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MK Avi Maoz, head of the Noam party, charged that the Israel Defense Forces are not genuinely interested in drafting chareidim in a way that allows them to complete their service while fully maintaining their religious identity.

Maoz made the remarks during an interview at the Kikar Hashabbat studio, with the full conversation set to air later tonight.

Maoz argued that the military has failed to create an environment that preserves the lifestyle and standards of chareidi recruits. “I think that the army is not doing what it needs to do so that a chareidi can enlist as a chareidi and also leave as a chareidi while preserving his way of life,” he said.

He explained that the core issue, in his view, is the lack of formalized protections. “Since the army does not anchor the service conditions of chareidim in IDF regulations, I am waiting for the army to anchor the chareidi service conditions in IDF regulations. Only then will I know that the army really wants to draft them so that they will be fighters and not in order to put them through the IDF melting pot to educate them anew.”

Maoz said his conclusion comes after a long period of evaluation. “I, to my great sorrow, and I say this after a long time, the army does not really want to draft the chareidim and have them also leave as chareidim.”

{Matzav.com}

During a tense appearance on Kan 11 News, MK Yuli Edelstein leveled fierce criticism at the coalition’s latest Draft Law proposal, insisting that the legislation is far from what the army actually requires. He argued that the bill is being pushed forward without genuine conviction and suggested that crucial pieces of the plan were never properly vetted.

Edelstein said the military is grappling with a shortfall of roughly 12,000 soldiers across combat and support roles, yet he believes the proposal fails to offer any meaningful solution to that staffing crisis. He also expressed frustration with last-minute items that appeared in the legislation—provisions he noted were never discussed throughout the year—claiming they were tacked on simply to manufacture disputes so that any eventual horse-trading could be marketed as political “achievements.”

Turning his attention to Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, Edelstein remarked, “I’ve known Netanyahu for 30 years. When something is important to him, he throws himself into it. That’s not what’s happening here. I know how many calls he makes and how many meetings he holds when he wants to get something passed. In this case – I haven’t seen that.” His comments underscored his belief that the prime minister has not been fully invested in steering the law to a workable outcome.

The Likud veteran didn’t mince words when discussing the text of the bill itself. “What’s written there is evasion, not enlistment. The Bismuth Law is, unfortunately, a law of evasion,” he said, labeling the draft as a blueprint that avoids the real problem rather than confronting it.

Edelstein cautioned that the political consequences could be severe, noting that dissatisfaction isn’t coming only from opponents of the government. “Opposition to this law isn’t coming from Kaplan demonstrators – it’s coming from Likud and Religious Zionism voters,” he warned, signaling potential turbulence for both the coalition and his own party.

{Matzav.com}

It seems like every day, and sometimes several times a day, news reports are published about the crimes of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, whom the government tried to dismiss long ago but was prevented from doing so by the Supreme Court. An i24News report on Wednesday revealed that Baharav-Miara’s senior aide, Adv. Chagai Harush, recused […]

Democrat Eileen Higgins won the Miami mayor’s race on Tuesday, defeating a Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump to end her party’s nearly three-decade losing streak and give Democrats a boost in one of the last electoral battles ahead of the 2026 midterms. Higgins, 61, will be the first woman to lead the city of Miami. She […]

Every day, political decisions are being made that shape our communities-  our safety, our schools, our taxes, our religious freedoms, our connection to Israel. And while the headlines flash across the screen, too many of us are watching from the sidelines. KOL YISROEL is here to change that. This is a movement built on one […]

Video shows a motorcyclist in Pakistan dragging a doll meant to represent Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Today marks six years since the terror attack at the JC Kosher Supermarket in Jersey City, NJ, which claimed four lives, including the store’s owner, Mrs. Mindy Ferencz hy”d, and 24-year-old Moshe Deutsch hy”d. The yahrtzeit (12 Kislev) was marked last week.

A car exploded Wednesday afternoon at the Nahalal Junction in northern Israel, killing a man and lightly injuring two bystanders. Police say initial evidence indicates the explosion was criminal in nature.

Secretary Duffy: “I see so many kids in the airport and they have an iPhone or iPad… If you can get your child into a play area, have fun, burn some energy… it’s a way better experience for the parents, but also, it’s better for the kids.”

A Stark County Sheriff’s Deputy had a close call on Interstate 97 in North Dakota when a car lost control and barreled towards the deputy tending to a separate accident in the snow-covered median. Both the driver and the deputy were not injured.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar brushed aside the inflammatory claims coming from New York City’s soon-to-take-office mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who has publicly vowed to have Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu arrested the moment he steps into the city. Sa’ar, speaking with the New York Post during a stop in Midtown on Monday, said the dramatic threats have zero impact on Netanyahu’s intentions.

“I don’t want to enter into a legal debate with the elected mayor of New York,” Sa’ar said. “But I will only say or repeat what the prime minister had said himself, he will come to New York.”

Mamdani has been one of the loudest critics of Israel on the American political scene, repeatedly accusing the Jewish state of committing war crimes during its war against Hamas. Citing the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant, he has insisted he would order Netanyahu’s detention should the prime minister visit New York City.

That declaration was quickly dismissed at the state level. New York Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized last week that Mamdani has absolutely no power to carry out such an act. “No, I do not, and the New York City mayor has not had the power to do that,” Hochul said, making clear that the threat was purely rhetorical.

Even with the heated language flying from City Hall-elect, Sa’ar signaled he was not entirely closing the door on future engagement. “I hope that we will have, in the future, maybe, a constructive dialogue, even though I can be skeptical about it,” he told the Post.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH: The IDF’s Mountain Brigade is operating on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon this morning as Storm Byron hits.

Secretary Turner: “Because of illegal immigration… prices have risen, supply has been squeezed, but we’re working very hard at HUD… to bring down the cost and raise the supply.”

BREAKING: Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Michigan) filed articles of impeachment against HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Secretary Wright: “Of course he’s bothered by the high prices, but those were caused by Biden. President Trump got elected, and he spent every day since he arrived, to reverse that, and drive prices in the other direction.”

NYC Comptroller Brad Lander officially announced Wednesday that he’s running for Congress, launching a primary challenge against Rep. Dan Goldman.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee discusses the potential announcement of phase two of the Gaza plan, the progress made in hostage recovery, and the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Israeli forces conducted overnight raids across Judea and Samaria, detaining or questioning roughly 100 Palestinians. The operation focused on senior Hamas terrorists and previously released prisoners.

At an affordability-focused appearance in Pennsylvania, the president launched into a blistering attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar, painting her as someone who constantly airs grievances and contributes little. He mocked her by name, telling the audience, “I love this Ilhan Omar, whatever the … her name is, with the little turban. I love her. She comes in, does nothing but [complain]. She’s always complaining. She comes from her country, where I mean, it’s considered about the worst country in the world, right?”

The crowd roared as he amped up the rhetoric, prompting them with “We oughta get her the …. out,” which quickly morphed into loud chants of “Send her back!”

He didn’t stop there. The president once again resurfaced an allegation he has long lobbed at the Minnesota lawmaker—that she married her brother for the purpose of committing immigration fraud—reintroducing one of his most controversial claims.

Trump also pointed back to a message he posted last month on Truth Social, when he had demanded Rep. Omar leave the country. In that post, he shared a video of her speaking in Minnesota, remarking that “Somalia is our home” and referring to the Somali president as “our President,” and added, “She should go back!”

The suggestion that Omar does not belong in the United States is a theme he has revisited often. In the fall, he recounted a conversation at the White House, telling reporters, “You know I met the head of Somalia, did you know that? And I suggested that maybe he’d like to take her back. He said ‘I don’t want her.’”

His antagonism toward Omar traces back years. Throughout his first term—especially in the closing months of the 2020 race—he repeatedly showcased her as a foil, accusing her of “telling us how to run our country.”

{Matzav.com}

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado ‘s daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her mother’s behalf Wednesday, hours after officials said Machado would miss the ceremony. Machado has been in hiding and has not been seen in public since Jan. 9, when she was briefly detained after joining supporters in a protest in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital. […]