The Senate reached an agreement Thursday evening to keep much of the federal government operating, finalizing a plan just one day before a looming shutdown deadline.
Under the deal, funding for the Department of Homeland Security will be carved out from a broader package that includes five other major appropriations bills. Instead of advancing DHS funding as part of that bundle, the Senate will move forward with a short-term continuing resolution that maintains DHS funding at current levels through February 13.
Negotiations over the temporary funding measure had focused on how long the stopgap should last. Democrats pushed for a two-week extension, which ultimately became part of the agreement, while Republicans had argued for a six-week continuation.
Two sources familiar with the talks confirmed the arrangement, noting that Republican leaders were still reviewing the details with rank-and-file members to determine whether changes or amendments might be required.
The remaining five appropriations bills — covering Defense, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Labor, and Education — are designed to fund those departments for the full fiscal year. If enacted, they would provide funding for roughly 96 percent of the federal government through fiscal year 2026. Senate votes on the package were expected Thursday night.
President Trump signaled support for the agreement in a post on Truth Social.
“I am working hard with Congress to ensure that we are able to fully fund the Government, without delay. Republicans and Democrats in Congress have come together to get the vast majority of the Government funded until September, while at the same time providing an extension to the Department of Homeland Security (including the very important Coast Guard, which we are expanding and rebuilding like never before),” he wrote.
“Hopefully, both Republicans and Democrats will give a very much needed Bipartisan ‘YES’ Vote,” he added.
If the Senate approves the funding measures, attention will then shift to the House, which will be responsible for taking up the bills in the coming days.
The House is not expected to reconvene until Monday, making a brief funding lapse likely. Uncertainty also remains about how smoothly the legislation will move through the chamber, as some Republicans have already called for revisions to the bills.
Democrats had previously warned they would block the entire six-bill funding package unless the DHS measure was removed, following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on Saturday.
That backlash left Republicans on the defensive and led the administration to take steps aimed at easing tensions.
Discussions between Democratic leaders and the White House intensified Wednesday night, setting the stage for Thursday’s agreement.
“Hopefully, we won’t have a shutdown. We’re working on that right now. I think we’re getting close. The Democrats, I don’t believe want to see it either,” President Trump said during a Cabinet meeting earlier Thursday. “So we’ll work in a very bipartisan way, I believe, not to have a shutdown.”
The compromise leaves lawmakers with only a narrow window to reach a longer-term solution for DHS funding for the remainder of the year.
On Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said Democrats are pressing three conditions in renewed DHS negotiations: ending roving patrols by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and tightening warrant requirements; increasing oversight by establishing a universal code of conduct; and mandating body cameras for agents while barring them from wearing masks.
“Under President Trump, Secretary Noem and Stephen Miller, ICE has been unleashed without guardrails,” Schumer said. “They violate constitutional rights all the time and deliberately refuse to coordinate with state and local law enforcement.”
{Matzav.com}President Donald Trump sent a personal letter to Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, thanking him for advancing the decision to name a new seaside promenade in Bat Yam after the American president and expressing appreciation for the gesture.
According to a report by Ynet, the letter arrived unexpectedly in Israel and included a photograph from the groundbreaking ceremony for the promenade, personally signed by Trump. On the photo, the president wrote, “Bibi, This is so great. Thank you. Donald.”
The groundbreaking ceremony took place about four months ago and was attended by Netanyahu, Bat Yam Mayor Tzvika Brot, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. During the event, Huckabee photographed the beachfront and informed those present that he had sent the images directly to Trump. Shortly afterward, Huckabee announced that the president had “promised to visit the promenade.”
In the photograph signed by Trump, Netanyahu and Brot are seen laying the cornerstone for the new promenade together, with Ambassador Huckabee standing alongside them. In his letter, Trump thanked the prime minister for his role in promoting the project.
Ynet further reported that construction work on the promenade is currently ongoing and is expected to be completed within the next few months. Once finished, Trump is expected to receive a formal invitation to inaugurate the promenade during one of his future visits to Israel, together with the prime minister and the mayor of Bat Yam.
{Matzav.com}
A new poll published Thursday night examines the political impact of a possible three-way alliance between Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, and former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, indicating that such a joint list could dramatically reshape Israel’s political map.
According to a Channel 12 News survey, no political bloc currently has a clear path to forming a government without support from the Joint List or parts of it. Under the present scenario, the Likud, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, would emerge as the largest party with 27 seats. Naftali Bennett’s party would place second with 21 mandates, followed by the Joint List with 12 seats and the Democrats with 11.
Shas and Eisenkot’s party, Yashar, would each receive nine seats. Yesh Atid, Yisrael Beytenu, and Otzma Yehudit would secure eight seats apiece, while United Torah Judaism would be the smallest faction in the Knesset with seven mandates.
The survey also assessed the effect of a partial consolidation. In that scenario, the Joint List would gain two additional seats, effectively weakening the so-called “change bloc” by one mandate. The opposition would stand at 57 seats, compared to just 51 for the current coalition. Several parties would fail to cross the electoral threshold, including Religious Zionism (2.9%), Blue and White (1.8%), and the Reservists party led by Yoaz Hendel (1%).
However, the most striking results emerged when the poll examined Eisenkot’s proposal for a full merger with Bennett and Yair Lapid. In that case, the unified list would surge to 38 seats, making it the largest party in Israel by a wide margin, while Likud would remain steady at 27 seats.
In this scenario, the Joint List would retain 12 mandates and the Democrats 11. Shas would again receive nine seats, with Yisrael Beytenu and Otzma Yehudit each winning eight. United Torah Judaism would remain the smallest faction, holding seven seats.
At the same time, a separate poll released by Channel 14 painted a very different picture. That survey showed the right-wing bloc strengthening significantly, reaching 64 seats, compared to 43 for the left-wing bloc. Arab parties would collectively receive 13 mandates.
In the Channel 14 results, Likud would lead with 34 seats, followed by the Joint List with 13. Bennett’s party would receive 12 seats, and Shas would gain 10. The Democrats and United Torah Judaism would each secure nine seats, as would Yisrael Beytenu.
Otzma Yehudit and Yashar would each stand at seven mandates, while Yesh Atid would fall to six. Religious Zionism would receive four seats, and Blue and White would fail to pass the electoral threshold, polling at just 3%.
{Matzav.com}
A Russian drone struck near the residence of Rabbi Liron Edri, the rabbi of the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, on Thursday night, causing damage to his home. No injuries were reported, as Rabbi Edri and his family were away at the time of the impact.
Kryvyi Rih, home to more than 500,000 people, is among Ukraine’s largest urban centers and serves as the heart of the country’s steel industry. The city is also recognized as the birthplace of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and has an estimated Jewish population of about 5,000.
Jewish leaders in Ukraine say attacks affecting Jewish sites have become so frequent that they have stopped keeping a precise tally. In just the last six months, more than ten incidents involving synagogues, rabbis’ residences, and Jewish cemeteries have been documented, with some cases suspected of being deliberate.
Describing the broader reality facing civilians, Rabbi Edri said, “People are freezing from the cold due to Russian attacks targeting electricity and energy facilities. It is a very difficult and challenging winter, and we need a great deal of heavenly mercy, but they will not break us. I, together with my fellow Chabad emissaries throughout Ukraine, am staying here to help the communities.”
In a statement, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine expressed support for the rabbi and those remaining in the country. The organization said, “We strengthen the hands of Rabbi Edri, who works in his city with astonishing dedication. It is very important that the world not forget the hundreds of thousands of Jews living here, as well as the hundreds of Chabad emissary families who did not leave Ukraine and remain here under constant bombardment, enduring terrible and threatening conditions, without electricity and sometimes without water. At the same time, we will continue to adhere to our mission and intensify it even further.”
{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump has reviewed a series of potential military and non-military actions aimed at Iran, options that were jointly prepared by senior officials at the White House and the Pentagon, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Among the proposals shown to the president is an expansive air campaign known internally as “the big plan,” which would involve widespread strikes against key installations linked to Iran’s ruling clerical leadership and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Other alternatives outlined to Trump include more limited attacks on sites viewed as emblematic of the Iranian regime, paired with the possibility of widening the scope of operations if Tehran continues advancing its nuclear program. The menu of options also includes non-kinetic measures, such as cyber operations targeting Iran’s banking system, along with harsher economic penalties.
Officials in Israel have cautioned that a narrowly focused strike would likely fall short of bringing down Iran’s leadership. Sources in Jerusalem say that although Trump had previously been open to actions that might result in regime change, he now assesses that military force alone would not accomplish that objective. Instead, his current thinking is said to prioritize strikes on tangible assets, particularly nuclear-related facilities and potentially missile infrastructure.
Meanwhile, several Gulf countries — including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, and Oman — are engaged in coordinated efforts to broker dialogue between Washington and Tehran to avert a broader conflict. Despite the current diplomatic impasse, leaders in the region maintain that a negotiated off-ramp remains possible.
{Matzav.com}
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu convened a high-level security meeting in Yerushalayim on Thursday to address a sensitive and undisclosed issue, according to an official from the office of one of the participants, as questions mount over whether the United States is preparing for military action against Iran.
Israeli television Channel 12 reported that the closed-door discussion centered on Iran and the prospect of a US strike, an option that US President Donald Trump has raised repeatedly in recent days.
The consultation took place against the backdrop of rapid diplomatic maneuvering, public warnings, and military posturing involving Yerushalayim, Washington, Moscow, and Tehran, all linked to the potential consequences of a US attack. Iran has announced plans to display its naval strength next week, following the US deployment of what Trump described as a “massive armada” to the region.
Trump has cited Iran’s violent suppression of widespread anti-regime demonstrations earlier this month as one justification for possible military action. Human rights organizations have confirmed thousands of deaths, with overall estimates reaching into the tens of thousands. In parallel, Trump has also warned of strikes if Tehran refuses to reach an agreement curbing its nuclear ambitions.
A senior US official told Channel 12 on Thursday that a decision from Trump on whether to proceed with a strike could come in the coming days, once American military forces currently en route to the Middle East are fully positioned. Iranian leaders have repeatedly warned that any US attack would trigger retaliation against American interests and Israel.
While Trump’s precise objectives remain uncertain, reports indicate he is seeking to create conditions for “regime change.” Israeli officials are said to believe that a limited strike would not topple Iran’s leadership, an assessment that Trump reportedly shares, according to Channel 12. As a result, any US action would likely target Iran’s physical infrastructure, particularly its nuclear facilities and missile capabilities.
Channel 12 added that Israeli officials anticipate even a narrowly focused US attack would prompt a major Iranian response against Israel, which would then lead to a forceful Israeli counterstrike.
Speaking on Thursday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the American military stands ready to implement whatever course of action Trump chooses regarding Iran, with the aim of preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
“They should not pursue nuclear capabilities. We will be prepared to deliver whatever this president expects of the War Department,” Hegseth said, using the Trump administration’s informal name for the Defense Department.
As deliberations continue, senior defense and intelligence figures from Saudi Arabia and Israel are in Washington this week for discussions with the Trump administration about a possible strike on Iran, Axios reported, citing multiple US officials and other sources familiar with the talks.
According to the report, Israeli representatives, including IDF Intelligence Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, are providing intelligence assessments and potential target information related to Iran, while Saudi officials are pressing for diplomatic efforts to prevent an escalation into war.
Two US officials said Binder met with senior figures at the Pentagon, the CIA, and the White House on Tuesday and Wednesday. Another source said he brought detailed intelligence that US officials had specifically requested.
At the same time, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman — the younger brother of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — was scheduled to hold meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday and Friday.
Earlier this week, the Saudi crown prince informed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Saudi Arabia would not permit its territory or airspace to be used for military operations against Iran, according to the state-run SPA news agency.
Axios also reported that Saudi Arabia has been relaying messages between Tehran and Washington in an attempt to ease tensions and avert confrontation.
Beyond the Saudi initiative, Israel has identified what Channel 12 described as heavy pressure from Turkey, Qatar, and Oman on the White House, as those countries seek approval to mediate between the US and Iran in pursuit of a diplomatic resolution.
Turkish officials said Ankara will propose mediation during a visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday. Turkey is also reviewing additional security measures along its border in case a US strike destabilizes the region, a senior Turkish official told AFP.
Much of the 500-kilometer (310-mile) border is protected by a barrier, but “it has proven insufficient,” the official said.
Recent negotiations between Washington and Tehran, however, failed to yield progress toward an agreement dismantling Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. That stalemate has made Trump more receptive to a major intervention, CNN reported.
A US naval strike group is already operating in the Middle East, and Trump has warned it is “ready, willing and able” to strike Iran “if necessary.”
Iranian officials, for their part, have signaled readiness for a broader conflict. The country’s first vice president said Tehran must prepare for the possibility of war.
“Today, we must be prepared for a state of war. Our strategy is that we will never start a war, but if it is imposed, we will defend ourselves,” First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said, according to the official IRNA news agency.
He added that Iran remains open to talks with the United States, but emphasized that “this time we want guarantees,” without elaborating.
Separately, Iranian army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia warned on state television that any US attack would be met immediately.
“A decisive response will be delivered instantly” if the United States strikes, he said.
“If such a miscalculation is made by the Americans, it will certainly not unfold the way Trump imagines — carrying out a quick operation and then, two hours later, tweeting that the operation is over,” Akraminia warned.
{Matzav.com}
