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Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz issued a stark threat to Hamas in a post online, declaring that if the terror group refuses to free the hostages it is holding in Gaza and disarm, the enclave will be leveled and the organization itself will be wiped out.
“This is a final warning,” he stated.

He continued with dramatic language, saying, “Today, a mighty hurricane will strike the skies over Gaza City, and the roofs of the terror towers will tremble. The IDF continues as planned and is preparing to expand the operation to bring about the decisive defeat of Gaza,” he concluded.

Reports indicate that the Israeli Air Force is set to carry out a wave of strikes targeting numerous sites, including more tall structures in Gaza.

Katz’s declaration came shortly after US President Donald Trump wrote on social media, “It is time for Hamas to accept [a hostage deal] as well. I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one! Thank you for your attention to this matter. DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” the message read.

In recent days, according to sources cited by The Jerusalem Post, Hamas has been presented with a new US-backed initiative aimed at winning the release of the captives in Gaza. The plan, transmitted through Israeli negotiator Gershon Baskin and Dr. Bishara Bahbah, lays out a broad framework to bring an end to the fighting.

In a statement issued Sunday evening, Hamas asserted that it is ready to “immediately sit at the negotiating table to discuss the release of all hostages in exchange for a clear declaration of an end to the war, a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and the formation of a committee to administer the Gaza Strip from independent Palestinians, which will assume its work immediately.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Tucker Carlson’s recent commentary on Israel and terrorism has drawn sharp criticism from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who blasted the former Fox News host as extreme and “unrecognizable.”

“Something is wrong with Tucker Carlson,” Cruz said on his podcast Verdict With Ted Cruz. “I don’t know what the h—‘s wrong with him.”

Cruz reflected on Carlson’s past influence during the 2020 election season, the riots, and COVID lockdowns, contrasting it with what he sees now as confused and dangerous positions on issues of war and terrorism. “I look at the Tucker today: He’s unrecognizable,” Cruz remarked. “As listeners to this podcast know, I went on Tucker’s show. I know Tucker was going to come after me, and — sadly — do so dishonestly.”

According to Cruz, Carlson’s views have shifted so drastically that they now blur lines conservatives have traditionally drawn clearly. He pointed out that Carlson not only offered condolences to Osama bin Laden’s family and entertained the idea of siding with Nazi Germany, but also cast doubt on whether Hamas is a terrorist group while showing sympathy for authoritarian powers in Russia and Iran.

Cruz rejected those positions outright. He said they were “bizarre,” “unhinged,” and morally indefensible, adding that terrorist figures and groups must be condemned without hesitation. “I’m not even sure Hamas is actually a radical jihadi organization. It seems more like a political organization,” Carlson had said recently.

Cruz went on to call Carlson’s direction a betrayal of conservatism itself, likening his rhetoric to that of Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., whom conservatives often cite as examples of far-left views. “Now, @TuckerCarlson doesn’t know if Hamas is a terrorist organization,” Cruz posted on X, alongside clips of Carlson’s remarks. “(‘Elmo is just asking questions …’) What the h— happened to Tucker?? He’s turning into Ilhan Omar.”

This dispute follows an earlier clash between the two, when Carlson took aim at Cruz over his defense of Israel. Cruz recounted on his podcast: “The week that I did the Tucker interview, it was the week right before the president launched the bombing attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. And Tucker was spiraling at the time because he was attacking [President] Donald Trump and saying, if the United States bombs Iran, he said it would be World War III, No. 1. He said thousands of Americans will die, No. 2. And he said America will lose, No. 3: Iran will beat us in World War III.”

Cruz stressed that none of Carlson’s dire warnings came true. “Every one of those predictions, we now know the truth: They were laughingly, entirely, totally false,” he said.

He recalled that even Trump dismissed Carlson’s take. “I’m the one that decides what America First is, and I’m telling you right now, defending America is America First,” Cruz quoted Trump as saying. “I’ve got to say it just started Tucker on this downward spiral.”

Carlson has argued that showing sympathy for the death of a terrorist’s family member is simply “human decency,” but Cruz dismissed that reasoning. “If people are evil psychotic mass murderers, then society celebrates that they are no longer with us,” Cruz said. “There is justice. I believe in the principle of justice. We’re so sorry we took out your psychotic daddy who murdered nearly 3,000 Americans — no, we’re not sorry.”

Cruz continued, “This moral relativism, I have got to say, is a weird thing when someone who considers himself, calls himself a conservative, sounds exactly like Ilhan Omar. It is a weird thing when a supposed conservative sounds like Rashida Tlaib, sounds like [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.,] and says, ‘Gosh, we ought to be saying I’m sorry to Osama bin Laden’s family.’ No, we should not.”

He reminded listeners that Hamas’ own charter explicitly proclaims “jihad is its path.” Cruz added, “Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the United States of America — that’s as a matter of federal law — by Australia, by Canada, by Paraguay, by Israel, by Japan, by New Zealand, by the United Kingdom, and the European Union.”

Cruz accused Carlson of ducking direct criticism of Trump while still taking shots at his decisions. “He doesn’t have the courage, he doesn’t have the backbone to actually attack Trump, so he just attacks everything Trump does,” Cruz charged. “He attacks bombing Iran. Well, who was the commander in chief who made the order? And by the way, that was an incredibly successful military operation that made America safer.”

Although Carlson has often expressed opposition to war, Cruz pointed out that Trump shares that instinct but differs in approach. “I don’t know what’s going on with Tucker; I don’t know what is driving it,” Cruz said. “It’s one thing to feel kind of isolationist and to say, ‘Gosh, you know, I don’t like wars.’ OK, fine, that is a view, and to be clear, Donald Trump doesn’t like wars either. [Former President] Joe Biden and the Democrats get us in war. President Trump has gotten us out of war. But getting us out of war, you do it through strength. And getting us out of war does not mean that you refuse to defend America.”

Cruz wrapped up with a blunt message: “Fine, if Tucker wants to be isolationist, knock yourself out.”

{Matzav.com}

With just a week or so left before tens of thousands of Breslover chassidim are scheduled to fly to Uman for Rosh Hashanah, the crisis over travel routes appears to be moving toward resolution. Israeli officials are close to finalizing an agreement with Romania that would allow pilgrims to transit through its airports, easing concerns after the collapse of talks with Moldova.

According to officials involved, Romania has presented a series of conditions to accommodate the large influx of travelers. These include receiving full flight data from Israel ahead of time, as well as the deployment of translators and ushers in Romanian airports to help passengers navigate terminals and transfer points.

Negotiations with Romania intensified after Moldova unexpectedly informed El Al on Monday that two flights slated to land in Chisinau would likely be canceled. Moldovan authorities reportedly insisted that flights should instead be operated by local carriers, further straining ties.

Israel reacted sharply to Moldova’s move, delivering a strong diplomatic warning that such behavior could have consequences for bilateral relations. Officials emphasized their frustration after weeks of discussions and substantial financial concessions were offered in an effort to secure a deal.

As reported previously by Matzav.com, Israel had invested significant resources in preparing Moldova’s airport infrastructure to accommodate the influx of pilgrims, including funding equipment and improvements. Moldova, however, demanded that all of the upgrades—financed by Israeli taxpayers for the benefit of travelers—remain in place permanently for Moldovan use even after the Yom Tov.

Israeli officials involved in the talks described this as a “step too far.” At that point, the government chose to terminate negotiations with Chisinau and shifted its focus toward reaching an alternative arrangement with Bucharest.

The newly formed Israeli task force, which includes the directors-general of the Foreign Ministry, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Interior Ministry, and the Ministry for Jerusalem Affairs, is scheduled to meet with Romanian counterparts on Tuesday afternoon. That session is expected to determine whether a final solution for this year’s Uman pilgrimage can be secured.

{Matzav.com}

Students in New York returned to class this fall under a new “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban, designed to reduce distractions and encourage students to interact with one another in person. The first week of the policy has now passed, and reactions from parents, students, and teachers were largely favorable, according to CBS News.

“At first, I was really torn up about it. And then, now, I kind of like, like at lunch, we’ll all talk the whole period,” said Jack Kuenstler, a senior at Walt Whitman High School in South Huntington.

To help enforce the rule, Walt Whitman High School even added an extra bell, signaling the moment each day when all phones must be put away. Under the policy, students may only use school-approved emails or devices for academic purposes.

“It’s such a habit that I always had [my cellphone]. That’s why I feel like it’s weird. But I feel like it’s good, though, because I’m more focused in class,” said 11th-grader Isabella David.

Principal John Murphy admitted he was “apprehensive” about the change at first, since he had previously supported the more limited restriction of banning phones only during class time. But he now sees real benefits. Murphy said there has been an “uptick in positive energy” and noted that students are “really actively engaged.”

The new rules have even encouraged students to dust off old-fashioned activities. Board games have begun popping up in the lunchroom, with kids gathering around to play together. “The kids are actually being kids and interacting with their peers. I think that was what the heart of this initiative was,” Murphy explained.

Teacher Kathleen O’Neill agreed, saying that phones had been undermining learning for years. She described the problem as an “epidemic,” noting how hard it had become to teach without constant interruptions.

O’Neill added that the ban has created new opportunities for skill-building. Students, she said, are now forced to develop face-to-face communication skills, rather than relying only on texting.

During the opening week, just three students were caught sneaking in phones. Under the guidelines, confiscation is allowed, and repeat offenders risk suspension.

To support the ban, more landline phones were installed in the building so students can reach their parents if needed. Parents were also assured that they could call or email the school to get a message to their child immediately.

Reactions in New York City itself were somewhat more divided. On the Upper West Side, some students expressed frustration with how their phones were stored. Still, one parent pointed out that her daughter’s phone remained powered down when she picked her up, which she considered a success.

A student in Queens said she worried about not being able to contact her parents directly in an emergency.

But other parents saw the benefits firsthand. One mother referenced a hazmat incident that took place Thursday at a school in Westchester County. “I was actually pleased that they didn’t have phones because I think there would have probably been more confusion,” she explained. “Getting just one message from the school is probably better than a million different rumors.”

{Matzav.com}

Senate Majority Leader John Thune says Republicans are ready to change the chamber’s rules to allow quick confirmations of dozens of President Donald Trump’s executive branch nominees and will move to speed up votes after months of Democratic delays. Opening the Senate on Monday, Thune said Democrats’ obstruction is “unsustainable.” He said Republicans will begin action this week to allow votes on groups of lower-level executive branch nominees if a majority of the Senate agrees. Currently, one senator’s objection can force days of votes on a single nominee. If the Democratic delays continue, Thune said, “there is no practical way that we could come close to filling all the vacancies in the four years of this administration no matter how many hours the Senate works.” Changing the rules would take time, with procedural votes potentially Thursday and early next week to complete the process, according to a person familiar with the GOP plan who requested anonymity because it hasn’t been released publicly. Republicans have been talking about options for changing the rules since early August, when the Senate left for a monthlong recess after a breakdown in bipartisan negotiations over the confirmation process. Democrats have blocked nearly every single one of Trump’s nominees, forcing majority Republicans to spend valuable floor time on procedural votes and leaving many positions in the executive branch unfilled. The delays have infuriated Trump, who told Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer to “GO TO HELL!” in a social media post after negotiations broke down over the process in early August. The changes come after both parties have escalated their obstruction of the other party’s nominees for years, and as leaders in both parties have incrementally changed the rules to make the process less bipartisan. Democrats have blocked more nominees than ever before as they have struggled to find ways to oppose Trump and the GOP Congress, and as their voters have pushed them to fight Republicans at every turn. Schumer has said Democrats are delaying the nominations because Trump’s nominees are “historically bad.” “If you don’t debate nominees, if you don’t vote on individual nominees, if there’s not some degree of sunlight, what will stop Donald Trump from nominating even worse individuals than we’ve seen to date, knowing this chamber will rubber stamp anything he wishes?” Schumer said Monday evening. Still, the proposal to group nominations is loosely based on legislation introduced by Democrats two years ago as Republicans blocked many of then-President Joe Biden’s picks. But while Senate Republicans forced similar delays during Biden’s administration, Democrats have blocked almost all of Trump’s picks. It’s the first time in recent history that the minority party hasn’t allowed at least some quick confirmations. The GOP proposal would only apply to executive branch nominations, not lifetime judicial appointments, and would exclude the most high-profile positions, such as Cabinet nominees, that require a longer debate time. The process to change the rules will likely require several floor votes and the support of a simple majority, so at least 51 out of the chamber’s 53 Republicans. But most GOP senators appear to be on board. If Republicans act quickly, they could confirm more than 100 of Trump’s pending nominations this month. The Republican move is the latest salvo in years of intensifying Senate standoffs over presidential nominations. In 2013, Democrats […]

At his weekly shiur Monday night, HaGaon Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, rov of Ramat Elchanan and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, delivered an emotional message of chizuk in response to the morning’s deadly terror attack at the Ramot junction in Yerushalayim.

With tears in his eyes, Rav Zilberstein opened his remarks with deep anguish over the tragedy. “We are in a time of immense distress; the pain cries out to Heaven. Six Jews were murdered al kiddush Hashem in the attack, and four soldiers fell as kedoshim in Gaza. Hashem should avenge their blood,” he said.

The rov spoke movingly of the families left behind. “These were bnei Torah who went out in the morning, their wives waiting happily to greet them for Yom Tov. Some even gave their wives money to buy a new dress for Rosh Hashanah. Now that garment sits there weeping—what ‘simchas Yom Tov,’ what ‘chag’? The wife sees the dress and cries. Children who prepared divrei Torah to share with their father now sit shivah. Our joy has turned to mourning.”

Rav Zilberstein noted that the tragedy occurred just a day after a lunar eclipse, which Chazal in Maseches Sukkah describe as a troubling omen for Klal Yisroel. “These are clear signs of tzarah. A lunar eclipse is a call for us to return in teshuvah,” he said.

With palpable sorrow, the rov declared, “If we had known in advance, if we had prepared properly, perhaps this could have been prevented. If we had cried out to Hashem with more sincerity, learned more Torah, davened with greater kavana—surely we might have averted this. Because we did not, Hashem took from us the finest of talmidei chachamim. Every one of those who were killed were among the choicest of the Jewish people.”

Quoting his father-in-law, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l, Rav Zilberstein emphasized that each Jew knows best where he needs to improve. “Every person is aware of the blemishes in his own heart. Each one must examine his deeds and correct his ways,” he said.

Still, Rav Zilberstein urged a collective response. “The mitzvah upon us now is to unite in strengthening Torah study, to appease HaKadosh Baruch Hu—because He too is weeping. Hashem says, ‘I have such righteous children, yet I must judge them with harshness.’ The Shechinah’s sorrow is immense, and for that as well we must cry.”

He concluded with a heartfelt tefillah: “May Hashem grant us all good lives, to learn Torah and teach it, to sanctify His great Name, to increase tefillah and kiddush Shem Shamayim, to strengthen shalom bayis and ahavas Yisroel. With Hashem’s help, we will merit His rachamim, His redemption, and wondrous salvations. May there no longer be sounds of destruction and grief within our borders.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A troubling incident unfolded in Jackson, NJ, when Jackson police officers prevented a Hatzalah volunteer from immediately transporting a patient to the hospital, holding him up in a parking lot because of where he had parked while responding to the emergency.

According to witnesses and photo and video evidence obtained by Matzav.com, the Hatzalah member arrived at the scene with lights activated in order to rush a patient in need of urgent care. With no available spaces nearby, he pulled into two adjacent handicap spots to expedite the transfer. While the patient awaited transport, Jackson police officers confronted the Hatzalah member over the parking location.

Multiple Jackson police vehicles surrounded the scene, blocking the Hatzalah member’s vehicle as officers questioned him.

Several officers stood outside the car in discussion, even as the emergency vehicle remained positioned to transport the patient.

Community members who heard about this and were present expressed outrage that law enforcement officers chose to focus on parking rather than prioritizing the medical emergency at hand. “It is beyond comprehension that precious minutes were wasted arguing over parking spots when a patient’s health was on the line,” one bystander remarked.

Hatzalah is known throughout the region for its lifesaving volunteer services, with members responding within minutes to emergencies and working hand in hand with other first responders. In this case, however, what should have been a seamless emergency response turned into an unnecessary standoff.

The patient was eventually transported to the hospital, but the delay has sparked anger in the community, raising serious concerns about the treatment of Hatzalah volunteers in Jackson and the impact on lifesaving efforts.

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is actively grooming men living in Britain to serve as operatives, using social media and online networks to spread its reach across the UK, according to a bombshell report published by the Daily Express. A specific IRGC unit is reportedly building a patchwork of sleeper cells and lone-wolf agents designed to harass, surveil, and potentially attack Iranian dissidents, Jewish targets, and Israeli nationals on British soil. “In Britain it’s not quite sleeper cells, it’s more the co-ordination of useful idiots… a lot of people who like the regime in Iran and want to do their dirty work for them,” said Andreas Krieg, a security expert at King’s College London. “Iran’s most powerful weapon is not ballistic missiles, but this network — not just in Britain but across the world. The biggest threat from Iran is not a nuclear missile, it is on Britain’s streets.” Britain’s MI5 intelligence agency has already responded to 20 Iran-linked terror plots since 2022, the report revealed. The UK Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) warned earlier this year that Iran has attempted at least 15 kidnappings or assassinations of individuals in the UK, targeting Jewish leaders and anti-regime activists. The threats are not limited to physical attacks. Iran has deployed offensive cyber operations, espionage campaigns, and influence networks operating under the guise of cultural and educational centers across Britain. These facilities, the government admits, have in some cases been used to spread “violent and extremist ideology.” The UK government, in a formal response to Parliament’s ISC report, has labeled Iran a “core security priority” and placed the “whole of the Iranian state” on the highest level of scrutiny under the new Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS). The FIRS law, introduced in July, forces registration of any activity carried out on behalf of a foreign power. Under its enhanced tier, anyone working under Iran’s direction without registering faces up to five years in prison. Britain has also warned Tehran directly that any future attacks on UK soil will be treated as “an attack on the United Kingdom itself” and met with retaliation. The ISC report noted that Iran does not consider attacks on dissidents or Jewish targets abroad as “attacks on the host country,” but as extensions of its internal suppression strategy. The government has rejected that framing, making clear that such operations are hostile acts against Britain. The UK has also raised concerns about Iranian-linked cyber operations targeting critical infrastructure, citing reports of Tehran-backed hackers striking water facilities in Israel. Officials warned that similar operations could be directed at British infrastructure. Meanwhile, the possibility of further escalation remains. The government acknowledged that volatility in the Middle East could force a sudden evacuation of UK nationals if tensions with Iran spiral into open confrontation. “This threat must not be underestimated,” the government said in its statement, underscoring that Tehran’s combination of terrorism, espionage, and propaganda makes it one of the most complex security challenges facing the UK today. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Hundreds of people gathered Monday night to escort Sarah (Sarita) Mendelson on her final journey, after she was brutally killed that morning when Arab terrorists opened fire at the Ramot Junction in Yerushalayim.

Her husband, Shlomi, poured out his grief at the levayah, saying, “The great loss has not settled in. Sarita, my dear wife, you were all energy of kindness and a straight path. All of your actions set an example. You were admired by all, everyone in their own way. Everyone who knew you is weeping. Members of Bnei Akiva, it isn’t sinking in for anyone.”

Her daughter, Aviya Ben-Haroush, also spoke through her tears: “How can a pure thing like you meet such evil? I’m sure you will look after us and send us powers of joy and support from above. The people of Israel have suffered enough; it hurts too much. Pray for the hostages, for our soldiers, and for us.”

Yigal Klein, Secretary-General of Bnei Akiva, shared his own moving tribute: “Sarita, the word ‘light’ keeps recurring in the tributes written about you today: the light of leadership, the light of your always-present warmth, the light that illuminated everyone who came, your ever-positive demeanor, and the countless references to the special light you had, which we all felt and were blessed by – from you.

“Sarita, before we say our final goodbye, one more request from you – with all your light, you knew in your role how to demand, to demand payment, to demand debts from the authorities, to demand what Bnei Akiva always needed. We have one request, Sarita: please, rise up before the throne of glory, and with your unique strength, demand the debts owed by the Master of the Universe, who already owes us redemption.

“Demand goodness for your family and for all our people. Demand the safe return of our soldiers in health and peace, crowned with victory until the victory of light and good. Demand the swift return of our hostages. Demand the return of our people to the beloved expanses of our land. Demand deep unity within us… Demand that in this year’s beginning, ‘our judgment will shine like the morning.’ Demand that it will be said for us, ‘Bless us, our Father, all as one in the light of your face. Sarita, you’ve already met many more demands that you have called for, so on our behalf, to Heaven, please demand these too.”

Among the mourners present was Minister Orit Strock, who came as the government’s representative.

Mendelson had devoted years of her life to Bnei Akiva, serving as Director of Public Relations in the youth movement’s treasury. On Monday morning, she was on her way to her office at the movement’s national headquarters in the Nayot neighborhood of Yerushalayim when she was murdered in cold blood.

Bnei Akiva released a statement after the tragedy, declaring, “Baruch Dayan Ha’emes. Bnei Akiva is mourning and grieving the murder of our dear friend and movement leader, Sarah Mendelson, may her memory be blessed, who was murdered this morning by wicked individuals in the attack in the Ramat neighborhood.” The statement continued, “The movement and the entire Bnei Akiva family send condolences and embrace the dear family during this difficult time.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Apparently, it’s not your fault if you down a gallon of sugar on a sweltering day — blame climate change. That’s the conclusion of a new study in Nature Climate Change, which insists rising temperatures in the U.S. are driving Americans to consume more sugar. Researchers in the U.S. and U.K. claim that as the mercury climbs, Americans guzzle “lots more” sodas and “a bit more” ice cream, adding up to over 100 million pounds of sugar compared to 15 years ago. “Climate change is shaping what you eat,” explained Duo Chan, a climate scientist at the University of Southampton, apparently elevating your Slurpee habit to a planetary crisis. The data analysis followed consumer purchases from 2004 to 2019 and cross-referenced them with weather records. The result: people drank slightly more sugary drinks between 54 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The “difference” per day? Less than a candy bar. But stretched over years, researchers insist, this becomes a “severe problem.” Critics might argue that marketing, cheap soda prices, and personal responsibility have something to do with it. But no, the problem — according to the study — is carbon emissions. To add gravity, University of California endocrinologist Robert Lustig warned that one extra can of soda a day can spike diabetes risk by nearly 30%. The fact that people might choose water instead of cola on hot days apparently escaped notice. The study further notes that low-income Americans drink the most sugar during hot spells, while Asian Americans don’t budge in their sugar intake at all — perhaps exposing a flaw in the one-size-fits-all climate-diet theory. As if predicting the end of civilization one Coke at a time, co-author Pan He said she became curious after observing Americans drink soda when thirsty. “That could be a problem,” she warned. Of course, even climate scientists can’t ignore reality. University of Washington researcher Kristie Ebi, not involved in the project, dryly observed that in a warming world “there will be other issues of more importance than a small increase in sugary beverages.” Translation: maybe your waistline isn’t the planet’s fault after all. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu delivered remarks on Monday at the Air Force command center in response to the murderous attack at the Ramot Junction earlier in the day, as well as the ongoing operations targeting Hamas in Gaza City.

“This has been a difficult day in our war on terrorism. Two abhorrent terrorists came to a bus stop, shot at a bus and murdered six of our dear citizens. I send condolences to the families, and I also send best wishes for a speedy recovery to those who were wounded,” he said. “That we eliminated these two terrorists is not enough. That we will go after their supporters and accomplices is also not enough.”

Netanyahu emphasized that the fight must go further, declaring: “My directive is to forcefully go after the nests of terrorism. We have already eliminated the nests of terrorism in three refugee camps. We simply evacuated the population from there and flattened all terrorist infrastructure – and my directive is to do this in additional terrorist nests.”

Turning to the IDF’s operations against Hamas, he noted: “I am here at the Air Force command center. A few days ago, I promised you that we would bring down the terrorist high-rises in Gaza. This is exactly what we are doing. In the last two days, 50 such high-rises have fallen; the Air Force took them down.”

He explained that this stage of the campaign is only the prelude to what is to come. “Now, all of this is only the introduction, only the beginning of the main intensive operation – the ground incursion of our forces, that are now getting organized and gathering, into Gaza City.”

Netanyahu then issued a pointed warning to those living in Gaza: “Therefore, I am taking this opportunity to say to the residents of Gaza, listen to me carefully: You have been warned; Get out of there!”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A House panel is set to launch a high-profile investigation into claims that U.S. labor unions are shielding antisemitic behavior in workplaces and on college campuses, rather than defending Jewish members. The House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions will convene a Sept. 9 hearing in the Rayburn Office Building titled “Unmasking Union Antisemitism.” Witnesses will include attorneys Kyle Koeppel Mann of the New York Legal Assistance Group and Glenn Taubman of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, Cornell University doctoral candidate David Rubinstein, and Joseph McCartin, professor at Georgetown University and head of its Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor. According to a spokesman for the House Committee on Education and Workforce, the hearing will examine how unions are “escalating antisemitic discrimination by protecting antisemitic workers instead of protecting Jewish ones.” “Unions are defending students who disrupt campus proceedings or make Jewish students feel unsafe, instead of calling out or condemning antisemitic behavior,” the spokesman said. “Unions have also filed lawsuits against employers who try to ban antisemitic rhetoric in the workplace.” “Labor laws meant to protect organizing efforts are now being warped to extend protections to non-union related activities and advance antisemitic harassment,” the spokesman added. The committee’s press secretary, Sara Robertson, stressed that the hearing is designed to show that antisemitism is not confined to higher education. “It has infected workplaces, and unions are actively defending these behaviors while forcing Jewish members to pay dues,” Robertson said. The Sept. 9 session is expected to spotlight not only alleged failures by unions to address antisemitic conduct, but also broader questions about how federal labor protections intersect with the nation’s efforts to combat hate in schools, workplaces, and public life. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump spoke on Monday at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., during the second Religious Liberty Commission hearing, where he vowed that Americans will never have to apologize for their faith and announced new steps to safeguard prayer in schools.

He told attendees the story of Hannah Allen, a student who had once been barred from praying publicly among her classmates. “To support students like Hannah, I’m pleased to announce this morning that the Department of Education will soon issue new guidance protecting the right to prayer in our public schools,” Trump declared, prompting a standing ovation.

Trump also shared that the Bible used for both of his presidential oaths will now be placed on display at the museum for visitors to see.

Throughout his address, the president underlined the essential role that religion plays in the American character, saying that the nation must never retreat from its faith. “To have a great nation, you have to have religion. I believe that so strongly. There has to be something after we go through all of this — and that something is God,” he said.

He ended with a forceful affirmation: “America has always been a nation that believes in the power of prayer, and we will never apologize for our faith–ever, ever, never, never. We will never surrender our God-given rights.”

The president concluded, “We will defend our liberties, our values, our sovereignty, and we will defend our freedom. And with the help of amazing faith communities across the land–so many are represented with us today–we will truly make this the golden age of America.”

Before Trump’s final remarks, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner offered a prayer, highlighting that over 70 religious groups are involved in the “America Prays” campaign, leading up to the United States’ 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026.

{Matzav.com}

The Supreme Court on Monday ruled in favor of the petition submitted by a left-wing organization against the continued subsidy of National Insurance (Bituach Leumi) payments for bnei yeshivos deemed “draft dodgers.” The decision stipulates that the state must announce within 30 days how long the adjustment period for cessation of the subsidy will last. The petition was filed last January following the Supreme Court ruling that “it is illegal” for the government to provide subsidies for bnei yeshivos. The petition claimed that “the continued granting of the benefit lacks legal authority and harms the principle of equality since according to the Supreme Court ruling, the government is not authorized to economically incentivize evasion of enlistment in the IDF. Therefore, the National Insurance Law should be interpreted so that the benefit is given only to those who are not required to enlist.” Last week, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara announced that, according to her position, those who did not serve in the IDF should not be entitled to a discount on National Insurance payments. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A freight train slammed into a double-decker bus northwest of Mexico City early Monday, killing at least eight people and injuring 45, authorities said. The accident took place in an industrial area of warehouses and factories in the town of Atlacomulco, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northwest of Mexico City. The state of Mexico’s civil defense agency said via X that authorities were still working at the site of the accident and the state prosecutor’s office said it had opened an investigation. The bus from the Herradura de Plata line was ripped apart by the collision. The bus company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The train line, Canadian Pacific Kansas City of Mexico, confirmed the accident and sent its condolences to the families of the victims. The Calgary, Canada-based company said its personnel were on site and cooperating with authorities. Authorities did not immediately give details about how the accident occurred, but one video circulated on social platforms showed the bus in heavy traffic slowly moving across the train tracks when the fast-moving train suddenly appeared out of frame, ramming the bus at its midpoint. The train’s momentum carried the bus down the tracks and out of frame. There were no visible crossing gates or other signals. Just prior to the crash cars could be seen crossing the tracks as traffic advanced. Cars going in the other direction stopped crossing the tracks at the time the bus drove onto them, though a motorcycle scooted across seconds before the crash. The train hit the passenger side of the bus. Another video showed the bus at rest to the side of the tracks. The roof of the bus was gone and people could be seen moving on the top level as the train slowed to a stop. A woman could be heard crying, “Help me, help me.” Rebeca Miranda waited beside the tracks Monday for authorities to tell her what would happen with the victims’ bodies. Her sister and her sister’s daughter-in-law were on the bus when it was hit around 6:30 a.m., she said. Her sister was taken to the hospital and was able to speak, but the other woman died in the accident, Miranda said. They were both domestic workers. Miranda said she couldn’t be with her sister in the hospital because she needed to find out what would be done with the other woman’s body. Miranda said the bus should not have been crossing the tracks just as the train was careening through the intersection. “It’s really unfortunate. Why? To beat the train. Those are lives.” According to the most recent report from Mexico’s Rail Transportation Regulating Agency published in September, accidents at grade-level crossings are the most common and have been on an upward trend in recent years. Last year there were 800 compared to 602 in 2020, the report said. The document did not include how many victims were involved in the accidents. Last month, six people died when a train hit several vehicles in Guanajuato state. In 2019, nine people were killed when a a freight train struck a passenger bus crossing the tracks in the central state of Queretaro. (AP)

Amid the horrific scenes from the Ramot terror attack that occurred on Monday morning, a video of a cab driver risking his life under fire to assist his elderly passenger quickly went viral and touched the hearts of Israelis. The video shows the cab driver getting out of his seat amid the terrorists’ heavy gunfire and walking around the cab to help his elderly passenger—who required the assistance of a cane—to get out of the cab and distance herself from the scene of the attack. He was not deterred by the bullets flying over his head and hitting the windshield of the bus next to him. The video of his actions touched the hearts of Israelis and he was widely praised for his courage, kindness, and heroism. The cab driver, Yigal, was later interviewed by Channel 12. “I immediately understood it was a terror attack,” he said. “I opened the door and helped her get out. People were running in all directions, and there was a shootout with the terrorists. I saw everything in front of my eyes.” “I wasn’t afraid about myself; I had to help this woman out. What do people expect? That I would leave her in the cab and run away?” Later on Monday, President Isaac Herzog called Yigal and praised him for his heroism and thanked for his civic responsiblity. Yigal replied, “I don’t view it as a heroic act. I think that every taxi driver in such a situation is required to act the same way. There was a passenger, an elderly woman of about 85—I had to rescue her from the scene.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Hamas issued a statement on Monday regarding the latest hostage-ceasefire arrangement put forward by the United States and relayed via Israeli negotiator Gershon Baskin and Dr. Bishara Bahbah. Representatives from the organization told Asharq al Awsat that the proposal faces multiple significant hurdles before any agreement could be reached.

In Doha, Qatari Prime Minister Muhammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani reportedly urged Hamas leaders during discussions to “respond positively” to the American initiative, according to a Reuters source with knowledge of the meeting.

Officials within Hamas described the plan as containing “many traps and pitfalls that need to be dismantled,” stressing that their priority is an arrangement that will bring the fighting to an end.

The group further claimed that releasing a number of captives immediately at the outset of a deal would not be possible. They said that some hostages had been killed and could only be retrieved if Israeli forces halted their fire so the bodies could be recovered from under ruins or from places where they were buried after military incursions, Asharq al Awsat reported.

Hamas representatives also complained that the terms did not reference an Israeli retreat from critical areas, such as the Philadelphi Corridor, nor the reopening of the Rafah crossing. They said they want assurances from international powers, including the US, to guarantee the conclusion of the war, the outlet reported.

Over recent days, the American-backed plan has been transmitted to Hamas in hopes of securing the release of captives held in Gaza, according to sources who spoke with The Jerusalem Post on Sunday. Baskin and Bahbah served as intermediaries to convey a broad proposal intended to pave the way toward ending the conflict.

The draft framework stipulates that Hamas would hand over all 48 hostages on the first day, including those still alive as well as the remains of the deceased. In return, US President Donald Trump would provide a personal guarantee that no new fighting will erupt until talks between Hamas and Israel reach an outcome.

The offer also includes the freeing of between 2,000 and 3,000 Palestinian detainees, among them individuals convicted of murder. Additionally, it calls for Israel to call off its pending operation in Gaza City and to open direct negotiations aimed at terminating the war.

Even with those provisions, Israeli forces would remain stationed in select sections of Gaza, preserving a restricted deployment in certain zones.

Negotiators said that Hamas is expected to reject the conditions. “Hamas would essentially be giving up the hostages on day one in return for a presidential guarantee,” one source explained to the Post. “As important as that may be, what happens if the negotiations collapse? Hamas would have lost all of its leverage.”

Meanwhile, an adviser close to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said that Israel is giving “very serious consideration” to the proposal, but conceded that Hamas is still unlikely to agree.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF targeted a high-rise building in Gaza City used by Hamas for military operations. Palestinian sources report that the strike destroyed the Salam Tower in central Gaza. The IDF stated that warnings were issued ahead of the attack.

Syrian state media report that an Israeli airstrike hit the outskirts of Homs in western Syria, with other sources saying a weapons depot was targeted.

The Ramat Aharon neighborhood of Bnei Brak was cloaked in grief Monday night as thousands gathered for the levayah of the young talmid chacham, Rav Alter Yisroel HaKohen Metzner Hy”d, who was murdered in the terror attack in Ramot. He was just 31 years old.

The levayah began at his parents’ home in Bnei Brak and continued to the local cemetery.

Gedolei Yisroel led the procession, with Rashbi Rosh Yeshiva Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman at the forefront.

Delivering divrei hisorerus, Rav Bergman declared, “We have been given a strong shofar of Elul, a call to awaken: ‘Awake, sleepers, from your slumber.’ Hakadosh Baruch Hu is speaking to us harshly, for we are deeply asleep.”

His father, Rabbi Uri Meir Metzner, wept as he paid tribute: “Your great-grandfather, Rav Alter Yisroel, was a man of Eretz Yisroel his entire life. He dreamed of Eretz Yisroel, he invested in Eretz Yisroel, he built in Eretz Yisroel, and he merited to ascend to Eretz Yisroel. One can say of him, ‘He came to the Land, he came to Eretz Yisroel.’ And now his great-grandson has arrived at the highest place, among the kedoshim and tehorim.”

Breaking down, he continued: “If there is holiness, if there is a remnant of the Beis Hamikdosh today in Eretz Yisroel, it is tzaddikim like you. You came to that place, to the Beis Hamikdosh. A pure soul. A personality of unfathomable depth. Even we sometimes struggled to comprehend the depths you reached, and all of it was with purity.”

הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר

הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר

הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר

הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הקדוש רבי ישראל מצנר הי”דצילום: שוקי לרר {Matzav.com Israel}