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Secretary of State Antony Blinken made clear Thursday that he does not intend to continue into another Democratic administration, saying that he looks forward to having a lot more time with his kids very soon.

The acknowledgment – not a surprise, but still the first public acknowledgment of his plans – is another indicator that a Kamala Harris presidency would probably have a different foreign policy team from that of President Joe Biden. Harris has indicated she would generally continue Biden’s approach to international affairs, but she has also struck a more critical tone toward the Israeli government and civilian deaths in Gaza.

Asked at a news conference whether he would serve in a Harris administration if requested, Blinken said: “As to my own future, all I’m looking at right now is the balance of this administration and January. And I can tell you from having spent some time over the last week on … break with my kids, I will relish having a lot more time with them.”

Top U.S. diplomats rarely serve more than a single term, partly because of the grueling nature of the job. Blinken – who has two young children – spends about half of his time on the road, bouncing from time zone to time zone.

Although he has served in foreign policy roles across multiple Democratic administrations, Blinken has worked most closely over his career with Biden, who hired him when he was the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and took him along when he became vice president.

(c) Washington Post

Israel has uncovered 180 tunnels under the Philadelphi Corridor, Gaza’s strategic border with Sinai. Observers say those tunnels served as 24-hour weapons supply lines for Hamas, not just under the watchful eyes of Egypt, but with its willing assistance.

The revelation of Egyptian complicity raises troubling questions about Israel’s purported ally.

“The feeling in Yerushalayim now is that Egypt is ungrateful,” Yoni Ben Menachem, Middle East intelligence analyst for the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA), said on Thursday.

Israel helped Egypt in its campaign against the Islamic State in Sinai. It allowed Cairo to double its forces in the peninsula, far more than was allowed by the 1979 Israel-Egypt peace treaty. Israel even conducted bombing raids against the Islamic State at Egypt’s request. In 2014, Israel intervened on behalf of Egypt with the U.S. to ensure American aid continued.

“Now it turns out that the Egyptians have been playing a double game,” Ben Menachem told JNS. “They’ve been letting Hamas smuggle weapons for many years, especially after [Egyptian President] Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi came to power 10 years ago,” he said.

Smuggling isn’t only through the tunnels, he added, but through the Rafah border crossing, thanks to bribing of senior Egyptian officials.

Smuggling is big business for the Egyptians, a multibillion-dollar industry. Mahmoud el-Sisi, the president’s son and deputy head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, is heavily involved, having partnered with businessman Ibrahim al-Organi. A Le Monde profile in May reported that al-Organi has controlled entries and exits across the border for a decade. He is nicknamed the “King of the Rafah crossing.”

Early in his regime, President El-Sisi fought smuggling. He viewed Hamas as a threat. The terrorist group, a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is outlawed in Egypt, had targeted Egypt at the time, sending its members into Sinai to train Islamic State terrorists. It participated in terrorist attacks in Egypt—the most well-known being the assassination of Egypt’s chief prosecutor, Hisham Barakat, in 2015—a joint attack with the Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic State, Ben Menachem said.

When current Hamas paramount leader Yahya Sinwar was elected the organization’s Gaza chief in 2017, Cairo saw an opportunity. Egyptian intelligence head Abbas Kamel visited Gaza and cut a deal with Hamas. The latter agreed to stop attacking Egypt in exchange for the opening of the Rafah crossing 24 hours a day. “Egypt opened the Arab world to them,” Ben Menachem said.

One of the reasons that the Egyptians are siding with Hamas over the group’s demand that Israel leave the Philadelphi Corridor is that they worry that Hamas will rejoin the Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamic State, he said.

“It just emphasizes that Israel can only rely on Israel and cannot rely on anybody else to secure the border,” IDF Brig. Gen. (res.) Amir Avivi, co-founder and chairman of the Israel Defense and Security Forum (IDSF), said on Thursday.

Avivi, who for two years commanded the Egyptian border from Gaza to Eilat, said he had to control a frontier with smuggling attempts taking place every night. The Gaza border is a relatively short segment of it at 14 kilometers (8.7 miles).

He said that today, with just the Caracal Battalion, a mixed infantry unit composed of men and women that had been under his command at the time, he could secure the Gaza border so that “even a mosquito wouldn’t get through.

“The Egyptians could have secured the Philadelphi Corridor relatively easily. But they don’t have the motivation to do so, quite the contrary,” he said. “The Egyptians know exactly what they are doing, the way they are weaponizing Hamas to basically undermine Israel’s security.”

More disturbing, Cairo is conducting war exercises whose clear purpose is to take on Israel. Egypt is also building a huge army, “the most powerful around us,” Avivi said.

Egypt is also constructing tunnels. They cross under the Suez Canal into Sinai. It’s also built 30 bridges spanning the canal. “The Egyptians already deploy a huge amount of tanks near the Gazan border, which is completely against the peace agreement,” Avivi said.

Ben Menachem agreed: “They can, in one night, change the whole deployment of the Egyptian army in Sinai and get ready for war with Israel so that they surprise Israel. This is very alarming.”

Both men agree that Israel needs to reassess its relationship with Egypt.

“Before the big surprise that we had on October 7 with Hamas, we lived with the conception that Hamas was deterred. Now we have to change our mind and not live with the conception that there is peace with Egypt and they’re not doing anything, because the facts on the ground indicate otherwise,” Ben Menachem said.

“We better wake up and understand that we might face a future challenge. We need to be alert and work on this relationship and prepare for a possible strategic change in the future,” Avivi said.

The Israel-Egypt peace agreement, signed between President Anwar Sadat and Prime Minister Menachem Begin, never quite lived up to its billing. While it is true there has been an absence of war, the contents of some 50 side agreements have never been made public.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has published the text of just eight of them. They went into great detail. In an agricultural agreement, Egypt and Israel promised to “undertake joint research projects in fields of major interest, including the exchange of scientists, joint seminars and symposia, and exchange of research information.”

A cultural agreement called for “contacts and exchange of visits of experts in the cultural, artistic, technical, scientific and medical fields.” This agreement was especially important in Israel’s eyes as it dealt with changing Egyptian attitudes.

There seemed to be movement in the right direction, up until Israel finished its three-year phased withdrawal from Sinai in April 1982. At that point, relations were frozen. King Hassan II of Morocco may have provided an insight into why. In 1984, he said that Sadat’s successor, Hosni Mubarak, had told him the treaty was empty of substance since “Cairo had obtained from it what it could.”

“The way many Israelis look at it, which to me is stupid, is that just by the fact that the Egyptians have declared peace with us, this is enough. We should be content with the fact that they’re not killing us. I say that we should demand a different level of relationship,” Avivi said.

(JNS)

Delaying a previously scheduled resumption of service, Irish budget airline Ryanair on Thursday extended its cancellation of flights to and from Israel through Oct. 26.

The airline had previously stated that it would reinstitute service from the end of September.

Ryanair’s announcement came on the same day as many other airlines reopened their Tel Aviv routes after having closed them for a month due to the threat of attack from Iran and Lebanon.

On Thursday the Lufthansa Group, which consists of Lufthansa Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Swiss and Eurowings, resumed flights to and from the Jewish state. Italian flag carrier ITA Airways also resumed service as of Thursday, with one daily flight between Tel Aviv and Rome.

Ethiopian Airlines, Wizz Air, Bulgaria Air, Aegean, Air Europe, Iberia, Tarom and LOT Airlines have all reopened their flights to Israel.

In the low-cost market, airBaltic and Bluebird Airways have picked up the slack and taken over some of the routes to and from Israel that were serviced by Ryanair.

On Wednesday, French Jewish musician Esther Abrami was not allowed to bring her 200-year-old violin onto a Ryanair flight from Marseille to Berlin.

Abrami, who proudly identifies as Jewish, had booked a flight via the airline to record her third album for Sony records and nearly missed her recording session due to the difficulties she faced from Ryanair, even though her instrument fit within the size specifications for carry-on baggage.

She was forced to book a flight through a different airline even after offering to purchase an entire seat for the instrument, an offer that the airline refused. The artist took to social media and posted a scathing report of the incident on her X account.

U.S. carriers have suspended flights for a lengthy period.

Delta has suspended flights until the end of October, United has suspended flights until July 2025, and American Airlines has suspended flights until March 29, 2025.

Anyone wishing to travel between Israel and the United States has to either fly via El Al or book connecting flights on two airlines, stopping in Europe or Africa.

This has created high demand and a semi-monopoly for El Al, with a rise in prices as a result.

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) sent a letter on Wednesday to the CEOs of American Airlines, Delta Airlines and United Airlines asking them to consider relaunching flights to and from Israel. He wrote in an effort to “prevent the appearance and the substance of discrimination against the Jewish state,” Jewish Insider reported.

(JNS)

Tim Walz, who is running alongside U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming November election, urged Israel to begin progressing toward a two-state solution.

In an interview with WCMU public radio in Michigan, Walz was questioned about how a Harris-Walz administration would approach the ongoing Gaza conflict and whether it would differ in any way from the Biden administration’s policies.

“Well, I think first and foremost, what happened on October 7th was an atrocious act of violence against the people of Israel. They certainly, and the vice president has said this, and I’ve said it as well, have the right to defend themselves. The United States will always stand by that. But we cannot allow the situation in Gaza to continue,” Walz responded.

“The Palestinian people also have the right to their own life and freedom. I believe we need to apply pressure to ensure we move toward a two-state solution. We’re at a pivotal moment right now. The Netanyahu government needs to start taking steps in that direction. And I think the people who are voicing their concerns here in Michigan are doing so for all the right reasons,” Walz added.

He continued, “It’s a humanitarian crisis, and the current situation is untenable. We need to find a way for everyone to coexist. As we’ve said, and will continue to say, achieving a ceasefire with the safe return of hostages, followed by working toward a sustainable two-state solution, is the only viable path forward.”

In a recent interview with CNN, Harris similarly emphasized the need for the war in Gaza to come to an end and made it clear that she would not alter President Joe Biden’s stance on providing military aid to Israel.

Discussing the Gaza war, Harris stated, “We need to reach a deal. This war has to end, and we must secure an agreement that includes the release of the hostages.”

When asked about the possibility of withholding arms shipments to Israel, as some progressive members of her party have urged, Harris made her position clear: “Let me be absolutely clear: I am unequivocal and unwavering in my support for Israel’s defense and its right to protect itself. That will not change.”

“October 7th saw the massacre of 1,200 people. Many were young individuals simply attending a music festival. Women were horrifically assaulted. As I said then and continue to say now: Israel has the right to defend itself — and we would do the same. But how it goes about that matters,” she added.

Just hours before the CNN interview aired, Harris addressed a pro-Palestinian protester who interrupted her during a campaign rally in Savannah, Georgia. She reassured the audience that she and President Biden were working tirelessly to secure the release of hostages and achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.

“Let me say something. Hold on for a moment. We are fighting for democracy. Everyone has a right to make their voices heard,” Harris said in response to the protester.

“I’m speaking now. But regarding this topic, the president and I are working nonstop. We need to finalize a hostage deal and a ceasefire agreement immediately,” she concluded.

{Matzav.com}

Donald Trump, former U.S. President and current Republican Presidential hopeful, delivered a speech to the Republican Jewish Coalition on Thursday.

At the outset of his address, Trump reflected on the recent killing of six Israeli hostages by Hamas in Gaza, which occurred a week earlier. “As we speak today, we are all devastated by the horrific death of our fellow American, Hersh Goldberg-Polin. And this is so sad to even say. I’ve been watching the parents, I’ve been watching everybody talking about it for so long, and it’s just so sad to see, and the five other innocent hostages slaughtered late last week by Hamas terrorists.”

“Hersh was a brother, a son, and an American citizen. After being held captive for nearly a year following the monstrous October 7th attack on Israel, Hersh was barbarically executed with a bullet to the back of his head,” Trump explained.

Offering words of solace, Trump addressed Hersh’s family and all those affected by the tragedy. “To Hersh’s family and everyone touched by these atrocities, we pray that God will grant you comfort, healing, and peace. And as for the evil savages responsible for those murders, may they never know peace or comfort ever again,” he declared.

Trump then criticized the current U.S. administration, accusing them of wrongly assigning blame to Israel for the deaths. “Unbelievably, the Harris-Biden Administration has sought to cast blame for these deaths on Israel. They have not been your friends. I don’t understand how anyone can support them,” he stated.

He reiterated a statement he had previously made, cautioning Jewish supporters of the Biden-Harris Administration. “A Jewish person who supports the Biden and Harris Administration would need to have your head examined. They’re very bad for you,” Trump emphasized.

Trump made it clear where he believes the responsibility for these acts lies. “Let me state this very clearly: The blame for these wicked murders lies with Hamas and Hamas alone. Only an evil and inhuman ideology kidnaps, murders, and tortures innocent men, women, and children. And likewise, only a deeply sick political party here in America would make common cause with those who sympathize with such evil.”

He further condemned the leadership in the White House, saying, “Only a morally rotten president and vice president would seek to blame Israel for heinous acts of terror committed against its own citizens.”

Trump asserted that, had he still been in office, the violent events of October 7 would not have occurred. He declared, “If I had been president, the October 7 massacre would never have happened.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming election, Trump urged a change in leadership, vowing, “This November, we’re going to replace weakness with strength, cowardice with courage and clarity, and war with peace.”

He warned that Israel’s future would be in jeopardy if Kamala Harris were to assume the presidency. “You’re not going to have an Israel,” he cautioned, asserting that under her leadership, “Israel will no longer exist.” He added that her administration would embolden terrorist forces, saying, “Terrorist armies will wage an unceasing war to drive Jews out of the Holy Land.”

Lastly, Trump called on Jewish Americans to mobilize for the upcoming election, urging them to increase the percentage of Jewish voters who traditionally lean Democratic but might consider voting Republican this time around.

{Matzav.com}

The levaya of Hagaon Harav Avremel Ausband zt”l, the legendary Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Telshe-Riverdale, is taking place at 10:30 AM Friday morning at the yeshiva. Despite being on a Friday, thousands are expected in attendance, giving Kavod Acharon to one of the most impactful Gedolei Torah in the last century, who served as a Rebbi and Manhig for countless individuals over the course of his decades as a Rosh Yeshiva. Following the Levaya, the Aron will be flown to Eretz Yisroel on Motzei Shabbos, with a second Levaya and Kevurah taking place on Sunday. The Levaya can be streamed live below; the call-in numbers to listen live are 712-432-4305 and 712-432-1923.

The levayah of Hagaon Rav Avrohom Ausband zt”l, rosh yeshiva of the Yeshiva of Telshe Alumni of Riverdale, will take place today at 10:45 a.m. ET at the yeshiva in Riverdale, NY. You can watch the levayah live here on Matzav.com below.

To listen to the levayah, call 712-432-4305, 612-398-0330, 712-432-4305 or 712-432-1923.

WATCH:

Dear Mother in Pain,

Please do not be ashamed that you felt it was necessary to reach out to me for help in such a difficult time in this child rearing stage. I’ve been waiting to hear from you! Hashem has been waiting to hear from you!

My dear daughter, I am looking at you and feeling your pain. I’ve been watching you and Davening for you all these years. The wonderful person you have become, growing up as part of such a beautiful community led by very special dedicated Rabbonim and Askonim. (Here we do not refer to that as a system but rather as a Kehilla). I too grew up in such an environment and treasure that zechus.

Unfortunately, I never had the zechus to feel the pain of a biological daughter who suffered the terrible feelings and emotions of rejection. However, “my girls” shared their feeling of being the social outcasts of their time and we did whatever we could to grow from those challenges. Together we shared that pain many times over, in a small way, similar to the difficulties you have been facing.

The financial challenges of providing for my “daughters” at a time that not everyone felt that our type of schooling was necessary were enormous. Knowing that money couldn’t be the protagonist that stopped the monumental achievements we looked to accomplish, we realized we needed to reach out to whoever we could to help us reach our financial goals. We understood the chinuch of our girls is priceless. We weren’t creating a luxury for anybody, rather just making sure that it was our priority to do whatever necessary to make that opportunity for proper chinuch available.

You cry for the loss at a chance for individuality. I too cried about individuality. That was a big challenge back then! Our precious daughters were watching the outside influences creeping into our insulated communities and telling them, “Get enlightened! You don’t need to be like those old people, the relics from a generation that’s gone!” Oy! The hours and kochos I put into instilling the value of emulating and replicating the ways of our ancestors. I toiled at imparting the intrinsic beauty, of a bas Yisroel specifically and Klal Yisroel as a whole, of tznius in our actions, our homes, and our attire. The more similar we are the greater the achdus and lesser material focus we have.

The beauty of a common group with a common goal! The happiness of being free of envy and the plague of endless unfulfilled wants. That is a source of our happiness! That was how I infused them with the beauty of Yiddishkiet!

How I cry for all my precious girls that have strayed. How I daven and hope for those that struggle with their Yiddiskeit. How I wish each one could find that special person who will strengthen them and show them the true beauty they are leaving behind and the horrible loneliness and sadness they will endure on that ill-fated journey they are heading for. Oh, if they could be taught to conform and fit in so that they can be comfortable and feel their true self-worth.

My dear daughter, please think open-mindedly about what I’m about to tell you.

Nobody makes a person feel useless and unworthy if they are feeling good and sure about themselves beforehand. It pains me to watch the negativity instilled in children by “do gooders” who justify a child’s feelings of rejection when they were just not being placed in a surrounding that was congruent with their home. They need to know that they were not rejected, they just went to a place where they did not belong in the first place.

Think about it! If you had heard of a place that is safe to send your dear child without needing to worry for her safety. You then went there and upon arrival you found dangers strewn all over. Rightfully so, you would be terribly disappointed. Revelations that the powers that be allowed dangerous people or items unchecked, would surely cause you to be upset with them. Worse, would be if you left your precious child under their care and only found out later about the possible dangers. Then you’d be furious.

This holds true for any Bais Yaakov that guarantees to maintain a standard and then allows families that don’t keep too to that standard join later unbeknown to others. Even if the girl herself is a wonderful precious gem it would still be inappropriate.

Let’s also try to understand; You are pained by the actions of those responsible to keep the financial stability of the Mosdos. A child should never be shamed publicly. Who caused that shame? Did the parents not know that they owe money to the school? Did they check beforehand if they had permission to send the child so that they don’t cause them embarrassment? Did those parents offer any payment plan to avoid this? Have those parents made any other efforts to help shoulder the financial responsibilities that they are not able to meet?

My dear child I know you are in pain and struggling. Know, you are not the only one. However, maybe instead of surrendering it’s time for a better frame of mind and more positive attitude. Don’t wonder what Hashem wants from you, He wants nothing from you – HE WANTS YOU! Maybe it would help to focus inside instead of out.

Hashem loves you; you are his special child. Hashem loves your children; they are his special children. Remember, He was one of the three partners in their creation. Hashem has all the means to cover their tuition responsibilities. Could it be he wants you to change something in yourself or your family to enhance and protect that partnership. Perhaps He isn’t sending a message that he needs your help to try to change others. Could it be that you are passing judgement on the wrong educator and administrator? Is it at all possible that the annihilation the He worries about is coming from a breakdown in the relationship between Him and his children and not between his children and educators or administrators who give their lives to perpetuate his Torah?

My dear daughter, I truly hope your pain is eased quickly. I daven that you should feel your strongest partner, Hashem Himself, guiding you toward the easiest possible solutions. Most of all I wish you could replace the negativity and feelings of rejection with love, hope and positivity so that your wonderful daughters will see and feel acceptance and pride in who they are.

Thank you again for reaching out to me. IY”H soon we will rejoice together when we return from the greatest rejection of all, with the coming of Moshiach.

With Love & Tears,

“Frau Schenirer”

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The Biden administration issued a strong condemnation of Tucker Carlson on Thursday, following his interview with a guest who suggested that the Holocaust was an accident. CNN reported that the administration referred to the interview as “a disgusting and sadistic insult to all Americans.”

Carlson featured Darryl Cooper, a podcaster he described as “possibly the best and most honest popular historian in the United States,” for a two-hour discussion on his show.

During the conversation, Cooper asserted that the mass killing of Jews during the Holocaust by Nazi Germany was an unintended outcome. He further claimed that Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister at the time, was the “chief villain of the Second World War” and bore significant responsibility for the war’s escalation, transforming it into something beyond just an invasion of Poland.

White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates, in a statement provided to CNN, responded by condemning the platforming of Cooper’s views. He called it “a disgusting and sadistic insult to all Americans, to the memory of the over 6 million Jews who were genocidally murdered by Adolf Hitler, to the service of the millions of Americans who fought to defeat Nazism, and to every subsequent victim of Antisemitism.”

The administration specifically pushed back against Cooper’s assertion that Churchill was the key figure responsible for the war. Bates clarified, “Hitler was one of the most evil figures in human history and the ‘chief villain’ of World War II, full stop. The Biden-Harris Administration believes that trafficking in this moral rot is unacceptable at any time, let alone less than one year after the deadliest massacre perpetrated against the Jewish people since the Holocaust and at a time when the cancer of Antisemitism is growing all over the world.”

Carlson, when contacted for his reaction, launched a sharp critique against the administration. Speaking to CNN, he said, “The fact that these lunatics have used the Churchill myth to bring our country closer to nuclear war than at any moment in history disgusts me, and should terrify every American. They’re warmonger freaks. They don’t get the moral high ground.”

Dani Dayan, chairman of Yad Vashem, also condemned the discussion between Carlson and Cooper. He posted on X, formerly Twitter, “Tucker Carlson and Darryl Cooper engaged in one of the most repugnant Holocaust denial displays of the last years. Antisemitic, ahistorical and deranged, an affront to the victims and to the pursuit of truth. Decent persons should condemn this display of bigotry and malevolence.”

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), expressed his outrage at Carlson’s interview, calling it “truly revolting.” He explained, “The Nazis’ extensive network of concentration, forced labor, and death camps was part of Hitler’s deliberate plan to exterminate the Jewish people. Inmates didn’t just ‘end up dead’ and they did not ‘surrender.’”

Carlson was removed from Fox News in 2023, shortly before he launched a new show on Twitter, rebranded as X. His departure from Fox followed a settlement between Fox Corp and Dominion Voting Systems, in which Fox paid $787.5 million to resolve a defamation lawsuit in which Carlson played a central role.

{Matzav.com}

Just days after former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped death during a campaign event, federal authorities questioned a suspect involved in an alleged Iran-backed plot targeting Trump, as well as two other high-profile political figures: President Joe Biden and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. According to an FBI report released on Thursday, the suspect was allegedly planning an assassination attempt.

The suspect, identified as 46-year-old Asif Merchant, a Pakistani national, provided details about his interactions with his handler, Mehardad Yousef, during his interview with investigators. This information was shared in a proffer agreement obtained by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) through law enforcement whistleblowers.

Merchant is accused of attempting to orchestrate a murder-for-hire plot. According to court documents, he transferred $5,000 to an undercover FBI agent in an effort to secure the services of a hitman. He faces a single count of murder-for-hire following his arrest on July 12.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Merchant and Yousef had met at a secure location in Iran. There, the two discussed strategies for assassinating a U.S. politician, debating whether an indoor or outdoor setting would be more effective for such an attempt.

Yousef reportedly used a whiteboard to sketch out a potential assassination plan. He illustrated an area where a crowd might gather, indicating a small box where a podium could be located, positioning the target for the attack.

The plan proposed two methods: an indoor shooting with a pistol, or a long-distance outdoor shot using a sniper rifle, according to Merchant’s account shared with authorities.

In addition to discussing these methods, Merchant provided Yousef with details about one of Trump’s rallies, including the number of cameras present, security personnel, and motorcade information.

The document stated that Merchant believed both methods had a low chance of success due to heightened security. However, he estimated that there was a 50% chance that one of the attempts could succeed.

Although Merchant denied receiving specific instructions about the target, he admitted that Yousef dropped several clues about who might be the intended victim.

The document quoted Merchant asking Yousef what explanation to give if questioned by criminal associates. Yousef allegedly responded that the target could be Donald Trump, but then suggested it might also be Joe Biden, Nikki Haley, or other politicians, military officials, or bureaucrats.

Merchant further explained that he understood the assassination was meant as retaliation for the U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, a mission authorized by Trump in January 2020.

Additional details from the investigation revealed that Merchant traveled to New York City, where he visited a Mexican club to scout for individuals who might be willing to assist the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) by conducting reconnaissance or helping with communication.

In response to the indictment, FBI Director Christopher Wray said, “This dangerous murder-for-hire plot exposed in today’s charges allegedly was orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian playbook.”

Senator Chuck Grassley added, “Bad actors are determined to wreak havoc on our country, and American political leaders across both parties are sitting squarely in the crosshairs.”

Grassley also criticized the federal government for not doing enough to counter such threats, calling for agencies like the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration to prioritize public safety and reassure Americans that they are taking protective measures seriously.

On July 25, Trump addressed the issue on Truth Social, writing, “If they do ‘assassinate President Trump,’ which is always a possibility, I hope that America obliterates Iran, wipes it off the face of the Earth — If that does not happen, American Leaders will be considered ‘gutless’ cowards!”

Investigations are ongoing into an attempted assassination of Trump that took place on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania. The assailant, Thomas Matthew Crooks, fatally shot firefighter Corey Comperatore, 50, and injured two other rally-goers, David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74. However, Crooks is not believed to have ties to Iran.

Beyond the murder plot, Iran is also accused of hacking into Trump’s campaign, leaking sensitive internal information. While the information was shared with media outlets such as Politico and The Washington Post, it appears they chose not to publish it.

Intelligence experts have warned that Iran continues to seek ways to exploit divisions within U.S. society as part of its broader strategy.

{Matzav.com}

The levaya of Hagaon Harav Avremel Ausband zt”l, the legendary Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Telshe-Riverdale, is taking place at 10:30 AM Friday morning at the yeshiva. Despite being on a Friday, thousands are expected in attendance, giving Kavod Acharon to one of the most impactful Gedolei Torah in the last century, who served as a Rebbi and Manhig for countless individuals over the course of his decades as a Rosh Yeshiva. Following the Levaya, the Aron will be flown to Eretz Yisroel on Motzei Shabbos, with a second Levaya and Kevurah taking place on Sunday. The Levaya can be streamed live below; the call-in numbers to listen live are 712-432-4305 and 712-432-1923.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized on Thursday that both Israel and Hamas need to come to an agreement on the remaining points to finalize a ceasefire in Gaza, according to a report from Reuters.

Speaking at a press briefing in Haiti, Blinken mentioned that while “nearly 90%” of the ceasefire deal has been settled, there are still significant gaps, particularly concerning the Philadelphi corridor. “I expect in the coming days, we will share with Israel, and they (Qatar and Egypt) will share with Hamas our thoughts, the three of us, on exactly how to resolve” these unresolved matters, Blinken said, as quoted by Reuters.

Earlier this week, The Washington Post revealed that the United States has been working with Egypt and Qatar to create a final “take it or leave it” offer. This proposal is anticipated to be put forward to the parties involved in the coming weeks, with the understanding that refusal could end the US-led negotiations. It is still unclear whether the recent discovery of six hostages will increase or decrease the likelihood of reaching an agreement soon.

The US has been advocating for a ceasefire and hostage release plan, first proposed by President Joe Biden in May, though Hamas has continually dismissed every proposal to date.

On Wednesday, Hamas issued a statement reiterating its rejection of new negotiations on a ceasefire and the release of hostages, attributing the breakdown of talks to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The statement from Hamas claimed that no additional ceasefire proposals for Gaza were necessary and urged pressure on Israel to agree to the US-proposed plan, which the group insists it has already accepted.

Hamas accused Netanyahu of deliberately obstructing an agreement by insisting that Israel retain control of the Philadelphi corridor in southern Gaza. The group’s remarks followed a press conference by Netanyahu, held in English on Wednesday evening, where he underscored the importance of Israel’s control over the Philadelphi corridor.

During Thursday’s briefing, Blinken also expressed optimism about securing a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia before President Joe Biden’s term concludes in January. “I think if we can get a ceasefire in Gaza, there remains an opportunity through the balance of this administration to move forward on normalization,” he said.

Before the Hamas attack on October 7 and the subsequent conflict in Gaza, Saudi Arabia and Israel seemed to be making progress towards normalizing relations.

Not long after the fighting broke out, sources informed Reuters that Saudi Arabia had placed its US-sponsored normalization plans with Israel on hold. The Saudi Foreign Minister later suggested that establishing formal relations with Israel would require not only a cessation of hostilities in Gaza but also the creation of a Palestinian state, a long-standing prerequisite for normalization according to Saudi officials.

{Matzav.com}

When Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) assumed his post as House Speaker, the first speech he gave was at last year’s RJC Annual Leadership Summit.

This year, he again addressed the convention, though via satellite, as he is currently in Italy attending a G7 Speakers summit.

Johnson began his 10-minute speech on Thursday by calling out Iran and bashing the Biden administration for even considering resuming talks on the 2015 nuclear deal (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA), which the Trump administration broke away from in 2018. Negotiations with Iran through European countries marked the first 18 months of the Biden administration until Tehran walked away from and renewed its efforts for a nuclear weapon.

“Iran must be dealt with forcefully,” he said.

He also criticized the Biden administration for delaying arms shipments to Israel during its now 11-month-old war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip and for withholding certain ones—namely, 2,000-pound bombs.

He then addressed rising antisemitism in the United States, highlighting the increase of Jew-hatred on college campuses. He said that the House is “rolling up their sleeves” to combat such hate.

Johnson concluded his speech by calling out members of the Biden administration, specifically Kamala Harris, for not attending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress in July.

He reassured the audience of hundreds that whatever happens come November, “you will always have a strong ally in this speaker,” he said. JNS

{Matzav.com}

On Thursday evening, Hamas released a video showing Hersh Goldberg-Polin, one of the six hostages who were murdered while in captivity, whose remains were recently recovered from Gaza.

In the footage, Hersh is seen as a captive, stating: “I’m Hersh Goldberg-Polin. I was born in Berkeley, California and I live in Jerusalem. I celebrated my 23rd birthday, four days before I was kidnapped on October 7 from the party in Re’im. Since I arrived in Gaza I have been living without medical help, almost without food and water. I don’t remember when I last saw the sun or breathed fresh air.”

Following Hamas’ instructions, Hersh addresses the President of the United States, urging him to take steps to secure the release of hostages.

He then sends a heartfelt message to his family: “Mom, Dad, Libi and Orly. I love you and miss you and think about you every day. I know you are doing everything to bring me back. Stay strong and do everything. I hope I will come home soon. Don’t stop.”

At the end of the video, Hamas added a message designed for psychological manipulation, reading: “Prisoner deal – freedom and life, military pressure – death and failure.”

In response, Hersh’s parents, Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, released a statement: “We are in the midst of the seven day Jewish mourning period after burying our son Hersh (of blessed memory) on Monday. Earlier tonight, Hamas released a new video of him, taken while he was being held hostage in the tunnels underneath Gaza. This must serve as an immediate wake-up call to the world to take action today to secure the release of the remaining 101 hostages before it is too late. No other family should go through what our family (and the families of the other recently executed hostages) have endured.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Hamas has released another propaganda video featuring American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin HY’D, who was executed last week. The video was made public with the permission of his family. In a statement, the family said the video “must serve as an immediate wakeup call to the world to act today to secure the release of the remaining 101 hostages before it is too late.” “No other family should endure what we went through,” the family added. They are still observing the seven-day Jewish mourning period, having buried Hersh on Monday after his body, along with those of five other murdered hostages, was recovered by the IDF on Saturday. In the video, Goldberg-Polin speaks in English, a departure from a previous video released by Hamas in April, where he spoke in Hebrew. He introduces himself, noting that he was born in Berkeley, California, and now lives in Jerusalem. “I turned 23 four days before I was kidnapped at the party in the Re’im Forest on the seventh of October,” he says, referencing his abduction from the Nova music festival. Goldberg-Polin describes his dire conditions in Gaza, saying he has survived with “almost no medical care, little food and little water.” He speaks of ongoing Israeli airstrikes and criticizes the Israeli government. He then issues a direct plea to U.S. President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and all Americans: “Do everything you can to stop the war, stop this madness and to bring me home.” The video concludes with a heartfelt message to his family: “Mama, Dada, Leebie, and Orly, I love you. I miss you, and I’m thinking about you every single day.” Echoing a phrase his mother, Rachel, has used in public speeches, Goldberg-Polin tells his family to “stay strong for me.” His final words in the clip are, “Keep on fighting, and hopefully, I believe I’ll be home soon. Don’t stop. I love you.” Israeli authorities and human rights groups assert that hostages are coerced into making such videos, and most Israeli media outlets only publish them with family consent. The exact timing of when this video was filmed remains unclear, but the family’s hope is that it will prompt urgent global efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages before more lives are lost. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Federal agents executed raids targeting NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and several high-ranking members of the nation’s largest police force, sources reported Thursday. This comes as part of a series of surprising law enforcement actions also involving close allies of Mayor Eric Adams.

On Wednesday morning, agents arrived at the residences of Caban, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks, and the shared townhouse of Schools Chancellor David Banks and First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. They carried search warrants and confiscated electronic devices, law enforcement sources revealed.

Additionally, sources stated that the actions included Terence Banks, a former MTA official who has moved into consulting and is the brother of Phil and David Banks.

Another key figure in Mayor Adams’ circle, retired NYPD inspector Timothy Pearson, was also affected by the investigation, with his phones being subpoenaed, according to sources.

At this time, it remains unclear if the raid on the Harlem home shared by David Banks and Sheena Wright was directed at one or both of them.

The connections between the various raids, subpoenas, and other investigative actions aimed at Caban, members of the NYPD, and City Hall remained ambiguous on Thursday. However, sources suggested that these individuals might be part of a broader corruption probe centered on influence peddling.

James Caban, Edward Caban’s twin brother and a former NYPD sergeant, was also served with a search warrant and subpoena. Investigators are reportedly examining his involvement in the nightlife enforcement sector, sources said.

Additional law enforcement officials under scrutiny include NYPD Chief of Staff Raul Pintos and two precinct commanders from Manhattan and Queens, both of whom were asked to surrender their phones.

Sources noted that the investigation extends to rank-and-file officers from precincts, particularly in Midtown South, which is known for its active nightlife scene. None of those involved have been formally accused of any crimes as of yet.

This wide-reaching probe is being overseen by federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York. The same office is also examining Adams’ 2021 campaign as part of another high-profile investigation.

Mayor Adams addressed the raids publicly for the first time on Thursday afternoon as he left City Hall.

“As you’ve heard me say over and over again, as a former law enforcement person, we will always follow the law, and that is what this administration always stood for and will continue to stand for,” Adams said. “Whatever information is needed, we will turn over.”

City Hall’s Chief Counsel, Lisa Zornberg, suggested in a subsequent statement that the mayor and his team might not be the primary targets of the investigation.

“Investigators have not indicated to us the mayor or his staff are targets of any investigation,” Zornberg said in the statement. “As a former member of law enforcement, the mayor has repeatedly made clear that all members of the team need to follow the law.”

An NYPD spokesperson also confirmed that the investigation is focused on police officials and noted that the department is fully cooperating with federal authorities.

“The Department is aware of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York involving members of service. The Department is fully cooperating in the investigation,” the spokesperson said Thursday, directing further questions to federal prosecutors.

Commissioner Caban, who was appointed in July 2023 after former Commissioner Keechant Sewell’s unexpected resignation, could not be reached for comment. His close relationship with the Manhattan US Attorney’s Office, now involved in probing him and his officers, adds an additional layer of complexity to the situation.

Attempts by The Post to reach Chief of Patrol John Chell for comment were met with strong resistance. NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Public Information Tarik Sheppard, in a conversation with a reporter, labeled the reporter a “f—ing scumbag.”

Investigators are reportedly looking into Terence Banks for allegedly acting as an unregistered lobbyist, leveraging his connections with his brothers to bring business into City Hall, sources suggested.

Pearson, another key figure in Adams’ administration, has faced criticism in the past. He was recently the subject of a sexual harassment lawsuit and has long attracted attention for his role in overseeing contracts for security at migrant shelters.

The simultaneous raids targeting the homes of Wright and Phil Banks occurred around 5 a.m. on Wednesday, as first reported by The City. Wright’s home is located on West 143rd Street in Harlem, while Phil Banks resides in Queens.

While the FBI declined to provide further details on Thursday, they did not refute the fact that both homes were visited by federal agents.

Benjamin Brafman, Phil Banks’ attorney, confirmed the search of Banks’ home but chose not to comment further. Phil Banks had previously been named an unindicted co-conspirator in a broader police corruption case that resulted in the discovery of $300,000 in questionable transactions in his accounts.

Wright, a former CEO of United Way of NYC, has been a visible figure in the Adams administration since she was appointed as First Deputy Mayor in 2022. She has played a critical role in overseeing the NYPD as part of her responsibilities.

Rumors have circulated about Wright and David Banks’ personal relationship, including claims that the couple may have secretly married last year.

When David Banks was seen leaving the couple’s Harlem home on Thursday, he avoided addressing questions from The Post about the raid. He appeared visibly annoyed when approached later by a FOX 5 reporter and offered only a brief statement.

“Today is the first day of school, it is all about the kids, if there’s any other comments to be made it will be tomorrow,” he said.

These latest raids follow a string of actions targeting Adams’ inner circle. Federal agents have now sought information on at least eight of his top aides, beginning with a raid on his fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, in November 2023. That investigation focused on a kickback scheme allegedly involving City Hall and the Turkish government.

Additional raids followed, targeting City Hall staffers like Rana Abbasova and Cenk Ocal, both connected to Adams’ transition team and the Turkey investigation.

Earlier in 2024, the FBI raided the home of Winnie Greco, who had served as the city’s director of Asian affairs, in connection with another fundraising investigation.

The mayor himself has not been immune from scrutiny. He was issued a grand jury subpoena in July 2024, along with other City Hall officials, as part of an ongoing probe into his 2021 campaign fundraising. Federal agents also seized his electronic devices during the investigation.

Despite the mounting legal challenges, Adams has consistently maintained his innocence and denied any involvement in illegal activities.

{Matzav.com}

Chaverim of Rockland successfully intervened live as a scammer targeted a Monsey-area woman, Monsey Scoop reported Thursday. The victim received a phone call from an individual posing as a detective, claiming there was suspicious activity on her bank account. To make the scam appear legitimate, the scammers spoofed the Ramapo Police Department’s phone number and warned her that failure to comply would result in her arrest and frozen accounts. In a state of panic, the woman took a taxi to the M&T Bank on Route 59, where she withdrew $5,000 from her account. Following the scammer’s instructions, she then proceeded to CVS at the corner of Grandview Avenue and Route 306 to purchase gift cards. However, the CVS teller, recognizing something was off, refused to sell her the gift cards as she did not have her ID. The woman called her husband to bring her ID and informed him she would return home to retrieve it. After this conversation, her husband lost contact with her and, growing increasingly concerned, reached out to Chaverim for assistance. Simultaneously, the scammer, who was still on the phone with her, instructed her to cancel her taxi ride home, promising to send a new one to take her to a different store where she could buy the gift cards without needing an ID. Upon receiving the call from the woman’s husband, Chaverim quickly dispatched its members, initiating a search across local stores known for selling gift cards. They also coordinated with Arrive Taxi Company to track her movements and deployed drones and camera units to review surveillance footage. One of Chaverim’s members eventually spotted the woman exiting Sephora at the Nanuet Mall with a stack of gift cards in hand. By this time, she had already given the scammers $2,000 worth of card numbers. The member immediately approached her, explained that she was being scammed, and managed to recover the remaining $3,000 in gift cards before any further loss occurred. Though initially resistant over fear she would be arrested, the woman was reassured and convinced of her safety. Meanwhile, Chaverim’s Coordinator Yossi Margeratten had been working with the Ramapo Police Department to have Verizon ping her phone. However, because the woman was not considered in immediate danger, Verizon declined the request without a court order. Fortunately, before the court order could be obtained, the woman was successfully located. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense dissented from the suggestion that Israel had broken international law, prompted by the decision by the United Kingdom to suspend arms export licenses to Israel for 30 days.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the DOD press secretary at the Pentagon, spoke at a briefing discussing the steps used to ensure compliance with human rights.

“Those processes are ongoing. As of now, we have not determined at this point that Israel has violated international humanitarian law, but those assessments, to include those of the State Department looking at allegations, are still ongoing,” Ryder said.

The press secretary reported that on Sunday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had spoken with Israel’s Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant to express condolences for the six hostages murdered by Hamas.

“The secretary affirmed that Hamas leaders must be held accountable for the murder of these innocent civilians,” Ryder said. “And Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant once again reaffirmed their mutual commitment to swiftly reaching a ceasefire deal to secure the release of all the remaining hostages.”

The Pentagon spokesman also addressed discussions about the role in hostage negotiations for control of the Philadelphi corridor and its strategic importance in preventing future terrorist attacks.

Ryder stated that he would not provide “my personal tactical assessment of the battlefield” and that “I’ll leave it up to the Israelis to talk about how best to do that.”

The possibility of another Iran attack against Israel also arose as a question.

“Iran has indicated that it intends to retaliate, so we will continue to take that threat seriously, and I’ll just leave it there,” Ryder said. “I’m not going to speculate or get into potential or hypotheticals, rather, in terms of when and if they may attack other than the fact that they’ve said publicly that they intend to retaliate.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

Former President Donald Trump suggested to business leaders Thursday that his plans to increase tariffs on foreign imports would solve seemingly unrelated challenges such as the rising cost of child care in the U.S. The GOP presidential nominee promised to lead what he called a “national economic renaissance” by increasing tariffs, slashing regulations to boost energy production and drastically cutting government spending as well as corporate taxes for companies that produce in the U.S. Trump was asked at his appearance before the Economic Club of New York about his plans to drive down child care costs to help more women join the workforce. “Child care is child care, it’s something you have to have in this country. You have to have it,” he said. Then, he said his plans to tax imports from foreign nations at higher levels would “take care” of such problems. “We’re going to be taking in trillions of dollars, and as much as child care is talked about as being expensive, it’s — relatively speaking — not very expensive, compared to the kind of numbers we’ll be taking in,” he said. Trump has embraced tariffs as he appeals to working-class voters who oppose free-trade deals and the outsourcing of factories and jobs. But in his speech Thursday and his economic plans as a whole, Trump made what a broader — to some, implausible — promise on tariffs: that they can raise trillions of dollars to fund his agenda without those costs being passed along to consumers in the form of higher prices. His campaign attacks Democratic nominee Kamala Harris’ proposals to increase corporate tax rates by saying they would ultimately be borne by workers in the form of fewer jobs and lower incomes. Yet taxes on foreign imports would have a similar effect with businesses and consumers having to absorb those costs in the form of higher prices. The United States had $3.8 trillion worth of imports last year, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Trump in the past has talked about universal tariffs of at least 10%, if not higher, though he has not spelled out details about how these taxes would be implemented. Kimberly Clausing, an economist at the University of California, Los Angeles, has repeatedly warned in economic analyses about the likely damage to people’s finances from Trump’s tariffs. She noted that Trump wants tariffs to pay for everything, even though they can’t. “I believe Trump has already spent this revenue, to pay for his tax cuts (which it doesn’t), or to perhaps end the income tax (which it cannot),” she said in an email. ” “It is unclear how there would be any revenues left over to fund child care.” Trump was asked to talk about child care Child care is unaffordable for many Americans and financially precarious for many day care operators and their employees. Democrats in Congress have long argued the child care industry is in crisis and requires a drastic increase in federal aid — and some Republicans have joined them. Trump pointed to his tariff ideas as well as efforts he announced to reduce what he described as “waste and fraud.” “I want to stay with child care, but those numbers are small relative to the kind of economic numbers that I’m talking about, including growth, but growth also […]

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