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Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu returned to a high-level cabinet meeting this week and unexpectedly credited Aryeh Deri for a successful outcome, telling him, “It’s all thanks to you,” and later adding, “Because of your learning [Torah],” after a tense phone call with President Donald Trump.

According to a report, Deri, who serves as chairman of the Shas party, had participated in a meeting of the restricted security cabinet last Motzoei Shabbos. During the session, Netanyahu stepped out for an extended phone conversation with Trump, with visible signs of tension and concern apparent on his face as he left the room.

Sensing that the discussion would be paused for some time, Deri used the opportunity to continue his daily limud haTorah. He opened Maseches Menachos, explaining that he had only a few remaining pages to complete the masechta as part of his Daf Yomi cycle.

After approximately half an hour, Netanyahu returned to the meeting noticeably relieved and in high spirits. To the surprise of those present, he gestured toward Deri with a sign of acknowledgment and said, “It’s all thanks to you.” When Deri, puzzled, responded, “What did I do? I was just sitting and learning,” Netanyahu replied, “Because of your learning.”

The following day, Deri marked the completion of Maseches Menachos with a siyum, attended by members of the Shas faction as well as the newly appointed Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv, Rav Zevadia Cohen.

{Matzav.com}

The Lag Ba’omer celebration at Meron may not take place this year after Yerushalayim Affairs Ministry Director-General Shimon Elbaum warned that the event cannot proceed without a functioning transportation plan, placing responsibility on the Transportation Ministry for the potential cancellation.

In a strongly worded letter addressed to Transportation Ministry Director-General Moshe Ben Zaken, Elbaum accused the ministry of failing to implement the transportation arrangements required under government directives. He cautioned that unless the issue is resolved, the annual gathering will not be held.

“Following coordination with the responsible minister, Dr. Shlomo Karhi,” Elbaum wrote, “and after it became clear that the Transportation Ministry is not activating the required transportation system in accordance with government decisions, the law, and the approved framework, I wish to clarify the following: As per the law regulating the Lag Ba’omer celebration at Meron, access to the site is permitted only via designated public transportation and special travel tickets. This is a fundamental condition for maintaining controlled and limited entry in line with Home Front Command guidelines.”

Elbaum emphasized that the scaled-down format for the event had already received approval from all relevant security bodies and was designed to carefully manage crowd movement while limiting the number of attendees at any one time.

“Failure to operate the transportation system according to the approved framework makes it impossible to implement this mechanism,” he warned. “This directly undermines the ability to enforce the plan in accordance with Home Front Command directives. In such a situation, serious public disorder, unusual congestion, uncontrolled arrivals, and a real risk of dangerous crowding and clashes with enforcement forces are expected.”

He concluded by stating that without the Transportation Ministry fulfilling its role, the event cannot be conducted safely, making cancellation unavoidable.

“Therefore, since the Transportation Ministry does not intend to fulfill its role in implementing the approved framework, it will not be possible to hold the Lag Ba’omer celebration at Meron in a safe manner. Under these circumstances, and with great regret, we are forced to announce that in 2026 no Lag Ba’omer events will take place at Meron. It should be clarified that responsibility for all consequences stemming from this, including risks to public safety, congestion, disorder, and danger to human life, will rest with the Transportation Ministry.”

Separately, authorities released an updated outline for this year’s Lag Ba’omer observance on Har Meron, which calls for three bonfire-lighting ceremonies under police supervision, each limited to 200 participants.

The revised framework follows a directive issued Friday afternoon by the Home Front Command restricting outdoor gatherings in northern border areas, including Meron, to a maximum of 200 people, while indoor gatherings in those regions are capped at 600 participants.

Funds collected through a public crowdfunding drive to oppose the draft law are now being used as part of a political campaign linked to Naftali Bennett, following the decision of the activist group’s founder to join his party ahead of the upcoming elections.

The movement “Shoulder to Shoulder,” which in recent months spearheaded protests against the draft law and raised more than half a million shekels from supporters, has now become the focus of a growing political controversy. About two weeks ago, the group’s founder, Yonatan Shalev, joined Bennett’s electoral list, and donors who contributed to the cause later discovered that the digital assets created with their donations had effectively been absorbed into Bennett’s campaign operation.

According to a report by Channel 12 News, the funds raised by Shalev and members of “Shoulder to Shoulder” were used, among other things, to build and promote social media pages, including those belonging to Shalev personally and to the organization itself. After Shalev aligned with Bennett’s party, those same pages were formally presented as part of the campaign’s official assets.

As a result, individuals who donated to support a public protest against the draft law—without necessarily intending to support Bennett or his party—found that the initiative they backed was now tied to a partisan political effort. Some donors voiced discomfort with the abrupt transition from a grassroots protest movement to direct political campaigning.

The development has also sparked legal and public scrutiny. The fundraising efforts of Shalev and “Shoulder to Shoulder” were not conducted through a registered nonprofit or formal legal entity, meaning there was no typical external oversight governing how the money would be used. A key question now being raised is whether social media platforms built with public donations, and later used in a party campaign, could constitute an improper political contribution or benefit.

Bennett’s associates have strongly pushed back against the claims. A statement from the “Together” party said: “Shoulder to Shoulder is a social initiative that is not a nonprofit organization, which promoted equality in sharing the burden. Its members launched a crowdfunding campaign to fight the draft evasion law. Recently, the members of the organization made a courageous decision to enter politics in order to give a voice to young people in the country. Any claim of an ‘improper contribution’ is completely without factual or legal basis.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Friday that he will not pursue congressional authorization for the ongoing conflict with Iran, arguing that the requirement under the War Powers Act is invalid and unnecessary.

Under the War Powers Act, a president must obtain approval from Congress within 60 days of notifying lawmakers about a military engagement involving U.S. forces. The joint U.S.-Israeli campaign targeting Iran’s leadership and military assets began on Feb. 28, but Congress was not formally notified until March 2. That timeline set Friday as the deadline for securing authorization to continue operations.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House before departing for Florida, Trump was asked why he would not request approval from Congress.

“Because it’s never been sought before,” he said in comments that aired live on Newsmax and the free Newsmax2 streaming platform. “There’s been numerous, many, many times, and nobody’s ever gotten it before. They consider it totally unconstitutional.

“But we’re always in touch with Congress. But nobody’s ever saw it before. Nobody’s ever asked for it before. It’s never been used before. Why should we be different?”

Presidents from both political parties have historically carried out military actions without formally invoking the War Powers Act, often raising questions about its constitutional standing and choosing not to adhere to it in certain situations.

Trump’s remarks build on the administration’s broader position regarding the law. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that the 60-day requirement does not apply in this case because a ceasefire between the United States and Iran has been in place since April 8.

However, the statute does not include any clause that pauses the 60-day deadline during a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the Senate voted Thursday for the sixth time on a resolution aimed at ending the conflict, rejecting it by a 50-47 margin. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, sided with most Democrats in backing the measure, along with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has consistently supported efforts to limit the administration’s war-making authority. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., was the lone Democrat to oppose the resolution.

Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said Thursday that he would support a formal authorization for the conflict if Trump were to request one. He also raised doubts about the constitutionality of the War Powers Act, noting its origins during the Vietnam War as an effort to reassert congressional control.

“Our founders created a really strong executive, like it or not like it,” Cramer said.

A 45-year-old man has been formally charged with attempted murder following a stabbing attack that left two Jewish men seriously wounded in Golders Green, north London, on Wednesday, in an incident authorities have deemed terrorism-related.

Essa Suleiman, 45, is accused of carrying out the assault on Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76. Both men suffered significant injuries and were rushed to the hospital, where they received medical treatment. The Metropolitan Police have classified the attack as connected to terrorism.

In addition to the Golders Green incident, Suleiman is also alleged to have tried to murder Ishmail Hussein in a separate stabbing earlier that same day at Hussein’s residence in Southwark, south London. According to reports, the two men had been acquainted for approximately 20 years.

Prosecutors have further charged Suleiman with possession of a knife in a public place in connection with the Golders Green attack.

During a court appearance on Friday, Suleiman stood in the dock wearing a grey sweatshirt and trousers issued by police. He appeared to have visible bruising around his eyes. He confirmed his name and date of birth but did not enter a plea at that time.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Friday that he is not satisfied with Iran’s most recent proposal to end the conflict, raising doubts about whether a negotiated agreement can ultimately be reached.

Speaking to reporters, Trump indicated that while Iran is showing interest in reaching a deal, the current offer falls short of his expectations. “They want to make a deal,” Trump said, adding, “I’m not satisfied with it.”

Trump on Iran:

They want to make a deal, but I’m not satisfied with it.pic.twitter.com/2PQGp4KXZn

— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 1, 2026

The president declined to detail the specific elements he found unacceptable, but suggested that Iran’s leadership may not be capable of finalizing an agreement. He pointed to internal divisions among officials in Tehran as a major obstacle.

“They’ve made strides, but I’m not sure if they ever get there,” Trump said, describing “tremendous discord” among Iran’s leaders.

“The leadership is very disjointed,” he said. “It’s got two to three groups, maybe four, and it’s a very disjointed leadership. And with that being said, they all want to make a deal, but they’re all messed up.”

Trump outlined what he described as two possible paths forward: escalating military action or continuing efforts toward a diplomatic resolution. He emphasized that, while force remains an option, it is not his preferred course.

“There are options. Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever? Or do we want to try and make a deal. That’s the options,” Trump said, stressing that his preference was not to restart the bombing campaign.

“On a human basis, I’d prefer not,” he said. “But that’s the option: do we want to go in there heavy and just blast them away or do we want to do something?”

The remarks follow comments Trump made Thursday, when he suggested that Iran is eager to reach an agreement. At that time, he said Iran is “dying to make a deal,” adding that “hopefully it can be worked out very soon.”

When asked about the status of negotiations, Trump underscored the limited number of people involved in the discussions.

“Nobody knows what the talks are except myself and a couple of other people.”

He reiterated that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remains a central objective.

“The bottom line is for this world, for our country, but certainly for Israel, the Middle East and Europe, much closer, you cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”

Recent diplomatic efforts have also shifted in format. Trump canceled a planned visit by U.S. envoys to Islamabad for in-person discussions with Iranian officials, opting instead to continue negotiations remotely.

“We have talks, we’re having talks with them now, and we’re not flying anymore with 18-hour flights every time we want to see a piece of paper,” the president said.

“We’re doing it telephonically, and it’s very nice. I make a call, or I have my people make a call, and you know the answer in 15 – I always like face to face, you know, I consider it better,” he continued. “But when you have to fly 18 hours every time you want to have a meeting, and you know what the meeting is all about, and you know they’re going to give you a piece of paper that you don’t like before you even leave, it’s ridiculous, and they’ve come a long way.”

[Video below.] President Donald Trump sharply criticized House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries after the New York Democrat made pointed remarks about the Supreme Court and Republican leadership, escalating tensions between the White House and congressional Democrats.

Trump responded to Jeffries’ comments by disputing his claims and questioning his judgment, calling him a “low-IQ” person and warning that his rhetoric was “dangerous.” The president’s response came after Jeffries delivered a forceful critique of the current Supreme Court, which he characterized as dominated by a “corrupt” MAGA-aligned majority.

During his remarks, Jeffries also signaled that Democrats could take action regarding the Court if they regain power in the upcoming midterm elections, stating that they would “do something” about its current composition.

WATCH:

A fundraising event featuring Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman was held last night at the offices of Binyomin Kurland on N. County Line Road in Jackson, New Jersey.

The gathering was organized in support of the Fetterman Victory Fund and drew attendees interested in engaging with the senator and supporting his ongoing efforts.

The event was co-hosted by Binyomin Kurland, Moishe Klein, Shalom Stein, Meir Kubie, and Heshy Landau.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply criticized late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, dismissing him as a “lowlife” and saying he neither heard nor cared about any apology from the comedian.

“I haven’t heard him apologize, but he’s a lowlife, whether he apologized or not,” Trump said during “The Record With Greta Van Susteren,” adding that Kimmel “shouldn’t be on television” and accusing his show of being entirely anti-Republican.

Trump went on to question ABC’s decision to continue airing Kimmel’s program, suggesting the network may be misusing public airwaves and warning that it could be placing itself “in great jeopardy.”

The comments come in the wake of backlash over a joke Kimmel made ahead of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, where he remarked that the first lady had “a glow like an expectant widow,” a statement that drew sharp criticism from Trump allies.

In the days that followed, a shooting at the annual event—reported as targeting Trump—brought heightened attention to Kimmel’s remarks. The president and his supporters argued that such rhetoric contributed to a dangerous political atmosphere, while Kimmel maintained that he did not intend to incite violence and rejects it.

The controversy has since broadened into a regulatory issue involving federal oversight.

According to multiple reports, the Federal Communications Commission has accelerated its review of broadcast licenses held by ABC-owned stations, expediting what is usually a routine renewal process.

FCC officials have indicated that the review is based on wider concerns about corporate conduct and compliance, rather than any single show. Still, the timing—coming after Trump’s public criticism of Kimmel and ABC—has led to questions about whether the move is politically driven.

In his phone interview with Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax, Trump linked his remarks about Kimmel to broader concerns about the network, referencing prior disputes with ABC and its journalists while describing the current situation as “very serious.”

{Matzav.com}

An overnight enforcement operation in the Gush Etzion region has sparked widespread anger after residents reported that tefillin were destroyed during the evacuation of an agricultural outpost.

According to residents, combined forces from the Border Police and the Civil Administration raided the Kochav Yehuda outpost during the night and demolished structures at the site, marking the 33rd such evacuation since the outpost was established roughly two months ago.

The outpost, located in a strategic area between the communities of Efrat and Tekoa, has been repeatedly rebuilt by residents after each demolition. During the latest operation, residents said authorities not only dismantled buildings but also confiscated religious texts and caused significant damage to personal belongings.

The incident took a particularly disturbing turn, residents said, when they returned to assess the damage after the forces left. They discovered that a pair of tefillin belonging to one of the residents had been crushed and completely ruined by a bulldozer used in the operation.

Photos from the scene showed that the housing of the head tefillin had been split in two, while the hand tefillin were also severely damaged.

Residents reacted with shock and distress to the discovery. In a statement, they said: “These are scenes that shock every Jewish soul and are reminiscent of dark times. The severe incident of desecrating sacred items is the result of unrestrained persecution being carried out by Central Command against the outpost. Not only destruction on an unprecedented scale, but also violence and a lack of basic humanity on the part of the forces, who do not even safeguard the residents’ personal property during demolitions.”

Despite the repeated demolitions and the reported damage to both personal and religious items, the residents made clear they intend to continue maintaining their presence at the site.

They emphasized the strategic importance of the outpost, stating: “Kochav Yehuda outpost is one of the most strategic outposts today in Gush Etzion, connecting the central bloc to its eastern area.”

According to their claims, without a continuous Jewish presence in the area, an opposing Arab territorial bloc could quickly take hold, which they argue could serve as a foundation for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

They concluded with a firm declaration: “We will continue to hold on to our ancestral land and protect it in every way.”

{Matzav.com}

A senior Israeli military official is warning that the success of the recent operation against Iran could be effectively erased if diplomatic talks fail to secure an agreement to remove enriched uranium from the country and stop further enrichment.

The official stressed that preventing Iran from advancing its nuclear program was the core objective of the operation, not merely a symbolic move or response. “This would be a major failure, because this rogue regime would be able to rush toward nuclear capability-and then we will have achieved nothing.”

He also voiced doubts about the decision-making of Iran’s leadership, suggesting that if current negotiations do not fully meet their goals, additional military action may be required to achieve the intended outcome.

During the course of the conflict, the IDF targeted not only military infrastructure but also internal security forces within Iran, including Basij checkpoints and other enforcement units. According to the official, these strikes were aimed at encouraging public unrest within the country.

However, he acknowledged that the effort did not produce the desired effect. “Once it became clear to us that it was not working, we stopped doing it,” he said.

Separately, the Israeli Air Force recently conducted a test of a new drone interception system, but the trial did not meet expectations.

In response to ongoing drone threats, the Air Force has shifted its approach, seeking to strike Hezbollah drone-launching units deep within their territory rather than relying solely on defensive measures.

The official conceded that the military currently lacks a complete technological answer to the drone threat. “there is currently no solution for drones,” he said, adding: “There will not be 100% success in intercepting drones. We must not wait on the defensive; we must attack the drone operators 20 kilometers inside Lebanon.”

{Matzav.com}

Britain’s Chief Rabbi, Rav Ephraim Mirvis, has called on the UK government to expel Iran’s ambassador following controversial messages linked to the Iranian diplomatic mission that he says amounted to a call for martyrdom.

The demand comes after reports that a message associated with Iran’s embassy encouraged British-Iranians to register for a program described as “martyrdom,” prompting a police review of the content.

Rav Mirvis said the messaging, which urged those “loyal to Iran” to “sacrifice themselves for the homeland,” was effectively incitement.

He urged British officials to follow the lead of countries such as Australia and Lebanon, which have already expelled Iranian representatives, and to take decisive action in response to the message, now under investigation.

One post, written in Persian and circulated on the social media platform Telegram, stated: “Let us all give our bodies to be slaughtered, because this is better than giving our country to the enemy,” and directed readers to a website where they could register.

Iran’s ambassador, Seyed Ali Mousavi, was summoned to the Foreign Office by Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer following the reports. London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed it is reviewing the content of the message.

Despite that, Rav Mirvis pressed for stronger action, calling for the envoy’s removal. Speaking on BBC Radio 4, he said: “We are wondering how it can be that on Tuesday, just three days ago, the Iranian embassy here in the UK called on Iranians in Britain to ‘be loyal to your country,’ to go out and even risk your lives in order to act for Iran. This is effectively a call for martyrdom”.

He linked the message to broader security concerns, adding: “The day after that, we saw someone trying to stab to death as many people as possible simply because they were Jewish in Golders Green”. He questioned why the UK had not followed other nations in expelling the ambassador.

“How is it that in Australia, the Iranian ambassador was expelled, that in Lebanon the Iranian ambassador was expelled, why is the Iranian ambassador still here?”

The chief rabbi also warned of what he described as “terror activity backed by Iran” and criticized delays in formally designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization—a step supported by both Labour and Conservative lawmakers but not yet implemented.

“Why is there not a more serious examination of the threat not only to Jews, but also the threat from Iran within our society and to society as a whole?” he said. “And we must treat the situation with far greater seriousness right now”.

Responding to the remarks, minister Alex Davies-Jones said it remains important to maintain diplomatic relations with Iran. “It is important that we get this right, that we keep channels open, that we keep diplomatic channels open with the Iranian ambassador, particularly at a time when war is taking place in Iran,” she said.

She described the Telegram messages as “abhorrent” and added that the Foreign Office had summoned the ambassador “to discuss these remarks, to see what further action can be taken in cooperation.”

Rav Mirvis’s comments follow similar remarks from Nigel Farage, leader of a right-wing party in the UK and a leading figure in opinion polls, who told the Jewish Chronicle that a government under his leadership would expel Iran’s ambassador.

A spokesperson for the Iranian Embassy in London defended the messaging, stating: “Iranians around the world have always cared deeply about their homeland and about defending its territorial integrity, and they always will. The ‘Jan Fada’ platform is intended for all Iranians who wish to support and defend their country, and it does not promote any form of hostility.”

{Matzav.com}