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A quick-moving blaze in Southern California exploded in size this weekend, consuming more than 17,000 acres as of early Sunday and forcing evacuations amid a searing heat wave in the region.

The Line Fire in San Bernardino County, which ignited late last week, quadrupled in size as the weekend began, scorching thousands of acres on Saturday alone. The flames raced up steep terrain, chewing through thick vegetation as they approached Running Springs, a mountain community of about 5,000 people that lies between the populated resort areas of Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake. The community has been ordered to evacuate, while Lake Arrowhead and areas to its west are under an evacuation warning.

Evacuation orders are also in effect on the south side of the fire, where structures could be affected in the city of Highland, which lies at the base of the mountains in San Bernardino County.

Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in the county to secure federal assistance to respond to the fire, which in all threatens more than 35,000 homes, as well as critical infrastructure.

The fire has “room to grow now in essentially three directions and there are population centers and pretty dense, dry vegetation in between those population centers,” UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain said in a Saturday briefing.

The fire initially sparked Thursday and had burned about 3,800 acres by Saturday morning, before ballooning thousands of acres through the afternoon. The blaze was so intense that it also formed a towering pyrocumulonimbus cloud – a fire-generated thunderstorm – that was sending out its own lightning, erratic winds and brief rain.

The fire is spreading amid a scorching heat wave in Southern California that has rivaled one seen in September 2020, with temperatures approaching or tying all-time records, exceeding 105 and even 110 degrees in many locations.

Vegetation in the area is “critically dry,” according to the San Bernardino National Forest.

“The San Bernardino front country … has everything you need for a fire to get big,” retired Cal Fire assistant chief Tim Chavez said in an interview posted online by the Lookout, a wildfire reporting website.

Along with this week’s heat, Chavez said this includes heavy fuels that in most places haven’t burned since the 1990s – and “steep, steep terrain leading up to the mountain communities.”

“Fuels that are stressed like that – they tend to surprise you,” he said.

Stormy skies cloud parts of the region, as monsoon thunderstorms in the area on Saturday also helped to intensify the fire. Officials are expecting Sunday to be another day of fire growth and erratic fire behavior.

“Unfortunately, the weather conditions over the next few days are not going to be favorable,” Swain said in the Saturday briefing. “It’s going to be very hot and relatively unstable over the next few days with some increasing winds next week.”

Cooler weather is expected to move in by midweek, but that transition could come with strong winds.

Meanwhile, the wind-driven Davis Fire south of Reno, Nev., has burned at least 1,500 acres and destroyed at least six structures, forcing quick evacuations.

Strong, dry winds of 30 to 40 mph are expected Sunday as a weather disturbance passes through the region. The conditions are a major fire weather risk for the Sierra Front, according to the National Weather Service at Reno, and a red flag warning is in effect for western Nevada into eastern California from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. today, given the potential for fast-spreading blazes.

The Western fire season has roared back to life this past week as hot, dry conditions have returned. There are 70 large fires burning out West, including 21 in Oregon, 19 in Idaho and 13 in Montana. A mix of wind and dry thunderstorms forecast for the coming days could exacerbate the situation and further strain firefighting resources.

(c) Washington Post

Three sisters from Ohio who inherited a dime kept in a bank vault for more than 40 years knew it had some value. But they had no idea just how much until just a few years ago. The extraordinarily rare coin, struck by the U.S. Mint in San Francisco in 1975, could bring more than $500,000, said Ian Russell, president of GreatCollections, which specializes in currency and is handling an online auction that will end in October. What makes the dime depicting President Franklin D. Roosevelt so valuable is a missing “S” mint mark for San Francisco, one of just two without the mark known to exist. The other one sold at a 2019 auction for $456,000 and then again months later to a private collector. While serious coin collectors have long known about the existence of these two rare dimes, their whereabouts had remained a mystery since the late 1970s. “They were hidden for decades.” Russell said. “Most major collectors and dealers have never seen one.” The mint in San Francisco made more than 2.8 million special uncirculated “proof” sets in 1975 that featured six coins and were sold for $7. Collectors a few years later discovered that two dimes from the set were missing the mint mark. The sisters from Ohio who inherited one of those two dimes after the recent death of brother want to remain anonymous given their sudden windfall, Russell said. They shared with Russell that their brother and mother in 1978 bought the first error coin discovered for $18,200, which would amount to roughly $90,000 today. Their parents, who operated a dairy farm, saw the coin as a financial safety net. One of the sisters said her brother often talked about the rare coin. But she never saw it first-hand until last year. Russell, whose company is based in Irvine, California, said their brother reached out to him about seven years ago and eventually told him about the coin. He too kept the secret. When Russell told one of the sisters just a few years ago about the coin’s potential value, he said she remarked “is that really possible?” Now the coin, known as the “1975 ‘no S’ proof dime,” will be displayed at a coin show beginning Wednesday in Tampa, Florida, and before the auction closes in late October, Russell said. While there is a chance more examples of the rare dime are out there, they would only be found among the 1975 “proof” sets and not in anyone’s pocket change, Russell said. Still, he expects this latest discovery to set off a lot of searching. (AP)

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has been named the winner of Algeria’s presidential election, granting him another term leading the gas-rich North African nation five years after pro-democracy protests led to the ouster of his predecessor. In a result that surprised few observers internationally or in Algeria, the country’s independent election authority on Sunday announced that Tebboune had won 94% of the vote, far outpacing his challengers Islamist Abdelali Hassani Cherif, who won 3% and socialist Youcef Aouchiche, who won 2.1%. Election officials reported less than six million of the country’s 24 million voters had turned out to vote on Saturday, perpetuating the low voter turnout rates that marred Tebboune’s first term and raised questions about his popular support. Algeria is Africa’s largest country by area and, with almost 45 million people, it’s the continent’s second most populous after South Africa to hold presidential elections in 2024 — a year in which more than 50 elections are being held worldwide, encompassing more than half the world’s population. Throughout the campaign, activists and international organizations, including Amnesty International, railed against the campaign season’s repressive atmosphere and the harassment and prosecutions of those involved in opposition parties, media organizations and civil society groups. Some denounced this election as a rubber stamp exercise that can only entrench the status quo. But Tebboune and his two challengers each urged political participation and specifically made overtures to the Algerian youth, who make up a majority of the population and disproportionately suffer from poverty and unemployment. (AP)

Current and former senior U.S. intelligence officials are afraid a second Donald Trump term will see the former president retaliate against America’s spy agencies by carrying out a “deep state” purge and ultimately see him use the powerful agencies for his own political purposes, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

“Senior people are really worried,” retired Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden, a former CIA director under Republican President George W. Bush, told the newspaper, adding a prediction that a second Trump administration would try to slash civil service protections and fire perceived enemies at a time when the country is mired in complex geopolitical jousting with China, Russia, and others.

“President Trump is committed to returning the intelligence community to its proper constitutional and statutory limits,” Brian Hughes, a Trump campaign official, told the WSJ, insisting his candidate is “committed to break the hold that entrenched interests have over decision-making and exercising the will of the American people.” Read more at The Wall Street Journal.

{Matzav.com}

President Joe Biden, at 81 years old, holds the distinction of being the oldest person ever elected to the presidency, as well as the oldest to serve in office. Now, his His frequent vacations have drawn attention, with the New York Post calculating that the time he’s spent away from work equates to nearly 48 years of vacation time for an average worker.

In fact, according to the Post, “President Biden spends almost as much time on R&R as he does running the country.”

To date, Biden has taken 532 vacation days out of the 1,326 days he’s been in office as of the end of August, which accounts for 40.3% of his time in the White House, according to figures from the Republican National Committee.

For context, the Post reported that a typical American worker with 11 vacation days per year would need approximately 48 years to accumulate as much time off as Biden has taken during his presidency.

Mark Paoletta, former general counsel at the White House Office of Management and Budget, shared his perspective with the Post, saying, “The image of Biden fast asleep and lying flat on his back in his chair at the beach while America and the world is on fire will define the Biden presidency.” Paoletta added, “Inflation has been out of control; prices still way too high; our border overrun with millions of illegal aliens committing violent crimes on our citizens; the world in a perilous state; and all Biden wants to do is go on vacation and check out — for more than 530 days.”

In recent months, Biden has taken more personal time, particularly after announcing he would not run for reelection. The Post suggested this might be due to his frustration with fellow Democrats who pressured him into stepping aside.

Despite this, his time off remains in line with his previous years in office, with the Post noting that Biden’s third year as president continued the trend of making him “America’s most idle commander in chief.”

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., voiced her dissatisfaction with Biden’s performance, telling the Post, “We probably would have been better off if he did even less and went on vacation more.” She added, “Sadly, he repealed President Trump’s border policies, lifted sanctions on Iran that enriched them, and implemented anti-energy policies that drove up the cost gas, food and utility bills. If he just left things alone, things would be better.”

Comparatively, former President Donald Trump spent 26% of his presidency on personal travel, totaling 381 days out of 1,461, according to the Post. By contrast, former President Barack Obama, who was younger than both Biden and Trump, took just 11% of his time in office as vacation days.

The White House has pushed back on the criticism surrounding Biden’s time off, arguing that the president continues to work even while on personal trips. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates responded to the Post, saying, “It’s not a surprise that the same geniuses who attack President Biden for petting hero dogs and liking ice cream can’t count, but he has taken fewer vacation days than the modern average for presidents and works hard every day, wherever he is.”

Jordanians distributed candies to passersby on streets throughout the kingdom on Sunday in celebration of the murders of three Israelis in a shooting at the Allenby Bridge Crossing between Jordan and Israel on Sunday morning. One photo showed a note alongside the candies on the tray stating: “Sweets for the “heroic operation.” The terrorist who carried out the attack was a Jordanian truck driver identified as Maher Dhiab Hussein al-Jazi, 39. He was eliminated immediately after the attack by Israeli security forces. Later on Sunday, videos from Amman showed crowds in the streets cheering, waving Palestinian flags and launching fireworks in celebration of the murders. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed early Sunday they shot down another American-made MQ-9 drone flying over the country, marking potentially the latest downing of the multimillion-dollar surveillance aircraft. The U.S. responded with airstrikes over Houthi-controlled territory, the rebels said. The U.S. military told The Associated Press it was aware of the claim but has “received no reports” of American military drones being downed over Yemen. The rebels offered no pictures or video to support the claim as they have in the past, though such material can appear in propaganda footage days later. However, the Houthis have repeatedly downed General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper drones in the years since they seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014. Those attacks have exponentially increased since the start of the Israel-Hamas war and the Houthis launched their campaign targeting shipping in the Red Sea corridor. Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree made the claim in a prerecorded video message. He said the Houthis shot down the drone over Yemen’s Marib province, a long-contested area home to key oil and gas fields that’s been held by allies of a Saudi-led coalition battling the rebels since 2015. Saree offered no details on how the rebels down the aircraft. However, Iran has armed the rebels with a surface-to-air missile known as the 358 for years. Iran denies arming the rebels, though Tehran-manufactured weaponry has been found on the battlefield and in seaborne shipments heading to Yemen despite a United Nations arms embargo. The Houthis “continue to perform their jihadist duties in victory for the oppressed Palestinian people and in defense of dear Yemen,” Saree said. Reapers, which cost around $30 million apiece, can fly at altitudes up to 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) and have an endurance of up to 24 hours before needing to land. The aircraft have been flown by both the U.S. military and the CIA over Yemen for years. After the claim, the Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel reported multiple U.S.-led airstrikes near the city of Ibb. The U.S. military did not immediately acknowledge the strikes, but the Americans have been striking Houthi targets intensely since January. The Houthis have targeted more than 80 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the war in Gaza started in October. They seized one vessel and sank two in the campaign that has also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by a U.S.-led coalition in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have included Western military vessels as well. The rebels maintain that they target ships linked to Israel, the U.S. or the U.K. to force an end to Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran. Those attacks include the barrage that struck the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion in the Red Sea. Salvagers last week abandoned an initial effort to tow away the burning oil tanker, leaving the Sounion stranded and its 1 million barrels of oil at risk of spilling. (AP)

Picture this: It’s 11 PM, and a gabbai is discussing shul software while in the ER. This scene epitomizes the dedication of our shuls’ unsung heroes. Gabbaim juggle an overwhelming array of tasks – from managing pledges to sending zmanim – often working late into the night. The sheer volume of tasks, combined with the use of multiple disjointed software solutions, frequently leads to missed opportunities, forgotten pledges, and inefficient shul management. Enter Shulspace, an all-in-one platform designed to empower gabbaim and streamline shul operations. Built with real-world feedback, Shulspace offers comprehensive solutions for every aspect of shul management. From robust invoicing and automated announcements to the innovative Kibbudim tracker and Gizber kiosk, Shulspace enhances efficiency, boosts collections, and improves communication. The result? A more organized, professional atmosphere that benefits the entire community. Meet Shulspace: the ultimate shul (synagogue) management platform designed with gabbaim in mind. Here’s what Shulspace brings to your kehillah: Effortless pledge invoicing and online payment system that boosts your shul’s income Smart schedule announcement tools to keep your community in perfect sync Precision-timed automated zmanim updates tailored to your location Comprehensive kibbudim management system ensuring every member feels valued Stunning shul display integration that elevates your makom tefillah Sleek member portal for easy access to all shul information Hassle-free one-call setup process to get your shul running smoothly in no time Give your shul an Aliyah. Call, text or WhatsApp 848.325.0701 or check us out at shulspace.com If you already have an account login.

A woman was assaulted in the southwestern German city of Heidelberg last week for wearing a “Bring them home now” T-shirt in support of the Israelis held captive in Gaza.

The attack came the same week that a gunman opened fire near the Israeli consulate in Munich on the anniversary of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre and was killed by police.

The couple was assaulted on Monday evening by a 29-year-old man as they were walking outside in the university town, according to images captured on CCTV.

The attacker grabbed the woman by the T-shirt, demanding she take it off, lightly injuring her, local media reported. When her husband tried to help his wife, the attacker punched him several times in the face, reportedly knocking out a tooth before fleeing the scene.

The attacker later posted about the incident on Instagram.

The Muslim suspect, who was arrested on Thursday evening in a nearby city where he lives, is a German national whose parents are from Lebanon.

He remains under arrest this weekend after failing to post a €10,000 bail.

The suspect told police that he was “bothered” by the woman’s T-shirt.

The German embassy in Tel Aviv did not immediately return calls for comment over the weekend.

An Israeli who lives in Germany and runs a restaurant in a nearby city told JNS on Sunday that she had previously gotten a restraining order from police against the suspect after he sold drugs to clientele and refused to pay for services.

“After that he got more aggressive, threatened me and called me a ‘dirty Jew,’” Iris Haas said.

(JNS)

Ixelles, one of the 19 municipalities of Belgium’s Brussels-Capital Region, has suspended its twinning with the Israeli town of Megiddo.

The suspension, which was decided upon in July, has been confirmed by Ixelles Mayor Christos Doulkeridis of the Green Party. In the eyes of municipal authorities, any action in favor of peace involving an Israeli municipality is impossible for the time being, he told Belgian news agency Belga.

On June 20, around 100 pro-Palestinian activists demonstrated in the municipality to call for an end to the twinning arrangement, a demand made by a coalition of leftist organizations.

The municipality stated in its decision that “it is unable to carry out any credible initiative in the direction of dialogue and peace,” and considered that simply maintaining the twinning arrangement “could be interpreted as approval of the policy currently pursued by the State of Israel.”

The municipality cited “the scale and duration of the Israeli government’s response in the Gaza Strip” following Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre, “the many civilian victims,” the “pronouncements of the International Court of Justice” and “the relentless pursuit of the settlement policy.”

The Belgian-Palestinian Association welcomed what it called “the strong gesture of responsibility on the part of the local authorities.” It hailed the decision as a “success” for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Megiddo lies some 90 kilometers (56 miles) north of Yerushalayim and 31 kilometers (19.3 miles) southwest of Chaifa. It overlooks the Yezreel Valley to the north and is an important crossroads on the main road linking central Israel with the Lower Galil and the northern region of the country.

(JNS)

The United States has informed allies that it believes Iran has transferred short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine, according to two people familiar with the matter. They did not offer any details about how many weapons have been delivered or when the transfers may have occurred, but they confirmed the U.S. intelligence finding. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a matter that has not been publicly disclosed. The White House declined to confirm the weapons transfer but reiterated its concern that Iran is deepening its support of Russia. The White House has been warning Iran for months not to transfer ballistic missiles to Russia. “Any transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia would represent a dramatic escalation in Iran’s support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and lead to the killing of more Ukrainian civilians,” National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said in a statement. “This partnership threatens European security and illustrates how Iran’s destabilizing influence reaches beyond the Middle East and around the world.” The U.S. finding comes as the Kremlin tries to repel Ukraine’s surprise offensive that has led to the seizure of about 500 square miles (1,300 kilometers) of Russia’s Kursk region. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is pressing allies to allow his country to use Western-supplied missiles to strike deep inside Russia and hit sites from which Moscow launches aerial attacks. Iran, as it has with previous U.S. intelligence findings, denied providing Russia with weapons for its war in Ukraine. “Iran considers the provision of military assistance to the parties engaged in the conflict — which leads to increased human casualties, destruction of infrastructure, and a distancing from ceasefire negotiations — to be inhumane,” according to a statement from Iran’s mission to the United Nations. “Thus, not only does Iran abstain from engaging in such actions itself, but it also calls upon other countries to cease the supply of weapons to the sides involved in the conflict.” CIA Director William Burns, who was in London on Saturday for a joint appearance with his British intelligence counterpart, warned of the growing and “troubling” defense relationship involving Russia, China, Iran and North Korea that he said threatens both Ukraine and Western allies in the Middle East. The White House has repeatedly declassified and publicized intelligence findings that show North Korea has sent ammunition and missiles to Russia to use against Ukraine, while Iran supplies Moscow with attack drones and has assisted the Kremlin with building a drone-manufacturing factory. China has held back from providing Russians with weaponry but has surged sales to Russia of machine tools, microelectronics and other technology that Moscow in turn is using to produce missiles, tanks, aircraft and other weaponry, according to U.S. officials. The White House has been on edge for months about a possible deal between Iran and Russia. The Democratic administration said in January that U.S. intelligence officials had determined a Russian-Iran deal had not been completed, but officials were concerned that Russia’s negotiations to acquire missiles from Iran were actively advancing. Last September, according to the White House, Iran hosted a top Russian defense official to show off a range of ballistic missile systems, adding to the U.S. concern that a deal could come together. The U.S. and other countries have taken steps […]

The total defeat of Arab terrorists in Yehuda and Shomron should be added to Yerushalayim’s official goals in the war against Hamas, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir reiterated on Sunday following a deadly shooting on the border with Jordan.

“It was with great sadness that I received the difficult news that a heinous terrorist murdered three Israelis at the Allenby terminal [crossing],” the minister said in a statement published by his office.

“The war we are in is not only against Gaza and Hezbollah [in Lebanon], it is also in Yehuda and Shomron,” Ben-Gvir declared in the statement. “Just last week, I asked the prime minister to also include victory in Yehuda and Shomron among the goals of the war. I will continue to fight for this to happen.”

The government’s stated goals for the war against Hamas, which was sparked by the Oct. 7 massacre of some 1,200 people in Israel, include to destroy Hamas as an armed and governing force in the Gaza Strip and to ensure that it cannot threaten the Jewish state, as well as returning all hostages taken by Hamas during the cross-border attack.

Reaching a military or diplomatic solution that will allow the safe return of tens and thousands of citizens displaced from their homes near the Jewish state’s northern border since Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah joined the war in support of Hamas on Oct. 8 is another main objective.

Ben-Gvir’s appeal to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu comes as the security situation in Yehuda and Shomron further deteriorates.

Earlier on Sunday, three security guards at the Allenby Bridge crossing in the Jordan Valley were killed in a terrorist shooting. The terrorist drove in a truck to the crossing from the Jordanian side. He then exited the vehicle and began firing at civilians guarding the border.

The attack came a day after an Arab terrorist rammed his vehicle into a police car at a gas station outside the community of Eli in Samaria’s Binyamin region. The plice car was empty, and nobody was injured.

One week ago, three police officers were killed in a shooting near the Tarqumiya checkpoint, some 7.5 miles northwest of Chevron in Yehuda.

The next day, Israeli forces neutralized a car bomb near the entrance to the town of Ateret in Binyamin. The 100-pound explosive was intended to detonate while a school bus was passing by, security officials believe.

On Aug. 30, terrorists linked to Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement carried out a twin car bombing in the Gush Etzion area of Yehuda, wounding two Israeli soldiers and a security guard.

In the first half of 2024, Yehuda and Shomron saw more than 500 Arab terrorist attacks each month on average, according to figures published on Aug. 1 by Rescuers Without Borders.

During that time period, first responders recorded 3,272 terrorist acts in the region, including 1,868 cases of rock-throwing, 456 attacks with Molotov cocktails, 299 explosive charges and 109 shootings.

Terrorists murdered 14 people and wounded more than 155 others in Yehuda and Shomron between January and June, the rescue group said.

(JNS)

A Hamas terrorist released in the November hostage deal with Israel was accused on Sunday of attacking his mother and sister with a knife at their home in eastern Yerushalayim a week ago, Kan News reported.

According to the indictment, he threatened to slaughter his sister and cut off her head, and broke her nose and his mother’s hand.

An interrogation after his arrest revealed that during a family dispute that began in the city’s Silwan neighborhood, the suspect attacked his mother and sister with two broken glasses.

“He approached his little sister and threatened to slaughter her, cut off her head, bring a knife and a gun and kill her, while slapping her and hitting her in all parts of her body,” police said.

He then came back armed with a knife and entered his sister’s room through the window. His sister defended herself with a fan and he dropped the knife, attacking his mother when she tried to intervene, pushing and choking her, according to police.

The terrorist was sentenced in June 2023 to two and a half years in prison for throwing fire bombs at Jews’ cars in eastern Jerusalem. It was defined as an act of terrorism. He was 16 at the time.

A total of 105 civilian captives taken to Gaza by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7 were freed in November as part of a ceasefire agreement in which Israel released 240 Palestinian security prisoners.

Another terrorist released in the November deal was one of two gunmen killed in an IDF drone strike in the Balata camp on the outskirts of Shechem in central Shomron last month.

Wael Masha, 18, was freed from prison as part of the agreement a year after his arrest.

Days prior, another terrorist released from prison in November’s ceasefire deal with Hamas, Tarek Daoud, 18, opened fire on an Israeli man in Qalqilya, seriously wounding him, before being pursued and killed by security forces.

(JNS)

Historical document appraiser and collector Seth Kaller spreads a broad sheet of paper across a desk. It’s in good enough condition that he can handle it, carefully, with clean, bare hands. There are just a few creases and tiny discolorations, even though it’s just a few weeks shy of 237 years old and has spent who knows how long inside a filing cabinet in North Carolina. At the top of the first page are familiar words but in regular type instead of the sweeping Gothic script we’re used to seeing: “WE, the People …” And the people will get a chance to bid for this copy of the U.S. Constitution — the only of its type thought to be in private hands — at a sale by Brunk Auctions on Sept. 28 in Asheville, North Carolina. The minimum bid for the auction of $1 million has already been made. There is no minimum price that must be reached. This copy was printed after the Constitutional Convention finished drafting the proposed framework of the nation’s government in 1787 and sent it to the Congress of the ineffective first American government under the Articles of Confederation, requesting they send it to the states to be ratified by the people. It’s one of about 100 copies printed by the secretary of that Congress, Charles Thomson. Just eight are known to still exist and the other seven are publicly owned. Thomson likely signed two copies for each of the original 13 states, essentially certifying them. They were sent to special ratifying conventions, where representatives, all white and male, wrangled for months before accepting the structure of the United States government that continues today. “This is the point of connection between the government and the people. The Preamble — ‘we the people’ — this is the moment the government is asking the people to empower them,” auctioneer Andrew Brunk said. What happened to the document up for auction between Thomson’s signature and 2022 isn’t known. Two years ago, a property was being cleared out in Edenton in eastern North Carolina that was once owned by Samuel Johnston. He was the governor of North Carolina from 1787 to 1789 and he oversaw the state convention during his last year in office that ratified the Constitution. The copy was found inside a squat, two-drawer metal filing cabinet with a can of stain on top, in a long-neglected room piled high with old chairs and a dusty book case, before the old Johnston house was preserved. The document was a broad sheet that could be folded one time like a book. “I get calls every week from people who think they have a Declaration of Independence or a Gettysburg Address and most of the time it is just a replica, but every so often something important gets found,” said Kaller, who appraises, buys and sells historic documents. “This is a whole other level of importance,” he added. Along with the Constitution on the broad sheet printed front and back is a letter from George Washington asking for ratification. He acknowledged there will have to be compromise and that rights the states enjoyed will have to be given up for the nation’s long-term health. “To secure all rights of independent sovereignty to each and yet provide for the interest […]

Mahmoud al-Habbash, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas adviser on religious and Islamic affairs, recently hailed terrorist attacks against Israelis as “resistance” in an interview with Egypt’s state-linked Al Qahera News television channel.

“What happened in Tubas, Tulkarem, Jenin and Nablus and Chevron is an Israeli continuation of the war of annihilation and expulsion against the Palestinian people and an attempt to empty the Palestinian homeland,” al-Habbash said in the interview, which aired on Sept. 3 but was discovered by the Palestinian Media Watch NGO on Thursday.

Al-Habbash’s comments referred to ongoing Israel Defense Forces’ counterterrorism operations throughout Palestinian Authority-controlled cities in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley.

“Is there fighting in the literal and traditional sense of the word? Not at all,” he said. “Yes, there is Palestinian resistance, and this is our right, and it is the right of every Palestinian to defend himself. There is a unilateral war against the Palestinian people, and there are Palestinian attempts to respond and carry out self-defense.”

Al-Habbash, the Palestinian Authority’s top Sharia judge and a former minister of awqaf (“endowment”) and religious affairs, spoke days after terrorists linked to Abbas’s Fatah movement carried out a twin car bombing in the Gush Etzion area of Yehuda, wounding two Israeli soldiers and a security guard.

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a “military” arm of the Fatah party, also claimed responsibility on Sept. 2 for a terrorist drive-by shooting that killed three Israeli police officers near the city of Chevron in Yehuda.

The IDF has confirmed that terrorist Muhannad al-Aswad had links to the Palestinian Authority and had served in Abbas’s presidential guard.

The U.S. State Department told JNS last week that Fatah and Abbas have “consistently” proven their commitment to peace with the Jewish state.

“The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, which the U.S. designated as a terrorist organization decades ago, has claimed responsibility for these attacks,” a State Department spokesperson stated. “Despite some historical linkages in the past, it is important to note that this group is separate from the Fatah party,” the spokesperson claimed.

Arab media routinely describe the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades as Fatah’s “military wing,” and the ruling Palestinian faction has long expressed support for the terrorist organization, which Ramallah pledged to disband under an agreement with Israel brokered in July 2007.

In a statement issued during the 2014 Gaza war (“Operation Protective Edge”), the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades said that “Fatah’s Central Committee, Fatah’s Revolutionary Council and the regional Fatah leadership are supporting us, and they praised our Brigades’ efforts to attack the oppressing enemy [Israel].”

(JNS)

Israel is committed to upholding the status quo on Yerushalayim’s Har Habayis, President Yitzchak Herzog assured U.S. Ambassador Jack Lew on Sunday after National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir issued a call for the construction of a Shul at Judaism’s holiest site.

Herzog stressed his “unequivocal commitment to preserving the status quo at the holy site—in accordance with political agreements laid down since 1967 [with Jordan], and in the spirit of the rulings by leading rabbis and religious figures over the last 100 years,” an official told reporters.

Earlier on Sunday, Israeli lawmaker Yitzhak Kroizer, a member of Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit Party, ascended Har Habayis in prayer.

According to a readout from the President’s Residence, Herzog in his meeting with Lew also touched on Sunday morning’s deadly terrorist shooting at the Allenby border crossing to Jordan, saying that “the peace agreements between Israel and its neighbors are a cornerstone of stability in the region, and we trust all parties will thoroughly investigate the incident and work to prevent future attacks.”

The Israeli head of state added, “This horrific act reinforces our resolve to stand firm in the face of terror, and we will continue to fight with determination against terrorism and extremist elements which seek to undermine our security, and the stability of the whole region.”

Herzog “expressed his concern for the stability in the region, with Iranian-backed terror continuing to threaten Israel on many fronts—especially over the upcoming period of Jewish religious festivals, and the year anniversary of the Hamas massacre of October 7,” per the readout.

Israel signed a peace treaty with Jordan in 1994 but the kingdom has a majority Palestinian population and its government has taken an increasingly hostile tone since the Hamas-led Oct. 7 massacre of 1,200 people in southern Israel and the ensuing war in the Gaza Strip.

Under a status quo arrangement reached with Jordan in the wake of the 1967 Six-Day War, Jews may visit Har Habayis but not pray there.

Israel’s Charedi-dominated Chief Rabbinate opposes visits to the Mount due to the concern that Jews may inadvertently set foot in an area that, according to Halacha, is forbidden to enter unless one is Tahor.

On the other hand, some Rabbanim, including HaRav Shlomo Goren ZT”L, have permitted—and even encouraged—Jews to visit the site, arguing that measurements taken after 1967 have determined the boundaries of the area Jews may enter. According to a 2022 poll, more than half of Israeli Jews who identify as either Dati Leumi or traditional religious support prayer on Har Habayis.

Ben-Gvir said in an interview with Army Radio on Aug. 26 that Jewish prayer is allowed on Har Habayis. That prompted a denial from the Prime Minister’s Office, which stated that policy at the holy site is determined by the government and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

During the interview with Army Radio, Ben-Gvir was asked repeatedly if he would build a Shul on Har Habayis. He replied, “yes.”

Matthew Miller, the U.S. State Department spokesman, told reporters the following day that the proposed Jewish house of worship “on the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount” would “demonstrate blatant disregard for the historic status quo with respect to the holy sites in Jerusalem.”

(JNS)

For the first time in several weeks, former President Donald Trump has surpassed Vice President Kamala Harris in a major national poll, suggesting her recent surge may be slowing down just before their upcoming debate.

The New York Times/Siena College poll showed Trump ahead by a slim margin of 48% to Harris’ 47% among likely voters across the country.

This latest poll echoes results from late July when Trump also led Harris shortly after President Biden withdrew from the race. Similarly, other surveys have indicated the former president making gains against Harris in the weeks following the Democratic National Convention.

Despite his narrow advantage, 70% of voters, including 37% of Trump supporters, stated that Trump had made statements they found offensive.

Harris had been climbing steadily in polls after rising to the top of the Democratic ticket, briefly overtaking Trump in the RealClearPolitics polling average. She also gained traction in key battleground states, although those races still largely remain up in the air.

When it comes to specific issues, voters trust Harris more than Trump on topics like abortion (54% to 49%) and democracy (50% to 45%). However, Trump is favored on economic matters (55% to 42%) and immigration (53% to 43%), according to the New York Times/Siena College poll.

The leading concerns for voters were the economy (21%), followed by abortion (14%), immigration (12%), inflation and the cost of living (7%), and democracy (7%).

While Democrats have a slight edge in voter enthusiasm, with 91% expressing excitement about the election compared to 85% of Republicans, Harris’ momentum may be slowing ahead of Tuesday’s debate.

Most respondents in the poll — 56% — don’t believe Harris signifies a break from the unpopular Biden administration, with only 25% seeing her as bringing significant change and 15% believing she would bring minor change. By contrast, 51% see Trump as representing major change, with 10% seeing him as a minor change agent and 35% believing he offers more of the same.

Political experts, like James Carville, have emphasized that the candidate perceived as the one driving change will have the advantage in the race. In a recent opinion piece, Carville advised that Harris should publicly distance herself from Biden on key policies to improve her chances.

Trump’s approval ratings have seen a slight dip, with 46% of voters viewing him favorably — 27% very favorably and 19% somewhat favorably — while 52% hold unfavorable views of him — 10% somewhat unfavorably and 42% very unfavorably. This marks a drop from the 48% favorable rating he had in July.

Interestingly, Harris’ favorability rating is lower than Trump’s, with only 45% of voters viewing her positively, including just 24% who have a very favorable opinion of her. Half of the respondents view her unfavorably, with 37% holding a very negative view of her. In July, Harris had a favorability rating of 46% and an unfavorable rating of 49%.

“Highest-rated pollster in the country and a large sample size, too. Fortunately for Harris she has the debate this week and none of this will matter if she has a good night,” commented Nate Silver, an election data expert, on X about the recent poll.

According to Silver’s 2024 election forecast, Trump has a better chance of winning the Electoral College than Harris, even though she is projected to win the popular vote.

Since 2004, Republicans have not won the popular vote in a presidential election. Trump had consistently led Biden in popular vote polls before Biden withdrew from the race on July 21.

Harris continues to lead Trump by a slim 1.4 percentage points in the RealClearPolitics polling average for a head-to-head race.

The New York Times/Siena College poll surveyed 1,695 voters between September 3-6, with a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points.

Not long after Biden exited the race and endorsed Harris, Trump’s pollster Tony Fabrizio predicted that Harris would enjoy a “honeymoon” period in the polls.

Harris has repeatedly said that she views herself as the “underdog” in the campaign and that she is approaching the race without taking anything for granted. Her campaign has also highlighted her recent success in fundraising, having raised $361 million in August, far outpacing Trump’s $130 million from his campaign and affiliated groups.

The highly anticipated debate between Trump and Harris, set to be hosted by ABC News in Philadelphia on Tuesday, will mark their first-ever face-to-face encounter.

With just eight weeks remaining until the November 5 election, the debate could play a pivotal role in reshaping what is shaping up to be a close contest for the presidency.

{Matzav.com}

Former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi emphasized yesterday that the US should take greater advantage of its alliance with Israel to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza, according to The Hill.

Pelosi expressed that the current state in Gaza is “unbearable,” while reaffirming the US’s unwavering support for Israel and its right to self-defense, labeling Israel as “our security partner, our values partner, and the rest.”

“The key debate here revolves around where to draw the line,” Pelosi explained during her speech at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, in response to a question about whether Democrats in Congress will continue endorsing the supply of US arms to Israel.

“We’ve always maintained our support for Israel’s right to defend itself, but some are concerned that these weapons may be used for offensive purposes,” she continued, as reported by The Hill. “It’s a complicated issue. It’s not as simple as it looks, but I do believe we should more effectively use our leverage with Israel to ensure that civilian casualties are not something we can be associated with.”

Pelosi labeled Hamas as a terrorist group and reflected on the tragic events of October 7, describing it as a “horrific day” with “terrible consequences.”

“This is not about disregarding how we ended up in this situation, but rather about finding a better approach than seeing tens of thousands of Palestinians killed,” she added.

While certain progressive factions within the Democratic Party have advocated for an arms embargo on Israel, President Joe Biden has dismissed such proposals. The Democratic presidential nominee also rejected the idea during a recent interview on CNN.

“Let me make this absolutely clear: I am unwavering in my commitment to Israel’s defense and its right to defend itself, and that will not change,” Vice President Harris declared.

“On October 7th, 1,200 people were slaughtered. Many were young attendees of a music festival. Women were brutally raped. As I said then and reiterate now: Israel has the right to defend itself – we would – but how it conducts that defense is important,” she added.

The US has been actively promoting a ceasefire and a deal for hostage releases, initially proposed by President Joe Biden in May. However, Hamas has consistently refused every proposal brought forward.

According to The Washington Post, the US has been coordinating with Egypt and Qatar to finalize a definitive “take it or leave it” agreement.

Nonetheless, the same report noted on Saturday that US officials announced the indefinite postponement of the plan’s presentation.

The delay, as reported by the Post, stems from Hamas’ sudden introduction of a demand that Israel release high-profile terrorists, even in exchange for humanitarian prisoners.

{Matzav.com}

A high-ranking officer from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has reaffirmed that Iran is still committed to avenging the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, despite the delay, according to a report from the Tehran Times.

Haniyeh was killed in Tehran in July, just a few hours after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed they had taken out Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah’s deputy leader, in Lebanon.

In a public statement, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi of the IRGC underscored that Iran’s retaliation is “certain,” but it will take place at a time Iran considers most effective.

During a ceremony held on Saturday morning, Naqdi remarked, “Revenge is certain, and we have made it clear on multiple occasions. There is no doubt about it. The retaliation must happen at the right time to be effective.”

He went on to criticize the United States, describing it as Israel’s “sole backer,” and asserted, “The US is complicit in the atrocities in Gaza.”

Naqdi further suggested that Iran’s plan for revenge is already in motion, telling the Iranian public that they should soon expect good news.

{Matzav.com}