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President Trump says Rudy Giuliani will receive the presidential medal of freedom.

Hundreds of mourners gathered on Monday afternoon at the Kfar Ma’as cemetery to accompany Idan Shtivi to his final resting place. Idan was murdered during the October 7th Massacre, and his body was abducted by Hamas terrorists into Gaza. After months of waiting, the IDF and Shin Bet recovered his remains last week and brought him home. Later that day, at 5:00 p.m. (Israel time), the funeral of Ilan Weiss—whose body was recovered together with Idan’s—was scheduled to take place.

The procession began in Rishon Lezion and made its way toward the cemetery, passing through several locations where crowds of people stood silently to honor Idan and pay their last respects along the route.

Idan’s mother, Dalit Oron, spoke through tears as she bid farewell to her son: On September 27th, 2023, just a month after my birthday and ten days before he was abducted, Idan sent me a message with his birthday wishes. On my birthday this year, August 28th, 2025, his body was recovered and brought back to Israel; he came back to me. That is the Godly bond between us. A mother and son.

“This space, this large hole in my heart, it is the pain of a missing limb. Longing and tears accompany me at every moment. The phone call from him in the morning, the food that he liked that I made for him, a song that he liked, our deep conversations on the porch, and the phone call at the end of the day. A pure heart. He always saw others and cared for the weak. Full of giving. So sensitive and loving.”

“It wasn’t easy for Idan. He went through a long process and got to a good place,” she continued. “He loved his studies at Reichman, a good relationship, and personal achievements that finally gave him some peace of mind. But not really. Idan was taken from the world at his peak.

“Idani, you are G-d’s child. At a higher level of connection. Thank you for giving me 28 years of love and development. Thank you for the privilege. And sorry, my love, sorry that I couldn’t protect and defend you this time,” she concluded.

His father, Eli, also delivered a heartfelt eulogy: “My Idan, you were the strongest man in Israel, a powerful and brave man. You fought terrorists and gave your life to save others, even when they shot you in the back, because what’s more holy than saving the lives of Jews, in fire and water? Even when you stood before total evil, you taught us that there was nothing else. I believed that you were alive. I didn’t want to recite the Kaddish because to me, you were alive, not only in memory, but in the highest place, next to G-d’s throne.”

Eli went on to share his personal struggle with prayer since October 7th: “I asked G-d yesterday what happened to my daily prayers. I began to put on tefillin on October 8th. In my prayers, I begged that Idan would come home healthy and smiling. Did my prayers go to waste? They did not disappear; all my prayers went to the other hostages in Gaza, for them all to come home soon.”

{Matzav.com}

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday said he “would constitutionally declare a republic in arms” if the South American country were attacked by forces that the United States government has deployed to the Caribbean. His comments during a news conference come as the U.S. government this week is set to boost its maritime force in the waters off Venezuela to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels. The U.S. has not signaled any planned land incursion by the thousands of personnel being deployed. Still, Maduro’s government has responded by deploying troops along its coast and border with neighboring Colombia, as well as by urging Venezuelans to enlist in a civilian militia. “In the face of this maximum military pressure, we have declared maximum preparedness for the defense of Venezuela,” Maduro said of the deployment, which he characterized as “an extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat.” The U.S. Navy now has two Aegis guided-missile destroyers — the USS Gravely and the USS Jason Dunham — in the Caribbean, as well as the destroyer USS Sampson and the cruiser USS Lake Erie in the waters off Latin America. That military presence is set to expand. Three amphibious assault ships — a force that encompasses more than 4,000 sailors and Marines — would be entering the region this week, a defense official told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to describe ongoing operations. The deployment comes as President Donald Trump has pushed for using the military to thwart cartels he blames for the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into U.S. communities and for perpetuating violence in some U.S. cities. On Monday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil, citing a United Nations report, told his counterparts in various Latin American countries that the deployment of U.S. maritime forces is built on a “false narrative” as 87% of cocaine produced in Colombia departs through the Pacific and traffickers attempt to move only 5% of their product through Venezuela. Landlocked Bolivia and Colombia, with access to the Pacific and Caribbean, are the world’s top cocaine producers. Gil added that the narrative “threatens the entire region” and an attack on Venezuela “would really mean a complete destabilization of the region.” “Let us immediately demand an end to this deployment, which has no other reason than to threaten a sovereign people,” he added during a virtual meeting of members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States regional group. Maduro also used his news conference to insist that he was the legitimate winner of last year’s presidential election. But ample and credible evidence has shown the contrary, prompting several countries, including the U.S., to not recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s president. Maduro, sworn in to a third six-year term in January, added that his government maintains two lines of communication with the Trump administration, one with the State Department and another with Trump’s envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell. He called Secretary of State Marco Rubio a “warlord” pushing for action in the Caribbean to topple Venezuela’s government. U.S. military action against Venezuela would “stain” Trump’s “hands with blood,” he said. (AP)

A global network of genocide experts has officially adopted a resolution asserting that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza fits the legal definition of genocide, the organization’s president confirmed on Monday.

Among the 500 members of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, 86% supported the resolution, which declares that “Israel’s policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide in Article II of the United Nations Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948).”

The resolution comes as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) continues hearing a case brought by South Africa, which accuses Israel of attempting to destroy the Palestinian population in Gaza. Filed in December 2023, the lawsuit alleges systematic violations under the Genocide Convention.

Momentum increased in May when South Africa submitted an extensive legal brief, prompting several nations to publicly back the proceedings and call for closer scrutiny of Israel’s military conduct.

In July 2024, the ICJ granted Israel additional time to file its counter-arguments. While analysts said the delay provided a short-term reprieve, they emphasized that it did not diminish the growing international and legal pressure on Israel.

By August, a group of countries, including Ireland, urged the court to adopt a broader interpretation of what constitutes genocide, seeking to expand the standards under which nations could face accountability.

Throughout 2024 and into 2025, Israeli officials have continued to criticize international legal bodies, insisting that both the ICJ and the International Criminal Court are being used for political purposes intended to delegitimize Israel’s right to defend itself.

Inside Israel, opinions remain divided on labeling the Gaza campaign as genocide.

Author David Grossman, whose son died while serving in Lebanon, stated in August that Israel’s conduct in Gaza amounts to genocide, making him one of the most prominent Israelis to embrace the term.

Others have strongly pushed back. In July, international law expert Nitsana Darshan-Leitner acknowledged the significant civilian casualties but maintained that the legal threshold for genocide had not been met. She cautioned that misusing the term could erode its seriousness and impact.

Military scholar John Spencer reviewed Israel’s targeting policies and concluded there was no evidence of genocidal intent. He characterized the accusations as politically driven rather than grounded in law.

Commentator Sherwin Pomerantz argued that while Israel’s operations have caused severe destruction, they lack the deliberate intent required to constitute genocide under international statutes.

The debate over the terminology surfaced earlier in 2024 as well. In June, political analyst Alon Ben-Meir warned that framing Israel’s actions as genocide risks fueling antisemitism by conflating criticism of Israeli policies with hostility toward Jewish communities worldwide.

Since its establishment in 1994, the International Association of Genocide Scholars has passed nine resolutions acknowledging past or ongoing instances of genocide.

Reaction to the group’s latest resolution has been sharply polarized. Supporters say it highlights the catastrophic human toll of the conflict and validates longstanding concerns about Israel’s conduct. Critics counter that it represents a misinterpretation of the world’s most serious legal accusation, undermining its credibility.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A “cannibal” solar storm this Labor Day could make the northern lights visible across 18 U.S. states, including Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, South Dakota, Vermont, New Hampshire, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, New York, Wyoming, Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois, according to NOAA’s prediction map.

The US is now offering a $15 million reward for info leading to arrest of Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López.

US Treasury Secretary Bessent said that despite signaling otherwise in recent talks, Putin has escalated his bombing campaign “in a despicable manner,” and added that with Trump, all options remain on the table and will be reviewed closely this week.

After Rudy Giuliani was seriously injured in a car accident on Sunday, his family and team shared an emotional message expressing their gratitude for the outpouring of support and assuring the public that he is determined to recover. They promised that he will “come back stronger than ever.”

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out since hearing the news about the mayor,” read a statement posted to Rudy Giuliani’s Instagram Stories on Monday morning.

“Your prayers, love, and support mean more than we can ever express.
As his family and team, we can tell you he’s the toughest fighter we know — resilient, determined, and already focused on recovery. We are proud beyond words, and we know he will come back stronger than ever. With gratitude, His Family & Team ”

According to his spokesperson, Giuliani is currently recuperating from a fractured vertebra and several other injuries sustained in the crash in New Hampshire, where he had been a passenger.

Michael Ragusa, Giuliani’s head of security, posted on X that the 81-year-old was taken to a local trauma center for treatment of a fractured thoracic vertebra, multiple cuts, bruises, and injuries to his left arm and lower leg.

Ragusa confirmed that Giuliani “sustained injuries but is in good spirits and recovering tremendously,” emphasizing: “This was not a targeted attack.”

Before the accident, Giuliani had stopped to assist a woman involved in a domestic violence situation, Ragusa said. After helping her and contacting the police, he left the scene. Moments later, his vehicle was struck shortly after merging back onto the highway in an incident “entirely unrelated” to the earlier domestic disturbance, Ragusa explained in a statement to The Associated Press.

At the time of the crash, Giuliani was a passenger in a rented Ford Bronco driven by his spokesperson, Ted Goodman. According to New Hampshire State Police, their vehicle was hit from behind late on Shabbos by a Honda HR-V driven by a 19-year-old woman.

State troopers witnessed the collision, which sent both vehicles into the highway median and left them “heavily damaged,” authorities said. Goodman and the teenage driver were treated for “non-life-threatening injuries” and transported to local hospitals.

Officials reported that the crash remains under investigation, and no charges have been filed.

New Hampshire State Police declined to confirm whether Giuliani had notified them about his earlier involvement in the domestic violence incident.

Goodman has not responded to requests for comment, and Giuliani’s team has not provided additional information regarding the circumstances surrounding the accident.

“Thank you to all the people that have reached out since learning the news about my father,” Andrew Giuliani, the mayor’s son, wrote in a post on X. “Your prayers mean the world.”

{Matzav.com}

In the Aharoni’s apartment in Elad, Israel, a fire broke out in the middle of the night. The father was out, but the 14-year-old son noticed the smoke and quickly woke his brothers and sisters, leading them outside to safety. By the time the fire trucks arrived, it was too late. Beds, clothing, furniture, toys — everything the children recognized as “home” had been reduced to ash. The family stood outside, watching their possessions burn in front of their eyes. Today, the parents and ten children, including a newborn and a child with special needs, are crowded into a small two-bedroom rental. There are not enough beds, the children share what little clothing they have, and daily life is unsettled and difficult. But the truth is: they cannot return home until the most basic necessities are replaced. They need beds to sleep in. Clothing to wear. Appliances like a refrigerator and a washing machine, without which daily life cannot function. The apartment itself cannot be lived in again until essential repairs are made. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Chief Rabbi of Elad, HaRav Shlomo Zalman Grossman shlit”a, has issued a heartfelt appeal: “The local tzedaka fund has established a united fund to help this broken family and to rehabilitate them and their home . All who participate in and support this great mitzvah will be blessed from Above with abundant blessings and success , both materially and spiritually, and will be saved from all troubles, distress, and harm.” The Aharoni children want nothing more than to return to their home, to their own beds. To help the family of 12 return home, visit the fundraising page. DONATE HERE TO HELP THE AHARONI FAMILY REBUILD

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) is praising President Trump’s White House renovations, calling it strange that Democrats are “freaking out” about them.

A House committee investigating the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case has withdrawn a subpoena to former FBI Director Robert Mueller, citing the state of his health. Mueller had been directed last month to appear before the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday for a deposition, but the subpoena was withdrawn after the panel learned of unspecified health issues that precluded him from being able to testify, according to a committee statement. The New York Times, citing a statement from Mueller’s family and people close to him, reported Sunday night that Mueller had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the summer of 2021 and has had difficulty speaking. Mueller was appointed FBI director in 2001 by then-President George W. Bush and shepherded the bureau’s evolution into a national security and intelligence-gathering agency. He held the job for more than a decade, resigning in 2013. In 2017, he was tapped by the Justice Department to serve as special counsel in charge of the investigation into potential coordination between Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. His team over the course of the next two years revealed pervasive efforts by Russian operatives to interfere in the election on Trump’s behalf, and secured criminal charges and convictions against multiple Trump associates. But it did not find sufficient evidence to prove an illegal conspiracy between Moscow and the campaign to sway the election. Mueller has rarely spoken about the investigation since its conclusion but did testify before Congress in July 2019, an appearance that drew attention because of the sometimes stilted and halting manner of his testimony. Last month, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, issued subpoenas to Mueller and more than a half dozen other former law enforcement and government officials for testimony about their potential involvement in the years-long investigation into Epstein, the wealthy financier whose August 2019 death following his arrest on trafficking charges was determined to have been a suicide. Parkinson’s is a neurologic disease that robs people of control over their movements. It typically starts with tremors and is characterized by slow movement, a shuffling gait, stiff limbs, balance problems and slurred speech. Though there is no cure, there are treatments. (AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu reaffirmed night that he rejects any proposal for a partial Gaza hostage agreement, making his position clear during a lengthy security cabinet meeting focused on Israel’s ongoing military operation to seize control of Gaza City. Outside the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, families of hostages staged protests, urging the government to pursue a deal.

During the meeting, Netanyahu informed the cabinet that the U.S. administration shares his opposition to a limited agreement. “Forget the partial deals. Go in with full force. Finish it,” Netanyahu quoted U.S. President Donald Trump as saying. He further warned that Israel’s “window of legitimacy” from the international community is narrow, and halting operations for a partial deal would undermine the objective of eliminating Hamas.

“Our impression is that Netanyahu’s opposition is genuine. He will not agree to a partial deal,” several ministers said following the meeting.

The discussion primarily revolved around the IDF’s strategy for fully capturing Gaza City, with top military officials presenting detailed operational plans. A senior Israeli source had earlier told The Jerusalem Post that the cabinet’s session would not be focused on debating whether or not to pursue a partial deal.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir issued a warning to the cabinet during the session, saying, “You are heading toward military rule. Understand the implications.”

Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs immediately disputed that assessment, responding, “That’s not true.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir offered an alternative approach, suggesting: “Instead of military rule, we can encourage voluntary emigration.”

When Zamir repeated his warning about the risks of imposing direct military governance in Gaza, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich cut in sharply, declaring, “We have made a decision.”

The meeting, which lasted nearly six hours, also saw Ben-Gvir push for a formal vote on a statement rejecting any possibility of a partial deal. Netanyahu refused to allow it, responding, “That’s irrelevant — we are only going for a full deal. We need to defeat Hamas.”

While the majority of ministers echoed Netanyahu’s stance, a smaller group voiced support for considering a limited agreement. Among them were Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who pointed to Israel’s growing diplomatic challenges and mounting international calls at the United Nations for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state as reasons to reconsider.

Several of Israel’s top security chiefs — including Zamir, acting Shin Bet director “S,” and Mossad director David Barnea — backed the idea of a partial arrangement. However, Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Tamir Yadai argued firmly that Hamas would only surrender under conditions of complete military defeat, regardless of the cost.

“I hear your positions, but ultimately, I decide — and you must fall in line,” Netanyahu told the gathered ministers and security officials, making clear where the final authority lies.

After the meeting, officials told The Jerusalem Post that even cabinet hardliners, such as Smotrich and National Missions Minister Orit Strock, were convinced that Netanyahu had fully ruled out the possibility of a limited deal. “Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have fully internalized the principles and arguments against a partial deal, and have become the most effective advocates for the approach of ‘decisive victory in Gaza, without stopping for a partial deal.’”

Given the strong resistance within the cabinet to a limited arrangement, Zamir closed the meeting by stating: “Whatever the Cabinet decides, the army will execute it with excellence.”

The meeting concluded at around 1:45 a.m. Monday morning. Notably, Maj.-Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon, head of the IDF’s Hostages Directorate, was excluded from the session because the agenda did not involve direct negotiations for a hostage agreement.

Meanwhile, outside the IDF headquarters, families of hostages continued their protests, urging Netanyahu and the cabinet to act decisively to secure the captives’ release.

“Your refusal to discuss the details of the deal currently on the negotiation table represents an irreversible loss,” a statement from the families said.

“Sit down at the negotiating table now and don’t get up until a viable agreement is reached for the return of every last hostage.”

Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, expressed her frustration directly: “What exactly is this Cabinet convening for? I really want to ask you, Benjamin Netanyahu. Your Cabinet members boast — they actually boast — about thwarting deals that were on the table.”

“Now there is a deal on the table. Instead of taking it and leveraging it into a comprehensive agreement that would guarantee the return of the hostages — both the living and the deceased — and end the war, what are you convening for now?”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The High Court of Justice on Monday issued a unanimous recommendation that the government cancel its dismissal of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and abandon the controversial new process it approved in June to facilitate her firing. The nine-judge panel, which includes a majority of conservative justices, advised the government to revert to the long-standing procedure established in 2000, under which the appointment and dismissal of an attorney general must go through a public, professional committee. The court gave the government until September 14 to confirm whether it will abolish the new method and reinstate Baharav-Miara. If the government refuses, it must submit affidavits by October 30, after which the court is expected to issue a binding final ruling. Monday’s decision also canceled a scheduled hearing on petitions challenging her dismissal. The ruling underscores the court’s view that the government’s mid-process decision to alter the rules for dismissing an attorney general is legally untenable. The court noted that the government failed to file a defense against the petitions—an “extraordinary” omission—and that no justification had been provided for deviating from established procedures. Justice Minister Yariv Levin lashed out at the decision, calling it a “theater of the absurd” and suggesting the government would not comply with any final ruling. “You can’t force the government, especially when we’re in the midst of a war, to work with her even for one more day,” Levin said. “The government and only the government will determine who its attorney general will be.” Communications Minister Shlomo Karchi went further, declaring the High Court’s injunction “illegal and therefore void,” and vowing the government would push ahead in appointing a new attorney general. The clash leaves Israel in uncharted constitutional territory, with the High Court insisting that Baharav-Miara’s firing cannot stand and the government signaling it may openly defy the judiciary. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Police in the Southern District, working with the ISA, arrested a Lakiya resident suspected of supporting ISIS. Authorities say the suspect posted extremist material online and, during interrogation, handed over an illegal M16 rifle.

WATCH: HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch, shlita, to a Yeshiva Bochur being pursued by the IDF military police: “One must have true mesiras nefesh. Over there, one becomes corrupted immediately — they are liars and cursed resha’im.” When the bochur asked if he should be afraid of them, Rav Shternbuch replied: “Absolutely not. Tell them you spoke with HaRav Shternbuch, who has forbidden you from going to the army.”

MEANWHILE IN CHICAGO: Over Labor Day weekend, at least 53 people were shot—including seven fatally—in Chicago, with one drive-by attack wounding seven, as President Trump renewed threats to deploy federal agents and National Guard troops to the city despite opposition from Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson.

President Trump praised DC’s Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday for cooperating with his administration’s deployment of National Guard troops to crack down on crime — before calling on blue-state governors to let him do the same.

A 14-year-old Jewish boy was attacked outside a shul in Lyon, France, last week in what prosecutors are investigating as an antisemitic assault. The assault occurred on August 22, when the boy was approached by a man in his 20s while walking home alone. According to the victim’s father, the assailant asked if the boy smoked, then hurled antisemitic insults before kicking him in the hip. The teenager required medical treatment and was given two days of leave for his injuries, Libération reported. Lyon prosecutor Thierry Dran confirmed the case is being investigated as “aggravated violence against a minor due to religious affiliation.” No arrests have been made. Lyon Mayor Grégory Doucet said he was “deeply shocked” by the assault. “As mayor and as a citizen, I condemn with the greatest firmness these antisemitic acts,” Doucet said, vowing that perpetrators must be “identified and punished with the full force of the law.” The city will also replant a tree in memory of Ilan Halimi – a French-Jewish man tortured and murdered in 2006 in a ransom plot motivated by antisemitism – which was attacked and destroyed in a separate recent antisemitic incident. The latest attack comes amid escalating tensions between Paris, Jerusalem, and Washington over France’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state next month. Jewish leaders have warned that anti-Israel rhetoric from French political parties is fueling violence on the streets. Yonathan Arfi, president of the CRIF umbrella group of French Jewish communities, blasted the government’s statehood push, warning it was emboldening extremist movements like La France Insoumise (LFI), a far-left party accused of normalizing antisemitic rhetoric. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently accused President Emmanuel Macron of contributing to antisemitism by advancing recognition of Palestinian statehood. Macron fired back, charging Netanyahu with “weaponizing antisemitism” while insisting that Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank provide “a pretext for antisemitism” worldwide. U.S. Ambassador to France Charles Kushner issued a public rebuke of Macron’s government, warning that antisemitic assaults, synagogue vandalism, and attacks on Jewish-owned businesses in France occur “nearly every day.” France recorded 1,570 antisemitic incidents in 2024, one of the highest totals on record, according to the SPCJ Jewish security service. That included 106 physical assaults, the most in over a decade. Jewish security watchdog BNVCA has noted that most of the attacks are carried out by individuals from Muslim backgrounds. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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The IDF will begin mobilizing 60,000 reservists on Tuesday in one of the largest call-ups of the war, as the military shifts its weight toward Gaza ahead of a planned ground offensive on Gaza City. According to the IDF, the majority of the new reservists — between 40,000 and 50,000 — are scheduled to report for duty on September 2. Two additional waves are planned in the coming months: one in November–December and another in February–March 2026. The new deployment adds to the tens of thousands of reservists already in uniform, marking a dramatic expansion of Israel’s war footing. Military officials confirmed that roughly 20,000 reservists currently serving will have their tours extended by 30 to 40 days. In total, the IDF expects to have around 130,000 reservists active at the height of the offensive. The mobilization underscores Israel’s preparations for a major push into Gaza City, where military planners say Hamas’s last organized forces remain entrenched. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)