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Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu is considering holding the Likud party’s next primary election through a secure digital voting system, driven largely by concerns that a deteriorating security situation could disrupt traditional in-person voting.

According to a report Tuesday evening by Kan News, Netanyahu was impressed by the Democratic Party’s recent digital primary process, which reportedly featured robust security measures and exceptionally high voter participation.

While the possibility of a security escalation is the primary factor behind the proposal, those close to Netanyahu believe digital voting offers additional long-term advantages that could make it attractive even under normal circumstances.

Among the most significant benefits cited are the potential to save the party millions of shekels and to reduce the influence of organized pressure groups that traditionally wield considerable power at physical polling stations.

The leading advocate for the initiative is Likud Acting Director-General David Sharan, who discussed the concept during a radio interview earlier Tuesday.

At this stage, Netanyahu has reportedly presented the idea only as a contingency plan in the event of a serious security emergency. However, people close to him believe the proposal could eventually become a realistic option even if the security situation remains stable.

Earlier this week, the Likud Party Tribunal rejected efforts to create a mechanism that would allow the primaries to be canceled in the event of an emergency.

The tribunal ruled that the primary election must proceed as scheduled, declaring, “Likud is not a party of one man, and it will lose its vitality if it becomes one. There is no room to open even the smallest door in advance to canceling the primaries.”

[Video below.] A Canadian lawmaker has become an online sensation after unintentionally reading artificial intelligence editing instructions aloud during a speech before his province’s legislature, turning what was meant to be a routine address into an embarrassing viral moment.

Bill Oliver, a Progressive Conservative member of New Brunswick’s Legislative Assembly, delivered the speech on June 9, but the incident has only recently begun attracting widespread attention after viewers noticed that portions of his prepared remarks included unrevised AI-generated prompts.

Rather than skipping over the editing instructions, Oliver read them verbatim, telling the assembly, “Here’s a more natural flowing version of that section that reads like a legislative speech rather than a series of short points.”

The mistake did not end there. As he continued speaking, Oliver twice more read internal AI instructions that apparently had been left in his speech draft.

During the address, he also said, “This version should … here’s a more developed and flowing version of the section” before later reading another unfinished prompt: “This section ends roughly …”

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{Matzav.com}

Former Rishon LeTzion Rav Shlomo Moshe Amar delivered an in-depth shiur on the halachos of the Beis Hamikdash, arguing that the halachic prohibition against ascending Har HaBayis remains firmly in place because the precise boundaries of the sacred areas cannot be determined with certainty today.

Rav Amar visited Yeshivas Shuvei Nafshi in Yerushalayim, headed by the mekubal Rav Azriel Mansour, where he delivered an extensive shiur on the laws of the Beis Habechirah.

During the shiur, Rav Amar examined the question of whether korbanos could theoretically be offered in the absence of the Beis Hamikdash, before turning to what he described as the grave prohibition against ascending Har HaBayis in contemporary times.

The Rishon LeTzion challenged those who claim that the exact measurements and permitted areas of Har HaBayis are known well enough to allow visitors to enter without violating halachah.

Among the proofs he cited was the Rambam’s ruling in perek 2 of Hilchos Beis Habechirah, which states that during the construction of the Second Beis Hamikdash, the testimony of Chananiah, Mishael, and Azariah was needed to establish the precise location and dimensions of the mizbeiach. Rav Amar noted that this was so even though many elders who had lived through the destruction of the First Beis Hamikdash were still alive and could seemingly have identified the location themselves.

According to Rav Amar, this demonstrates the extraordinary precision required in determining the sanctified areas of Har HaBayis and underscores why contemporary claims of certainty regarding its exact boundaries cannot be relied upon.

The shiur was attended by the roshei yeshiva and rabbanim of Yeshivas Shuvei Nafshi, including Rav Azriel Mansour; Rav Shlomo Tam; Rav Nesanel Mansour; Rav Yehuda Maaravi, head of the Kollel Hora’ah; and Rav Boaz Yochanan, head of the Kollel Dayanus.

[Video below.] Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, delivered a blistering rebuke to the UN Security Council on Tuesday, condemning demands that Israel permit additional dual-use materials into Gaza and declaring that Israel will not enable Hamas to rebuild its terrorist infrastructure.

Addressing a tense Security Council meeting, Danon accused the international community of failing to confront Hamas and said Israel has concluded that it must eliminate the terror group’s military capabilities on its own.

Danon argued that Israel has met every obligation placed upon it, while Hamas has repeatedly rejected opportunities to lay down its weapons and has remained committed to terrorism.

“Israel will not wait forever,” Danon said. “We understand that if we do not disarm Hamas, no one else will.”

Expanding on his remarks, Danon said the international community had spent months hoping Hamas would change course, but those expectations had proven futile. He emphasized that Israel alone bears the responsibility of defending its citizens from the terrorist organization.

“For months, the world waited for Hamas to change. It did not change. It refused to disarm, rejected every proposal, and continued to choose terrorism,” he said. “Israel understands what others still refuse to acknowledge: no one will disarm Hamas on our behalf. The responsibility rests with us, and we will fulfill it. Hamas will be disarmed so that it can no longer threaten the citizens of Israel or the future of the region.”

Much of the Security Council debate centered on calls by several member states for Israel to ease restrictions on the entry of dual-use goods into the Gaza Strip—materials that can be used for both civilian and military purposes.

Danon forcefully rejected those demands, arguing that Hamas has a long history of diverting civilian supplies to build rockets, tunnels, and other terrorist infrastructure.

“The hypocrisy of some members of this Council is beyond comprehension,” he said. “You demand that Israel allow materials into Gaza that Hamas turns into rockets and tunnels, and then express surprise that it continues to rearm itself. Hamas itself has boasted about turning water pipes into missiles. Israel will not serve as a supplier of raw materials to a terrorist organization. As long as Hamas controls Gaza, we will not allow it to rearm, nor will we provide it with the tools for the next massacre.”

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{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Fox News host Sean Hannity paid an emotional tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham during the senator’s funeral, remembering him as a passionate advocate for peace and one of Israel’s most loyal allies while forcefully rejecting accusations that he favored war.

Speaking during a memorial segment, Hannity said Graham’s unwavering support for Israel and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu defined much of his public life, insisting critics had completely misunderstood his worldview.

Dismissing the notion that Graham was a warmonger, Hannity declared that “he loved peace, Israel, and Benjamin Netanyahu.”

He went on to praise Graham’s deep affection for the Jewish state, saying, “He loved the State of Israel. He loved the people of Israel,” and added that Graham “desperately wanted a lasting peace in the Middle East.”

Hannity described Graham as a devoted friend of Israel whose commitment to the country and its people never wavered, portraying that support as one of the senator’s enduring legacies.

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{Matzav.com}

A man carrying a hammer entered the grounds of a Jewish day camp in Queens on Tuesday, triggering a frightening incident that ended with a child suffering a minor injury before a security guard subdued the intruder and turned him over to police.

The incident occurred at Ohr Avner Day Camp, located at the Jewish Institute of Queens (JIQ) in Elmhurst, New York. Camp officials informed parents of the incident in a detailed letter sent Tuesday, emphasizing that staff members acted quickly to protect campers and that authorities believe the episode was random rather than a targeted attack.

According to the camp, the individual, who “appeared to be mentally unwell,” entered the camp property and walked into the front yard, where children were playing under staff supervision. He then lay down on the ground and asked for a drink of water.

Camp staff immediately approached him to offer assistance while simultaneously ensuring that campers remained supervised and out of danger, the letter stated.

A staff member soon noticed that the man had a hammer lying beside him. The counselor calmly asked the individual to hand over the hammer, and he complied without incident.

Moments later, as campers were leaving the building to board buses for a scheduled trip, the situation suddenly escalated.

According to the camp, the man unexpectedly got up and attempted to enter the building, pushing his way through several children. During the commotion, one camper was knocked into a fence and sustained what the camp described as a minor injury. The child received immediate medical attention.

The camp credited its building security officer, Anthony, with preventing the situation from becoming far more serious.

“As the individual attempted to enter the building, our building security officer, Anthony, who was at his post, immediately intervened,” the letter stated. “With remarkable courage, professionalism, and presence of mind, Anthony restrained the individual and held him until the NYPD arrived and took him into custody, preventing any further harm.”

Camp administrators praised Anthony’s “heroic actions,” saying they “undoubtedly helped to prevent what could have been a far more serious situation until law enforcement arrived.”

The camp also commended its counselors and staff members, saying they remained with the children throughout the incident, acted quickly and calmly, and helped keep campers safe.

Ohr Avner stressed that, based on everything known so far, “this was a completely random incident” and that there is “absolutely no indication that our camp, our campers, or our staff were specifically targeted.”

The New York City Police Department confirmed that officers arrested the suspect and said that investigators are examining the incident as bias-related while continuing to determine a motive. Police said the man entered the camp, behaved erratically, and, while leaving the area, bumped into a child, who suffered minor lacerations to the head after striking a fence.

Camp officials acknowledged that many children witnessed portions of the incident but said the overwhelming majority were doing well afterward.

Recognizing that some campers may nevertheless be shaken, the camp said it has already consulted mental health professionals for guidance and will continue monitoring the emotional well-being of every child. Families were encouraged to speak with their children about what they experienced and to contact the camp if additional support is needed.

“The safety and security of our campers and staff remain our highest priority,” the camp stated, adding that administrators are reviewing the incident and evaluating whether additional security measures should be implemented.

The camp concluded by expressing gratitude to Hashem for protecting the camp and thanking the staff for their calm and decisive response.

“We thank Hashem for watching over our camp today and are profoundly grateful for the calm, courageous, and decisive actions of our staff, whose dedication ensured that our campers remained as safe as possible throughout the incident.”

{Matzav.com}