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Kamala Harris finally does an interview, along with emotional support animal Tim Walz…and falls totally flat, and Dana Bash does her best to hand-hold the Democratic nominee.

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Former UK Labour leader and independent MP for Islington North, Jeremy Corbyn, is set to launch a parliamentary alliance with four independent lawmakers who were elected on pro-Palestinian platforms. The group, dubbed the Independent Alliance, aims to push for an arms embargo on Israel, according to a statement. Corbyn, who was suspended from the Labour Party in 2020 over remarks made following an investigation into antisemitism, will join forces with MPs Shockat Adam, Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain, and Iqbal Mohamed. The alliance is calling for more MPs to join their cause. The move comes as Corbyn’s successor, Sir Keir Starmer, has sought to distance the Labour Party from the far-left legacy of extremism and racism that marred Corbyn’s leadership. Starmer has positioned Labour firmly in the electoral center, leaving Corbyn to forge his own path on the political fringes. Meanwhile, the British government announced on Monday that it would immediately suspend dozens of arms export licenses to Israel due to concerns that the equipment could be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law. Foreign Secretary David Lammy insisted that the decision to suspend 30 out of 350 licenses did not constitute a blanket ban or arms embargo, but rather a precautionary measure to ensure compliance with international law during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The decision was made in conjunction with Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and follows a review of arms sales to Israel initiated by the Labour Party after winning the election in July. Israeli officials expressed disappointment and concern over the decision. “Israel is a state of law that operates in accordance with international law and has an independent and respected judicial system,” Israel’s Foreign Minister Yisroel Katz said in a statement. “We expect ally nations like Britain to recognize that every day, and especially mere days after the execution of six Israeli hostages by Hamas terrorists.” “A step like the one taken now by Britain sends a problematic message to the Hamas terrorist organization and its handlers in Iran,” Katz added. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli forces in Gaza have killed the Hamas terrorist who led the Oct. 7 assault on the northwest Negev moshav of Netiv Ha’asara, the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency said on Tuesday.

Israeli fighter jets struck a Hamas compound near the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, killing eight terrorists from Hamas’s Daraj Tuffah Battalion, according to the joint statement. Among those killed was Ahmed Fozi Nazer Muhammad Wadia, a member of the terror group’s Nukhba force who led the invasion of Netiv Ha’asara, located directly adjacent to the Gaza fence.

Another terrorist killed in the strike was “responsible for several combat specialties in the Daraj Tuffah Battalion, including engineering, sniping and anti-tank operations, and was responsible for supplying the explosives used to blow up the security fence in the Daraj Tuffah Battalion’s area during the Oct. 7 massacre,” according to the IDF.

On Oct. 7, Wadia, who was active in Hamas’ parachute array, infiltrated the moshav using a paraglider and oversaw the massacre of 21 residents and the kidnapping of one to Gaza.

One of those murdered in the moshav that day was Gil Taasa, 46, a senior firefighter in the Ashkelon fire station. On the morning of Oct. 7, Taasa was at home with his two youngest sons, Koren, 12 and Shay, 8. After he ran out of ammunition, the terrorists threw a grenade into the shelter where they were hiding. Taasa leapt on the grenade to save his sons, who were wounded but survived.

Wadia was captured on video opening the door of the family’s refrigerator and sipping a Coke in front of the bleeding children before leaving the home. Koren and Shay then ran next door to their mother’s home and hid in the safe room for hours before being evacuated.

Taasa’s oldest son, Or, 17, was murdered by Hamas terrorists at Zikim Beach, where he had gone early in the morning to surf with friends.

“My sons are happy and that’s the most important thing,” said Gil’s widow, Sabin Tassa, after receiving the news of Wadia’s death, according to Channel 12. “My son Koren told me he wanted to see a picture of [Wadia] dead. I personally will close the circle only after I know that all Hamas members and [Hamas leader in Gaza Yayha] Sinwar have been eliminated,” she added.

Terror tunnel with freight rail line destroyed

Israeli forces in recent weeks destroyed a massive terror tunnel in the northern Gaza Strip that was used to transport freight via rail, the IDF revealed on Tuesday.

Based on intelligences, forces from the Engineering Unit of the Gaza Division and the Northern Brigade, in cooperation with the Yahalom Unit, located the over 1-kilometer (0.6-mile) Hamas tunnel in the Beit Lahia area.

Soldiers located weapons, electrical infrastructure, and a transport rail along the route.

“The engineering forces of the Northern Brigade in the Gaza Division destroyed an offensive terrorist tunnel in the north of the Gaza Strip,” said Major S., the engineering officer of the Northern Brigade, “inside the tunnel we found infrastructure proving that the route was used by Hamas significantly for terrorist operations against our forces.” JNS

{Matzav.com Israel}

Gedolei Yisroel are continuing their historic efforts to support the Olam Hatorah in Eretz Yisroel amid draconian budgets cuts by the Israeli government affecting tens of thousands of Lomdei Torah. This coming week, seven Gedolei Torah will embark on trips to North and South America in furtherance of these efforts, YWN has learned. Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsh, Rav Don Segal, Rav Yaakov Hillel, Rav Avraham Salim, and Rav Shimon Galai, all of Eretz Yisroel, will join Rav Malkiel Kotler of Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, for a trip to South American countries. Beginning Sunday and lasting until Thursday, they will fundraise for Keren Olam Hatorah, the foundation established to assist Yeshivos and Kollelim across Eretz Yisroel who have had their government funding drastically cut. Over the course of their trip, the Gedolim are scheduled to meet Jewish communities and philanthropists in Brazil (Sunday and Monday), Panama (Tuesday), and Mexico (Wednesday), with the Gedolim set to return home on Thursday. A similar trip to North America will be made by Rav Dovid Cohen, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron. Rav Dovid is scheduled to come to Lakewood this coming Wednesday, spend Thursday through Shabbos in Monsey, followed by a trip to Passaic on Sunday, Toronto on Monday, Miami on Tuesday, and back in Lakewood again on Wednesday, where he will deliver a shiur in Bais Medrash Govoha. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

After a summer of historic tumult, the path to the presidency for both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump this fall is becoming much clearer. The Democratic vice president and the Republican former president will devote almost all of their remaining time and resources to just seven states. They will spend hundreds of millions of dollars targeting voters who, in many cases, have just begun to pay attention to the election. And their campaigns will try to focus their messages on three familiar issues — the economy, immigration and abortion — even in the midst of heated debates over character, culture and democracy. The candidates will debate in one week in what will be their first meeting ever. The nation’s premier swing state, Pennsylvania, begins in-person absentee voting the week after. By the end of the month, early voting will be underway in at least four states with a dozen more to follow by mid-October. In just 63 days, the final votes will be cast to decide which one of them will lead the world’s most powerful nation. Privately, at least, both camps acknowledge that victory is no sure thing as they begin the eight-week sprint to Election Day. Harris and Trump are neck-and-neck in most national polls conducted since President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign. The Harris campaign still put out a memo over the weekend casting itself as “the clear underdogs” in the contest. “There’s not a scenario here that’s easy,” Harris senior adviser David Plouffe said in an interview. “The pathway to beating Donald Trump, the pathway to 270 electoral votes for Kamala Harris, is exceedingly hard, but doable. And that’s just a reality.” Trump, meanwhile, rejects any indicators that suggest Harris is ahead even as he lashes out at her in deeply personal and sometimes apocalyptic terms, declaring that “our country is finished” if she wins. “As we move past Labor Day, we will really get into the time where voters start to harden their opinions,” said James Blair, the Trump campaign’s political director. “We feel pretty good about things. We feel energized. Our people are energized. But there’s certainly plenty of work to be done.” The electoral map settles on seven states Just over a month ago, Trump allies suggested Democratic-leaning states like Minnesota, Virginia or even New Jersey might be in play. Neither side believes that is still the case on Labor Day weekend. In replacing Biden as the party’s nominee, Harris breathed new life into the Democrats’ political prospects, especially across the Sun Belt states of Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina. All four states have significant numbers of African Americans and Latinos, traditionally Democratic constituencies who were down nationally on Biden but appear to have come home to rally behind Harris. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham was among the senior GOP officials who brokered a peace between Trump and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, whose feud threatened to undermine the Republican effort in the state. Graham told The Associated Press he was worried about Georgia’s shift leftward. “Trump was up 5 or 6 points, and all over the course of a month it’s become much more competitive,” he said. Republican pollster Paul Schumaker, an adviser to North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, said even a slight uptick in the Black vote has the potential to give Harris the edge in North Carolina, pointing […]

Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivered a eulogy for American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, one of the six hostages who were found dead in Gaza. In his speech, Herzog asked Goldberg-Polin’s family—and to Goldberg-Polin himself—for forgiveness for his failure to secure his release.

“I apologize in the name of Israel… for failing to return you home in peace,” he said, according to CNN. “I’m sorry the state you migrated to when you were 7 years old … did not manage to keep you safe.” Goldberg-Polin was one of six hostages, all of whom were taken during the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks, whose bodies were recovered in a tunnel under Rafah. According to an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson, they were killed shortly before Israeli forces could reach them alive.

“I’m sorry for the fact we couldn’t bring home your Hersh alive,” Herzog told Goldberg-Polin’s family. Most of Herzog’s eulogy was delivered in Hebrew. In English, he said, “As a human being, as a father and as the president of the State of Israel, I want to say how sorry I am, how sorry I am that we didn’t protect Hersh on that dark day, how sorry I am that we failed to bring him home.”

In her eulogy, Goldberg-Polin’s mother, Rachel, said that she prays Hersh’s death will be a “turning point in this horrible situation.” Rachel Goldberg and her husband, Jon Polin, had worked tirelessly to advocate for their son’s release. She said it had become “absolutely certain” that he would return alive, but, in the end, “it was not meant to be.”

She named the five other hostages whose bodies were found alongside her son. “I take such comfort knowing you were with Carmel, Ori, Eden, Almog and Alex,” she said. “From what I have been told, they each were delightful in very different ways, and I think that is how the six of you managed to stay alive in unimaginable circumstances for so very long.” Read more at CNN.

Rav Gershon Ribner, rosh kollel of Kollel Nesivos Hatorah and son-in-law of Rav Shneur Kotler, has succeeded in applying classical Talmudical analysis and methodology to understanding all areas of Yiddishkeit, bringing out its profundity and sense.

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When Jerome Powell delivered a high-profile speech last month, the Federal Reserve chair came the closest he ever had to declaring that the inflation surge that gripped the nation for three painful years was now essentially defeated. And not only that. The Fed’s high interest rates, Powell said, had managed to achieve that goal without causing a widely predicted recession and high unemployment. Yet most Americans are not in the same celebratory mood about the plummeting of inflation in the face of the high borrowing rates the Fed engineered. Though consumer sentiment is slowly rising, a majority of Americans in some surveys still complain about elevated prices, given that the costs of such necessities as food, gas and housing remain far above where they were before the pandemic erupted in 2020. The relatively sour mood of the public is creating challenges for Vice President Kamala Harris as she seeks to succeed President Joe Biden. Despite the fall of inflation and strong job growth, many voters say they’re dissatisfied with the Biden-Harris administration’s economic record — and especially frustrated by high prices. That disparity points to a striking gap between how economists and policymakers assess the past several years of the economy and how many ordinary Americans do. In his remarks last month, given at an annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Powell underscored how the Fed’s sharp rate hikes succeeded much more than most economists had predicted in taming inflation without hammering the economy — a notoriously difficult feat known as a “soft landing.” “Some argued that getting inflation under control would require a recession and a lengthy period of high unemployment,” Powell said. Ultimately, though, he noted, “the 4-1/2 percentage point decline in inflation from its peak two years ago has occurred in a context of low unemployment — a welcome and historically unusual result.” With high inflation now essentially conquered, Powell and other central bank officials are preparing to cut their key interest rate in mid-September for the first time in more than four years. The Fed is becoming more focused on sustaining the job market with the help of lower interest rates than on continuing to fight inflation. Many consumers, by contrast, are still preoccupied most by today’s price levels. “From the viewpoint of economists, central bankers, how we think about inflation, it really has been a remarkable success, how inflation went up, has come back, and is around the target,” said Kristin Forbes, an economist at MIT and a former official at the United Kingdom’s central bank, the Bank of England. “But from the viewpoint of households, it has not been so successful,” she added. “Many have taken a big hit to their wages. Many of them feel like the basket of goods they buy is now much more expensive.” Two years ago, economists feared that the Fed’s ongoing rate hikes — it ultimately raised its benchmark rate more than 5 percentage points to a 23-year high in the fastest pace in four decades — would hammer the economy and cause millions of job losses. After all, that’s what happened when the Fed under Chair Paul Volcker sent its benchmark rate to nearly 20% in the early 1980s, ultimately throttling a brutal inflationary spell. In fact, at Jackson Hole two years ago, Powell himself warned […]

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Looking for a structured program that will give you the tools and resources you need to get Smicha? Hilchos Shabbos? Dayanus? Chuppah v’Kiddushin? Join Machon Smicha, the premier halachah institute serving the English-speaking Torah community. Machon Smicha is a unique, online, halacha-learning program that makes learning, getting tested and receiving smicha possible. We offer rigorous and structured learning programs in halachah across a broad spectrum of topics, which enables learners to grow and succeed in their Torah learning, from the novice to the scholar. Be empowered to learn Shulchan Aruch like never before, from the Mishnah and Gemara all the way to contemporary Poskim and Minhagim. Our programs include:  Smicha: Achieve your dream of finally receiving smicha in a program that will empower you to succeed, Shabbos: Learn and master Hilchos Shabbos, from the original sources down to their practical application Chuppah v’Kiddushin: Become proficient in the halachos of weddings and marriage, and become equipped to be a mesader kiddushin. Dayanus: Dive deep into the halachos of beis din, halachic litigation, business, and interpersonal responsibility. Machon Smicha offers each student a complete curriculum, consisting of: Online portal with access to all the program content. Flexible schedule. Shiurim. English Study Guide, containing introductions, overviews, translations, and in-depth summaries of every halachah. Access to forums and teachers for questions, discussions, etc. Rabbi and teachers available to answer questions and aid in the learning. Quizzes, review material, and mock tests. Tests with prominent rabbis. Signed certificate for those who successfully complete the program. Machon Smicha’s next semester begins on September 4th ( Rosh Chodesh Elul)To learn more, or to apply, visit onlinemachon.com.

Vice President Kamala Harris sparked attention at a Labor Day event in Detroit, Michigan, where she revealed what some observers have described as a new “accent.”

Harris spent her holiday in Detroit, aiming to connect with blue-collar union workers in this pivotal swing state, crucial to maintaining a Democratic win in the upcoming November election.

“You better thank a union member for the five-day work week,” Harris emphasized to the audience, her speech marked by a noticeable change in her tone. “You better thank a union member for sick leave. You better thank a union member for paid leave. You better thank a union member for vacation time.”

The conservative X account Johnny MAGA posted a video clip critiquing Harris’ “Detroit speak,” labeling the Vice President as “cringe and fake.”

“This is her seventh new accent in four weeks,” commented Trump senior advisor Stephen Miller. “She has literally never used this accent before. She grew up in Canada. Phoniest politician in all of politics.”

“There are countless traits that I despise in humans, few as much as inauthenticity,” remarked professor and podcast host Gad Saad.

“For Kamala Harris, all of politics is a performance,” GOP strategist Matt Whitlock added. “She changes fake accents like she changes policy positions and political personas. Today she’s talking in a fake southern accent, pretending to be a moderate. Next week she’ll be back to San Francisco liberal.”

The Trump campaign drew further attention to her “cringe” accent with another clip where Harris tells a rally attendee, “Let’s just get through the next 64 days, how about that!?” followed by a laugh.

“What did I just watch… what’s with this new accent?”, questioned Libs of TikTok. “The fakeness and cringe here is off the charts.”

Other X users likened Harris’ accent to the voice of the well-known Looney Tunes character Foghorn Leghorn.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris campaign for a comment, but they did not respond immediately.

Harris has often faced accusations of modifying her accent depending on her audience.

In July, she was criticized for adopting a fake Southern accent while speaking at a rally in Atlanta. Similarly, during her 2021 trip to France, critics alleged that Harris employed a “French accent” while visiting a COVID lab.

{Matzav.com}

IDF troops uncovered and destroyed a Hamas attack tunnel over a kilometer long in the Beit Lahia area. The tunnel, identified through intelligence, contained weapons, electrical systems, and a transportation rail.

Linda Sun, a former deputy chief of staff to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, was arrested by the FBI Tuesday morning. Her husband, Chris Hu, was also arrested. The FBI confirmed the arrests but declined to comment. The pair are expected to appear in federal court in Brooklyn this afternoon.

Hamas released a video on Monday evening showing Eden Yerushalmi Hy”d, one of the six hostages who were killed, with their bodies recovered by the IDF over the weekend.

Eden Yerushalmi’s last message to her family from Hamas captivity in video released by Hamas 

Eden’s family expressed their grief, stating, “Our Eden, we also love you and miss you so much. You will forever remain in our hearts.”

On Sunday, Carmit Yitzchaki, Eden’s aunt, shared with Kan 11 News that the family is devastated. “We are shattered; we truly believed she would return to us. Eden was full of joy, and we were holding on to the hope of a joyful reunion. Our family is completely broken. I wouldn’t want any other family to go through the pain we are enduring. We must bring them all back.”

Reflecting on her niece’s suffering, Yitzchaki said, “She endured 11 months of this torment, and it breaks my heart to think about what she went through. What was on her mind in those final moments? What did she feel? I beg for her forgiveness for not doing more. I’m so sorry, Eden. Please forgive me. I love you. Watch over us from above,” she said, her voice filled with emotion.

“Eden was overlooked in the first round of releases, but then the fighting resumed. There’s nothing more I can say except, Eden, please look down on us and protect us.”

“Eden was a joyful soul who cherished life. She had plans to travel to Greece and India. She was just a young girl who went to a party, who had a passion for cooking and sewing. I believe she held onto hope that someone would come to her rescue. I want everyone to remember Eden as the happy person she was,” Yitzchaki concluded.

{Matzav.com Israel}

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a demonstration of new exploding drones designed to crash into targets, state media said Monday, as the U.S. and South Korea engage in joint military drills. North Korean test photos showed a white drone with X-shaped tails and wings supposedly crashing into and destroying a target resembling South Korea’s main K-2 battle tank. Most combat drones stand off from targets and fire missiles. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said Saturday’s test involved various types of drones built to fly different ranges to attack enemy targets on land and sea and flew along various routes before accurately hitting test targets. After the test, Kim pledged to spur the development of drones that explode on impact, conduct reconnaissance or attack targets underwater to boost his country’s war readiness, saying the North’s military should be equipped with advanced drones “as early as possible,” KCNA said. The drone test came as the U.S. and South Korean militaries conduct the large-scale Ulchi Freedom Shield drills, which continue through Thursday. The exercises focus on enhancing their readiness against North Korean threats and include computer-simulated war games and live-fire training, with a combined aerial drill involving 60 warplanes that began its three-day run on Monday. South Korea’s air force said the drill, which kicked off with precision-bombing demonstrations that included South Korean F-35 and F-16 fighter jets, is aimed at coping with North Korean threats posed by drones, cruise missiles and artillery. The United States and South Korea also began Monday a separate amphibious landing drill involving dozens of aircraft and vessels from their navies and marines, including U.S. F-35 fighters and amphibious assault ship USS Boxer. South Korea’s military said the Ssangyong Exercise, which will continue through Sept. 7, is aimed at sharpening combat interoperability. Lee Chang Hyun, spokesperson of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a briefing that South Korea’s military was closely examining North Korea’s drone capabilities and that the South’s military is equipped with systems to detect and intercept them, without providing further details. Some analysts suggest the North Korean drones shown in state media photos resemble Russia’s Zala Lancet-3 drones, and Lee said the South was looking into the possibility Russia had helped North Korea acquire its drone capability. “We are aware that during the past exchanges between North Korea and Russia that some (drones) were given (to North Korea) as gifts,” Lee said. “We would need to analyze various aspects, including whether (North Korea) would have modified to improve their capabilities or other possibilities.” North Korea and Russia have been aligning closely in the face of their separate confrontations with the U.S. Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held summits this June and in September last year. Washington and its allies have accused the countries of expanding an alleged arms arrangement in which North Korea provides Putin with badly needed munitions to prolong Russia’s fighting in Ukraine in exchange for economic aid and technologies to upgrade Kim’s nuclear-armed military. Animosity on the Korean Peninsula is high as Kim uses Russia’s war against Ukraine as a distraction while he strengthens his nuclear-armed military and issues verbal threats of conflict toward Washington and Seoul. While most of the international attention has been focused on his long-range missiles designed to reach […]

Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu Rips, a scientist renowned for uncovering hidden “Bible codes” within the Torah passed away at the age of 75, The New York Times reports.

Rabbi Rips was born on December 12, 1948, in Latvia to parents who survived the Holocaust. A mathematical genius, he began his formal education in mathematics at the University of Latvia when he was just 16 years old.

In 1972, Rips emigrated to Israel and later earned his doctorate from Hebrew University in 1975.

Rabbi Rips gained widespread attention in 1994 when he, along with Yoav Rosenberg and Doron Witztum, published a paper in the journal Statistical Science. The paper claimed to have discovered a hidden code in Sefer Bereishis. Their research introduced a method called equidistant letter sequences, through which they found the names and birthdates of various gedolim who lived centuries after the Torah was written.

The process involved compressing the entire Torah into a single sequence of 304,805 letters. A computer program was then used to search for letters spaced at regular intervals, which the researchers said formed meaningful names and phrases.

This paper sparked significant interest and led to the publication of a book by Michael Drosnin. Drosnin asserted that he had identified predictions of major events within Bereishis and the rest of the Torah using the same method.

In his book, Drosnin said that he had foreseen the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchok Rabin a year before it occurred and had even traveled to Israel to warn him. He also asserted that the method had revealed the assassinations of U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1963 and the death of Princess Diana in 1997.

In 1997, Rips, Witztum, Rosenberg, and Drosnin received the Ig Nobel Prize, which is awarded for unusual achievements that “first make people laugh, then make them think.” The award was given in the literature category.

In addition to his work on the Bible code, Rabbi Rips was recognized for his contributions to geometric group theory, notably for developing the Rips Machine, a significant tool in the field.

Rabbi Rips is survived by his wife, Devorah, their five children, and over 30 grandchildren.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Chassidish avreichim on the way back from davening at the kever of Reb Shayele of Kerestir in Hungary were involved in a serious car accident only five minutes away from the town early Tuesday afternoon. Their vehicle collided with a truck, leaving the two chassidim sitting in the front seat seriously injured and the two in the back seat lightly injured. Some reports say that one of the chassidim is in critical condition. The seriously injured victims were evacuated via helicopter to the hospital and the lightly injured victims were evacuated by ambulance. The public is asked to daven for a refuah sheleimah for: Avraham Eliezer ben Tsharna Leah Chaim Yeshayahu ben Hinda Bluma Yisrael Pinchas ben Sora Meir Tzvi ben Sora Esther (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)  

Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, the Chief Rabbi of Britain, expressed strong disapproval on Monday regarding the British government’s recent decision to halt some of its arms sales to Israel.

“It beggars belief that the British government, a close strategic ally of Israel, has announced a partial suspension of arms licenses, at a time when Israel is fighting a war for its very survival on seven fronts forced upon it on the 7th October, and at the very moment when six hostages murdered in cold blood by cruel terrorists were being buried by their families,” Rabbi Mirvis wrote on social media site X.

Rabbi Mirvis continued by highlighting the serious challenges Israel is facing. “As Israel faces down the threat of Iran and its proxies, not just to its own people, but to all of us in the democratic west; this announcement feeds the falsehood that Israel is in breach of International Humanitarian Law, when in fact it is going to extraordinary lengths to uphold it. Sadly, this announcement will serve to encourage our shared enemies. It will not help to secure the release of the remaining 101 hostages, nor contribute to the peaceful future we wish and pray for, for all people in the region and beyond,” he added.

He concluded with a call for unity between Britain and Israel, saying, “Britain and Israel have so much to gain by standing together against our common enemies for the sake of a safer world. Surely that must be the way forward.”

Earlier that day, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy revealed the UK’s decision to suspend certain arms sales to Israel.

This suspension, affecting approximately 30 out of 350 arms sales licenses, was announced shortly after the tragic discovery of six Israeli hostages who were brutally murdered by Hamas in a tunnel beneath Rafah.

“Facing a conflict such as this, it is this government’s legal duty to review Britain’s export licenses,” Lammy said. “This is not a blanket ban, this is not an arms embargo.”

Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant voiced his deep concern over the UK’s decision, stating, “Deeply disheartened to learn of the sanctions placed by the U.K. Government on export licenses to Israel’s defense establishment. This comes at a time when we fight a war on 7 different fronts – a war that was launched by a savage terrorist organization, unprovoked. At a time when we mourn 6 hostages who were executed in cold blood by Hamas inside tunnels in Gaza. At a time when we fight to bring 101 hostages home.”

Gallant reaffirmed his support for Israel’s military efforts, saying, “I stand by our troops and security agencies working with immense courage, professionalism and moral values. We remain committed to defending the State of Israel and her people.”

Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, also responded, expressing disappointment in the British government’s recent decisions. “Israel is disappointed by the British government’s recent series of decisions, including the latest decision regarding security exports to Israel, the British Government’s decision to withdraw its request to submit an amicus brief to the ICC, and its stance on UNRWA, as well as the UK’s recent conduct and statements in the UN Security Council.”

Katz emphasized Israel’s adherence to international law and expressed expectations of support from allied nations. “Israel is a law-abiding state that operates in accordance with international law and has an independent and respected judicial system – we expect friendly countries, such as the UK, to recognize this all year-round, especially just days after Hamas terrorists executed six Israeli hostages, during intense negotiations for the release of the hostages and for a ceasefire, and in light of the recent threats by the Iranian regime to attack the State of Israel.”

He warned of the potential negative implications of the UK’s actions, stating, “A step like the one taken by the UK now sends a very problematic message to the Hamas terrorist organization and its backers in Iran.”

Katz concluded with a hope for the continuation of strong relations between the UK and Israel. “We hope that the deep friendship between the UK and Israel, which has been maintained throughout all the years since the founding of the State of Israel, will continue in the future.”

Lammy’s predecessor, David Cameron, had previously opposed banning arms sales to Israel, arguing that such a move would not solve the conflict and would only serve to strengthen Hamas.

{Matzav.com}

A Venezuelan judge on Monday issued an arrest warrant for the opposition’s former presidential candidate Edmundo González as part of a criminal investigation into the results of the highly anticipated July election that both the ruling party and its opponents claim to have won. The warrant was issued at the request of authorities who accuse González, a former diplomat, of various crimes including conspiracy, falsifying documents and usurpation of powers. The move is the latest escalation of repression against the opposition in the month after election officials declared President Nicolás Maduro had won a third six-year term in office. Authorities sought the warrant after González failed to appear three times to answer questions from prosecutors. González, 75, has not made any public appearances since the day after the election. His campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. Prosecutors have zeroed in on thousands of tally sheets known as actas — printouts measuring several feet that resemble shopping receipts — that have long been considered the ultimate proof of election results in Venezuela. Each of the 30,000 electronic voting machines used in the July 28 election printed several copies of the sheets, whose information was also transmitted to the National Electoral Council. Ruling party-loyal electoral authorities declared Maduro the victor hours after polls closed, but they did not publish results broken down by voting machine as they had done in previous presidential elections. The National Electoral Council claimed it could not release the detailed information because its website was hacked. By law, each party participating in the election has the right to a tally sheet from every machine. Government supporters attempted to block opposition representatives from obtaining copies of the crucial documents, but it managed to secure them from more than 80% of machines. González and opposition leader María Corina Machado then stunned supporters and adversaries alike by announcing the documents showed Maduro lost by a wide margin against the former diplomat and publishing the records online. As international pressure grew to release a breakdown of results, Maduro asked the country’s high court to audit the electoral process, drawing immediate criticism from foreign observers who said the court is too close to the government to produce an independent review. The magistrates of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice are proposed by federal officials and ratified by the National Assembly, which is dominated by Maduro sympathizers. The court concluded on Aug. 22 that the vote counts published by the opposition were false and certified Maduro’s victory. Maduro’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela refused to publish its copies of tally sheets. González, who represented the Unitary Platform opposition coalition, was summoned to the prosecutor’s office as recently as Friday. He has questioned the prosecutors’ actions for lack of due process guarantees and accused Attorney General Tarek William Saab, a longtime Maduro ally, of being a “political accuser” who “condemns in advance.” González rejected the interview summons arguing, among other issues, that they did not specify the condition under which he was expected to appear. “Maduro has lost all touch with reality,” Machado wrote on X after the warrant was issued. “The arrest warrant issued by the regime to threaten President-Elect Edmundo González crosses a new line that only strengthens the resolve of our movement. Venezuelans and democracies […]

Asked by a reporter if he has plans to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, U.S. President Joe Biden said “eventually.” Asked if it would happen this week or next, the U.S. president said “eventually,” per the White House pool report.

Earlier on Monday Biden said that Netanyahu wasn’t doing enough to free the hostages. The Israeli prime minister responded to a similar question from a reporter during a speech, in which he said that “I was asked whether I am not doing enough to the release of hostages. Well, I want to set the record straight.”

“On April 27, Secretary of State Blinken said that ‘Israel made an extraordinary, generous offer for a hostage deal.’ On May 31, Israel agreed to a U.S.-backed proposal. Hamas refused,” Netanyahu said. “On Aug. 16, Israel agreed to what the United States defined as a ‘final bridging proposal.’ Hamas refused again.”

“On Aug. 19th, Secretary Blinken said, ‘Israel accepted the U.S. proposal. Now Hamas must do the same.’ On August 28—that’s five days ago, five days ago—deputy CIA director said that ‘Israel shows seriousness in the negotiations. Now Hamas must show the same seriousness.’”

“I want to ask you something. What has changed in the last five days? What has changed? One thing: these murderers executed six of our hostages. They shot them in the back of the head. That’s what changed,” Netanyahu said. “And now after this, we’re asked to show seriousness? We’re asked to make concessions? What message does this send Hamas? It says, kill more hostages. Murder more hostages and you will get more concessions.”

“The pressure internationally must be directed at these killers. At Hamas. Not at Israel. We say ‘yes’. They say ‘no’ all the time, but they also murdered these people, and we now we need maximum pressure on Hamas,” he added. ” I don’t believe that either President Biden or anyone serious about achieving peace and achieving the release would seriously ask Israel—Israel—to make these concessions. We’ve already made them. Hamas has to make the concessions.”

Per the pool report, Biden was asked about Netanyahu’s press conference, and the U.S. president said that “we’re still in negotiations—not with him, but with my colleagues from Qatar and from Egypt.” JNS

{Matzav.com}