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Illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border have fallen to their lowest annual level in nearly six decades, with Border Patrol agents recording fewer than 100,000 apprehensions during the 2026 fiscal year, according to Department of Homeland Security figures released Friday. The dramatic decline comes amid President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration enforcement measures, which have sharply reduced the number of migrants attempting to enter the United States illegally.

Border Patrol agents apprehended 98,708 individuals crossing the southern border between official ports of entry during the fiscal year that ended September 30. The figure represents an extraordinary reversal from 2022 and 2023, when annual apprehensions surpassed 2 million.

The latest total marks the lowest annual number since 1968, when Border Patrol agents reported 96,641 apprehensions. The figures underscore how substantially migration patterns have changed following successive restrictions imposed by the Biden and Trump administrations.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin pointed to the new statistics as evidence that the administration’s immigration policies are producing results.

“The results could not be clearer: strong enforcement works,” Mullin said.

Although the decline began during the final months of Joe Biden’s presidency, when Washington imposed tougher asylum rules and Mexican authorities stepped up efforts to intercept migrants, the numbers continued falling after Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.

Trump substantially curtailed the ability of migrants to seek asylum at the southern border while simultaneously intensifying immigration arrests, detention operations and deportations throughout the country. Together, those measures have changed the calculations facing people considering an unauthorized journey into the United States.

Adam Isacson, a senior associate at the Washington Office on Latin America, attributed much of the decline to the administration’s restrictions on asylum applications.

“The overwhelming reason for the drop in migration is the disappearance of the right to apply for asylum at the border,” Isacson said.

The restrictions have also influenced where migrants choose to go. Some have abandoned plans to travel north and remained in their countries of origin, while others have established themselves in Mexico rather than attempting to cross into the United States.

Mexico has maintained strict policies toward migrants traveling primarily for economic reasons, but its asylum system continues to offer protection to certain people fleeing persecution and other dangers. That distinction has made Mexico an alternative destination for some migrants who previously intended to seek asylum in the United States.

The contrast with the height of the Biden-era border crisis is striking. During that administration, monthly apprehensions at the southern border repeatedly climbed above 200,000, placing enormous pressure on federal immigration authorities and communities receiving newly arrived migrants.

Many of those making the journey came from countries experiencing severe economic distress, political upheaval or widespread violence, including Haiti and Venezuela. Migrants and immigration specialists said the perception that Biden’s policies were more accommodating contributed to the willingness of large numbers of people to undertake the trip.

The unprecedented influx became a major vulnerability for Democrats during the 2024 presidential campaign. Trump repeatedly emphasized the need to restore control over the southern border and made tougher immigration enforcement one of the defining promises of his successful bid to return to the White House.

Since taking office, Trump has extended his enforcement strategy beyond the border itself. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations inside the United States have increased concerns among undocumented immigrants that they could face arrest and removal even after successfully entering the country.

Isacson said that prospect has become an additional deterrent for people who might otherwise attempt to evade Border Patrol agents and enter the country without requesting asylum.

“Even if you’re thinking of becoming a traditional non-asylum-seeking migrant who wants to evade apprehension, you’re probably not going to risk all of that just to have to dodge ICE raids once you arrive here,” Isacson said.

Federal figures released in July showed that 65,765 individuals were being held in ICE detention facilities, illustrating the scale of the administration’s detention and deportation efforts.

The makeup of the migrant population encountered along the southern border has also shifted. Mexican men traveling without accompanying family members now constitute the largest group apprehended by Border Patrol agents, replacing the broader mix of nationalities and family groups that characterized much of the earlier migration surge.

According to Isacson, some of those apprehended may be Mexican nationals who were previously deported and are attempting to return to relatives, employment or communities they left behind in the United States.

Mexican government figures indicate that more than 271,000 Mexican nationals were deported from the United States between Trump’s inauguration in January 2025 and the middle of August 2026. Most were returned across the land border.

The sharp reduction in border crossings has also changed the political conversation as Americans prepare for the November midterm elections. Immigration, which dominated national debate during the 2024 presidential contest, has receded as an immediate concern for many voters, according to recent polling.

Economic issues, particularly household expenses and the rising cost of living, have increasingly moved to the forefront of voters’ concerns, even as the administration points to the historically low border apprehension figures as a major accomplishment of Trump’s immigration agenda.

Additional federal statistics released with the annual report show that the drop extended beyond apprehensions along the Mexican border. Customs and Border Protection recorded 379,243 encounters nationwide during fiscal 2026, the lowest annual total in the agency’s history, according to preliminary government figures.

The Department of Homeland Security said southwest border apprehensions were approximately 95 percent below the annual average recorded during the Biden administration. The entire fiscal year’s total of 98,708 was also roughly 60 percent lower than the 249,740 apprehensions recorded during the single busiest month of the previous administration.

Federal officials reported another milestone: Border Patrol completed the entire fiscal year without releasing any apprehended migrants into the United States. September marked the seventeenth consecutive month of zero such releases, according to the department.

The administration has also committed substantial resources to physical border security. Customs and Border Protection reported obligating $34.3 billion between September 2025 and September 2026 toward Smart Wall projects spanning the southwestern border states, including additional barriers and surveillance infrastructure.

Beyond immigration enforcement, the agency reported increased drug interdictions during the fiscal year. Preliminary figures showed nearly 1 million pounds of narcotics seized, approximately 63 percent above the average annual amount confiscated during the preceding four years.

Customs officials also reported intercepting more than 4,000 shipments valued at over $325 million because of suspected links to forced labor. Separately, agents confiscated approximately 55.5 million counterfeit items with an estimated value exceeding $12.6 billion, according to the agency’s figures.

{Matzav.com}

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Major traffic disruptions are expected across central Israel on Sunday morning as members of the chareidi faction known as the Ratzpanikim prepare to stage demonstrations and block major highways in protest of the arrest and imprisonment of two yeshiva bochurim.

The demonstrations were called at the direction of Rav Tzvi Friedman amid growing anger over the Israeli military’s continued arrest of yeshiva students who have not reported for army service.

The protests are expected to focus on the Gush Dan metropolitan area and surrounding communities, where demonstrators intend to disrupt traffic on several heavily traveled roads.

The immediate trigger for the demonstrations was the arrest of two yeshiva bochurim in Rishon Lezion who were subsequently sentenced to 20 days in military prison.

One of those arrested has been identified as Yedidya Mizrachi, a talmid of Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim.

Members of the Ratzpanikim faction view the arrests as part of what they describe as an escalating campaign against the yeshiva world, arguing that the imprisonment of bochurim for refusing military service represents an attack on their ability to continue learning Torah.

The demonstrations are intended to express opposition to the arrests and demand an end to the imprisonment of yeshiva students over their military enlistment status.

Among the locations identified as potential protest sites are Highway 4 in both directions near Bnei Brak, Geha Junction, Ganot Interchange and the entrances and exits of Givat Shmuel.

These roads are among the principal transportation arteries serving central Israel, and blockages could cause significant delays for motorists traveling through the Bnei Brak area and the greater Tel Aviv region.

Drivers planning to travel through the affected areas are being advised to anticipate heavy congestion, consider alternate routes and follow police announcements regarding road closures and traffic arrangements.

The two arrests took place Thursday night into Friday, October 16, when Israeli police detained the bochurim in Rishon Lezion and transferred them to military police custody. Both are students at Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim in the Armon Hanatziv neighborhood of Yerushalayim, according to additional reporting.

The two were subsequently sentenced to 20 days of confinement in military prison, renewing protests over the enforcement of enlistment requirements against yeshiva students.

The latest planned demonstrations follow a series of similar protests organized by followers of Rav Friedman in recent months. The group, which broke away from the broader Peleg Yerushalmi movement, has repeatedly organized road blockages in response to the arrest of bochurim who did not report to military induction centers.

On October 8, hundreds of demonstrators blocked Highway 4 near Bnei Brak, bringing traffic to a standstill in both directions. Police deployed mounted officers and stun grenades during efforts to disperse protesters, while separate demonstrations in Yerushalayim disrupted traffic near the entrance to the city and affected light rail service.

Similar confrontations occurred in August, when followers of Rav Friedman blocked Geha Junction following the arrest of another yeshiva student and his transfer to military authorities.

{Matzav.com}

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In a significant development in Israel’s chareidi political landscape, Rav Shaul Alter has instructed members of his kehillah to vote for United Torah Judaism in the upcoming Knesset elections, marking a dramatic departure from years in which the community refrained from endorsing the party.

The announcement was delivered on Motzoei Shabbos, October 17, at the conclusion of Seudah Shlishis in the community’s bais medrash on Yosef Ziv Street in Yerushalayim. Rav Yechezkel Halperin, a gabbai of the kehillah, read the directive in Yiddish in the presence of Rav Alter, making clear that the instruction was being issued on the Rosh Yeshiva’s behalf.

The decision is particularly noteworthy because it comes while the main Gur chassidus, headed by the Gerrer Rebbe, has yet to issue a public endorsement of United Torah Judaism, despite the approaching October 27 election and the prominent position of Gur representative Yitzchok Goldknopf on the party’s Knesset list.

The directive from Rav Alter’s community emphasized the serious challenges currently confronting chareidi Jewry in Eretz Yisroel, particularly those studying Torah, and declared that the circumstances require both tefillah and practical political involvement.

In the announcement, delivered in Rav Alter’s name, Rav Halperin stated:

“The chareidi Jewish community in Eretz Yisroel is facing a difficult situation, particularly those who study Torah. Certainly, according to the Jewish outlook, the appropriate response is prayer and supplication before the Creator. However, we are not exempt from making our own efforts. Therefore, following the path of our holy rabbeim, we will participate in the upcoming elections and vote for United Torah Judaism, the letter Gimmel. Those who are suited to doing so should also make efforts, according to their abilities, to help the list succeed. Salvation comes from Hashem.”

The declaration was an English translation of the Yiddish announcement, which was also circulated in Hebrew following Shabbos.

Beyond instructing members to cast their ballots for United Torah Judaism, the message encouraged those capable of assisting the party’s election campaign to become involved in efforts to secure its success.

The announcement represents a notable change in the political position of Rav Alter’s kehillah, commonly known as Kehillas Pnei Menachem, which emerged following the well-publicized split within Gur several years ago.

Since its establishment as a separate community, Rav Alter’s followers have generally avoided formally supporting United Torah Judaism, a party in which the main Gur chassidus has traditionally exercised considerable influence through its representation in Agudas Yisroel.

The decision to openly endorse the party is therefore being viewed as a significant political development, particularly given the complicated relationships among the various factions within the chassidishe political establishment.

The timing has added to its importance.

With approximately ten days remaining until the election, the main Gur leadership has not yet publicly instructed its chassidim to support United Torah Judaism, creating uncertainty over the party’s ability to mobilize one of its traditional voting blocs.

The situation is especially striking because Goldknopf, who represents Gur in the Knesset, occupies the second position on the United Torah Judaism slate.

The absence of an endorsement from the main Gur leadership comes amid internal disagreements within Agudas Yisroel concerning political representation, the distribution of positions and the arrangements involving Shlomei Emunim and Belz.

Recent understandings between the Shlomei Emunim faction and Belz have complicated the political picture, while questions remain about the future relationship between Gur and the other components of United Torah Judaism.

According to reports in the Israeli chareidi media, the Gerrer Rebbe has kept his intentions regarding the election closely guarded, with Goldknopf among the few individuals involved in discussions on the matter.

One report indicated that Goldknopf had been instructed to maintain discretion regarding those conversations, although no official explanation has been issued by the Gur leadership.

At the same time, observers have cautioned that the absence of an endorsement at this stage does not necessarily mean that Gur intends to withhold support from the party.

An examination of previous election campaigns found that Gur has often issued its voting instructions approximately one week to ten days before an election. An announcement in the coming days would therefore still fall within the general timetable followed in previous campaigns.

Nevertheless, the contrast between the two communities has attracted considerable attention.

At the bais medrash of Rav Shaul Alter, a clear and public directive has now been issued to vote for United Torah Judaism. At the main Gur bais medrash on Yirmiyahu Street, no corresponding instruction has yet been announced.

The development is also unfolding against the backdrop of the continuing controversy surrounding military conscription of bnei yeshivos and the broader political challenges facing the chareidi community.

The status of yeshiva students, efforts to advance legislation addressing their military exemptions and the possibility of additional enforcement measures have become central issues in the election campaign.

Rav Alter’s directive specifically referred to the difficult circumstances facing Torah learners, presenting electoral participation as a necessary form of hishtadlus alongside tefillah.

The announcement did not address the internal disagreements within United Torah Judaism or offer an explanation for the community’s departure from its previous electoral position.

It also did not indicate whether Rav Alter’s endorsement reflected any agreement with party representatives or other political figures.

Rather, the message focused on the broader circumstances facing chareidi Jewry and the obligation, in the Rosh Yeshiva’s view, to participate in the electoral process.

The announcement was documented on video and quickly circulated throughout the Israeli chareidi community on Motzoei Shabbos, drawing attention to the unusual political alignment.

For United Torah Judaism, the endorsement provides an additional source of support at a time when the party is navigating internal tensions and uncertainty surrounding its traditional chassidishe constituencies.

For Rav Alter’s kehillah, it marks a departure from the political distance the community has maintained from the party since separating from the main Gur chassidus.

As the October 27 election approaches, attention now turns to whether the Gerrer Rebbe will issue an endorsement of United Torah Judaism and how the unresolved disagreements within Agudas Yisroel will affect the party’s campaign.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the sudden petirah of Mrs. Goldy Kenigsberg a”h, a longtime and beloved morah who devoted approximately 30 years to teaching and educating children in Lakewood, NJ.

Her sudden passing has brought sadness to the community in which she spent so many years dedicated to the sacred work of chinuch.

A daughter of Rav Ephraim Greenblatt of Memphis, Tennessee, Morah Kenigsberg came from a family with deep Torah roots. Her father was a renowned talmid chacham and posek, widely known as the author of the Rivevos Ephraim, whose Torah scholarship and halachic writings earned him recognition throughout the Torah world. Rav Greenblatt was a close talmid of Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l and maintained a longstanding relationship with his rebbi. He served the Memphis Jewish community for decades, becoming a respected address for halachic questions and Torah guidance.

Mrs. Kenigsberg continued her family’s connection to Torah and chinuch through her own decades of work in Lakewood. For approximately 30 years, she served as a morah, participating in the education of children during their formative years.

She was the wife of R’ Mordechai Mayer Kenigsberg and the mother of Nachman Kenigsberg, Shimon Tzvi Kenigsberg, Shaya Kenigsberg, Pinchos (PK) Kenigsberg, Rivky Cohen, and Chana Devorah Friedman.

The levayah is scheduled to take place Sunday, October 18, at 2:30 p.m. at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood, NJ, followed by kevurah at the adjacent Mt. Sinai Cemetery.

A livestream of the levayah will be available via Zoom, meeting ID 892 6887 2065, passcode 231003.

Yehi zichrah boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Federal investigators secretly searched discarded garbage for DNA belonging to Rep. Ilhan Omar and members of her family before conducting a raid on the Minnesota Democrat’s Washington, D.C., residence, according to an explosive new report suggesting that the criminal investigation surrounding the congresswoman may be considerably broader than previously understood.

NewsNation’s Leland Vittert reported Friday that multiple sources confirmed investigators had collected trash in an effort to obtain genetic evidence before federal agents descended on Omar’s home Monday morning. The reported operation was part of an expanding federal investigation involving allegations of immigration fraud and possible misrepresentations concerning the congresswoman’s family history.

The DNA collection is particularly significant because investigators reportedly consider the genetic evidence important to their case. Vittert indicated that the investigation extends beyond longstanding allegations involving Omar’s marriage history and the circumstances under which she obtained American citizenship.

“Multiple sources have confirmed to me that federal agents went dumpster diving to get DNA from Minnesota Congresswoman [Omar] and her family before that blockbuster raid on her D.C. home earlier this week. I’m told this investigation extends far beyond the most familiar case and accusation against Omar that she married her brother to help him gain citizenship or that she falsified her birth year to immigrate as a minor,” Vittert reported.

According to NewsNation, the reported DNA evidence was included in a search warrant application involving more than a dozen locations. Federal authorities reportedly conducted multiple searches around the same time as the operation at Omar’s Washington residence, suggesting that investigators are examining the activities of several individuals rather than focusing exclusively on the congresswoman.

Vittert also reported that sources familiar with the investigation anticipate potentially significant criminal charges, although no indictments have been publicly announced.

He said the “likely coming indictments will be stunning in nature and far beyond anything the public has understood the case to be about.”

The claim about possible indictments remains a prediction attributed to NewsNation’s sources. Federal prosecutors have not publicly identified prospective defendants or announced charges.

The reported collection of DNA from household garbage introduces a new dimension to the investigation. Federal agents sometimes obtain genetic material from items discarded in publicly accessible trash containers, a technique that can allow investigators to collect potential evidence without alerting the subjects of an inquiry.

Former FBI special agent Tracy Walder, discussing the reported operation with NewsNation, explained that discarded items can provide investigators with a relatively straightforward means of obtaining DNA.

“To me, if they are obviously trying to obtain DNA, then, yes, that is a very easy get, especially if it was discarded even in a trash can,” Walder said.

“You don’t need a warrant to really do any of that, as long as it’s in a public place,” she added.

The method has been used in other major criminal investigations, where investigators have recovered genetic material from objects such as discarded food containers and other household waste.

Authorities have not disclosed what specific items were recovered in Omar’s case, whether usable DNA profiles were obtained, or how any genetic evidence might relate to the allegations being examined.

The new revelations follow Monday’s search of Omar’s Washington home by agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. During the operation, agents reportedly seized the congresswoman’s cellphone, passport, personal computers and notebooks.

The search was authorized by a federal judge after investigators presented evidence that reportedly included messages recovered from the cellphone of Omar’s sister, Sahra Noor.

According to reporting about the investigation, federal authorities seized Noor’s phone earlier this year while examining whether Omar and members of her family provided inaccurate information in immigration documents dating back to their arrival in the United States during the 1990s.

Investigators reportedly discovered communications that became important in obtaining judicial authorization for the search of Omar’s residence. The precise contents of those messages have not been made public.

Noor, a healthcare executive and author who currently resides in Kenya, also reportedly canceled a scheduled appearance in Rochester, Minnesota, on Thursday to promote her book, Salt in the Snow: A Somali Immigrant Story, citing a family emergency.

The investigation is reportedly being coordinated by the Minneapolis office of Homeland Security Investigations, with evidence expected to be presented to a federal grand jury in Minnesota. Subpoenas have reportedly been issued to several members of Omar’s family.

At the center of the inquiry are questions about the immigration documents submitted when Omar and her relatives entered the United States as refugees following Somalia’s civil war.

Omar, who was born in Somalia and has represented Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District since 2019, has maintained that she became an American citizen in 2000, when she was 17, through her father’s naturalization.

Investigators are reportedly examining whether information concerning her age or family circumstances was inaccurately represented during that process.

Her father, Nur Omar Mohamed, has also come under scrutiny over allegations that he misrepresented aspects of his background when the family entered the United States. Reports have identified him as a former colonel under Somalia’s dictatorship, raising additional questions about information provided to immigration authorities.

Another longstanding allegation involves Omar’s 2009 marriage to Ahmed Elmi, whom critics have claimed was her brother and whom they allege she married to facilitate immigration benefits. Omar has repeatedly denied that accusation, and it has not been established in court.

NewsNation’s latest reporting suggests that federal investigators may be pursuing additional matters beyond those familiar allegations. However, authorities have not publicly explained the full scope of the investigation or established how the reported DNA evidence relates to any particular suspected offense.

The inquiry reportedly has roots in an investigation opened during President Joe Biden’s administration that was subsequently closed. Portions of the case were later reopened and expanded under President Trump’s administration.

The decision to search the home of a sitting member of Congress has triggered a political confrontation, with Omar and her supporters accusing the administration of using federal law enforcement against a prominent political opponent.

In a statement issued after the raid, Omar’s office condemned the operation and denied wrongdoing.

“This raid by Trump’s DHS is an outrageous abuse of power and an unprecedented escalation in the weaponization of federal law enforcement to target political enemies.”

The statement continued: “For a decade, Donald Trump has relentlessly targeted Congresswoman Ilhan Omar with inflammatory rhetoric, repeatedly putting a target on her back. Now, those attacks have escalated to a pointless federal raid. The Congresswoman has done nothing wrong. No president should be able to use the power of the federal government to intimidate his political enemies.”

Omar herself has similarly accused Trump of pursuing a longstanding personal campaign against her.

“This is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement. For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation. I will not be silenced.”

The Trump administration has rejected the suggestion that the investigation is politically motivated.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the federal operation during an appearance on The Charlie Kirk Show, saying investigators would not have proceeded without confidence that the case rested on legitimate law enforcement grounds.

“I will tell you, we wouldn’t move forward, and President Trump didn’t want to move forward either, unless we knew that it couldn’t be politically driven,” Mullin said.

“This was about enforcing, once again, our nation’s laws. And it’s a strong case,” he added.

Trump has also denied directing the investigation, saying decisions concerning Omar belong to federal law enforcement officials.

“Well, I understand they’re looking at her very carefully. I’ve always found her to be totally crooked, personally, but that has nothing to do with me,” Trump said when questioned about the raid.

“I think she’s a terrible person, but that’s really up to the DOJ. I have nothing to do with it,” the president added.

The timing of the operation has also drawn attention because Omar is seeking reelection in November. Federal investigators conducted the search approximately three weeks before voters are scheduled to go to the polls, a period during which Justice Department officials traditionally exercise particular caution regarding investigative steps that could affect elections.

The reported DNA collection and simultaneous searches have intensified speculation about the direction of the investigation. Still, neither the Justice Department nor Homeland Security Investigations has publicly confirmed the reported genetic findings, identified the additional suspected offenses described by NewsNation’s sources, or announced criminal charges against Omar.

The investigation remains ongoing, with federal prosecutors reportedly preparing to present evidence to a grand jury that will determine whether the material gathered supports criminal indictments.

An extensive investigation by NPR has raised serious questions about a network of skincare kiosks and retail stores associated with an Israeli-American-owned cosmetics business, uncovering allegations that hundreds of customers were subjected to unauthorized credit card charges, deceptive sales practices and extraordinary product markups. The investigation also examined the treatment of elderly and disabled shoppers, the accuracy of product advertising and possible immigration violations involving sales employees.

The investigation, based on court records, consumer complaints, online reviews and interviews with more than 50 customers, focused on Mazal Group, a network connected to dozens of skincare brands sold through shopping mall kiosks, retail stores and spas across the United States and internationally.

The business has been associated with Eli and Daphna Oded Weingarten, an Israeli-American couple living in the Los Angeles area. According to the investigation, the network encompasses numerous cosmetics brands that are marketed as luxury skincare products, often through salespeople who approach shoppers in mall corridors and offer free samples or demonstrations.

While such kiosks have become a familiar feature of American shopping malls, NPR found allegations that some customers who accepted demonstrations subsequently discovered credit card charges far exceeding what they believed they had authorized.

The reported incidents involved amounts ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars, with some customers saying they had been pressured into purchases, misled about prices or charged for products they had not knowingly agreed to buy.

The investigation also documented complaints involving customers who were particularly vulnerable because of age, disability or medical conditions.

In one case, an elderly Michigan man suffering from dementia was reportedly charged approximately $42,000 without his knowledge. The incident raised questions about how such a substantial transaction could have occurred and what safeguards were in place to protect a customer whose ability to understand or authorize purchases was impaired.

Another case involved a disabled woman in Hawaii who alleged that a salesperson took possession of her walker and kept her at a spa for several hours while pressuring her to make purchases. According to her account, she eventually agreed to spend $2,600.

These accounts formed part of a broader pattern of consumer allegations examined by NPR. The investigation did not establish that every retailer associated with the brands engaged in improper conduct, but it raised questions about the business practices of some operators within the network.

The NPR investigation also uncovered a history of federal law enforcement activity involving businesses operating within the same industry.

Approximately a decade ago, the FBI investigated what agents described as a “credit card overcharge scheme” involving skincare kiosks connected to Mazal. The investigation ultimately resulted in more than a dozen guilty pleas involving visa fraud and money laundering, with store operators Shai Cohen and Omer Gur receiving prison sentences.

Those prosecutions involved individual operators and did not establish that every business selling Mazal products participated in criminal activity.

NPR found that allegations of aggressive and unauthorized sales practices continued years after the earlier federal investigation.

The scale of the operation is difficult to determine because individual stores frequently open, close or change names. However, one former Mazal employee estimated that the company maintained relationships with approximately 2,000 retail locations worldwide.

The investigation identified numerous skincare brands connected to the same family-owned business, including Voupre, Avinichi, Introstem, CbGäRDN, Venofye, Lionesse and Orogold Cosmetics.

Although the brands are marketed under different names, NPR found that several sell substantially similar products, sometimes with nearly identical formulations and comparable retail prices.

Former employees alleged that the proliferation of brand names helped the business obtain mall leases and continue operating when particular products or retailers accumulated negative consumer reviews.

One former employee told NPR, “The reason why they have so many brands is because they had to keep remaking brands with different names to sell it a different way to the malls so that they could get a lease.”

Another former worker said complaints about individual brands sometimes led to the introduction of new names and product lines.

“People would complain about a line, about a brand being destroyed and having a bad reputation,” the employee said. “So they would constantly come out with something fresh, something new.”

NPR also examined internal pricing documents that raised questions about the relationship between the wholesale cost of the products and the prices recommended to consumers.

According to order forms obtained by the news organization, some products carried suggested retail prices exceeding their wholesale cost by more than 100 times.

One example was Voupre’s Cannabis Caviar Transforming Mask, which reportedly cost retailers $23 per unit but carried a suggested retail price of $3,000.

Another product, Voupre Anti-Aging Rescue Solution, had a wholesale price of $19.50 and a suggested retail price of $1,300.

Joe Rowett, chief executive of VELOX, a marketing agency specializing in skincare and beauty products, described such markups as unusual even by luxury cosmetics industry standards.

“Pricing at that level typically raises red flags,” Rowett said.

The investigation found that the substantial difference between wholesale and suggested retail prices gave salespeople considerable flexibility to negotiate prices while potentially earning large commissions.

Former employees and customers also described products being displayed without clearly visible price tags, making it more difficult for shoppers to determine their actual cost before entering sales discussions.

NPR commissioned laboratory testing of one Voupre product to examine whether its ingredients matched its advertised claims.

The news organization obtained an unopened box of Voupre Anti-Aging Rescue Solution purchased by 90-year-old Suzann Roberts of Ann Arbor, Michigan, who said she had been unable to return the product.

The sample was sent to Founders Science Group, a Massachusetts laboratory specializing in chemical and pharmaceutical analysis.

Researchers examined the product for ingredients associated with anti-aging benefits, including vitamins A and E and a peptide known as acetyl hexapeptide-8.

The laboratory detected the peptide but reported that neither vitamin A nor vitamin E could be identified in the tested sample.

Robert Munroe, the laboratory’s chief executive and an experienced pharmaceutical scientist, called the findings “surprising and definitely suspicious.”

He explained that while vitamin A can deteriorate over time, vitamin E should not disappear entirely from a properly formulated product.

If a manufacturer had failed to include ingredients listed on a product’s packaging, Munroe said, “that would be misbranding.”

The laboratory’s findings were based on a single sample and did not establish that every batch of the product lacked the advertised ingredients.

Munroe also questioned whether the product’s price was justified by its formulation, comparing its principal detected active ingredient to a much less expensive skincare product.

“As far as getting peptide on the skin, you don’t need to spend $1,300 to do it,” he said.

The investigation further examined the company’s relationship with independently operated stores and the extent to which Mazal influenced their business practices.

Mazal maintained that it did not own or directly operate the retail locations selling its products and therefore was not responsible for individual sales transactions.

However, documents reviewed by NPR indicated that the company provided services extending beyond product distribution, including assistance with store design, marketing, leasing arrangements, customer relations and refund policies.

A class-action lawsuit filed in Hawaii in 2022 accused Mazal Group, members of the Weingarten and Oded families and local store operators of violating consumer protection laws through what the plaintiffs described as a “predatory and systematically unfair and deceptive enterprise.”

The case proceeded for several years before the parties reached a settlement in June 2026.

Under the agreement, Mazal Group, members of the family and two Hawaii licensees agreed to provide $950,000 in restitution, with Mazal and the family responsible for $650,000 of that amount.

The settlement was intended to compensate 110 consumers who had filed complaints with Hawaii authorities, after legal expenses and other deductions.

Mazal Group and the individual defendants denied wrongdoing, and the settlement did not constitute an admission of liability.

NPR also investigated allegations that some skincare stores employed Israeli salespeople who entered the United States on tourist visas, which generally do not authorize employment.

Former employees described the practice as longstanding within parts of the industry. The investigation also identified online communications and recruitment material suggesting that some operators continued accepting workers without appropriate employment authorization.

In one exchange, a reporter posing as a prospective employee asked a recruiter whether working on a tourist visa would be acceptable and reportedly received an affirmative response.

The earlier federal prosecutions had included immigration-related offenses, but NPR reported that comparable criminal charges had not been brought against operators in the industry for approximately a decade.

Israel’s admission to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program in 2023 has made short-term travel to the United States easier for eligible Israeli citizens, although participation in the program does not authorize ordinary paid employment.

As NPR prepared to publish its findings, Mazal Group terminated its business license in September 2026.

The company’s headquarters in Chatsworth, California, subsequently displayed the name Innovation Brands Inc., a business established by the Weingartens in 2024.

Former employees told NPR that the family had previously reorganized or discontinued businesses when particular brands encountered reputational problems.

Through its attorneys, Mazal Group disputed the investigation’s characterization of its operations and maintained that responsibility for retail sales rested with independently owned stores.

“Mazal Group does not own or operate any retail locations that sell cosmetic products or any other products for that matter. Nor does Mazal Group manufacture any products,” attorney Brian Tilker said on the company’s behalf.

The company’s lawyers also characterized NPR’s reporting as inaccurate, although they did not publicly provide a detailed response to the individual allegations.

The investigation leaves unresolved questions about the extent of the company’s responsibility for misconduct alleged at independently operated locations, the effectiveness of consumer protections governing high-pressure skincare sales and whether the business practices identified by NPR will prompt additional scrutiny from regulators or law enforcement agencies.

President Donald Trump has ordered a suspension of sweeping new sanctions against Russia, invoking national security and economic considerations to delay penalties approved by Congress that were scheduled to take effect Sunday. The decision, announced Friday, drew immediate criticism from Republican and Democratic lawmakers who accused the president of weakening pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin over the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The executive order temporarily blocks implementation of major provisions of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, legislation Trump signed into law in September following overwhelming bipartisan approval in the House and Senate. The measure was named in honor of the late South Carolina Republican senator, who had spent months advocating tougher economic penalties against Moscow.

Trump exercised a waiver provision included in the legislation, arguing that immediately enforcing the sanctions would conflict with American interests.

“I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act,” Trump’s order stated. “I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States.”

The law was designed to increase economic pressure on Russia by targeting government officials, financial institutions and the country’s energy industry, whose oil and natural gas exports have continued generating revenue during the war in Ukraine.

Among its most aggressive provisions were tariffs of up to 100% on major purchasers of Russian oil and gas, a measure intended to discourage foreign countries from maintaining energy trade with Moscow. The legislation also authorized tariffs reaching 500% on Russian imports.

Rather than allow those penalties to begin taking effect, Trump chose to suspend their implementation under the discretionary authority Congress had granted him.

The executive order leaves open the possibility that the administration could activate the sanctions at a later date, depending on developments in the war, diplomatic negotiations or other considerations.

According to the order, the waivers “shall remain in effect until such time as the President or the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Trade Representative, as appropriate, determine that further action is appropriate.”

The decision immediately provoked objections on Capitol Hill, including from members of Trump’s own party who have advocated a tougher approach toward Russia.

Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican and outspoken supporter of Ukraine, accused the president of undermining efforts to bring the fighting to an end.

“The President is prolonging the war, not ending it,” Bacon wrote on X.

Democratic Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia delivered an even sharper rebuke, describing the suspension as “Trump’s latest surrender to Putin” and arguing that it “betrays our Ukrainian partners and defies clear congressional intent of legislation designed to punish Russia for its illegal war of aggression.”

Beyer also expressed concern about the broad trade powers contained in the legislation, warning that the president could eventually use those authorities against countries other than Russia.

“Trump has proven he will twist this law and abuse the powers it conferred on him, and while he has let the tariff powers lie for the moment, the law as written also empowers Trump to weaponize new trade authorities against our allies and trading partners,” Beyer warned on X. “Congress must fix this flawed law to stop Trump from capitulating to Putin and ensure that it truly supports Ukraine.”

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, likewise rejected the administration’s national-interest justification, alleging that the decision was motivated by Trump’s relationship with the Russian president.

Blumenthal claimed the waivers “have nothing to do with our national security, & everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin.”

“I hope my Republican colleagues will join me in condemning this craven, cowardly action,” Blumenthal posted on X.

The suspension comes amid a broader shift in the administration’s approach to Russian energy, driven in part by mounting pressure to bring down fuel prices in the United States.

Just one week earlier, Trump announced an agreement with Putin that would allow Russian diesel to enter the American market after sanctions restrictions were relaxed. The arrangement was presented as an effort to increase available supplies and relieve pressure on consumers facing sharply higher prices at the pump.

Under the agreement described by Trump, Russia would immediately provide more than 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by another 500,000 tons in November. The president said deliveries would subsequently increase by an additional 1 million tons “immediately thereafter,” with a further 3 million tons arriving “within a short period of time.”

The diesel agreement had already generated bipartisan concern before Friday’s executive order. A group of 12 senators, including six Republicans, urged the administration to reverse the arrangement, warning that renewed purchases of Russian energy could provide Moscow with additional revenue to finance its military operations.

Energy analysts have also questioned whether the quantities involved would be sufficient to produce a meaningful reduction in American fuel prices, particularly given transportation constraints and the broader disruptions affecting international energy markets.

The latest sanctions waiver has added to tensions between Washington and Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized the administration’s relaxation of economic pressure on Moscow, warning that such decisions could strengthen Russia’s position while its invasion of Ukraine continues.

Additional criticism came from Republican senators Rick Scott and Thom Tillis, as well as Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, reflecting the unusually broad political opposition to Trump’s decision.

Despite the backlash, congressional efforts to overturn the waiver face significant obstacles. Lawmakers are currently away from Washington ahead of the November midterm elections, limiting the possibility of an immediate legislative response.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has indicated that the administration will conduct a 60-day review of the economic implications before determining whether additional sanctions should be implemented.

The executive order also directs the United States Trade Representative, working with senior administration officials, to continue monitoring countries purchasing Russian oil and natural gas, as well as governments involved in facilitating sanctions evasion. The administration will retain the ability to reconsider the suspended penalties if circumstances change.

Importantly, the order does not eliminate all existing American sanctions against Russia. Measures previously imposed under separate executive authorities remain in place, while the new penalties established by the Graham Act have been waived.

The legislation originated with Lindsey Graham, a longtime advocate of stronger American support for Ukraine who pushed for economic measures aimed at reducing Moscow’s ability to finance the war. Following his death in July, his sister, Darline Graham, was appointed to fill his South Carolina Senate seat and continued advocating passage of the legislation.

During a debate earlier this week, Sen. Darline Graham acknowledged that the measure gave the president broad discretion over whether to deploy its sanctions authorities.

“It gives the president tools that he can use if he so chooses, to end the war through economic sanctions,” Graham said Sunday.

“So that’s up to him as to whether or not he wants to use it, or whether he wants to use something else, but I think the purpose of it is to bring down the gas prices and ultimately end the war. And when the war ends, gas prices will fall.”

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu warned that Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles poses a direct threat to the United States and Europe, arguing that the Iranian regime’s ambitions extend far beyond its longstanding confrontation with Israel. In an interview with Fox News host Mark Levin that aired Saturday night, Netanyahu praised President Donald Trump’s approach to Tehran and said the two leaders share an understanding of the dangers posed by the Islamic Republic.

Appearing on Fox News’ “Life, Liberty & Levin,” Netanyahu discussed Iran’s nuclear program, its network of terrorist proxies, his relationship with Trump, Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza and the approaching Israeli election scheduled for October 27.

Netanyahu:

Iranians are building intercontinental ballistic missiles to reach the U.S., and they want those missiles to carry nuclear warheads.

Every single city in the U.S. will be held hostage. pic.twitter.com/qPgZkt0BYO

— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 18, 2026

Netanyahu described Iran as the central force behind several terrorist organizations that have attacked Israel, portraying Hamas, Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis as extensions of the regime in Tehran rather than independent threats.

“Because Hamas, the three H’s as I call them, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis in Yemen, they’re basically arms of this toxic octopus, you know, and it’s the Ayatollahs in Iran. It’s not the Iranian people. The Iranian people are great people.”

The prime minister stressed that his criticism was directed at Iran’s ruling establishment rather than its population, speaking favorably of the Iranian people’s history and culture while accusing the country’s leadership of pursuing an aggressive regional and international agenda.

According to Netanyahu, Iran’s objectives include establishing dominance across the Middle East, gaining leverage over vital shipping routes and energy supplies, and eventually extending its influence and military reach toward Western countries.

He said the regime regards Israel as an immediate target but views the United States as its ultimate enemy, with Europe also falling within its ideological hostility.

“You’re the great Satan. We’re the little Satan. I say to my European friends, I hope you’re not offended. You’re a middle-sized Satan.”

Netanyahu expressed particular concern about Iran’s efforts to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles, warning that such weapons could eventually allow Tehran to threaten American population centers directly if equipped with nuclear warheads.

“And they want them to have nuclear warheads. And then every single city in the United States, every single city, will be held hostage to the blackmail of these fanatics. So the only way you can deal with it is to basically to get rid of this regime.”

The prime minister argued that preventing Iran from acquiring the ability to threaten other countries with nuclear weapons requires a sustained strategy involving both military pressure and economic measures.

He recalled a conversation with Trump at Mar-a-Lago before the most recent American presidential election, saying Trump had independently raised the importance of stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu presented that exchange as evidence that Trump understood the implications of Iran’s nuclear ambitions for American national security, rather than viewing the issue solely through the lens of Israel’s security concerns.

“And that’s a long process. It’s both military and economic, and I think President Trump is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.”

Netanyahu also warned that Iran’s leadership could be more dangerous than other nuclear-armed governments because, in his assessment, its ideological commitments could outweigh the conventional calculations of deterrence that have historically shaped relations between nuclear powers.

“Iran would be a nuclear power unlike any other that we see in the world, because they don’t have this careful calculus of cost and benefit, because it’s so fanatic.”

The Israeli leader expressed deep skepticism about the value of negotiating with Tehran, contending that the regime has repeatedly demonstrated an unwillingness to honor agreements and cannot be persuaded to abandon its ambitions through diplomatic or financial incentives alone.

“So you can’t win them over. You can’t buy them out. You can’t, you know, and no deal holds more than two seconds, because they do one thing consistently and reliably. They lie.”

The interview also offered Netanyahu an opportunity to discuss his working relationship with Trump, which he characterized as a partnership built on mutual respect and an understanding that each leader must place his own country’s interests first.

Netanyahu said that although the two men frequently agree on major security issues, their cooperation does not mean that either automatically accepts the other’s position.

“I always recognize he’s the president of the United States, he does what he thinks is good for the United States. And that’s exactly what he does. I do the same for Israel,” Netanyahu said. “And I’m glad that it often, very often, this meshes.”

The remarks come during a particularly sensitive period in U.S.-Israeli relations, with the two governments continuing to coordinate their responses to Iran’s military activities and nuclear ambitions.

Earlier this week, Netanyahu said he was not seeking to initiate another military confrontation with Iran before Israel’s election, rejecting suggestions that he might pursue military action for political advantage. At the same time, he warned that Israel would respond forcefully to any attacks by Iran or its regional proxies.

The prime minister’s appearance on Fox News also comes just days before Israelis are scheduled to vote in their first national election since the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023, and the prolonged military conflicts that followed.

Asked about his political future, Netanyahu said he was focused on winning another term and refused to take the election outcome for granted.

“First, I have to get elected,” Netanyahu said. “And by the way, I fight every campaign as though I’m [going to] lose, and that’s the only reason I win. But I have to fight it in the coming week, and I will.”

He expressed hope that another election victory would allow him to continue working closely with Trump on regional security and diplomatic initiatives.

“But God willing, if I’m elected, then this partnership will continue to bring security and bring peace,” he added.

The October 27 election is expected to center heavily on national security, the consequences of the Gaza war, Israel’s confrontation with Iran and Netanyahu’s handling of the crises that have dominated the country since October 7.

Netanyahu also addressed international criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, rejecting allegations that the IDF had acted without sufficient regard for Palestinian civilians.

He argued that Israel had a responsibility to defend its citizens against Hamas while attempting to limit civilian casualties during combat operations.

“The moral high ground is when you defend your people against monsters, and when you do so, try to minimize civilian casualties.”

Netanyahu maintained that the Israeli military had undertaken extensive efforts to notify Gaza residents before attacks and encourage them to evacuate areas where Hamas fighters were operating.

“We send thousands, no, millions of flyers, millions of phone calls, millions of text messages to the Palestinian civilians saying, get out of harm’s way.”

The prime minister accused Hamas of deliberately embedding its military infrastructure within heavily populated neighborhoods and civilian facilities, including hospitals, while obstructing residents seeking to escape combat areas.

According to Netanyahu, those tactics contributed to civilian deaths and complicated Israeli military operations, even as Israel faced international condemnation over the humanitarian consequences of the fighting.

“That’s how we got the civilian casualties. So who’s being accused? Israel. That’s crazy.”

Beneath the streets and buildings of New York City, remnants of the city’s earliest Jewish communities may still be waiting to be discovered, including long-forgotten mikvaos that once served generations of Jewish families.

A researcher at the City University of New York is attempting to locate these historic ritual baths, using archival records, old maps and archaeological evidence to reconstruct a largely overlooked chapter of Jewish life in America.

Miriam Entin, a doctoral researcher specializing in the archaeology of Jewish New York, is examining the locations of mikvaos established by Jewish communities dating back centuries, many of which disappeared as neighborhoods were demolished, rebuilt and transformed.

Despite nearly 400 years of Jewish settlement in New York, archaeologists have identified only three historic mikvaos in the city, a remarkably small number considering the central role of the mikvah in traditional Jewish communal life.

Entin believes that additional sites may remain beneath existing buildings, sidewalks and streets, preserved by the successive layers of construction that have reshaped Manhattan and other parts of the city.

Her research seeks to identify where these facilities once stood and determine whether any physical evidence has survived.

One of the most striking discoveries occurred in 2003, when construction workers preparing a residential development on Manhattan’s Lower East Side uncovered a tiled structure beneath an asphalt lot.

A backhoe exposed a white-tiled wall, prompting archaeologists to investigate the site more carefully. As they excavated, they uncovered marble steps descending into a rectangular pool, with a Magen Dovid formed from blue hexagonal tiles at the center of its floor.

Historical research established that Congregation Moshcisker Chevrah Gur Arye had occupied the property on East Third Street. Investigators concluded that the structure was likely a mikvah associated with the congregation.

The discovery offered a rare physical glimpse into the religious life of Jewish immigrants who had lived in the neighborhood more than a century earlier.

At the height of Jewish immigration to the Lower East Side, the neighborhood was home to hundreds of shuls and an enormous population of Jews, many of whom had fled poverty, persecution and pogroms in Eastern Europe.

One archaeological report noted that more than 500 congregations operated within an area covering less than one square mile during the early twentieth century. Some congregations rented rooms in tenement buildings, sharing space with other communal institutions.

For observant Jewish families, access to a kosher mikvah was an essential part of maintaining Jewish life in their new surroundings. Yet establishing and operating such facilities in overcrowded urban neighborhoods presented significant practical challenges.

Water supplies, sanitation, limited space and the expense of maintaining buildings all affected how mikvaos were constructed and operated.

Entin’s research concentrates particularly on the period between 1880 and 1920, when Jewish immigration transformed the Lower East Side and other neighborhoods throughout New York.

Rather than relying exclusively on archaeological excavations, she has been studying old Yiddish newspaper advertisements, historical property records and fire insurance maps.

The advertisements frequently identified the addresses of mikvaos and sometimes named the rabbonim responsible for supervising them. Other notices advertised their facilities or announced that properties were being offered for sale.

Fire insurance maps provide another source of evidence, recording the layout and uses of buildings during different periods.

By comparing maps published years apart, Entin can sometimes determine approximately when a mikvah opened, closed or disappeared.

“You can see, ‘Oh, in 1903 it says baths, but then in 1920 it doesn’t,’ so you know the mikveh was probably sold or demolished in between,” she explained.

In a report on her research published earlier this year, Entin said she had identified 38 historical mikvaos in New York City using advertisements and archaeological documentation. Her continuing research has expanded the picture considerably, identifying dozens of additional sites across the metropolitan area.

The locations extend beyond Manhattan to Brooklyn and the Bronx, with other historical mikvaos identified in Newark, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.

Entin is developing what she hopes will become the first comprehensive database of historic mikvaos in New York City, documenting their locations and the communities they served.

She has not yet publicly released the complete list of sites, explaining that the findings form part of her doctoral dissertation.

The researcher believes that some of the structures were destroyed during redevelopment projects, while others may remain intact beneath buildings that have undergone repeated renovations.

“Some of them were definitely destroyed. We know that a mikveh existed in a certain building, and now that building is a hotel, so there’s probably nothing there anymore,” she said.

“But there are almost certainly ones that exist intact in certain tenement basements and the landlord’s kind of waiting for somebody to knock on the door and ask about it.”

The difficulty of finding such sites reflects the realities of archaeology in a densely developed city.

Unlike archaeological excavations in open areas, researchers in New York generally have limited opportunities to investigate underground structures. Excavations frequently occur only when construction or renovation projects expose previously hidden remains.

Even when significant artifacts are discovered, archaeologists often face pressure to complete their work quickly so construction can resume.

Entin’s research therefore offers a way to reconstruct historical Jewish life even when the physical remains of a mikvah have disappeared.

The three sites identified through archaeological work were all located in or near Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

One was uncovered in 2001 beneath a vacant lot on Allen Street, near the historic Eldridge Street Synagogue. Another was discovered during renovations in a building on East Seventh Street. The third was the East Third Street mikvah uncovered in 2003.

The Allen Street discovery was particularly significant because researchers found a ritual bath associated with a former Russian bathhouse dating to the nineteenth century.

That mikvah had been buried beneath debris and construction material, preserving portions of the structure long after its original use had ended.

Entin’s research has also revealed how mikvaos changed along with the neighborhoods surrounding them.

As Jewish families gradually moved from the Lower East Side to other parts of Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx, communal institutions followed.

Some mikvaos closed because their congregations relocated. Others disappeared when buildings were demolished to accommodate new streets, housing developments or public works projects.

The expansion of Allen Street, for example, resulted in the destruction of numerous properties, including sites associated with historical Jewish communal facilities.

Entin has also traced advertisements for a mikvah associated with Park East Synagogue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Later notices indicated that the facility was offered for sale, suggesting that its operation eventually ended.

Her work draws attention to an aspect of American Jewish history that has received relatively little archaeological attention.

While historians have extensively documented New York’s old shuls, cemeteries, schools and Jewish neighborhoods, the physical infrastructure supporting the observance of taharas hamishpachah has been studied far less.

Entin said the mikvaos offer insight into the everyday experiences of Jewish immigrants, including how they maintained religious observance under difficult living conditions.

Her research, she explained, “comments on the social world, the experience of these immigrants.”

The findings may eventually help archaeologists identify promising locations for future excavations and encourage property owners to recognize historically significant structures that might remain in their basements.

For now, Entin continues examining archival records and matching old addresses with modern properties, searching for traces of the mikvaos that served New York’s earlier Jewish communities.

She expects to complete her doctoral studies later this year, with her dissertation providing a more extensive record of the ritual baths that once stood throughout the city.

New York City lawmakers are demanding that Amazon remove a Halloween decoration featuring a symbol resembling a Magen Dovid on a witch’s spell book, following complaints that the display associates a recognizable Jewish religious symbol with witchcraft and sinister imagery.

The controversy involves a six-foot-tall animated witch decoration sold online by Collective Home for approximately $219. The figure holds an open spell book bearing a six-pointed star, prompting objections from Jewish residents and elected officials who say the imagery is offensive.

Members of the New York City Council’s bipartisan Antisemitism Task Force formally raised the issue with Amazon in a letter dated October 14, calling on the company to address the product and prevent similar controversies involving religious symbols.

The complaint was signed by eight council members, including Council Speaker Julie Menin, Brooklyn Councilwoman Inna Vernikov and Councilman Eric Dinowitz.

The lawmakers argued that placing a symbol closely associated with Judaism on a witch’s spell book was particularly troubling at a time of heightened concern about antisemitism in New York City.

The controversy first emerged after a Brooklyn resident noticed the symbol on a Halloween decoration displayed outside her home. The discovery prompted complaints and brought the product to the attention of local elected officials.

The dispute has since expanded beyond the individual decoration, raising questions about how retailers review seasonal merchandise that incorporates religious imagery.

In their letter, the council members acknowledged that the six-pointed design might have been intended as a generic occult symbol rather than a deliberate reference to Judaism. Nevertheless, they said its recognizable resemblance to the Magen Dovid made its placement on the decoration objectionable.

“While it is unclear if this symbol was an attempt to depict a hexagram or another occult symbol, the Star of David is the most widely recognizable symbol of the Jewish people,” the lawmakers wrote.

They warned that the image could reinforce longstanding antisemitic stereotypes associating Jews with sorcery and supernatural wrongdoing.

“Such imagery can reasonably be perceived as demeaning to Jewish people and hurtful to members of the Jewish community. It may also incite violence against the Jewish community,” the letter stated.

The lawmakers called on Amazon to act under its policies governing hateful, discriminatory and offensive merchandise.

“We urge Amazon to immediately remove this product considering its policies concerning hateful, discriminatory, and offensive content and to consider the broader implications of making such merchandise available to the public,” they wrote.

The Brooklyn homeowner whose decoration helped bring attention to the controversy said she had not noticed the symbol when the item was installed. Her handyman had unpacked and assembled the witch, and she had not examined the spell book.

“I’m very upset, this is horrible,” the woman said, explaining that she had never intended to display anything offensive.

“I don’t want to insult any religion. I’m sensitive about these things. I’m a big supporter of Israel and the Jewish people,” she said.

She added that she intended to raise the issue with Amazon.

The controversy had already drawn criticism earlier in the week from Jewish advocates, including Moshe Spern, president of United Jewish Teachers, who argued that the decoration evoked an old antisemitic accusation portraying Jews as practitioners of witchcraft.

The organization StopAntisemitism also criticized the merchandise, pointing to a separate costume sold through Amazon depicting the fictional character Dr. Evil with a Jewish star on his ring, although the character’s original ring featured different markings.

The group’s founder, Liora Rez, called for the products to be removed, warning that the imagery could normalize harmful stereotypes.

The council members’ intervention marks an escalation from complaints by individual consumers and advocacy organizations to a formal demand from elected officials.

As of the October 16 reporting, Amazon had not responded to requests for comment, and there was no confirmed announcement that the decoration had been removed from sale.

Israeli chess players who registered for next month’s World Amateur Chess Championships in Malaysia have been left off the tournament’s final list of competitors, despite assurances from the international chess federation that it would work to facilitate their participation. One of the players says he was excluded even though he registered using a foreign passport.

The controversy has prompted demands that Malaysia be stripped of the right to host the championship, with Israeli players accusing the organizers of allowing nationality-based discrimination at an international sporting event that is supposed to be open to competitors from every member country.

The tournament, organized under the auspices of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), is scheduled to take place November 4–13 in Klang, Malaysia. However, Malaysia does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel and prohibits Israeli citizens from entering the country under its longstanding immigration restrictions.

Lior Aizenberg, an Israeli chess player and pro-Israel activist who operates the Chess4All club in Petach Tikvah, said Saturday that he and another Israeli player were missing from the final list of participants, despite having completed the registration process.

Aizenberg said he had attempted to overcome the country’s restrictions by registering with a foreign passport, but that effort had not secured his participation.

“The Malaysian authorities are simply unwilling to allow Israelis to represent Israel at a World Championship. As far as they are concerned, Israel does not exist,” Aizenberg said.

“After 77 years of statehood, and especially following October 7, we as Israelis cannot allow such a situation to stand.”

The exclusion has raised serious questions about FIDE’s decision to award the championship to Malaysia, particularly because the international federation has previously declared that countries hosting its competitions must provide equal access to eligible players regardless of nationality.

According to Aizenberg, the problem became apparent when he contacted the tournament organizers to inquire about Israeli participation.

He said an organizer initially responded that Israelis could not compete because of Malaysia’s immigration policies, but subsequently deleted the message and indicated that a further response would be provided.

“I contacted the tournament organizer with an innocent question about participating, and immediately received a message saying he was sorry, but Israelis would not be able to play because of Malaysia’s immigration policy,” Aizenberg said in an earlier interview.

“Right afterward, he deleted the message and added another saying they would get back to me. A place that does not accept Israelis or players from any other country should not be allowed to host a world championship.”

The Israel Chess Federation subsequently indicated that FIDE had promised to make every possible effort to assist Israeli players in obtaining the visas necessary to participate.

Those assurances, however, have apparently failed to resolve the problem, with the Israeli competitors absent from the final roster following Friday’s registration deadline.

FIDE’s own official announcement inviting participants to the championship makes no distinction between countries based on diplomatic relations with Malaysia.

“All FIDE Member Federations and eligible players are invited to participate,” the federation stated in its tournament announcement.

The championship is open to amateur players with international ratings below 2300 and will feature separate men’s and women’s competitions across several rating categories.

National chess federations are permitted to register an unlimited number of eligible competitors, with participants competing in nine rounds under the Swiss tournament system.

The Israeli players argue that allowing the championship to proceed without their participation would undermine the fundamental principle that an international sporting competition must remain accessible to all eligible nations.

Aizenberg has called for the tournament to be relocated to another country, arguing that an event excluding Israeli competitors cannot legitimately claim to be a world championship.

In a separate statement, he said the word “world” should be removed from the tournament’s title if the organizers refuse to permit Israeli participation.

He also described FIDE’s decision to allow Malaysia to host the event as a “disgrace,” pointing to the federation’s established opposition to nationality-based discrimination.

The controversy is particularly significant because FIDE adopted an explicit policy in 2019 opposing the staging of international competitions in countries that refuse entry to eligible participants because of their nationality or citizenship.

That commitment followed a series of disputes involving Israeli athletes and international sporting events in countries that do not recognize Israel.

FIDE has also taken public positions against attempts to exclude Israeli chess players or prevent them from competing under the Israeli flag.

In September 2025, following a controversy at a tournament in Spain, the federation issued a statement declaring that it “strongly condemns all forms of discrimination, including on the basis of nationality and flag.”

The federation emphasized at the time that Israeli competitors were entitled to the same treatment as participants representing other member countries not subject to international sporting sanctions.

Malaysia’s restrictions on Israeli visitors have been in place for decades.

In July, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed that his government would continue preventing Israeli citizens from entering the country.

Malaysia’s Interior Ministry subsequently clarified that Israeli travel documents would not be recognized for entry, while Anwar warned that Israelis found inside Malaysia would be deported.

Those restrictions have repeatedly created difficulties for international sporting organizations attempting to hold competitions in the country.

In 2019, Malaysia was stripped of its right to host the World Para Swimming Championships after refusing to guarantee that Israeli athletes would be permitted to enter and compete.

The International Paralympic Committee concluded that Malaysia had failed to provide the assurances required of a host nation and transferred the event to London.

Aizenberg cited that precedent in demanding similar action from FIDE.

“What applied in 2019 must also apply today, after the war,” he said.

“The biggest problem with boycotts and attempts to delegitimize Israel through sports is our complacency,” Aizenberg said.

“It doesn’t matter whether a championship is held thousands of kilometers away and no Israelis are expected to attend, or whether it takes place close to home. The same rules should apply. These countries should no longer be allowed to host competitions without guaranteeing that Israelis can participate.”

The Malaysian controversy follows another recent incident involving Israeli chess players at an international competition.

During the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand last month, Pakistan’s national team refused to compete against Israel in the opening round.

Pakistan’s chess federation said the refusal reflected the country’s policy toward Israel and solidarity with the Palestinians.

Israel was subsequently awarded a 4–0 victory by default.

Unlike that incident, which involved one national team refusing to face another, the dispute in Malaysia concerns whether the host country’s immigration policies are preventing Israeli competitors from entering an official world championship altogether.

FIDE has not publicly announced that it will relocate the November tournament or identified any special arrangement guaranteeing that Israeli players will be admitted.

The championship remains scheduled to begin November 4 in Klang, with the Israeli players demanding intervention before the competition gets underway.

President Donald Trump revealed Friday that Israel has been providing assistance to Saudi Arabia as the kingdom battles a wave of attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists, suggesting that the growing security cooperation could open the door to a historic normalization agreement between Yerushalayim and Riyadh.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump said the Saudis were receptive to Israeli assistance and expressed renewed optimism that Saudi Arabia could join the Abraham Accords, the American-brokered diplomatic agreements that established formal relations between Israel and several Arab countries during his first administration.

Asked whether Saudi Arabia should accept Israel’s offer of assistance against the Houthis, Trump replied, “Yeah, I do.”

When a reporter asked whether he had discussed the matter with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump responded, “I think they will, sure. Israel’s been very helpful to Saudi Arabia. And yeah, they certainly would do that.”

The president then addressed the possibility of bringing Saudi Arabia into the Abraham Accords, a diplomatic objective that has eluded successive American administrations.

“Yeah, I think so. Maybe more than ever,” Trump said.

“The Abraham Accords is one of our great achievements. And yeah, I would say maybe more than ever. Saudi Arabia is very happy to have Israel’s support and our support,” he added.

Trump’s comments came as Saudi Arabia faced an escalating military campaign by the Houthis, whose missile and drone attacks have struck airports, energy installations and other critical infrastructure throughout the kingdom.

The attacks have intensified dramatically in recent weeks, placing additional pressure on Saudi defenses and raising concerns about the security of international air travel and global energy supplies.

Saudi officials have accused Iran of encouraging the Houthi offensive and continuing to provide the terrorist organization with weapons, training and other assistance.

The Houthis have also threatened commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

The United Nations Security Council condemned the escalating attacks Thursday, including repeated strikes against Saudi Arabia and threats to commercial vessels.

The Saudi-led military coalition announced Friday that its air defenses had intercepted three drones targeting southern Saudi Arabia and Riyadh, two cruise missiles over the Red Sea and a ballistic missile near Yanbu, a strategically important port city on the kingdom’s western coast.

The interceptions followed deadly attacks on Saudi and Yemeni government targets, including repeated strikes against Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport.

Saudi coalition officials have reported that attacks on the airport this month have killed at least 17 people and wounded hundreds of others.

On Thursday, Houthi missiles also struck the Al-Maashiq presidential palace complex in Aden, the temporary seat of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, killing five people and wounding 16.

The attacks have created an unusual convergence of security interests between Israel and Saudi Arabia, two countries that have never established formal diplomatic relations but share concerns about Iran and its regional terrorist organizations.

Israeli reporting indicates that Jerusalem has been providing intelligence assistance concerning Houthi threats, including information relevant to missile attacks and maritime security.

The cooperation has reportedly been coordinated in part through U.S. Central Command, which maintains extensive military relationships with both countries.

However, the precise extent of Israel’s assistance remains unclear, and neither government has publicly disclosed the full details of their security arrangements.

Earlier this week, Israeli reports indicated that American officials had explored the possibility of Israel carrying out direct military strikes against Houthi targets.

According to those reports, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir warned that such operations could trigger a broader regional confrontation, potentially drawing Iran into another round of fighting and complicating Israel’s security situation.

The Israeli military has already conducted operations against Houthi targets in Yemen following repeated missile and drone attacks against Israel.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu also hinted at Israel’s expanding regional security relationships during an interview Tuesday.

Asked whether Saudi Arabia had requested Israeli assistance, Netanyahu replied, “There are barely any Middle Eastern states that aren’t asking us for help.”

The prime minister did not identify the countries involved or specify the nature of the assistance being requested.

Trump’s remarks Friday represented an unusually public acknowledgment of the possibility that Saudi Arabia could benefit from Israeli security assistance while the two countries remain officially without diplomatic relations.

The president appeared to view that cooperation as a potential foundation for reviving normalization negotiations that had advanced considerably before the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre.

Prior to the attack, American officials had been working toward an agreement that would have established formal relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia in exchange for a package of American security commitments and other arrangements.

The negotiations were widely regarded as one of the most significant diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia’s entry into the Abraham Accords would represent a major expansion of the agreements signed in 2020 by Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with Morocco subsequently establishing diplomatic relations as well.

Unlike those countries, Saudi Arabia holds a particularly influential position in the Arab and Muslim worlds because of its political and economic power and its custodianship of Islam’s two holiest sites.

A normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia would therefore carry implications extending well beyond bilateral diplomatic relations.

However, substantial obstacles remain despite Trump’s optimism.

Saudi Arabia has repeatedly insisted that formal normalization with Israel must be accompanied by a credible pathway toward the establishment of a Palestinian state.

That demand has remained a major point of disagreement with Netanyahu’s government.

Israeli diplomatic officials have also expressed skepticism that the current security cooperation will translate into an imminent diplomatic agreement.

According to Israeli reporting today, officials familiar with the discussions said Riyadh has shown little interest in advancing normalization negotiations at the present time.

“Riyadh is showing little appetite for advancing normalization,” an Israeli source told i24NEWS.

A senior Israeli diplomatic official similarly cautioned against interpreting Trump’s comments as evidence that an agreement was close.

“There is no evidence to substantiate that we are on the verge of a dramatic move. But who knows what the future holds,” the official said.

Reports have also suggested that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman remains distrustful of Netanyahu and is closely watching Israel’s upcoming October 27 elections before considering further diplomatic steps.

The Saudi leadership has not publicly indicated that its position on Palestinian statehood has changed, even as the Houthi threat creates additional incentives for security cooperation with Israel.

In another indication of the limits of the relationship, Saudi authorities reportedly declined to permit an Israeli aircraft to enter the kingdom to evacuate passengers after a FlyDubai flight made an emergency landing on Saudi territory.

The incident underscored the distinction between behind-the-scenes security coordination and the formal diplomatic arrangements that would be required for open relations.

Iran, meanwhile, denied Friday that it was responsible for encouraging the latest Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran rejects any claim that Iran has played a role in Yemeni (Houthi) operations,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said.

The Iranian spokesman maintained that the Houthis make their own operational decisions and argued that further regional escalation would not serve the interests of the countries involved.

Saudi officials have rejected that characterization, accusing Tehran of continuing to support the organization despite international restrictions.

The escalating confrontation has also raised concerns about global energy markets, particularly as commercial shipping remains under pressure in both the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s largest oil exporters, relies on secure maritime routes to transport energy supplies to international markets.

For Israel, the developments have created an opportunity to demonstrate the potential value of its military and intelligence capabilities to Arab governments confronting shared threats.

Trump’s comments suggest that the White House hopes to use those shared security concerns to revive a diplomatic initiative that had appeared stalled since the outbreak of the Gaza war.

For now, however, Saudi Arabia has made no public commitment to join the Abraham Accords, and Israeli officials have cautioned that the president’s optimism does not necessarily reflect progress toward an agreement.

Arab-Israeli activist Yoseph Haddad revealed today that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s Likud party offered him a place among its top ten Knesset candidates and a guaranteed ministerial position in an unsuccessful attempt to persuade him to abandon his independent political campaign. Haddad also declared that his party would refuse to join any government, including one headed by Netanyahu, unless it committed to military enlistment for chareidim.

The disclosure came during a political gathering in Kfar Saba, just ten days before Israel’s October 27 elections, as Netanyahu and his political allies seek to consolidate support among right-wing voters.

Haddad, a prominent Arab-Israeli advocate for Israel who served in the IDF and was seriously wounded during his military service, is running in the second position on the electoral list of Amcha Yisrael, the right-wing party headed by former IDF Brigadier General Ofer Winter.

According to Haddad, Likud made an extraordinary effort to recruit him, offering not only a highly favorable position on its electoral list but also a senior government appointment.

“Right up until the eleventh hour, including extra time, Likud offered me a place in the top ten on its electoral slate and a promise to serve as a minister,” Haddad told participants at the gathering.

He said the offers continued until the final moments and included financial resources and other incentives intended to convince him to leave Winter’s party.

“Until the very last second, I was promised a ministerial position, a place in the top ten, budgets, everything, just to leave Amcha Yisrael and move to Likud,” he said.

Haddad insisted that he had no intention of abandoning his party, despite opinion polls suggesting that Amcha Yisrael may struggle to cross the electoral threshold required to enter the Knesset.

“I was guaranteed to become a Knesset member,” he said. “I could have traveled around Europe and sat at home with my feet in cold water, but I insisted on staying. I am a new spirit bringing light into the darkness.”

The activist also criticized Likud for attacking Winter’s party and portraying it as insufficiently right-wing, despite its strongly nationalist platform.

“Enough already. Stop attacking the most right-wing party there is and presenting it as though it isn’t right-wing,” Haddad declared.

He dismissed suggestions that Winter might ultimately align himself with Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman, insisting that Amcha Yisrael remained committed to the political right and would be prepared to participate in a Netanyahu-led coalition.

However, Haddad made clear that his party’s support would come with a significant condition involving the military draft.

“We will not join any government that does not ensure military enlistment for everyone. We will fight for the rights of those who serve,” he said.

The declaration could create a serious obstacle to coalition negotiations if Winter’s party succeeds in entering the Knesset and Netanyahu requires its support to form a government alongside the chareidi parties.

United Torah Judaism and Shas have consistently opposed legislation requiring broad military enlistment of bnei yeshivos, arguing that full-time Torah study must remain protected.

Haddad, however, said his party would insist on a system that rewards military and national service.

“Those who serve will receive benefits, and those who serve more will receive more. Our entry into the government is conditional on this. Period,” he declared.

He also questioned why chareidi politicians were permitted to establish conditions for joining a government while his party faced criticism for doing the same.

“Why can Goldknopf set conditions for entering a government, and nobody attacks him?” Haddad asked, referring to United Torah Judaism chairman Yitzchok Goldknopf.

Despite his insistence on military enlistment, Haddad cautioned against broad attacks on entire communities.

“Don’t say ‘the Arabs’ and ‘the chareidim.’ As a member of a minority, I’m telling you that it hurts,” he said.

Haddad noted that Christian and Muslim soldiers have fought and risked their lives in Gaza, arguing that Israeli society should recognize individuals who contribute to the country rather than judge entire communities collectively.

The candidate also used the gathering to launch a sharp attack on former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, who heads the Yashar party and has emerged as a major contender in the election.

Haddad accused Eisenkot of racism for comparing him politically to Mansour Abbas, chairman of the Islamist Ra’am party.

“Eisenkot compared me to Mansour Abbas just because we’re both Arabs. That’s outright racism,” Haddad charged.

He pointed to his own military service and years of advocacy for Israel as evidence that the comparison was unjustified.

“I am a disabled IDF veteran. I fought for the country and was seriously wounded. For ten years I’ve been advocating for Israel and confronting the biggest anti-Israel activists there are,” he said.

Haddad also ruled out cooperation with the existing Arab political parties, accusing their representatives of failing to condemn Hamas unequivocally.

He argued that his party could better represent Arab citizens while strengthening their relationship with the Jewish majority.

Turning to Israel’s international standing, Haddad accused the Netanyahu government of failing to defend the country’s reputation during the war.

“Right now, there is no Israeli public diplomacy. We have been badly defeated. The Israeli government has failed miserably,” he said.

Haddad maintained that Israel’s international communications efforts had collapsed and pledged that his party would pursue a more aggressive approach to presenting Israel’s position abroad.

He also criticized international organizations over conditions in Gaza, arguing that insufficient attention was being paid to the suffering of civilians under Hamas.

“Where are the human rights and women’s rights of the women of Gaza? They have no lives because of Hamas,” he said.

Haddad expressed support for facilitating voluntary emigration from Gaza, arguing that diplomatic pressure could encourage neighboring countries to accept Palestinians seeking to leave the territory.

He also stressed that his criticism of Israel’s political leadership was not limited to Netanyahu or Likud.

“Already on October 8, I said that all 120 Knesset members needed to go home, from the coalition and the opposition, because they were all part of the failed conception,” he said.

Haddad accused Netanyahu, Eisenkot and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett of sharing responsibility for the security assumptions that preceded the October 7 massacre.

His remarks underscored the difficult political calculations facing Netanyahu as the election approaches. Although Haddad says his party would support a right-wing government, its insistence on chareidi military enlistment places it at odds with parties that Netanyahu may need to secure a parliamentary majority.

Likud has not independently confirmed Haddad’s account of the alleged offers, and his claims regarding a promised ministerial position remain unverified by the party.

Iran’s financial crisis has become so severe that terrorist organizations traditionally funded by Tehran are reportedly withholding salaries from their own fighters and sending money back to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to an extraordinary disclosure Friday by Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command.

Cooper said American military operations and economic pressure have deprived Iran of at least $25 billion in oil revenue, while U.S. authorities have helped freeze nearly $350 million in Iranian cryptocurrency assets. The financial pressure has reportedly left the Revolutionary Guards struggling to pay their own personnel, forcing an unprecedented reversal in the flow of money between Tehran and its regional terrorist allies.

For decades, Iran has financed Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and Shiite militias in Iraq, providing billions of dollars to support their military operations, weapons programs and attacks against Israel and American interests. Now, according to the American military commander, some of those organizations are reportedly being compelled to provide financial assistance to the Iranian regime itself.

“The financial strain on Iran’s military has become so significant that there are reports of Iran-aligned militia groups across the region withholding payments to their soldiers in order to funnel money back to the IRGC, which also is not paying its troops,” Cooper said in a video statement released by CENTCOM on Friday.

The commander described the development as evidence of the mounting economic damage inflicted on Iran following months of American and Israeli military operations and the continuing U.S. naval blockade.

“The sum total of these actions has imposed devastating costs on Iran’s security apparatus and the IRGC specifically,” Cooper declared.

According to Cooper, the American blockade has prevented Iran from exporting at least $25 billion worth of crude oil, depriving the regime of a major source of revenue used to finance its military establishment, terrorist proxies and weapons development.

The United States has also intensified efforts to disrupt Iran’s access to alternative financial networks, including digital currencies that Tehran has used to conduct transactions outside conventional banking channels.

Cooper disclosed that American military and government agencies have helped freeze approximately $350 million in cryptocurrency assets connected to Iran, further restricting the regime’s ability to move money internationally.

The combined pressure has reportedly affected government employees and military personnel throughout Iran.

Cooper said the Iranian government has been withholding salaries, pensions and benefits in several sectors, including oil, energy, manufacturing and construction, as well as within the country’s security establishment.

The Revolutionary Guards, which have long served as the regime’s principal instrument for financing and directing terrorist organizations throughout the Middle East, are themselves reportedly unable to meet payroll obligations.

The disclosure suggests that the economic difficulties facing Tehran are affecting the broader network of Iranian-backed armed organizations, although Cooper did not identify which individual groups had transferred funds or disclose the amounts involved.

Hezbollah, Hamas and Iraqi militias have historically relied on Iranian assistance for weapons, training, salaries and operational expenses. A reversal in that relationship would represent a significant change in the financial structure that has sustained Iran’s regional activities.

The American commander also linked the financial crisis to Iran’s continued attacks against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.

Iran has repeatedly attempted to disrupt maritime traffic through the strait since the United States and Israel launched major military operations against the Islamic Republic in February.

Those attacks have caused international concern over the security of global energy supplies and contributed to volatility in oil markets.

Cooper said Iranian forces have become increasingly aggressive toward commercial vessels, describing their conduct as a reflection of mounting pressure on the Revolutionary Guards.

“The Islamic regime is clearly feeling the economic pain, and the IRGC is increasingly showing signs of greater desperation as a result,” Cooper said.

Despite Iranian efforts to interfere with maritime traffic, the CENTCOM commander rejected Tehran’s claims that it controls the strategic waterway.

“Let me be clear: the Strait of Hormuz is controlled by the United States and our regional partners, not Iran, and it remains open for business,” he declared.

According to CENTCOM, approximately 400 merchant vessels passed through the strait during the preceding week, with American forces helping regional partners transport more than 100 million barrels of crude oil through the waterway during that period.

Cooper said U.S. forces have helped facilitate the movement of more than 1.3 billion barrels of Gulf crude in recent months, even as American naval operations continue to restrict Iranian oil exports.

The blockade is part of a broader American campaign aimed at limiting Tehran’s ability to finance military operations and rebuild weapons capabilities damaged during the war.

More than 50,000 American military personnel remain deployed throughout the Middle East, where U.S. forces are involved in maritime security, mine-clearing operations, enforcement of the blockade and protection of regional allies.

The military campaign has also included efforts to prevent Iran from threatening commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial portion of the world’s oil supplies normally passes.

Cooper said more than 20 civilian mariners have been killed in Iranian attacks against commercial vessels since February.

The United States has maintained that its operations are intended to prevent Iran from using oil revenues and international financial networks to support terrorism, develop weapons and threaten neighboring countries.

Iran, meanwhile, has continued to resist American demands and has attempted to maintain limited energy exports despite the blockade.

Recent shipping data indicates that some Iranian liquefied petroleum gas and jet fuel shipments have managed to evade restrictions, although the country’s crude oil exports have been sharply curtailed.

The American commander’s financial estimates have not been independently verified, and he did not provide a detailed accounting of the alleged transfers from Iranian-backed militias to the Revolutionary Guards.

Nevertheless, his remarks represent one of the most explicit assessments yet from a senior American military official of the financial consequences of the campaign against Tehran.

The disclosure comes as Washington and regional mediators continue efforts to secure an agreement ending the conflict, while American forces maintain pressure on Iran’s military and economic infrastructure.

In his Friday statement, Cooper made clear that the United States intends to continue enforcing the blockade and protecting commercial shipping, while maintaining that Iran’s ability to finance its military establishment is being severely weakened.

Former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchak Yosef delivered a sharp warning about the potential consequences of a left-wing government taking power in Israel following the upcoming elections, declaring that the prospect represents a situation of “spiritual pikuach nefesh” because of proposed changes involving Shabbos, marriage and religious life in the country.

Speaking during his weekly shiur, Rav Yosef expressed grave concern about the policies that could be introduced by parties opposed to the chareidi political establishment, pointing specifically to civil marriage and public transportation on Shabbos.

“If the left rises to power, woe to us over what will happen. Civil marriage, public transportation on Shabbos—just look at the things they are planning,” Rav Yosef said.

The Rishon Letzion accused politicians on the left of pursuing an agenda that he believes would undermine the religious character of the state and weaken the standing of Torah observance in public life.

“They really want to destroy everything. How does that man speak? The deputy chief of staff—woe to us, that was the deputy chief of staff? People served under him, someone so hostile to religion. Amazing. Who is Ehud Barak? How does he speak against religion?”

Rav Yosef’s remarks reflected his objections to public statements by prominent figures whom he views as hostile to the chareidi community and religious institutions.

He repeatedly emphasized that, in his view, the stakes extend beyond ordinary political disagreements and involve the spiritual future of the Jewish people in Eretz Yisroel.

“The fear of this, gentlemen, is spiritual pikuach nefesh. That is how I define it—spiritual pikuach nefesh. And even among us, where there are complaints and questions, why this and why that, everything must be put aside, and it must be done for the sake of Heaven.”

Rav Yosef also addressed the legacy of his father, Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l, whose leadership and founding role in Shas remain central to the party’s identity.

He explained that although preserving his father’s legacy was an important consideration, his primary concern was the potential impact of a change in government on religious observance and the chareidi community.

“It’s not because of Maran’s legacy—that is another important reason. But primarily, it is the fear, the spiritual pikuach nefesh. If the left comes to power, what will they do to us? Are we going to take Matan Kahana as religious affairs minister? Are we going to take Elazar Stern? These are people who hate chareidim. Lieberman—are we going to take him in a wheelbarrow to the garbage? Therefore, gentlemen, this is pikuach nefesh.”

The remarks were delivered at the Yazdim shul in Yerushalayim, where Rav Yosef gives his regular weekly Motzoei Shabbos shiur, a gathering that is also broadcast to audiences throughout Israel.

His comments come amid continuing tensions over the relationship between chareidi parties and the government, particularly concerning military draft legislation and the protection of yeshiva students’ status.

In August, reports emerged claiming that Rav Yosef had privately expressed serious dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the handling of chareidi concerns. Rav Yosef denied those reports, which had suggested that he was encouraging a break with the right-wing bloc.

In September, he publicly criticized former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, expressing concern about the possibility of a government involving Eisenkot and other parties opposed to the existing chareidi political arrangements.

At a gathering in Ashdod, Rav Yosef also recalled disagreements he had with Eisenkot during his own tenure as Sephardic chief rabbi, including objections to arrangements involving male and female soldiers serving together in military units.

In his latest remarks, Rav Yosef again identified former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, former Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana and former minister Elazar Stern as political figures whose positions he considers threatening to the chareidi community.

His warning focused particularly on proposals concerning the relationship between religion and state, including civil marriage and public transportation on Shabbos, issues that have long been subjects of disagreement between Israel’s religious parties and their political opponents.

Rav Yosef urged that internal disagreements and complaints be set aside in light of what he described as the broader religious stakes of the election, repeatedly characterizing the situation as one of “spiritual pikuach nefesh.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has launched a public attack against the popular Israeli Instagram news page Push, accusing it of masquerading as an independent news outlet while promoting his political opponents ahead of the upcoming Knesset elections. In a video released before Shabbos, Netanyahu urged followers to stop following the account and accused major Israeli television networks of spreading politically motivated misinformation.

The video comes as Israel’s election campaign enters its final stretch, with Netanyahu seeking to rally Likud supporters amid a closely contested race between the country’s rival political blocs.

In his remarks, Netanyahu singled out television Channels 11, 12 and 13, accusing them of presenting politically biased coverage as legitimate journalism.

“We are being flooded with fake news from the propaganda channels 11, 12 and 13,” Netanyahu said.

He then turned his attention to Push, a social media account that presents news updates to Israeli audiences, alleging that its coverage favors several politicians challenging him in the election.

“This is a page pretending to be a news page, calling itself Push, but in reality it is promoting the propaganda of Eisenkot, Lieberman, Bennett, and unfortunately also our friend Ben-Gvir,” Netanyahu charged. “This is not a news page, it is a propaganda page.”

The prime minister’s criticism was directed at former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, Yisroel Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Netanyahu’s inclusion of Ben-Gvir was particularly notable because the Otzma Yehudit leader has been a political ally of the prime minister, although the two represent separate parties competing for votes on the right.

The prime minister urged social media users to unfollow Push rather than continue consuming what he characterized as partisan political messaging presented under the guise of news coverage.

Netanyahu also used the video to address the election itself, claiming that the two principal political blocs were evenly matched and that voter participation would therefore be especially consequential.

“Every one of your votes will decide,” he said, urging Israelis to support Likud.

The prime minister concluded with a series of campaign slogans contrasting his party with the alternatives he says could emerge from the election.

“It’s either the right or Palestine, either the right or Green. I’ll tell you something even more than that: It’s either Bibi or Tibi.”

The final phrase referred to Arab politician Ahmad Tibi, whom Netanyahu has repeatedly invoked in campaign messaging about the possibility of a government dependent on Arab political parties.

The attack on Push follows earlier criticism by Netanyahu of the Instagram account. In a separate statement earlier this month, he raised questions about the identity of those responsible for its content and whether material promoting political candidates might be connected to paid arrangements.

Netanyahu argued that audiences should be informed whenever political messaging is sponsored or produced on behalf of a candidate. Those comments raised questions about the account’s editorial independence, although the allegations did not, by themselves, establish that Push had engaged in undisclosed political advertising.

The dispute comes amid an increasingly intense election campaign ahead of Israel’s October 27 vote. Opposition figures, including Eisenkot, Bennett and Lieberman, have been exploring ways to cooperate politically despite their differences, while Netanyahu has been emphasizing the potential composition of an alternative governing coalition.

A new kashrus organization in Eretz Yisroel, Mehudar, has begun its first poultry shechitah under the personal supervision of three prominent poskim, who visited the Of Yerushalayim slaughterhouse to oversee the operation and ensure that the organization’s extensive standards and chumros were being implemented throughout the process.

The inaugural shechitah followed the formal establishment of the new hechsher, whose rabbinic leadership says it is seeking to provide the highest standards of kashrus while maintaining affordable prices for avreichim and families struggling with rising living expenses.

The rabbonim overseeing the new organization are Rav Avrohom Tzvi HaKohen, Gaavad of Hora’ah Kahalachah; Rav Simcha Rabinowitz, rov of the Mishkenos Yaakov community and author of the Piskei Teshuvos series; and Rav Shmuel Yosef Shtitzberg, a prominent rov and moreh hora’ah in Beit Shemesh.

The three rabbonim participated in a special discussion broadcast on Kav HaMeida, during which they described the extensive preparations preceding the first shechitah, the inspection procedures being implemented and their impressions after personally observing the operation.

Rav Avrohom Tzvi HaKohen explained that the foundation of a reliable shechitah operation begins with the individuals responsible for carrying it out, stressing that the personal yiras Shomayim of the shochtim and inspectors is more fundamental than any individual chumra.

“Before discussing enhanced standards and stringencies, we must speak about the most important enhancement in shechitah. The Rishonim already wrote that a shochet must possess exceptional fear of Heaven. We investigated and screened until we were left with the finest of the finest. Everyone involved in this shechitah—the shochtim, the knife inspectors, and those responsible for examining the lungs, tendons and intestines—are outstanding individuals, talmidei chachomim and yirei Shomayim. This is an exceptionally serious and qualified team, and it is the foundation upon which all the additional standards can be built.”

Rav HaKohen said the rigorous supervision extends beyond the shechitah itself and encompasses every stage of poultry processing, including the salting process.

He explained that the melichah is performed by observant Jewish workers who carefully ensure that the salt reaches all the necessary areas in accordance with halachah.

Rav Shmuel Yosef Shtitzberg described the lengthy period of planning that preceded the launch, explaining that the organization’s procedures had been reviewed and refined over many weeks to ensure that no accepted chumra from the most stringent shechitah operations in Eretz Yisroel had been overlooked.

“There were many days and weeks of preparation during which the procedures were carefully refined. Not a single standard or stringency practiced in the most mehudar shechitos in the country escaped our attention, and everything is being implemented in this shechitah. We followed the approach of Maran the Shevet Halevi, Rav Shmuel Wosner zt”l, who instructed that when dealing with the needs of the public, particularly those of yirei Hashem, one must not rely on any leniency. Everything must be performed according to the highest possible standards. That is how the entire system was established.”

The rabbonim emphasized that the new operation was designed to incorporate the standards followed by established mehadrin shechitos while providing additional oversight of the personnel, equipment and poultry being processed.

Rav Simcha Rabinowitz, author of Piskei Teshuvos, described spending considerable time alongside the inspectors responsible for examining the lungs and intestines during the inaugural shechitah.

He said he was particularly impressed by the condition of the internal organs and attributed what he observed to the careful selection of poultry from farms that follow specific feeding practices.

“I stood for many minutes beside the inspectors examining the lungs and intestines. I have previously attended shechitos and examined many chickens myself. Here, I saw complete cleanliness and the excellent condition of the internal organs. I investigated the matter and learned that they bring selected poultry from farms where the birds are not fattened with substances that cause treifos or damage to the organs. This is an outstanding hechsher, mehadrin min hamehadrin according to all opinions and approaches.”

The rabbonim also addressed the financial pressures facing families of bnei Torah, explaining that a central objective of the new hechsher is to make mehadrin poultry available at prices that do not place an excessive burden on household budgets.

They said that high standards of kashrus should not be accompanied by unnecessarily inflated prices, particularly when many avreichim are already struggling to cover their families’ basic expenses.

“Avreichim today are struggling to put bread on the table. The new hechsher has understood the needs of those who have difficulty making ends meet, so they can provide their children with poultry supervised to the highest standards—not only on Shabbos but also during the week—without charging inflated prices because of the superior hechsher.”

The launch also comes amid growing competition in Israel’s mehadrin poultry market. The new operation is being positioned as an affordable alternative to existing chassidishe hechsherim, including Kehillos, with an emphasis on maintaining strict halachic standards while reducing consumer costs.

The initiative was formally established at a gathering held at the Of Yerushalayim slaughterhouse earlier this month, where the rabbonim outlined the principles that would govern the new kashrus operation.

During that event, Danny Mizrachi, one of the owners of Of Yerushalayim, emphasized that the company’s commercial management would have no authority over the halachic decisions made by the supervising rabbonim.

“We, as the owners of the slaughterhouse, do not manage the kashrus and do not interfere with what takes place in the slaughterhouse. The rabbonim have exclusive authority over the shechitah operation! We become involved only at the marketing stage, after the poultry has been packaged and is ready. There is a complete and clear separation between the commercial side and the kashrus authority.”

The arrangement is intended to give the rabbinic leadership independent control over the shechitah, inspections and preparation procedures, without commercial considerations influencing halachic decisions.

During the discussion on Kav HaMeida, Rav Avrohom Tzvi HaKohen was asked whether he and the other supervising rabbonim would personally eat poultry produced under the new hechsher.

His response was unequivocal.

“I have never lent my name to something I do not believe in. If I signed that this hechsher is mehadrin min hamehadrin and suitable for all yirei Hashem, then certainly I want to be included among the yirei Hashem, and I will eat from this hechsher lechatchilah. This meat is coming into my home.”

The rabbonim also discussed the measures being implemented to protect the integrity of the products after they leave the slaughterhouse.

According to the supervising rabbonim, the poultry will be packaged in especially durable vacuum-sealed wrapping and marked with distinctive identification features, including security holograms designed to prevent removal or counterfeiting.

The packaging system is intended to provide what the rabbonim described as a “seal within a seal,” allowing consumers to identify the products and providing additional safeguards against substitution or tampering during distribution.