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The leadership of the Association of Hesder Yeshivas has issued a formal letter to heads of Hesder institutions across Israel, reiterating its opposition to mixed-gender combat service and clarifying its position regarding the enlistment of Hesder students into the IDF’s Armored Corps.

In the letter, members of the association’s council explained that following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the issue, they have been actively engaged in efforts aimed at preventing situations in which female combat soldiers serve alongside male soldiers committed to observing halacha.

The council said these initiatives have been coordinated with a broad spectrum of rabbinic leaders from the religious Zionist community, including roshei yeshiva of advanced Torah institutions and rabbanim who lead pre-military academies representing various segments of the national-religious public.

They noted that numerous discussions have been held in recent weeks, during which they consistently conveyed their belief that men and women serving together in frontline maneuvering combat units is incompatible with the religious commitments of soldiers who adhere to halacha.

Council members also stated that they remain in ongoing communication with senior IDF officials in an effort to create a framework that would allow observant soldiers to serve in the Armored Corps while maintaining their religious standards.

“We will make every effort to enable the enlistment of our students into the Armored Corps in the upcoming draft without harming their values,” they wrote.

The rabbis further sought to distance themselves from reports circulated in recent days, stressing that a letter publicized in the media concerning enlistment to the Armored Corps did not originate from the council and does not reflect its official position.

“The letter that appeared in the media in recent days regarding enlistment to the Armored Corps is not a letter from the council,” adding that the publication of such a letter contradicts their position.

The statement bore the signatures of the roshei yeshiva who serve on the Council of the Association of Hesder Yeshivas.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told a visiting group of Christian leaders that their backing of Israel is rooted in faith and biblical principles, not political considerations, as they gathered in Jerusalem for a conference dedicated to confronting rising antisemitism.

Addressing members of the International Christian Embassy during the emergency gathering, Huckabee emphasized that Christian support for the Jewish state is based on Scripture and God’s covenant with the Jewish people.

“The reason we stand with Israel is not political, but because of God’s promise to Abraham,” Huckabee said during remarks to members of the International Christian Embassy who are in Israel for an emergency conference focused on combating antisemitism.

Huckabee also highlighted Israel’s remarkable ability to withstand repeated threats from adversaries that vastly outnumber it in both population and military resources.

“The amazing thing is that a tiny, tiny country of 10 million people wins over and over again when its existence is threatened by those who have 10 times the population, many times the military budget. And yet, it not only survives. It thrives,” he said.

He attributed that success to what he described as a divine promise dating back nearly four millennia.

“So what’s the secret? The secret is that 3,800 years ago, God said to Abraham, I’m going to create a people. And you are him. And I’m going to put you where you belong, and I’m going to give you a purpose,” Huckabee added.

Responding to reports alleging hostility toward Christians in Israel, Huckabee said his own decades of experience in the country have painted a very different picture.

“I have been visiting this country for 53 years. I cannot think of a warmer welcome I could have received, not just from the government officials, but from the people on the streets and everywhere I go in this country,” he said.

Huckabee said he continues to be struck by the friendliness and acceptance he encounters throughout Israel despite being open about his evangelical Christian beliefs.

“I am amazed at the reception that people show me, knowing full well that I am an evangelical Christian who believes in the Bible. It does not offend people,” Huckabee added.

{Matzav.com}

Emergency crews and hazardous materials specialists were called to Yerushalayim’s Mekor Baruch neighborhood after four young children suddenly became ill, with initial concerns that exposure to a dangerous substance may have been involved.

The incident prompted a response from Israel Fire and Rescue Services after reports were received that several children had suffered dizziness and lost consciousness. A specialized hazardous materials monitoring team was dispatched to the scene to investigate the possibility that toxic substances may have played a role.

The four children—a one-year-old boy, a one-year-old girl, a three-year-old boy, and a three-year-old girl—were transported to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center after experiencing weakness and other symptoms.

Firefighters conducted tests inside the building where the incident occurred in an effort to determine whether any hazardous materials were present. Authorities said the circumstances surrounding the episode remain under investigation.

Hadassah Medical Center later reported that the children consist of two pairs of siblings, with each pair including a one-year-old and a three-year-old child. According to the hospital, the children had been playing in a garden near their residence before becoming ill.

Hospital officials said the children arrived at the pediatric emergency department exhibiting drowsiness, weakness, and signs of lethargy. Medical and nursing staff immediately began a series of examinations to determine the cause of their condition.

Doctors said all four children are now fully conscious and are being accompanied by their parents. They will remain hospitalized for observation while testing continues.

Magen David Adom said it first received a call at 5:52 p.m. reporting that two children had become ill near a residential building in the Mekor Baruch neighborhood. A second call was received at 6:39 p.m. reporting that two additional children at the same location were experiencing similar symptoms.

Paramedics treated the children at the scene before transporting all four to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital. Authorities have not yet determined what caused the children to become ill, and the investigation remains ongoing.

{Matzav.com}

Francesca Albanese, a United Nations investigator who has frequently been accused of anti-Israel bias, is facing widespread condemnation after responding dismissively to the mother of a young woman murdered in Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

The controversy erupted after Sonja Bohl-Dencker, whose daughter was killed during the massacre, described feeling intense hostility toward Israel while attending an event in Berlin honoring Albanese. Her remarks drew attention in Germany and beyond, prompting a response from the UN official that quickly sparked outrage.

Bohl-Dencker’s daughter, Carolin Bohl, a 22-year-old German fashion student and model, was among those murdered by Hamas terrorists during the assault on Kibbutz Nir Oz.

In an interview with the German newspaper Die Welt, Bohl-Dencker recounted attending a film screening in Berlin in March at which Albanese was the central guest. She described the atmosphere at the gathering as deeply unsettling.

“I have never been in a room where I felt so much hatred,” Bohl-Dencker said. “Everywhere keffiyehs, terrible slogans and sheer hatred against everything connected with Israel.”

After a social media post highlighted the grieving mother’s comments, Albanese replied with a brief message that immediately ignited criticism: “Change medication.”

The remark attracted even greater scrutiny because of legal filings connected to Albanese’s own challenge against sanctions imposed by the United States. According to court documents submitted in that case, Albanese and members of her family sought medical treatment for conditions they said were brought on by the stress of the sanctions. The filings state that Albanese was treated for gastric ulcers, while her husband suffered from insomnia and severe anxiety.

Albanese has long been a polarizing figure because of statements critics say demonstrate a pattern of hostility toward Israel. Among the incidents drawing criticism were remarks delivered at an Al Jazeera conference that prompted rebukes from several European Union foreign ministers.

“The fact that instead of stopping Israel, most of the world has armed, given Israel political excuses, political sheltering, economic and financial support … We who do not control large amounts of financial capitals, algorithms and weapons, we now see that we as a humanity have a common enemy.”

Following the backlash, Albanese denied that she had characterized Israel as humanity’s common enemy.

She later stated that she “never, ever, ever said ‘Israel is the common enemy of humanity,'” and described the allegations against her as “completely false accusations.”

Questions surrounding Albanese’s views on Israel have persisted for years. Critics frequently point to social media posts uncovered in 2022 in which she asserted that the “Jewish lobby” exerts control over the United States.

At the time, Albanese rejected claims that her comments about the “Jewish lobby” were antisemitic, arguing that they had been “mischaracterized.” Nevertheless, controversy surrounding her statements about Israel has continued.

Since the Hamas massacre of October 7, Albanese’s comments have drawn even greater attention. She argued that the attack should be understood within a broader “context” and portrayed it as a reaction to Israeli “aggression.”

Earlier this year, Albanese again provoked criticism when she accused Israel of systematically abusing Palestinians.

In late March, Albanese claimed that the world has given Israel “a license to torture Palestinians,” alleging that “torture has effectively become state policy” in Israel.

{Matzav.com}