Feed aggregator

Israeli Court Orders Husband to Return Vehicle to Wife in Dispute Blurring Business and Family Lines

Matzav -

A legal dispute over a luxury vehicle has highlighted the blurred boundaries between business assets and personal property, after an Israeli court ruled that a husband must return a car he had taken from his wife during a marital conflict.

The case involves a couple married since 1991 who built a large family over the years. During the marriage, the husband operated a successful business through which various assets were acquired for family use, including a vehicle worth hundreds of thousands of shekels that was used exclusively by the wife.

As tensions between the couple escalated, the husband arranged for the vehicle to be taken from the wife while it was undergoing routine maintenance. He argued that because she had been dismissed from her position in the company, she no longer had the right to use what he claimed was a company-owned asset.

However, the Haifa District Court rejected the husband’s arguments on appeal, upholding the earlier ruling and emphasizing that the distinction between the couple’s business dealings and their personal lives had been “blurred” throughout the years.

The court determined that the vehicle had effectively been given to the wife as a personal gift for her exclusive use, rather than as part of any formal employment arrangement.

Judges also found that, despite the issuance of salary slips, the wife did not actually perform work for the company, and that the payments she received were part of the couple’s internal financial arrangements rather than evidence of a genuine employer-employee relationship.

The ruling further stressed the need for judicial intervention to prevent unilateral actions during ongoing disputes, warning against what it described as “coercive conduct” intended to alter the status quo while legal rights are still being determined.

In its final decision, the court ruled that jurisdiction over the matter lies with the family court, as the dispute is fundamentally personal rather than a standard labor-related case.

The husband’s appeal was denied, and he was ordered to immediately return the vehicle to his wife. In addition, he was required to pay 7,500 shekels in legal costs.

Bottom line: Shalom bayis is a good idea!

{Matzav.com}

INSIDE ANALYSIS: Major Gaps Persist in Iran Talks as Trump Extends Deadline for Negotiations

Matzav -

President Donald Trump surprised Israel and the international community by granting Iran an additional five days to continue negotiations, even as US and Israeli military operations remain ongoing, but wide differences between the sides continue to cast doubt on the chances of reaching an agreement.

Earlier today, Trump announced that he was postponing his ultimatum regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and moving forward with renewed talks with Iranian representatives. Despite his optimistic tone, officials acknowledge that significant disagreements remain between Washington and Tehran.

Speaking Monday evening, Trump said he believes an agreement to end the war could be reached in the near future and would help eliminate threats against the United States. “We’ve had great talks with Iran. We’ve spoken to them a lot, but this time they’re serious,” he said.

Despite those remarks, it remains unclear whether any concrete deal is actually taking shape or whether the talks are primarily aimed at buying time and calming global economic concerns.

During a conversation earlier in the day between Prime Minister bIBI Netanyahu and Vice President J.D. Vance, Netanyahu was updated on the ongoing contacts between Washington and Tehran. According to the message conveyed to Israel, the United States intends to stand firm on its red lines, which closely mirror Israel’s own position.

Those conditions reportedly include the removal of enriched uranium from Iran, a full halt to its nuclear program, the reinstatement of intrusive inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, limits on Iran’s ballistic missile program — with Washington pushing for a five-year freeze — and an end to Iranian funding of terrorist organizations.

Israeli officials have expressed skepticism that Iran would agree to such terms, viewing them as equivalent to a surrender. They have also questioned Trump’s optimism, particularly as Iranian officials continue to deny publicly that any agreements have been reached.

According to reports, Israeli officials are concerned that Iran may use the negotiations to stall for time, while Trump may ultimately accept a partial agreement that allows him to declare success without insisting on all of the stated conditions.

Additional reports indicate that Iran has conveyed messages suggesting that Lebanon should be included in any final agreement, further complicating the diplomatic process.

Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei, recently appointed as a military adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, responded to Trump’s earlier threat to target Iran’s electrical infrastructure — a threat that has since been withdrawn — with a warning. “This time it will not be an eye for an eye, but a head for an eye, and you will leave the Gulf. The war will continue until we are compensated for all our losses, all economic sanctions are lifted, and we receive international legal guarantees that Washington will not interfere in our affairs,” he said.

At the same time, there are indications that Iran may be open to certain concessions. According to Channel 12, Iranian negotiators have signaled a willingness to consider a temporary five-year freeze on their missile program. They have also indicated openness to discussions on reducing uranium enrichment, although the scope of those reductions remains unclear.

A central issue in the talks is Iran’s stockpile of approximately 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent, much of which is believed to be buried beneath damaged facilities in Fordo and Natanz. Iran has also reportedly expressed readiness to allow international monitoring of its remaining centrifuges, as well as to discuss curbing support for regional proxy groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and militias in Iraq.

However, conflicting messages from within Iran’s leadership continue to raise doubts about the seriousness of the negotiations. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has denied that any talks have taken place, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has signaled its intention to continue fighting “until the end.” These contradictions have led to questions about whether there is a clear authority in Tehran capable of negotiating a binding agreement.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, Iran has set extremely high conditions for ending hostilities, including demands that have slowed progress in the talks. Arab officials involved in mediation efforts said that discussions are focused in part on the future of the Strait of Hormuz.

One proposal under consideration would place the strategic waterway under the control of a neutral regional body to ensure free passage for shipping. Egyptian officials have also reportedly suggested a five-day ceasefire as a way to build trust between Tehran and Washington.

In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has demanded a new arrangement in which Iran would be allowed to collect fees from ships passing through the strait, similar to Egypt’s model in the Suez Canal.

Additional Iranian demands reportedly include guarantees that the war cannot resume, the closure of American bases in the Middle East, compensation for damages caused during the conflict, and an end to Israeli military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has emerged as a potential mediator, with discussions underway about a possible meeting between the parties as early as this Saturday in Islamabad. The effort is being led by General Asim Munir, Pakistan’s military chief and de facto leader, who is also facing internal pressure from the country’s Shiite population over the government’s stance toward Iran.

Trump said earlier that he is in contact with a “respected leader” in Iran, though not with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly. Israeli officials believe the discussions may be taking place with Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf, who denied the claim and described it as “fake news intended to manipulate markets and escape the quagmire in which the United States and Israel are trapped.”

However, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that a request for talks with Ghalibaf had indeed been received from the United States, although Tehran has not yet responded. Iran’s Foreign Ministry also confirmed that regional countries are attempting to mediate an end to the war.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu addressed Trump’s remarks on the negotiations, saying, “Earlier today I spoke with Trump. He believes there is an opportunity to leverage the tremendous achievements of the IDF and the US military to achieve the objectives of the war through an agreement, an agreement that will preserve our vital interests.”

{Matzav.com}

Noted Chazzan Yitzchak Meir Helfgott Appointed Chief Chazzan at Yerushalayim Yeshurun Synagogue

Matzav -

A major development in the world of chazzanus in Yerushalayim was made official today, as Yeshurun Synagogue revealed that the renowned Chazzan Yitzchak Meir Helfgott will assume the role of chief chazzan of the prominent shul, accompanied by choirs, Matzav.com has learned.

Helfgott will take over the position from Chazzan Nissim Saal, who has served as the shul’s chief chazzan for the past three years.

In a statement, the shul said: “The Yeshurun Central Synagogue is pleased to announce to the public the joining of the great chazzan, one of the leading cantors of our generation and a world-renowned figure and first-class master of prayer, Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Helfgott, who will serve as the chief chazzan of the Yeshurun Central Synagogue accompanied by choirs. The Yeshurun Central Synagogue community believes that his voice and vast experience will contribute greatly to strengthening spiritual life and prayer, and to uplifting the hearts of the Jewish people.”

The kehillah also expressed appreciation to Saal for his years of service, noting his impact on the shul’s atmosphere and communal life.

“We wish to express deep gratitude and appreciation to Cantor Rabbi Nissim Saal for three beautiful and blessed years of service at the synagogue. During his tenure, he contributed greatly to the atmosphere of prayer, to uplifting the spirit, and to strengthening community life, with dedication, pleasantness, and professionalism. We thank him wholeheartedly for his important contribution, and wish him much continued success in his path, that he continue to bring joy to hearts and increase the honor of Heaven wherever he goes.”

{Matzav.com}

Footage Shows Iranian Government Aircraft Over Tehran Despite Airspace Closure

Matzav -

Photos and footage circulating online appear to show an Iranian government aircraft flying over Tehran, despite the closure of the country’s airspace, which is reportedly under Israeli control.

The three-second clip, widely shared on social media, has drawn significant attention, as it seemingly contradicts the current restrictions on flights in the region.

According to a report by Israeli journalist Itay Blumental of Kan News, the aircraft was likely carrying senior Iranian officials en route to Islamabad, Pakistan, as part of efforts to advance talks between the United States and Iran. “We understand that this is part of a process taking place behind the scenes,” he said.

Blumental added that the flight may have been coordinated and approved by international actors, suggesting possible American involvement in facilitating the movement. “It’s possible that American officials informed Israel, which allowed the flight to take off,” he noted.

{Matzav.com}

Zelenskyy: ‘Irrefutable’ Proof Russia Sharing Intel With Iran

Matzav -

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that Kyiv has conclusive evidence Russia is continuing to provide intelligence support to Iran, warning that such actions are helping to extend the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Zelenskyy made the remarks after a meeting with Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, stating that the information in Kyiv’s possession leaves no doubt about Moscow’s involvement.

“Russia is using its own signals intelligence and electronic intelligence capabilities, as well as part of the data obtained through cooperation with partners in the Middle East,” he said on X after meeting the head of military intelligence.

In a later video address to the nation, Zelenskyy said additional indications have emerged pointing to ongoing Russian assistance to Iran.

“This is clearly destructive activity and must be stopped, as it only leads to further destabilization. All responsible states have an interest in ensuring security and preventing bigger problem,” he said.

He also warned that the consequences of this cooperation are already being felt beyond the battlefield, particularly in global markets and energy supply.

“Markets are already reacting negatively and this is significantly complicating the fuel situation in many countries. By helping the Iranian regime survive and strike more accurately, Russia is effectively prolonging the war.”

Russia, for its part, has denied the allegations. The Kremlin last week rejected a Wall Street Journal report claiming that Moscow had been providing Iran with satellite imagery and enhanced drone technology, dismissing the report as “fake news.”

El Al Will Operate Up To 15 Outbound Flights Per Day, Each Limited To 50 Passengers

Matzav -

Air travel through Ben Gurion Airport has been sharply reduced following new directives from the Transportation Ministry, with Israel’s major airlines moving into emergency operating mode and significantly cutting back flights and passenger capacity.

El Al announced that it is scaling its activity down to roughly 5% of normal operations. Under the new framework, the airline will operate up to 15 outbound flights per day, each limited to a maximum of 50 passengers. The reduced schedule will include only select routes to key destinations such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Paris, Rome, and Athens. The airline noted that inbound flights to Israel will continue without passenger restrictions.

Due to the limited number of available seats, passengers will be assigned based on the original booking date of their tickets, with priority given to urgent humanitarian and medical cases.

Israir also outlined a revised plan, stating that it will cut its operations to approximately half of its usual capacity. Outbound flights will likewise be restricted to 50 passengers per aircraft. The airline will focus on maintaining routes to nearby destinations, including Athens, Larnaca, Rome, Tbilisi, and Addis Ababa, which will serve as connecting hubs for onward travel.

The company further announced that all flights purchased through April 8 will be canceled under the new plan. Affected passengers will be offered the choice between a full refund or a travel voucher valued at 130% of the original ticket price, valid for up to 24 months. Travelers who had booked flights from Ben Gurion Airport to the listed destinations will be reassigned to flights departing from those same cities, in accordance with the updated schedules.

Both airlines emphasized that these measures are being implemented out of necessity due to the current security situation and government-imposed restrictions. They stressed that operations are being conducted with a focus on passenger and crew safety, while making efforts to maintain essential air links between Israel and the rest of the world.

Netanyahu Reportedly Frustrated as Mossad-Promised Iranian Uprising Fails to Materialize

Matzav -

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu backed a Mossad strategy aimed at triggering a popular revolt in Iran at the outset of the war, but has grown increasingly frustrated that the expected uprising has not taken place, Times of Israel reports.

The New York Times, citing current and former US and Israeli intelligence officials, reported that Netanyahu raised the proposal during discussions with President Donald Trump as part of efforts to gain support for military action against Iran.

However, officials in both Washington and Israel are now expressing doubt that regime change is imminent, with current conditions seen as unfavorable for a mass uprising. Concerns over the regime’s violent crackdown on earlier protests, along with fears stemming from the ongoing US-Israeli air campaign, have dampened public willingness to take to the streets.

According to the report, expanding on earlier coverage by Channel 12, Mossad Director David Barnea presented Netanyahu with a plan ahead of the war that envisioned eliminating key Iranian leadership figures and then using intelligence operations to “galvanize the Iranian opposition,” igniting mass unrest in Iran by fomenting riots and other acts of resistance via intelligence operations, potentially leading to the regime’s collapse. The proposal was also reportedly shared with US officials at the White House.

The strategy was intended to bring about a rapid end to the conflict through internal upheaval. Instead, Iran’s leadership has consolidated its position, a scenario that some US officials had anticipated. While internal rivalries among religious factions could lead to infighting, the report noted that such a scenario would be unlikely to produce a democratic outcome. Suggestions that Kurdish militias might intervene have also not materialized.

Israeli officials have not entirely abandoned hopes for regime change, but the absence of widespread unrest has reportedly left Netanyahu disappointed. “Behind the scenes,” it said, Netanyahu “has expressed frustration that Mossad’s promises to foment revolt in Iran have not materialized.”

During an early wartime security meeting, the prime minister “complained that the plan was not working,” and vented that Trump “could decide to halt the campaign at any moment.”

A Channel 12 report aired Monday appeared to push back on the timeline, indicating that Mossad assessments suggest the regime could still collapse and that the Iranian public might eventually rise up, but only toward the later stages of the war, with the process potentially taking months or longer.

The Times also noted that former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen had been skeptical about the prospects for regime change and had instead focused on weakening Iran through sanctions and targeted killings of nuclear scientists.

By contrast, Barnea has prioritized efforts aimed at toppling the regime over the past year, with expectations that a wave of protests would emerge following the opening phase of the military campaign.

American officials, along with some Israeli counterparts, have remained doubtful that the war alone would bring about the collapse of Iran’s government.

One factor cited in the report is the reluctance of ordinary Iranians to risk their lives by protesting. Nate Swanson, a former member of the Trump administration’s Iran negotiating team led by Steve Witkoff, said that fear plays a major role.

He told the Times he had never seen a “serious plan” to cause an Iranian revolt.

“A lot of protesters are not coming into the street because they’ll get shot,” Swanson told the Times. “They’re going to get slaughtered. That’s one thing. But the second thing is that there’s a good chunk of people who just want a better life, and they’re just sidelined right now. They don’t like the regime, but they don’t want to die opposing it. That 60 percent is going to stay home.”

He said, “You still have fervent anti-regime folks, but they’re not armed, and they’re not bringing the majority of the population into the streets.”

In recent days, both Netanyahu and Trump have tempered expectations regarding regime change. Netanyahu has acknowledged uncertainty over whether the Iranian public will rise up, though he reiterated that one of the war’s objectives is “creating the conditions for the Iranian people to grasp their freedom, to control their destiny.”

Israeli officials continue to express cautious optimism that such a shift could eventually occur.

“I think that we need boots on the ground but they’ve got to be Iranian boots, and I think they’re coming,” Israel’s ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, said in an interview with CNN on Sunday. “What we have to focus on now is degrading to the point where they have no power left in this regime. Hopefully, that will trigger this combustion point where the people are able to take charge of their own lives.”

{Matzav.com}

Antisemitic Group Claims Responsibility for Hatzolah Ambulance Arson Attack in London

Matzav -

A militant antisemitic organization has claimed responsibility for the torching of Jewish community ambulances in London, following a recent report linking the group to a series of coordinated attacks across Europe.

In the early hours of Monday morning, four ambulances belonging to Hatzolah were deliberately set on fire in Golders Green, a heavily Jewish neighborhood in North London. The incident comes after Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism identified the group “Ashab Al-Yamim” as being behind a wave of antisemitic attacks over the past two weeks. The organization, which is believed to have ties to Iran, later took responsibility for the London attack.

The arson took place at approximately 1:40 a.m. on Highfield Avenue, near a shul. During the blaze, several explosions were reported due to gas canisters inside the ambulances, shattering windows in nearby residential buildings and forcing local residents to evacuate.

Emergency services responded with six fire engines and around 40 firefighters, eventually bringing the fire under control after several hours. Dozens of residents were displaced, with about 30 individuals relocated to temporary shelter. Despite the intensity of the explosions and fire, no injuries were reported.

Security footage and eyewitness accounts circulating online indicate that several masked individuals poured flammable liquid, believed to be gasoline, onto the vehicles before fleeing the scene. Authorities are currently searching for approximately three suspects, and no arrests have been made so far.

London’s Metropolitan Police have classified the incident as an antisemitic hate crime and confirmed that the investigation is being conducted accordingly. The pro-Iranian militant group identifying itself as the “Islamic Right Movement” (Ashab Al-Yamim) claimed responsibility in a message posted on Telegram, stating that “prominent Zionist centers in London” were the intended targets.

The attack is part of a broader pattern of antisemitic incidents across Europe, including similar acts of arson and violence in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Greece, all of which have been attributed to the same organization.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the incident, calling it a “particularly shocking antisemitic arson attack” and a “serious” act of violence. He expressed solidarity with the Jewish community and stressed that antisemitism has no place in British society.

In recent days, Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism revealed the emergence of a new militant group, Harakat Ashab Al-Yamim al-Islamiyya (“Ashab Al-Yamim”), which has issued threats against Jewish communities in Europe and claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on Jewish institutions.

According to the ministry’s report, between March 9 and March 14, 2026, several coordinated attacks were carried out against Jewish targets across Europe. These included an explosion near a synagogue in Liège, Belgium; an attack on a Jewish site in Greece; the arson of a synagogue in Rotterdam, Netherlands; and an explosion outside a Jewish school in Amsterdam.

While most of the incidents resulted in property damage without casualties, officials emphasized that the pattern points to a coordinated campaign aimed at intimidation, psychological warfare, and spreading fear among Jewish communities across the continent.

The ministry warned that the rapid spread of attacks across multiple countries suggests the involvement of organized international networks and that the threat of further assaults on Jewish institutions in Europe remains high.

Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli said, “Jewish communities are not legitimate targets for threats, and the international community must act decisively against any entity attempting to carry out acts of terror and antisemitism. The incident in London joins recent events across Europe and continues to reflect a pattern in which terror networks associated with the Iranian axis are attempting to expand their sphere of activity into cities and Jewish communities across Europe.”

Ministry Director General Avi Cohen Scali added, “The emergence of the group Harakat Ashab Al-Yamim al-Islamiyya illustrates the evolving threat to Jewish communities worldwide. It combines online propaganda, local operational cells, and regional terror networks — all designed to instill fear in Jewish communities and project power beyond the Middle East. The ministry will continue working with governments and Jewish communities around the world to monitor, expose, and thwart such threats.”

{Matzav.com}

Pages

Subscribe to NativUSA Portal aggregator