Socialist mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani is facing another political firestorm after newly resurfaced tweets appear to defend notorious al-Qaeda propagandist Anwar al-Awlaki — while pinning the blame for his turn to terror on the United States. In a series of eyebrow-raising 2015 posts, Mamdani, then 23, criticized the FBI for its surveillance of al-Awlaki, claiming that federal monitoring helped drive the radical cleric into the arms of al-Qaeda. “Why no proper interrogation of what it means for FBI to have conducted extensive surv. into Awlaki’s private life?” Mamdani wrote after reading a New York Times report describing al-Awlaki’s use of unsavory women despite his conservative religious preaching. “How could #Awlaki have ever trusted @FBI to not release surveillance esp. if he continued to critique [the] state?” Mamdani added. “Why no further discussion of how #Awlaki’s knowledge of surv. eventually led him to #alqaeda?” Critics have erupted over the comments, calling them a grotesque insult to 9/11 victims and an obscene rewriting of history. “To blame the United States for al-Awlaki is like blaming the Jews for Hitler,” blasted retired Rep. Peter King, a former Homeland Security Committee chair. “Mamdani is making excuses and rationalizing al-Awlaki joining al-Qaeda. It’s an absolute disgrace. It should disqualify Mamdani from being mayor of New York City.” Al-Awlaki, a New Mexico-born cleric, was connected to three of the 9/11 hijackers and eventually plotted numerous al-Qaeda terror operations before being killed by a U.S. drone strike in 2011. Mamdani, 33, has built a high-profile social media following that helped him topple former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary. But he’s faced other controversies over past posts, including sharing a video mocking Chanukah and leading “BDS” chants outside the Israeli Consulate in Manhattan. Jewish advocacy group StopAntisemitism slammed Mamdani for the Chanukah video as “sick” and accused him of “cosplaying Jews.” Al-Awlaki’s teachings have been linked to roughly a quarter of Islamist terrorism convictions in the United States between 2007 and his death. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Law-abiding pedestrians wait for the green woman kicking a soccer ball before they cross the road during the Women’s European Championship. Authorities in the Swiss city of Basel have installed 12 of the altered pedestrian crossing lights at locations frequented by soccer fans while the country hosts the nearly month-long tournament. Some are located near the soccer stadium, others near the train station. “They will stay until the end of the Women’s Euro — maybe even a few days longer,” says Nicole Ryf-Stocker, spokeswoman for Basel’s transport department. Ryf-Stocker said the idea and design was provided by the St. Gallen civil engineering department, while the lights were manufactured by the same company that manufactures Basel’s traffic lights. “We thought the idea was fantastic and were allowed to use it,” she said. Basel will host the final on July 27 among other games. (AP)
In the rolling hills near Jerusalem, where nature’s peace meets urban convenience, 12 Stones offers a rare residential opportunity – a community where belonging, beauty, and balance define a new way of living. 12 Stones is a rare residential opportunity in the rolling hills at the edge of Givat Ze’ev, just a short drive from the vibrant heart of Jerusalem. This exclusive community combines the serenity of nature with urban convenience, offering an exceptional way of life where every day begins and ends with the quiet beauty of the surrounding landscape. Life at 12 Stones is about more than just beautiful private homes – it is about belonging. Here, neighbors become lifelong friends, united by shared values, respect, and a true sense of togetherness. residents enjoy a vibrant social life that flourishes naturally, while privacy and personal space are thoughtfully preserved. BLENDING CONTEMPORARY DESIGN WITH NATURE The architecture of 12 Stones is designed to reflect and enhance the natural splendor of its surroundings. Natural materials, expansive windows, and open interiors invite the outdoors in, filling living spaces with light, fresh air, and breathtaking views. Tree-lined streets and gently curving paths weave through the neighborhood, creating a village-like charm that blends homes seamlessly into the landscape and offers a daily sense of peace, comfort, and connection to nature. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION Families at 12 Stones thrive in an environment that nurtures growth, learning, and shared responsibility. The local schools combine excellence with personal development and community values, ensuring that every child receives individual attention and encouragement. With parents as active partners in this journey, a supportive and inspiring atmosphere is created – one where young minds can flourish and grow, well-prepared for the future. EXPERIENCE UTMOST LIVING IN THE JERUSALEM HILLS Throughout the neighborhood, privacy comes naturally. Without the need for walls or gates, the thoughtful design of 12 Stones ensures that each home offers its own quiet retreat, while residents remain fully connected to the warmth, vibrancy, and spirit of the broader community. This perfect balance of seclusion and inclusion makes 12 Stones not just a place to live – but a place to truly belong. Here, you’ll find more than a place to live – you’ll find a place to belong, a place to grow, and a place to truly call home. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Zohran Mamdani, the Muslim socialist candidate in New York City’s mayoral race, has drawn renewed scrutiny after disturbing past comments made by his father resurfaced—statements linking Abraham Lincoln to Adolf Hitler and equating Allied actions in World War II to those of the Nazis. The controversy has intensified amid Mamdani’s own history of promoting far-left positions.
At a 2022 panel event hosted by the Asia Society, Mamdani’s father, Mahmood Mamdani—a professor at Columbia University—made the startling assertion that the United States pioneered global settler-colonialism and that Abraham Lincoln’s Civil War policies provided the Nazis with a model for genocide.
“With the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln generalized the solution of reservations, they herded American Indians into separate territories,” said Mamdani. “For the Nazis, this was the inspiration – Hitler realized two things: one, that genocide is doable. It is possible to do genocide, that’s what Hitler realized. Second thing Hitler realized, is that you don’t have to have a common citizenship.”
Professor Mamdani, who holds the Herbert Lehman chair in government at Columbia, went on to claim that Germany’s infamous Nuremberg Laws—widely recognized as a cornerstone of Nazi racial policy—were inspired by American legal precedents.
He also argued that there is no meaningful distinction between nationalism and colonialism and claimed that the postwar efforts by Allied forces mirrored Nazi ideals.
“The Nazi political project was shared by the Allies, and that political project was to turn Germany into a ‘pure’ nation. A ‘pure’ nation rid of its minorities,” Mamdani declared.
“When the Allies defeated the Nazis and went into Eastern Europe, they began to create ‘pure’ nations. To ethnically cleanse Eastern Europe of Germans – move them back into Germany. One crime doesn’t wipe out another.”
As Mamdani’s political profile grows following a surprising performance in New York’s Democratic mayoral primary, his own controversial statements—alongside those of his father—are being scrutinized more closely.
One video from a 2021 Young Democratic Socialists of America event captured Mamdani telling attendees that they should never compromise on revolutionary objectives, stating explicitly the need to “seiz[e] the means of production.”
Another video, produced by The Gravel Institute, features Mamdani advocating for a complete overhaul of the housing market. In his view, residential real estate should no longer be private property but a collective good. “If we want to end the housing crisis, the solution has to be moving toward the full de-commodification of housing,” Mamdani said in the video, calling for a system with shared amenities like co-op kitchens and communal laundromats.
Critics argue that the views expressed by his father reflect the ideological environment in which Mamdani was raised, potentially shaping his approach to governance. A New York Times profile described Mamdani’s upbringing as one enriched by political discourse, thanks in part to his father’s academic influence and his mother’s work as an Oscar-nominated filmmaker.
In another interview promoting his book Good Muslim, Bad Muslim: America, the Cold War, and the Roots of Terror, Professor Mamdani minimized the distinction between suicide bombers and traditional military personnel. He claimed that “suicide bomber” is a misleading term and equated such attackers to “soldier[s] whose objective is to kill.”
Perhaps most provocatively, the elder Mamdani has reportedly described the State of Israel as “the logical conclusion of Nazism,” according to academic material cited by the Washington Free Beacon.
{Matzav.com}
LONG OVERDUE: Interior Minister Moshe Arbel on Monday permanently revoked the visa of Yisroel Dovid Weiss, a US-born spokesman for Neturei Karta sect, and barred him from ever entering Israel after Weiss met with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in Brazil. Arbel said in a statement that he “will not allow anyone who acts against the State of Israel and identifies with its enemies to enter it,” adding that cooperation with Iran crossed a red line. According to Iran’s Mehr News Agency, he held a “discussion and expressed solidarity” with Araghchi, and signed a memorial book for “martyrs of Zionist attacks on Iran.”
Israel’s Interior Minister Moshe Arbel on Monday permanently revoked the entry visa of Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss — the twisted American spokesman for the fringe Neturei Karta movement — after Weiss was photographed meeting Iran’s foreign minister in Brazil and praising Tehran. Arbel, invoking rarely used emergency powers under the Law of Return, barred Weiss from ever setting foot in Israel, declaring he “will not allow anyone who acts against the State of Israel and identifies with its enemies to enter it.” Weiss, 69, traveled this week to São Paulo to participate in events around the BRICS summit. According to Iranian state media, he held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, offered him flowers, and signed a memorial book for “martyrs of Zionist attacks on Iran.” Images posted online showed Weiss denouncing Israel to Araghchi’s face — a move Arbel called crossing “a red line.” Weiss has long relished the role of provocateur, championing Iran and other sworn enemies of the Jewish state. In 2006, he was filmed in Tehran at a government-sponsored Holocaust denial conference, and over the years has repeatedly praised Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iranian leadership while demonizing Israel. A resident of Monsey, New York, Weiss is the most visible face of Neturei Karta. His activities have left him ostracized by virtually every mainstream Orthodox Jewish body in the world. Israeli officials said Monday that Tehran was exploiting high-profile meetings with Jewish dissidents like Weiss to push propaganda delegitimizing Israel’s right to defend itself. “The message is clear,” Arbel said. “There will be zero tolerance for Jewish collaborators who embrace those who seek Israel’s destruction.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
President Donald Trump on Sunday expressed optimism that a new deal to release hostages held by Hamas could come together “during the week,” ahead of his scheduled White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I think there’s a good chance we have a deal with Hamas… during the coming week,” Trump told reporters as he returned to Washington following the July 4th weekend. He noted that the United States is “working on a lot of things” with Israel, including what he described as a “probably permanent deal with Iran.” Trump also repeated his earlier claims that U.S. strikes had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities during the recent 12-day Iran-Israel conflict. Netanyahu, departing for Washington on Sunday night, said he would meet Trump and other top U.S. officials to discuss advancing the negotiations. “We are working to reach this deal under the terms we have agreed to,” the prime minister told reporters, adding that Israel remained committed to destroying Hamas’s military and governing capabilities. “Twenty living hostages remain and 30 who are fallen. I am determined, we are determined, to bring back all of them,” Netanyahu said. He insisted Israel would not allow Hamas to maintain a foothold that could encourage future attacks. The high-stakes diplomacy comes as indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas resumed Sunday in Qatar, following Hamas’s partial acceptance of a hostage-ceasefire framework Trump said Israel had agreed to last week. But Palestinian sources told Reuters early Monday that talks were inconclusive so far, in part because the Israeli delegation lacked authority to finalize terms. Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official told the BBC that the group had lost control over roughly 80% of Gaza and “barely anything” remains of its military structure. He described the group’s leadership as decimated and its ability to enforce order as collapsing. A proposed ceasefire plan, details of which were shared with the Associated Press by a person familiar with the talks, envisions a 60-day pause in fighting. In return, Hamas would hand over 10 living and 18 dead hostages, while Israeli forces would pull back to a buffer zone near Gaza’s borders with Israel and Egypt. U.N. agencies and the Palestinian Red Crescent would distribute humanitarian aid during the pause, according to the draft. Negotiations on a permanent ceasefire would follow, but the proposal does not guarantee an end to the war — a sticking point Hamas continues to demand. The text says Trump himself would “guarantee” Israel’s adherence to halting operations for the 60-day period and personally announce the deal if concluded. Netanyahu underscored before departing that any new deal must not allow Hamas to regroup. “We will not allow a situation that encourages more kidnappings, more murders, more beheadings, more invasions,” he said. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has raised alarms about what he describes as a potential apocalyptic scenario: a joint military offensive launched by China and Russia that could ignite World War III. Rutte outlined a chilling vision in which Chinese leader Xi Jinping targets Taiwan while Russian President Vladimir Putin simultaneously initiates an attack on NATO territory in Europe—an escalation that, according to Rutte, could bring the world to the brink of annihilation.
Rutte warned that China might move on Taiwan, but not without coordinating with the Kremlin. He suggested that Putin could exploit the chaos by striking vulnerable NATO members, especially the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—former Soviet republics that have long feared renewed aggression from Moscow.
He emphasized that Putin is currently engaged in efforts to undermine European stability, all while carefully observing how the West and its partners react to his provocations.
Speaking with The New York Times, Rutte explained the dire need for NATO countries to drastically ramp up their military spending and preparedness to prevent what he characterized as an ultimate showdown between good and evil. “Let’s not be naïve about this,” he cautioned, adding: “If Xi Jinping would attack Taiwan, he would first make sure that he makes a call to his very junior partner in all of this, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, residing in Moscow, and telling him, ‘Hey, I’m going to do this, and I need you to to keep them busy in Europe by attacking NATO territory. That is most likely the way this will progress, and to deter them, we need to do two things.”
Rutte, who previously served as the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, stated that the West must immediately bolster its defense posture by meeting two critical goals: “One is that NATO, collectively, being so strong that the Russians will never do this.
“And second, working together with the Indo-Pacific – something President [Donald] Trump is very much promoting, because we have this close interconnectedness, working together on defence industry, innovation between NATO and the Indo-Pacific.”
He also stressed that Russia is accelerating its military build-up and warned that democratic nations must act swiftly to keep pace with Putin’s growing arsenal. “We have an enormous geopolitical challenge on our hands,” he admitted.
Dmitry Medvedev, a senior figure in Putin’s security circle and Russia’s former president, derided Rutte’s prediction in a post on X, writing: “Rutte has clearly gorged on too many of the magic mushrooms beloved by the Dutch.”
Rutte’s grim outlook comes as Russia continues to intensify its military assault on Ukraine. Just days ago, Putin reportedly told President Trump in a phone call that he had no intention of ending the war or relinquishing any seized territory.
“We had a call. It was a pretty long call and we talked about a lot of things, including Iran and we also talked about, you know, the war with Ukraine,” Trump said to reporters while speaking from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, according to UPI.
{Matzav.com}
Australian woman Erin Patterson was found guilty Monday of murdering three of her estranged husband’s relatives by deliberately serving them poisonous mushrooms for lunch. The jury in the Supreme Court trial in Victoria state returned a verdict after six days of deliberations, following a nine-week trial that gripped Australia. Patterson faces life in prison and will be sentenced later, but a date for the hearing hasn’t yet been scheduled. Patterson, who sat in the dock between two prison officers, showed no emotion but blinked rapidly as the verdicts were read. Three of Patterson’s four lunch guests — her parents-in-law Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson — died in the hospital after the 2023 meal at her home in Leongatha, at which she served individual beef Wellington pastries containing death cap mushrooms. She was also found guilty of attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband, who survived the meal. The jury concluded she poisoned her guests on purpose It wasn’t disputed that Patterson served the mushrooms or that the pastries killed her guests. The jury was required to decide whether she knew the lunch contained death caps, and if she intended for them to die. The guilty verdicts, which were required to be unanimous, indicated that jurors rejected Patterson’s defense that the presence of the poisonous fungi in the meal was a terrible accident, caused by the mistaken inclusion of foraged mushrooms that she didn’t know were death caps. Prosecutors didn’t offer a motive for the killings, but during the trial highlighted strained relations between Patterson and her estranged husband and frustration that she had felt about his parents in the past. The case turned on the question of whether Patterson meticulously planned a triple murder or accidentally killed three people she loved, including her children’s only surviving grandparents. Her lawyers said she had no reason to do so — she had recently moved to a beautiful new home, was financially comfortable, had sole custody of her children and was due to begin studying for a degree in nursing and midwifery. But prosecutors suggested Patterson had two faces — the woman who publicly appeared to have a good relationship with her parents-in-law, while her private feelings about them were kept hidden. Her relationship with her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, who was invited to the fatal lunch but didn’t go, deteriorated in the year before the deaths, the prosecution said. Every moment of the fatal lunch was examined The simplest facts of what happened that day and immediately afterward were hardly disputed. But Patterson’s motivations for what she did and why were pored over in detail during the lengthy trial, at which more than 50 witnesses were called. The individual beef Wellington pastries Patterson served her guests were one point of friction because the recipe she used contained directions for a single, family-sized portion. Prosecutors said that she reverted to individual servings, so she could lace the other diners’ portions, but not her own, with the fatal fungi — but Patterson said that she was unable to find the correct ingredients to make the recipe as directed. Nearly every other detail of the fateful day was scrutinized at length, including why Patterson sent her children out to a film before her guests arrived, why she added additional dried mushrooms to the recipe from […]
Handwritten and autographed letter by the Ksav Sofer, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyamin Sofer, Av Beis Din and Rosh Yeshiva of Pressburg, the eldest son and successor of the illustrious Chasam Sofer.
[COMMUNICATED]
Handwritten and autographed letter by the Ksav Sofer, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyamin Sofer, Av Beis Din and Rosh Yeshiva of Pressburg, the eldest son and successor of the illustrious Chasam Sofer.
A shocking incident rocked the Zvhill Yeshiva in Yerushalayim’s Beis Yisroel neighborhood this week, as dozens of yeshiva bochurim who had been expelled stormed the building in protest, vandalizing the premises and causing damage estimated at over 100,000 shekel.
The dramatic episode unfolded after the sudden and unexpected closure of the yeshiva, leaving nearly 70 talmidim without any alternative learning framework.
The expulsion came after sweeping changes initiated by a newly appointed member of the yeshiva’s hanhalah, who had sought to transform Zvhill into a top-tier Chassidishe yeshiva. As part of that plan, the staff was replaced and a new direction was taken. Then, the talmidim were told that the yeshiva would shut down by the end of the zeman, and that no assistance would be provided in helping them find new yeshivos. “Everyone should fend for themselves,” they were told.
In a symbolic and provocative act of protest, the expelled bochurim staged what they described as a “funeral” for the yeshiva. Inside the beis medrash, they constructed a bier from benches, placed a “body” draped in a tallis on top, and labeled it with a sign reading, “Zvhill Yeshiva HY”D.” One of the bochurim, dressed in mourning garb, delivered a mock hesped.
Desperate appeals were made by distraught parents and shocked bochurim, who pointed out that yeshiva registration had long closed in most places for the upcoming zeman, and that they had been left with no place to go. The education official who orchestrated the closure reportedly reiterated that he would not assist any bochur in securing a new yeshiva.
In the weeks prior, rumors spread that the yeshiva would reopen under a new name—Yeshivas Beis Mordechai—and become a klal chassidishe yeshiva, no longer carrying the Zvhill name. Reports also surfaced of arrangements being made with other chassidic groups like Nadvorna and Skulen in Yerushalayim, as well as Yeshivas Meor Einayim of Rachmastrivka, to send their talmidim to this new institution. The revamped yeshiva would reportedly accept only select talmidim and be under the exclusive direction of the same educational figure.
This method—closing a yeshiva, reopening it under new terms, and enforcing stricter takanos—is not unusual in the chassidishe yeshiva world.
But events came to a head this past week, when the remaining talmidim were abruptly informed in the middle of the day that the yeshiva was being closed immediately and that they had to pack their belongings and leave. Some left quietly. Others erupted in anger.
What followed was a riot. Enraged students vandalized the building, destroying property and creating chaos. Security guards, some visibly armed, were called in to subdue the crowd. The confrontation quickly escalated into a physical altercation.
Amid the pandemonium, the Rebbe of Zvhill, who had left the building just an hour earlier, returned. Witnesses say he walked into the beis medrash, shouted “Get out of here, you chutzpahdike boys!” and watched with visible anguish as the rioting talmidim fled in disarray.
Despite their anger, the expelled talmidim insist they will not switch allegiances to the rival Zvhill yeshiva run by the Rebbe’s uncle. “We remain loyal to our roots,” one said. “We won’t go to the other Zvhill yeshiva. We are separating between the chassidus and the yeshiva.”
Originally, the hanhalah had planned to offer the expelled bochurim a temporary placement in the Zvhill beis medrash in Beitar Illit until Av. However, following the outburst and destruction caused during the protest, that plan was rescinded.
Some talmidim tried to continue learning on their own in the beis medrash, without the presence of the yeshiva staff. But they were interrupted when the yeshiva’s building manager shut off the lights and air conditioning. Acting on what he described as a direct order from the Rebbe, he barred all of them from entering any Zvhill batei medrash in Israel.
The talmid concluded with pain in his voice: “Dozens of us are now out on the street. Even worse, some boys have started talking about enlisting in the army as a form of revenge against the hanhalah that tossed them aside without taking responsibility.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., tells ‘The Big Weekend Show’ how dangerous she believes Democratic NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani would be for the city.
WATCH:
King Charles III, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and countless ordinary Londoners paused Monday to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2005 London transit bombings, the deadliest attack on the British capital since World War II. Fifty-two people died and more than 770 were wounded when four British men inspired by al-Qaida blew themselves up on three subway trains and a bus during the morning rush hour on July 7, 2005. They were the first suicide bombings on European soil. Two weeks later, four other bombers attempted a similar attack, but their devices failed to explode. No one was hurt. The bombings remain seared into London’s collective memory, and the anniversary was being marked with events including a ceremony at the 7/7 memorial in Hyde Park and a service of commemoration at St. Paul’s Cathedral. At 8:50 a.m., the moment the first bomb exploded 20 years ago, Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan laid wreaths at the Hyde Park monument, a group of 52 steel columns commemorating the people who were killed. At subway stations near where the explosions hit, staff and commuters paused for a minute’s silence. Dan Biddle, who lost both legs in the blast on a Tube train near Edgware Road station, said the day brought mixed emotions. “You’re thankful you’ve survived it, you feel immense sadness and grief, but still this overwhelming sense of injustice that there wasn’t the public inquiry that was suggested and the scrutiny of what went wrong,” he told the BBC. Biddle also recalled the “phenomenal act of bravery” of an injured fellow passenger who crawled along the tunnel, administered emergency first aid and helped save his life. The king said in a message that his “heartfelt thoughts and special prayers remain with all those whose lives were forever changed on that terrible summer’s day.” He said the country could take heart from the bravery of the emergency services and others who responded to the attack, and “the countless stories of extraordinary courage and compassion that emerged from the darkness of that day.” Charles also hailed the “spirit of unity that has helped London, and our nation, to heal.” “As we remember those we lost, let us, therefore, use this 20th anniversary to reaffirm our commitment to building a society where people of all faiths and backgrounds can live together with mutual respect and understanding, always standing firm against those who would seek to divide us,” he said. In a separate message, the prime minister said that “those who tried to divide us failed. We stood together then, and we stand together now.” Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said July 7, 2005, was one of Britain’s “darkest days.” She said that 20 years on, “Islamist extremist terrorism remains the greatest threat” to national security, followed by extreme right-wing terrorism and new “hybrid threats” from hostile states, organized crime and cyberattacks. She said the government would “relentlessly confront and counter threats to our national security.” (AP)
A proposed agreement by Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter is sparking controversy and concern across Israel, as it could lead to an unprecedented rise in the prices of basic food items like bread and fruit. At the heart of the issue is a plan requiring Israel to shift from importing cheaper European wheat to significantly more expensive American wheat, a move critics warn will burden consumers and disproportionately hurt low-income families.
The backdrop to this controversy is ongoing tariff negotiations between Israel and the United States. President Donald Trump has demanded that Israel eliminate import duties on American fruits and vegetables. In exchange, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Israeli products if his request is denied. Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Finance Ministry have reportedly signaled agreement, a shift that could have led to lower prices for staples like tomatoes, apples, almonds, and peaches through increased U.S. imports.
However, Agriculture Minister Dichter has taken a markedly different approach, engaging in separate negotiations with U.S. officials. Under Dichter’s plan, Israel would maintain tariffs on sensitive agricultural goods and, in return, commit to sourcing 30% of its wheat imports from the United States.
This plan could hit Israeli consumers with a double financial blow.
Currently, Israel imports mostly European wheat, which is more affordable. Switching to U.S. wheat, as Dichter proposes, would drive up the cost of all bread products—including those under price controls. While the Finance Ministry opposes the proposal on grounds that it will inflate wheat prices, the Agriculture Ministry estimates the increase at a mere 10%.
Beyond bread, the refusal to eliminate tariffs on fruits and vegetables means that prices for these items would remain high—or possibly rise further if the U.S. retaliates with tariffs on Israeli exports.
Critics also point to what they call the “myth of food security.” Despite rhetoric suggesting Israel must protect local wheat production for national resilience, the reality is that more than 90% of Israel’s wheat has always been imported. Locally grown wheat is expensive and inconsistent in quality, making it unsuitable for large-scale bread production.
Still, flour mills in Israel are legally required to purchase one kilogram of Israeli wheat for every ten kilograms of imported wheat, even when there is no practical need for it. This regulation raises bread prices and disproportionately affects the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
Dichter’s new proposal would go a step further by mandating that imported wheat come specifically from the U.S., eliminating the cheaper European option altogether. The result, critics argue, would be an even steeper increase in wheat prices—under the guise of promoting “food security,” which they claim is simply a cover for shielding certain domestic producers from free-market competition.
The final decision now rests with Prime Minister Netanyahu, who must make a ruling by July 9, when negotiations with the U.S. are set to conclude. Will he accept Trump’s original proposal, which would lower food prices, or will he side with Dichter on a deal that may leave Israelis paying more for their fruits and bread?
Whatever the outcome, the decision will have a direct impact on the cost of living for every household in Israel.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Hamas’s internal security division, known as the “deterrence” unit, revealed that it carried out a wave of operations last week that culminated in the execution of 12 individuals. These individuals were accused of working with Israel and participating in various criminal acts.
In an official announcement, Hamas alleged that those executed were involved in providing intelligence to Israel, looting property, and committing violent robberies.
The organization reported that three of the men had been sentenced to death after being convicted of “serious security offenses that endangered the security and stability of society.”
According to the statement, the individuals were associated with the “Abu Marsib crime gang,” an outfit said to be active in Gaza’s central region.
“Our message is clear: there is no room for chaos in the Gaza Strip,” the group declared. “Punishment will continue on the ground as long as necessary. The campaign will persist until the last of the agents and criminals is eliminated.”
Although this security unit has operated for years, incidents involving Hamas’s aggressive purges of suspected collaborators have become more common since the start of the war in October 2023.
Despite the legal requirement that execution orders in Gaza be approved by Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas—who resides in Ramallah and placed a ban on executions years ago—Hamas has routinely ignored that process.
The organization no longer acknowledges Abbas’s authority and has previously insisted that capital punishment in Gaza can proceed without his endorsement.
Many of those put to death by Hamas have been accused of spying for Israel. In September 2022, Hamas executed two Palestinian Arabs found guilty of helping Israel by passing on information that led to the deaths of two individuals.
In May 2023, a military court in Gaza handed down death sentences to several Palestinian Arabs who were convicted of transmitting intelligence to Israel, with the punishments to be carried out by hanging or firing squad.
Later, in December of the same year, Hamas announced the arrest of several Palestinians who were allegedly working with Israel to gather intelligence in Gaza following the group’s October 7 massacre.
{Matzav.com}
Russia fired more than 100 drones at civilian areas of Ukraine overnight, authorities said Monday, as the Kremlin dismissed the country’s transport chief after a weekend of travel chaos when Russian airports grounded hundreds of flights due to the threat of Ukrainian drone attacks. At least 10 civilians were killed and 38 injured, including three children, in Russian attacks over the previous 24 hours, Ukrainian officials said. Russia recently has intensified its aerial strikes on civilian areas after more than three years of war. Over the past week, Russia launched some 1,270 drones, 39 missiles and almost 1,000 powerful glide bombs at Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday. Russia’s bigger army is also trying hard to break through at some points along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620 miles) front line, where Ukrainian forces are severely stretched. The strain of keeping Russia’s invasion at bay, and the lack of progress in direct peace talks, has compelled Ukraine to seek more military help from the U.S. and Europe. Zelenskyy said on Saturday that Ukraine had inked deals with European allies and a leading U.S. defense company to step up drone production, ensuring Kyiv receives “hundreds of thousands” more this year. “Air defense is the main thing for protecting life,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram on Monday. That includes developing and manufacturing interceptor drones that can stop Russia’s long-range Shahed drones, he said. Extensive use of drones has also helped Ukraine compensate for its troop shortages on the front line. One person was killed in the southern city of Odesa, 27 were injured in northeastern Kharkiv and falling drone debris caused damage in two districts of Kyiv, the capital, during nighttime drone attacks, Ukrainian authorities said. Russian short-range drones also killed two people and injured two others in the northern Sumy region, officials said. Sumy is one of the places where Russia has concentrated large numbers of troops. Also, nine people were injured and seven killed in the eastern Donetsk region, regional Gov. Vadym Filashkin said. He didn’t specify the type of weapons used. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Monday that its troops shot down 91 Ukrainian drones in 13 Russian regions overnight, as well as over the Black Sea and the Russian-annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. The Kremlin dismissed Transport Minister Roman Starovoyt on Monday, an order published on the Kremlin website said. The announcement did not give a reason for Starovoyt’s dismissal. Over the weekend, hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo and St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo airports. Other airports in western and central Russia also faced disruptions because of Ukrainian drone attacks. (AP)
Flash floods in Texas killed at least 82 people over the Fourth of July holiday weekend and left others still missing, including girls attending a summer camp. The devastation along the Guadalupe River, outside of San Antonio, has drawn a massive search effort as officials face questions over their preparedness and the speed of their initial actions. Here’s what to know about the deadly flooding, the colossal weather system that drove it in and around Kerr County, Texas, and ongoing efforts to identify victims. Massive rain hit at just the wrong time, in a flood-prone place The floods grew to their worst at the midpoint of a long holiday weekend when many people were asleep. The Texas Hill Country in the central part of the state is naturally prone to flash flooding due to the dry dirt-packed areas where the soil lets rain skid along the surface of the landscape instead of soaking it up. Friday’s flash floods started with a particularly bad storm that dropped most of its 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain in the dark early morning hours. After a flood watch notice midday Thursday, the National Weather Service office issued an urgent warning around 4 a.m. that raised the potential of catastrophic damage and a severe threat to human life. By at least 5:20 a.m., some in the Kerrville City area say water levels were getting alarmingly high. The massive rain flowing down hills sent rushing water into the Guadalupe River, causing it to rise 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes. Death toll is expected to rise and the number of missing is uncertain Gov. Greg Abbott said Sunday that there were 41 people confirmed to be unaccounted for across the state and more could be missing. In Kerr County, home to youth camps in the Texas Hill Country, searchers have found the bodies of 68 people, including 28 children, Sheriff Larry Leitha said Sunday afternoon. Fatalities in nearby counties brought the total number of deaths to 79 as of Sunday evening. Ten girls and a counselor were still unaccounted for at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the river. For past campers, the tragedy turned happy memories into grief. Beyond the Camp Mystic campers unaccounted for, the number of missing from other nearby campgrounds and across the region had not been released. “We don’t even want to begin to estimate at this time,” Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said Saturday, citing the likely influx of visitors during the July Fourth holiday. Officials face scrutiny over flash flood warnings Survivors have described the floods as a “pitch black wall of death” and said they received no emergency warnings. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, who lives along the Guadalupe River, said Saturday that “nobody saw this coming.” Various officials have referred to it as a “100-year-flood,” meaning that the water levels were highly unlikely based on the historical record. And records behind those statistics don’t always account for human-caused climate change. Though it’s hard to connect specific storms to a warming planet so soon after they occur, meteorologists say that a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture and allow severe storms to dump even more rain. Additionally, officials have come under scrutiny about why residents and youth summer camps along the river were not alerted sooner than 4 a.m. or told to evacuate. Officials noted that the public can […]
Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem reiterated Sunday the terror group’s refusal to lay down its weapons before Israel withdraws from all of southern Lebanon and stops its airstrikes. He spoke in a video address, as thousands gathered in Beirut’s southern suburbs to mark the Shiite holy day of Ashoura. Ashoura commemorates the 680 A.D. Battle of Karbala, in which the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein, was killed after he refused to pledge allegiance to the Umayyad caliphate. In response to those who ask why the group needs its missile arsenal, Kassem said: “How can we confront Israel when it attacks us if we didn’t have them? Who is preventing Israel from entering villages and landing and killing young people, women and children inside their homes unless there is a resistance with certain capabilities capable of minimal defense?” His comments come ahead of an expected visit by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack to Beirut to discuss a proposed plan for Hezbollah’s disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the rest of southern Lebanon. Barrack posted Saturday on X that Lebanon is facing “a historic moment to supersede the strained confessionalism of the past and finally fulfill (its) true promise of the hope of ‘One country, one people, one army’” and quoted U.S. President Donald Trump saying, “Let’s make Lebanon Great again.” (AP & YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
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