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Hundreds of mourners filled the streets of Yerushalayim for the heartbreaking levayah of Reb Akiva Rand z”l, a beloved yungerman and prominent member of the Tchernobyl erkehillah who was tragically killed in a car accident in Moldova last Wednesday. Following intensive efforts by leading askanim to secure the release of his body and prevent an autopsy, he was brought to kevurah in Eretz Yisroel.

The aron arrived at Ben Gurion Airport at approximately 11:00 p.m., where grieving family members gathered alongside the Tchernobyler Rebbe, to whom Reb Akiva was deeply devoted. Witnesses described the Rebbe accompanying the aron with heartrending tears. Members of the kehillah said that since learning of the tragedy, the Rebbe had scarcely rested, personally overseeing every aspect of the effort to support the devastated family while working around the clock with prominent askanim to ensure the body was released without chalilah undergoing an autopsy.

From the airport, the aron was transported shortly after 1:00 a.m. to the Tchernobyler bais medrash on Tuval Street in Yerushalayim’s Romema neighborhood. It was there that Reb Akiva established his daily schedule of Torah learning and tefillah, where he was regarded as one of the chashuve avreichim and served faithfully as one of the gabbaim.

Despite the late hour, hundreds of residents and chassidim crowded the surrounding streets to pay their final respects. Friends described Reb Akiva as an exceptionally warm and compassionate individual whose kindness and sincerity made everyone feel like a close friend.

The first hesped was delivered by his grandfather, Rav Greenzweig of Yerushalayim, who tearfully recounted the unique bond he shared with his beloved grandson. He recalled that after Reb Akiva moved to Israel, he visited him regularly, faithfully assisting him in whatever he needed.

The grandfather then revealed a remarkable secret that had remained hidden for years. About two years earlier, Reb Akiva had approached him privately and asked to celebrate a personal siyum haShas marking the completion of the entire Bavli. He begged his grandfather not to tell anyone. Reb Akiva explained that he had accepted upon himself the commitment to complete Shas during the COVID period, and, boruch Hashem, fulfilled it entirely in secret, without even his closest family members knowing.

Rav Aharon Twersky, rav of the Tchernobyler community in Yerushalayim, followed with an emotional hesped, mourning the tremendous loss suffered by the kehillah. He described Reb Akiva as someone who greeted every avreich, bochur, and child with warmth, encouragement, and generosity. He noted that Reb Akiva was known for his unwavering diligence in Torah study and was consistently among the first to arrive for tefillah. Rav Twersky urged those present to strengthen themselves spiritually in the wake of the tragedy, particularly in preserving the sanctity of the bais medrash—a cause especially dear to Reb Akiva, who had devoted enormous effort in recent months toward acquiring additional property to expand the bais medrash. He concluded by asking forgiveness on behalf of the entire community.

Reb Akiva’s father, Rav Mordechai Dovid Rand of London, spoke next through tears, describing his son as the emotional center of the family.

“He gave of himself completely for every single one of us. There was not a member of the family whose needs Reb Akiva did not care for with fatherly devotion. The heart refuses to believe the terrible and sudden tragedy that has befallen us.”

One of the evening’s most emotional hespeidim was delivered by Reb Akiva’s father-in-law, Rav Yosef Mordechai Weiss, rav of the Machzikei Hadas bais medrash in Switzerland. He shared the details of what became their final phone conversation—a conversation that now feels like a haunting farewell.

“Last week I came to Israel for a brief 24-hour visit. Because of flight schedules, I had to leave their home quickly at noon while Reb Akiva was learning in kollel, and we did not get to say goodbye. When I arrived at the airport, Reb Akiva called me and said these words: ‘Shver, I didn’t get to say goodbye to you, and now it’s already too late…’. A day later he flew to Moldova to visit the kivrei tzaddikim, and that is where the terrible tragedy occurred. Now we cry out to him those same words: ‘We didn’t get to say goodbye to you, and now it’s already too late!'”

Continuing through tears, his father-in-law described Reb Akiva’s extraordinary character and unwavering emunah. Married to his daughter for more than a decade, the couple endured five difficult years before being blessed with children. Throughout those challenges, he said, Reb Akiva constantly strengthened those around him with simple, unwavering faith, insisting that everything comes from Heaven for the good. That faith became evident when his young widow received the devastating news. According to her father, her immediate response was to proclaim “Shema Yisroel” and accept Hashem’s decree with remarkable strength.

He also recounted the innocent words of Reb Akiva’s six-year-old son, who, upon learning of his father’s passing, asked, “Why didn’t anyone tell me five minutes before it happened? I would have davened to Hashem, and I’m sure it wouldn’t have happened.”

His father-in-law described Reb Akiva’s disciplined daily routine, explaining that no matter the circumstances—even after the Seder night or family celebrations—he rose every morning at sunrise, at 5:30 a.m., without exception.

In closing, he thanked Hashem and the many dedicated askanim who worked tirelessly to return the body without an autopsy.

“We thank Hashem and all the devoted askanim who labored to return the body without an autopsy. The body is whole, but all of our hearts are shattered into pieces! Ascend to the Heavens and be a meilitz yosher for your widow and your three young orphans, including the baby daughter for whom you merited to make a kiddush only eight weeks ago in honor of her birth.”

He pledged, together with the mechutanim, to do everything possible to raise the orphaned children in the path of Torah and Chassidus.

Rav Daniel Chaim Alter, rav of the Ari Shebachaburah bais medrash, where Reb Akiva regularly davened, also delivered stirring words of tribute.

“Tzar li alecha achi, na’amta li me’od. The image of Reb Akiva holding the Sefer Torah with such devotion will never leave our hearts. That was his entire essence—completely attached to the holy Torah, and nothing else mattered to him in life.”

Additional hespeidim were delivered by Rav Shlomo Dovid Klein, one of the dayanim of the Machzikei Hadas Belz community in London, as well as by Reb Akiva’s brother and brother-in-law.

There was scarcely a dry eye among the mourners as Reb Akiva’s six-year-old son, in a faint trembling voice, recited “Boruch Dayan HaEmes” and then said Kaddish for his father, leaving the massive crowd overcome with emotion.

The levayah then proceeded through the streets of Yerushalayim toward Har HaMenuchos, where Reb Akiva was laid to rest amid anguished cries from his family, friends, and the many chassidim who accompanied him on his final journey.

Participants said Yerushalayim had not witnessed such an outpouring of grief in a long time. Hundreds of mourners filled the streets, many openly weeping over the tragic loss of a young man whose warmth, radiant smile, and sincere love for every Jew left an unforgettable impression on all who knew him.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

As the United States prepares to mark its 250th anniversary, a new national survey reveals a sharp partisan divide over how Americans view their country, with only eight percent of Democrats describing the United States as the greatest nation in the world.

The findings come from the latest weekly Economist/YouGov poll, which measured Americans’ views of the country’s standing relative to the rest of the world.

Overall, most respondents gave the United States a favorable ranking. Twenty-five percent said America is “the greatest” country, while another 20 percent described it as “among the greatest.” An additional 12 percent said it is “better than average.” On the other end of the spectrum, 12 percent rated the country as “worse than average,” nine percent said it is “among the worst,” and four percent called it “the worst.”

Political affiliation produced some of the survey’s most dramatic differences. Republicans overwhelmingly expressed pride in the country, with 52 percent calling America the greatest nation on earth. Another 28 percent said it ranks “among the greatest.”

Democrats viewed the country far less favorably. Only eight percent said America is the “greatest” country, while 16 percent classified it as “among the greatest.” Meanwhile, 23 percent of Democrats said the United States is “worse than average” compared to other nations, 15 percent labeled it “among the worst,” and four percent went even further, describing it as “the worst.”

Among Democrats, 13 percent characterized the country as “about average,” while another 13 percent said it is “better than average.”

The ideological divide was similarly pronounced. More than one-quarter of self-identified liberals—26 percent—rated America as “worse than average,” while a majority of conservatives, 53 percent, selected “the greatest” to describe the nation.

Voting patterns in the 2024 presidential election also reflected a stark contrast. Nearly one in four voters who supported Kamala Harris said the United States is “worse than average” relative to other countries, and 18 percent considered it “among the worst.” By comparison, 54 percent of Trump voters said America is “the greatest” country, while another 27 percent chose “among the greatest.” Not a single Trump voter surveyed described America as “the worst,” compared with five percent of Harris voters.

The poll was conducted between June 19 and June 22, 2026, among 1,679 respondents, as the nation prepares for its 250th anniversary celebrations and the launch of the Great American State Fair on the National Mall.

The findings coincide with another recent Economist/YouGov survey that found nearly four in ten Democrats said they are “ashamed” to be American, further highlighting the deep partisan divide over national identity and patriotism.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump declared Monday that his approval ratings have reached their highest level yet, arguing that Americans are responding positively to his administration’s efforts to ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump pointed to what he described as record-high polling numbers while highlighting his administration’s hardline approach toward Iran.

“Highest Poll Numbers Ever,” Trump wrote. “Even Higher than Election Day, November 5th. This despite the fact that, IRAN WILL NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!”

Although Trump did not identify the survey he was citing, one possible reference is the Daily Mail/J.L. Partners poll released last week. That survey showed his job approval rising four percentage points to 47 percent, the highest level recorded for him in that poll during the current year.

The same poll found that 82 percent of Republican respondents approved of Trump’s performance in office.

Another possibility is a McLaughlin & Associates survey conducted from June 17 through June 23 among 1,000 likely midterm voters. That poll placed Trump’s overall job approval at 50 percent.

According to the Daily Mail, Trump’s approval rating had remained at 43 percent for the previous three months before increasing after the announcement of the Iran agreement and the subsequent stabilization of energy prices.

Trump has consistently maintained that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is one of the central goals of his foreign policy. His Truth Social post reinforced that longstanding position.

The administration has continued its maximum-pressure strategy toward Tehran while insisting that Iran will never be permitted to develop nuclear weapons.

While it remains uncertain which specific poll Trump was referencing, both the Daily Mail/J.L. Partners survey and the McLaughlin & Associates poll rank among his strongest polling performances this year and come after a series of foreign policy achievements highlighted by the White House.

Overall presidential approval ratings continue to differ depending on the polling organization and methodology used, with several national surveys reporting lower numbers than those found by the Daily Mail/J.L. Partners and McLaughlin & Associates polls.

Trump’s latest Truth Social post is consistent with his frequent practice of spotlighting favorable polling data while arguing that public support continues to grow for his administration’s policies as Republicans prepare for the November midterm elections.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed Monday that Qatar is preparing to release $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets, even as escalating military tensions in the Persian Gulf cast fresh uncertainty over ongoing negotiations between Tehran and the United States.

Pezeshkian’s announcement appeared aimed at convincing the Iranian public that the interim agreement with Washington is producing tangible benefits, despite growing instability in the region. His remarks came as efforts continue to keep commercial shipping moving through the Strait of Hormuz by routing vessels through Oman’s territorial waters.

The strategic waterway has become a flashpoint after Iranian attacks and repeated threats effectively halted the movement of cargo ships and oil tankers. Because roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas normally passes through the strait, the disruption has fueled a global energy crisis.

Although the Strait of Hormuz lies within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman, it has long been regarded as an international shipping route. Over the past several days, Iran attacked vessels traveling near the Omani side of the passage on two separate occasions, prompting retaliatory U.S. airstrikes and raising concerns that negotiations to formally end the conflict could unravel. On Sunday, Iran also launched drone and missile attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait.

In comments carried Monday by the state-run IRNA news agency, Pezeshkian praised the interim agreement, describing it as “a great victory for the Iranian people.”

“Based on the plans made, $6 billion out of the total $12 billion of Iranian resources in Qatar will be released and returned to the country, and necessary follow-ups are being carried out,” he said. He did not elaborate.

Pezeshkian, considered a reformist within Iran’s ruling establishment, is the most senior Iranian official to publicly state that the Qatari-held funds are being released. Qatar, together with Pakistan, has played a central role in mediating negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

Despite the Iranian president’s assertion, U.S. officials continue to insist that no frozen Iranian assets have been released. Qatar has likewise made no public acknowledgment of such a transfer. The claim also comes just days after Iran attacked a tanker carrying Qatari crude oil during the exchange of hostilities in the Persian Gulf.

At the same time, conflicting statements emerged over the status of the next round of U.S.-Iran negotiations.

Pakistan, one of the principal mediators, announced that talks were expected to resume Tuesday. The Trump administration said Sunday that discussions remain on schedule and that no meetings have been canceled, with technical negotiations expected to proceed in the coming days.

Iran, however, offered a sharply different account. Senior negotiator Kazem Gharibabadi denied that any formal talks had been scheduled.

“Although consultations with Qatar, including on following up on the implementation of the other side’s commitments, are continuing as usual, reports by some media about technical talks by the working groups being held in Doha are not confirmed,” he said.

Technical negotiations generally involve lower-ranking diplomats and specialists working through the detailed provisions of a potential agreement before senior political leaders from Iran and the United States meet to finalize broader terms.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced Monday that planning has been completed for the establishment of three new Jewish communities in northern Gaza and said construction could begin immediately if Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu grants final political approval.

The announcement followed a meeting between Smotrich and Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi, during which the minister said the Defense Ministry’s Settlement Authority has finished all necessary preparatory work and is ready to move forward.

“The Settlement Authority in the Defense Ministry, led by me, has completed the staff work, and we are ready to establish three communities immediately, the moment we get the green light from the Prime Minister. I call on the Prime Minister: grant the approval, let’s finish the mission and restore true security for the residents of the south,” Smotrich said.

Smotrich argued that Israel must complete its military objectives in Gaza and maintain a permanent Jewish presence in the area to prevent future attacks. He noted that the IDF currently controls most of the Strip and said that military gains should be followed by civilian settlement.

He added that “the IDF is currently holding nearly 70% of the territory in the Gaza Strip. We have to complete the conquest of the remaining territory, defeat Hamas, and establish a strip of Jewish communities that will serve as a security belt for Sderot and the Gaza envelope communities. Wherever there is no settlement, there is no security. We are not returning to the pre-October 7th reality.”

Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi voiced strong support for the proposal and praised Smotrich for his efforts on behalf of communities bordering Gaza. He recalled urging the minister to continue the military campaign until the threat from Hamas was eliminated.

“Finance Minister, thank you for all you do for the Gaza envelope. I was also one of those who called you and said, ‘Bezalel, fight,’ so that we wouldn’t stop fighting until we remove the threat from Sderot and the envelope. That is the minimum needed for the residents of the area to live securely.”

A senior official in Israel’s State Attorney’s Office has acknowledged that prosecutors may need to reconsider the bribery charge against Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, following renewed comments from the judges presiding over his trial and after hearing Netanyahu’s testimony in court.

In an interview with Kan Reshet Bet, the senior official said the latest remarks by Jerusalem District Court Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman have prompted prosecutors to reexamine their position regarding the bribery allegation in Case 4000.

“The recommendation requires us to recalculate our course. It was made in the past as well, but it carries different significance after Netanyahu’s testimony,” the official said.

Judge Friedman-Feldman’s comments came during a hearing addressing the defense’s request to expand the testimony schedule to five days a week. She noted that the judges’ view has not changed since they first urged prosecutors in June 2023 to withdraw the bribery charge while continuing to pursue the breach of trust allegations in Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000.

“We had not planned to say this, but after hearing the Prime Minister’s testimony, our position, as expressed in June 2023, remains unchanged,” Friedman-Feldman said during a hearing held today on expanding the defense’s witness schedule to five days a week.

The latest developments have fueled renewed speculation that the prosecution could ultimately abandon the most serious charge against Netanyahu, while continuing to pursue the remaining allegations in the long-running criminal proceedings.

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Defense Forces announced that troops have completed the permanent sealing of the massive underground tunnel in southern Gaza where Lt. Hadar Goldin was held after he was killed and abducted by Hamas during Operation Protective Edge in 2014.

Goldin, who fell in battle in the Gaza Strip and was kidnapped on August 1, 2014, was finally returned to Israel for burial in November 2025 as part of an agreement that secured the return of Israeli hostages. The IDF said the recovery was made possible through its prolonged military operations throughout Gaza.

Following the recovery of Goldin’s remains, the IDF Southern Command launched a large-scale engineering operation involving the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit and Shayetet 13 naval commandos. During the mission, Israeli forces located the underground passage in southern Rafah where Goldin had been held in recent years.

Over the past three months, engineering units from the Gaza Division, together with Southern Command forces and the Yahalom special operations unit, carried out an extensive project to permanently seal the tunnel network. Stretching for more than 16 kilometers (approximately 10 miles), the tunnel was filled using more than 30,000 cubic meters of concrete, bringing the operation to its successful conclusion.

According to the IDF, the underground complex served as a major Hamas command-and-control center and contained approximately 80 living quarters. It was used by the commander of Hamas’ Rafah Brigade to direct and coordinate terrorist operations.

The military also said the tunnel was constructed beneath densely populated civilian areas near the Philadelphi Corridor, passing underneath a residential neighborhood as well as mosques, kindergartens, medical clinics, a school, and a UNRWA clinic, highlighting what Israel says is Hamas’ longstanding practice of embedding its military infrastructure beneath civilian facilities.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump scored a major constitutional victory Monday after the Supreme Court ruled that presidents have broad authority to remove officials leading independent federal agencies, dramatically expanding executive power and overturning a legal precedent that had stood for more than 90 years.

Reacting to the decision, Trump hailed the ruling as one of the most significant victories for presidential authority in American history.

“BIG WIN just moments ago at the Supreme Court, in the Slaughter Case, confirming Presidential Power in our Country to remove Executive Branch Officers and Agency Appointees, or Representatives, under Article II,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The president went on to describe the 6-3 decision in emphatic terms.

“Historic and Unprecedented,” adding that it was “one of the most important ever given with respect to Presidential Powers.”

Trump also celebrated the ruling as a personal milestone for his presidency.

“It is such an Honor to be the sitting President who won this Historic and Unprecedented Ruling,” Trump wrote. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

At the heart of the case was Trump’s dismissal of Democrat Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter in March 2025 over policy disagreements. On Monday, the Supreme Court concluded that the firing was lawful, overturning its 1935 decision in Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, which had long restricted a president’s ability to remove certain independent agency officials without cause.

According to Reuters, the ruling wipes away statutory job protections Congress enacted more than a century ago for FTC commissioners and substantially strengthens the president’s authority over executive branch personnel.

Before the Supreme Court intervened, lower federal courts had ruled in Slaughter’s favor, relying on the 1935 precedent that permitted Congress to insulate leaders of independent agencies from dismissal except for reasons such as neglect of duty or misconduct.

The Supreme Court rejected those rulings, holding that Article II of the Constitution grants the president broader constitutional authority to supervise and remove executive branch officials.

The decision is viewed as a major endorsement of the “unitary executive” theory, which has been championed by the Trump administration. That constitutional view maintains that executive power is vested in the president, who must have the ability to remove officials exercising executive authority.

Reuters noted that the justices emphasized their ruling should not be read as applying to the Federal Reserve, which the Court described as occupying a unique historical position distinct from other independent agencies.

The Federal Trade Commission is one of more than two dozen independent federal agencies whose commissioners have traditionally been protected by statutes limiting a president’s removal power.

Legal observers say the ruling could extend well beyond the FTC, potentially affecting agencies such as the National Labor Relations Board and the Merit Systems Protection Board, whose members have likewise enjoyed statutory protections against dismissal.

During oral arguments, the Court’s liberal justices expressed concern that expanding presidential removal authority would undermine Congress’ longstanding goal of having politically independent experts oversee areas such as labor policy, consumer protection, and financial regulation.

The conservative majority, however, accepted the Trump administration’s position that the modern FTC exercises significant executive authority and therefore falls within the president’s constitutional power to direct and oversee the executive branch.

The ruling stands as one of the Court’s most consequential decisions on executive power in decades and marks another significant legal triumph for President Trump and his administration.

{Matzav.com}

The Boro Park community and the Gerer kehilla in New York are in mourning following the sudden petirah of Reb Pinchos Lieberman z”l, a widely respected askan and one of the veteran leaders of the chesed organization Bonei Olam. Reb Pinchos suffered a sudden cardiac event and was niftar at the age of 52.

The heartbreaking news spread Monday morning, leaving family members, friends, and countless community members in shock. Known for his tireless dedication to helping others, Reb Pinchos was regarded as one of the most prominent askanim in the Gerer community of Boro Park.

Reb Pinchos was born in London to Reb Reuven Yitzchok Lieberman, one of the distinguished Gerer chassidim in the British capital. Upon his marriage, he wed the daughter of Reb Michel Enden z”l.

For decades, Reb Pinchos was a familiar and beloved presence in Boro Park. He maintained close relationships with the neighborhood’s admorim and was admired for his warm smile, pleasant demeanor, and genuine kindness toward everyone he encountered.

Friends describe him as the embodiment of chesed, quoting the expression, “Shaif ail v’shaif nafik v’lo machzik tivusa l’nafshei“—one who tirelessly toils for others without seeking recognition or credit for himself. Quiet and humble by nature, he devoted himself to helping those in need while avoiding the spotlight.

His contributions to Bonei Olam were especially significant. As one of the organization’s veteran askanim, he played an active and energetic role in countless fundraising campaigns and initiatives, helping bring hope and joy to families facing infertility and other challenges.

His colleagues at Bonei Olam were devastated by the news.

“With broken hearts and bowed heads, we are forced to announce the sudden passing of one of our own, one of the veteran pillars among the askanim of Bonei Olam,” his friends wrote in a heartfelt tribute. “The sun set at midday. He was taken from us in an instant. His radiant smile and his warm, generous heart will be sorely missed in every future campaign and undertaking. Ovad chassid min ha’aretz.”

The levayah is scheduled to take place today at 5:00 p.m. at the Gerer bais medrash, located at 5310 18th Avenue in Brooklyn.

Yehi zichro baruch.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz declared Monday that Israel has no intention of pulling back from additional positions in southern Lebanon, insisting that the IDF will remain in place until Hezbollah is fully stripped of its weapons. He also revealed new details about U.S.-Israeli coordination, President Donald Trump’s role in shaping policy, and Israel’s preparations for the possibility of renewed war with Iran.

Reviewing the security situation on Israel’s northern border, Katz said the military has already completed the withdrawals it intends to make and that no additional territory will be relinquished beyond the two pilot areas already established.

“People should not hold their breath wondering where the next place Israel will withdraw from in Lebanon will be-because it will not happen until Hezbollah is disarmed. We have no territorial ambitions in Lebanon, but until Hezbollah lays down its weapons, we will not withdraw even one millimeter.”

Katz also discussed last Friday’s meeting at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv with Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, saying the two agreed on Israel’s continued military posture across several fronts.

“I agreed with him that the IDF will not withdraw from the three security zones-in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza.”

According to Katz, Hezbollah entered the conflict under intense pressure from Iran in an effort to reshape the strategic balance with Israel. He said U.S. diplomatic priorities later influenced Israel’s operational approach.

“When President Trump linked Iran and Lebanon, we stopped bringing down buildings in Beirut. Linking the two arenas is an American interest, and those are the constraints of our partnership with the United States. Had Lebanon not been linked to Iran, Hezbollah would have collapsed. We therefore moved to Plan B-expanding the Yellow Line security zone in southern Lebanon.”

Katz disclosed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump held five phone conversations before the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding was finalized. While he participated in the first four discussions, he said the fifth call proved decisive.

“I wasn’t present for the fifth conversation, and the President applied pressure that ultimately resulted in linking the two arenas. From that moment on, civilians returned to southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah also reinforced its presence in the south.”

He also described how Israel ultimately approved the Beaufort military operation after additional consultations between senior leaders when an overnight meeting failed to produce agreement on launching a broader ground offensive. According to Katz, Washington was notified beforehand.

“There were concerns about friction with the United States, but they understood and accepted it.”

Despite international scrutiny, Katz said the campaign in southern Lebanon remains far from complete, with additional Hezbollah infrastructure still slated for destruction.

“We still have tunnels to destroy and demolish-for example, in the Beaufort Ridge, where we will use 500 tons of explosives, just as we destroyed the tunnels in Majdal Zoun overnight. The IDF captured the Ali a-Taher Ridge because of the tunnel threat, but there is no decision to capture Nabatieh. That would require mobilizing additional full divisions. Our objective is to demilitarize the entire Litani area of Hezbollah operatives and weapons.”

Describing conditions along the border, Katz said Hezbollah-controlled communities have been devastated during the fighting. He estimated that nearly every village in the central and western sectors has been destroyed, while roughly 73 percent of homes in the eastern sector have been demolished.

“The way to eliminate threats is to seize territory and destroy infrastructure,” he said.

He added that “200,000 residents of the Yellow Line have not returned to their homes and will not be returning. Warning fire will be used.”

Katz further argued that civilian life has effectively disappeared from those areas because of the war.

“the population is terror,” adding that thanks to the evacuation of civilians and the destruction of infrastructure, “the IDF is now operating in an area with no civilian population.”

While expressing hope that internal Lebanese forces may eventually capitalize on Hezbollah’s weakened position and dismantle the terrorist organization themselves, Katz stressed that Israel will continue occupying key security zones until Hezbollah is completely disarmed. He added that while the demand to remove Hezbollah from the Litani River area is geographic, the requirement that the organization surrender its weapons applies throughout all of Lebanon.

Turning to Iran, Katz warned that the current lull in fighting could end quickly and said Israel remains prepared for renewed conflict.

“There are two scenarios in which fighting will resume – a decision by President Donald Trump or Iranian missile fire. That could happen in two days.”

He said the IDF has already completed extensive preparations for independent military action against Iran, while making clear that Israel will not interfere with the diplomatic efforts currently being led by Washington.

“The IDF is preparing to operate independently in Iran under Operation Blue and White. The IDF is simply waiting for it. We have targets ready to strike in Iran, and the IDF is fully prepared and on alert, but we will not interfere with the President of the United States as he conducts his process with the Iranians.”

Katz argued that Iran’s long-term plans go well beyond missile attacks and include potential invasion scenarios, which he said reinforces Israel’s determination to maintain buffer zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza despite growing international pressure.

“Just the other day, a terrorist cell attempted to infiltrate communities in the Golan Heights, and the cell was neutralized thanks to the security zone,” he said.

Asked whether Israel had hoped to bring about the collapse of Iran’s ruling regime, Katz acknowledged that such an outcome was desired but ultimately did not occur.

“That was always an aspiration, and I wish it had happened. The Mossad did its job and prepared plans, but there were outside factors that did not act, and therefore it did not happen.”