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New York City residents receiving food stamps will soon be eligible for additional money to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, with Mayor Zohran Mamdani announcing a 40% increase in the city’s Health Bucks incentive program beginning in January 2027.

Under the expanded program, New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be able to receive up to $14 per day in additional purchasing incentives when shopping for fresh produce at participating farmers markets and farm stands, compared with the current daily maximum of $10.

The increase represents an additional $4 per day in potential benefits for eligible shoppers, allowing families struggling with rising grocery prices to stretch their food assistance dollars further.

The change does not increase recipients’ regular federal SNAP allotments. Instead, it expands a separate New York City program that rewards food stamp recipients for purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables from qualifying vendors.

Health Bucks provides a $2 coupon for every $2 in SNAP benefits spent at participating farmers markets, effectively matching eligible purchases dollar for dollar up to the daily limit.

Beginning in January, a recipient who spends $14 in SNAP benefits on qualifying purchases can earn an additional $14 in Health Bucks coupons, providing a combined $28 in purchasing power for fresh produce.

The coupons can be redeemed at more than 100 participating farmers markets and farm stands throughout the five boroughs.

City officials estimate that the expanded program will distribute nearly $2.3 million in Health Bucks to SNAP recipients during 2027, while also providing additional business to local farmers and produce vendors.

“Every day, New Yorkers walk into a store hoping prices haven’t gone up again,” Mamdani said in announcing the initiative. “As food insecurity rises, far too many families are forced to skip the fruits and vegetables.”

The mayor said the additional assistance is intended to make nutritious foods more affordable while supporting neighborhood markets and agricultural vendors serving New York City residents.

Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga said the cost of fresh produce has become an increasing obstacle for families already struggling to afford basic groceries.

“Purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables should not be considered a luxury, they should fit every family’s budget,” Arteaga said.

She added that many New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity report difficulty obtaining sufficient fruits and vegetables, even though those foods are important components of a healthy diet.

City Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin similarly emphasized the financial challenges that can prevent families from following recommended nutritional guidelines.

“Many chronic diseases, including heart disease, are linked to your diet. But knowing that eating more fruits and vegetables is good for you and being able to afford them are two different things,” Martin said.

The administration cited recent findings from the New York City Health Department indicating that nearly 80% of adults considered at risk of food insecurity experienced difficulty affording balanced meals.

The research also found that 18% of those surveyed had not eaten any fruits or vegetables the previous day, while nearly one-third had received food assistance from emergency services, including food pantries.

Officials said programs that provide financial incentives for purchasing produce have been associated with increased fruit and vegetable consumption and improved food security among lower-income households.

The Health Bucks initiative is supported by city funding and $5.7 million in new grant funding through the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, a federal initiative designed to encourage SNAP recipients to purchase healthier foods.

In addition to providing matching coupons for purchases made with SNAP benefits, the city’s Health Department works with community organizations and faith-based groups to distribute Health Bucks to residents participating in nutrition education and other health-related activities.

Those distributions can also benefit eligible residents who are not enrolled in SNAP, although the newly announced increase specifically concerns the daily matching incentive available to SNAP participants.

The program has operated for more than two decades, with the city distributing over $20 million in Health Bucks since its establishment in 2005.

The latest expansion comes as Mamdani pursues a broader effort to address grocery affordability in New York City.

Earlier this year, the mayor identified La Marqueta in East Harlem as the first planned location for his administration’s municipal grocery store initiative, which aims to establish a city-backed grocery store in each of the five boroughs before the end of his first term.

For SNAP recipients seeking to take advantage of the expanded Health Bucks program, the additional incentives will become available in January 2027 at participating farmers markets and farm stands. Regular supermarkets and grocery stores are not included in the matching program unless they operate an eligible participating market or stand.

Israel has completed extensive military preparations for a possible new confrontation with Iran, with its armed forces reportedly ready for both offensive operations and defensive measures as President Donald Trump considers whether to authorize another round of strikes against Tehran.

According to a report today night by Ynet military correspondent Yossi Yehoshua, Israel’s political and military leadership has reached an advanced state of readiness for renewed hostilities. However, the ultimate decision on whether and when to launch an operation is expected to come from the White House rather than Yerushalayim.

Trump is reportedly weighing two principal options: continuing diplomatic negotiations in pursuit of an agreement with Iran on terms more favorable to Washington, or resuming military operations in coordination with Israel, backed by an expanded American military presence in the Middle East.

The preparations come amid a substantial buildup of U.S. military assets in the region, including additional air defense systems, transport aircraft, naval forces and combat aircraft.

During the past week, 10 American military transport planes reportedly landed in Israel as part of an operation to deliver equipment and supplies and strengthen regional military capabilities.

The United States is also transferring another Patriot air defense battery from a military installation in Texas to Israel, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. The deployment is intended to strengthen Israel’s defenses against possible Iranian missile attacks in the event of renewed fighting.

The additional Patriot system would supplement Israel’s existing multilayered air defense network, which includes the Arrow, David’s Sling and Iron Dome systems. Together, the systems are designed to intercept a range of aerial threats, although their capabilities differ depending on the type and trajectory of incoming missiles.

American forces are also reportedly being repositioned away from certain bases considered especially vulnerable to retaliation by Iran or Iranian-backed militias, including facilities in Iraq and Syria.

The military buildup is reportedly intended to provide Washington with the capability to conduct a concentrated campaign against Iran while reducing the exposure of American personnel and regional allies to retaliatory attacks.

Foreign media reports have also described unusual Israeli Air Force exercises in recent weeks, involving dozens of fighter jets and aerial refueling aircraft flying routes across Syria and Iraq toward the Iranian border before returning to Israel.

According to those reports, the exercises were coordinated in advance with American officials and were intended to demonstrate Israel’s ability to conduct long-range operations against Iranian targets.

Israeli defense officials reportedly believe that the country’s military performance during Operation Roaring Lion, including its ability to operate in Iranian airspace and intercept incoming attacks, has strengthened its position ahead of any future confrontation.

At the same time, Israeli and American planners are said to be replenishing ammunition supplies and preparing additional aircraft for possible deployment.

Another American aircraft carrier strike group, accompanied by Marine forces, is reportedly expected to arrive in the region next month, joining approximately 20 U.S. naval vessels already operating in Middle Eastern waters.

Despite the extensive preparations, questions remain about the strategic objectives of a renewed campaign, including what military achievements would constitute success and what conditions would bring the fighting to an end.

According to the Associated Press, American diplomatic and defense officials have privately warned several Gulf countries to prepare for the possibility of renewed strikes against Iran following the November 3 U.S. midterm elections.

Two diplomats familiar with the discussions said the warnings included the possibility of Iranian retaliation against neighboring countries, particularly those hosting American military installations or other strategic facilities.

The diplomats emphasized that Trump has not yet made a final decision, although he has repeatedly suggested that additional military action could follow the elections.

American officials have reportedly advised regional governments to take precautions against possible Iranian attacks targeting energy installations and other critical infrastructure. Although Washington has discussed the possibility of a relatively short military campaign lasting several days, regional governments fear that Iranian retaliation could prolong the fighting.

The White House and other American officials declined to comment on the diplomatic warnings.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon’s senior regional commander, Admiral Brad Cooper, recently briefed Trump at the White House on military developments and available options concerning Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine also participated in the discussions.

Diplomatic efforts are continuing alongside the military preparations. Reuters reported today that Iranian representatives met with Qatari mediators in Doha following lengthy discussions in Tehran, as regional governments attempt to prevent another major escalation.

Qatar has reportedly presented a proposal intended to establish confidence-building measures between Washington and Tehran, but Iranian officials rejected the suggested terms as inadequate.

An Iranian official involved in the negotiations characterized the Qatari initiative as a collection of unacceptable ideas rather than a formal proposal.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has maintained that Tehran remains willing to pursue diplomacy, although Iranian officials continue to reject the conditions being advanced through intermediaries.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said today that Trump has not decided whether to resume military operations and would prefer a diplomatic solution, while emphasizing that the United States remains prepared to use military force if necessary.

Iran has simultaneously issued increasingly forceful warnings about the consequences of another American or Israeli attack.

A statement attributed to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned that Tehran would respond immediately to renewed military action and would determine the course and conclusion of any subsequent confrontation.

Iranian officials have also raised the possibility of targeting undersea communications cables in the Strait of Hormuz, a move that could disrupt internet connectivity and commercial activity across parts of the Persian Gulf.

The warnings come as both sides continue preparing for the possibility that diplomatic efforts will fail, leaving Trump to determine whether the next stage of the confrontation with Iran will unfold through negotiations or renewed military action.

Two people were killed in separate accidents in southern Israel on Shabbos, including a man in his 30s who died after his vehicle slammed into a utility pole in Be’er Sheva and a hiker who was reportedly struck by a vehicle driven by a family member in the Negev.

The fatal crash in Be’er Sheva occurred on Rechov Cheil HaHandasa shortly after 8:25 p.m., when a private vehicle collided with a pole, leaving the driver trapped inside the badly damaged car.

Israel’s Fire and Rescue Services received an emergency call at 8:29 p.m., just one minute after Magen David Adom dispatchers were notified of the collision at 8:28 p.m.

Firefighters from the Be’er Sheva station rushed to the scene and began a complicated extrication operation, using specialized rescue equipment to free the driver from the wreckage.

MDA emergency medical personnel who arrived at the scene found the approximately 30-year-old driver unconscious, without a pulse and not breathing. Despite efforts to assist him, his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

MDA emergency medical technicians Bat-El Ilayev and Aya Peretz described the horrific conditions they encountered.

“This was an extremely serious accident. When we arrived at the scene, we saw a vehicle that had crashed into a pole, with a man approximately 30 years old trapped inside, without a pulse and not breathing. He was extricated from the vehicle, and we performed medical examinations, but unfortunately his injuries were too severe, and we were forced to pronounce him dead at the scene,” they said.

ZAKA 360 volunteers Omri Alturi and Hamouda Abu Yahya were also dispatched to the crash site to assist with the aftermath.

“This was a very serious accident involving a driver approximately 30 years old whose vehicle struck a pole, leaving him trapped inside,” the volunteers said. “Fire and rescue personnel extricated him, and medical teams evacuated him while performing resuscitation efforts. He was subsequently pronounced dead. We are working at the scene to collect the findings.”

Firefighters continued searching the damaged vehicle and the surrounding area after the driver was removed, checking for the possibility that additional people had been involved or trapped in the wreckage.

Earlier on Shabbos, a separate fatal accident occurred near Nachal Kedarot in the Negev, where a hiker was struck and killed by a vehicle.

According to a report by Ynet, investigators suspect that the vehicle was being driven by a female relative of the victim, who may have struck him accidentally.

The Har Hanegev Rescue Unit was dispatched to the remote area, and a military helicopter assisted in recovering the victim. An IDF physician who arrived at the scene pronounced him dead.

Traffic investigators from the Negev District of the Israel Police opened an investigation into the circumstances of the incident, including how the vehicle came to strike the hiker.

The two fatalities add to a series of serious traffic accidents reported across Israel in recent days.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Minister Orit Strock pushed back tonight against accusations that she had attempted to recruit members of Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party to support Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, explaining that her telephone call to a newly elected lawmaker was simply an attempt to congratulate a longtime friend on her election to the Knesset.

The controversy erupted after Yashar accused senior figures associated with Netanyahu’s political camp of contacting its members in an apparent effort to persuade them to abandon Eisenkot as competing factions maneuver to assemble a governing majority following last week’s election.

Strock, a member of the Religious Zionism party, acknowledged making a call but rejected the suggestion that it had anything to do with coalition negotiations or political defections.

“Good week. I plead guilty!” Strock wrote in a social media post. “I called Tal this evening. Tal Ohana, my good friend. To congratulate her on entering the Knesset.”

Strock explained that she and Ohana have worked together on efforts to rehabilitate communities along Israel’s northern border, an initiative that has brought them into regular contact.

“We work together on the rehabilitation of the northern border communities. Just last Sunday, we corresponded about the new group being formed to strengthen Even Menachem,” she wrote.

The minister said her relationship with Ohana was personal and longstanding, and that she had simply wanted to share in her friend’s happiness following the election.

“I love and greatly appreciate Tal, and I wanted to share in her joy. Tal didn’t answer, but I’m sure she’ll call me back. I’m certain that nothing straight or crooked will destroy the strong friendship between us,” Strock added, making a play on the name of Eisenkot’s Yashar party, which means “straight” in Hebrew.

Her explanation followed another sharply worded statement from Yashar, which accused Netanyahu’s associates of attempting to contact its members while publicly denying any such efforts.

“Whoever sent Shlomi Fogel to negotiate with Hamas and denied it, whoever sent Miki Zohar to negotiate with Mansour Abbas and denied it, whoever insists on employing a Qatari agent in his office and denies it, whoever lost on October 27 and denies it, sends emissaries to Yashar! and denies it. You know exactly how it works,” the party alleged.

The statement continued, “By the way, since Yashar!’s last statement to the media, Orit Strock has also called. A reminder to drink cold water even on an autumn evening. Good week.”

Earlier tonight, Eisenkot’s party had specifically accused several Likud figures, including Yoav Kisch, Yaakov Bardugo and Almog Cohen, of making calls to its members.

“In recent hours, there has been noticeable hysteria in Likud, including phone calls to members of Yashar! from ministers and incoming Knesset members, including Almog Cohen, Yoav Kisch, Yaakov Bardugo and others,” the party declared.

Yashar added, “The entire public sees your panic over the defeat. We are committed to implementing the public’s decision and establishing a Zionist government that will serve all Israeli men and women.”

Bardugo rejected the allegations, stating, “I did not contact anyone from Eisenkot’s party.”

Cohen issued a considerably sharper response, directing his criticism at Eisenkot adviser Ronen Manelis.

“Manelis, we can smell your fear all the way to Ofakim,” Cohen wrote on X. “Are you already making sure that your party members remain loyal to the Muslim Brotherhood?! Maybe you should have them sign a declaration of loyalty to the supreme leader?”

Addressing the accusation itself, Cohen added, “As for the matter itself, I have not spoken to anyone from the Crooked Party. Pure fake news.”

Likud also dismissed the accusations, declaring, “Gadi and Manelis are under pressure because their plans to cooperate with parties that support terrorism are being disrupted.”

The exchange comes amid intense political maneuvering following Israel’s October 27 election, which left Netanyahu’s existing coalition with 53 Knesset seats and the principal opposition bloc with 48, neither sufficient to secure the 61-seat majority needed to govern.

Eisenkot has outlined four principles that prospective coalition partners would be required to accept, while discussions continue over possible arrangements that could allow him to establish a government without the support of Netanyahu’s bloc.

One proposal being explored by figures in the opposition involves securing the cooperation of United Torah Judaism, potentially through an agreement under which the chareidi party would abstain during a confidence vote on a new government.

Such an arrangement could reduce Netanyahu’s bloc to 46 seats while increasing the number of lawmakers aligned with or prepared to facilitate Eisenkot’s government to 55.

United Torah Judaism’s reported demands include an agreed-upon military draft law and legislation protecting the status of yeshiva students, issues that remain central to the negotiations over Israel’s next government.

{Matzav.com}

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A heartbreaking tragedy has struck the family of an Israeli man murdered in a terrorist attack in Egypt three years ago, with his widow, Mor Shamli, passing away at just 35 after years of profound emotional suffering following the killing of her husband before her eyes.

Mor was the wife of Alon Shamli Hy”d, who was shot dead by an Egyptian police officer during an attack on Israeli tourists in Alexandria on October 8, 2023, just one day after Hamas launched its devastating massacre in southern Israel.

According to her family, Mor never recovered emotionally from the horrific experience of witnessing her husband’s murder and being forced to remain beside him as he lay critically wounded, waiting desperately for medical assistance.

Relatives described the years following the attack as a period of unbearable grief and psychological trauma, saying that although Mor survived the shooting physically, the experience shattered her life.

The attack occurred at Pompey’s Pillar, a popular tourist attraction in Alexandria, where a group of Israeli visitors had been touring when an Egyptian police officer suddenly opened fire at close range.

Alon Shamli, 34, was among those killed, along with fellow Israeli tourists Amnon Bezalel, 64, and Chagai Efrat, 83, as well as Egyptian tour guide Sayed Kamal al-Khawalka.

Mor was standing near her husband when the shooting began. In the chaotic aftermath, she remained beside him as he lay bleeding, reportedly waiting nearly an hour before help arrived.

Her ordeal continued after she was taken to a local hospital in Egypt, where she reportedly waited approximately 12 hours before receiving official confirmation that her husband had died.

The circumstances of the attack, the prolonged uncertainty and the loss of her husband left Mor struggling with severe emotional trauma that continued long after she returned to Israel.

Her parents, Ilan and Shoshi Cohen, described the devastating toll the tragedy had taken on their daughter, saying she was never able to regain the life she had known before that terrible day.

Family members said Mor frequently described herself as feeling alive physically but dead inside, as though a part of her had remained forever at the site of the attack in Alexandria.

“The soul was murdered there in Egypt,” relatives said, describing the depth of the emotional wounds she carried.

Despite her suffering, Mor devoted considerable effort to preserving the memory of her husband, who had been a well-known and beloved sports coach and educator.

Alon was remembered by those who knew him as a dedicated professional who had made a meaningful impact on the young people he worked with. Mor’s efforts to commemorate his life became an important part of her own existence in the years following his murder.

Her uncle, Nachum Yisraeli, published an emotional farewell in which he described the tragedy as having claimed not only Alon’s life but, in a different and deeply painful way, Mor’s as well.

“For three years now, you have been gone. You have had no peace, you have not been present, you have not been yourself. Now, there is peace for you. You died back then, three years ago! When that bullet pierced the heart of your beloved Alon, it pierced yours as well. But now there is peace for you,” he wrote.

Yisraeli described the renewed anguish of a family that had already endured an unimaginable loss and was now confronting another devastating death.

“A huge crack opened in all our hearts three years ago, and now it has grown, widened and deepened. But at least now there is peace for you. We remain here to lick our wounds, mend the broken pieces and hold on to life. And if only now, at least, there is peace for you. Give us a sign so we will know: Is there peace for you now? Mor Shamli, my beloved niece.”

Mor’s passing has brought renewed attention to the lasting psychological suffering experienced by survivors and relatives of terror victims, whose lives can remain profoundly affected long after the initial attack.

The family is now mourning both Alon, whose life was taken in the Alexandria shooting, and Mor, whose final years were marked by the devastating aftermath of that loss.

{Matzav.com}

Americans will gain an extra hour of sleep overnight as daylight saving time comes to an end, with clocks officially turning back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, November 1.

At precisely 2 a.m., clocks will move backward to 1 a.m., marking the return to standard time across most of the United States. The change means that Sunday morning will arrive with an additional hour, although the sun will begin setting noticeably earlier in the afternoon.

For residents of New York, New Jersey and most other states, the time change will mean brighter mornings and darker evenings as the country moves into the winter months.

Most smartphones, computers and other internet-connected devices will adjust automatically. However, traditional clocks, watches, ovens, microwaves and some vehicle clocks will need to be reset manually.

The time change is particularly relevant for those who have early morning schedules, as sunrise will occur approximately one hour earlier by the clock. At the same time, sunset will also shift an hour earlier, bringing darkness sooner in the late afternoon.

For the frum community, the return to standard time will also affect daily zmanim, including the clock times for Shacharis, Minchah, Maariv and Shabbos candle lighting. While the actual position of the sun does not change because of the clock adjustment, the times displayed on calendars and schedules will move back by approximately one hour.

The change does not apply everywhere. Hawaii and most of Arizona remain on standard time throughout the year, as do several U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Under federal law, daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. The current schedule has been in place since 2007, following legislation that extended daylight saving time by several weeks.

The twice-yearly clock adjustment has remained controversial, with lawmakers repeatedly proposing legislation to eliminate the practice. In July, the House of Representatives approved legislation to make daylight saving time permanent, but the proposal has not secured the necessary support in the Senate.

President Donald Trump has also advocated ending the seasonal clock changes, arguing that Americans should no longer have to adjust their clocks twice a year. However, the existing system remains in effect.

Health experts have warned that even a one-hour time adjustment can temporarily disrupt sleep patterns and daily routines. Although the autumn change provides an additional hour overnight, some people may experience fatigue or difficulty adjusting to the earlier onset of darkness.

Standard time will remain in effect until Sunday, March 14, 2027, when clocks will move forward one hour at 2 a.m., returning the country to daylight saving time.

{Matzav.com}

Luxembourg is moving ahead with legislation that would prohibit the import and sale of products manufactured in Jewish communities in Yehuda and Shomron, pursuing a national boycott despite the fact that its annual trade with those communities amounts to only a few thousand euros.

The small European country, home to approximately 700,000 residents, is advancing the restrictions independently rather than waiting for agreement among European Union member states, according to a report by Ynet.

The Luxembourg government recently approved an amendment to its foreign trade legislation that would permit authorities to impose import restrictions under exceptional circumstances. A separate bill specifically targeting commercial activity involving Jewish communities in Yehuda and Shomron has also been submitted to parliament.

Neither legislative process had been completed as of the end of October, meaning the proposed prohibition has not yet taken effect.

Economic estimates cited in the report place Luxembourg’s annual direct trade with businesses in Yehuda and Shomron at approximately €10,000 to €15,000, equivalent to roughly $11,500 to $17,500. The limited volume of commerce means the proposed ban would have little immediate economic impact, but would deliver a significant political message.

The initiative comes amid growing efforts by individual European governments to impose restrictions on Israeli commerce following the failure of broader sanctions proposals to secure sufficient support within the European Union.

Earlier attempts by the European Commission to suspend certain trade benefits enjoyed by Israel encountered opposition from member states, preventing the measures from obtaining the necessary approval in the EU Council.

Luxembourg is therefore pursuing its own legislative approach, following the example of the Netherlands, which introduced a similar import prohibition in September.

Under existing EU trade arrangements, goods produced in Jewish communities beyond the 1967 lines are already excluded from preferential tariff treatment under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Luxembourg’s proposed legislation would go considerably further by banning the importation and sale of the products altogether.

The Netherlands’ restrictions, which took effect on September 22, prohibit not only imports but also the purchase, sale and brokering of goods originating in the affected communities. Dutch customs authorities have confirmed that the rules also apply to products carried in travelers’ luggage or ordered online.

Luxembourg’s initiative represents another deterioration in its diplomatic relationship with Israel, a country it historically supported. The grand duchy voted in favor of the United Nations partition plan in 1947 and hosted the signing of the 1952 reparations agreement between Israel and West Germany.

Relations became increasingly strained during the tenure of former Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, who frequently criticized Israeli government policies.

His successor, Xavier Bettel, initially adopted a more conciliatory approach toward Israel. Bettel visited the country following the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre and publicly challenged Palestinian narratives surrounding the conflict.

However, Luxembourg’s position hardened as the war continued, culminating in its formal recognition of a Palestinian state in September 2025. At the time, the government also condemned the Hamas atrocities of October 7 and affirmed Israel’s right to security.

The proposed trade restrictions would mark another step in that policy shift, with Luxembourg joining a growing number of European countries seeking to apply direct economic pressure on Jewish communities in Yehuda and Shomron, even where the commercial consequences are negligible.

Violent demonstrations erupted across parts of Germany and France over the weekend, with masked protesters setting barricades ablaze, hurling projectiles at police and turning major city streets into scenes of confrontation. In the French city of Lyon, footage circulating online appeared to show demonstrators burning Israeli and American flags.

The unrest was reported in Hamburg, Paris and Lyon, where demonstrations over military conscription, economic pressures and other political grievances escalated into clashes with security forces.

In Hamburg, a protest march involving young demonstrators ended in disorder after groups of masked individuals erected makeshift barricades in the streets and set them on fire. Videos shared on social media showed burning plastic barriers blocking roadways as fireworks and stones were thrown toward police officers.

German police reportedly responded with crowd-control measures, including pepper spray and water cannons, as they attempted to disperse the rioters and restore order.

The Hamburg demonstration was part of a broader protest movement operating under the name “Gen Z regelt,” which organized activities in more than 30 German cities. Participants voiced opposition to military conscription and demanded greater government spending on education, measures to address rising living costs and stronger action on climate policy.

The demonstrations reflect mounting dissatisfaction among some young Germans over the prospect of expanded military service, as the country debates how to strengthen its armed forces amid continuing security concerns across Europe.

In France, serious disturbances were also reported following a cost-of-living demonstration in Paris. Groups of rioters allegedly threw Molotov cocktails and fireworks toward lines of police officers equipped with protective shields.

Footage from the French capital showed flames spreading across sections of roadway, thick smoke rising above the streets and demonstrators positioning objects to serve as makeshift barriers.

Separate videos reportedly recorded in central Lyon showed protesters setting Israeli and American flags on fire, adding an anti-Israel and anti-American dimension to the scenes of unrest.

The German demonstrations come against the backdrop of a growing youth protest movement opposing the expansion of military service. Germany’s military reforms have generated widespread resistance among students, with previous nationwide strikes drawing tens of thousands of participants. Under the revised system, young men are required to complete military-service questionnaires, and provisions allow for additional compulsory measures if voluntary recruitment fails to meet staffing needs.

The broader movement has also drawn attention to education funding, housing affordability and economic conditions, with youth-led protests spreading across several European countries in recent weeks.

In France, dissatisfaction over living costs has fueled demonstrations, particularly among younger protesters demanding government action on household expenses and economic inequality. The latest reported clashes in Paris follow weeks of heightened protest activity across the country.

The reported burning of Israeli and American flags in Lyon introduced an additional political element to the weekend’s demonstrations. The footage circulated as European authorities continue confronting tensions surrounding Israel, American foreign policy and the war in the Middle East.

Authorities had not provided a confirmed combined total of arrests or injuries from the reported weekend disturbances in Hamburg, Paris and Lyon as of tonight. The precise circumstances surrounding some of the videos circulating online also remained independently unverified.

A disturbing antisemitic incident in Stockholm, Sweden, has drawn condemnation after signs declaring a shoe store a “Jew-Free Zone” were displayed at its entrance, invoking language associated with Nazi Germany and the persecution of European Jewry.

Photographs circulating from the Swedish capital show a sign bearing the English words “Jew-Free Zone” alongside a Magen Dovid. A second sign displayed nearby featured a map of Israel accompanied by the words “Apartheid-Free Zone.”

The signs prompted an angry response from Sacha Roytman, CEO of the Combat Antisemitism Movement, who warned that openly discriminatory messages targeting Jews were once again appearing in European public spaces.

“Europe, 2026. Have we learned nothing from history?” Roytman asked, drawing attention to the historical significance of the terminology used on the storefront.

He pointed to the Nazi expression “Judenfrei,” a German term meaning free of Jews, which was used during the Holocaust to describe locations from which Jewish populations had been expelled or murdered.

“81 years after the defeat of Nazi Germany, we are seeing this language displayed in the storefront of a European shop,” Roytman said.

The Combat Antisemitism Movement leader argued that the placement of the two signs together demonstrated how hostility toward Israel was being used to legitimize explicit discrimination against Jews.

“This is what happens when hatred of Israel becomes a justification for openly targeting Jews. These signs are not criticism of Israel; they are the normalization of Nazi antisemitism under the guise of political activism,” Roytman declared.

However, additional reporting has revealed an important detail about the incident: The “Jew-Free Zone” sign was reportedly placed on the storefront by Dan Park, a controversial Swedish street artist, rather than by the store’s owner. The business had displayed the separate “Apartheid-Free Zone” sign, and Park said his addition was intended as a provocative interpretation of its message.

Park has previously attracted controversy over artwork incorporating Nazi imagery. In 2009, he was arrested following an installation outside the Jewish community building in Malmö that included a swastika and a reference to Zyklon B, the poison used in Nazi gas chambers.

According to Swedish media coverage cited by Ynet, Park has denied being antisemitic or racist, maintaining that his work is intended to provoke thought and challenge prevailing attitudes. Following the public backlash, the shoe store’s owner reportedly removed both signs.

Israel’s ambassador to Sweden, Tammy Rahamimoff-Honig, also condemned the episode, saying that regardless of whether the second sign was intended to expose antisemitism in the first, the controversy demonstrated how normalized anti-Jewish hostility had become.

Roytman, meanwhile, challenged Swedish political leaders to respond more forcefully to antisemitism, arguing that Europe’s commitment to preventing a return to the hatred of the Nazi era was being tested.

“Where are Sweden’s political leaders? Where are those who preach tolerance to the world? Europe once promised ‘Never Again,’ and here we are, watching this language return to the streets. History does not repeat itself by accident, but because too many people choose to look away,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Mordechai Dov Kreshinsky zt”l, longtime rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Maayan HaTalmud in Yerushalayim. He was 91 years old.

Rav Kreshinsky was niftar on Leil Shabbos Parshas Vayeira at Hadassah Hospital on Har Hatzofim in Yerushalayim, where he had been hospitalized. His petirah brings to a close a lifetime devoted to harbotzas haTorah, chinuch and the development of generations of bnei Torah.

Born in Yerushalayim to his father, Rav Shalom Hillel Tzvi Kreshinsky z”l, the future rosh yeshiva was raised in an atmosphere steeped in Torah and yiras Shomayim. As a young child, he attended the renowned Eitz Chaim Talmud Torah in Yerushalayim, where he established the foundations of his lifelong dedication to Torah learning.

Upon reaching his teenage years, he entered the Chevron Yeshiva, becoming attached to the great roshei yeshiva and Torah personalities of the previous generation.

Among the figures who had the greatest influence on his development was the legendary mashgiach, Rav Eliyahu Lopian zt”l. Rav Kreshinsky was counted among Rav Lopian’s close and devoted talmidim, absorbing from his rebbi an approach to Torah study, avodas hatefillah and the constant refinement of middos.

When he reached marriageable age, Rav Kreshinsky married his rebbetzin, the daughter of Rav Yitzchok Eliezer Shub zt”l. Together, they established a home centered on Torah and dedicated to the needs of Klal Yisroel.

Throughout his life, Rav Kreshinsky invested extraordinary energy in strengthening Torah education and building institutions that would serve the growing Torah community in Yerushalayim.

He was among the founders of Talmud Torah HaMesorah, one of the early chadorim established for the broader community of bnei Torah in which instruction was conducted in Lashon Hakodesh. The institution became an important part of the developing chinuch infrastructure for Torah families in Yerushalayim.

Approximately 45 years ago, Rav Kreshinsky established Yeshivas Maayan HaTalmud, a yeshiva in Yerushalayim that would become his life’s central undertaking.

From its earliest days, he devoted himself to every aspect of the yeshiva‘s development, assuming responsibility for both its spiritual direction and its practical needs. His dedication extended far beyond delivering shiurim or overseeing the daily seder hayeshiva.

Rav Kreshinsky was known for his deeply personal concern for each talmid, taking an active interest in the growth and development of the young bochurim entrusted to his care. He worked tirelessly to instill within them a genuine love of Torah, strong foundations in learning and a lasting sense of yiras Shomayim.

Over the decades, thousands of talmidim passed through the doors of Maayan HaTalmud, many going on to become accomplished bnei Torah and respected members of Torah communities throughout Eretz Yisroel and beyond.

His approach to chinuch reflected the teachings he had absorbed from Rav Eliyahu Lopian, particularly the importance of developing refined middos and a deep commitment to avodas Hashem alongside excellence in Torah learning.

Even as he advanced in years, Rav Kreshinsky remained closely identified with the yeshiva he had founded, which stood as a testament to his decades of dedication to the next generation of bnei Torah.

He is survived by his rebbetzin, children and grandchildren who continue along the path of Torah and yiras Shomayim that he exemplified throughout his life.

The levayah took place on Motzoei Shabbos at the Ahavas Torah Bais Medrash in Yerushalayim. The procession continued past Yeshivas Maayan HaTalmud at 9 Givat Moshe Street before proceeding to Har Hamenuchos, where the rosh yeshiva was laid to rest.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

A political confrontation erupted in Israel on Motzoei Shabbos after Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party accused senior Likud figures and Netanyahu allies of contacting its newly elected Knesset members in an apparent effort to persuade them to defect, allegations that two of the individuals named immediately rejected.

The accusations come as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Eisenkot compete to assemble a governing majority following Tuesday’s inconclusive election, with neither political camp holding the 61 seats necessary to form a coalition.

In a statement issued tonight, Yashar alleged that several prominent figures associated with Likud, including Education Minister Yoav Kisch, incoming MK Yaakov Bardugo and MK Almog Cohen, had approached members of Eisenkot’s party in recent days.

“In recent hours, there has been noticeable hysteria in Likud, including phone calls to members of Yashar! from ministers and incoming Knesset members, including Almog Cohen, Yoav Kisch, Yaakov Bardugo and others,” the party declared.

Eisenkot’s party suggested that the alleged outreach reflected an effort to weaken its parliamentary representation and strengthen Netanyahu’s prospects of remaining prime minister.

“The entire public sees your panic over the defeat. We are committed to implementing the public’s decision and establishing a Zionist government that will serve all Israeli men and women,” the statement continued.

The allegations quickly drew denials from two of the figures specifically identified by Yashar.

Bardugo, a prominent political commentator who was elected to the Knesset on Likud’s list, rejected the accusation when contacted by Channel 12 political correspondent Amit Segal.

“I did not contact anyone from Eisenkot’s party,” Bardugo stated.

Cohen responded even more aggressively, directing his criticism at Eisenkot’s political adviser and campaign strategist Ronen Manelis.

“We can smell your fear all the way to Ofakim. Are you already making sure that your party members remain loyal to the Muslim Brotherhood?! Maybe you should have them sign a declaration of loyalty to the supreme leader?” Cohen wrote.

Addressing the allegation directly, Cohen added, “As for the matter itself, I have not spoken to anyone from the Crooked Party. Pure fake news.”

Likud subsequently issued its own response, accusing Eisenkot and Manelis of attempting to divert attention from their plans to cooperate with Arab political factions.

“Gadi and Manelis are under pressure because their plans to cooperate with parties that support terrorism are being disrupted,” the party declared.

The dispute unfolded as Eisenkot outlined four principles that prospective coalition partners would have to accept, including recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization and a requirement for national service. He also announced plans to use the opposition’s parliamentary strength to advance legislation and potentially replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.

Additional reporting indicated that Religious Zionism Minister Orit Strock had also contacted a member of Eisenkot’s party. Strock acknowledged calling Tal Ohana but said the purpose was to congratulate him, rather than persuade him to defect.

The accusations come amid continuing disagreements within the anti-Netanyahu camp over coalition strategy. Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman have yet to commit to supporting Eisenkot for prime minister, while opposition parties remain divided over whom to nominate as the next Knesset speaker.

President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to begin consultations with party representatives on Wednesday as the process of selecting a candidate to form Israel’s next government gets underway.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli defense officials believe another military confrontation with Iran is now more likely than a diplomatic agreement, with the IDF having completed extensive preparations for renewed fighting as negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain deadlocked.

According to a report by Ynet on Motzoei Shabbos, Israel’s military is maintaining an exceptionally high level of readiness for both offensive operations and defensive measures, although the decision to launch another campaign is expected to depend primarily on President Donald Trump.

A senior Israeli official described the deteriorating diplomatic outlook, saying, “It seems we are heading more toward war than toward an agreement.”

Israeli officials are closely watching Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections, which they believe could influence Trump’s calculations regarding military action. One assessment circulating in Yerushalayim suggests that a political setback for the president could increase the likelihood of a military operation intended to demonstrate American strength.

Israeli political and defense leaders have also examined the possibility of attacking Iranian infrastructure, including energy facilities, as part of a broader effort to weaken the regime and potentially accelerate its collapse.

Military planners are reportedly preparing for the possibility that another confrontation would last considerably longer than previous rounds of fighting, rather than ending after several days of airstrikes.

Despite the preparations, diplomatic efforts remain underway. Qatar has been attempting to negotiate an arrangement under which Iran would agree to restrictions on its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States would ease sanctions, lift restrictions on Iranian ports and release Iranian assets frozen in Western countries.

A Qatari delegation has already held discussions in Tehran, and mediators remain in contact with American officials in an effort to narrow the differences between the two sides.

However, Israeli officials familiar with the negotiations say there has been little meaningful progress, with Tehran showing no indication that it is prepared to make the concessions necessary for an agreement.

One Israeli source said neither Washington nor Tehran is eager for another war, while Gulf countries are particularly anxious to avoid a renewed regional confrontation.

“But there is no choice,” the official said. “Because the negotiations are stuck, especially now. Someone will have to compromise, and the Iranians are not moving toward a compromise.”

Israeli security officials are also considering the possibility that Iran could attempt to strike first, launching an attack before the United States and Israel have an opportunity to carry out their own military operation.

“If all the conditions align, there will be an attack, if only to accelerate the fall of the regime or the negotiations,” the Israeli official assessed.

Meanwhile, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued another warning Saturday, declaring that Tehran would determine when and under what circumstances any renewed fighting with Israel and the United States would end.

In a statement released following a reported meeting with senior Iranian military commanders, Khamenei said he had ordered an expansion of Iran’s list of potential targets to “ensure that all tangible and intangible assets of the American-Zionist enemy are within the reach of Iranian forces.”

The Iranian leader also instructed commanders to prepare for an intensive confrontation and to ensure that retaliation for any American or Israeli attack would not be restricted by geographical boundaries.

According to Iranian reports, the meeting included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Ahmad Vahidi, armed forces chief Ali Abdollahi and Iranian army commander Amir Hatami.

The developments come as the Trump administration continues weighing military options while mediators attempt to prevent another round of hostilities. No final American decision to launch an attack has been publicly announced.

The Chareidi Journalists Council is demanding an investigation into the arrest of prominent photographer Dovid Keshet during a protest in Bnei Brak, alleging that police detained him shortly after he recorded officers engaging in apparently violent conduct.

The organization announced on Motzoei Shabbos that it would issue Keshet, a photographer for Yedios Bnei Brak, an official organizational press credential following his arrest Thursday while covering a demonstration in the city.

According to the council, Keshet was taken into custody just minutes after filming what appeared to be excessive force by police officers at the protest. The circumstances have raised concerns among chareidi journalists about possible interference with legitimate news coverage and the treatment of photographers documenting sensitive police operations.

In response, the council sent a formal letter of protest to outgoing Dan District police commander Elad Klein, demanding a detailed explanation of the circumstances surrounding Keshet’s arrest.

Klein had left his position one day before the demonstration, and a replacement had not yet been appointed when the council submitted its complaint.

The organization is seeking clarification regarding the legal grounds for detaining Keshet and whether officers at the scene properly considered his statements that he was working as a journalist.

The council also demanded that police immediately preserve all body-camera footage recorded by officers involved in the incident, ensuring that potentially important evidence is not lost before the circumstances can be independently reviewed.

In addition, the organization called for renewed instructions to police personnel regarding the rights and responsibilities of journalists and photographers covering public demonstrations.

Keshet, a familiar figure in chareidi media circles, was covering a demonstration near the Geha Interchange on Route 4 when the confrontation occurred. The protest, involving members of the Yerushalmi Faction, saw police deploy stun grenades and batons during clashes with demonstrators.

Video footage of Keshet’s arrest reportedly shows plainclothes officers escorting him toward a white civilian vehicle. During the encounter, Keshet can be heard protesting that he had done nothing wrong and had merely been present at the demonstration.

He was released approximately two hours after being detained.

His attorney, Shalom Haddad, condemned the arrest, maintaining that his client had been documenting police actions rather than participating in any disturbance.

“This was a false arrest that should never have happened,” Haddad said. He explained that Keshet had been questioned on suspicion of disturbing public order despite allegedly doing nothing more than recording officers using force against civilians.

Haddad questioned whether the arrest was genuinely connected to suspected criminal activity or whether its purpose was to prevent the photographer from continuing to document events at the protest.

Yedios Bnei Brak also issued a forceful response, raising concerns that officers may have sought to have Keshet delete footage showing police conduct.

“We will not relent, we will not remain silent, and we will not surrender the right to cover, document and report. Freedom of the press is not up for grabs!” the publication declared.

The Chareidi Journalists Council described the detention of a photographer performing his professional duties as a serious violation of acceptable boundaries, warning that arrests immediately following the recording of controversial police activity could discourage journalists from documenting events of public importance.

The organization also pointed to what it described as a longstanding disparity in the treatment of chareidi journalists compared with other members of the Israeli media. It demanded that police apply consistent professional standards to reporters and photographers regardless of their religious background or the publications they represent.

Separately, MK Gaby Lasky of the Democrats reportedly contacted Israel’s police commissioner following the Route 4 demonstration, calling for an investigation into officers’ conduct and demanding an end to the use of stun grenades against protesters.

The council pledged to support Keshet and other journalists working at demonstrations and to pursue measures intended to prevent similar incidents. It is awaiting a police explanation of the arrest and confirmation that the relevant body-camera recordings have been preserved.

{Matzav.com}

The FBI has identified North Korean hackers as the perpetrators of a massive cryptocurrency theft targeting Binance, with more than $6 billion stolen from the world’s largest digital currency exchange in what authorities describe as the biggest cryptocurrency heist ever recorded.

In a public warning issued following Thursday’s attack, federal investigators attributed the breach to TraderTraitor, a North Korean hacking operation previously linked to major cryptocurrency thefts, including the $1.5 billion attack on Bybit in February 2025.

The October 29 breach reportedly resulted in approximately $6.3 billion being removed from Binance-controlled digital wallets, raising fresh concerns about the security of cryptocurrency exchanges and the ability of foreign governments to exploit weaknesses in the digital financial system.

According to blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs, the attackers transferred an estimated $6.36 billion across 10 different blockchain networks. Most of the stolen cryptocurrency was moved within approximately 20 minutes, highlighting the speed and coordination of the operation.

Federal investigators said the hackers have already begun converting stolen assets into Ethereum, a cryptocurrency that can be transferred through decentralized financial platforms and other services designed to operate without traditional financial intermediaries.

Authorities expect the stolen funds to pass through additional exchanges, digital wallets and cryptocurrency services as the perpetrators attempt to obscure their origins and prevent investigators from recovering the money.

The FBI is coordinating its investigation with the U.S. Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation division, with the agencies working to identify the movement of the stolen assets and interrupt attempts to launder them.

In their warning, federal officials called on cryptocurrency exchanges, blockchain monitoring companies and other digital asset businesses to identify and block transactions connected to wallets controlled by the hackers.

Investigators also released an extensive collection of cryptocurrency addresses believed to have received stolen funds or otherwise been associated with the North Korean operation.

Binance announced Friday that approximately $3 billion worth of the stolen cryptocurrency had already been frozen through cooperation with law enforcement agencies, blockchain networks and private-sector partners.

The exchange said it would use its own financial reserves and its Secure Asset Fund for Users to compensate for the losses rather than pass the financial burden on to customers.

“Binance will absorb the financial impact of these stolen funds, not our users,” the company said in an Oct. 30 security update.

Binance reported that it had allocated more than $6.34 billion from corporate resources to replace the missing cryptocurrency, although some of the affected assets had not yet been fully replenished.

The company temporarily halted withdrawals while conducting security checks and investigating how the attackers penetrated its systems. Early findings suggested that a compromised employee laptop may have provided an initial entry point, although investigators subsequently identified additional areas of concern.

Binance said it had not discovered evidence that the private keys used to authorize transactions from its cryptocurrency wallets had been exposed.

The scale of the theft far exceeds the February 2025 breach of Bybit, when North Korean-linked hackers stole approximately $1.5 billion in digital assets. That attack was also attributed to TraderTraitor, which investigators say specializes in sophisticated operations against cryptocurrency businesses.

Independent blockchain analysis firms have reported slightly different estimates of the latest losses. Elliptic placed the total at approximately $6.43 billion and identified about $2.84 billion in frozen assets, while TRM Labs estimated the theft at $6.36 billion.

North Korea has repeatedly been accused of using cryptocurrency theft to generate revenue despite international sanctions, with stolen digital assets providing funds that can be moved outside conventional banking systems.

The FBI urged anyone possessing information about the Binance attack or associated North Korean money-laundering activities to contact a local FBI office or submit a report through the bureau’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said today that Israel’s inconclusive election results have set the stage for a potentially prolonged struggle to form a government, predicting that political leaders could abandon campaign promises and reconsider alliances as coalition negotiations intensify.

Appearing on Newsmax’s “America Right Now” with host Tom Basile, Huckabee discussed the unexpected election outcome, allegations of foreign involvement in the voting process, and the importance of the U.S.-Israel alliance.

The ambassador pointed to the surprising performance of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s political bloc, which emerged with 53 Knesset seats compared with 48 for the bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot. Neither side obtained the 61 seats necessary to command a majority in Israel’s 120-member parliament.

The results contradicted expectations reflected in many pre-election surveys, which had suggested a stronger showing for Netanyahu’s opponents.

“Obviously, they were wrong about that,” Huckabee said, referring to the polling projections.

Huckabee explained that Israel’s parliamentary system makes election night fundamentally different from the American experience, since the final distribution of seats does not necessarily determine who will become prime minister.

“In an American election, on the night of the ballots, you pretty well know who won,” he said. “In Israel, the night of the election is really the beginning, not the end. So now it’s time to see who can form the coalition. That’s going to be the key.”

Under Israeli law, President Isaac Herzog will consult with the elected parties before assigning a Knesset member the responsibility of attempting to establish a government. The designated candidate generally receives 28 days to assemble a coalition, with the possibility of an additional 14 days.

Asked whether Netanyahu and Eisenkot might ultimately reach an agreement on a national unity government, Huckabee suggested that declarations made during an election campaign should not necessarily be treated as permanent commitments.

“Politicians have said throughout this campaign here in Israel, there is no way I’ll sit in the government with Netanyahu, or there’s no way I’ll sit in a government that involves Naftali Bennett or whoever,” he said. “Throw all that out the window.”

The ambassador suggested that politicians who repeatedly ruled out cooperation with their rivals could change their calculations when confronted with the possibility of spending another four years outside the government.

Huckabee also addressed the controversy surrounding the possible participation of Arab political factions in a future coalition. He defended Netanyahu’s refusal to cooperate with certain Arab parties, pointing to representatives who failed to unequivocally condemn Hamas’ October 7, 2023, massacre.

He described such a refusal as “completely reckless,” arguing that anyone seeking a role in governing Israel should be willing to condemn the murder of approximately 1,200 people during the terrorist assault.

The ambassador was also questioned about reports that Israeli intelligence agencies were examining allegations of foreign interference in the election, including claims that money originating in Qatar and Turkey may have been directed toward Arab communities in Israel.

Huckabee emphasized the seriousness of the allegations while acknowledging that investigators had not yet established whether improper foreign involvement had occurred.

“It would be a serious, serious issue that would have a dramatic impact on not only the election outcome, but it would also, I think, really stir up some very strong feelings in Israel,” Huckabee said.

He added that Israelis deserved confidence that the election had been conducted fairly and transparently, describing the need for a process that was “up front, clean and clear.”

Turning to relations between Washington and Jerusalem, Huckabee stressed that American cooperation with Israel extends well beyond political considerations and provides critical national security benefits to the United States.

“What we share in intelligence actually saves American lives almost every day,” he said. “Americans don’t understand that. But it happens.”

Huckabee argued that the intelligence partnership remains valuable regardless of which political party controls Congress, pointing to the two countries’ longstanding cooperation against terrorism and regional security threats.

The ambassador also praised President Donald Trump’s handling of Iran, crediting the administration with confronting a regime that has threatened the United States and Israel for decades.

“Thank God, after 47.5 years of hearing them tell us they’re going to kill us, he’s taken action,” Huckabee said.

He maintained that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains a central American and Israeli security objective, particularly amid continued uncertainty over Tehran’s intentions and the possibility of renewed military confrontation.

“The relationship we have with Israel is very important, both strategically as well as tactically,” Huckabee said.

{Matzav.com}

Israel may be preparing a sophisticated surprise operation against Iran’s most powerful military commanders if fighting resumes following Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections, potentially employing tactics resembling the devastating 2024 attacks that crippled Hezbollah’s communications network.

According to a report published today by the New York Post, Israeli intelligence could attempt to eliminate senior Iranian military figures through an unconventional operation rather than relying exclusively on traditional airstrikes. The possibility comes as President Donald Trump considers renewed military action against Tehran and American forces strengthen their presence in the Middle East.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier is reportedly moving toward the region, where it could join the USS George Washington and USS George W. Bush as Washington prepares for a possible escalation.

Speaking Friday to Kansas City radio station KCMO, Trump predicted that the conflict is “going to get wrapped up soon,” without providing additional details about his administration’s plans.

Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, suggested that military operations could begin shortly after Americans cast their ballots Tuesday.

“I’m going to guess about a day or three after this election, I would not want to be anywhere close to Iran,” Marshall said Thursday.

Oded Ailam, a former deputy head of global operations at the Mossad, told the New York Post that Israel possesses the intelligence capabilities to conduct an operation similar to its September 2024 attacks against Hezbollah, when explosive devices concealed inside communications equipment detonated across Lebanon and Syria.

“This is the bread and butter of Israeli strategy, is surprise twists and turns, unexpected moves and I’m absolutely certain that Israel has cards in the sleeve that will be used,” Ailam said.

The Hezbollah operation, carried out on September 17 and 18, 2024, involved thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies that had been secretly modified to contain explosives. The coordinated detonations killed dozens, wounded thousands and severely damaged the terrorist organization’s communications infrastructure.

The attack demonstrated Israel’s ability to infiltrate enemy supply chains and carry out operations that remain undetected until the moment they are activated. Ailam suggested that Israeli intelligence could have developed similarly unexpected methods for targeting Iran’s senior leadership.

According to Ailam, effective control of the Iranian government is concentrated among four powerful military officials: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Ahmad Vahidi, Basij commander Hossein Taeb, armed forces chief Ali Abdollahi and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei.

He argued that Iran’s civilian leadership exercises little independent authority, while Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei serves primarily as a figurehead for the military establishment.

“The president and foreign minister can’t make decisions. [The military junta] hides behind Mojtaba, but he’s not in charge; he’s a complete puppet,” Ailam said.

“Israel will use its imagination, its intelligence and the ability of the Israelis to surprise and turn the table in ways you can not anticipate,” he added.

Ailam also described growing disagreements within Iran’s leadership over negotiations with the United States, suggesting that hard-line military commanders have repeatedly interfered with diplomatic initiatives.

“They’re not on the same page themselves, we see a lot of friction within the regime, different approaches, agreeing then reneging,” he said.

Retired U.S. Gen. Jack Keane urged Washington to consider a broad military campaign targeting Iran’s senior commanders, nuclear installations, energy facilities and weapons manufacturing infrastructure.

“The intelligence we have now as a result of six months of collection during the on-again, off-again ceasefire is significant,” Keane said.

Ailam suggested that an intelligence operation against Iran’s leadership could produce consequences extending far beyond the elimination of individual commanders, potentially spreading fear and suspicion throughout the regime.

“The effect is enormous, especially on the psychology of the enemy. Imagine after the attack there’s a conversation somewhere in a bunker with the top echelons of Iran and everybody’s looking to the left and to the right and thinking the guy next to him is a spy,” he said.

Other analysts cautioned that an Israeli or American attack could provoke an especially fierce Iranian response, including strikes against neighboring countries and critical energy infrastructure.

“[The regime’s] interest is survival; they’ll fight harder,” said Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Former Israeli national security adviser Maj. Gen. Yaakov Amidror warned that Iranian attacks against Gulf oil and gas installations could prompt Israel to retaliate against Iran’s own energy industry on a massive scale.

“If the Iranian retaliation will be to destroy or try to destroy energy facilities in the Gulf countries, that would be a good excuse for Israel to destroy the whole energy infrastructure in Iran,” Amidror said.

“This is something that cannot be rebuilt in a few years, this will send Iran back 50 years,” he added.

Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, strongly criticized the possibility of renewed American military operations, warning that another campaign could deepen the conflict and threaten American interests.

“Their plan is insane. It will lead to devastating escalation and the likely destruction of our commitment to the rule of law,” Murphy said Thursday.

“The plan that they have developed will lead in my view to a prolongment and an escalation of this war that in my view will be devastating for our security interests,” he added.

The speculation about an Israeli intelligence operation follows reports that American and Israeli military planners have developed options for a short but intensive campaign against Iran after November 3. Potential targets reportedly include nuclear facilities, ballistic missile and drone production sites, and energy infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Iranian negotiators met with Qatari mediators in Doha today as diplomatic efforts continued to avert another confrontation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump had not decided whether to authorize military action and continued to prefer a negotiated solution.

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, however, warned today that any renewed American or Israeli attack would bring an immediate military response, with Iranian forces instructed to prepare for retaliation beyond the country’s borders.

Despite the possibility of targeting Iran’s military leadership, Amidror maintained that Israel’s primary strategic objectives remain preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons and eliminating its ability to threaten Israel with ballistic missiles.

{Matzav.com}

Iran signaled today that it views a new diplomatic approach from the Trump administration favorably, but warned that negotiations with the United States will not resume unless Washington first agrees to a series of demands involving sanctions, American military deployments and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the comments during an interview with Al Jazeera as Iranian representatives continued indirect negotiations in Qatar aimed at preventing renewed hostilities with the United States and Israel.

The latest diplomatic activity follows a letter from Vice President JD Vance to Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei, an initiative that has prompted speculation about whether Washington is attempting to revive negotiations with Tehran.

“The American side’s attempt to open the door to dialogue and understanding more broadly is a positive step,” Araghchi told Al Jazeera.

The Iranian foreign minister said the message had been examined by senior officials in Tehran, but warned that any American attempt to exploit internal disagreements within Iran would undermine the diplomatic effort.

“If Washington’s goal in sending this letter is to stir up discord, it would be yet another mistake to add to its previous ones,” he said.

Reports in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal described Vance’s communication as an attempt to explore a possible return to negotiations and avoid another round of American military strikes. President Donald Trump offered a different explanation, saying the letter concerned assistance in obtaining medical supplies for Iran rather than a new peace initiative.

Despite describing the American approach as encouraging, Araghchi made clear that Tehran was not prepared to send officials into direct negotiations.

“We see no need to meet with the Americans at present. Our conditions are clear, and mediators are continuing their consultations regarding them,” he told Al Jazeera.

He rejected reports suggesting that a meeting between American and Iranian representatives was imminent, saying any decision about direct or indirect negotiations would depend on Washington’s response to Tehran’s demands.

Among those conditions are the removal of American sanctions imposed after the Islamabad memorandum of understanding and a reduction in the U.S. military presence across the region.

Iran is also demanding international acceptance of a shipping arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz that Tehran says it developed with Oman. The proposal would establish an approved maritime passage while closing alternative routes through the strategically important waterway.

Araghchi maintained that the Iranian plan remains the only proposal currently available for reopening the strait and suggested that American acceptance could create the conditions for broader negotiations.

The negotiations have also produced movement on the timetable for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Araghchi said Qatari mediators initially suggested a five-day implementation period, but subsequent discussions reduced the proposed timeframe to just two days. Tehran is additionally seeking the restoration of oil-export waivers and the release of frozen Iranian assets, including funds held in Qatar.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are continuing in Doha following more than 12 hours of meetings between Qatari mediators and Iranian officials in Tehran on Friday. An official familiar with the negotiations told Reuters that the Qatari delegation maintained regular communication with American negotiators throughout the discussions.

“My aide is currently in Qatar to continue consultations. Qatari and Pakistani mediators are continuing consultations regarding our conditions,” Araghchi told Al Jazeera.

The Iranian foreign minister also acknowledged that international mediators had introduced proposals concerning Tehran’s nuclear activities, another major obstacle to an agreement.

“Mediators have presented proposals concerning the nuclear dossier, which we are currently reviewing as part of the second phase,” Araghchi said.

Earlier this week, Reuters reported that Qatari officials had suggested a seven-day arrangement involving reciprocal confidence-building measures, potentially supported by international guarantees. An Iranian official subsequently disputed the characterization of the initiative as a formal proposal, describing the ideas presented by Qatar as unacceptable.

At the same time, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a warning that any renewed American or Israeli military operation would bring immediate retaliation.

During a meeting today with senior military commanders, Khamenei ordered Iranian forces to strengthen their readiness and revise their lists of potential American and Israeli targets. According to Iranian state media, he instructed the military to prepare responses without geographical limitations.

Khamenei assumed leadership following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during the American-Israeli military offensive against Iran in February.

The warnings come as Washington weighs its next steps. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Trump has not made a decision about additional military action and would prefer a diplomatic resolution, although American forces remain prepared to strike if necessary.

Qatari officials are reportedly attempting to secure progress before Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections, amid concerns that the Trump administration could resume military operations afterward.

{Matzav.com}

Members of Degel HaTorah met on Motzoei Shabbos with Roshei Yeshiva Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch as reports intensified that United Torah Judaism could potentially help Gadi Eisenkot establish a minority government in exchange for legislation protecting the status of yeshiva bochurim.

The meeting, officially described by Degel HaTorah as an opportunity for its newly elected representatives to receive the Roshei Yeshiva’s brachos ahead of the upcoming Knesset term, took place amid increasingly complicated coalition negotiations following Tuesday’s elections, which left Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s political bloc with only 53 seats.

According to reports published Friday, Rav Landau instructed Degel HaTorah lawmakers to begin discussions with all political factions in an effort to secure an acceptable arrangement regarding the draft status of yeshiva students.

The Rosh Yeshiva was quoted as directing the party to “make every effort to regulate the status of yeshiva students. We are not in anyone’s bloc. We are in the bloc of the Torah world.”

The reported directive followed discussions involving senior figures in the anti-Netanyahu camp about a possible arrangement under which United Torah Judaism would abstain during the parliamentary vote to approve an Eisenkot-led government, allowing it to take office without formally joining the coalition.

Under the scenario being explored, UTJ’s seven seats would no longer be counted among the lawmakers opposing Eisenkot, potentially leaving Netanyahu’s bloc with 46 seats and giving Eisenkot a path to forming a government supported by 55 lawmakers.

In return for such cooperation, UTJ would reportedly demand an agreed-upon draft law establishing the legal status of yeshiva students and protecting their ability to continue learning without military service.

Senior UTJ officials acknowledged that indirect discussions have taken place through intermediaries, although they characterized the likelihood of such an agreement as extremely remote.

However, the office of UTJ chairman MK Yaakov Asher firmly rejected reports that the party had already received instructions to negotiate with the opposition.

“No such instruction was given. We have not yet visited the Gedolei Yisroel since the elections,” Asher’s office stated.

Tonight’s meeting marked the first formal visit by Degel HaTorah’s elected representatives to the Roshei Yeshiva since the election results became known.

The political maneuvering faces a major obstacle from Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman, whose party has taken an uncompromising position on the military draft. A senior party official said that Lieberman has insisted the first law passed by any government his party joins must require universal military service.

“Lieberman has made clear that the first law in any government in which he participates will be a draft law for everyone,” the official said.

The official added that the demand was nonnegotiable, even if it meant another election. “This is a statement made after the elections, and it is a central principle from which we will not retreat, even at the cost of elections! We will not sell out the soldiers for power. Conscription for everyone, with zero exemptions.”

Nevertheless, a senior opposition MK said that some members of the anti-Netanyahu camp are prepared to reconsider their positions on the draft in order to establish a government.

“The election results show that the public did not vote against the chareidim,” the lawmaker said. “If we need to compromise on the draft issue in order to form a government, we will seriously consider it. There is an entire world outside Twitter, a world that did not show up at the ballot box when it mattered.”

According to discussions taking place within UTJ, some party officials believe that if an agreement protecting yeshiva students can be reached, Shas could eventually join the arrangement as well. Shas suffered a severe electoral defeat Tuesday, dropping from 11 Knesset seats to just six.

Separately, Channel 14 reported that Degel HaTorah was considering withholding its recommendation for prime minister during President Isaac Herzog’s upcoming consultations, allowing the party to maintain flexibility while negotiations continue.

However, following tonight’s meetings, senior Degel HaTorah figures reportedly clarified that neither support for Netanyahu nor support for Eisenkot had actually been discussed with the Roshei Yeshiva. They maintained that the visits were intended solely to receive brachos ahead of the new parliamentary term, and that no concrete political decisions had been reached.

President Herzog is scheduled to begin consultations with the newly elected Knesset factions on Wednesday, when party representatives will formally recommend whom he should select to attempt to form Israel’s next government.

{Matzav.com}

Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman announced Friday that his party will refuse to participate in any Israeli government that includes Arab political factions, dealing another setback to efforts by the anti-Netanyahu bloc to assemble a governing coalition following this week’s Knesset elections.

In a sharply worded Facebook statement, Lieberman accused several Arab lawmakers of making statements sympathetic to terrorism and declared that Yisrael Beytenu would not compromise its position for the sake of forming a government.

“We will not sit with supporters of terrorism.”

Lieberman specifically criticized MKs Ofer Cassif and Yasser Hujirat, along with remarks made by Joint List representative Osama Saadi during celebrations following Tuesday’s election.

Explaining his objections, Lieberman pointed to Cassif’s endorsement of South Africa’s legal case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, which accused Israel of committing genocide during its military campaign in Gaza.

“After October 7, Ofer Cassif supported the proceedings initiated by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which alleged that Israel was committing genocide,” Lieberman wrote.

He also cited Cassif’s accusation that “the Israeli military carries out acts of terrorism.”

The Yisrael Beytenu leader further criticized Ra’am lawmaker Yasser Hujirat, alleging that the MK had described Hamas as a charitable organization rather than a terrorist group in remarks made several weeks before the election.

Lieberman also took issue with comments delivered by Osama Saadi at Joint List headquarters on election night, when Saadi dedicated the party’s electoral success “to our people in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and occupied Jerusalem.”

Taken together, Lieberman argued, the statements demonstrated why his party could not enter a coalition alongside the Arab factions, regardless of the political difficulties confronting the opposition.

“Anyone who wants to rely on supporters of terrorism is welcome to do so. Yisrael Beytenu will not be part of it.”

The announcement comes as opposition leaders struggle to overcome the arithmetic of Tuesday’s election. Netanyahu’s coalition bloc secured 53 seats, while the Jewish-led opposition won 48. The Joint List and Ra’am together captured 19 seats, potentially giving Netanyahu’s opponents a 67-seat majority if they agreed to cooperate with the Arab factions.

Lieberman’s position effectively blocks that possibility as long as Yisrael Beytenu remains part of the proposed coalition. He has also previously rejected joining a government headed by Netanyahu or one that includes Shas and United Torah Judaism, insisting that the next coalition consist exclusively of Zionist parties.

The political confrontation follows another controversy involving the Arab parties. Before the election, Israel’s Central Elections Committee voted to disqualify Ra’am, the Joint List and Cassif from participating. The Supreme Court subsequently overturned those decisions, allowing the parties and Cassif to compete.

With neither political bloc commanding a majority, President Isaac Herzog is expected to begin consultations with party representatives before selecting a candidate to attempt to form the next government. Failure to reach a coalition agreement could send Israel back to the polls.

{Matzav.com}