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Diplomatic maneuvering is underway to shape a possible security arrangement between Israel and Syria, with Russia playing a central but discreet role and doing so with American consent, according to a report by Kan News.

One senior defense official familiar with the contacts said Moscow is seeking to reestablish a military footprint in southern Syria, close to Israel’s border, restoring a posture that existed prior to the collapse of the previous Syrian government.

The same official noted that Russia has already taken steps to rebuild its overall military presence in the country. Ties between Moscow and Damascus are being repaired, and Russian forces have begun redeploying personnel and equipment to the Latakia region in northern Syria, an area that had largely been abandoned after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

While Russia operates behind the scenes, the actual face-to-face meetings have largely taken place in Baku. Azerbaijan has been hosting and facilitating the discussions, with delegations from both Israel and Syria traveling there for talks.

From Israel’s perspective, officials reportedly see advantages in a renewed Russian role in southern Syria, preferring that scenario over deeper military or political entrenchment by Turkey in the same area.

The negotiations, which remain focused on security arrangements rather than full normalization, reflect a complex regional realignment involving Russia, Israel, and Syria, with Washington quietly signaling its approval of Moscow’s mediating role.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump may consider deploying U.S. Marines to Chicago after Democrats escalated the case to the Supreme Court, potentially using federal troops to protect buildings and ICE agents before calling in the National Guard.

New York City Emergency Management: A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for New York City from 4:00 PM on December 26 through 1:00 PM on December 27, with 4–8 inches of snow expected across the city.

Federal authorities have charged a 20-year-old Florida man after uncovering a cache of weapons, explosives materials, Nazi propaganda, and evidence of plans for a racially motivated act of mass violence. A federal grand jury has indicted Lucas Alexander Temple, 20, of Sarasota, Florida, on charges of possessing an unregistered sawed-off shotgun with an obliterated serial […]

New federal filings show the Democratic National Committee ended November with a sharply reduced financial cushion, holding just over $12 million in cash while carrying nearly $16 million in outstanding debt tied largely to a recent loan.

Those figures arrive as Democrats head toward the 2026 midterms under growing internal strain, with party leaders split over whether to release a detailed assessment of the failed 2024 Biden–Harris campaign and how to recalibrate ahead of a fight to reclaim control of Congress.

According to Federal Election Commission disclosures, the DNC reported roughly $12.6 million cash on hand for November, raised $10.7 million during the month, and listed $15.9 million in liabilities. Republicans seized on the filing, charging that Democrats are struggling to keep up with their bills.

By comparison, the Republican National Committee posted $89.9 million in cash on hand for the same period and reported no debts, leaving the DNC only marginally ahead of the GOP in November fundraising totals but dramatically behind in overall financial strength.

The November report also shows the DNC’s reserves shrinking by about $6 million over the course of the month, as expenditures exceeded incoming donations. In October, the committee had taken in $23 million — more than twice its November haul.

The loan contributing to the party’s current debt load was taken out before Democrats scored notable electoral wins in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City. Over the same stretch, the RNC’s cash reserves dipped by less than $1.5 million.

Tensions inside the party sharpened last week after the DNC decided not to make public its post-election analysis of Vice President Kamala Harris’s loss to President Donald Trump. Party chairman Ken Martin said releasing the report now would be “a distraction from its core mission.”

A senior DNC official, speaking anonymously, said the party’s outreach efforts fell short — particularly among voters ages 18 to 30, a group that shifted toward Trump by 11 percentage points. The official added that Democrats failed to calm voter anxiety about crime and illegal immigration and lacked credibility when addressing economic concerns.

Not all Democrats agree with keeping the report under wraps. Senate Chief Deputy Whip Brian Schatz criticized the decision, saying, “I believe the DNC should release the report because 1) that’s what they said they were going to do 2) this is going to be a thing 3) if there’s good analysis we should see it.”

Despite the internal disputes, Democrats currently maintain a nearly four-point edge over Republicans on the generic congressional ballot, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.

Harris has also signaled interest in seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, after rising to the top of the 2024 ticket without a primary when President Joe Biden ended his campaign just 107 days before Election Day.

Reports indicate the unreleased DNC analysis does not squarely address Biden’s decision to seek reelection at an advanced age. The New York Times reported that issue was largely avoided, while the Bulwark said some Biden or Harris advisers pressed party leaders to keep their names out of the document.

Financial pressures have continued into 2025. FEC records show the DNC spent more than $18 million in the first seven months of the year repaying expenses linked to Harris’ campaign.

The grim fundraising picture coincides with renewed scrutiny of Democratic leadership following remarks by Hunter Biden during a lengthy podcast appearance, where he criticized the administration’s immigration policy and the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. “We don’t want immigrants that are coming here illegally, draining us of resources, and being prioritized above people that are actual, literal heroes, that are still recovering from 21, 20 years of endless war — or anybody else in our society,” he said on “The Shawn Ryan Show.”

Data from the Congressional Budget Office estimate that about 2.4 million immigrants entered the United States each year from 2021 through 2024, while a Goldman Sachs analysis concluded at least 60 percent crossed the border illegally.

Early polling of a hypothetical 2028 race shows Vice President JD Vance trailing Harris by just one point, while other surveys indicate Vance would defeat Democratic contenders such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Republicans argue the numbers reflect deeper problems inside the Democratic Party. RNC spokeswoman Kiersten Pels accused party leadership of mismanagement, saying, “Ken Martin has turned the DNC into a money-losing operation that reflects the failures of the broader Democratic Party.”

She added, “The DNC is drowning in debt, still paying Kamala Harris’ campaign bills, and watching donors flee as leadership bankrolls radical candidates voters don’t want. Ken Martin has run the party into the ground, and Republicans sincerely hope he keeps it up.”

{Matzav.com}

Newly compiled crime figures suggest the United States is experiencing an unprecedented decline in killings, with early indicators pointing to the steepest single-year reduction ever observed.

Independent crime researcher Jeff Asher says fresh national numbers show homicides falling faster than at any point in modern data tracking, reversing the surge seen during the pandemic years.

Asher’s Real-Time Crime Index, a nationwide dataset that aggregates reports from hundreds of police departments and is refreshed frequently, indicates the country is on course for the largest one-year decrease in murders ever recorded.

Federal officials are also striking an optimistic tone. Last month, Kash Patel said the 2025 homicide rate is expected to be the lowest in “modern history,” attributing the shift to a renewed focus across the bureau on violent crime.

Researchers outside the government say the underlying data back that assessment. Because the Real-Time Crime Index is updated well ahead of official federal releases, it offers an early look at national trends while final FBI tallies are still years away.

Figures available through October show killings down by nearly 20 percent compared with the same point in 2024. The index defines murder as intentional, non-negligent killings, excluding accidental deaths and other categories that fall outside standard FBI definitions, a distinction it summarizes as tracking “willful (nonnegligent) killings.”

Asher has cautioned in recent months that nationwide crime estimates are often revised and that official totals can shift over time. Even so, he says the downward trajectory has become so pronounced that the FBI is likely to ultimately report the lowest U.S. murder rate ever when complete 2025 data are finalized, potentially edging below the prior low set in 2014.

The sharp fall in homicides is occurring alongside broader declines in violent crime. Real-Time Crime Index data show reductions across several major categories, including robbery, aggravated assault, and motor vehicle theft, suggesting the change is widespread rather than confined to specific regions or demographics.

Large metropolitan areas appear to be driving much of the improvement. Axios recently noted drops of almost 20 percent in murders in New York City and Memphis, nearly 28 percent in Chicago, and sizable decreases across Los Angeles County.

At the same time, analysts note that a small number of jurisdictions have posted sharp percentage increases, underscoring how year-to-year swings can be volatile for smaller agencies with fewer cases.

The emerging numbers come as Donald Trump has placed fighting violent crime at the center of his second-term agenda, with the administration highlighting tougher enforcement policies and expanded backing for law enforcement nationwide.

{Matzav.com}

Convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard has leveled an explosive allegation against Israel’s own government, claiming that an individual “sent by the Israeli government” once urged him to commit suicide in order to permanently bury the diplomatic crisis his case caused between Jerusalem and Washington. In a recorded interview aired Monday on Israel Army Radio, Pollard […]

Otzma Yehudit MK Almog Cohen disclosed a dramatic intelligence detail that had been barred from publication by the military censor during a speech in the Knesset on Wednesday. Defying the military censor due to his ministerial immunity, Cohen said that just hours before the October 7 massacre, Shin Bet leaders were informed by an agent […]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has quietly instructed his closest advisers to prepare for the possibility that the Knesset could dissolve in the near future, raising the prospect that Israel could be headed for early elections months ahead of schedule, according to a report by Ynet on Wednesday. While Israel’s next national election is officially […]

The United States and Iran clashed at the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, trading accusations over whether stalled nuclear talks can be revived. Washington said it is prepared to return to negotiations, but only on its terms. Tehran responded by rejecting those conditions outright, accusing the United States of bad faith and political coercion. […]

At a ceremony marking the graduation of the 191st pilot course at Hatzerim Airbase, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir addressed the newest aviators and reflected on the responsibilities now resting on their shoulders. As the wings were pinned to their uniforms, Zamir told the graduates that from this moment forward, “the next operational mission – and with it the great responsibility of removing existential threats to Israel and ensuring the continued existence of the Jewish state – will be yours.”

Zamir urged the new pilots to look ahead with confidence, closing his remarks by encouraging them to “soar upward to the skies and return safely to your bases,” and charging them to go forth and succeed.

Turning to the broader picture, Zamir emphasized that the memory of fallen soldiers accompanies every mission and that the military remains committed to the rehabilitation of the wounded. He added that the task is not complete until SFC Ran Gvili is brought back to rest in Israel.

Addressing parents and families in attendance, Zamir described them as full partners in the achievement of the graduates, thanking them for standing by their children through years of demanding preparation. He also expressed appreciation to commanders, career and reserve personnel, and technical crews, crediting their leadership during what he called the longest and most complex war in Israel’s history.

Zamir congratulated Brig. Gen. Omer Tishler on assuming the role of incoming commander of the Israeli Air Force, voicing confidence in his ability to guide the force through future challenges. He likewise praised course commanders and staff who, he said, trained the next generation of pilots while simultaneously leading real-time operations during wartime.

Reflecting on the months since October 7, Zamir said the air force, together with ground forces, has operated “with unprecedented precision and scope” in both nearby and distant arenas. He noted that the IDF is conducting ongoing reviews and applying lessons learned, stressing that “we will learn from the failure, but we will not sink into it.”

Zamir added that the military continues to adapt even as operations unfold, declaring, “The Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps,” and reaffirming that Israel will act decisively against those who seek to do it harm, guided by the principle of striking those who rise to kill.

Only later in his remarks did Zamir recount the hours leading up to the strike on Iran. He said that during the night between June 12 and June 13, he presented the final operational plan to the Israeli cabinet, calling it “a dramatic meeting.” According to Zamir, the Cabinet Secretary offered a prayer for the safety of IDF troops, recalling that “the tension was palpable, and there was a feeling in the air of the crowded room that something historic was about to happen.” The plan, he said, was approved by a show of hands.

Once the decision was made, Zamir described how senior commanders rushed from Jerusalem to IDF headquarters, entering the command bunker as pilots were already in the air. Officers, he said, were “operating with composure and professionalism,” while dozens of aircraft circled, awaiting final instructions. Intelligence updates continued in real time, forcing mission changes mid-flight. “At 02:55, dozens of strikes hit their targets with great precision,” Zamir said, marking the launch of Operation “Rising Lion.”

He noted that the full scale of the operation — from aerial refueling and intelligence coordination to helicopters on standby, special forces deployment, and ground crews — would be recorded in history. Zamir said the air force “was at its very best,” describing it as Israel’s long-range strategic arm.

Zamir also recalled the briefings held with pilots ahead of the operation, when he warned them plainly of the dangers, telling them that “some aircraft will be shot down and some of you will not return.” He said the response was immediate and unified: “We are ready for the mission. You can rely on us!” According to Zamir, that moment captured the spirit that has enabled the IDF to confront threats on multiple fronts.

{Matzav.com}

In a clear message to Iran, Israeli PM Netanyahu’s office shares an AI video of Bibi and Trump flying a B-2 bomber together.

Ben gvir at a police ceremony demanding the death penalty for terrorists.

STEPHEN MILLER: “Look how powerful the Democrat Party became in Minnesota once they flooded it with 100,000 Somalians.”

A pro-Russian hacking group claimed responsibility for a major cyberattack that halted package deliveries by France’s national postal service just days before Christmas, prosecutors said Wednesday. After the claim by the cybercrime group known as Noname057, French intelligence agency DGSI took over the investigation into the hacking attack, the Paris prosecutor’s office said in a […]

More than two years after October 7, soldiers from the Netzah Yehuda Battalion participated in a הכנסת ספר תורה at the Erez Crossing Coordination and Liaison facility.

Australian police arrested 39-year-old Martin Thomas Glynn in Perth, a city in western Australia, after he allegedly posted antisemitic statements online saying he “supports the shooters 100%” following the Sydney terrorist attack. Police say a search of his home uncovered around 4,000 rounds of ammunition, Hamas and Hezbollah flags, and materials allegedly linked to bomb-making. […]

A unique and inspiring Chanukah celebration took place this year in the main bais medrash of Yeshivas Rechasim, bringing together talmidim from across generations. The event was held under the leadership of Rosh Yeshiva Rav Yitzchak Sofer, alongside the yeshiva’s rabbinic faculty.

As in previous years, the Chanukah gathering opened with heartfelt singing and expressions of gratitude. Continuing a long-standing yeshiva tradition, the honor of lighting the Chanukah neiros was “sold,” not for money, but for commitments in Torah learning. This year, the custom was expanded and divided among the three candles to be lit by the Rosh Yeshiva.

The first candle was acquired through a commitment of 4,500 pages of Gemara. The second candle was taken through the acceptance of responsibility for 153 chaburos. The third candle followed a stirring moment, when Rav Sofer circulated among the talmidim and asked who would undertake the study of Bava Kamma. Hundreds of bochurim signed on, collectively committing to learn the masechta which is currently being studied in the yeshiva,four times.

Following the commitments, the Rosh Yeshiva lit the Chanukah neiros and offered heartfelt tefillos on behalf of the students, praying for their success and for the protection of the Torah world in the face of ongoing challenges. After the lighting, the students burst into spirited dancing.

{Matzav.com}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters that he would be willing to withdraw troops from the country’s eastern industrial heartland if Russia also pulls back and the area becomes a demilitarized, free economic zone monitored by international forces.