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Members of the Degel Hatorah faction of Yahadut Hatorah met with Maran Rav Dov Landau, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, to explore potential solutions for the contentious Draft Law, according to sources.

Among those present at the meeting were MKs Moshe Gafni, Uri Maklev, and Yaakov Asher.

The meeting extended for nearly an hour and included not only the Draft Law but also recent developments about the expansion of the governing coalition.

Rav Landau inquired about the specifics of the Draft Law situation and its potential impact on the legislative efforts. The MKs provided him with a thorough update on the matter. The conversation later shifted to focus on the Har Habayis.

Rav Landau expressed his hope that National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s reduced influence, following the expected inclusion of Gideon Sa’ar’s party in the coalition, would help maintain the current status quo at the Har Habayis, which leading poskim have maintained it is assur to ascend.

Earlier, reports emerged indicating that Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu was considering replacing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant with MK Gideon Sa’ar, provided that Sa’ar agrees to join the coalition. Gallant has thus far resisted backing the proposed Draft Law, demanding that it gain the support of MK Benny Gantz in addition to the coalition’s approval.

A source within Yahadut Hatorah commented, “Gallant is the one standing in the way of any consensus on the Draft Law issue. His political interests are blocking us from reaching a mutually agreed-upon law, and he is also preventing the defense establishment from cooperating with the legislation that MK Yuli Edelstein is currently pushing forward. If Gallant is removed and Sa’ar takes over, we will finally be able to agree on a law that will halt the decrees targeting the Haredi community and the Torah world.”

A separate source from Agudas Yisrael emphasized, “In recent days, we have made it clear to Netanyahu that without a solution to the draft dilemma, the state budget will not pass. This message has reached the Prime Minister, and he has begun taking steps in that direction. Otherwise, his government will not survive.”

Sa’ar’s potential entry into the coalition could facilitate not only the passage of the Draft Law but also the advancement of other legislative priorities.

“Currently, Itamar Ben Gvir is blocking issues that are important to the chareidi community, such as the Rabbis Law,” said one source. “If Sa’ar joins the coalition, Ben Gvir’s obstruction will end, and we will be able to pass the laws that matter to us.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico rose slightly in August, authorities said Monday, ending a stretch of five straight months of declines and signaling that flows may be leveling off. The Border Patrol made 58,038 arrests on the Mexican border during the month, hovering near four-year lows but up 2.9% from 56,399 in July, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The total was in line with preliminary estimates. Troy Miller, acting CBP commissioner, said restrictions introduced in June to suspend asylum when illegal crossings hit certain thresholds showed the government will “deliver strong consequences for illegal entry.” A decline from an all-time high of 250,000 arrests in December, partly a result of more enforcement by Mexican authorities within their borders, is welcome news for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as they fend off Republican accusations that they allowed the border to spin out of control. “The Biden-Harris Administration has taken effective action, and Republican officials continue to do nothing,” said White House spokesperson Angelo Fernández Hernández. Many Republicans have criticized Biden for new and expanded pathways to legal entry, calling them a “shell game” to drive down illegal crossings. About 44,700 people entered the country legally from Mexico by making online appointments on an app called CBP One in August, bringing the total to about 813,000 since the app was introduced in January 2023. Additionally, nearly 530,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela have entered legally through airports by applying online with a financial sponsor. San Diego was again the busiest corridor for illegal crossings, followed closely by El Paso, Texas, and Tucson, Arizona. (AP)

During today’s White House press conference, Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre how many more assassination attempts need to be made against former President Donald Trump before the Biden-Harris Administration stops calling him a “threat.”

“It’s been two days since someone allegedly tried to kill Donald Trump again. And here you are, in the White House briefing room calling him a ‘cheat.’ How many more assassination attempts on Donald Trump until the President and the Vice President and you pick a different word than threat?!” Doocy asked.

 

KJP admonished Doocy for even asking the question.

“I actually completely disagree with the premise of your question; the question that you’re asking. It is also incredibly dangerous int he way that you’re asking it because American people are watching.”

Watch the clip below:

 

{Matzav.com}

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon expressed on “OutFront” Monday that former President Donald Trump needs to cease his actions that undermine democracy if he wishes to avoid being labeled as a threat to democracy by Democrats.

Regarding the second assassination attempt, Lemon remarked, “For Donald Trump and his folks to say, and JD Vance to say that it’s Democrats who are causing this, that’s an issue.”

He went on to say, “He’s called everyone who works in this building the enemy of the people. We had pipe bombs sent because he kept calling us the enemy of the people and that CNN was fake news. Crooked Joe, Crooked Hillary, Crooked Kamala, Comrade Kamala, Deranged Jack Smith, Birdbrain Nikki Haley, bloodbath if he’s not elected, there won’t be another election if he’s not elected, bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists, poisoning the blood of our country, destroying the blood of our country, which is something that was Hitleresque. Communists, marxists, fascists, left-leaning that live like vermin, sons of bitches to NBA players, shithole countries, Haiti was one and now he’s blaming Haitian immigrants were things, blood coming out of her wherever as he talked about Megan Kelly.”

Lemon concluded, “So if Donald Trump wants people, wants Kamala Harris and others to stop saying that he is a threat to democracy than he should stop threatening democracy. Perhaps he shouldn’t be overturning, trying to overturn elections, overthrow the government, and inciting insurrections if he doesn’t want people to be honest about what he is, who he is and what he’s doing.”

{Matzav.com}

At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing addressing the surge of hate crimes in the United States, Republican U.S. Senator John Kennedy blasted Arab American Institute Executive Director Maya Berry. Kennedy opened his questioning with a provocative statement: “You support Hamas, do you not?” This remark visibly stunned Berry, who responded by condemning Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization, adding, “You asking the executive director of the Arab American Institute that question very much puts the focus on the issue of hate in our country.” Undeterred, Kennedy escalated his line of questioning, asking, “You support Hezbollah, don’t you?” Berry firmly rejected the accusation, insisting that she opposes any organization that resorts to violence, including both Hamas and Hezbollah. She went on to express frustration, calling Kennedy’s approach “extraordinarily disappointing” and emblematic of the challenges faced by Arab and Muslim Americans. Despite her responses, Kennedy remained skeptical and concluded with a pointed remark: “You can’t bring yourself to say you don’t support UNRWA, you don’t support Hamas, you don’t support Hezbollah, and you don’t support Iran. You should hide your head in a bag.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Fox News reporter Peter Doocy and Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday clashed over the Biden administration’s labeling of former President Donald Trump as a “threat” to democracy. Doocy pressed Jean-Pierre on why the administration continues to refer to Trump as a “threat” while simultaneously calling for a cooling of political rhetoric. “It’s been only two days since somebody allegedly tried to kill Donald Trump again, and you’re here at the podium in the White House briefing room calling him a ‘threat,’” Doocy said. “How many more assassination attempts on Donald Trump until the president and the vice president and you pick a different word to describe Trump other than ‘threat’?” “I actually completely disagree with the premise of your question. The way that you’re asking it is incredibly dangerous because the American people are watching,” Jean-Pierre said. She noted the administration’s condemnation of political violence, citing their responses to events such as the January 6 Capitol attack and the assault on Paul Pelosi. Doocy continued, suggesting that calling Trump a “threat” might be interpreted literally by individuals who may act violently. Jean-Pierre defended the characterization, pointing to January 6 as a key example of the danger posed to democracy. “We’re using examples. Jan. 6, Peter, Jan. 6 — wait, Jan. 6. How many times do I — Jan. 6, 2021. That is a fact, what was reported, what happened on that day by some of your colleagues.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Marine Corps in a ceremony at the commandant’s headquarters on Monday presented their highest noncombat medal to the parents of Cpl. Spencer Collart, who died last year after his V-22 Osprey crashed in Australia. Collart, 21, survived the crash but went back into the burning aircraft to try to save the pilots, who were trapped. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith spoke with emotion in addressing the fallen Marine’s parents, Bart and Alexia Collart, who are from Arlington, Virginia. “You raised a Marine who in the final moments of his life thought not of himself but of this fellow Marines,” Smith said. “He didn’t stop to think of the fire or the danger.” During the ceremony, Smith, who is the Marine Corps’ top military officer, cried twice. The crash in August 2023 was one of four fatal accidents since 2022 that have drawn increased scrutiny of the Osprey, which flies both like a helicopter and an airplane. The Associated Press has reported on the mechanical and safety issues the program has faced, and there are multiple reviews underway to see if the complex aircraft has the resources needed to improve its reliability. Bart Collart called his son “one of the best knuckleheads you ever wanted to hang out with.” He said the pilots and Spencer “lost their lives while managing to save the lives of every Marine they were transporting,” and he credited the pilots with leveling out the Osprey before it hit the ground, to give the troops they were transporting a better chance of surviving. Collart’s Osprey was participating in an Australian military exercise when it ended up following too closely behind the lead aircraft and maneuvered to avoid it, ultimately putting it in an unrecoverable fall. Seconds after the Osprey hit the ground, the aircraft filled with smoke and flames. According to witness reports in the crash investigation. Collart, the crew chief, had been standing in the tunnel even as the aircraft was going down. Most of the 23 troops on board escaped out the back, including a commander who told investigators he saw Collart escape out a side door. A site team later found Collart’s tether — what he’d use to latch onto the Osprey to move around during flight — undamaged outside the aircraft. Collart escaped the burning aircraft “and immediately began ensuring the safety of the Marines around him,” Smith said. But Capt. Eleanor LeBeau and aircraft commander Maj. Tobin Lewis were still trapped inside, and Collart went back in to try to save them. Investigators believe he may have unbuckled Lewis from his restraints before he succumbed to the smoke and flames. One of the Marines who was riding in the back and survived is the son of Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Ben Watson, who most recently served as the commanding general of the First Marine Division. Watson attended the ceremony to honor Collart’s service. (AP)

House Speaker Mike Johnson will move ahead with a temporary spending bill that would prevent a partial government shutdown when the new budget year begins on Oct. 1, despite the headwinds that prompted him to pull the bill from consideration last week. The bill includes a requirement that people registering to vote must provide proof of citizenship, which has become a leading election-year priority for Republicans raising the specter of noncitizens voting in the U.S., even though it’s already illegal to do so and research has shown that such voting is rare. “I urge all of my colleagues to do what the overwhelming majority of the people of this country rightfully demand and deserve — prevent non-American citizens from voting in American elections,” Johnson said Tuesday. Johnson told reporters he was not ready to discuss an alternative plan to keep the government funded other than what will come before the House on Wednesday. “I’m not having any alternative conversations. That’s the play. It’s an important one. And I’m going to work around the clock to try and get it done,” Johnson said. The legislation faces an uphill climb in the House and has no chance in the Senate. The vast majority of Democrats oppose it, and some Republicans do, too, but for different reasons. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the only way to prevent a government shutdown was for both sides to work together on an agreement. He said the House vote announced by Johnson was doomed to fail. “The only thing that will accomplish is make clear that he’s running into a dead end,” Schumer said. “We must have a bipartisan plan instead.” The legislation would fund agencies at current levels while lawmakers work out their differences on a full-year spending agreement. Democrats, and some Republicans, are pushing for a short extension. A temporary fix would allow the current Congress to hammer out a final bill after the election and get it to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature. But Johnson and some of the more conservative members of his conference are pushing for a six-month extension in the hopes that Republican nominee Donald Trump will win the election and give them more leverage when crafting the full-year bill. Schumer said a six-month measure would shortchange the Pentagon and other government agencies that need more certainty about funding levels. “You simply cannot run the military with six-month stopgaps,” Schumer said. Johnson said last week that he was not giving up on his proposal just yet and would be working through the weekend to build support. He said ensuring that only U.S. citizens vote in federal elections is “the most pressing issue right now and we’re going to get this job done.” On Sunday, he traveled to Florida to meet with Trump, who had earlier seemingly encouraged a government shutdown if Republicans “don’t get assurances on Election Security.” Trump said on the social media platform Truth Social that they should not go forward with a stopgap bill without such assurances. The House approved a bill with the proof of citizenship mandate back in July. Some Republicans who view the issue as popular with their constituents have been pushing for another chance to show their support for the measure. Still, other Republicans are expected to vote no because […]

A heated debate has erupted on social media over recent changes made to the Wikipedia entry for Zionism, sparking accusations of historical revisionism.

Users on social media have over the past several 24 hours posted a comparison between the 2023 and 2024 versions of the Wikipedia page, with one user, Liv Lovisa, claiming that “history is being rewritten.”

Blake Flayton, a vocal commentator on Jewish and Israeli issues, responded to the post, calling the changes “egregious” and urging someone with expertise to edit the page to reflect what he considers to be a more accurate portrayal.

At the center of the debate are key changes in the language used to describe Zionism, the movement that called for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in what is now Israel.

The 2023 version of the page framed Zionism as a nationalist movement born in the 19th century that sought to secure Jewish self-determination. In contrast, the 2024 version of the entry introduces more charged terminology, describing Zionism as an “ethno-cultural nationalist” movement that engaged in “colonization of a land outside of Europe,” with a heightened focus on the resulting conflicts with Palestinian Arabs.

“Zionists wanted to create a Jewish state in Palestine with as much land, as many Jews, and as few Palestinian Arabs as possible,” it reads.

Wikipedia lets editors who have gained status on its platform make changes according to various guidelines, which usually ensure a balanced approach. It is unclear what led to the sudden change in the definition.

On its website, Wikipedia says the following on its policies: “Wikipedia has no central editorial board. Contributions are made by a large number of volunteers at their own discretion. Edits are neither the responsibility of the Wikimedia Foundation (the organization that hosts the site) nor of its staff, and edits will not generally be made in response to an email request.”

Critics, including Flayton, argue that the new language in the Zionism entry distorts the historical narrative, positioning Zionism in a more negative light by drawing parallels to colonialism and downplaying the movement’s core goal of creating a safe homeland for Jewish people.

The use of the term “colonization,” in particular, has been a flashpoint, as it evokes a political context that some feel misrepresents the motivations behind the establishment of Israel and overlooks the historical persecution faced by Jews that led to the Zionist movement.

Another Twitter pro-Israel voice, Hen Mazzig, wrote: “The new Wikipedia entry on Zionism isn’t just inaccurate, it’s downright antisemitic. It asserts that the origin of Ashkenazi Jews is ‘highly debated and enigmatic,’ echoing Khazar theory, the dangerous lie that Ashkenazi Jews are converts and not descendants of the Jews exiled from the Land of Israel.”

He added, “This theory is often weaponized to call Israelis ‘colonizers’ and thus dehumanize us. In fact, Jewish history of repeated exile and migration from Israel to Europe is incredibly well-documented, as are genetic studies linking our people to the Middle East. Any balanced article discussing Jewish genetics and Israel would mention that. @Wikipedia has become a hate site. I hope they’ll change course.”

The uproar underscores broader concerns about the influence of Wikipedia, one of the most visited websites in the world, and the potential for bias or misinterpretation regarding politically sensitive topics like Zionism. As a public, user-edited platform, Wikipedia is often subject to scrutiny, especially when it comes to contentious issues like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. With millions of readers relying on the site for information, changes to entries like these can have significant implications for public understanding of historical events and modern geopolitical debates. JNS

{Matzav.com}

In this episode of Inside the Agudah, Mr. Moshe Davis, Executive Vice President of Agudath Israel of Illinois, sits with Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger, Agudath Israel’s Director of Torah Initiatives, to discuss his work on behalf of the frum community.

R’ Moshe comes from three generations of community leaders. His grandfather, Rabbi Shlomo Davis, was one of the founders of Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland and Telshe High School, serving as a member of the hanhalah for over 50 years. R’ Yosef Davis, R’ Moshe’s father, came to Chicago in 1964 to learn in Telshe Chicago, establishing a lifelong association with the yeshiva. Along with the Telshe rosh yeshiva, Rav Avrohom Chaim Levin zt”l, R’ Yosef became one of the founders of Agudath Israel of Illinois, serving as its president in the early years.

Continuing the family legacy of community involvement, R’ Moshe has served on the boards of directors of many local organizations over the last 25 years, including the Midwest Region of Agudath Israel where he started as Founding Chairman, the Jewish Federation and Jewish United Fund and the Associated Talmud Torahs. Most recently, he volunteered as a co-president of JDBY-YTT, the largest Jewish day school in the Midwest, for over 12 years. He has been on the board of JDBY-YTT for over 20 years, currently serving as its Chairman of the Board.

Prior to joining the Agudah in official capacity as its Executive Vice President in February 2022, R’ Moshe worked as a licensed professional and business owner in the healthcare and real estate industries. R’ Moshe and his wife Chevie currently live in Chicago.

WATCH:

Last year had the worst decline in credible elections and parliamentary oversight in almost a half-century, driven by government intimidation, foreign interference, disinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence in campaigns, an organization promoting democracy said Tuesday. The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, or International IDEA, said election credibility is threatened by turnout dropping and results are increasingly being contested. One in three elections are being disputed in some way, it said. The organization with 35 member governments said the average percentage of the voting age population who actually cast ballots has declined from 65.2% in 2008 to 55.5% in 2023. “Elections remain the single best opportunity to end democratic backsliding and turn the tide in democracy’s favor,” said International IDEA’s Secretary-General, Kevin Casas-Zamora. “The success of democracy depends on many things, but it becomes utterly impossible if elections fail.” The Stockholm-based organization said its Global Report on the State of the Democracy, which measures democratic performance in 158 countries from 1975 till today, found that 47% of countries have experienced a decline in key democratic indicators over the past five years, marking the eighth consecutive year of global democratic backsliding. Globally, nearly 20% of elections between 2020 and 2024, one of the losing candidates or parties rejected the result, and elections were being decided by court appeals at the same rate. The report said 2023 was the worst year when it came to free and fair elections and parliamentary oversight. There were threats of foreign interference, disinformation and the use of artificial intelligence in campaigns. The declines span both traditionally strong democracies as well as fragile governments around the globe. In Africa, democratic performance has generally remained stable over the past five years, with notable declines in the Sahel, particularly in coup-affected Burkina Faso which is one of a growing list of West African countries where the military has taken power, accusing the elected governments of failing to keep their promises. IDEA noted that Burundi and Zambia have made notable improvements. As to Western Asia, over a third of countries performed poorly, while Europe has seen widespread declines in democratic aspects like the rule of law and civil liberties. However, progress have notably been reported in Montenegro and Latvia. The study noted that the Americas have mostly maintained stability, but countries like Guatemala,Peru and Uruguay have experienced declines, particularly in rule of law and civil liberties. Most countries in the Asia-Pacific region have seen minor declines or stability, with notable improvements in Fiji, the Maldives, and Thailand, the organization said. However, the declines were significant in Afghanistan where the Taliban have not been recognized by any country as the legitimate rulers since they seized power in 2021, and in Myanmar, where opposition to a military takeover has deteriorated to a civil war. (AP)

In a lengthy X post, Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance blasted Democrats and the media mob for using dangerous rhetoric when criticizing former President Donald Trump.

Vance says the Left is “out of control.”

 

“Here is what we know so far: Kamala Harris has said that ‘Democracy is on the line’ in her race against President Trump. The gunman agreed, and used the exact same phrase. He had a Kamala Harris bumper sticker on his truck,” he continued. “He was obsessed with Ukraine’s ‘fight for Democracy’ and absorbed many unhinged views about the Russia-Ukraine war. His name is Ryan Routh, and he donated 19 times to Democrat causes and zero to Republican ones.”

Vance continued:

How do you think the Democrats and their media allies would respond if a 19-time Republican donor tried to kill a Democratic official? It’s a question that answers itself. For years, Kamala Harris’s campaign surrogates have said things like “Trump has to be eliminated.” And how have their media allies responded to the second assassination attempt on Donald Trump in as many months?

NBC News called the attempted assassination a “golf club incident.” The LA Times told us “Trump Targeted at Golf Club.” The USA Today’s top of the fold headline is “Hope in America,” and they published a preposterous letter to the editor arguing that Trump “brings these assassination attempts on himself.” CNN’s Dana Bash–who just yesterday bizarrely accused me of inciting a bomb threat–said today that Harris campaign rhetoric didn’t motivate Routh even though he echoed their rhetoric explicitly.

PBS’s weekend show perfectly illustrates the double standard of Kamala Harris’s media friends. After spending 30 seconds on the second assassination attempt on President Trump, they then focused on the real danger: me and President Trump, who are, according to them, personally responsible for bomb threats against Springfield. Of course, I repeatedly condemend those threats. And reports today suggest they came from a foreign country, not–as the media suggested–a deranged Trump fan.

The double standard is breathtaking. Donald Trump and I are, by their account, directly responsible for bomb threats from foreign countries. Why? Because we had the audacity to repeat what residents told us about the problems in their town. Meanwhile, Harris allies call for Trump to be eliminated as the media publishes arguments that he deserved to be shot.

This seems like a double standard. But at a deep level, it is entirely consistent.

Read Vance’s full post below:

 

The mysterious explosions of pagers that rocked Lebanon and Syria today, leaving over 1,000 people injured, were beepers recently acquired by Hezbollah as a supposed security measure. In February, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah instructed members to abandon cellphone use, citing concerns that Israeli intelligence could track their communications. The shift to pagers was intended to enhance operational security. A Hezbollah official, speaking anonymously to The Associated Press, revealed that the exploded pagers were a new brand. However, the official declined to disclose how long they had been in use. Experts suggest that the pager explosions indicate a sophisticated, long-planned operation. Investigations point to a possible supply chain infiltration, where the pagers were rigged with explosives before being imported to Lebanon. “This level of sabotage requires meticulous planning and execution,” said a security analyst. “It’s likely that the perpetrators had access to the pagers during the manufacturing or distribution process.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Three kedoshei elyon had one common concept when it came to learning Torah – they were the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh (Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar 1696-1743) when he came to Eretz Yisroel; the Ramchal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto 1707-1746) when he lived in Padua, Italy;  and Hagaon, Harav Chaim Volozhiner, (1749-1821) the famous talmid of the Gaon of Vilna. They each had a yeshiva with ‘around-the-clock’ Torah learning, 24-hours a day, so that there would be no minute when the sound of Torah learning would not be heard in this world. The 24-hour period would be divided into shifts, and as one ended the next would begin. Torah-24 A “Torah-24” Center has been opened in Yerushalayim and the Nasi is Maran Sar Hatorah, Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l. Under ONE ROOF, from 6:00 am – 6:00 am, 10 kollelim fill successive learning shifts. Each kollel focuses on a specific area of in-depth Torah study. The “Torah-24” Kollelim include: Boker (Gemora), Yerushalmi, Bavli, Zeraim-Taharot, Dalet Chelkei Shulchan Aruch, Erev (Gemora), Chatzos- Zohar/Kabbolah, Erev Shabbos (Chumash / Medrash b’iyun).  Already there are 52 avreichim metzuyonim, and a large number of candidates are vying for the remaining slots in the kollelim. All the avreichim are required to take rigorous monthly tests. Endorsements & Letters Endorsements include Maranan Hagaonim shlit”a: Harav Gershon Edelstein, Harav Berel Povarsky, Harav Shimon Badani, Harav Dovid Cohen, Harav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Harav Chaim Feinstein, Harav Shimon Galai, Harav Shraga Shteinman. Letters of support-encouragement have been received from Maranan Hagaonim, shlit”a: Hamekubal Harav David Bazri, Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Elimelech Biderman, Hamekubal Harav Yaakov Meir Schechter, Harav Moishe Sternbuch, Harav Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss. For more “Torah-24” information click on: www.torah-24.com or call 718-766-5022

Sky News Arabic reported on Tuesday evening that the Israeli Mossad is believed to be responsible for the recent explosions involving Hezbollah terrorists’ communication devices in Lebanon.

The report claims that Mossad planted explosive materials inside the batteries of the devices, later triggering them by increasing the temperature within the batteries.

It was also mentioned that the explosive materials had been placed in the devices prior to their arrival in Hezbollah’s possession.

A Lebanese security source, speaking to Al-Jazeera, confirmed that the beepers were rigged with explosives in advance, before they were distributed to Hezbollah. According to this source, each explosive charge weighed no more than 20 grams. Hezbollah reportedly received the devices about five months ago.

Some of the Hezbollah members noticed their devices were overheating and discarded them before the explosions occurred. Security camera footage captured the detonation of the devices and the resulting injuries to Hezbollah personnel.

As of now, reports suggest that more than 4,000 Hezbollah members have been injured in the incident. A Hezbollah source stated, “Israel hacked into the organization’s communication devices and blew them up.” Following the explosions, Hezbollah leaders instructed their members to dispose of the devices.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A judge has rejected a bid by Mark Meadows, former chief of staff to President Donald Trump, to move his charges in Arizona’s fake elector case to federal court, marking the second time he has failed in trying to get his charges out of state court. In a decision Monday, U.S. District Judge John Tuchi said Meadows missed a deadline for asking for his charges to be moved to federal court, didn’t offer a good reason for doing so and failed to show that the allegations against him related to his official duties as chief of staff to the president. Meadows faces charges in Arizona and Georgia in what authorities allege was an illegal scheme to overturn the 2020 election results in Trump’s favor. He had unsuccessfully tried to move charges in the Georgia case last year. It’s unknown whether Meadows will appeal the decision. The Associated Press left phone and email messages for two of Meadows’ attorneys. While not a fake elector in Arizona, prosecutors said Meadows worked with other Trump campaign members to submit names of fake electors from Arizona and other states to Congress in a bid to keep Trump in office despite his November 2020 defeat. Meadows has pleaded not guilty to the charges in Arizona and Georgia. In 2020, Democrat Joe Biden won Arizona by 10,457 votes. The decision sends Meadows’ case back down to Maricopa County Superior Court. In both Arizona and Georgia, Meadows argued his charges should be moved to federal court because his actions were taken when he was a federal official working as Trump’s chief of staff and that he has immunity under the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution, which says federal law trumps state law. Arizona prosecutors said Meadows’ electioneering efforts weren’t part of his official duties at the White House. Meadows last year tried to get his Georgia charges moved but his request was rejected by a judge whose ruling was later affirmed by an appeals court. Meadows has since asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the ruling. The Arizona indictment says Meadows confided to a White House staff member in early November 2020 that Trump had lost the election. Prosecutors say Meadows also had arranged meetings and calls with state officials to discuss the fake elector conspiracy. Meadows and other defendants are seeking a dismissal of the Arizona case. Meadows’ attorneys said nothing their client is alleged to have done in Arizona was criminal. They said the indictment consists of allegations that he received messages from people trying to get ideas in front of Trump — or “seeking to inform Mr. Meadows about the strategy and status of various legal efforts by the president’s campaign.” In denying the former chief of staff’s request, Tuchi said Meadows wasn’t indicted for facilitating communications to and from the president or staying updated on what was going on in Trump’s campaign. “Instead, the State has indicted Mr. Meadows for allegedly orchestrating and participating in an illegal electioneering scheme,” the judge wrote. “Few, if any, of the State’s factual allegations even resemble the secretarial duties that Mr. Meadows maintains are the subject of the indictment.” In all, 18 Republicans were charged in late April in Arizona’s fake electors case. The defendants include 11 Republicans who had submitted a document falsely claiming […]

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended her choice to describe former President Donald Trump as a “threat” to democracy, specifically referencing his involvement in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. She raised her voice and repeated the date multiple times when addressing the notion that such language might be fueling attempts on Trump’s life.

Jean-Pierre strongly criticized Trump, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, by reiterating that he poses a danger to the democratic system. This came in response to a question from ABC News’ Selina Wang, who brought up Trump’s claim that the rhetoric against him was leading to efforts on his life, though Trump provided no evidence to support this assertion.

“President Biden has consistently been clear about the danger that the former president presents to our democracy,” Jean-Pierre stated. “He rejected the results of a legitimate election [in 2020] and incited 2,000 enraged individuals to go [to the US Capitol] in an effort to invalidate the outcome of a free and fair election.”

Jean-Pierre further emphasized that Trump’s criticisms wouldn’t deter the president or vice president from continuing to strongly speak out in defense of democracy. “We must be unwavering in our stance. We have to communicate this message with clarity,” she insisted.

The press briefing occurred just days after the arrest of 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, who was found near Trump’s West Palm Beach, Fla., golf course with a rifle. This came after a July 13 incident in Butler, Pa., where a bullet grazed Trump’s ear and a rally attendee lost their life.

Routh had posted on X in April, using a phrase identical to one Biden and Harris have employed against Trump, stating that “DEMOCRACY is on the ballot.”

Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy confronted Jean-Pierre, questioning the appropriateness of her comments. “Just two days after another attempted assassination of Donald Trump, you’re here calling him a threat. How many more times does someone need to try to kill Trump before you reconsider your use of the word ‘threat’?” he asked.

Jean-Pierre responded forcefully, saying, “I completely reject the foundation of your question. The way you framed it is dangerous, especially with the American public listening,” she said, visibly upset.

She continued, saying that suggesting her remarks were stoking violence was unfounded, particularly when the administration had been explicit in condemning political violence. “What I have said about the former president concerning January 6 is based on facts,” she insisted.

Doocy pushed further, questioning if there was any worry that unstable individuals might take the White House’s rhetoric literally and act on it by attempting to harm Trump. “We are using specific examples,” Jean-Pierre responded, standing by her use of the word “threat.”

“We’re not just throwing this term around lightly. January 6, Peter. January 6. Do I need to keep repeating it? — January 6, 2021! That is a factual event, as documented,” she emphasized. Jean-Pierre also reiterated that the administration has condemned political violence repeatedly.

She concluded with a warning, urging caution in how questions were being posed. “We have to be mindful of the way questions are framed. People are watching, and what you said about us elevating political violence is concerning. This administration stands firm in its commitment to denounce any form of violent or inflammatory rhetoric,” she concluded.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid met with former U.S. president Barack Obama in Washington on Monday, with the two political leaders discussing advancing a deal to return the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

“I met with former President Barack Obama at his office in Washington,” the head of the Yesh Atid party tweeted on Tuesday morning.

“I thanked him for his public support and his efforts to secure the return of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza. I told him that we all need to work together to ensure a deal that will bring the hostages home,” he wrote.

Lapid also visited the White House on Monday, meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to talk about the 101 hostages remaining in Gaza and a potential ceasefire agreement to secure their release after nearly a year of captivity.

He was also scheduled to meet on Monday with South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham during his D.C. diplomatic swing. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Likud MK Dan Illouz and Religious Zionist MK Tzvi Sukkot sent a letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu last week demanding the urgent cancellation of the gas agreement between Israel and Lebanon signed by the previous government in 2022 under then interim prime minister Yair Lapid. In their letter, they emphasized that “in light of the daily attacks on Israel from Lebanon since October 7, there is no longer any justification for maintaining the existing agreement.” The MKs noted that along with many other politicians, they warned of the severe possible repercussions at the time of the signing of the deal – that it will be seen as a sign of weakness and invite further attacks. They compared the current situation to previous withdrawals, like the retreat from Lebanon in 2000 and the Disengagement from the Gaza Strip in 2005, warning that the agreement with Lebanon will lead to similar results – an escalation and reduced security. “Since October 7, tens of thousands of Israeli citizens have been living under the constant threat of rockets and missiles from Lebanon, and many have been forced to abandon their homes,” they noted in their letter. They also highlighted the danger of funneling money to Lebanon, which is de facto controlled by Hezbollah, stating that any such funds will further empower Hezbollah’s capabilities to enhance its terror infrastructure and prepare for further confrontations with Israel. In conclusion, they urged the government to act to revoke the agreement. “The call for the revocation of the deal does not stem from a loss of control or a desire for revenge but from a deep understanding of the reality of the Middle East and the necessity to act accordingly,” they wrote. Illouz told Maariv: “The gas deal with Lebanon is essentially a reward for a country controlled by Hezbollah, the terrorist organization responsible for continous attacks on Israeli citizens since October 7.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Iran continues to deceive the international community about the scope and aims of its nuclear activities, Israel Atomic Energy Commission director general Moshe Edri told attendees at the annual meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria on Tuesday.

“There is no doubt that Iran conducted a military nuclear program aimed to produce several nuclear-weapon devices. Iran continues to advance this program by gaining relevant technology and knowledge, along with fissile material in alarming amounts,” Edri said in a speech.

The Israeli official noted that despite repeated resolutions by the IAEA’s board of governors in recent months, Tehran has “continuously failed to provide technically credible explanations regarding these activities, and continues to deceive the Agency and the international community.”

The possibility of a nuclear-armed Islamic Republic is “not an option that Israel, or the world, can, or should tolerate,” he stated, noting that Iran continues to “develop, test and deploy” long-range ballistic missiles that it could utilize for a widespread nuclear attack on the Jewish state.

Meanwhile, the Syrian regime has “followed the footsteps of its close ally,” pretending to cooperate with the IAEA, “while not admitting the full facts and not providing true answers” regarding its clandestine reactor in the Deir Al-Zour region of eastern Syria, according to Israel.

The international community should “stand behind the IAEA” as it seeks to receive “clear, full explanations” on this from Damascus “once and for all,” Edri stated, echoing similar remarks made at the summit in 2022.

In his comments on Tuesday to the conference, Edri also noted the attacks launched on Israel by Iran and its regional terror proxies over the past months, some of which, he said, have “openly targeted” nuclear facilities.

The national task of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission “is to guarantee the safety and security of our nuclear facilities that are openly targeted by Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran—even more so since Oct. 7,” Edri said, in reference to the Hamas-led cross-border massacre of more than 1,200 people in the northwestern Negev.

“Israel continues to demonstrate its responsible behavior in this regard and continues to take all necessary precautions to ensure that these facilities are operated according to the highest international safety and security standards to withstand these threats as required,” he added.

Iran has continued to ramp up enrichment in recent months, while arguing that its nuclear program is strictly peaceful. Tehran’s stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium has increased by at least 20.6 kilograms (45.5 pounds) since February, AFP reported on May 27, citing an IAEA report.

The confidential document, which was also seen by the Associated Press, revealed that Tehran had accumulated 142.1 kilograms (313.2 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60%. This level of enrichment is just a technical step from 90% enrichment, considered weapons grade.

According to the IAEA definition, it is technically possible to create an atomic bomb with roughly 42 kilograms (92.5 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% if the material is further enriched to 90%.

Iran has recently threatened a push towards the weapon of mass destruction. On May 9, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that Iran would weaponize its nuclear program if Israel “threatens its existence.”

Also in May, a lawmaker close to the Iranian regime suggested that the regime might already possess an atomic bomb, saying: “In my opinion, we have achieved nuclear weapons, but we do not announce it.”

An expansion underway at the Fordow enrichment plant could allow Iran to accumulate several bombs’ worth of nuclear fuel every month, The Washington Post reported in June, citing confidential documents.

While Tehran has restricted the IAEA’s ability to monitor its nuclear program, inspectors witnessed technicians installing advanced IR-6 centrifuges, per a confidential file shared with the agency’s members.

(JNS)