Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, issued a warning that an all-out war initiated by Israel could result in the displacement of “hundreds of thousands” more people. His remarks come in response to ongoing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, where around 100,000 people have already been displaced due to the conflict. Speaking in Beirut, Qassem said, “We have no intention of going to war, as we consider that this would not be useful.” However, he made it clear that if Israel were to launch a full-scale offensive, Hezbollah would not hesitate to retaliate. “If Israel does unleash a war, we will face up to it — and there will be large losses on both sides,” Qassem said, signaling the potential for widespread devastation in the event of a conflict. Qassem added, “If they think such a war would allow the 100,000 displaced people to return home… we issue this warning: prepare to deal with hundreds of thousands more displaced.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Yesterday, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister wrote on X that his country would not support a ‘day after’ plan for the Gaza Strip unless Israel agreed to the creation of a Palestinian state.
Back in July, the UAE announced it would be willing to support a multinational armed force in Gaza, as an intermediate step before the official establishment of a Palestinian state. This announcement was considered monumental, as the UAE became the first Arab country to signal support for a ‘day after’ plan.
However tying such a plan to the eventual creation of a Palestinian state makes such a plan unlikely to come to fruition. Prime Minister Netanyahu likes to speak of a solution where the Palestinians have the benefits of a State, without the power to hurt Israel. Other parties in his coalition speak much more forcefully against the idea of creating a Palestinian state. Additionally, following the Hamas massacre on October 7th, left-wing Israeli support for the establishment of a Palestinian state in the foreseeable future declined.
Back in May, the UAE rejected a proposal by Bibi to support local Gazan clans in governing the strip following the war.
{Matzav.com}
Blue-collar workers from Boeing walked picket lines in the Pacific Northwest instead of building airplanes on Friday after they overwhelmingly rejected a proposed contract that would have raised their wages by 25% over four years. The strike by 33,000 machinists will not disrupt airline flights anytime soon, but it is expected to shut down production of Boeing’s best-selling jetliners, marking yet another setback for a company already dealing with billions of dollars in financial losses and a damaged reputation. The company said it was taking steps to conserve cash while its CEO looks for ways to come up with a contract that the unionized factory workers will accept. Late Friday, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service said it would convene new talks early next week. “FMCS has been in contact with both IAM and Boeing to support their return to the negotiation table and commends the parties on their willingness to meet and work towards a mutually acceptable resolution,” the agency said in a statement. Boeing stock fell 3.7% Friday, bringing its decline for the year to nearly 40%. The strike started soon after a regional branch of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers reported that in a Thursday vote, 94.6% of participating members rejected a contract offer that the union’s own bargaining committee had endorsed, and 96% voted to strike. Shortly after midnight, striking workers stood outside the Boeing factory in Renton, Washington, with signs reading, “Have you seen the damn housing prices?” Car horns honked and a boom box played songs including Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do.” Many of the workers who spoke to reporters said they considered the wage offer inadequate given how much the cost of living has increase in the Pacific Northwest. John Olson said his pay had increased just 2% during his six years at Boeing. “The last contract we negotiated was 16 years ago, and the company is basing the wage increases off of wages from 16 years ago,” the 45-year-old toolmaker said. “They don’t even keep up with the cost of inflation.” Others said they were unhappy about the company’s decision to change the criteria used to calculate annual bonuses. The machinists make $75,608 per year on average, not counting overtime, and that would have risen to $106,350 by the end of the proposed four-year contract, according to Boeing. Under the rejected contract, workers would have received $3,000 lump sum payments and a reduced share of health care costs in addition to pay raises. Boeing also met a key union demand by promising to build its next new plane in Washington state. However, the offer fell short of the union’s initial demand for pay raises of 40% over three years. The union also wanted to restore traditional pensions that were axed a decade ago but settled for an increase in new Boeing contributions to employee 401(k) retirement accounts of up to $4,160 per worker. The head of the union local, IAM District 751 President Jon Holden, said the union would survey members to find out which issues they want to stress when negotiations resume. Boeing responded to the strike announcement by saying it was “ready to get back to the table to reach a new agreement.” “The message was […]
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund is allocating 225 million shekels (more than $60 million) in emergency aid to local authorities in northern and southern Israel as the conflict along the country’s borders continues into its 11th month.
Distribution will be based on factors such as population size, distance from the border, socio-economic status and the percentage of evacuated residents. Most of the funding—160 million shekels (nearly $43 million)—will go to communities in the south.
Projects focus on land preparation for housing and agriculture; the development of security and agricultural roads; the construction of public buildings; the creation of green spaces; educational programs; infrastructure development; reforestation; and critical support for the rehabilitation and recovery of affected residents.
Also planned is an investment of up to 30 million shekels ($8 million) in upgrading the Evron Reservoir to help divert water from the Ga’aton River, significantly reducing the risk of flooding in Nahariya, which has previously suffered severe damage. The reservoir will also provide water for agriculture in the Ma’ale Yosef and Mateh Asher regional councils.
Ifat Ovadia-Luski , chairwoman of KKL-JNF, said the organization “stands firmly with the residents of northern and southern Israel. We are committed to ensuring the continued survival and prosperity of these frontier communities. The assistance we provide is part of our broader efforts to restore vital infrastructure, support local agriculture and strengthen community resilience.”
She added, “We are driven by a deep sense of national responsibility, working to maintain rehabilitation projects, ensure food security and support agricultural efforts.”
(JNS)
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The Attorney General of the state of Ohio, Dave Yost, discusses the struggles facing Springfield due to the migrant influx, and considering litigation.
Iran launched a satellite into space Saturday with a rocket built by the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, state-run media reported, the latest for a program the West fears helps Tehran advance its ballistic missile program. Iran described the launch as a success, which would be the second such launch to put a satellite into orbit with the rocket. There was no immediate independent confirmation of the launch’s success. Footage later released by Iranian media showed the rocket blast off from a mobile launcher. An Associated Press analysis of the video and other imagery later released suggested the launch happened at the Guard’s launch pad on the outskirts of the city of Shahroud, some 350 kilometers (215 miles) east of the capital, Tehran. The launch comes amid heightened tensions gripping the wider Middle East over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, during which Tehran launched an unprecedented direct missile-and-drone attack on Israel. Meanwhile, Iran continues to enrich uranium to nearly weapons-grade levels, raising concerns among nonproliferation experts about Tehran’s program. Iran identified the satellite-carrying rocket as the Qaem-100, which the Guard used in January for another successful launch. Qaem means “upright” in Iran’s Farsi language. The solid-fuel, three-stage rocket put the Chamran-1 satellite, weighing 60 kilograms (132 pounds), into a 550-kilometer (340-mile) orbit, state media reported. The rocket bore a Quranic verse: “That which is left by Allah is better for you, if you are believers.” A state-owned subsidiary of Iran’s Defense Ministry and experts at the Aerospace Research Institute built the satellite with others to “test hardware and software systems for orbital maneuver technology validation,” state media said, without elaborating. Gen. Hossein Salami, the head of the Guard, praised the launch in a statement and said scientists successfully overcame “the atmosphere of extensive and oppressive international sanctions.” The U.S. State Department and the American military did not immediately respond to requests for comment over the Iranian launch. The United States had previously said Iran’s satellite launches defy a U.N. Security Council resolution and called on Tehran to undertake no activity involving ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. U.N. sanctions related to Iran’s ballistic missile program expired last October. Under Iran’s relatively moderate former President Hassan Rouhani, the Islamic Republic slowed its space program for fear of raising tensions with the West. Hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, a protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who came to power in 2021, has pushed the program forward. Raisi died in a helicopter crash in May. It’s unclear what Iran’s new president, the reformist Masoud Pezeshkian, wants for the program as he was silent on the issue while campaigning. The U.S. intelligence community’s worldwide threat assessment this year said Iran’s development of satellite launch vehicles “would shorten the timeline” for Iran to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile because it uses similar technology. Intercontinental ballistic missiles can be used to deliver nuclear weapons. Iran is now producing uranium close to weapons-grade levels after the collapse of its nuclear deal with world powers. Tehran has enough enriched uranium for “several” nuclear weapons, if it chooses to produce them, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency repeatedly has warned. Iran has always denied seeking nuclear weapons and says its space program, like its nuclear activities, is for purely civilian purposes. However, U.S. intelligence […]
Four leaders of the Islamic State were killed by U.S. and Iraqi security forces in a combined raid carried out in western Iraq last month, including the head of the extremist group’s operations in the country, U.S. military officials announced Friday.
The dramatic operation Aug. 29 resulted in the deaths of 14 Islamic State operatives and was designed to “disrupt and degrade” the terrorist group’s ability to organize and launch attacks throughout the region and beyond, U.S. Central Command said at the time.
The four leaders killed were identified as Ahmad Hamid Husayn Abd-al-Jalil al-Ithawi, who was in charge of all Islamic State operations in Iraq; Abu Hammam, who oversaw all operations in western Iraq; Abu Ali al-Tunisi, who oversaw technical development; and Shakir Abud Ahmad al-Issawi, who was responsible for military operations in western Iraq, according to a statement Friday from Centcom, which coordinates American military activity throughout the Middle East.
The raid last month began with “consecutive and surprise airstrikes” on four Islamic State hideouts in the early hours, The Washington Post previously reported, and took place east of Wadi al-Ghadaf, a river bed that runs through the Anbar desert, in an area Iraqi officials identified as al-Hazeemi. The operation destroyed four “highly camouflaged hideouts,” as well as weapons and ammunition used by the Islamic State, and documents and digital devices found were seized.
Centcom described the militants as “armed with numerous weapons, grenades, and explosive ‘suicide’ belts.”
Seven American troops were wounded in the operation, defense officials said, a relatively high number compared with other missions.
The United States maintains about 2,500 service members in Iraq and another 900 troops in neighboring Syria. They are tasked with stomping out the remnants of the Islamic State and have increasingly had to contend with a surge in attacks by other adversaries, including Iranian-backed militants, since Israel began its military campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
(c) Washington Post
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu threatened to strike a severe blow against the Houthis in Yemen in the wake of their launch of a surface-to-surface missile at Israel early Sunday morning. Speaking at Sunday’s Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu began with a reminder that Iran is behind all the Houthis’ strikes against Israel. “We are in a multi-front battle against the evil axis of Iran that is striving for our destruction,” he said. “This morning, the Houthis launched a surface-to-surface missile from Yemen into our territory. They should have known already that we exact a heavy price for any attempt to harm us. Anyone who needs a reminder is welcome to visit the port of Hodeidah. In July, Israel carried out heavy airstrikes against Houthi targets in the Hodeidah port area in western Yemen in response to the terror group’s launch of a drone that struck Tel Aviv two days earlier, completely disabling the port. “Anyone who attacks us will not escape our reach,” Netanyahu threatened. The IDF said several attempts were made to shoot down the hypersonic missile with the Arrow and Iron Dome defense systems. According to an initial investigation, the missile fell apart in the air. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saria claimed responsibility for the launch of the ballistic missile, bragging that the terror group launched a new hypersonic missile at a military target in the Tel Aviv area that traveled 2,040 kilometers in 11.5 minutes and “caused fear among the Zionists and forced over two million of them to flee to shelters for the first time in its history.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Vice President Kamala Harris is facing sharp criticism after conducting an interview with Philadelphia’s Action News 6, where she dodged key questions and offered vague, disjointed responses on pressing issues like inflation. The interview, her first solo media appearance since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, has been described by critics as another instance of Harris delivering what has been dubbed “word salad.” During the nearly 11-minute interview, anchor Brian Taff opened with a question on how Harris planned to tackle inflation. Instead of directly addressing the economic issue, Harris pivoted to a personal story. “I grew up as a middle-class kid. My mother raised my sister and me. She worked very hard,” Harris began, before shifting to a discussion of lawns and dignity, but not the economy. Her answers failed to outline any specific plan for lowering inflation, though she did highlight policies like providing a $25,000 handout for new homeowners and tax breaks for small businesses. When asked how she differs from President Joe Biden, Harris offered little clarity, stating, “I’m obviously not Joe Biden, and I offer a new generation of leadership,” but failing to elaborate on any specific differences. Similarly, she skirted a question on why former President Donald Trump appeals to many Americans, offering broad statements about unity rather than addressing Trump’s popularity directly. Perhaps her most straightforward response came when discussing gun violence. Harris, who described herself as a licensed gun owner, reassured that she would not take “anyone’s guns away” but advocated for stronger background checks and a ban on assault weapons, which she referred to as “literally tools of war.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
David Rubenstein, the Jewish co-founder and co-chairman of the Carlyle Group and owner of the Baltimore Orioles, has committed to donate $1.5 million to the Jewish Museum of Maryland, the cultural institution, which is part of the Baltimore Jewish Federation, announced on Thursday.
“Happy to support the Jewish Museum of Maryland,” Rubenstein wrote on social media. “Through modern and compelling exhibits, more people will learn from and be inspired by Maryland’s Jewish history.”
The museum stated that the new David M. Rubenstein Exhibition Arcade will form “the epicenter of the museum’s front of house, a central public space that branches out into galleries, an audio/video production studio and a library.”
The gift “will ensure the museum’s architecture and technologies support the museum’s evolution as a cultural institution delivering a dynamic range of ways the public can engage with Maryland’s Jewish history and culture,” stated Sol Davis, the museum’s executive director.
(JNS)
The U.S. State Department announced new sanctions on Russian state media Friday, accusing a Kremlin news outlet of working hand-in-hand with the Russian military and running fundraising campaigns to pay for sniper rifles, body armor and other equipment for soldiers fighting in Ukraine. While the outlet, RT, has previously been sanctioned for its work to spread Kremlin propaganda and disinformation, the allegations announced Friday suggest its role goes far beyond influence operations. Instead, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, RT is a key part of Russia’s war machine and its efforts to undermine its democratic allies. RT has also created websites posing as legitimate news sites to spread disinformation and propaganda in Europe, Africa and elsewhere, officials said. They say the outlet has also expanded its use of cyber operations with a new unit with ties to Russian intelligence. (AP)
TYH Nation is proud to announce the release of its latest musical project, *“Min Hameitzar – מן המצר,”* featuring two superstars of Jewish music, Motty Steinmetz and Dovy Meisels. This powerful rendition, composed by the Blumkowitz Brothers, brings the heartfelt message of the timeless passuk, “Min HaMetzar,” to life through soulful vocals and stirring instrumentation, allowing listeners to connect on a deeply personal level. In the lead-up to Yomin Noraim, Min HaMetzar—a passuk we say before the blowing of the shofar—reminds us that even when we find ourselves in narrow, challenging situations, we can cry out to Hashem for deliverance and expansiveness. The sound of the shofar represents our innermost voice—the purest part of us yearning to connect and return to our Creator. This message is expertly captured in the vocal performances and the arrangement, resonating with those seeking connection and spiritual elevation. Motty Steinmetz and Dovy Meisels bring their unique vocal talents and profound emotions to the project, creating a harmonious blend that allows the message of the song to reach the listener’s heart. The deep personal connection each artist felt during the recording process is evident in their moving performances. “Recording this song was a truly emotional experience for me,” says Steinmetz. “The words ‘Min HaMetzar’ express such raw longing and hope, and I felt that deeply throughout the production.” Meisels echoes this sentiment: “It’s not just about the music. It’s about finding that voice within, the one that sometimes gets lost in the craziness of life. Singing this pasuk and working on this production really made me connect with its message in a personal way, and I hope listeners feel the same.” The track was produced and arranged by Mendy Portnoy, with mixing and mastering by Yaron Safer, ensuring the highest quality of sound and a deeply immersive listening experience. The Shir V’shevach Boys Choir, arranged and conducted by Chaim Meir Fligman, adds a celestial layer to the composition. The music video, produced by Rivkin Media and directed by Shlomo Chaim Rivkin, visually captures the essence of the song, with stunning cinematography that enhances the depth and beauty of the music. Filmed at The Arches and featuring breathtaking scenery, the video adds a compelling visual layer to the auditory experience. This release promises to move audiences and inspire introspection as we approach the Days of Awe. TYH Nation continues its mission to elevate Jewish music by bringing meaningful, high-quality projects that resonate with listeners worldwide. You Tube: https://youtu.be/JGz5fYZQoJ0 24SIX: https://24six.app/app/music/content/204180 Available on all streaming platforms https://song.link/minhameitzar For media inquiries, interviews, or more information, please contact: Mendy Portnoy, Hello@tyhnation.com
In an effort to prevent another riot like the one on Jan. 6, 2021, the Homeland Security secretary has designated the congressional count and certification of the presidential election as a national special security event overseen by the Secret Service. Both political parties’ national conventions, the presidential inauguration and the U.N. General Assembly already have this designation, but it’s the first time the Jan. 6 vote count and certification have received it. The Secret Service said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas made the designation following a request from the mayor of Washington, D.C. The move means these are particularly high-profile events that might be targets for terrorists or criminals. The Secret Service is in charge of running security for such events in a planning process that kicks off many months in advance. A steering committee for the Jan. 6 certification has been formed and will begin meeting in the coming weeks, the Secret Service said. The goal is to improve planning and coordination, especially when it comes to pulling in resources across the federal government. “National Special Security Events are events of the highest national significance,” Eric Ranaghan, the special agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Dignitary Protective Division, said in a statement. The agency and its partners “are committed to developing and implementing a comprehensive and integrated security plan to ensure the safety and security of this event and its participants,” he said. Rioters seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 election descended on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2021. They scaled walls, shattered windows, beat police and hunted down lawmakers in the halls of Congress. About 140 police officers were injured that day. One officer collapsed and died. Four others later died by suicide. A Trump supporter seeking to climb through a broken window was shot and killed by authorities. In the aftermath of the riot, 1,500 criminal cases have been brought to court with more than 900 people pleading guilty and roughly 200 convicted. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Thursday that House Democrats are “committed to protecting the democracy, we’re committed to free and fair elections and we’re committed to the peaceful transfer of power that will begin on Jan. 6.” Asked if the special security designation was needed, he said that given what happened in 2021, “and the refusal by many extreme MAGA Republicans to stop something like that from ever happening again … this designation by national security professionals seems to have been necessary.” It’s a high-profile job for an agency struggling to defend its reputation in the wake of the assassination attempt against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania. The Secret Service has been criticized for failing to secure the building that Thomas Matthew Crooks climbed on top of and opened fire as Trump spoke. A bullet nicked Trump on the ear. The agency’s director, Kim Cheatle, resigned after a heated congressional hearing, and the agency’s decisions and planning are the subject of multiple investigations. (AP)
IDF aircraft dropped leaflets in the Al-Wazzani village in southern Lebanon instructing residents to evacuate the area by 4:00 p.m., Lebanese media reported on Sunday morning. The leaflets said that due to Hezbollah’s military action in the area, residents of the border village must leave their homes. “To all residents and displaced persons in the refugee camp area, Hezbollah is firing from your area,” the leaflets state. “You must leave your homes immediately and head north of the area by 4 p.m. Do not return to this area until the end of the war. Anyone present in this area after this hour will be considered a terrorist element and will be eliminated.” It is the first time since Hezbollah began attacking Israel on October 8 that the IDF has made such a move in Lebanon. The IDF has not yet commented on the reports, which follow Hezbollah’s latest missile and drone barrage at northern Israel on Sunday morning and heavy barrages on Shabbos and Motzei Shabbos. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
The Hezbollah terror group fired dozens of rockets at the Upper Galil and northern Ramat HaGolan on Sunday morning. The IDF said that some of the rockets were intercepted and others fell in open areas, kindling fires. B’Chasdei Hashem, no one was injured. Firefighting teams are currently working in several areas to quell the flames. Also on Sunday morning, a suicide drone exploded in the Metula area but Baruch Hashem caused no injuries or damage. The IDF also reported that it carried out a drone strike overnight on a group of terrorists in the Shebaa area of southern Lebanon as well as artillery strikes on several areas in southern Lebanon.
A woman in Austria was found guilty of fatally infecting her neighbor with COVID-19 in 2021, her second pandemic-related conviction in a year, according to local media. A judge sentenced the 54-year-old on Thursday to four months’ suspended imprisonment and an 800-euro fine ($886.75) for grossly negligent homicide. The victim, who was also a cancer patient, died of pneumonia that was caused by the coronavirus, according to Austrian news agency APA. A virological report showed that the virus DNA matched both the deceased and the 54-year-old woman, proving that the defendant “almost 100 percent” transmitted it, an expert told the court. “I feel sorry for you personally — I think that something like this has probably happened hundreds of times,” the judge said Thursday. “But you are unlucky that an expert has determined with almost absolute certainty that it was an infection that came from you.” While the judge issued the sentence Thursday, APA reported that the verdict isn’t yet final. The names of the victim and defendant were not released in line with Austrian privacy rules. The woman was convicted of a COVID-related offense last summer, APA reported. The agency said she was sentenced to three months’ suspended imprisonment for intentionally endangering people through communicable diseases. But she was acquitted on the grossly negligent homicide charge at that time. This week, the judge heard statements from the deceased’s family, who said there had been contact in a stairwell between the neighbors on Dec. 21, 2001 — when the defendant would already have known she had COVID-19. But she denied the meeting, saying she was too sick to get out of bed that day. She also said she believed she had bronchitis, which she typically gets every year. But the woman’s doctor told police that the defendant had tested positive with a rapid test and told him that she “certainly won’t let herself be locked up” after the result. (AP)
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