communal challenges.

Those close to the rosh yeshiva have frequently recalled his personal involvement in election campaigns, even at an advanced age, and his insistence that political disagreements and personal grievances should not overshadow the interests of the Torah community.

Asher’s remarks come as United Torah Judaism faces pressure from voters dissatisfied with the outgoing government’s failure to enact legislation regulating the status of yeshiva students.

In recent interviews, Asher has acknowledged that confidence in Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was seriously damaged by the failure to pass a draft law, while declining to commit his party to any particular political bloc following the election.

He has maintained that the party’s future coalition decisions will be made in consultation with gedolei Yisroel, with the preservation of the Torah world remaining its central concern.

In an interview earlier this week, Asher also insisted that economic sanctions and arrests would not persuade chareidi men to enlist, arguing that coercive measures would instead deepen divisions within Israeli society.

He said that the first priority of the next government must be legislation defining the status of those whose full-time occupation is Torah learning.

{Matzav.com}

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul holds a narrow 4.4-percentage-point advantage over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman in a newly released Republican-commissioned survey, a significantly smaller lead than the margins reported by several independent pollsters as the November 3 gubernatorial election approaches.

The poll, conducted by OnMessage Inc. for Republican attorney general candidate Saritha Komatireddy, found Hochul receiving 50.3% support among likely voters, compared with 45.9% for Blakeman, the Nassau County executive. The same survey placed Democratic Attorney General Letitia James at 50.7%, ahead of Komatireddy at 44.7%, a six-point difference.

The findings suggest a more competitive contest than other recent polling has indicated, although the survey was commissioned by a Republican campaign and its results differ considerably from the broader polling average.

One of the survey’s most striking findings was Blakeman’s performance in western New York, particularly the Buffalo region, which includes Hochul’s home area. The Republican received 56% support there, compared with 42% for the governor.

Although Buffalo itself generally votes Democratic, the surrounding counties have traditionally provided strong support for Republican candidates.

The poll also showed Blakeman ahead in the Albany region, where he received 52% against Hochul’s 44%. In other rural areas of New York, his advantage was substantially larger, with 62% supporting the Republican and 33% backing the Democratic incumbent.

Hochul’s strongest showing came in the New York City media market, where she led 54.2% to 41.9%. That region encompasses the city’s five boroughs, Long Island and suburban communities north of the city, including Westchester and Rockland counties.

The governor maintained smaller advantages in two additional upstate regions. In Rochester, Hochul led 50% to 46%, while Syracuse voters favored her by 49.1% to 47.1%, according to the survey.

Republican political strategist O’Brien “O.B.” Murray, who worked on George Pataki’s successful 1994 gubernatorial campaign, characterized the findings as evidence of a closely contested election.

“This race for governor is very competitive,” Murray said.

“In this race anything can happen. Four years ago people were tiring of Kathy Hochul. Nobody expected that race to be that close,” he added.

Murray was referring to the 2022 gubernatorial election, when Hochul defeated Republican Lee Zeldin by approximately six percentage points, a relatively narrow margin in a state where Democrats enjoy a substantial voter-registration advantage.

The latest findings are consistent with an internal survey commissioned by Blakeman’s own campaign last month, which also showed the Republican trailing by approximately four points.

A separate poll released last week by Pollfinity likewise placed Hochul ahead by four points.

However, those findings contrast with surveys conducted by several established independent polling organizations, which have generally reported a considerably larger advantage for the governor.

According to the RealClearPolling average of four recent independent surveys, Hochul led Blakeman by 12.8 percentage points. Individual polls included a nine-point lead in a Siena University survey and a 19-point advantage in a Quinnipiac University poll conducted during the past month.

The Quinnipiac survey anticipated stronger voter participation in New York City, a factor that could significantly influence the statewide result because of the city’s large Democratic electorate.

The OnMessage survey interviewed 1,000 likely New York voters between October 12 and October 14 and reported a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.

OnMessage was rated among the more accurate polling firms during the 2024 election cycle, although the latest survey’s sponsorship and differences from independent polling remain important considerations when interpreting its results.

Hochul’s campaign disputed the suggestion that the Republican challenger is closing the gap, insisting that the governor continues to enjoy an advantage as Election Day approaches.

“Governor Hochul continues to build her lead and momentum – New Yorkers want nothing to do with the same Bruce Blakeman who promised to ‘cut Medicaid in half,’ never disagree with Donald Trump, and said ICE was doing a ‘very, very good job’ as they abused their power in New York and across the country,” said Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki.

The latest poll arrives as both candidates intensify their campaigns following their October 13 debate in Manhattan, where they clashed over public safety, affordability, immigration enforcement and the state’s relationship with President Trump.

On Tuesday, Blakeman appeared alongside former Republican Gov. George Pataki in Manhattan to advocate expanding New York’s natural gas production, arguing that the state’s energy policies have contributed to rising utility costs. Hochul has defended her administration’s energy strategy and pointed to financial assistance intended to reduce the burden on consumers.

The candidates are also competing over crime and public safety, with Blakeman criticizing conditions in New York City’s transit system and Hochul emphasizing her administration’s investments in law enforcement and public transportation security.

Early voting in New York begins October 24, with Election Day scheduled for November 3.

{Matzav.com}

A newly disclosed Israeli government document reveals that 143 individuals wanted by military authorities for failing to report for service were detained by police and subsequently released because military personnel failed to arrive to take them into custody within the required time. The disclosure comes as a major operation to arrest chareidi draft avoiders has been postponed for the second time amid disagreements between the IDF and Israel Police.

The findings emerged from an October 14 meeting chaired by Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon, whose office is preparing an update for the Israeli Supreme Court concerning enforcement of military conscription requirements among the chareidi population.

According to the document, which was circulated Monday and reported Tuesday, police recorded 143 cases between July 1 and October 12 in which individuals identified as draft avoiders were encountered during routine police activity but were ultimately allowed to leave.

Under the existing arrangement between the police and the IDF, civilian officers who encounter someone wanted by military authorities are required to contact the Military Police and wait up to 30 minutes for military personnel to arrive.

If the Military Police fail to appear within that period, the individual is released rather than transferred into military custody.

That is precisely what occurred in the 143 cases documented by police, according to the report.

The individuals were instead given notices instructing them to report to military recruitment authorities.

Representatives of the Military Police disputed the figures during the meeting, saying they were unfamiliar with the 143 cases cited by civilian police.

Limon described the number as unusually high and warned that it could indicate serious problems in the implementation of the agreement between the two law enforcement agencies.

The document instructed Israel Police to provide military authorities with details of the incidents so that the IDF could investigate the discrepancies, identify failures and determine how to prevent similar occurrences.

The agencies were ordered to provide an update by November 1.

The report also disclosed that only 14 draft avoiders were recorded as having been arrested during random encounters with police over the same three-and-a-half-month period.

The document did not fully clarify the relationship between those 14 arrests and the 143 cases in which detainees were released.

Meanwhile, a planned joint operation targeting individuals wanted for failing to report for military service has been delayed for a second time.

The operation had been scheduled for October but was postponed after Israel Police demanded that the IDF provide several hundred additional soldiers to assist with the enforcement effort.

Police officials argued that the extra personnel were necessary to manage the anticipated security challenges and public disturbances that could accompany large-scale arrests in chareidi neighborhoods.

The IDF rejected the demand, maintaining that the proposed arrangement was impractical and inconsistent with the division of responsibilities between the military and civilian police.

Military representatives insisted that the IDF is responsible for carrying out the arrests, while Israel Police must handle crowd control, public disturbances and the maintenance of public order.

Limon sided with that interpretation, stating that civilian police cannot condition their participation in enforcement operations on the deployment of hundreds of soldiers to perform policing duties.

The government document criticized the continuing delays and warned that enforcement operations could not remain suspended indefinitely.

“The situation described does not meet the state’s obligation to combat the phenomenon of draft evasion,” the document stated.

The IDF and police were instructed to develop a workable arrangement allowing coordinated arrest operations to resume, with a detailed progress report required by November 1.

Although large-scale joint operations have been delayed, the military said its police units continue conducting targeted arrests in various locations each week.

However, the government document observed that the number of arrests resulting from those activities remains limited.

The IDF said that dozens of draft avoiders had been arrested in recent weeks through targeted operations and enforcement at border crossings.

The disclosure comes amid continuing demonstrations against the arrest of yeshiva bochurim, including protests in Yerushalayim and Bnei Brak.

On Tuesday morning, five yeshiva bochurim wanted by military authorities were detained by civilian police near the Ein Zeitim junction in the Yerushalayim area.

According to Israeli media reports, Military Police personnel failed to arrive within the required half-hour period, and all five were released with instructions to report to a recruitment office.

The incident occurred on the same day that dozens of Chabad bochurim returning from New York were detained at Ben Gurion Airport over their military-service status.

The government document also raised questions about enforcement at Israel’s border crossings.

According to figures presented during an earlier meeting, more than 200 individuals wanted by military authorities were arrested during September.

In 64 cases, individuals were detained at Ben Gurion Airport upon returning to Israel after apparently leaving the country without being identified as subject to military-service enforcement.

The Population and Immigration Authority reported that those cases had been referred to police for investigation into suspected border-related violations.

Police representatives, however, said they were unaware of receiving the reports.

The conflicting accounts are expected to be examined at another meeting involving the Population Authority, the IDF and Israel Police.

Another unresolved issue concerns the criteria used to determine which individuals wanted by military authorities are arrested at border crossings and which are permitted to travel or return home.

The Deputy Attorney General’s office had previously requested a written explanation of those criteria in August, but the IDF had not yet supplied the document.

Military authorities were again instructed to provide the information before the next scheduled meeting.

The findings are expected to form part of the state’s response to the Supreme Court in proceedings concerning implementation of its ruling on chareidi military conscription.

The state is scheduled to submit its update to the court on Wednesday, October 21.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli forces have eliminated a Hamas terrorist who participated in the kidnapping of Shani Louk, the 22-year-old German-Israeli woman whose abduction during the October 7, 2023, massacre became one of the most horrifying and widely recognized images of the Hamas atrocities.

The IDF and Shin Bet announced Tuesday that Tamer Mohammad Ibrahim Al-Zabaq, a member of Hamas’s military wing, was killed Monday in a targeted Israeli airstrike in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip.

According to Israeli security officials, Al-Zabaq was among the Hamas terrorists who crossed into Israel during the October 7 assault and participated in Louk’s abduction from the area of the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im.

Louk was attending the festival when Hamas terrorists launched their murderous assault on southern Israel, killing hundreds of festivalgoers and abducting others into Gaza.

In the hours following the massacre, disturbing footage emerged showing Louk’s body lying in the back of a pickup truck as armed terrorists drove through Gaza. The images, which circulated around the world, became a symbol of the brutality of the October 7 attacks.

Israeli authorities confirmed Louk’s death later that month. Her remains were subsequently recovered from Gaza during an Israeli military operation in May 2024 and returned to Israel for burial.

The IDF said Al-Zabaq remained actively involved in Hamas operations throughout the war and continued working to rebuild the terrorist organization’s military infrastructure even after the ceasefire agreement.

“Throughout the war, and specifically recently, the terrorist advanced attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians and operated to restore the terrorist organization’s military capabilities, in systematic violation of the ceasefire,” the military stated.

Israeli officials said the decision to target Al-Zabaq followed intelligence indicating that he continued to pose a danger to Israeli soldiers and civilians.

The military said the strike was conducted using precision weaponry and aerial surveillance, with measures taken beforehand to reduce the possibility of harm to civilians in the surrounding area.

The operation was carried out jointly by the IDF and Shin Bet as part of their continuing efforts to locate and eliminate Hamas terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre and those engaged in renewed terrorist activity.

Israeli security forces said they remain positioned in the Gaza area under the terms of the existing agreement but will continue taking action against terrorists who threaten Israeli personnel or civilians.

“The security forces are deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to operate to remove any threat,” the IDF concluded.

The elimination of Al-Zabaq also marked the end of the Hamas cell identified in the notorious footage of Louk’s abduction. According to additional Israeli military reporting, three other terrorists from the five-member group had previously been killed during the war, while a fourth was captured by Israeli forces and remains in Israeli custody.

Al-Zabaq, who was identified as a member of Hamas’s elite Nukhba force, was the last member of that group still at large.

Louk’s remains were recovered on May 17, 2024, from a tunnel in Gaza during an operation that also brought home the bodies of three other October 7 victims: Amit Bouskila, Yitzhak Gelernter and Ron Binyamin. The operation followed intelligence gathered by Israeli security agencies, including information obtained during interrogations of captured terrorists.

Israeli officials described the latest strike as closing the circle on the terrorist cell responsible for transporting Louk’s body into Gaza, more than three years after the massacre.

Moti Leitner, the head of the independent Chareidi Public party, faced pointed questions during a radio interview over his decision to challenge the established chareidi political parties in Israel’s upcoming Knesset elections, with the interviewers repeatedly demanding to know which rabbonim had authorized his candidacy.

The confrontation took place on Kol Chai radio, where veteran broadcasters Betzalel Kahn and Dovid Chacham questioned Leitner about the rabbinic backing for his new political movement and whether his decision to run independently was consistent with the longstanding practice of chareidi political parties operating under the direction of gedolei Yisroel.

Leitner insisted that his party has the support of a rabbinical committee, but his responses failed to satisfy the interviewers, who pressed him to identify the rabbonim involved.

The exchange reflected broader tensions within the chareidi political community ahead of the October 27 elections, particularly as new political initiatives seek to attract voters dissatisfied with the existing parties.

“WHO ARE YOUR RABBONIM?”: Independent Chareidi Candidate Moti Leitner Grilled in Heated Radio Confrontation Over Challenge to Gedolei Yisroel

Moti Leitner, chairman of the independent Chareidi Public party, found himself at the center of a heated confrontation Tuesday morning when two prominent chareidi radio hosts challenged his decision to run for the Knesset independently of the established chareidi parties and demanded to know which gedolei Yisroel had authorized his political campaign.

The contentious exchange unfolded during Kol Chai’s morning news program, hosted by Betzalel Kahn and Dovid Chacham, who accused Leitner of undermining the authority of gedolei Torah and challenging the established leadership of the chareidi community just one week before Israel’s October 27 elections.

Leitner rejected the accusations, insisting that his political movement operates under rabbinic supervision and arguing that publicly identifying its rabbinic supporters would expose them to intimidation and harassment.

The interview quickly developed into a sharp argument over the legitimacy of an independent chareidi political movement, with the hosts questioning whether Leitner had any recognized Torah authority behind his candidacy.

Opening their challenge, Kahn and Chacham argued that the chareidi community had survived generations of persecution through its commitment to Torah observance and adherence to gedolei Yisroel.

“The chareidi public survived decrees and persecution throughout history solely through observance of Torah and mitzvos and uncompromising obedience to gedolei Yisroel throughout the generations,” the hosts said.

They then directly challenged Leitner’s authority to establish a competing political party.

“By what spiritual, moral or educational authority do you get up and decide that you know better than hundreds of thousands of chareidim and all the gedolei hador?” they demanded.

“All the chareidi representatives operate as direct emissaries of recognized gedolei Torah and rabbonim. Which gedolei Yisroel, exactly, stand behind you and give you their backing?”

Leitner responded that the premise of the question was itself insulting to the many chareidim who support his movement.

“This question expresses patronizing arrogance and contempt for hundreds of thousands of chareidim,” he said.

“The Derech movement was not established on its own initiative, but under the close supervision of a committee of rabbonim, community rabbonim and various dayanim.”

He argued that identifying the rabbonim publicly would subject them to pressure from opponents of his political movement.

“Revealing the names of rabbonim during a live broadcast would only expose them to pressure and bullying, as we have seen happen to others who departed from the established line,” Leitner maintained.

The hosts refused to accept that explanation and continued pressing him to identify recognized gedolei Torah who had endorsed his candidacy.

They argued that the rabbonim associated with his movement did not represent the mainstream chareidi leadership and accused him of presenting himself as a representative of the community without the backing of its established rabbinic authorities.

“The few names you have cited are completely unknown to the chareidi mainstream, and there is no recognized gadol Yisroel standing behind you,” they charged.

“It is arrogance and audacity to use the name of the chareidi public when no prominent chareidi figure supports you, and those cheering your movement are primarily people on the left and the general media.”

The hosts further accused Leitner of encouraging opposition to the authority of gedolei Yisroel at a particularly sensitive time for the community.

“You are taking upon yourself a serious rebellion against gedolei Yisroel and endangering the entire chareidi public,” they declared.

The confrontation comes amid growing controversy surrounding Leitner’s party, which is seeking to offer an alternative to Shas and United Torah Judaism.

The Chareidi Public party has advocated changes in chareidi education, including expanded instruction in English and mathematics, and supports greater military participation among chareidi men who are not engaged in full-time Torah study.

Those positions have generated considerable debate within the community, particularly as the military draft controversy continues to dominate the election campaign.

Leitner has argued that the established chareidi parties have failed to adequately represent segments of the community seeking different approaches to education, employment and military service.

Earlier this month, his party publicly identified a rabbinic committee overseeing its activities, headed by Rav Yehoshua Pfeffer of Yerushalayim.

The announcement, however, did little to quiet criticism from opponents who argued that the committee did not include recognized members of the established chareidi rabbinic leadership.

The party’s published list of rabbinic supporters also drew attention because Rav Dovid Leibel, founder of Achvas Torah, was not among its signatories.

At a campaign gathering in Yerushalayim on Motzoei Shabbos, Leitner sharply criticized the existing chareidi political establishment, accusing its representatives of failing to address violence directed at chareidi soldiers and other problems confronting the community.

His movement has also faced criticism from individuals previously associated with its municipal political activities.

Yisrael Schweibel, who was involved in establishing the Derech municipal list in Beit Shemesh, said in a separate interview that he was concerned about the consequences of an independent national campaign and questioned whether Leitner was free to withdraw from the race.

The party rejected Schweibel’s criticism and accused him of attempting to pressure its leadership into abandoning the campaign.

Tuesday’s Kol Chai interview ended without agreement, as Kahn and Chacham maintained that Leitner’s candidacy lacked the authorization of recognized gedolei Yisroel, while Leitner continued to insist that his movement was operating with rabbinic guidance.

{Matzav.com}