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A remarkable statement attributed to the Chazon Ish zt”l, that the tremendous ameilus baTorah of Rav Boruch Ber Leibowitz zt”l and Rav Shimon Shkop zt”l prevented Hitler, yemach shemo, from conquering Lithuania during their lifetimes, was shared by Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein during a wedding in which descendants of Rav Boruch Ber were celebrating a simcha.

Rav Zilberstein, rov of the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood of Bnei Brak and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, related the extraordinary account during the chuppah of the daughter of Rav Yisroel Meir Druck, rosh yeshiva of the Tiferes Yisroel yeshivos.

The wedding, held Thursday, celebrated the marriage of Rav Druck’s daughter to the chosson, Rav Yehoshua Malin, a grandson of Rav Isser Yehuda Malin, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Zichron Meir.

The chosson is also a brother of Rav Chaim Malin, a grandson and close confidant of Rav Zilberstein.

During his remarks beneath the chuppah, Rav Zilberstein focused on the family’s distinguished lineage, noting that the chosson and his family are descendants of Rav Boruch Ber Leibowitz, the legendary rosh yeshiva of Kamenitz and author of the Birkas Shmuel.

Rav Zilberstein then shared a statement he said he had heard directly from his brother-in-law, Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l, who had received it from the Chazon Ish.

“I want to tell everyone here something very, very important,” Rav Zilberstein began. “My brother-in-law, the Sar HaTorah, Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l, told me something, and I ask everyone to listen carefully to what I am about to relate.”

He then revealed the extraordinary statement.

“The Chazon Ish told him that as long as Rav Boruch Ber and Rav Shimon Shkop were alive, Hitler, yemach shemo, was unable to conquer Lithuania because of their ameilus baTorah.”

The account attributed to the Chazon Ish highlights the extraordinary spiritual power ascribed to the Torah learning of these two giants, whose dedication to Torah was considered a source of protection for the Jewish people.

Rav Boruch Ber Leibowitz, one of the most prominent roshei yeshiva of prewar Europe, was renowned for his extraordinary depth in learning and his lifelong dedication to developing generations of talmidei chachomim. Rav Shimon Shkop, the famed rosh yeshiva of Grodno and author of Shaarei Yosher, was likewise among the towering Torah personalities of his generation.

Both passed away in 1939, before Nazi Germany invaded Lithuania in 1941.

Rav Zilberstein continued by connecting the statement of the Chazon Ish to the simcha taking place beneath the chuppah.

“This is something astonishing,” he declared. “Why? Because according to the tradition accepted by everyone, grandparents come to the weddings of their grandchildren.”

He explained that, according to this understanding, the presence of Rav Boruch Ber was particularly significant at the wedding of his descendants.

“If so, according to what is accepted, Rav Boruch Ber is here with us right now. The very same Rav Boruch Ber whose ameilus baTorah prevented Hitler from conquering Lithuania during his lifetime.”

Rav Zilberstein urged those gathered to appreciate the exceptional opportunity presented by the occasion and to draw spiritual strength from the presence of such a towering Torah personality.

“I want to tell everyone that we can receive something from him! All of us can receive something right now, and we can do something with it. He is here, and we can ask that HaKadosh Boruch Hu help us, that the tzaddikim who are here protect us, that no one should be able to conquer us, and that the kallah and chosson should have happy lives. Ve’nomar amen!”

{Matzav.com}

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher has issued an unequivocal ultimatum to Israel’s political leadership, declaring that his party will neither join nor support any future government unless legislation formally regulating the status of yeshiva bochurim is actually passed into law.

In his first interview since assuming the chairmanship of United Torah Judaism, Asher told Kikar Hashabbat that the party will no longer accept coalition promises or political commitments concerning the draft law. Instead, he insisted that the legislation must be enacted before UTJ agrees to participate in or support a government.

“We, United Torah Judaism, will not enter a government that does not actually pass the law regulating the status of yeshiva students, known as the draft law. Period!” Asher declared during the interview.

He emphasized that the condition applies equally to joining a coalition and supporting one from outside, leaving no room for an arrangement in which UTJ provides parliamentary backing in exchange for promises of future legislation.

“There is no other way to interpret this: We will neither join nor support a government that does not first pass the draft law,” he stated.

The declaration comes amid the continuing political and legal controversy surrounding the status of yeshiva bochurim and the efforts to establish a legislative framework that would enable those dedicated to full-time Torah learning to continue their studies without being subject to military conscription.

Asher’s remarks represent a firm position by UTJ that the passage of legislation protecting yeshiva students must be a prerequisite for the party’s participation in any future government, rather than an obligation to be fulfilled at some later stage of a coalition’s term.

The UTJ chairman also addressed the substance of the proposed legislation, making clear that the party’s demands extend beyond simply passing a law bearing the title of a draft arrangement.

According to Asher, any acceptable legislation must protect those whose lives are dedicated to Torah learning and must not impose penalties on bochurim and avreichim who remain in yeshiva or kollel.

“The correct law is one that addresses someone who sits and learns, whose Torah is his profession. Someone who sits and learns should not face sanctions. That is our position!” Asher declared.

His comments directly address one of the central disputes surrounding the draft legislation: whether financial or other sanctions should be imposed on yeshiva students who do not enlist.

Asher made clear that UTJ’s position is that those engaged in full-time Torah study should not be subjected to such penalties.

The ultimatum places the draft law at the center of any future coalition negotiations and signals that UTJ intends to make the protection of the yeshiva world a nonnegotiable condition for its political support.

Asher’s full interview with Kikar Hashabbat is scheduled to be released Monday.

{Matzav.com}

All are asked to be mispallel for the refuah sheleimah of Rav Mordechai Wolmark, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Shaarei Torah in Monsey, New York, who has been admitted to the hospital.

News of the rosh yeshiva‘s hospitalization has prompted a call for tefillos on his behalf, with talmidim, alumni, and members of the wider community being urged to have him in mind during davening and the recitation of Tehillim.

All are asked to daven for Rav Mordechai Gimpel ben Chaya Avigail.

{Matzav.com}

Naftali Bennett sparked an uproar among Israel’s anti-Netanyahu political parties on Sunday after suggesting that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu could serve as a minister in a future government led by Bennett, prompting furious objections from opposition leaders and forcing Bennett to clarify that he would not join Netanyahu under any circumstances.

Bennett, chairman of the Beyachad party, made the controversial remarks during an election conference hosted by the newspaper Hador, where he was asked about the possibility of Netanyahu participating in a government under his leadership.

Rather than categorically ruling out such an arrangement, Bennett initially suggested that Netanyahu could be offered a ministerial position if he agreed to the fundamental principles of Bennett’s proposed government.

“As long as we agree on the fundamental principles, I have no problem with Netanyahu being a minister in our government,” Bennett said.

He went on to praise Netanyahu’s previous performance as finance minister, recalling his tenure in the position more than two decades ago.

“In 2003, Netanyahu, and I say this to his credit, was one of the best finance ministers the State of Israel has ever had. I don’t know whether a Jew approaching 80 still has the energy for this, but if he accepts all our central principles, which include an immediate state commission of inquiry, universal military service, and a constitution for Israel, let him pick up the phone,” Bennett said.

The comments immediately generated controversy among parties opposed to Netanyahu, whose leaders have repeatedly insisted that they would refuse to participate in any government that includes the prime minister.

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party and a former IDF chief of staff, was among the first to reject Bennett’s suggestion.

“I do not accept this. Anyone who held a position on October 7 is unfit to serve in positions of command and leadership, including as finance minister,” Eisenkot declared.

Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman went further, publicly demanding that Bennett retract his remarks and calling on the parties in the anti-Netanyahu camp to reaffirm their commitment to excluding the prime minister from any future coalition.

“I call on my colleagues in the Zionist bloc to make it absolutely clear: The world can turn upside down, but we will not sit with Netanyahu. In the next government, Netanyahu will not be able to serve even as minister for regional cooperation,” Lieberman said.

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, also issued an emphatic rejection, declaring that his party would never agree to Netanyahu holding any position in a government it supports.

“Netanyahu will not sit in any government as long as it depends on the Democrats. Not as finance minister, not as water minister, and not as a minister without portfolio,” Golan said.

Golan accused Netanyahu of bearing responsibility for the failures surrounding the October 7 massacre and criticized his government’s policies concerning military service and judicial reform.

“The man responsible for the October 7 failure, who led a government that promoted mass draft evasion during wartime and the judicial overhaul, will receive no approval from us to return to power. We will not sit with Netanyahu and his partners. Period,” Golan declared.

The swift and unusually forceful reactions highlighted the divisions within the political camp seeking to replace Netanyahu, particularly over whether any circumstances could justify cooperation with the current prime minister.

Bennett, who has sought to position himself as a central figure in efforts to form an alternative government, soon moved to contain the controversy.

Following the backlash, he published a statement on social media insisting that his original comments had been misunderstood and that he had no intention of serving alongside Netanyahu in any coalition arrangement.

“I suggest everyone calm down. I have said a thousand times that Netanyahu bears direct and personal responsibility for the October 7 massacre and therefore must go home. We will not sit with him under any circumstances,” Bennett wrote.

He maintained that his earlier remarks were intended to demonstrate the impossibility of Netanyahu accepting the conditions he had outlined, rather than to suggest a genuine willingness to offer him a ministerial position.

“Anyone who saw my remarks today understood that they were intended to illustrate the absurdity, since Netanyahu opposes universal military service, opposes a state commission of inquiry, and opposes a constitution for Israel,” Bennett explained.

An Israeli district court has rejected Sara Netanyahu’s attempt to have a multimillion-shekel defamation lawsuit filed against her by opposition politician Yair Golan dismissed, ruling that the prime minister’s wife cannot avoid potential responsibility for statements she made during a televised interview simply because a television station broadcast them.

The lawsuit, filed by Golan, chairman of Israel’s Democrats party and a retired IDF major general, seeks 2.55 million shekels, approximately $800,000, in damages over remarks Netanyahu made during an interview with Channel 14 concerning the October 7 Hamas massacre.

In its decision, the court rejected Netanyahu’s arguments for dismissing the case at the preliminary stage and ordered her to pay Golan 2,000 shekels in legal expenses.

The ruling allows the lawsuit to proceed but does not determine whether Netanyahu’s statements were defamatory or whether Golan is entitled to compensation.

At the center of the dispute are comments Netanyahu made during a Channel 14 interview that Golan alleges insinuated he had advance knowledge of the October 7 attack.

During the interview, Netanyahu stated, “Yair Golan was dressed and ready on the morning of October 7 when the prime minister did not know.”

Golan maintains that the remark suggested he possessed information about the impending Hamas assault before Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu or other Israeli officials were aware of what was unfolding.

His attorneys argue that the insinuation was false and seriously damaging to his reputation, particularly given the sensitivity surrounding the events of October 7.

The lawsuit was filed through attorneys Giora Erdinast, Almog Gil-Or, and Yarden Shochat of the EBN law firm after Netanyahu allegedly refused to apologize for her statements or retract them.

In seeking dismissal, Netanyahu argued that she had merely participated in an interview and that legal responsibility for publishing and distributing her remarks rested with third parties, including Channel 14, which aired the interview.

Her attorneys sought to distinguish between the individual who makes a statement during an interview and the media organization responsible for transmitting that statement to the public.

The district court rejected that distinction.

The judge determined that Netanyahu had agreed to be interviewed with the knowledge and understanding that her statements would be broadcast to a broad audience. Under those circumstances, the court found no basis for treating the interviewee’s participation and the broadcaster’s transmission as entirely separate acts for purposes of dismissing the lawsuit.

“There is no justification for an artificial separation between the aspect of ‘publication’ by the interviewee and the ‘publication’ by the interviewing and broadcasting body. These are two sides of the same coin and constitute a single publication,” the judge wrote in the decision.

The ruling addresses an important legal question concerning responsibility for statements made in media interviews. It establishes, at this preliminary stage, that an interviewee cannot obtain dismissal of a defamation claim solely by arguing that the broadcaster, rather than the speaker, was responsible for making the remarks public.

However, the court did not decide whether the specific statements attributed to Netanyahu meet the legal definition of defamation. That issue, along with the question of any damages, remains to be examined as the proceedings continue.

The lawsuit also extends beyond the allegations of defamation.

Golan is seeking civil compensation based on an additional claim involving an alleged violation of the criminal-law provision dealing with incitement to violence.

His legal team argues that Netanyahu’s statements should be examined in the context of their potential consequences and the public atmosphere surrounding the accusations.

The lawsuit further alleges that one of Netanyahu’s advisers viewed the Channel 14 interview before it was broadcast. Golan’s attorneys intend to rely on that allegation as part of their arguments concerning the circumstances in which the remarks were published.

Those assertions remain allegations presented by the plaintiffs. The court has not established that Netanyahu committed defamation or incitement, nor has it made findings concerning the alleged advance review of the interview.

Following the decision, Golan issued a sharply worded statement welcoming the rejection of Netanyahu’s dismissal request.

“Once again, it has been proven that the poison machine will stop at nothing — neither lies about the heroes of October 7 nor attempts to undermine public confidence in the judicial system. Today’s ruling is further proof that truth will triumph over lies. Those who incite violence and spread false accusations will not succeed in escaping responsibility. We will continue until justice is fully pursued in court, and we will defend the fighters for Israeli democracy with our own bodies,” Golan said.

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Israeli health and environmental authorities have ordered the suspension of classes at two schools in Kiryat Ata, near Haifa, following the detection of exceptionally high concentrations of benzene in the air surrounding the Haifa Bay oil refineries. Residents living near the industrial complex have been advised to remain indoors whenever possible, close their windows, and limit unnecessary outdoor activity.

The emergency precautions were announced Sunday after air-monitoring stations recorded unusually elevated levels of the hazardous chemical over several days, raising concerns about potential exposure among residents, schoolchildren, and workers in the surrounding communities.

In coordination with the Kiryat Ata Municipality, the Health Ministry and Environmental Protection Ministry decided that regular classes would not take place at the Social High School and the Erezim School during the following 24 hours. Both institutions are located near the refinery complex, and arrangements were made to relocate their students to alternative facilities.

The ministries issued special guidance for people living or working within approximately one kilometer, or about six-tenths of a mile, of the refineries. Residents were urged to avoid spending time outdoors unless necessary, with particular emphasis on protecting children and pregnant women.

Employees at nearby industrial facilities were also advised to keep windows closed and operate air-conditioning systems to reduce the amount of outdoor air entering their workplaces.

The warnings followed troubling readings recorded over the weekend of October 9 and 10, when monitoring equipment near the Deshanim industrial area in Kiryat Ata detected exceptionally high benzene concentrations.

Additional elevated readings were recorded Sunday at a monitoring station in Haifa near the former vehicle licensing office, indicating that the problem was affecting more than one monitoring location in the Haifa Bay area.

Although measurements showed some improvement Sunday morning, benzene concentrations began climbing again during the afternoon, prompting authorities to maintain precautionary measures and issue public warnings.

Benzene is a hazardous chemical found in petroleum and other industrial products. Exposure to elevated concentrations can pose health risks, and prolonged exposure has been associated with serious illnesses, including certain blood cancers. The level of danger in any particular incident depends on the concentration of the chemical and the duration of exposure.

In response to the monitoring results, the Environmental Protection Ministry ordered an immediate halt to maintenance operations at the Bazan refinery complex.

The maintenance activities had been taking place in recent days alongside repair work intended to restore damage sustained by the facilities during the war.

Environmental officials instructed the refinery operator to investigate the incident and determine the circumstances responsible for the abnormal benzene readings.

The ministry also demanded that the company submit a detailed plan outlining its intended work procedures and the safeguards it would implement to prevent further violations of air-quality standards.

Approval to resume the suspended operations will depend on the ministry’s review of those plans and the measures proposed to prevent additional hazardous emissions.

The situation has renewed attention to the environmental concerns surrounding the Haifa Bay industrial zone, where large petrochemical facilities operate near populated residential neighborhoods, schools, and commercial areas.

Officials from the Health Ministry and Environmental Protection Ministry are expected to conduct another assessment Monday, October 12, using updated air-monitoring results to determine whether the restrictions can be eased or whether further precautions are necessary.

Residents have been advised to follow official instructions as authorities continue monitoring air quality in the affected areas.

{Matzav.com}

A Jewish comedian in London was expelled from a creative writing group after identifying himself as a Zionist, prompting a legal dispute over allegations that he was discriminated against because of his beliefs and Jewish identity.

Harry Deansway, who had participated in the group for approximately six months, says he was informed that he was no longer welcome after the woman running the group questioned him about his political views concerning Israel.

According to Deansway, the confrontation began when the group’s organizer sought clarification about his position on Zionism and the Jewish state. After he confirmed that he considered himself a Zionist, she allegedly told him that his beliefs “support the massacre of an entire population.”

The organizer then made clear that he could no longer participate in the group’s activities, telling him, “You have no place in the group.”

Deansway’s removal brought an abrupt end to his involvement in the writing circle, where he had been a member for half a year. The repercussions reportedly extended beyond the group itself, with a literary evening that he had organized subsequently being canceled.

The incident drew the attention of UK Lawyers for Israel, a legal advocacy organization that sent a formal warning letter to the group’s management challenging the circumstances of Deansway’s exclusion.

The organization contends that removing the Jewish comedian because of his views on Zionism and his identity may constitute unlawful discrimination under Britain’s Equality Act 2010.

The group at the center of the dispute is the Offbeat Writers’ Group in north London, organized by Ruby Sullivan. Deansway had attended its sessions for six months without any reported difficulties before Sullivan raised the issue of his views on Israel.

According to correspondence described by UK Lawyers for Israel, Sullivan told Deansway that she was “very strongly pro-Palestine” and believed their differing political positions would interfere with their ability to work together.

Deansway responded that he was “Jewish and a Zionist,” while explaining that he also supported Palestinian rights. He described his understanding of Zionism as support for the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland and said that this did not mean endorsing actions that caused suffering to Palestinians.

Sullivan nevertheless rejected his explanation, writing, “I really can’t align with your beliefs as they support the massacre of an entire population.”

She went on to state, “I don’t think there is a place in the Offbeat Writers’ Group for you because of this.”

The organizer also reportedly disclosed plans to introduce an ideological declaration for prospective members, including an “antiapartheid free zone commitment,” raising further concerns about whether participation in the group would depend on applicants’ political positions concerning Israel.

The dispute took another turn when Sullivan referred to the suffering endured by Jews throughout history, stating that “because of the horrific past the Jewish people have endured, they should not want to inflict the same suffering on others”.

UK Lawyers for Israel objected to that statement, arguing that it improperly associated Jews collectively with the actions of the Israeli government. The organization pointed to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, which identifies holding Jews collectively responsible for Israel’s actions as a potential manifestation of antisemitism.

The legal organization maintains that Deansway’s exclusion may violate protections under the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination on grounds including race, religion, and certain protected philosophical beliefs.

Its legal warning argues that Deansway may be protected under several provisions of the legislation, including those concerning his Jewish ethnicity, religious identity, and belief in Jewish national self-determination.

The controversy also affected a ticketed literary event Deansway had arranged for October 13 at Bar Gemišt, a London venue.

After Sullivan withdrew from the event and other performers also pulled out, the venue canceled the booking. Management explained that its original agreement to host the gathering had been based on its existing relationship with Sullivan and the writing group.

UK Lawyers for Israel subsequently contacted the venue’s owners, warning that the cancellation could also raise questions under Britain’s antidiscrimination legislation.

However, the bar’s directors, Marion Zoelle and Uroš Dezutelj, rejected the allegations in a response dated October 10.

They maintained that their decision resulted from changes to the event and communication problems rather than Deansway’s Jewish identity or Zionist beliefs.

The owners said Deansway remained welcome at the establishment but declined to restore the canceled event. They also indicated that they would defend themselves against allegations they regarded as unfounded.

UK Lawyers for Israel condemned the treatment of Deansway, describing the incident as an example of ideological discrimination against Jewish artists in Britain’s cultural community.

“This is McCarthyism dressed up as progressive politics. A Jewish writer has been subjected to an ideological loyalty test and excluded because he believes in Jewish self-determination.

“People are entitled to oppose Zionism, but they cannot lawfully exclude Jews from cultural activities because they refuse to renounce their beliefs.

“Jewish artists should not have to pass a political purity test to participate in London’s cultural life.”

The dispute comes amid heightened tensions over Zionism within British political and cultural organizations. Earlier this month, Britain’s Green Party adopted a controversial motion declaring that Zionism is racism, prompting criticism from Jewish communal leaders and concerns about the implications for Jewish members who identify as Zionists.

A recently published study by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research found that the proportion of British Jews identifying as Zionists increased from 2022 to 2025, reaching 66 percent, underscoring the significance of the issue within Britain’s Jewish community.

No court ruling has been reported in Deansway’s case, and the legal allegations against the writing group and the venue remain disputed.

{Matzav.com}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement of an immediate energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine came without his knowledge, raising serious questions about whether an agreement had actually been reached between the warring countries.

Speaking to Axios reporter Barak Ravid shortly after Trump’s announcement, Zelensky said the supposed agreement was news to him, although he emphasized that Ukraine would be willing to accept such an arrangement if Russia agreed to halt its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

“The ceasefire announcement was news for me. But if Russians agree to an energy ceasefire, Ukraine will agree,” Zelensky told Ravid.

The Ukrainian leader also asked Washington to clarify precisely what had been negotiated with Russian President Vladimir Putin and when the proposed cessation of attacks was supposed to begin.

“If President Trump negotiated it with Putin, please tell us when the ceasefire begins. We are ready, and we will accept it,” Zelensky said.

The extraordinary exchange followed a declaration by Trump on Truth Social earlier Sunday that Moscow and Kyiv had reached an agreement to immediately suspend attacks on each other’s energy facilities.

“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” Trump wrote.

The president did not provide details about the agreement, including its precise terms, how compliance would be monitored or whether Russia had formally committed to stopping its strikes.

Zelensky’s response immediately cast uncertainty over the announcement, particularly because Ukraine, one of the two countries supposedly party to the agreement, appeared to have received no advance notification that a deal had been finalized.

The Ukrainian president subsequently issued a more formal statement expressing support for an energy ceasefire while emphasizing that Kyiv was still waiting for information from the United States.

“Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well. We are awaiting details from the American side,” Zelensky said.

He added that Ukraine supports measures aimed at reducing hostilities, protecting civilian lives and ultimately bringing the war to an end.

The announcement came amid sharply deteriorating relations between Washington and Kyiv over Ukraine’s continuing attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Trump has increasingly criticized the Ukrainian military’s strikes against Russian energy facilities, arguing that the attacks are contributing to rising international fuel prices and harming American consumers.

The dispute intensified Friday when Trump announced an agreement with Putin to ease American sanctions on Russian diesel exports in an effort to increase global fuel supplies and bring down prices.

Zelensky strongly criticized that decision, arguing that allowing Russia to generate additional revenue from energy exports would provide Moscow with more resources to finance its military campaign against Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president described the sanctions relief as “not fair and not honest” during an interview with Axios, expressing frustration that Washington had negotiated the arrangement with Moscow while Ukrainian representatives were engaged in discussions with American officials.

Those discussions were taking place in Miami, where Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had been meeting with Ukrainian representatives and senior diplomats from European countries and NATO.

The negotiations were intended to explore possible arrangements for reducing hostilities and advancing efforts to end the war.

The disagreement escalated further Saturday when Trump publicly criticized Zelensky and suggested that Ukraine needed different leadership capable of reaching an agreement with Russia.

Zelensky responded by maintaining that decisions about Ukraine’s leadership belong to the Ukrainian people.

The energy ceasefire announcement appeared to offer a possible diplomatic opening after several days of confrontation, but the lack of a confirmed Russian commitment quickly complicated the situation.

According to subsequent reporting by Axios, a White House official said the administration was discussing a narrower arrangement under which Russia and Ukraine would stop attacking each other’s oil refineries.

The official indicated that a broader agreement protecting power plants and electricity networks could follow if the initial arrangement succeeded.

That distinction is significant for Ukraine, whose electricity infrastructure has repeatedly been targeted by Russian missiles and drones.

A Ukrainian official told Axios that the proposed refinery-focused arrangement would be unequal because Ukraine has only one oil refinery, which has already sustained repeated Russian attacks and is not fully operational, while Russia maintains a much larger network of refineries.

Ukraine’s immediate priority, the official explained, is securing an end to Russian strikes on its electricity grid.

The White House official also acknowledged that Russia had not yet formally accepted the proposed arrangement and was still considering it.

Meanwhile, Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure continued Sunday despite Trump’s declaration that a ceasefire had already taken effect.

Zelensky reported that Russian strikes had targeted energy facilities, including a power plant in Kyiv and a combined heat-and-power facility in Kharkiv.

In his evening address, the Ukrainian president described continued drone and aerial bomb attacks against Ukrainian targets, underscoring the absence of an observable halt in hostilities.

The latest developments follow a similar announcement by Trump in September, when he declared that an energy ceasefire had been arranged between Russia and Ukraine. Neither country subsequently confirmed that a binding agreement had been reached, and attacks on energy facilities continued.

With winter approaching, the protection of Ukraine’s power generation and heating infrastructure remains a central concern for Kyiv, particularly after repeated Russian strikes have damaged facilities serving civilian populations.

Zelensky said he had discussed the latest ceasefire proposal with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

For now, Ukraine has publicly committed itself to accepting a reciprocal energy ceasefire, while the status of any Russian agreement remains uncertain and the attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure continue.

{Matzav.com}

The city of Acco, Israel, is mourning the passing of Rav Amram Azarzar zt”l, one of its longtime and highly respected Torah personalities, who devoted his life to spreading Torah, strengthening Yiddishkeit, and bringing fellow Jews closer to Hashem. He passed away Sunday surrounded by members of his family and loved ones.

Rav Azarzar zt”l was a beloved and widely admired figure in Acco, where he spent decades working tirelessly on behalf of the city’s Jewish community. He was known for his exceptional dedication to Torah learning, his devotion to the needs of others, and his efforts to strengthen Torah observance among Jews from all backgrounds.

Throughout his life, Rav Azarzar was among the first to arrive at shul in the morning and among the last to leave at night. He delivered Torah shiurim to the public and invested tremendous effort in inspiring Jews to strengthen their connection to Torah and mitzvos.

He was especially devoted to raising his children in the ways of Torah and yiras Shomayim, while setting a personal example of selflessness and concern for others. His commitment to chesed extended to performing the mitzvah of chesed shel emes, caring for those who had passed away and ensuring that they received a proper Jewish burial.

For many years, Rav Azarzar headed the Chevra Kadisha in Acco, dedicating himself to the sacred responsibility of tending to the deceased with dignity and respect.

He was also instrumental in establishing and strengthening Torah institutions and outreach activities throughout the city, helping build Acco’s Torah community and inspiring numerous Jews to return to a life of Torah observance.

Rav Azarzar maintained close ties with the illustrious Abuchatzeira family, particularly Rav Dovid Abuchatzeira of Nahariya.

Despite his extensive communal responsibilities, he remained deeply committed to his own learning, devoting countless hours to the study of both the revealed and hidden dimensions of Torah.

He was also among the founders of the Shas movement in Acco, playing an important role in strengthening Torah representation and serving the religious needs of the city’s residents.

Rav Azarzar leaves behind his wife and a distinguished family of children and descendants who continue his legacy of Torah and good deeds.

His sons include Rav Chaim Azarzar, executive director of the institutions of the Admor Rav Yekusiel Abuchatzeira; Rav Meir Azarzar, a community rov in Hong Kong; Rav Eliyahu Azarzar, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Mishkan Evyatar; Rav Shimon Azarzar, a registrar in the yeshiva world; and Rav Yosef Noam Azarzar, a businessman and noted baal chesed.

Approximately ten months ago, Rav Azarzar suffered a devastating personal loss with the passing of his daughter, Mrs. Ilana Yael Levy a”h, of Zichron Yaakov, who passed away at a young age following an illness.

Mrs. Levy was a devoted mechaneches who followed in her father’s footsteps, dedicating herself to instilling Torah values and yiras Shomayim in her students.

The levayah took place Sunday night departing from the Sephardic funeral chapel at Har Hamenuchos in the Givat Shaul neighborhood of Yerushalayim, where Rav Azarzar was laid to rest.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Two additional Flydubai copilots have been arrested in the United Arab Emirates as authorities expand their investigation into the attempted hijacking of a passenger aircraft bound for Israel, during which a suspected terrorist allegedly planned to crash the plane at Ben Gurion Airport.

The two pilots, both citizens of the Maldives, reportedly knew the principal suspect, identified as Al-Hamami, through their employment with Flydubai. Investigators are examining their possible connections to the alleged plot, although authorities have not disclosed the specific suspicions against them.

The arrests were reported Sunday evening by journalist Lee Ayash of i24NEWS, citing information concerning the ongoing investigation in the Emirates.

According to the report, the Maldivian Embassy in the UAE notified the families of the two pilots in recent days that their relatives had been taken into custody in connection with the investigation into the attempted attack.

Both men reportedly worked alongside Al-Hamami at Flydubai and were personally acquainted with him through their professional activities. They are also believed to have lived in the same residential building as the main suspect.

Investigators have additionally established, according to the report, that both detained pilots had previously flown to Israel while working for the airline.

Their arrests represent a further development in the investigation into the attempted attack aboard the Flydubai flight, which authorities in the Emirates have described as a plot to seize control of the aircraft and crash it at Ben Gurion Airport.

According to findings previously released by UAE authorities, Al-Hamami, who was serving as a copilot on the flight, allegedly intended to take over the aircraft and carry out a deliberate crash at Israel’s main international airport.

During the incident, the suspect reportedly attacked the aircraft’s captain inside the cockpit using an emergency axe. Passengers and crew members subsequently managed to overpower him, preventing him from gaining control of the plane and thwarting the alleged attack.

The latest arrests have raised questions about whether the suspected hijacking attempt involved additional individuals or whether Al-Hamami acted independently.

However, there has been no public confirmation that either of the two Maldivian pilots participated in planning the attack, assisted in its execution, or possessed advance knowledge of the suspect’s intentions.

Authorities have also not specified whether the men are being investigated as potential accomplices or are being held for questioning because of their personal and professional connections to Al-Hamami.

The investigation remains ongoing, with Emirati authorities examining the possibility that other individuals may have been involved in the alleged plot against the Israel-bound aircraft.

{Matzav.com}