Feed aggregator

LISTEN:

​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

LISTEN:

New intelligence assessments have raised serious concerns inside the Trump administration about whether Iran genuinely intends to follow through on the nuclear-related commitments sought by the United States, according to an Axios report published Monday. The concerns were reportedly conveyed by CIA Director John Ratcliffe during briefings with President Donald Trump and senior administration officials.

According to three individuals familiar with the discussions, intercepted Iranian communications suggest a significant gap between what Iranian leaders are privately saying and the assurances they are providing to international intermediaries and American negotiators. The sources said the private conversations paint a very different picture from Tehran’s public diplomatic posture.

The intelligence findings have reportedly deepened divisions among Trump’s top advisers. Axios reported that Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth have become leading voices expressing skepticism about the prospects for a successful agreement.

On the other side of the debate, Vice President JD Vance and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have continued to strongly support the framework and its potential to produce a broader agreement.

“The intelligence reflects that the Iranian intentions are not in line with their commitments under the deal,” one source told Axios.

Responding to reports of disagreements within the administration, a White House official stressed that President Trump remains firmly in charge of the decision-making process.

“President Trump listens to all opinions on any given issue – but everyone understands he is the final decision-maker,” the official stated to Axios.

The same official defended the memorandum, arguing that it satisfies the key conditions the administration has consistently demanded from Iran.

“This MOU meets all of the redlines that the administration has long articulated by ensuring that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon, they cannot keep their highly enriched uranium, and they cannot hold the world’s energy supply hostage,” the official said, adding that Trump would only agree to a “good” final agreement.

Neither the State Department nor the CIA commented publicly on the report. The Pentagon also declined to respond.

At the center of the debate is the memorandum’s treatment of nuclear issues. Under the arrangement, the nuclear provisions are temporary and dependent upon the successful completion of a far more detailed agreement that negotiators hope to finalize during a 60-day period of talks.

As part of that effort, Vance, Witkoff, and Kushner are expected to travel on Friday for meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, and mediators from Pakistan and Qatar to continue negotiations on a permanent accord.

Opponents of the framework argue that the lack of public disclosure surrounding the full 14-point agreement could allow Iran to secure major benefits before proving it is willing to meet Washington’s long-term demands.

Sources familiar with the draft say one provision requires the United States to lift its naval blockade within 30 days. In exchange, “Iran will make arrangements, using its best efforts, for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days.” After that period, Iran is expected to begin discussions with Oman and other Gulf states regarding the future governance of the waterway, “in line with applicable international law and sovereign rights” of regional countries.

Meanwhile, Iranian state-controlled media have suggested that transit fees could be imposed once the initial 60-day period comes to an end, raising additional questions about the future operation of one of the world’s most important shipping routes.

{Matzav.com}

Despite growing doubts within Israel’s political system about the prospects of passing legislation that would regulate the status of yeshiva students, Shas MK Michael Malkieli insists that his party has no intention of giving up. In a forceful interview, Malkieli addressed criticism of the chareidi parties’ conduct within the coalition and stressed that Shas remains committed to pursuing solutions, even as the legal and political obstacles become increasingly difficult.

“We cannot sleep peacefully while talmidei chachamim are being arrested,” Malkieli said. “We simply cannot. The reality in which yeshiva students are afraid to walk the streets is an indictment against Klal Yisroel, and we cannot accept it.”

He said Shas chairman Aryeh Deri is investing tremendous time and effort in trying to resolve the issue of yeshiva student arrests rather than choosing the easier path of withdrawing or surrendering.

“We are trying to find a solution,” Malkieli explained. “Yes, it is difficult, lengthy, and exhausting. Perhaps in the end we will not succeed, but we cannot stand by and do nothing.”

Malkieli also rejected claims that the chareidi public was misled throughout the government’s term by promises that never materialized. He argued that the decision not to push draft legislation earlier was made in coordination with rabbinic leadership and reflected an effort to establish a stronger legal foundation for the law.

“There was an understanding that we wanted to secure legal backing from the Knesset for this legislation,” he said. “Anyone claiming otherwise is simply not telling the truth.”

He noted that once it became clear there was no majority for advancing the daycare subsidy legislation, Shas was prepared to take significant political steps, including supporting efforts to dissolve the Knesset.

When asked about the likelihood of future legislation succeeding, Malkieli avoided making predictions and instead emphasized responsibility and perseverance.

“It is not our job to be optimistic or pessimistic. Our job is to work hard,” he said. “The public and the gedolei Torah sent us to work tirelessly. The easiest thing would be to throw down the keys and say it cannot be done. We did not choose that path.”

He pointed to previous occasions when observers predicted that chareidi initiatives would fail, only for Shas to successfully advance major measures involving religious services and local religious councils.

Malkieli also addressed tensions between Shas and elements within United Torah Judaism, calling for greater unity among the chareidi parties.

“The time has come for genuine unity,” he said. “We face so many challenges. There is absolutely no reason to provide fuel to those who oppose religion. They are motivated enough without help from within our own camp.”

He stressed that Shas is not engaged in attacks or briefings against its political partners and said Deri remains focused on strengthening the Torah world rather than internal disputes.

Concluding the interview, Malkieli delivered a direct message to the avreichim and yeshiva students currently being held in military prisons.

“You are not imprisoned because of a personal offense,” he said. “You are representatives of the entire community. The entire chareidi public, the gedolei Torah, and the roshei yeshiva stand behind you and support you. You are the locomotives pulling Klal Yisroel forward.”

He added, “We do not believe in violence or in methods that are not the way of Torah. But we say clearly: we are not afraid of anyone, and we do not bow our heads before anyone. Anyone who thinks he can crush the Torah world simply does not understand Jewish history.”

{Matzav.com}

As efforts to pass a military draft law remain stalled and arrests of yeshiva students continue to intensify, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri is advancing a temporary legislative measure aimed at halting criminal proceedings against Torah learners. The initiative, however, has drawn sharp criticism from United Torah Judaism chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf, who dismissed it as political maneuvering.

In recent weeks, Deri has been working on a plan designed to stop the arrests of yeshiva students amid growing recognition within the coalition that comprehensive draft legislation regulating the status of bnei yeshiva is unlikely to pass during the current government’s term.

Last week, Deri declared in Shas’s official newspaper, Haderech, that “we will turn over every stone by the end of the summer session to stop the arrests of Torah learners.” At the time, however, he did not reveal the details of the strategy he intended to pursue. It has now emerged that a specific proposal has been formulated behind the scenes.

According to reports, Deri approached Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs approximately two weeks ago with a plan to separate portions of the draft legislation currently under discussion in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Under the proposal, a one-year temporary order would enact only the law’s transitional provisions, allowing authorities to suspend criminal proceedings and arrests involving yeshiva students.

The proposal would leave economic sanctions in place while freezing criminal enforcement measures. Shas argues that thousands of Torah learners have effectively been classified as lawbreakers despite the absence of legislation formally regulating their status. Party officials contend that, given the current political reality, no broadly accepted draft law can be passed before elections are held and a new government is formed.

Supporters of the initiative also point to its speed. Rather than beginning an entirely new legislative process, Deri is seeking to carve out the relevant provisions from the existing draft bill and move them forward through second and third readings as part of the current legislative framework.

Over the past several days, Deri has reportedly been in contact with the Cabinet Secretary in an effort to accelerate the process. According to the report, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz, the Cabinet Secretary, and other senior officials also participated in a conference call to discuss the proposal and explore ways to ease tensions and reduce protests surrounding the arrests.

Goldknopf, however, responded forcefully to the reports and rejected the initiative outright.

“We are tired of tricks and gimmicks designed to generate headlines and spin, nothing more,” Goldknopf said. “What the government failed to accomplish over four years, it certainly will not accomplish now. We woke up long ago and have no trust.”

He added that, following the guidance of senior Torah leaders, his party continues to demand that legislation to dissolve the Knesset be brought to a vote as early as this Wednesday.