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The Senate will vote for the second time this year on whether to consider legislation that would establish a nationwide right to in vitro fertilization — Democrats’ latest election-year attempt to force Republicans into a defensive stance on women’s health issues. Senators will vote Tuesday on whether to move forward with the legislation, a second try after Republicans already blocked it once earlier this year. The bill has little chance of passing, but Democrats are hoping to use the do-over vote to put pressure on Republican congressional candidates and lay out a contrast between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump in the presidential race, especially as Trump has called himself a “ leader on IVF.” The push started earlier this year after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. Several clinics in the state suspended IVF treatments until the GOP-led legislature rushed to enact a law to provide legal protections for the clinics. Democrats quickly capitalized, holding a vote in June on the congressional bill from Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth and warning that the U.S. Supreme Court could go after the procedure next after it overturned the right to an abortion in 2022. The legislation would also increase access to the procedure and lower costs. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the floor Tuesday morning that the vote is a “second chance” for Republicans. “Americans are watching, families back home are watching, and couples who want to become parents are watching, too,” Schumer said. All but two Republicans voted to block the Democratic legislation in June, arguing that the federal government shouldn’t tell states what to do and that the bill was an unserious effort. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted with Democrats to move forward on the bill. Meanwhile, Republicans have scrambled to counter Democrats on the issue, with many making clear that they support IVF treatments. Trump last month announced plans, without additional details, to require health insurance companies or the federal government to pay for the fertility treatment. In his debate with Harris earlier this month, Trump said he was a “leader” on the issue and talked about the “very negative” decision by the Alabama court that was later reversed by the legislature. But the issue has threatened to become a vulnerability for Republicans as some state laws passed by their party grant legal personhood not only to fetuses but to any embryos that are destroyed in the IVF process. Ahead of the its convention this summer, the Republican Party adopted a policy platform that supports states establishing fetal personhood through the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which grants equal protection under the law to all American citizens. The platform also encourages supporting IVF but does not explain how the party plans to do so. Democrats say that if Trump wants to improve access to the procedure, then Republicans should vote for their legislation. Duckworth, a military veteran who has used the fertility treatment to have her two children, has led the Senate effort on the legislation. “How dare you,’” she said in comments directed toward her GOP colleagues after the first vote blocking the bill. Republicans have tried to push alternatives on the issue, including legislation that would discourage states […]

WSJ: The affected pagers were from a new shipment that Hezbollah received in recent days. A senior Hezbollah terrorist speculated that malware may have caused the devices to heat up and explode. There are close to 1,500 wounded or dead terrorists.

Hundreds of Hezbollah terrorists were wounded across Lebanon on Tuesday when their communication devices exploded, according to Lebanese reports, which cited “security sources” and eyewitnesses.

A Reuters journalist saw 10 terrorists bleeding from wounds in the southern suburb, which is the primary stronghold of Hezbollah. A security source told Qatar’s Al Jazeera that explosions occurred across Lebanon, not only in Beirut but also in the Beqaa Valley and the south.

Lebanese media affiliated with Hezbollah attributed the incident to the Israel Defense Forces, claiming the mysterious explosions were caused by a hack of the terrorist group’s internal communications networks.

A Hezbollah terrorist official in Lebanon cited by Reuters called the alleged computer hack by Israel the “biggest security breach so far.”

The IDF declined to comment to JNS on the incident, which came just hours after the Israeli Cabinet added the return of citizens displaced from their homes in the north to the country’s war goals, bringing a potential major confrontation with Hezbollah closer to reality.

Iran-backed Hezbollah has attacked Israel nearly daily since Oct. 8, firing thousands of rockets, missiles and drones. The attacks have so far killed more than 40 people and caused widespread damage. Tens of thousands of civilians remain internally displaced due to the violence.

According to Israeli media reports, the heads of the country’s security agencies, including Mossad chief David Barnea, convened on Tuesday afternoon for “frantic” talks regarding the threat posed by Hezbollah.

(JNS)

The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon and two of his bodyguards were injured when Hezbollah-provided pagers exploded on Tuesday. The devices, which were distributed throughout Lebanon and Syria, were the latest model acquired by Hezbollah in recent months, according to three security sources who spoke to Reuters. The blasts have resulted in over 1,000 injuries, with a Hezbollah source describing it as the most significant security breach in nearly a year of clashes with Israel. While Israel has yet to issue an official statement, an associate of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu suggested that Jerusalem may have been involved in the attack. However, the premier’s office promptly denied this claim. In response to the crisis, Beirut’s health ministry is urging citizens to donate blood. Hospitals in regions with high injury numbers are being placed on high alert and instructed to coordinate with the ministry to distribute resources to other areas. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

On Monday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres once again voiced criticism toward Israel, accusing the country of enforcing “collective punishment” on the residents of Gaza in the ongoing military operations there.

“The level of suffering in Gaza is unimaginable; the scale of death and destruction is unlike anything I’ve witnessed since becoming Secretary-General,” Guterres stated in an interview with AFP.

He made it clear that the terror attacks perpetrated by Hamas, including the taking of hostages, are universally condemned. “We all condemn the terror attacks made by Hamas, as well as the taking of the hostages, that is an absolute violation of international humanitarian law,” Guterres said.

However, he asserted that nothing could justify the current treatment of the Palestinian population, emphasizing, “But the truth is that nothing justifies the collective punishment of the Palestinian people, and that is what we are witnessing in a dramatic way in Gaza.”

Guterres stressed the need for accountability for all civilian deaths, declaring to AFP that “Accountability should be a must” and noting that both Israel and Hamas had committed “serious violations.”

Commenting on the stalled negotiations concerning a ceasefire and the release of hostages, Guterres remarked, “They are endless” and acknowledged that reaching a resolution would be “very difficult,” but maintained a sense of optimism.

Throughout the Gaza conflict, Guterres has frequently criticized Israel. In late October, he implied that Israel bore some responsibility for the October 7 Hamas attack, remarking that the assault “did not happen in a vacuum.”

Following a wave of backlash, Guterres insisted his comments were misconstrued, affirming that he had, in fact, condemned Hamas.

In a later statement, he drew attention to sexual violence, simultaneously mentioning Hamas’ sexual crimes during the October 7 attack on Israel alongside “reports of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees.”

Just last week, Guterres publicly censured Israel for an airstrike in Gaza that resulted in the deaths of UNRWA personnel. On X, he posted, “What’s happening in Gaza is totally unacceptable. A school turned shelter for around 12,000 people was hit by Israeli airstrikes again today. Six of our UNRWA colleagues are among those killed.”

“These dramatic violations of international humanitarian law need to stop now,” Guterres added in his post.

In response, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, sharply criticized Guterres, declaring, “What is ‘unacceptable,’ Antonio Guterres, is the fact you refuse to recognize reality and continue to distort it.”

Danon went on to assert that terrorists using civilian structures formerly operated by UNRWA cannot be considered “innocent,” and accused the UN of unfairly condemning Israel while overlooking Hamas’ use of human shields. “Terrorists operating out of civilian buildings previously used by UNRWA are not ‘innocent.’ It is unconscionable that the UN continues to condemn Israel in its just war against terrorists, while Hamas continues to use women and children as human shields,” Danon stated.

He urged Guterres to thoroughly investigate the individuals targeted in these strikes, stating, “I suggest you carefully investigate who these terrorists were, what they were doing in the past and what atrocities they were committing when they were eliminated before making statements.” Danon concluded firmly, “Israel will continue its just war against terrorism. The solution is not a ceasefire, but the release of all hostages still held in Gaza and the elimination of Hamas.”

{Matzav.com}

Break-ins and thefts can happen at any small business, no matter how tight the security. In the retail sector alone, more than half of small businesses said they had been victims of shoplifting in the prior year, according to a 2022 survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. And break-ins and thefts occur across all sectors. So, it is important for small business owners to prepare in advance and have a plan for dealing with a break-in or theft, to minimize damage. Roxie Lubanovic, co-founder of Frostbeard Studio in Minneapolis, which makes candles, had her studio broken into in 2016 over a holiday weekend. Thieves stole equipment and supplies, then damaged locks and doors getting in and out. Insurance covered the losses, but it was still difficult recovering. “The hardest part was feeling violated in a space we had put so much work into,” she said. There are several steps small business owners should take after a theft or break-in occurs. First, don’t wait to notify the police and file a police report. You can take inventory of stolen or damaged items after the police have finished their investigation. Once you’ve inventoried and documented the damage, file an insurance claim. You’ll need photos or receipts for items stolen. Call your bank and notify them of what has occurred. Have a transparent conversation with your employees about what happened. Analyze what went wrong and enhance security where needed. Once you have an updated business security plan, inform your employees about how the break-in has been addressed. Lubanovic reviewed her security plan and upgraded her security system and installed cameras, new locks and an alarm. “I also asked neighbors to keep an eye out, and had employees stagger their schedules for a while so someone was always present during business hours,” she said. “Thankfully, we haven’t had another incident since.” She advised small businesses to include building a strong relationship with their local community and neighboring businesses as part of their security plan, saying it “can be invaluable for support and vigilance.” Rich Main, owner of Vista Glass in Tucson, Arizona, had his warehouse broken into six months ago, losing nearly $10,000 in equipment and supplies. He had to stop operations for two days waiting for replacements to arrive. Insurance only partly covered the damage. “For other small businesses facing a similar situation, my advice would be to act quickly to secure your premises and reassure your customers,” he said. “It’s also crucial to review and update your insurance policy regularly to ensure adequate coverage.” One tip: Check state regulations to see if aid is available. In New York, for example, the 2025 state budget will include a $5 million tax credit to help small businesses enhance their security measures, such as installing cameras. It also will include a $3,000 tax credit for small businesses that meet a spending threshold on retail theft prevention measures. (AP)

Former President Donald Trump remarked, “There’s something going on, perhaps it’s God,” just one day after surviving his second assassination attempt within a two-month period.

In a Monday night post on X Space, Trump mused, “There’s something going on, perhaps it’s God wanting me to be president to save this country.” He added, “Nobody knows.”

Reflecting on the first attempt on his life, Trump recounted, “When I made the right turn, it’s very unusual because the people weren’t on the right, the people who were standing out in front of me. When I turned my head at an exact 90 degree angle, the bullet came zooming by and clipped my ear.”

He continued, “And then yesterday, you had another one [assassination attempt] with a different result, actually, a much better result because we lost Corey [Comperatore],” adding that rally attendees David Dutch and James Copenhaver were gravely injured.

On July 13, Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt when Thomas Matthew Crooks fired shots during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Two months later, on September 15, Trump faced a second assassination attempt when Ryan Wesley Routh, a suspected assailant, was discovered hiding in the bushes near Trump International Golf Course, waiting for Trump to come into view while he was golfing.

Routh was reportedly equipped with a rifle, backpacks, and a Go-Pro, as noted by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office.

Secret Service agents, who typically secure the area a few holes ahead of Trump during his golf outings, reportedly intercepted Routh before he could fire at the former president.

Trump explained in his Monday night X Space, “A Secret Service agent had seen a barrel of an AK-47. He started shooting at the barrel. He started shooting in the bushes. He could only see the barrel — based on that, he started shooting.”

The agent “ran toward the target and was shooting,” Trump detailed.

Trump further described, “Those were the shots we heard. The other one [Routh] never got a shot off. And [Routh] ran across the street and hopped into his truck or car.”

He added that a woman who witnessed the scene trailed Routh in her vehicle, took photos of his license plate, and submitted them to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

“Amazingly, a civilian in that area saw something that looked very suspicious and drove their car to the back of his truck and took pictures of the license plate, gave them to the sheriff’s office,” Trump said.

“And within a fairly short period of time, they tracked him down on the highway — and they got him,” former President Trump concluded.

{Matzav.com}

An unprecedented multi-casualty incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon in the Dahiyeh neighborhood of Beirut, Lebanon, where Hezbollah’s headquarters are located, when hundreds of Hezbollah terrorists were severely wounded in multiple locations due to the explosion of communication devices. Countless pagers used by Hezbollah terrorists exploded simultaneously at several locations in Lebanon, including in the Dahiyeh neighborhood and the south of the country. Hezbollah uses the pagers for internal, encrypted messaging instead of cell phones for “security reasons.” Media reports say that Israel hacked the portable devices and caused them to explode. A source told Reuters that he personally witnessed at least 10 Hezbollah terrorists bleeding from wounds caused by the blasts. An anonymous Hezbollah official told Reuters that the explosion of the pagers is the “biggest security breach” the terror group has experienced since the beginning of the war. Yisrael Hayom reported that a Lebanese security source told an Arabic media outlet: “It’s impossible to count the number of areas in Lebanon where Hezbollah’s communication devices were blown up. The information suggests that the operations were carried out simultaneously and from more than one location. The breach was achieved using advanced technology, and the situation is very dangerous.” There is widespread panic in the city and residents reported that explosions were occurring up to 30 minutes after the first blasts. The videos below show the moments the devices explode in various locations: Earlier today, there were reports of frantic consultations within the security system. These consultations took place on the same day the Shin Bet reported that it thwarted a Hezbollah attempt to assassinate a former senior security official, as well as the decision by the war cabinet to make the safe return of northern residents to their homes an official war objective. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

The gunman who reportedly targeted former President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course with an SKS rifle took advantage of a well-known security vulnerability that the Secret Service has been aware of for years.

Photographers covering Trump’s activities have repeatedly managed to secure positions around the course’s perimeter, easily capturing photos of the former president either playing golf or riding in a golf cart.

Some photographers, using telephoto lenses, have been able to snap images of Trump from the bushes without being detected. On several occasions, they’ve gotten as close as 75 yards away, without drawing any significant attention from Secret Service agents.

“They’re always amazed how close they can get to Trump and his entourage — it’s easy for them,” one source from a photo agency told The Post.

Photographers generally inform the Secret Service of their presence to avoid being mistaken for a threat, but the source mentioned that agents are easy to bypass.

According to sources cited by the Washington Post, the Secret Service was fully aware of this security gap and even attempted to alert Trump, though he remained confident that his golf clubs were adequately secured.

Authorities should drop their territorial dispute over handling the Florida Trump-assassination case The alarming attempt on Trump’s life came just two months after Thomas Matthew Crooks climbed onto a roof and fired eight shots at Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, grazing the former president’s ear.

Officials say Ryan Wesley Routh managed to position himself between 300 and 500 yards away from Trump after spending 12 hours in a makeshift sniper’s nest just outside the fence near Summit Boulevard, a busy road by Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.

The golf course, which Trump visits frequently when staying at Mar-a-Lago, spans hundreds of acres and is covered in dense tropical vegetation, providing ample concealment.

The source mentioned that photographers can take photos of Trump with surprising ease at the West Palm Beach course, pointing out “dozens” of hidden gaps in the thick foliage surrounding the property.

Even in areas where the tree line appears unbroken, persistent photographers can find a view of the course. Some of the lighter vegetation can be pulled apart by hand, creating new openings where anyone can watch the golfers without being noticed, the source explained.

On the rare occasions when Secret Service agents do spot a photographer near the course, they seldom ask many questions, the source said.

The security team is also easy to spot as they approach on golf carts, allowing photographers to monitor their movements and stay out of sight until Trump arrives.

“If they do approach the photographers, sometimes they quickly check their credentials but that’s about it,” the source claims.

“No Trespassing” signs are posted around the outside of the course, but photographers easily take pictures from behind these signs, which pose no real obstacle to anyone with malicious intent.

Trump was on the fifth hole when Secret Service snipers noticed Routh’s gun barrel protruding through a chain-link fence between the sixth and seventh holes, prompting them to open fire on the suspect.

However, the spot Routh chose wasn’t ideal for photographers, as the angles were tricky and the distances long.

“Routh could easily have picked a better spot, but maybe he was worried about being seen by a photographer,” the source speculated.

The source added that taking photos at Trump’s other Florida golf venue, Trump National Doral, located about 77 miles from West Palm Beach, is even easier.

Doral’s four courses, including the famous “Blue Monster,” are far more open, making it simple for photographers to capture images.

On the other hand, Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, NJ, is much more secure. State police often close surrounding roads when Trump is on the course, and even seasoned photographers admit that getting pictures there is next to impossible.

Regarding the security breach in West Palm Beach on Sunday, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw noted that Trump’s protective detail was reduced because he is currently a presidential candidate rather than the sitting president.

“At this level that he is at right now, he’s not the sitting president,” Bradshaw told reporters during a Sunday evening press conference. “If he was, we would have had this entire golf course surrounded.”

Routh, 58, fled the scene after Secret Service agents fired at him but was apprehended on I-95 in Palm City, approximately 40 miles north of the golf course, thanks to a witness who saw the suspect get into a black Nissan to escape and shared a photo with law enforcement.

Routh appeared in shackles and smiled during his Monday morning appearance in a Florida federal court, where he faced felony firearm charges.

{Matzav.com}

Five thousand firefighters struggled Tuesday to contain multiple wildfires raging across northern Portugal that are blamed for causing at least six deaths including four firefighters and forcing an unknown number of residents to flee their homes. Some 100 fires reported by national authorities stretched the firefighting brigades. Authorities have yet to give figures on how many people have had to evacuate and how many homes have been lost. Over 50 people have been injured. Civil Protection official André Fernandes said that three firefighters had died while traveling by road Tuesday, but it was not known if their vehicle had crashed before it was engulfed by flames. The deaths of two civilians were confirmed, one from burns and the other from cardiac arrest, and one more firefighter died from an unspecified illness while on duty, over the weekend. With no rain forecast, national authorities prolonged an alert for fires until Thursday. The measure included a ban on farmers using heavy machinery to harvest crops because of the risk of sparks that could start more fires. The hot, dry conditions behind the outbreaks in Portugal came while downpours caused flooding in central Europe. “I would like to say within a word of calm and tranquility we also need to be realistic,” Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said late on Monday. “We will endure difficult hours in the coming days. We need to prepare for it and we need to come together for it.” Among the hardest hit areas is the district of Aveiro, south of the northern city of Porto, but blazes were also raging out of control in other wooded areas. Portuguese state broadcaster RTP showed images of houses burnt to the ground and smoke billowing over charred terrain in the area of Castro de Aire. Ground units were supported by Portuguese water-dropping aircraft. Fellow European Union members Spain, France Italy and Greece have committed to providing eight more planes to help local forces. “The EU stands with Portugal as it battles major wildfires,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a message on X. “I thank France, Greece, Italy and Spain for their rapid reaction. This is EU solidarity at its best.” Still, televised images showed some residents wielding tree branches and buckets of water to try to save their homes from encroaching fires. Portugal was devasted by massive fires in 2017 that killed over 120 people and burned over half a million hectares. (AP)

It is with great sadness that Matzav.comreports the petirah of Rav Shmuel Raber zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Otzar HaTorah in Yerushalayim.

Rav Raber, who dedicated his life to teaching Torah and guiding thousands of talmidim, passed away at the age of 74 after a prolonged illness.

Rav Raber was a son of Rav Avraham Aba Raber and Mrs. Rachel Haber. He attended the Yeshiva of Kfar Chassidim, where he quickly gained the respect of his rabbeim, particularly Rav Eliyahu Lopian and Rav Mishkovsky.

After marrying his wife, Rav Raber began his career in harbotzas haTorah at the Daas Torah yeshiva in Yerushalayim. He later established and led the Otzar HaTorah yeshiva in the Ramot neighborhood of Yerushalayim, where he profoundly impacted the lives of countless bnei Torah.

Rav Raber was renowned for his unique approach to chinuch. Many heads of smaller yeshivas sought his advice on educating their talmidim. He was deeply loved by his talmidim, who saw him as a father figure. His teachings not only inspired them to embrace the Torah, but also imparted important methods for in-depth study of Torah.

Rav Raber was hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim, where he passed away surrounded by his family.

Rav Raber is survived by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

The levayah was held at the Otzar HaTorah yeshiva of Rechov Chizkiyahu Shabtai in Ramot. Kevurah took place on Har Hamenuchos.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The negotiations for Gideon Sa’ar’s entry into the government were suspended on Tuesday due to a complex security event which complicates replacing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at this time, according to a source involved in the talks. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is currently at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, where he held a lengthy meeting with Mossad chief David Barnea. According to a Maariv report, the security system received very serious warnings in recent hours – the element of surprise against Lebanon has been lost and may have flipped. A political source stated, “There is currently an ongoing ‘not simple’ security incident, during which it may not be feasible to replace the Defense Minister, and they might have to wait a bit for it to conclude.” The source added, “The Prime Minister is currently in security consultations and has not been personally involved in the negotiations since this morning.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Rabbi Avraham Noach and Devora Paley have celebrated the birth of a son, their second son born after the tragic deaths of their children, Menachem and Yaakov Yisrael Paley in the vehicular terror attack on Erev Shabbos Parshas Yisro at a bus stop in the Ramot neighborhood.

Just last week, the family celebrated the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Moishe, who survived the attack. Moishe was a meter away from Rav Alter Shlomo Lederman, who was murdered.

Additionally, the Paley family recently announced the engagement of their eldest daughter to Shloimy Steinharter, a talmid at Yeshiva Bais Mattisyahu.

Reb Avraham Nachum Paley, who miraculously survived the attack and has since recovered b’siyata diShmaya, serves as a Rosh Kollel in Ramot.

A month after the attack, the Paley family welcomed a son named Yonasan Refoel. Now, as mentioned, they have welcomed another son.

Additionally, another simcha: The widow of Rav Alter Yaakov Lederman got remarried last Tuesday in Yerushalayim to Reb Menachem Aryeh Konigsberger, a Chernobyler Chossid.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Shin Bet thwarted a Hezbollah attempt to assassinate a former senior Israeli security official which was set to be carried out in the coming days, the Shin Bet revealed on Tuesday afternoon. In its announcement, the Shin Bet also revealed for the first time that Hezbollah was behind the attempted attack in Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv in September 2023. The Shin Bet found a Claymore explosive device, which is known to be used by Hezbollah, with a remote activation mechanism based on a camera and a cell phone  that was set to be activated by Hezbollah from Lebanon. “Operational preparation and the activity of the forces prevented the attack in the final stages of implementation,” the Shin Bet stated. “The target of the attack has been briefed by the security forces and is being updated accordingly. At this stage, it is not possible to provide further details.” “The device is similar in its characteristics to the Claymore device used by Hezbollah on September 15, 2023 in Yarkon Park, which was intended to hit an Israeli official. The assessment in the security system is that the Hezbollah elements involved in the current incident were behind the attack in September 2023. It should be emphasized that the infrastructure was under surveillance for a long time.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)  

The United States remains engaged with intermediaries from Egypt and Qatar to craft a new ceasefire proposal for the ongoing Gaza conflict, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Monday, as reported by Reuters.

For several weeks, officials have indicated that a new plan is forthcoming, with the aim of securing an agreement that includes the release of hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7.

Miller told the press that Washington is actively collaborating with these mediators to finalize the details of the proposal, stating that “it’s a proposal that can get the parties to an ultimate agreement.”

“I don’t have a timetable for you other than to say that we are working expeditiously to try to develop that proposal,” Miller added.

The U.S. has been advocating for a ceasefire and a hostage release plan, originally outlined by President Joe Biden in May, though Hamas has repeatedly dismissed all proposals offered to it.

Last week, Hamas once again asserted its negotiators’ willingness to agree to an “immediate” ceasefire with Israel in Gaza, based on a prior U.S. proposal without additional stipulations from any party.

Miller pointed out on Monday that the main sticking points in the negotiations remain Israel’s determination to keep forces in the Philadelphi corridor, as well as the specifics surrounding the exchange of hostages and terrorist prisoners held by Israel.

His statements echoed those of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who last week countered the pessimism surrounding a potential hostage deal, promising that the U.S. would soon put forth a fresh proposal.

“On the ceasefire, here’s what I can tell you: More than 90 percent of the issues have been agreed, decided. So we’re down to a handful of issues – not even a handful of issues – that are hard but fully resolvable, in our judgment. And as we’ve said before, when you get down to the last 10 percent, the last 10 meters, those are, almost by definition, the hardest ground to cover. But we believe that these are fully resolvable,” Blinken explained to reporters.

“Right now, we’re working intensely with our Egyptian and Qatari counterparts to work together to bridge any remaining gaps. And in the coming time, very soon, we’ll put that before the parties and we’ll see what they say,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

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A Cornell University professor who praised Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, calling it “exhilarating” and “energizing,” has returned to his teaching role at the prestigious upstate Ivy League institution, as reported by The New York Post.

History Professor Russell Rickford had been on “voluntary leave” for a year following widespread backlash after he was caught on video expressing support for the Hamas assault at an off-campus protest.

“It was exhilarating, it was energizing… I was exhilarated,” Rickford stated at the rally before later issuing an apology for his remarks, which glorified the killing of innocent civilians.

According to The Post, Rickford is now teaching two courses this semester, African Americans Vision of America and Socialism in America, in addition to leading a seminar.

Cornell University acknowledged in a statement to The Post that Rickford was not disciplined for his inflammatory statements. The institution declined to comment on whether he received pay while on leave.

Rickford’s words were condemned at the time by Cornell’s leadership as “reprehensible,” with the administration describing them as reflecting a “complete disregard for humanity.” However, Joel Malina, Cornell’s Vice President for University Relations, explained that Rickford’s right to free speech protected him from disciplinary measures.

“Since Professor Rickford’s comments were made in his personal capacity during his own time, the university leadership determined that his conduct in this case did not meet the threshold required for any disciplinary action,” Malina said.

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney voiced her objections, sending a letter to Cornell’s interim president, Michael Kotlikoff, protesting Rickford’s reinstatement.

“I am deeply appalled by Cornell’s decision to continue employing Mr. Rickford after his horrendous remarks celebrating the murder of innocent people and inciting violence,” Tenney wrote in the letter, which was shared with The Post.

“No matter one’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, describing the death of human beings, including women, children, the elderly, and Holocaust survivors, as energizing’ or exhilarating’ is indefensible,” Tenney continued.

“Rickford’s role at the university gives him the power to shape and influence the minds of young people. This position comes with a higher expectation of conduct, one that rejects antisemitic rhetoric and open endorsement of terrorism. By spreading such vile views, Rickford has not only violated his ethical duties as an educator but has also endangered the Jewish community and damaged Cornell’s reputation,” Tenney concluded.

In its statement, Cornell emphasized that Rickford had apologized and voluntarily stepped away from his position for the remainder of the academic year.

However, the university maintained that under the framework of academic freedom, Rickford’s comments did not meet the criteria for disciplinary action. “In accordance with well-established principles of academic freedom, Cornell follows a process to determine whether public remarks like those made by Professor Rickford at an off-campus political event fall under the umbrella of protected speech or cross the line into prohibited bias, discrimination, or harassment,” Malina wrote.

This controversy surrounding Rickford is just one of several antisemitic incidents that have taken place on Cornell’s campus in the past year.

In the most severe case, a student was arrested after threatening to kill Jewish students on campus.

The threats were posted on an online forum about fraternities and sororities in October, prompting concern among students and leading to warnings for Jewish students to avoid the campus’s kosher dining hall.

The student, Patrick Dai, later admitted to posting the threats and was sentenced in August to 21 months in prison.

Cornell University President Martha Pollack stepped down in May, though she insisted that her resignation was unrelated to the protests against Israel or the incidents of antisemitism on campus.

{Matzav.com}

Allowing people to bet on the outcome of U.S. elections poses a great risk that some will try to manipulate the betting markets, which could cause more harm to the already fragile confidence voters have in the integrity of results, according to a federal agency that wants the bets to be banned. The Commodities and Futures Trading Commission is trying to prevent New York startup company Kalshi from resuming offering bets on the outcome of this fall’s congressional elections. The company accepted an unknown number of such bets last Friday during an eight-hour window between when a federal judge cleared the way and when a federal appeals court slammed the brakes on them. Those bets are now on hold while the appellate court considers the issue at a hearing Thursday. At issue is whether Kalshi, and other companies, should be free to issue predictive futures contracts — essentially yes-no wagers — on the outcome of elections, a practice that is regulated in the U.K. but is currently prohibited in the U.S. The commission warns that misinformation and collusion is likely to happen in an attempt to move those betting markets. And that, it says, could irreparably harm the integrity, or at least the perceived integrity, of elections at a time when such confidence is already low. “The district court’s order has been construed by Kalshi and others as open season for election gambling,” the commission wrote in a brief filed Saturday. “An explosion in election gambling on U.S. futures exchanges will harm the public interest.” The commission noted that such attempts at manipulation have already occurred on at least two similar unapproved platforms, including a fake poll claiming that singer Kid Rock was leading Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, which moved the price of re-elections contracts for the senator during a period in which the singer was rumored to be considering a candidacy. He ultimately did not run. It also cited a case in 2012 in which one trader bet millions on Mitt Romney to make the presidential election look closer than it actually was. “These examples are not mere speculation,” the commission wrote. “Manipulation has happened, and is likely to recur.” Unlike unregulated online platforms, Kalshi sought out regulatory oversight for its election bets, wanting the benefit of government approval. “Other election prediction markets … are operating right now outside of any federal oversight, and are regularly cited by the press for their predictive data,” it wrote. “So a stay would accomplish nothing for election integrity; its only effect would be to confine all election trading activity to unregulated exchanges. That would harm the public interest.” The commission called that argument “sophomoric.” “A pharmacy does not get to dispense cocaine just because it is sold on the black market,” it wrote. “The commission determined that election gambling on U.S. futures markets is a grave threat to election integrity. That another platform is offering it without oversight from the CFTC is no justification to allow election gambling to proliferate.” Before the window closed, the market appeared to suggest that bettors figured the GOP would regain control the Senate and the Democrats would win back the House: A $100 bet on Republicans Senate control was priced to pay $129 while a $100 bet for Democratic House control would pay $154. (AP)

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