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A temporary classroom structure in Beit Shemesh collapsed suddenly on Sunday, injuring four young girls and exposing a disturbing reality: many of the city’s educational institutions are operating out of makeshift, unsafe buildings. The incident has reignited public outrage over the lack of oversight and safety enforcement in one of Israel’s fastest-growing cities.
The collapse occurred on Ben Azai Street, where a lightweight prefab building used as a special education kindergarten gave way without warning. One girl was moderately injured and three sustained light injuries. Beyond the physical harm, residents say the incident symbolizes a much deeper failure — an ongoing pattern of negligence and dangerous shortcuts in construction across Beit Shemesh.
A visit to several school sites in the city revealed alarming conditions: flimsy modular classrooms stacked on top of each other, supported by thin, shaky columns; access to upper floors via suspended metal staircases bolted to iron poles; and sharp, exposed metal bars perilously close to play areas. Parents described the situation as a ticking time bomb.
“There are hundreds of school buildings like this all over Beit Shemesh,” said Chaim, a local resident. “They’re thrown together hastily to meet demand, often without permits or proper inspections. It’s become normal to have classrooms standing on stilts. They’re literally gambling with our children’s safety.”
Parents who arrived at the scene of the collapse were shocked to find that even as city engineers and emergency personnel worked nearby, other similarly unstable structures remained in use just meters away. “They saw another building just like it — unsafe, packed with children — and didn’t order it shut down immediately,” one parent fumed. “This isn’t just negligence. It’s abandonment.”
Simcha, a United Hatzalah medic and father of a child who attends the affected school, recalled the chaos of the rescue. “Like every morning, I dropped off my son and went to work. Then I got a message about ‘danger to life’ and rushed over. We had to stop bleeding, cut the power, and rescue four girls. It was a miracle no one was trapped underneath. My son sometimes plays right there. It could’ve ended much worse.”
Opposition council member Tami Zusman condemned what she described as systemic failure. “The chareidi community already experienced the tragedy of Meron. Here in Beit Shemesh, we’re seeing the same recipe for disaster — zero transparency, zero planning, and zero accountability,” she said. “If a structure is unsafe, it must be closed. If it’s illegal, it must be demolished. The engineering department simply can’t keep up. We’re courting another tragedy.”
Despite orders from the city engineer to evacuate the damaged structure, the broader issue remains unresolved. Across Beit Shemesh, precarious metal stairways, makeshift supports, and trailers stacked two stories high are still being used daily by hundreds of children. Residents warn that unless the city imposes strict engineering supervision and halts unsafe construction, another disaster is only a matter of time.
The Beit Shemesh Municipality issued a response stating that it is “conducting a thorough investigation with all relevant authorities regarding the circumstances of the incident.” The city confirmed that “the building in question was an unauthorized addition” and emphasized that it “acts consistently against illegal construction.” The municipal building supervision department, the statement added, recently received a national excellence award for effective enforcement.
The city further noted that “independent educational networks are not part of the regular public school system and work directly with the Ministry of Education for safety approvals.”
For now, residents say, that bureaucratic distinction offers little comfort. “You can’t build on miracles,” one parent said bitterly. “At some point, you have to build on engineers.”
{Matzav.com}
A heated confrontation broke out during Monday’s United Torah Judaism (UTJ) faction meeting between MK Moshe Gafni, head of Degel HaTorah, and UTJ chairman MK Yitzchok Goldknopf. The clash erupted over recently circulated footage showing Goldknopf aboard a Danube River cruise, which sparked widespread backlash within the chareidi community and across social media.
According to reports, Gafni sharply rebuked Goldknopf for what he described as behavior damaging to the party’s image. “The chairman of United Torah Judaism cannot be seen enjoying himself on a boat with non-Jewish musicians,” Gafni reportedly said. “The public then assumes that it reflects on me and the rest of the members of the faction. This isn’t a private matter — it tarnishes the entire party.”
The video of Goldknopf sailing along the Danube in Hungary, accompanied by local musicians, triggered a wave of criticism. Many questioned how a representative of the chareidi public could take part in such an event, accusing him of “a lack of public sensitivity” and causing reputational harm to the movement.
During the meeting, Gafni urged his colleagues to exercise greater awareness of their public roles and the scrutiny they face as representatives of a religious constituency. “You represent a large public,” he told Goldknopf. “You can’t do things that later become a burden for all of us.”
In addition to the internal clash, the faction also addressed recent protests outside the homes of MK Yaakov Asher and MK Michael Malchieli.
In an official statement, United Torah Judaism said: “The UTJ faction strongly condemns and denounces the violent incidents of recent days against chareidi Members of Knesset who serve as emissaries of our gedolei Yisroel. These are not legitimate protests but acts of violence — something that has no place anywhere or in any form.”
The statement warned that such attacks “serve only the enemies of Torah,” giving them “more ammunition to portray Torah learners as violent.” The party concluded by reaffirming its mission: “Our representatives will continue to act with full strength on behalf of Torah learning and those who study it throughout Eretz Yisroel, in full accordance with the guidance and direction of our gedolei Yisroel.”
{Matzav.com}
The Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel convened an emergency meeting on Monday to protest what it described as unacceptable interference by Israel’s Supreme Court in halachic decisions.
The session, led by the two Chief Rabbis of Israel — Rishon LeTzion and President of the Great Rabbinical Court Rav Dovid Yosef, and Chief Rabbi and President of the Chief Rabbinate Council Rav Kalman Meir Bar — was called following the recent High Court ruling that women must be allowed to sit for rabbinical exams on equal terms with men.
During the meeting, members of the Chief Rabbinate Council voiced sharp opposition to what they termed judicial encroachment into halachic and religious matters that, according to Israeli law, fall under the exclusive authority of the Chief Rabbinate. “The participants expressed strong protest over the Supreme Court’s intervention in issues that, in the view of the Chief Rabbinate Council, are halachic in nature and fall under its jurisdiction by law,” the Council stated.
The Chief Rabbis lamented the High Court’s involvement in matters that have clear halachic implications, emphasizing that questions of halacha, ordination, and spiritual leadership for the Jewish people must remain within the purview of the Chief Rabbinate, which operates under the legal framework of the Chief Rabbinate Law.
In its declaration, the Council reaffirmed its mission “to safeguard the Jewish character of the State of Israel and to preserve the heritage and traditions practiced faithfully throughout the generations.”
Addressing the specific issue of rabbinical exams for women, the Council explained: “The examinations are intended solely to assess knowledge as part of the process of granting rabbinical ordination. However, it is clear that Torah knowledge alone does not confer eligibility for certification. Additional conditions are required, including years of study, personal interviews, and a lifestyle consistent with the responsibilities of the position.”
{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump stunned Washington on Sunday night by urging House Republicans to vote in favor of releasing files tied to the Jeffrey Epstein case — a marked shift from his earlier opposition.
“We have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party,” Trump wrote on social media after returning to Washington from Florida.
The change in tone came as bipartisan pressure built around a bill compelling the Justice Department to make Epstein-related documents public. With momentum clearly against GOP leadership, Trump’s pivot signaled an acknowledgment that supporters of the measure had secured enough votes for passage in the House, though its prospects in the Senate remain uncertain.
For months, a coalition of Democrats and Republicans had accused party leaders of blocking transparency. “There could be 100 or more” GOP lawmakers ready to back the measure, said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who co-sponsored the bill. “I’m hoping to get a veto-proof majority on this legislation when it comes up for a vote.”
Massie joined Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., in filing a discharge petition back in July — a rare procedural maneuver that allows lawmakers to force a floor vote despite leadership resistance. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., had criticized the effort, even adjourning Congress early in August amid pressure from rank-and-file members to move forward on the Epstein issue. Democrats accused Johnson of stalling the seating of Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., to prevent her from becoming the 218th signer needed to force the vote. She added her signature immediately after being sworn in last week.
As the measure headed toward the floor, Massie predicted that party leaders — including Trump and Johnson — were about to “take a big loss this week.” “I’m not tired of winning yet, but we are winning,” he said.
Johnson, sensing the inevitable, said the chamber was ready to act. “We’ll just get this done and move it on. There’s nothing to hide,” he remarked, noting that the Oversight and Government Reform Committee had already been publishing “far more information than the discharge petition, their little gambit.”
The bill calls for the release of all Justice Department documents and communications tied to Epstein, as well as materials about the investigation into his 2019 death while in federal custody. Information about ongoing investigations or victims would be redacted to protect privacy.
The debate has intensified amid new disclosures, including a 2019 email in which Epstein told a journalist about Trump. The White House blasted Democrats for “selectively leaking” documents to smear the president. Johnson defended Trump, saying, “He has nothing to hide from this. They’re doing this to go after President Trump on this theory that he has something to do with it. He does not.”
Trump’s name appeared among those mentioned in files previously released by the Justice Department earlier this year. The president has never been accused of any wrongdoing, and officials have stressed that inclusion in those records does not imply criminal conduct.
Epstein’s social network extended across political and celebrity circles, and Trump was among many public figures acquainted with him. Epstein’s 2019 suicide in jail while awaiting trial on trafficking charges only deepened suspicions and public demand for accountability.
While Massie was bullish about GOP support, Khanna tempered expectations. “I don’t even know how involved Trump was,” he said. “There are a lot of other people involved who have to be held accountable.” He also urged Trump to meet victims of Epstein’s abuse, noting that several planned to appear at a Capitol Hill press conference on Tuesday.
Massie warned that Republican lawmakers voting against transparency might regret it later. “The record of this vote will last longer than Donald Trump’s presidency,” he said, emphasizing that opposing the bill could haunt those aligned with the president.
Among the Republicans siding with Massie were Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, and Lauren Boebert of Colorado. Trump recently cut ties with Greene, announcing he would back a challenger against her in 2026 “if the right person runs.”
Greene attributed their rift to the Epstein files controversy. “Unfortunately, it has all come down to the Epstein files,” she said, arguing that “the country deserves transparency on the issue.” Confused by Trump’s stance, she added, “I have no idea what’s in the files. I can’t even guess. But that is the question everyone is asking, is, why fight this so hard?”
Even if the measure clears the House, its fate in the upper chamber remains uncertain. Massie expressed hope that Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., “will do the right thing.” “The pressure is going to be there if we get a big vote in the House,” he said, predicting “we could have a deluge of Republicans.”
{Matzav.com}
Israeli security forces launched a manhunt Monday evening after dozens of Israelis stormed the Palestinian village of Jaba in the West Bank, setting homes and vehicles ablaze, according to the IDF. The military said the attack came just hours after the evacuation and demolition of an unauthorized outpost near Efrat.
Following the violence, the IDF said, “after the evacuation of the illegal structures… IDF, Border Police, and Israel Police forces rushed to the village of Jaba following a report that dozens of Israeli civilians had set fire to and vandalized homes and vehicles in the area.” Security forces are still “searching for those involved,” the statement added, noting that “the incident is still ongoing.”
In its statement, the army stressed that it “views all violence of any kind gravely and condemns it, as it harms security in the area,” emphasizing that such “acts of violence divert the attention of commanders and soldiers from defense and counterterrorism missions.”
Defense Minister Yisroel Katz voiced strong backing for Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, head of the IDF Central Command, amid the surge of settler violence. “We will not tolerate attempts by a small, violent, criminal group of anarchistic law-breakers to take the law into their own hands and tarnish the settler public, and we will not allow them to harm IDF soldiers, undermine order, or divert forces from their missions of protecting the citizens of Israel and thwarting Palestinian terrorism,” Katz declared.
“There will be no leniency toward anyone who resorts to violence. The security forces will continue operating on the ground, and we will continue to give them full support,” Katz continued, announcing that within weeks the government will consider a proposal to empower Col. (res.) Avichai Tanami—appointed earlier this year to address extremist settlers—with “tools and a budget” for “extensive and systemic action.” “I am confident this will lead to a significant change on the ground,” he added.
Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu also denounced the attack, describing the settlers’ actions “with utmost severity” and pledging to deal with the situation immediately. “I view the violent riots and the attempt to take the law into one’s own hands by a small extremist group – which does not represent the settlers in Judea and Samaria — with utmost severity,” Netanyahu said in a statement from his office.
The prime minister urged law enforcement “to apply the full weight of the law to the rioters,” promising to “address this personally and convene the relevant ministers as soon as possible in order to respond to this serious phenomenon.” He concluded, “I express my support for the IDF and the security forces, who will continue to act firmly and without fear to maintain order.”
{Matzav.com}
A new survey conducted by the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs shows that an overwhelming share of Israelis reject the creation of a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders. The poll, released Monday just ahead of a UN Security Council vote on a U.S.-backed plan that could pave the way for recognition of such a state, highlights the deep public opposition that has intensified since October 7.
The nationwide poll, carried out November 16–17 by Dr. Menachem Lazar of the Lazar Research Institute and based on responses from 698 Jewish and Arab Israelis, found that 70% of Israelis oppose a Palestinian state along those lines—the highest level of resistance recorded since the current war began. Among Jewish respondents, that figure jumps to 79%. Just 8% support the plan outright, while another 13% say they would only back it if the state recognized Israel as the Jewish homeland and remained entirely demilitarized. Nine percent expressed no opinion.
The results also indicate that normalization with Saudi Arabia would not sway most Israelis on the issue. Sixty-two percent oppose creating a Palestinian state even if it meant a peace agreement with Riyadh. Among Jewish Israelis, opposition soars to 73%, whereas a majority—56%—of Arab Israelis favor the idea, with roughly one-third supporting it unconditionally.
When respondents were asked about the possibility of Saudi Arabia obtaining F-35 fighter jets from the United States in exchange for dropping its demand for a Palestinian state, opinion was divided. Forty-three percent opposed the move, while 40% said they would support it, though most of those emphasized that American guarantees to preserve Israel’s military superiority would be a prerequisite. Only 6% said they would favor the deal without any conditions. Of those opposed, nearly one in four said they simply did not trust Saudi Arabia’s long-term intentions.
The survey further addressed attitudes toward a potential Israeli statement of future support for a Palestinian state as part of the U.S. initiative at the UN. Nearly half—49%—reject any such declaration outright, even if internal Palestinian reforms were implemented. Among Jewish Israelis, opposition rises to 57%. Twenty percent said they would only consider it if the proposed state were demilitarized and explicitly recognized Israel as the Jewish state.
On the question of post-war governance in Gaza, Israelis remain divided but cautious. Sixty-two percent favor deploying an international stabilization force, with most preferring that it be composed solely of American or Western troops. Only 10% want Turkey or Qatar involved. More than a quarter—26%—believe that Israel alone should maintain full military control of Gaza once the fighting ends.
{Matzav.com}
