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Some moments in life last for more than a moment. There are moments that can be pivotal in giving someone a sense of purpose, belonging or safety. Times that last in their memories and make an impact far deeper than the day to day of life. A person may remember the time when someone showed up for them when they were in a truly vulnerable state and it made all the difference. And devastatingly, the moment that they learned that the world wasn’t safe and that people can’t be trusted. In Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), an attachment injury occurs when someone is going through intense hardship and desperately needs their primary attachment figure to be there for them- and they’re not. There was an expectation that you would be there for me when I needed you most and when you weren’t there, I felt deeply betrayed, abandoned and can no longer trust. Attachment injuries go far beyond the day to day imperfections and mess ups that happen in all relationships. They are so intense because they strike at a person’s core need for safety, connection and trust. These wounds can happen within parent child relationships or between husband and wife. Sometimes it seems that couples are able to move on easily, but that is often like building on a rotting foundation. These injuries will often fester beneath the surface and can impact the relationship later on in all sorts of negative ways. Someone whose trust has been betrayed may quietly build up resentment, or be passive aggressive towards their spouse. They may “test” the relationship in order to try to learn to trust again or be too clingy or distant thereby bringing about the very rejection that is feared. They may not be able to trust and always be waiting for the other shoe to drop. They may be always on edge and find it hard to open up to or rely on their spouse again. They may overreact to minor infractions by exploding or shutting down in disengagement. The good news is though, that attachment injuries are repairable. The first step of repairing these wounds is to recognize that there was an injury to begin with. Something that may have seemed not as major to you, was life altering for your spouse or child. They need to be able to share their pain with you without you becoming defensive or shutting down- not an easy feat. We need to acknowledge the pain and take responsibility without minimizing or explaining it away. After recognition and validation, the couple can begin the process of rebuilding emotional safety. This happens when the injuring person is able to show up for their spouse in meaningful and attuned ways and be a reliable and open spouse. If you feel that there was a moment that significantly damaged your trust in your relationship, don’t sweep it under the rug. Approach your spouse with vulnerability and explain that you’re bringing this up in order to repair and rebuild trust- not to play a blame game. If you think that you may have done something that significantly hurt your relationship, don’t ignore it thinking it will pass on its own. Approach your spouse with care and compassion to listen to their pain and acknowledge their feelings. Below […]

POTUS: “Guys like Schumer, our great Palestinian Senator…” “He changed. He used to like Jewish people. Now, he’s totally against Jewish people. It’s the most incredible transformation I think I’ve ever seen.”

76-year-old Florida woman unharmed after her home was lifted from the ground during severe storms.

The Knesset Subcommittee on Foreign Policy and Public Diplomacy, led by Yesh Atid MK Moshe Tur-Paz, held a session on Wednesday to evaluate global perceptions of Israel following Operation Rising Lion, the military campaign against Iran.

Prior to the session, the committee reached out to the Harris-Harvard polling institute for data intended to gauge the effectiveness of Israel’s international messaging efforts. According to the committee, the purpose was “to understand the state of Israel’s public diplomacy, the challenges it faces, its successes in crafting effective campaigns, and how well it understands key target audiences in the US.”

Results from the institute’s most recent survey revealed a modest decline in overall American support for Israel, which dropped from 80% after October 7 to 75% in the current poll. The generational divide was striking: support among older Americans (ages 65 and up) remained high, nearing 90%, while among younger respondents, sentiment was nearly split between Israel and Hamas, at 53% and 47%, respectively.

The survey also showed a sharp drop in the number of Americans who view Israel positively—from 53% down to 41%—while the percentage holding negative views grew from 21% to 30%. Meanwhile, those expressing no opinion increased slightly, from 25% to 29%.

Although a majority of Americans reject Hamas and support requiring the release of hostages as part of any ceasefire, sympathy for Hamas has risen, climbing from 16% in November 2023 to 25% by June 2025.

Outside of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, most Americans are unfamiliar with other Israeli political figures. Netanyahu himself currently polls at 25% approval in the U.S., lower than overall support for Israel. His approval has steadily decreased, dropping from 34% in October 2023 to 20% in September 2024. The polling also indicated a strong link between support for Netanyahu and support for Israel, as well as between support for Trump and for Netanyahu.

Gal Ilan, who oversees Strategy and Public Diplomacy in the Prime Minister’s Office, addressed the shift in younger American opinion. “The decline in support among young people in the US is a known and challenging issue that deserves serious attention. As we understand it, the sentiment tends to align with a perception of victimhood. The key distinction lies in the platforms where they are exposed to information, and where they consume content. That’s a gap we’re working to overcome.”

Yonatan Bar El, head of the Foreign Ministry’s Coordination and Planning Department, made a distinction between two types of communications efforts. “There needs to be a distinction between branding and crisis management, and we’ve been in crisis management for nearly two years now. If we consider the volume of negative media coverage against Israel in the US, it would cost us a fortune to run a counter-campaign. The issue of casualties in Gaza holds significant weight—the number that becomes fixed in the global media is the one presented by Hamas, whether it’s accurate or not,” Bar El said.

According to statistics from the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, 51,156 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7, including over 17,000 children and 9,000 women, with another 132,239 injured. These figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Bar El also revealed that limited preparations for public diplomacy were underway just hours before the launch of the strike on Iran. A small team began mobilizing on the night of June 12. Their plan involved partnering with grassroots organizations and digital influencers, whom Bar El described as “force multipliers.”

He noted that during the 12-day military campaign, the Foreign Ministry’s digital platforms reached over one billion users, with around 380 million of those impressions coming from Persian-language outlets. Moreover, the ministry’s public diplomacy efforts included more than 1,000 media appearances—approximately half conducted by members of civil society rather than official spokespersons.

Colonel Avichay Edree, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, disclosed that a small unit within the IDF Spokesperson’s Division had prior knowledge of the surprise assault and was able to prepare accordingly. He also shared that the IDF’s Persian-language digital channels now boast about 900,000 followers, with 85% of them residing inside Iran.

In his concluding remarks, MK Tur-Paz acknowledged that while broad support for Israel still exists, the growing disconnect among younger Americans is driven by misinformation and insufficient outreach, particularly on digital platforms. “Support for Israel during the war exists. The challenge among young people stems from disinformation, lack of knowledge, and information sources we haven’t sufficiently engaged with, especially on social media. That’s the main challenge. A vacuum doesn’t fill itself with a narrative—knowledge must be met with knowledge.”

Tur-Paz also stressed the need for a more structured and authoritative communication strategy. “Despite improved coordination among the agencies, there is still no government decision in place, including on the need for a national spokesperson. The State of Israel needs people who will explain it, who will speak on its behalf officially—and ideally, they should be civilians,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

The first astronauts in more than 40 years from India, Poland and Hungary arrived at the International Space Station on Thursday, ferried there by SpaceX on a private flight. The crew of four will spend two weeks at the orbiting lab, performing dozens of experiments. They launched Wednesday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. America’s most experienced astronaut, Peggy Whitson, is the commander of the visiting crew. She works for Axiom Space, the Houston company that arranged the chartered flight. Besides Whitson, the crew includes India’s Shubhanshu Shukla, a pilot in the Indian Air Force; Hungary’s Tibor Kapu, a mechanical engineer; and Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, a radiation expert and one of the European Space Agency’s project astronauts on temporary flight duty. No one has ever visited the International Space Station from those countries before. In fact, the last time anyone rocketed into orbit from those countries was in the late 1970s and 1980s, traveling with the Soviets. “Welcome aboard the International Space Station,” NASA’s Mission Control radioed from Houston minutes after the linkup high above the North Atlantic. “It’s an honor to have you join our outpost of international cooperation and exploration.” It’s the fourth Axiom-sponsored flight to the space station since 2022. The company is one of several that are developing their own space stations due to launch in the coming years. NASA plans to abandon the International Space Station in 2030 after more than three decades of operation, and is encouraging private ventures to replace it. (AP)

New details are emerging about the extent of American involvement in Operation Rising Lion, Israel’s military campaign to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program and cripple its military might. It has now been revealed that U.S. Air Force refueling planes assisted the Israeli Air Force throughout the campaign, conducting mid-air refueling for Israeli fighter jets on their long-range missions to strike targets inside Iran. The American support helped ease the burden on Israel’s aging and limited fleet of aerial tankers as Israeli warplanes executed hundreds of sorties deep into enemy territory. Speaking Wednesday at the NATO summit in The Netherlands, President Donald Trump praised the results of the operation and the ongoing ceasefire, which he said is “going very well.” He went on to highlight the scale of the damage inflicted on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. “It was obliteration, and you’re going to see it—it’s going to come out,” Trump said. “Israel is preparing a report on it, and I was told they’re saying it was total obliteration. They have guys going in after the strike, and they’re saying it was complete destruction.” Trump also ridiculed the idea that Iran would resume enrichment efforts so soon after the strike. “Can you imagine, after all this, if Iran said: ‘Let’s make a bomb’?” he asked. “The last thing Iran wants to do is enrich anything. They want to recover.” A White House statement later cited a classified assessment from an Israeli intelligence agency under the Prime Minister’s Office, which concluded that the American airstrike on Iran’s Fordo enrichment facility “destroyed the site’s critical infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility inoperative.” The statement added, “We assess that the U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other components of Iran’s military nuclear program, have pushed back Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon by many years.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Trump on Thursday alleged that members of the Democratic Party in Congress were behind the leak of a classified Pentagon assessment regarding the effectiveness of recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.

“The Democrats are the ones who leaked the information on the PERFECT FLIGHT to the Nuclear Sites in Iran. They should be prosecuted!” Trump posted on Truth Social.

So far, there is no confirmation that Trump possesses direct evidence identifying who leaked the Defense Intelligence Agency’s early report, which was released after the strikes and suggested Iran’s nuclear program might only have suffered a temporary delay.

Just prior to Trump’s social media remarks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also floated the idea that congressional Democrats could be responsible. However, like Trump, she offered no definitive proof and said the investigation remained open.

“It could have been someone in the intelligence community, or it could have been someone on Capitol Hill who had access to this document. The FBI is searching for that person,” Leavitt told reporters.

“We have seen this playbook run before, where you have people in the intelligence community — or perhaps on Capitol Hill, we don’t know — but I believe the FBI is investigating to find out who that leaker was, because it’s illegal and they should be held accountable.”

Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, have expressed frustration over what they consider a lack of transparency surrounding Trump’s bold military operation that struck nuclear sites in Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz—an action without historical precedent.

The initial coverage of the leaked Defense Intelligence Agency memo came Tuesday through CNN’s Natasha Bertrand. Within hours, outlets including the New York Times, ABC, CNN, the Washington Post, and the Associated Press had corroborated and published similar reports.

The speed and breadth of the media coverage indicate that someone accustomed to interfacing with journalists may have confirmed the leaked material with multiple outlets.

Leavitt noted on Thursday that access to the DIA report was highly restricted prior to its public release, and she suggested the intent behind the leak was to minimize the perceived success of the U.S. airstrikes, which reportedly led to an immediate halt in hostilities between Iran and Israel and caused extensive damage to Iran’s strategic sites, according to both American and global intelligence assessments.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said in a televised interview Wednesday night that Israel had been prepared to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but never had a viable opportunity. “If he had been in our sights, we would have taken him out,” Katz told Channel 13. “We wanted to eliminate Khamenei, but there was no operational opportunity.” The comments mark the first public confirmation that the Israeli war cabinet seriously considered targeting Iran’s highest-ranking figure — a move that would have shattered diplomatic norms, likely triggered a regional war, and tested the outer limits of U.S.-Israeli coordination. Katz’s remarks came amid growing confidence in Jerusalem following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and military command centers, operations that Israeli officials say have “pushed back” Iran’s nuclear timeline by years and decapitated key leadership nodes in the Islamic Republic’s weapons program. Asked whether Jerusalem sought American approval before considering a strike on Khamenei, Katz didn’t hesitate: “We don’t need permission for these things.” While U.S. officials have repeatedly stressed the importance of avoiding “escalatory” moves that could derail diplomacy or ignite full-scale war, Katz’s comments suggest Israel’s red lines are broader and far more lethal than previously acknowledged. For years, Israel’s intelligence apparatus has engaged in a sprawling covert campaign against Iran’s nuclear program — sabotaging facilities, assassinating scientists, and crippling logistics networks. But targeting the supreme leader himself would represent a seismic shift in both scope and doctrine. Khamenei, who has ruled Iran since 1989, rarely appears in public and is guarded by layers of elite security. U.S. and Israeli officials have long viewed him as the ideological linchpin of Iran’s regional aggression, from Hezbollah in Lebanon to Houthi rebels in Yemen. Sources familiar with recent Israeli targeting protocols say that while Khamenei has never been on an “active kill list,” the unprecedented scale of Operation Rising Lion prompted top-level deliberations about removing regime leadership entirely. In those deliberations, the decision-makers reportedly stopped short not out of moral hesitation, but due to the lack of a tactical window. “Had the opportunity arisen,” one senior IDF officer said, “it would have been a different headline today.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

* Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell now heads into his next challenge: a potential threat that President Donald Trump could undermine his authority by soon naming his pick to head the central bank. * In the wake of the intense criticism, Wall Street has been buzzing over the potential for a “shadow chair,” or someone Trump could install as a central bank gadfly until Powell’s term expires. * A report indicated that Trump is considering naming the successor sooner than expected in an attempt to influence interest rate policy.

President Donald Trump stated that Iran’s nuclear materials remained in place at the sites struck by American forces, reinforcing comments made earlier in the day by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said there was no indication that Iran relocated its uranium stockpile ahead of the weekend’s military operation.

“Nothing was taken out of the facility. Would take too long, too dangerous, and very heavy and hard to move!” Trump wrote.

Despite those assertions, The Financial Times reported Thursday that European officials believe Iran’s reserves of highly enriched uranium were not significantly damaged in the strikes.

According to the paper, which cited two individuals familiar with early intelligence findings, European governments believe that Iran’s 408 kilograms of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium were not primarily stored at the Fordow enrichment facility—one of the regime’s key nuclear sites—when the U.S. strikes took place.

Earlier Thursday, Hegseth held a briefing with reporters at the Pentagon, detailing the coordinated U.S.-Israel operation. As previously reported, he described the mission as a major blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

He credited Trump with reshaping the strategic landscape, saying the military action had “created the conditions to end the war, decimating – choose your word – obliterating, destroying Iran’s nuclear capabilities.”

Hegseth also referred to statements by various American and foreign officials who confirmed that the operation inflicted serious damage on Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Reaffirming his position, Hegseth emphasized that he had not seen any evidence that Iran had relocated uranium to shield it from the strikes. “I’m not aware of any intelligence that I’ve reviewed that says things were not where they were supposed to be, moved or otherwise,” Hegseth said.

He closed his remarks by underscoring the magnitude of the military achievement. “I hope, with all the ink spilled, all of your outlets find the time to properly recognize this historic change in continental security that other presidents tried to do, other presidents talked about,” he said, according to CNN. “President Trump accomplished it. It’s a huge deal.”

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration’s vaccine advisers are bringing up an old flu-shot debate: whether it’s time to wipe out the last small fraction of those vaccines that contain a controversial preservative called thimerosal. It’s a question seemingly laid to rest years ago, as studies showed no evidence that the preservative causes any health problems. “This is really a nonissue,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Here are some things to know about the substance. What is thimerosal? Thimerosal is a preservative used in certain vaccines since the 1930s, as well as in some other medical products. It was mostly used in multi-dose vials of vaccine, to prevent bacterial contamination as the vessel was repeatedly punctured to withdraw a dose. Why is thimerosal controversial? Questions about thimerosal were raised in the late 1990s because it contains a form of mercury. It’s not the same as the toxic type found in some seafood, called methylmercury. Instead, it’s a different type called ethylmercury that the body can excrete, O’Leary explained. The amount of ethylmercury per vaccine dose was small and studies found no evidence of harm. Nor was it used in all vaccines. For example, vaccines for chickenpox, polio and measles, mumps and rubella never contained it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But as a precaution, the U.S. phased the preservative out of childhood vaccines. Since 2001, all vaccines routinely recommended for children age 6 and younger in the U.S. come in formulas that don’t contain thimerosal. The exception is a small subset of flu shot formulas in multi-dose vials that could be used for adults or kids. The vast majority of children, however, get their flu vaccination from a single-dose shot instead, O’Leary said. According to the CDC, 96% of all flu vaccines in the U.S. administered last fall and winter — and an even higher share of those used in federally funded programs — were thimerosal-free. Why is thimerosal being debated again? U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a longtime antivaccine activist, and he has long contended there was a tie between thimerosal and autism. On Thursday, his newly appointed vaccine advisers were set to hear a presentation from Lyn Redwood, a nurse practitioner who once ran the antivaccine group that Kennedy founded. She will suggest that the remaining thimerosal-containing flu shots should be removed, according to meeting materials posted earlier this week. Among the claims were that they could be a risk to pregnant women. A new CDC staff analysis prepared for the meeting again showed no link between the preservative and autism or any other neurodevelopmental disorders. Some experts note that autism rates rose after thimerosal was removed from young children’s vaccines in the U.S. (AP)

Baby Moishy, just 9 months old, is fighting for his life. His father already gave part of his liver to save him. Now, Moishy needs emergency heart surgery — but the only doctors who can help are far beyond what the family can afford. From his hospital bed, his father cries: “I gave my son my liver. I’d give him my heart if I could… but now, I have nothing left except this plea.” ⏳ Urgent Need: \$200,000 ❤️ Every bit counts With a blessing from Rabbi Meir Sirota: “This is pikuach nefesh. May helping bring bracha to your home.” 📍 Donate now:

Preliminary conversations are underway between the Prime Minister’s Office and the White House aimed at arranging a meeting between Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and President Donald Trump, according to two sources who spoke with The Jerusalem Post.

The sources clarified that while initial contacts have been made, a formal meeting has not yet been scheduled.

“There is no doubt that both sides have a shared interest in holding a ‘victory party’ after the war with Iran,” a senior Israeli official told Walla.

The anticipated agenda for the potential meeting would likely include two major topics: reaching a final agreement on the hostage deal (if not concluded beforehand) and efforts to expand the Abraham Accords — two areas seen as closely tied to each other.

Concerning the negotiations to free the hostages, it has recently emerged that the notion of deporting senior Hamas figures and other militants from Gaza is back in discussion.

This idea had been proposed previously, including by Gal Hirsch, Israel’s official in charge of hostages and missing persons, but had been rejected by Hamas. It has since resurfaced as a potential part of ending the current conflict.

In a statement on Thursday, Netanyahu reiterated his goal of pursuing “a dramatic expansion of peace agreements.”

Responding to these developments, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir delivered pointed remarks Thursday evening, warning against any diplomatic moves that might result in the formation of a Palestinian state.

“I find it hard to believe that the prime minister will repeat the mistakes of the past and enter negotiations that will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian terror state or dangerous concessions. The people of Israel want victory, not more attempts to appease terror under the guise of peace.”

Ben-Gvir added: “The prime minister knows as well: only a decisive victory, including conquest, settlement, and governance, is the true answer to the Palestinian lie, not withdrawals and surrendering to terrorists disguised as human beings.”

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration is preparing to enter next week’s renewed nuclear negotiations with Iran armed with a fresh set of hardline demands, aiming to cement the gains made during the recent joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure. According to reports, the U.S. will insist on three non-negotiable conditions before any substantive talks can resume: a total ban on uranium enrichment inside Iran, the removal of all highly enriched uranium currently in Iranian stockpiles, and new limitations on Tehran’s missile development program. The preconditions mark a dramatic escalation of the administration’s posture toward Iran and reflect a growing belief in some corners of Washington—and Jerusalem—that not all of Iran’s nuclear capability was neutralized during last month’s airstrikes. Just prior to the campaign, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Iran had amassed over 408 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent—enough material, if further enriched, to fuel more than ten nuclear bombs. That stockpile remains a central concern for both American and Israeli officials, who fear that any portion left intact could allow Tehran to quietly restart its weapons program or, in a worst-case scenario, develop a radiological weapon capable of causing massive disruption. The administration’s demand for the removal of this material comes with an unspoken warning: refusal could prompt another round of military strikes. “This is not going to be like the Obama deal,” one senior administration official said. “There is no room for games here. Iran knows what it needs to do. And if it doesn’t, we’re prepared to act again.” The upcoming talks, the first since airstrikes began on June 13, represent a new phase in a confrontation that has shifted from covert sabotage and diplomatic stalemates to open warfare and strategic recalibration. The Trump White House, buoyed by what officials describe as a “dual strike success,” is entering the negotiations with confidence—and leverage. The U.S. campaign, executed in coordination with Israel, dealt what officials call “irreversible” damage to key Iranian nuclear facilities. While the Pentagon has not publicly detailed the full scope of the operation, Israeli officials offered a striking revelation on Wednesday: eleven senior Iranian nuclear scientists were killed in the campaign—nine in the opening wave of strikes, and two more in the final hours of the conflict. All were reportedly involved in Iran’s military nuclear project, including members of the so-called “weapon group” responsible for warhead development. Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission released an unusually blunt assessment, stating that the combined American and Israeli strikes had “pushed back Iran’s nuclear weapon capability by many years.” The commission, typically silent on operational matters, added that the damage spanned enrichment sites, development labs, and key personnel hubs, many located in and around Tehran. The IDF’s Technical Intelligence Arena—a specialized division within Military Intelligence—is still finalizing its post-strike assessment, but early conclusions are that Iran’s nuclear program has taken a devastating hit. A recent internal memo circulated within the IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate described the campaign as delivering “a major blow to both infrastructure and human capital” critical to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Iran, for its part, had previously rejected these same demands when they were floated ahead of the June operation. At the time, Tehran insisted on its sovereign right to enrich uranium and dismissed any missile restrictions as a nonstarter. But the situation has since […]

Lieutenant Colonel (res.) A., an Israeli Air Force pilot who commanded the initial airstrike of Operation Rising Lion deep inside Iranian territory, has for the first time revealed the personal letter he wrote to his loved ones once the combat mission concluded.

As the first pilot to cross into hostile airspace, A. took on the riskiest role in the opening wave of attacks. His assignment placed him at the forefront of what became one of the most daring operations carried out by Israel in recent years.

Knesset member Matan Kahana, a longtime friend of A., shared the contents of the letter on social media after the pilot gave his consent.

“Lieutenant Colonel (res.) A., a kibbutznik from the north and a dear friend, led the first planes that entered deep into Iran,” Kahana wrote. “I was told that his briefing before the fateful flight was special. I asked him to share what he sent to his family when the ceasefire began, and he agreed.”

Along with authorizing the letter’s release, A. added a heartfelt appeal: “Please, please, no politics. With me in the formation were kibbutzniks, settlers, moshavniks, and urbanites. As you know so well — the beautiful Land of Israel. Despite the fear and concerns, we looked to the right and left and charged together at the enemy. Historic moments, a special feeling.”

In his emotional message to his family, A. wrote: “There will be plenty of time to share experiences, to laugh, and to cry… but I waited two weeks to share. In the opening sortie, I was chosen to lead a formation of dozens of planes. We were the first to enter deep into Iran. I was in the first plane of the first formation, and that’s how I received the most dangerous mission.”

Reflecting on the tense days prior to the operation, he admitted: “During the days before, I didn’t have the courage to write a farewell letter. I don’t know why, something inside me didn’t let me focus on that, and I knew I would do everything to complete the mission and return safely.”

He went on to describe how he handled the enormous responsibility of leadership: “The greatest challenge I had was giving confidence and calm to the formation I was leading. At the end of the briefing, I chose to read a few words from a song I really love to the wonderful group with me. I kept this note in my pocket throughout the war, and I promised myself that instead of a farewell letter, I would send you the note and song when I return healthy and safe. Thank God we returned safely!”

The note he carried included lyrics that deeply moved him: “At midnight, they rose and struck at the edge of the world like sons of fire, they felt they flew afar to restore the dignity of man.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Nestle said Wednesday it will eliminate artificial colors from its U.S. food and beverages by the middle of 2026. It’s the latest big food company making that pledge. Last week, Kraft Heinz and General Mills said they would remove artificial dyes from their U.S. products by 2027. General Mills also said it plans to remove artificial dyes from its U.S. cereals and from all foods served in K-12 schools by the middle of 2026. The move has broad support. About two-thirds of Americans favor restricting or reformulating processed foods to remove ingredients like added sugar or dyes, according to an AP-NORC poll. Both California and West Virginia have recently banned artificial dyes in foods served in schools. On Sunday, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas signed a bill requiring foods made with artificial dyes or additives to contain a new safety label starting in 2027. The label would say they contain ingredients “not recommended for human consumption” in Australia, Canada, the European Union or the U.K. The federal government is also stepping up its scrutiny of artificial colors. In January, days before President Donald Trump took office, the U.S. regulators banned the dye called Red 3 from the nation’s food supply, nearly 35 years after it was barred from cosmetics because of potential cancer risk. In April, Trump’s Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the agency would take steps to eliminate synthetic dyes by the end of 2026, largely by relying on voluntary efforts from the food industry. Nestle has pledged to remove artificial dyes before. Early in 2015, the company said it would remove artificial flavors and colors from its products by the end of that year. But the promise didn’t hold. Nestle said Wednesday it’s been removing synthetic dyes from its products over the last decade, and 90% of its U.S. portfolio doesn’t contain them. Among those that do is Nesquik Banana Strawberry milk, which is made with Red 3. Nestle said Wednesday it wants to evolve with its U.S. customers’ changing nutritional needs and preferences. “Serving and delighting people is at the heart of everything we do and every decision that we make,” Nestle’s U.S. CEO Marty Thompson said in a statement. (AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu delivered a video address on Thursday in which he declared that Israel had secured a meaningful triumph over Iran and emphasized that this moment presents a strategic chance to broaden the circle of peace in the region.

Referencing Tehillim, Netanyahu stated: “The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.”

He continued: “We fought with strength against Iran and achieved a great victory. This victory opens the door to a dramatic expansion of the peace agreements. We are working on this vigorously.”

Netanyahu went on to point out that “alongside the release of our hostages and the defeat of Hamas, there is a window of opportunity here that must not be missed. Not a single day should be wasted.”

Responding to Netanyahu’s message, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich voiced caution regarding what form peace efforts might take. “Expanding the Abraham Accords is a wonderful thing. Peace treaties from a position of strength, with security potential and economic development for the entire region.”

However, he warned against compromises he views as dangerous: “But if it’s just shiny packaging for an existential threat in the form of dividing the land of Israel, handing over territory to the enemy, and establishing a Palestinian terror state twenty times the size of Gaza in an area that geographically and topographically dominates most of the land of Israel — then no, thank you.”

Smotrich criticized past peace initiatives that he believes led to tragedy. “We’ve already seen this horror movie, where they sold us bombastic illusions wrapped in lofty words about a ‘New Middle East’ and international standing in the family of nations — and it blew up in our buses, in city centers, with thousands of dead and wounded, and with the most terrible massacre we’ve suffered since the Holocaust.”

He concluded with a pointed message to Netanyahu: “After October 7th, there aren’t many sane people in Israel who would support that. Our right to this land is not for sale. Period. Mr. Prime Minister, let it be clear — you have no mandate. Not even a hint of one, not even lip service. If there are countries that want peace in exchange for peace, ahlan wa sahlan (welcome). If they want a Palestinian state — forget it. It’s not going to happen.”

{Matzav.com}

Ofra Keidar was buried on Thursday at Kibbutz Be’eri, after being held hostage for 625 days, nearly 21 months since her abduction on October 7, 2023.

Her son Elad Keidar spoke at the graveside, reflecting on their final phone call. “After they told us you had been recovered from Gaza, I couldn’t stop replaying our last phone conversation in my head – the photos and videos I saw, the situation we were in at home, and the state you were in when you faced the terrorists. I started analyzing the entire situation from every angle, like a 360-degree view. I need these details to find closure in my personal journey. I hope with all my heart that all the families of the hostages will also be able to find their closure.”

Elad continued with words of gratitude and sorrow. “Mom, thank you for everything you taught me, for all the years you were with us. You live on in each and every one of your children. Thank you for who you were to us, and through you, we also gained a new family. I hope you can see how strong Yael is, how much she understands and knows, and how much your character and personality shine through her. You raised and educated her in an incredible way. I ask for your forgiveness, Mom. Forgive me for not coming to you when we spoke, and for not being able to help you. I love you always.”

Her daughter Yael offered a heartfelt eulogy, expressing both pain and strength. “I want to tell you that I survived and I’m alive. I’m sad that you left us. We weren’t just mother and daughter – we were friends. I miss your hugs and I’m continuing on your path. I swim, I care for animals, and I give love to everyone around me. Mom, you taught me so many things, and because of them, I am who I am today. I wanted you to know that there are good people who are with me and love me. My dear brothers Elad and Oren are always by my side, even when things are difficult for me. I want to thank all the soldiers who brought Mom back. May your memory be a blessing. I love you and will remember you forever.”

Ofra’s daughter-in-law Einav also addressed the crowd with emotion. “Ofra, my children miss you so much. You are missing from our lives every single day. Today, we are granted this moment to bid you farewell in peace. You are deep within our thoughts and hearts. We love you, and please watch over us from above, because we are very tired. I long for days of unity and unconditional love among our people, but above all, our moral obligation and ability to heal ourselves will come only after the return of the remaining hostages: those who are alive for rehabilitation, and those for proper burial in the land of Israel.”

Amit Shalvi, speaking on behalf of the Kibbutz Be’eri community, addressed the broader pain shared by many. “Here you are, but this is not how we wanted it to be. And once again – ‘the soil of Be’eri gathers you to itself’ – and this is so unlike you. The circle has closed, and your dear family has a grave they can visit. Yet still, 50 of our people remain in Gaza’s tunnels – at least 20 alive, about 30 deceased, including five of ours: Yossi, Ilan, Dror, Meni, and Sahar. Time has stood still for them, and they must be returned immediately. We must end the war in Gaza and bring them all home.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump claimed that reporters from CNN and The New York Times could soon face termination over what he called inaccurate coverage of the recent American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Both media organizations had published pieces suggesting that the U.S. bombing campaign failed to achieve lasting damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, estimating that any disruption would last just a few months.

However, CIA Director John Ratcliffe contradicted those claims on Wednesday, stating that reliable intelligence pointed to severe destruction of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, potentially requiring years for the regime to rebuild.

In a post to Truth Social on Thursday, Trump took aim at the two news giants.

“Rumor is that the Failing New York Times and Fake News CNN will be firing the reporters who made up the FAKE stories on the Iran Nuclear sites because they got it so wrong. Lets see what happens?” Trump wrote.

Following a Thursday morning briefing by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine detailing the damage inflicted on the Iranian facilities in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, Trump once again turned to Truth Social to voice his opinion.

“One of the greatest, most professional, and most ‘confirming’ News Conferences I have ever seen! The Fake News should fire everyone involved in this Witch Hunt, and apologize to our great warriors, and everyone else!” he posted.

Earlier in the week, on Tuesday night, Trump had already begun lashing out at CNN and The New York Times, accusing them of colluding to undermine the success of Operation Midnight Hammer.

In a strongly worded post in all capital letters, Trump stated: “FAKE NEWS CNN, TOGETHER WITH THE FAILING NEW YORK TIMES, HAVE TEAMED UP IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEMEAN ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MILITARY STRIKES IN HISTORY. THE NUCLEAR SITES IN IRAN ARE COMPLETELY DESTROYED! BOTH THE TIMES AND CNN ARE GETTING SLAMMED BY THE PUBLIC!”

The two outlets had cited an initial evaluation reportedly drafted by the Defense Intelligence Agency, which suggested the strikes had only temporarily delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

{Matzav.com}