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President Donald Trump on Monday issued a blunt warning to Tehran, saying the United States would not tolerate Iran attempting to restore military capabilities damaged during last month’s fighting, and signaling support for Israeli action if Iran pushes ahead with missile or nuclear development.

Speaking during a joint appearance with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu in Florida, Trump said Washington is closely tracking Iranian activity following the June conflict and would respond forcefully if Iran tries to regroup. “I’m hearing that Iran is trying to recover—if that happens, we’ll have to hit them hard,” he said.

Later in the day, Trump expanded on that message at a press conference with Netanyahu, saying he hopes Iran is not attempting to rearm. He warned that if Tehran is rebuilding its capabilities, the United States would move quickly to shut it down. “I hope Iran is not trying to build up again, because if they are, we’re going to have no choice, but very quickly to eradicate that buildup,” he said.

Trump also addressed whether he would support Israeli strikes should Iran continue advancing its weapons programs. “If they will continue with the missiles, yes. The nuclear, fast. Okay? One will be yes, absolutely. The other was, we’ll do it immediately,” he said when pressed on the issue.

In further remarks, Trump suggested the United States is aware of alternative sites Iran may be using, following the destruction of previous facilities. “I hope Iran is not trying to build up, as I’ve been reading, that they’re building up weapons and other things. And if they are, they’re not using the sites that we obliterated, but they’re using possibly different sites. We know exactly where they’re going, what they’re doing, and I hope they’re not doing it, because we don’t want to waste the fuel on B-2, it’s a 37-hour trip both ways. I don’t want to waste a lot of fuel,” he said.

Earlier this year, the United States and Iran held five rounds of talks focused on Tehran’s nuclear program, after Trump imposed a 60-day deadline for reaching an agreement. When no deal was secured by the 61st day, Israel launched a surprise military operation on June 13, followed by U.S. strikes on June 22 that targeted nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow.

Those attacks killed several Iranian nuclear scientists as well as hundreds of military personnel and civilians, according to reports. Iranian retaliatory strikes later killed 32 Israeli civilians and one off-duty soldier.

Iran continues to deny that it is seeking nuclear weapons, insisting its nuclear activities are for civilian purposes. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has dismissed engagement with Trump as beneath Iran’s dignity, and Iranian officials have rejected U.S. demands to halt uranium enrichment and limit missile development.

Diplomatic contacts continued in parallel on Monday, as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone call with Oman’s foreign minister. Oman has previously served as a mediator between Tehran and Washington during periods of negotiation.

Ahead of his meeting with Netanyahu, Trump also turned his attention to past U.S. policy toward Iran. On his Truth Social account, he shared an older post from X alleging that the Obama and Biden administrations provided Iran with funding that enabled its nuclear ambitions. The post originated from an account using the name Chris Bjornberg and was tied to promotion of his 2023 book, “The Night Rider and the Warrior Queen.”

“One of Obama’s most treasonous policies was to fund Iran’s nuclear program,” the post shared by Trump said, accompanied by an image depicting a nuclear explosion over New York City and criticism of Democratic administrations’ Iran policy.

“Biden and Obama gave Iran over $220 billion to research and build nukes. Iran nearly had 6 nuclear bombs and Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM’s) that would have destroyed Israel and 5 cities in the US,” the post said.

The Obama administration reached the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which placed limits on Iran’s nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement in 2018, after which Iran expanded its nuclear program beyond the deal’s restrictions, leaving the accord effectively dormant.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump addressed questions during his Florida meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu regarding a previously reported request that Israeli President Isaac Herzog grant a pardon to Netanyahu, saying: “I asked President Herzog about a pardon for Netanyahu, he replied that it is on the way.”

Shortly afterward, President Herzog’s office issued a detailed response disputing that characterization. The statement said: “There has not been a conversation between President Herzog and President Trump since the pardon request was submitted. Several weeks ago, a conversation took place between President Herzog and a representative on behalf of President Trump, who inquired about the U.S. President’s letter. During that conversation, an explanation was provided regarding the stage of the process in which the request currently stands, and that any decision on the matter will be made in accordance with the established procedures. This was conveyed to President Trump’s representative, exactly as President Herzog stated publicly in Israel.”

The discussion took place amid a broader meeting between Trump and Netanyahu in Florida earlier Monday, which included developments unrelated to the pardon issue.

During the meeting, a phone call was placed with Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch, who announced that Trump would be awarded the Israel Peace Prize.

In response to the announcement, Trump said he would consider traveling to Israel to attend the ceremony and receive the award. He thanked Kisch for the update and again said he would consider coming to Israel for the event.

{Matzav.com}

North Korea’s state media reported Monday that Kim Jong-un personally oversaw the launch of multiple long-range cruise missiles, a test the regime says was designed to reinforce its ability to deliver nuclear strikes. The report framed the exercise as part of Pyongyang’s broader effort to demonstrate the readiness of its strategic forces.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim expressed approval of the missile drill. “The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction,” KCNA stated, “saying that the result of the launching drill is a practical verification and clear demonstration of the absolute reliability and combat readiness of our strategic counterattack capability.”

KCNA further said Kim emphasized that the test was required to ensure “the reliability… of the components of the DPRK’s [North Korea’s] nuclear deterrent,” arguing that the country was “facing various security threats” that made such demonstrations necessary.

South Korea confirmed the activity shortly afterward. Yonhap News Agency reported that authorities detected “the launch of multiple missiles from the Sunan area near Pyongyang at around 8 a.m. the previous day [Sunday],” noting that the missiles flew over the Yellow Sea.

Seoul responded with pointed criticism. Yonhap quoted a South Korean government official, spokesperson Chung Binna, urging Pyongyang to change course. “North Korea should respond to South Korea’s efforts to resume dialogue that are being made in good faith to promote peace and coexistence on the peninsula and join efforts to maintain the stable situation,” Chung said.

The missile test followed another high-profile appearance by Kim, this time at a shipyard where North Korea claims it is building what it calls “an 8,700-tonnage nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine.” KCNA said Kim “guided” the project “on the spot,” despite no public evidence that he has technical expertise in nuclear submarine construction.

State media praised the workers involved, reporting that they went “all out in the glorious struggle for implementing the WPK’s [Workers’ Party of Korea] policy of modernizing the navy” by “pushing ahead with the building of a strategic nuclear attack submarine.”

KCNA added that the workforce greeted Kim with “inexhaustible patriotic enthusiasm,” while Kim asserted that the country’s nuclear forces — described as “the super-powerful offensive capability” — represented “the best shield for national security in developing the armed forces.”

Kim was also quoted as saying, “The strategic nuclear attack submarine to be considered as an important component of the nuclear war deterrent will constitute the greatest immortal feats of the working class, defense scientists and technicians, the driving force of the DPRK, for the times and history.”

KCNA announced the submarine project on Christmas Day. The timing was notable, given Pyongyang’s history with the holiday. Once known as the “Jerusalem of the East” because of its large Christian community, North Korea outlawed Christianity under Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-un’s grandfather, mandating worship of the ruling family instead. Today, possessing a Bible is illegal, and Christians face severe punishment, including torture and death, if discovered.

Kim’s visit to the submarine site also came days after the United States and South Korea confirmed the arrival of a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine in Busan. Chosun Ilbo reported that the USS Greenville docked there on December 23, marking the first such visit during the Lee Jae-myung administration.

North Korea’s Ministry of National Defense sharply condemned the deployment in a statement released Wednesday. “The repeated emergence of the U.S. strategic asset 46 days after the entry of the nuclear carrier George Washington strike group belonging to the U.S. Seventh Fleet into the ROK on November 7 constitutes a grave act of causing instability and escalating military tensions in the Korean peninsula and the region,” a Defense Ministry spokesperson said.

The statement continued with another warning: “This is a warning that the U.S. is getting closer to the critical level in its attempt to gain strategic advantage in the region by making its military alliance with the ROK [South Korea] more surely evolve into a nuclear confrontation bloc sharing its nuclear weapons.”

It concluded with a defiant message from Pyongyang. “The DPRK remains unchanged in its practical will to strongly propel the development of the defense capabilities for ensuring its prospective interests and defending security at present and in the future.” The statement added, “Nothing will change no matter how frequently the U.S. brings its nuclear submarine to highlight the visibility of its nuclear attack forces.”

Despite shifts in leadership and policy in Seoul, including efforts by President Lee Jae-myung to pursue engagement, North Korea has continued to emphasize military development as a core element of its national strategy, keeping nuclear deterrence at the center of its messaging to the region and beyond.

{Matzav.com}

Trump on Hamas: “It’ll be horrible for them — horrible, really, really bad for them [if they don’t disarm]. I don’t want that to happen, but they made an agreement that they’re going to disarm.”

Trump on Syria: “You know, your new president, I respect him. He’s a very strong guy, and that’s what you need in Syria. You can’t put a choir boy. You can’t put a somebody that’s a perfect person, everything’s nice, no problems in life. You have the opposite there. He’s a strong guy, we get […]

[Video below.] President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu met today at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where the two leaders discussed Gaza, Iran, and the broader regional situation.

Trump addressed Iran early in the discussion, warning that renewed activity by Tehran would draw an immediate response. “Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again. And if they are, we’re gonna have to knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that’s not happening.”

Asked directly whether he would back Israeli military action should Iran refuse a deal and continue advancing its nuclear and missile programs, Trump replied “yes.” He elaborated, saying, “Missiles, yes, the nuclear, fast,” and added, “We’ll do it immediately.”

Turning to Gaza, Trump said he wanted to advance the next stage of the peace framework without delay, while emphasizing a key precondition. He said he hoped to move to Phase 2 “as quickly as possible,” but stressed that “there must be a disarming” of the Hamas terrorist organization.

Trump was also asked about the timing of the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire in relation to the fate of the final remaining hostage, Ran Gvili. Referring to him as a “wonderful young man,” Trump noted the presence of his “wonderful parents” at the meeting. “He’s the only one left, and we’re doing everything we can to get his body back,” Trump said.

The US president repeatedly praised Netanyahu’s leadership during the war, calling him “a war-time prime minister” who has “done a phenomenal job.” Trump said Netanyahu “has taken Israel through a very dangerous period of trauma,” adding that “Israel, with other people, might not exist right now.” He continued, “If you had the wrong prime minister, Israel right now would not exist,” and concluded, “We worked together and we were extremely victorious.”

Netanyahu, for his part, returned the praise, emphasizing the strength of the relationship between the two leaders. “We’ve never had a friend like President Trump in the White House. It’s not even close … I think Israel is very blessed to have President Trump leading the United States and leading the free world at this time. I think it’s not merely Israel’s great fortune. I think it’s the world’s great fortune.”

Netanyahu arrived earlier Monday at Mar-a-Lago for the high-level meeting, which comes amid ongoing efforts to shape the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire and rising concern over Iran’s regional ambitions.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

TRUMP: “I’m not concerned about anything that Israel is doing”

Trump on Iran: “I hope they’re not trying to build up again, because if they are, we’re going to have no choice but very quickly to eradicate that buildup. So, I hope Iran is not trying to build up, as I’ve been reading.”

A historic theater in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol has opened its doors more than three years after it was pummeled in a Russian airstrike that killed hundreds of civilians sheltering inside. Moscow-installed authorities marked the rebuilding of the Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theater with a gala concert on the building’s new main stage […]

POTUS delivers remarks upon meeting with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu: “We had a big meeting with a lot of people… and I think we came to a lot of conclusion… and so, I just want to thank you for spending time.”

YWN regrets to inform you of the tragic petirah of Israel (Sol) Zaltz Z”L, a resident of Cedarhurst, who was R”L killed in a devastating car accident in the Five Towns early Monday morning. He was 77 years old. As YWN previously reported, the niftar was critically injured when a vehicle slammed head-on into his […]

Torrential rains flooded Spain’s southern and eastern provinces over the weekend, leaving at least three people dead

A Muslim vendor who intervened during a deadly antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach has described the moment he ran toward one of the assailants and wrestled a gun from him in an effort to protect civilians. Ahmed al Ahmed said in an interview with CBS News that his sole intention was to stop the gunman […]

For the first time in a quarter century, Jews will be permitted to enter Kever Yosef in Shechem during daylight hours, following an announcement made Monday by Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz.

Under the updated arrangement, visitors will be allowed to remain inside the compound until 8:00 a.m., replacing the long-standing requirement to exit by 4:00 a.m. The extended window will also make it possible to hold Shacharis at the site. Officials said that the possibility of allowing Jews to stay for even longer periods during the day will be reviewed at a later stage.

Until now, all Jewish access to Kever Yosef has been restricted to nighttime visits only, and solely under the coordination and protection of Israeli security forces.

The move represents a major shift from policy in place since 2000, when the Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva was evacuated from the compound. Since that time, no organized Jewish visits during daylight hours had been permitted.

The Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva welcomed the announcement, issuing a statement that read: “We praise the Defense Minister’s decision, which is correct from a moral, historical, and security standpoint. It is time that Jews be allowed to stay at Kever Yosef in daylight, proudly, and not [only] as thieves in the night. This is the first step towards the full return of Jews to Shechem and to the kever of Yosef Hatzaddik.”

The statement continued with a broader message of hope tied to the weekly Torah reading: “This past Shabbos, we read in the Torah about the reunion between Yosef Hatzaddik and his brothers, and we hope that soon, the entire nation of Israel will be able to reunite, with Kever Yosef under full and permanent Jewish control.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli intelligence officials say a strategic analysis prepared by Hamas’ intelligence apparatus played a central role in the terror group’s decision-making ahead of the October 7, 2023 massacre, influencing the thinking of its now-deceased leaders, Yahya Sinwar and Mohammad Deif.

The document, which was recovered by Israeli forces during combat operations in the Gaza Strip amid the war, was written less than a month before the attack. It was later released in full by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center.

According to the assessment, Hamas believed Israel had no intention of overthrowing the group’s rule in Gaza. The authors argued that Israeli policy had evolved over time, moving away from decisive military outcomes toward what they described as conflict containment.

The paper stated that “Israel relied for years on a strategy of preemptive strikes, but the strengthening of Hamas and Hezbollah caused it to shift to a pattern of short rounds of limited-intensity fighting.”

The analysis pointed to Israel’s experience in Operation Cast Lead in 2008–2009, asserting that Israel failed to achieve its central aim of dismantling Hamas’ control of Gaza. As a result, the document claimed, Israel adopted imprecise war aims in later confrontations, prioritizing deterrence and conflict management over outright victory and regime change.

The authors also examined the events of Operation Guardian of the Walls in 2021, concluding that Hamas scored what they termed a psychological success by tying the fighting in Gaza to tensions in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, while also stirring unrest among Arab citizens of Israel.

In addition, the assessment argued that Israel “failed to implement the ‘war between wars’ policy,” and maintained that the prospect of a multi-front conflict represents the most severe test of Israeli military capacity. For that reason, the document asserted, Israel prefers to avoid simultaneous wars and instead engage adversaries in separate theaters.

Building on these conclusions, the paper asserted that “Israel has not abandoned the idea of a preemptive strike, especially following the failure in Operation Guardian of the Walls, but it is not in a position to build a new deterrence equation. Therefore, it focuses on conflict management, risk management, and neutralizing threats. Thus, the recommendation to Hamas leadership is to prepare for a new opening strike that will trigger a new round of fighting, but also to lead an ‘unexpected’ confrontation that will break the recurring pattern and put Israeli leadership in a state of uncertainty.”

Israeli officials say the document was formally presented to the leadership of Hamas’ military wing. Roughly a month later, the terror group launched the October 7 assault, with investigators assessing that the conclusions and recommendations outlined in the paper were among the factors that shaped the decision to carry out the attack.

{Matzav.com}

The head of Iran’s Central Bank resigned Monday as the biggest protests since 2022 erupted in Tehran and other cities after the country’s currency plummeted to a new record low against the U.S. dollar. The resignation of Mohammad Reza Farzin was reported by state TV, as traders and shopkeepers rallied in Saadi Street in downtown […]

The United Torah Judaism faction has decided to boycott all votes in the Knesset plenum this week, deepening tensions within the governing coalition. While the final decision is expected to be formally approved at an upcoming faction meeting, the move already signals a significant coalition crisis. The dispute follows a sharp confrontation between Aryeh Deri, chairman of Shas, and Moshe Gafni, head of Degel HaTorah, alongside what UTJ officials describe as coalition intervention in favor of Shas. During the faction meeting, UTJ faction chairman Uri Maklev outlined the background to the decision, explaining that relations between Shas and Degel HaTorah deteriorated further over the appointment of the chairman of Yerushalayim’s religious council. According to Maklev, the recent conduct surrounding the issue left United Torah Judaism with no choice but to refrain from supporting coalition votes this week. UTJ chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf voiced sharp criticism during the discussion, directing his remarks at Maklev. Goldknopf questioned why voting boycotts were not pursued earlier, saying: “Didn’t you always say we need to keep a ‘wick’ connected to the coalition? Yeshiva students are being arrested, the Ofek Chadash framework is being stalled, and that still didn’t lead you to halt votes in the plenum.” {Matzav.com}

TRUMP: “Every hostage that’s been released was released because of me and my team…NONE were released in the Biden Administration”

Two chareidi women in their 20s from central Israel were arrested Sunday at Prague’s international airport on suspicion of attempting to smuggle a large quantity of khat, according to a report by mako.

During a search conducted by customs officials and local police, authorities discovered 96 kilograms of khat hidden in the women’s luggage — 48 kilograms in each suitcase. The seized shipment is estimated to be worth tens of thousands of euros. Following the discovery, the two were taken into custody and transferred to a local detention facility in Czech Republic for questioning.

Preliminary findings indicate that the women were not acting independently. Investigators suspect they were recruited as couriers in an organized smuggling operation. According to the probe, the pair allegedly acted on behalf of an Israeli khat dealer known to police and were tasked with delivering the shipment to local distributors in the Czech Republic.

Law enforcement officials noted that khat smuggled into Prague is typically intended for buyers within African immigrant communities, where the plant is considered highly sought after.

Family members of the detainees, expressing deep concern over their situation, have reached out to Israel’s Foreign Ministry for assistance. The Department for Israelis Abroad said the case is known and is being handled by the Israeli consulate in Prague, which is in contact with local authorities to monitor the women’s condition and provide assistance within the limits of its authority.

Earlier reports recalled a similar case from 136 days ago, when two 19-year-old Israeli men from chareidi families were arrested in Germany at the French border after allegedly attempting to smuggle 50 kilograms of khat in a rented vehicle. One of those detained was Nechemia Epstein, the brother of social media activist Yedidia Epstein. The two were released today, one day before Yedidia’s wedding.

After their release, the two issued a warning to others who may be tempted to engage in khat smuggling. “This was a mistake. We call on everyone not to be tempted to smuggle khat. It is dangerous and can end in a long prison sentence,” they said.

Members of the Jewish community in Germany have also voiced alarm over the phenomenon, warning of severe consequences and damage to the community’s reputation. “From time to time, young chareidi men are arrested with suitcases full of khat, and the punishment can be very harsh. Many times, chareidi youths end up spending very long periods in European prisons,” community representatives said.

{Matzav.com}

Trump at Mar-a-Lago: “This is a very good group. We made a lot of progress already. We had about a five minute meeting, and we’ve already settled about three of the difficulties.”