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U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee delivered a passionate defense of Israel’s central role in American history Tuesday evening, telling an audience in Judea and Samaria that the United States owes its very existence to the Jewish heritage rooted in the Land of Israel.

Speaking at the opening session of the International Conference on Israeli Heritage at Herodion National Park, Huckabee emphasized that his mission extends beyond representing the United States to Israelis. He said he also sees it as his responsibility to help Americans better understand Israel’s importance to their own nation and identity.

Addressing attendees at the conference, Huckabee stressed that the historical legacy of the Jewish people belongs not only to Israel but also to the American people.

“It is your heritage, without a doubt,” the ambassador told the Jewish attendees. “It is also the heritage of the United States. Without Israel, without the Jewish foundation, there would not be an America.”

Huckabee argued that the principles and values that shaped the United States are deeply connected to events that took place in the Land of Israel thousands of years ago.

“We owe our very existence to what happened in this land,” he added.

The ambassador’s remarks came just hours after President Donald Trump highlighted America’s role in supporting Israel while discussing U.S. policy toward Iran.

Speaking about American involvement in the region, Trump asserted that his administration’s actions had been critical to Israel’s security and survival.

“Without the US, without me – there would be no Israel,” Trump said.

The comments from both Huckabee and Trump underscored the administration’s continued emphasis on the close historical, political, and strategic ties between the United States and Israel, particularly at a time of heightened regional tensions involving Iran.

{Matzav.com}

Deep concern has spread throughout the Vizhnitzer chassidus after the Vizhnitzer Rebbe experienced a significant weakening of his condition in recent days, prompting an urgent call for tefillos from thousands of chassidim around the world.

Community leaders appealed Tuesday to the broader public to intensify their tefillos and supplications on behalf of the Rebbe, asking that he be granted a complete recovery and restored strength.

The Rebbe is currently staying at his regular retreat residence in Moshav Ora, near Yerushalayim, where he has been spending a period of rest and recuperation.

Meanwhile, hundreds of bochurim from the Vizhnitzer yeshiva gedolah in Bnei Brak were scheduled to travel Tuesday evening to the kever of the rebbe, Rav Nachman of Horodenka zy”a, in the ancient cemetery of Teveria.

The gathering coincides with the yahrtzeit of Rav Nachman of Horodenka, and participants plan to hold a special public tefillah on behalf of the Rebbe’s recovery.

All are asked to daven for Rav Yisroel ben Leah Esther.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Vice President JD Vance took on a skeptical panel during his appearance Tuesday on “The View,” forcefully rejecting allegations that the Trump administration has been unfriendly toward minority communities while also defending the White House’s handling of several contentious issues.

Making his first appearance on the daytime talk show, Vance engaged in a series of exchanges with the program’s liberal co-hosts. While the discussion was occasionally tense, the vice president remained composed as topics ranging from race relations to the Jeffrey Epstein files and inflation dominated the conversation.

Whoopi Goldberg challenged Vance over what she characterized as a pattern of actions by the administration that she believes have negatively affected Americans of color.

“What did black people do to this administration that has allowed it to really stigmatize folks of color? And you know how hard it is. You have folks of color in your family. So when you see, you know things, the Emmett Till stuff coming down, or them doing all kinds of removal of information of black heroes, how does that sit with you?” she asked.

Seemingly unsure of the specific allegations being made, Vance responded by seeking clarification.

“What exactly are you talking about?” he asked, drawing audible disapproval from portions of the audience.

Goldberg attempted to elaborate, citing what she described as the removal of historical information from museums and public institutions.

“In a lot of the, uhh, museums, there’s so many I just, you know, where they’re taking down the actual history that happened in this country. Slavery happened, all kinds of stuff happened, and it seems it has been very easy for the administration to remove that, and also to denigrate black folks who have worked their behinds off to get this American dream,” she stammered.

Sunny Hostin then joined the discussion, questioning whether minority communities have a place within the administration’s vision for the country.

“Where do people of color fit into this administration? Because it doesn’t seem like we fit,” she asked.

Trying to better understand the criticism, Vance summarized what he believed Goldberg was alleging.

“So you say that we’re anti-minority or anti-black?”

Goldberg immediately interrupted.

“No, I didn’t say that! I asked — see? Don’t start any stuff with me, man, don’t get me in trouble,” she said, prompting laughter from the audience.

Vance replied that the administration’s political coalition is open to all Americans regardless of race or voting history.

“I think everyone is welcome in our political coalition, even if you didn’t vote for us,” he said.

As evidence, he pointed to crime reduction efforts in Washington, D.C., a city with a large Black population and a strong Democratic voting base.

“Look at DC, one of the most Democratic and one of the blackest cities in the US, has seen a radical decrease in violent crimes, …..assaults and murders,” he said, noting the administration has taken the issue of crime seriously in the nation’s capital, “in part because we believe everybody deserves to live in a safe neighborhood.”

Last August, President Trump deployed more than 2,100 National Guard troops to Washington as part of a broader initiative aimed at reducing crime and improving conditions in the city. Violent crime subsequently fell sharply.

When Hostin argued that Black history was being removed from public view, Vance firmly disagreed.

“black history is not being erased from public spaces. We celebrate black history, we celebrate all American history.”

The audience offered a notably warm reception when Vance entered the studio and took his seat, greeting him with loud applause.

The conversation later shifted to President Trump’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and a recent New York Times report claiming that White House officials held a strategy meeting regarding the release of Epstein-related records.

“I’m frankly kind of a conspiracy theorist on the Epstein stuff, and that story says that,” said the 41-year-old veep, who was appearing in part to discuss his new memoir, “Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith.”

Vance noted that some White House officials have jokingly characterized him that way as well.

“That’s one of the things that’s true, is that some people called me a conspiracy theorist on the Epstein stuff,” he said, naming White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles among them.

Despite the label, Vance argued that public scrutiny of Epstein’s connections to powerful figures is justified.

“I love Susie, but absolutely she thinks I’m a conspiracy theorist on the Epstein stuff because I think that it’s crazy that you have this guy who is clearly a sex predator who is hanging out with a lot of very wealthy and powerful people, like, that really bothered me,” Vance said.

At the same time, he rejected suggestions that the administration had been reluctant to release information.

“What I disagree with is the idea that the White House wasn’t committed to full transparency. We need to remember, like, I was inside the room when some of these decisions were made.”

He pointed to the release of roughly six million pages of records following passage of the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law by President Trump last November.

The vice president also addressed controversy surrounding President Trump’s recent comment about inflation, arguing that critics had misunderstood what the president meant.

“What he said is that he loves the fact that the inflation is going to come down when the war is over. That’s what he said.”

The administration’s ongoing discussions regarding the conflict with Iran received only a brief mention during the interview. President Trump recently declared success in the military campaign before departing for the annual G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France.

Goldberg pushed back on Vance’s explanation of the president’s inflation remarks.

“That’s not what he said,” Goldberg chimed in.

Joy Behar then closed the exchange with a joke that drew laughter from the audience.

“Are you his interpreter, or are you his vice president?” Behar quipped.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Tensions are escalating across the chareidi community after a military court sentenced a kollel yungerman to two weeks in military prison, a decision that has prompted calls for widespread demonstrations throughout Israel on Wednesday.

Rav Aviel Cohen of Netivot, who was arrested Monday evening at the Gilat Junction, appeared before a military tribunal on Tuesday and was sentenced to 14 days of imprisonment in a military detention facility.

A graduate of Yeshivas Be’er HaTalmud and a kollel member in the Kfar Avraham neighborhood of Petach Tikvah, Cohen is described by community members as a well-known and respected figure.

Immediately following the sentencing, his attorney, Shlomo Chadad, filed an urgent appeal seeking either the cancellation or reduction of the prison term while challenging both the legality of the arrest and the judicial process that followed.

Calls for Mass Demonstrations

The ruling quickly sparked outrage among supporters of the Peleg Yerushalmi, particularly within the camp led by Rav Tzvi Friedman.

Representatives of the movement denounced the arrest and imprisonment, describing the case as a “crossing of a red line” and declaring that they would not remain silent in the face of the incarceration of a ben Torah.

Organizers subsequently announced plans for major demonstrations on Wednesday at several key locations around the country. Based on previous protests, authorities expect participants to attempt to block major highways and intersections.

Police and security officials have reportedly begun preparing for the possibility of widespread disruptions.

The Arrest That Triggered the Protests

According to reports, the arrest that ignited the current wave of protests took place Monday afternoon at the Gilat gas station complex near Ofakim.

Military police investigators, who had reportedly been tracking Cohen on suspicion of draft evasion, carried out a surprise arrest while he was traveling with his wife.

News of the arrest spread rapidly through chareidi communities in southern Israel. Within minutes, dozens of protesters arrived at the scene and began demonstrating against the detention.

Protesters blocked Routes 25 and 241, creating significant traffic disruptions. During the ensuing confrontations, some demonstrators reportedly lay down near moving vehicles, while police officers physically removed protesters from the roadway before reopening the roads to traffic.

Father Describes Family’s Ordeal

Cohen’s father, who rushed to the kollel where his son studies to inform fellow learners of the arrest, spoke emotionally about the incident.

“My son is a kollel yungerman who sits and learns day and night. They grabbed him for no reason, without any shame, because of Torah learning. He is a righteous young man. His mother is blind, and suddenly they pull him out of the car in the middle of driving and take him away,” he said.

He also described the impact on his daughter-in-law.

“They simply left his young wife there on the side of the road. She doesn’t even have a driver’s license and was left alone, helpless. Is this how they treat a yungerman and a young woman?” he asked.

Following the arrest, Cohen was transferred to the military detention facility at Ir HaBahadim, where he was formally sentenced to 14 days in military prison.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu reportedly sharply criticized IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir during a meeting of Israel’s restricted security cabinet, accusing the military of making a serious error by publicizing details of a canceled strike on Iran and saying the move embarrassed Israel in front of President Donald Trump.

According to a report by journalist Yaron Avraham on Channel 12 Tuesday evening, Netanyahu expressed anger over a letter issued by Israeli Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Tishler, which revealed that a major Israeli operation against Iran had been called off shortly before it was scheduled to begin.

The prime minister reportedly did not hide his frustration, telling Zamir that both the publication of the letter and its contents were damaging to Israel’s strategic interests at a particularly sensitive time, as the United States advances its diplomatic efforts with Iran.

According to the report, Netanyahu said: “His letter was a mistake, a national error. It harmed Israel’s unity, and it is embarrassing in front of Trump.”

The controversy centers on Tishler’s disclosure that a large-scale Israeli strike deep inside Iran had been fully prepared and ready to launch last week in response to Iranian missile attacks, but was canceled just one hour before takeoff following intervention by President Trump.

According to the report, Tishler’s intention was to praise Air Force personnel for their readiness and dedication. However, in political circles, the letter was viewed as a reminder of a diplomatic retreat and sparked anger among senior government officials.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Office declined to comment on reports regarding discussions held during closed cabinet meetings.

In the letter sent to Air Force personnel, Tishler described the dramatic moments leading up to the cancellation of the operation.

“The entire Air Force was prepared to launch a broad attack mission,” the Air Force commander wrote. “Just hours before the order to take off, with hundreds of targets in the heart of Iran, the strike was halted while we were briefing crews in the squadrons, only one hour before departure.”

As previously reported, President Trump requested that Netanyahu cancel the planned strike. The move came amid ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran, with the United States seeking to avoid further escalation in the region.

In the same letter, Tishler detailed what he described as the Air Force’s significant achievements during its operations against Iran.

“We severely damaged the Iranian leadership, its defensive and offensive systems, elements of its nuclear program, its economy, its chain of command and expertise, and its military and national industries,” the Air Force commander wrote.

He argued that the operations substantially reduced the threat posed by Iran, prolonged the time required for Tehran to rebuild its capabilities, and preserved Israel’s ability to carry out future operations if necessary.

Tishler also noted that Israel’s defense establishment is closely monitoring diplomatic developments around the world and cautioned that it remains too early to assess their long-term consequences.

“It is too early to know how global developments will affect the security reality.”

{Matzav.com}

A remarkable incident unfolded this week at the court of the Dushinsky Rebbe, where a routine change in protocol led to the discovery of a grape juice bottle produced under the heter mechirah framework, preventing its use at the Rebbe’s table.

According to accounts from the chassidus, the episode took place during the Rosh Chodesh Tammuz seudah held Monday in the Chessed Hall located within the Dushinsky institutions on Shmuel Hanavi Street in Yerushalayim.

As the time for Birchas Hamazon approached, attendants prepared the traditional kos shel berachah for the Rebbe and brought a bottle of grape juice to the table.

Ordinarily, a carefully maintained procedure is followed at the Rebbe’s table. Wine or grape juice is first poured from its original bottle into an ornate silver pitcher, and only then is it poured into the Rebbe’s cup. As a result, the original bottle itself never reaches the table. On this occasion, however, events unfolded differently. For reasons that remain unclear, the silver pitcher was delayed from arriving. Wanting to proceed with the brocha, the attendants placed the original bottle directly on the table before the Rebbe.

After grape juice had already been poured into the cup, the Rebbe picked up the bottle and noticed wording on the label that immediately drew his attention. The wording appeared inconsistent with the standards observed in the chassidus, which adheres strictly to the principles established by the founder of the dynasty, Maran Rav Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky zt”l, who strongly opposed heter mechirah and served as head of the Eidah HaChareidis badatz.

Examining the label more closely, the Rebbe discovered that the bottle clearly stated that the product had been produced “under the heter mechirah of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.”

According to those present, the Rebbe immediately poured the small amount of grape juice that had already been dispensed back into the bottle and firmly declined to use it for Birchas Hamazon. He instructed attendants to bring another bottle carrying the supervision of the Eidah HaChareidis badatz.

Witnesses described a powerful sense of awe in the room as the significance of what had occurred became clear.

“If the attendants had managed to pour the grape juice into the silver pitcher as they do every time, the Rebbe would never have seen the bottle, and he would have made the brocha over heter mechirah wine, chas v’shalom,” chassidim reportedly said after the tish.

Members of the chassidus have since spoken emotionally about what they view as a clear act of Divine Providence, protecting a Rebbe known for his uncompromising commitment to the sanctity of shemittah. In describing the incident, many pointed to a verse they felt captured the moment: “Hashem protects all those who love Him.”

{Matzav.com}

Tensions surrounding the arrest of yeshiva students intensified Tuesday after a kollel yungerman was sentenced to military prison, prompting planned demonstrations across Israel by the Peleg Yerushalmi and a rare large-scale protest organized by the Gerer chassidus.

Rav Aviel Cohen, a graduate of Yeshivas Be’er HaTalmud and a kollel member in Kfar Avraham, Petach Tikvah, was sentenced Tuesday to 14 days in a military prison.

Following his incarceration, the Peleg Yerushalmi faction led by Rav Tzvi Friedman announced a series of protests scheduled for Wednesday at multiple locations throughout the country as part of its ongoing campaign against the arrest of bnei yeshiva.

At the same time, in an unusual move, Ger announced that it will hold a major protest rally Wednesday at 4 p.m. outside Military Prison 10 in response to the arrest of a bochur affiliated with the chassidus.

The gathering is expected to be led by the sons of the Gerrer Rebbe together with prominent rabbonim of the chassidus, and organizers anticipate the participation of thousands of chassidim.

{Matzav.com}