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Former hostage Romi Gonen revealed in an emotional interview with singer Ishay Ribo that his song “Tocho Ratzuf Ahava” became a source of comfort and strength for her during her time in captivity in Gaza.

The conversation took place on Gonen’s program, “The New Life of Romi Gonen,” which airs on the V1 app. During the interview, she described the powerful emotions she experienced when she finally heard the song after many months in captivity, saying it immediately brought thoughts of her mother to mind.

Gonen explained that throughout the long period she was held hostage, she constantly hoped the song would eventually come on the radio whenever captives were briefly allowed to listen.

“Something in me was always waiting to hear ‘Tocho Ratzuf Ahava’ whenever we listened to the radio,” Gonen told Ribo during their conversation in the studio.

She then recounted the moment the song finally aired, nearly a year after she had been taken captive.

“Then it came, almost a year later, during the week of October 7. By chance they brought us a radio, and suddenly I woke up when Emily shouted to me, ‘Lula, “Tocho Ratzuf Ahava” is on the radio.’”

According to Gonen, she immediately rushed over to listen, placing both headphones on her ears as the music momentarily transported her away from the suffering and fear around her.

She said the song instantly connected her to memories of her mother. “For one moment, just to be inside it, inside the situation, as if I’m not in Gaza and my mother is here with me – that’s her ringtone.”

Ribo appeared deeply emotional after hearing her story and shared what the song represented to him in the context of her ordeal. He said the lyrics reflect Divine compassion and explained how meaningful it was to hear that the music had offered her comfort during such darkness.

“It moves me very much,” Ribo responded. “The words speak about G-d’s infinite mercy toward us. And from your place – anyone who hasn’t experienced this cannot even imagine it, because we have no human ability to truly understand it – that you are there and these words give you strength. Yes, they remind you of your mother, but in essence you feel protected and strengthened by it.”

Ribo concluded by expressing amazement that a song could bring hope and emotional light during such unbearable circumstances.

“If you hadn’t told me this, I could never have imagined that a song like this, at such a difficult and dark moment, could bring light.”

Rep. Thomas Massie, one of President Donald Trump’s most outspoken Republican critics in Congress, was defeated Tuesday in Kentucky’s Republican primary by Trump-endorsed candidate Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL.

Gallrein will now move on to the November midterm election after securing victory in Kentucky’s Fourth Congressional District in what became the most expensive House primary race in American history.

The race had been closely watched nationwide as a major measure of Trump’s continued dominance over the Republican Party more than a decade after first entering national politics.

Throughout the campaign, Trump repeatedly urged Republican voters to back Gallrein and sharply attacked Massie, referring to him as a “major sleazebag” and “the worst Republican congressman in history”.

Massie, who had represented the district since 2012, frequently clashed with Trump in recent years. He opposed Trump’s “big, beautiful” tax-and-spending package last year, citing concerns over the growing national debt. He also voted against certain military actions backed by Trump, including operations targeting suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

The Kentucky congressman additionally joined Democrats and several Republicans in pushing the Justice Department to release all files connected to Jeffrey Epstein.

Addressing supporters after conceding defeat, Massie said he remained proud of the way his campaign had been conducted.

“we’ve been honourable the whole time,” he told supporters.

“It started nine months ago, and they didn’t even have a candidate, and they decided they wanted to take me out,” he added.

On the eve of the primary, Trump intensified his attacks on Massie in a series of social media posts, labeling him “an obstructionist and a fool”.

Gallrein also received campaign support from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who traveled to Kentucky and accused Massie of engaging in “constant obstruction”.

Massie responded by arguing that Hegseth’s appearance in the district actually reflected concern within the Gallrein campaign.

“You don’t send the Secretary of War to Kentucky during a war if you think your candidate is up 10 points. That’s what you do when you realise your whole campaign is imploding,” Massie told CBS News.

Massie defended much of his voting record alongside Trump but said his disagreements came on matters of principle.

“90% of the time,” Massie said he voted with Trump, though he argued that the president and his allies “want 100% compliance”.

“It’s only the 10% of the time they’re mad about – when I won’t vote for a war, when I won’t vote for warrantless spying and when I won’t vote to bankrupt the country,” he said.

“But in those instances, I’m doing what I told the people in Kentucky I would do.”

In another major Kentucky Republican contest, Rep. Andy Barr won the GOP nomination to succeed retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is stepping down after serving more than four decades in the Senate.

Barr’s victory followed Trump’s endorsement and came after the president reportedly helped clear the field by offering an ambassadorship to Barr’s leading Republican rival.

Trump has continued to aggressively shape Republican primaries across the country through endorsements, including efforts targeting lawmakers who opposed him or supported his conviction during the 2021 impeachment proceedings.

In Texas, Trump has also backed Attorney General Ken Paxton over longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn.

“John Cornyn is a good man, and I worked well with him, but he was not supportive of me when times were tough,” Trump said Tuesday while explaining his endorsement of Paxton.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Chief Rabbi, Rav Kalman Meir Ber, was involved in a minor traffic accident Tuesday morning while returning home from Shacharis.

A statement issued by the Chief Rabbi’s office said the incident took place shortly after the rabbi completed his morning prayers.

As a precaution, Rav Ber was transported to a hospital for medical evaluation and testing to ensure that he had not suffered any internal injuries in the accident.

Doctors conducted a series of examinations, and after the tests were completed, the rabbi was discharged a short time later after no significant medical concerns were found.

His office stated: “The rabbi was examined at the hospital and released shortly afterward – with no abnormal findings.”

Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the Palestinian territories who has repeatedly drawn criticism over her anti-Israel rhetoric, is facing renewed backlash after publishing remarks that critics say blend antisemitic themes with a distorted portrayal of Holocaust history.

In a Facebook post, Albanese urged Germans to release themselves from what she described as the continuing burden of guilt and responsibility tied to the crimes committed by Nazi Germany.

According to Albanese, Germany’s strong backing of Israel is not rooted in genuine repentance for the Holocaust, but rather in what she characterized as an unresolved sense of superiority. She argued that Germany’s support for Israel functions as a “convenient mask” designed to help restore its standing and acceptance within the international community.

Her comments went beyond criticism of Germany and included broader remarks about Jews and Israel. “The Western club accepted them because they proved themselves capable of tolerating certain members of the group that were previously ‘undesirable,’ and so they accepted the Jews, but not all of them. They learned that to survive in this world they must be superior. No longer a fragile minority. No longer a people in exile. No longer the people of the book. But the chosen people. ‘Chosen to rule?’ one might wonder when looking at what Israel has become.”

Albanese also alleged that Germany discriminates against Jews who oppose Zionism and accused the country of adopting discriminatory legislation. She further called on Germans to distance themselves from what she described as an imposed obligation toward Israel.

The controversy is the latest in a series of incidents involving Albanese’s public statements. Earlier this year, during an Al Jazeera conference in Doha, Qatar, she referred to Israel as “the common enemy of humanity” — remarks that triggered sharp criticism from officials and political leaders across Europe, with some calling for her dismissal from her UN position.

Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that negotiations with Iran are moving forward positively, while warning that the United States remains fully prepared to renew military operations if diplomatic efforts collapse.

The remarks came only hours after President Trump revealed that he had nearly authorized additional strikes against Iran and warned Tehran it had only “two or three days” left to reach an agreement.

Speaking during a White House briefing, Vance said discussions with Iran continue to show signs of progress, though he cautioned that no final outcome has yet been secured.

“A lot of good progress is being made, but we’re just going to keep on working at it, and eventually we’ll either hit a deal or we won’t,” Vance told a briefing at the White House.

Vance, who has previously expressed skepticism about deeper American military involvement with Iran, led a U.S. delegation to Pakistan in April for negotiations that ultimately did not result in a breakthrough agreement. He stressed Tuesday that the administration’s position remains firm on preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

“We’re in a pretty good spot here — but there’s an option B, and the option B is that we could restart the military campaign,” said the US vice president.

Vance added that while the administration prefers diplomacy, military action remains fully on the table if negotiations fail.

“We’re locked and loaded. We don’t want to go down that pathway, but the president is willing and able to go down that pathway if we have to.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday night that the Israeli Navy had completed its takeover of the latest flotilla attempting to reach Gaza, with all activists aboard now in Israeli custody and being transported to Israel.

In a statement released by the ministry, officials said the operation had concluded successfully and that the passengers had been transferred off the flotilla vessels.

“Another PR flotilla has come to an end. All 430 activists have been transferred to Israeli vessels and are making their way to Israel, where they will be able to meet with their consular representatives,” said the Foreign Ministry in a statement.

Israeli officials dismissed the effort as a publicity campaign intended to benefit Hamas rather than a genuine humanitarian mission.

“This flotilla has once again proved to be nothing more than a PR stunt at the service of Hamas,” it added.

The ministry also emphasized that Israel intends to continue enforcing its maritime blockade of Gaza in accordance with international law.

“Israel will continue to act in full accordance with international law and will not permit any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza,” the statement stressed.

Earlier Tuesday, the United States announced sanctions against four individuals connected to the flotilla operation. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the move was aimed at cutting off support networks tied to terrorism and advancing American diplomatic efforts in the region.

According to Pigott, the sanctions “disrupt terrorist financing and advance President Trump’s Middle East peace efforts.”

Among those detained aboard the flotilla was the sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly. Connolly commented on the matter Monday, saying she was “very proud” of her sister.

Media personality Tucker Carlson engaged in a heated interview with Channel 13 News journalist Udi Segal, sharply criticizing Israel’s leadership, opposing continued American support for Israel, and defending controversial comments he has made about the war in Gaza and the broader Middle East conflict.

During the interview, Segal confronted Carlson over the October 7 Hamas massacre, including the murders and kidnappings carried out by terrorists against Israeli civilians, among them women and infants. The discussion quickly escalated into a tense exchange over Israel’s military response and its right to defend itself.

Carlson directed much of his criticism at Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, accusing him of steering the country in a dangerous direction. He said Netanyahu is “leading Israel toward destruction” and called him “a very bad leader and a very unwise leader”, while also adding that he believes Netanyahu “is acting in what he thinks is his nation’s best interest. So I give him credit for that and always have.”

Carlson argued that the ongoing war has damaged ties between Washington and Jerusalem and said American involvement with Israel is harming the United States. He stated that “because of this war…America’s relationship with Israel, while it may be based on good intentions, is hurting the United States very badly” and urged an immediate halt to American assistance to Israel, saying: “I don’t think the United States owes Israel anything. I don’t think the United States should give Israel anything. I think we should stop all aid to Israel, all special deals for Israel.”

Turning to the conflict with Iran, Carlson criticized American participation in the confrontation and expressed disappointment with President Trump’s handling of the situation. According to Carlson, Trump “turned out to be far weaker than I understood” and had been pushed by Netanyahu “into a war that hurts the United States.”

Segal challenged Carlson over his comparison between Israel and the Iranian regime, noting the difference between a democratic country defending itself and a government known for executing dissidents and suppressing its population. Carlson responded by saying, “As an Israeli, you should pause before using the phrase ‘terror regime’, since you live in a country that just murdered thousands of children in Gaza.”

In other remarks during the interview, Carlson claimed that “Israel is not a democracy in any sense,” asserted that “Israel does not represent all Jews,” and accused the country of treating Arabs “like animals or subhumans.”

{Matzav.com}

The Justice Department has opened an investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar over possible immigration fraud, Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday, reviving long-standing scrutiny surrounding the Minnesota congresswoman’s immigration history, family relationships, and financial matters.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Vance confirmed that federal authorities are reviewing the allegations.

“I don’t want to prejudge an investigation,” Vance told reporters at the White House. “It certainly seems like something fishy is there, but everybody’s entitled to equal justice under the laws.”

He added that the matter is now under active review by the Justice Department.

“So we’re going to investigate it. We’re going to take a look at it. If we think that there’s a crime, we’re going to prosecute that crime, and that’s something the Department of Justice is looking at right now,” he added.

Vance, who oversees the administration’s efforts targeting fraud involving government benefits, had previously accused Omar earlier this year of wrongdoing related to her immigration status, saying she “definitely committed immigration fraud.”

Omar’s office forcefully rejected the accusation. Her chief of staff, Connor McNutt, dismissed the allegation as “a ridiculous lie.” Still, claims surrounding Omar’s background and personal history have continued to follow her since her first run for Congress in 2018.

Much of the controversy has centered on Omar’s second husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, a British citizen whom some reports and online discussions over the years have suggested may be related to her.

Marriage records previously obtained by The Post show that Omar and Elmi were married in a Christian ceremony in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, in February 2009. The marriage ended in divorce in December 2017.

Omar has spoken only sparingly about the relationship over the years, describing it as short-lived and saying the two spent little time together apart from a period between 2009 and 2011. Public records do not show the couple having any children together.

Before marrying Elmi, Omar had entered into an Islamic marriage ceremony with Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi in 2002. Although they had three children together, the pair did not legally marry until January 2018.

Questions surrounding Omar and Elmi intensified after an Instagram image reportedly showed Elmi holding Omar’s third child alongside a caption referring to “nieces,” according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The post was later removed.

Claims that Omar and Elmi were siblings first appeared years ago on the Somali political discussion forum SomaliSpot, though those posts were eventually deleted as well, according to prior reporting by City Journal.

Additional allegations surfaced in 2020 when Minneapolis Somali community activist and blogger Abdihakim Osman told the Daily Mail that he had known both Omar and Elmi during their time in Minnesota.

According to Osman, Omar had introduced Elmi to members of the Somali community as her brother from London during the late 2000s.

Osman also alleged that at the time Omar had indicated that her sibling was seeking “papers,” a phrase commonly used to describe immigration documentation such as a green card.

{Matzav.com}

The Binyamin Regional Council announced the death of Major (res.) Itamar Sapir, who was killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon. He was 27 years old. His funeral is scheduled to take place tomorrow in Ra’anana.

Sapir, the son of Yehuda and Rivki Sapir of Eli, was raised in the Binyamin region and studied in its local schools before continuing his education at Yeshivat Neve Shmuel in Efrat.

A number of years ago, he married Roi. The couple initially lived in Ra’anana before relocating to Ariel, where they built their home and welcomed their first child, Maayan, who is now approximately a year and a half old.

He joined the IDF in 2019 and served in the elite Maglan unit. By the time he completed his regular military service, he had risen to the position of company commander. During his reserve duty, he continued serving as a company commander in Maglan’s reserve battalion.

Those who knew Sapir described him as a deeply dedicated and principled individual whose loss has left friends and family devastated.

“He was the most upright friend I know,” said Meir, a childhood friend of Itamar. “A cheerful and opinionated friend with a wonderful family. A friend who, when he wanted something, would invest all of himself to achieve his goal.”

Sapir is the 63rd soldier from the Binyamin Regional Council to fall since the beginning of the war. He is survived by his wife, Roi; his young son, Maayan; his parents, Yehuda and Rivki; and his brothers, Tal, Erez, and Yosef.

Binyamin Regional Council chairman Yisrael Ganz mourned Sapir’s death and extended condolences to the bereaved family.

“All of our hearts are broken with the fall of Captain Itamar Sapir, of blessed memory,” Ganz said. “Itamar grew up in Eli, a community that has already sacrificed many of its finest sons since the start of the war. The Eli community sends its sons to the front with faith, responsibility, and endless devotion, and tragically, this time its son did not return.”

Ganz also reflected on the generation of young Israelis currently fighting in the war.

“Itamar was part of a remarkable generation of warriors. A generation that builds homes, raises children, loves life, and at the same time stands up without hesitation to defend the State of Israel. A generation of devotion, mission, and love for the people and the land. On behalf of all the residents of Binyamin, I embrace the dear Sapir family. We will always stand by your side.”

{Matzav.com}

Randi Weingarten allegedly relied on extensive union-funded support while producing her controversial political book, with consultants, attorneys, and other contributors tied to the project receiving more than $1.4 million from the union, according to a new report released by the Freedom Foundation, the NY Post reports.

The report alleges that Weingarten used significant resources connected to the American Federation of Teachers while writing Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy, a book critics accused of promoting a liberal political agenda. According to the analysis, Weingarten also personally retained part of the book’s proceeds.

Among those involved in the project, the report said, was an attorney who allegedly reviewed the manuscript on a pro bono basis even though his law firm received nearly $977,000 from the union for separate legal work. The report also identified a consultant described as a possible ghostwriter who allegedly received more than $400,000 overall from the union.

According to the analysis, the union additionally spent more than $11,000 on individuals who reportedly assisted with fact-checking the book and photographing Weingarten for promotional materials connected to the publication, which the publisher promoted as “a manifesto for our time.”

Maxford Nelsen, the organization’s director of research and government affairs, argued that union members did not sign up to finance such projects through their dues payments.

“Most AFT members pay dues in exchange for workplace representation, not to fund the union president’s literary pursuits,” said Maxford Nelsen, the Freedom Foundation’s director of research and government affairs.

“However, AFT appears to have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in members’ dues on top-tier consultants, lawyers, and agents to get WFFT published,” Nelson went on. “Indeed, the wide range of expenses borne by AFT suggests that Weingarten may not have contributed anything at all financially to the enterprise.”

Weingarten currently earns $469,442 annually from the AFT, which represents approximately 1.8 million members through thousands of local affiliates nationwide. She has publicly acknowledged that royalties from the book are shared with the union and affiliated nonprofit organizations.

The book itself generated controversy after critics claimed Weingarten implied President Donald Trump displayed fascist tendencies. The book also referenced historical dictators including Adolf Hitler.

“Those hell-bent on unraveling democracy, pluralism, and opportunity have always attacked teachers and education,” Weingarten wrote in her book. “It’s a very old playbook. In the 1930s, Hitler and Mussolini persecuted teachers and tried to control the curriculum.”

Weingarten denied accusations that she directly labeled Trump or members of his administration as fascists, insisting she was discussing broader authoritarian behavior rather than making personal comparisons.

The Freedom Foundation based its findings on an LM-2 financial disclosure filed by the union with the federal government covering the period between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.

The report highlighted Weingarten’s acknowledgment section, where she described writer Sally Kohn as “indispensable as a day-to-day thought partner and collaborator.” According to union financial records cited in the report, Kohn received $400,270 in consulting payments from the AFT during the relevant period, a figure reportedly far higher than in prior years.

The Freedom Foundation argued those payments may have been tied to ghostwriting or substantial writing assistance for the book, services Kohn advertises professionally. Representatives for Weingarten disputed that characterization, saying Kohn worked on multiple union-related initiatives, including the union’s Reconnecting McDowell newsletter.

The report also noted that Weingarten thanked fact-checker Emily Krieger in the book’s acknowledgments. According to financial disclosures, the AFT paid $6,000 to Emily Krieger Editorial LLC, based in Bozeman, Montana. Krieger’s website reportedly states that she “fact-checked” the book.

In addition, the photograph of Weingarten used inside the book jacket and in promotional materials published by Penguin Random House was credited to photographer Tony Powell. Financial disclosures showed the AFT paid Powell $5,212 under administrative expenses.

Weingarten also thanked attorney Charles Moerdler of Patterson Belknap Webb and Tyler LLP for reviewing the manuscript from a legal standpoint.

At the same time, the union disclosed payments totaling $977,275 to Moerdler’s law firm for legal work and union-related services. The Freedom Foundation suggested some of those payments may have indirectly supported work connected to the book, although Weingarten maintained that Moerdler reviewed the manuscript without compensation.

Representatives for the attorney said his firm separately worked on litigation involving New Hampshire’s “divisive concepts” law and on projects tied to the union’s artificial intelligence education initiatives.

The AFT additionally disclosed $64,090 in publication-related payments to InkWell Management, which represents Weingarten as a client and is connected to Penguin Random House.

Although not individually detailed in financial records, the book’s acknowledgments also credited nearly 30 AFT staff members for contributing to the project.

“Also undisclosed, but potentially substantial, is the amount AFT likely paid in travel expenses and other costs associated with Weingarten’s nationwide tour to promote her book,” Nelson said.

The report also questioned how royalties and proceeds from the book are ultimately being distributed.

Weingarten has publicly stated that portions of the proceeds would benefit the AFT, the AFT Disaster Relief Fund, and the AFT Educational Foundation.

However, the analysis also identified two royalty payments totaling $125,000 made to an entity controlled by Weingarten called Teachers Want What Kids Need, LLC, which the report noted is a Delaware-based corporation rather than a tax-exempt charitable organization.

“It has no website or discernible public-facing presence of any kind,” the Freedom Foundation said in its report.

Weingarten sharply rejected the report’s conclusions, calling the investigation politically motivated and accusing the Freedom Foundation of trying to validate the arguments she made in the book itself.

“This desperate fishing expedition by a far right group that refuses to disclose its donors only proves my book’s point — that Fascists Fear Teachers,” Weingarten told The Post.

“Educators need people making the public case for them, for critical thinking and for public schools. I am glad to have been in full partnership with the union on this project — and any and all proceeds from the book are shared equally.”

The Freedom Foundation describes itself as a conservative organization focused on challenging what it calls the influence of left-wing public-sector union leadership and expanding government power.

Before becoming national president of the AFT, Weingarten previously led the union’s New York affiliate, the United Federation of Teachers.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Tuesday accused the Palestinian Authority of waging “war” against the Jewish state, as he confirmed that International Criminal Court prosecutors had submitted a secret request for an arrest warrant against him.

“The prosecutor submitted a request for arrest warrants. Whether they will actually be issued or not, we do not know; they also do not want us to know; this is part of the tactic,” Smotrich told reporters at a press conference in Jerusalem.

“What is certain is that the Palestinian Authority and its people stand behind this entire process,” the senior Cabinet minister said. “They stand behind the legal warfare at the ICC and the International Court of Justice.”

Smotrich described the legal efforts against top Israeli officials at the ICC and ICJ as “not a diplomatic struggle and not a legal struggle,” but rather “a declaration of war by a hostile entity against the State of Israel.”

“This is a declaration of war against the State of Israel, and when war is waged against us, we must respond forcefully,” he declared.

As part of Jerusalem’s response, Smotrich said he would be signing a military order to immediately evacuate Khan al-Ahmar, a Judean Desert site where Palestinian Bedouin have illegally erected buildings and dwellings. Jerusalem has sought for years to relocate the community, which is located in the strategic E1 corridor between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim.

Immediately following the press conference, Smotrich’s office published a letter in which he instructed Hillel Roth, his representative in the Israeli Defense Ministry’s Civil Administration, to take “all necessary measures” to carry out the evacuation as soon as possible.

“I promise all our enemies: This is only the beginning,” Smotrich said in his remarks at the press conference.

“From today onward, every economic or other target I can act against within my authority as finance minister or as a minister in the Defense Ministry will be targeted—not with words and gimmicks, but with actions,” he added.

Israel’s Channel 12 News broadcaster reported on Monday that in addition to Smotrich, ICC prosecutors were also considering secret arrest warrants against Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The report said Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and his predecessor, Herzi Halevi, were also under scrutiny by the Office of the Prosecutor.

In 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-defense minister Yoav Gallant in connection to the war against Hamas in Gaza, which was started by the terrorists’ invasion of southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

After U.S. President Donald Trump’s reelection, Washington slapped sanctions on Feb. 6, 2025, against four ICC judges for investigating U.S. citizens and U.S. allies.

{Matzav.com}