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Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly lost confidence in former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad months before his regime collapsed and even explored the possibility of replacing him with his wife, Asma al-Assad, according to a new investigative report published by the British newspaper The Observer.

The report paints an unusual picture of the relationship between Putin and Assad during the final months of the Syrian regime. According to the investigation, as Assad’s government weakened in the months leading up to its collapse in December 2024, the Kremlin considered installing Asma al-Assad as Syria’s new leader after concluding that her husband was no longer capable of effectively governing the country.

Citing multiple sources, The Observer reported that Asma al-Assad, who was born in Britain and previously worked as an investment banker, had long played a far more influential role than that of a ceremonial first lady. According to the report, she became a central figure in decision-making within the presidential palace and exercised significant control over the regime’s economic power centers. Business leaders who refused to cooperate with her associates allegedly faced tax investigations, sanctions, and the closure of their companies. Her extensive involvement in running the country reportedly drew criticism over the years from senior regime officials, intelligence figures, and members of Syria’s business community.

The investigation further claims that Putin personally raised the idea with Bashar al-Assad of transferring power to his wife. However, the Syrian leader reportedly rejected the proposal outright. When rebel forces launched the offensive that ultimately brought down the regime in December 2024, Russia refrained from mounting any significant military intervention. Assad fled to Moscow on December 8, where he has remained under political asylum ever since, while international arrest warrants against him remain outstanding.

According to the report, Asma al-Assad had already left Syria in August 2024 to receive medical treatment in Russia. Since then, she has reportedly traveled between Dubai and other international destinations. Although she is barred from entering Britain and European Union member states, the report claims she spends considerable time in Dubai, where the Assad family owns luxury properties.

{Matzav.com}

Mahmoud Khalil, the former Columbia University graduate student who emerged as a leading figure in anti-Israel campus demonstrations, has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the Trump administration and several private organizations of working together to suppress pro-Palestinian activists through doxing, detention, and attempted deportation.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in federal court, names senior officials in President Donald Trump’s administration, the Heritage Foundation, and the online organizations Canary Mission and Betar as participants in what Khalil alleges was a coordinated effort to target him because of his activism.

According to the complaint, Khalil’s attorneys argue that this alleged “public-private partnership” violated the Ku Klux Klan Act, a Reconstruction-era federal law designed to prevent government officials from conspiring with private vigilante groups to deprive individuals of their civil rights. The attorneys contend that evidence of such coordination first surfaced during unrelated litigation last year.

Khalil, 31, is a former graduate student at Columbia University who became one of the most visible leaders and spokesmen for student protests opposing Israel and its military campaign in Gaza.

A lawful permanent resident of the United States who is married to an American citizen, Khalil was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in March 2025 at his apartment on Columbia’s campus. His detention quickly became one of the most prominent examples of the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

He remained in an immigration detention facility in Louisiana for 104 days, during which he missed the birth of his first child, before a federal judge in New Jersey ordered his release.

Khalil’s deportation proceedings, which have been a priority for the Trump administration, have advanced rapidly through the immigration court system, which is part of the executive branch. The case could ultimately be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Khalil has repeatedly rejected accusations that his involvement in pro-Palestinian demonstrations constitutes antisemitism.

“My beliefs are not wanting my tax money or tuition going toward investments in weapons manufacturers for a genocide,” he previously told The Associated Press. “It’s as simple as that.”

{Matzav.com}

A powerful explosion caused by a fragmentation grenade shattered the early-morning quiet in south Tel Aviv overnight, damaging several vehicles in a parking lot and triggering a large-scale police manhunt that quickly extended into the Chareidi city of Bnei Brak. The pursuit ended with the arrest of two young men riding a scooter.

The blast occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Anatbi Street in south Tel Aviv, sending a loud shockwave through the surrounding neighborhoods and prompting a massive response from emergency and law enforcement personnel. According to preliminary findings, unidentified suspects threw a fragmentation grenade into an open parking lot in a residential area.

The force of the explosion caused significant damage, with grenade shrapnel smashing the windows of several parked vehicles and causing additional property damage. After numerous emergency calls were received, officers from the Sharet Police Station, Border Police units from the Central District, and bomb disposal experts from the Tel Aviv District Police arrived at the scene. The area was sealed off as investigators began collecting forensic evidence and interviewing local residents.

At the same time, police launched an extensive search for those responsible, relying on technological tools and initial information regarding the suspects’ escape route.

The search quickly expanded beyond Tel Aviv and entered neighboring Bnei Brak. Officers from the Bnei Brak Police Station, who had been deployed at key locations throughout the city after receiving the alert, spotted two young men riding a scooter whose appearance matched the suspects’ description. Police said the pair’s behavior also aroused suspicion.

Officers intercepted the scooter and arrested both suspects. During a search of the vehicle, police discovered a knife concealed on the scooter.

The suspects, ages 17 and 19, both residents of the greater Tel Aviv metropolitan area, were taken into custody and transferred under heavy security to the Sharet Police Station in Tel Aviv, which is leading the investigation. Police said they intend to bring the two before a judge later today to request an extension of their detention as the investigation continues and additional evidence is gathered.

{Matzav.com}

A two-year-old Israeli girl tragically drowned Tuesday night in the swimming pool of a hotel in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Despite efforts by medical personnel to save her life, doctors were forced to pronounce her dead. ZAKA is now working to arrange the transfer of her body to Israel.

Shortly before 11:00 p.m., ZAKA’s International Unit emergency hotline (1220) received notification of the tragedy. According to initial reports, the toddler drowned in the hotel pool during the evening. She was rushed to a local hospital, where medical staff were ultimately unable to revive her and declared her deceased.

Immediately after receiving the report, members of ZAKA’s International Unit began coordinating with the relevant authorities in both Israel and Egypt.

The joint effort is aimed at expediting the necessary bureaucratic procedures so the toddler’s body can be returned to Israel as quickly as possible. ZAKA is also providing ongoing assistance and support to the bereaved family during this difficult time.

Chaim Weingarten, ZAKA’s Deputy Director of Operations, said, “Immediately upon receiving the report, we activated ZAKA’s International Unit, which operates around the clock in cases of this nature throughout the world.”

“We are in continuous contact with all of the relevant authorities in order to assist the family and bring the toddler to burial in Israel as quickly as possible, while preserving her dignity and providing the family with all the assistance they require,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

The Knesset has given final approval to legislation repealing former Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana’s kashrus reform, marking a major legislative victory for MK Michael Malkieli.

In a dramatic vote that concluded overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, the Knesset plenum passed the repeal in its second and third readings. The bill was approved by a vote of 46-41.

The legislation, considered MK Malkieli’s flagship initiative, completely overturns Kahana’s kashrus reform, which was enacted in 2021 and sparked fierce opposition throughout the Torah world.

Following the vote, Malkieli, who spearheaded the campaign to repeal the reform, expressed great satisfaction with the outcome.

“After years of determined struggle led by Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, we have merited to correct the Kahana reform, which threatened to breach the walls of kashrus in the Holy Land,” Malkieli said.

He added, “The new reform will bring with it many improvements, some of them historic, in every area of kashrus. The reform will strengthen Israel’s Chief Rabbinate and the rabbis of Israel. It will also regulate the employment of kashrus supervisors and, contrary to the false claims spread by interested parties, will even help lower the cost of living for all Israeli citizens.”

What the New Law Includes

Under the newly approved legislation, the provisions that allowed private kashrus organizations to operate are repealed. The authority to issue kashrus certificates will now rest exclusively with the Council of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, authorized local rabbis, and the IDF Military Rabbinate, as appropriate.

The law also regulates numerous aspects of the kashrus system, including kashrus standards, the operation of bodies involved in providing kashrus services, supervision procedures, the separation between kashrus supervisors and the businesses they oversee, and government oversight of the entire kashrus framework.

The explanatory notes accompanying the bill state:

“On November 18, 2021, the Economic Program Law (Legislative Amendments for Implementing the Economic Policy for the 2021-2022 Budget Years) was published. Chapter 17 of the Arrangements Law, entitled ‘Streamlining the Kashrus System’ (Amendment No. 3), introduced changes to the kashrus system, including the imported food kashrus framework.

“As part of that amendment, the field of kashrus was, in effect, privatized. It provided that supervision services and kashrus certificates could be issued, among others, by private kashrus organizations, based on kashrus standards established, among others, by rabbis who are not public employees.

“The Council of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the Chief Rabbis of Israel who headed it strongly opposed Amendment No. 3. They maintained that the unique characteristics of the kashrus system require kashrus services to remain under public administration in order to safeguard the public interest, including transparency, objectivity, and public accountability. In this way, they argued, the granting of kashrus certification and its oversight would not be influenced by the significant economic interests present within the food industry, which could lead to conflicts of interest and improper considerations.”

Chief Rabbi Backs the Legislation

Israel’s Chief Rabbi, HaGaon Rav Kalman Meir Bar, voiced unequivocal support for the legislation during committee deliberations before the vote. In his remarks, the Chief Rabbi sharply criticized the reality that had developed in Israel’s kashrus market following Kahana’s reform.

“The public wants to know that it can rely on the kashrus certificate and on the body standing behind it,” Rav Bar said. “Kashrus is not a marketing brand but a public responsibility requiring professional, continuous, and reliable oversight.”

Background to the Reform

Matan Kahana’s kashrus reform was enacted in November 2021 as part of the Economic Arrangements Law. It authorized private kashrus organizations to provide supervision services and issue kashrus certificates based on standards established, among others, by rabbis who were not government employees.

From the outset, the Council of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and Israel’s Chief Rabbis strongly opposed the legislation, arguing that the nature of kashrus supervision requires it to remain a public service in order to preserve transparency, objectivity, and accountability to the public.

{Matzav.com}

Although a new poll suggests Kamala Harris would hold an early advantage in hypothetical 2028 presidential matchups, Republican strategists are dismissing the findings, arguing that the former vice president would actually be the easiest Democratic nominee for the GOP to defeat.

During an appearance on Newsmax’s “Finnerty,” Patrick Allocco, founder of the Zoose Political Index, rejected the results of a new Zogby Analytics survey showing Harris leading Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio by five percentage points in potential 2028 general election contests.

“It looks to me like Zogby may have dusted off his final 2024 presidential poll,” Allocco told host Rob Finnerty, pointing out that the polling firm had also projected Harris ahead of President Donald Trump before the 2024 election.

“It was a big miss then, and it’s a big miss now,” he said. “Our data shows Kamala would actually be the dream matchup for Republicans. The more voters are reminded of the Harris record, the less attractive she becomes as a viable candidate. And she already has a national electoral loss on her resume.”

Finnerty noted that Zogby’s final 2024 polling understated Trump’s eventual margin of victory, suggesting that the latest survey should likewise be treated cautiously.

Pollster Jim McLaughlin, who served on Trump’s 2024 campaign, echoed that assessment and said he would welcome a Harris candidacy in the next presidential election.

“I would love to be able to run against her,” McLaughlin said, arguing that many voters continue to associate Harris with the Biden administration’s handling of border security during the period when she served as the administration’s border czar.

McLaughlin also maintained that numerous public polls during the 2024 campaign overstated Democratic support, while his own polling consistently showed Trump ahead in the key battleground states that ultimately decided the election.

The conversation then turned to the Democratic Party’s future, with Finnerty asking Allocco whether the party, given its internal disagreements over Israel, could nominate a Jewish presidential candidate in 2028.

Allocco responded that such a nominee remains possible, but said the more pressing issue is the party’s lack of a clear direction.

“I think you’ve got such a deeply divided Democratic field right now and a party that doesn’t know who their identity is,” he said. “The one thing you need to focus on is who the progressive standard-bearer is going to be … because they are going to have an influence on the outcome of the nominee.”

The interview also addressed speculation involving Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., after he joined Republican Sen. Dave McCormick in creating a joint fundraising committee.

McLaughlin dismissed suggestions that Fetterman could ultimately become a Republican, arguing that despite occasionally breaking with progressive Democrats—particularly in his support for Israel—the Pennsylvania senator has continued to vote with his party on the overwhelming majority of issues.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu is reportedly preparing for a trip to the United States, with Israeli media indicating that he is expected to travel to Washington early next week. Although plans appear to be taking shape, the White House says no official visit has yet been placed on the president’s schedule.

The reports come roughly two weeks after the Prime Minister’s Office announced that Netanyahu and President Donald Trump had spoken by phone in honor of America’s 250th Independence Day. During that conversation, the two leaders agreed to hold an in-person meeting in the United States in the near future.

Despite those reports, a White House official disputed that an official visit has been finalized. Speaking to Channel 12 News correspondent Barak Ravid on Tuesday, the official said, “A visit from Bibi is not on the schedule at this time”.

Israeli officials later told Ynet that Netanyahu is nevertheless expected to leave for Washington this coming Motzoei Shabbos.

According to the report, Netanyahu hopes to meet with Trump while in Washington, although no formal meeting has yet been confirmed. The prime minister is also expected to attend the funeral of Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham during his stay in the United States.

The anticipated visit follows a report by Axios earlier Tuesday that Trump urged Netanyahu during a telephone conversation last Thursday to begin reducing Israel’s military presence in Syria and to pursue a similar course in Lebanon.

According to a U.S. official cited by Axios, Trump expressed concern that Israel’s continued deployment inside Syrian territory could heighten regional tensions and increase the risk of further escalation. The official quoted Trump as saying, “They don’t want you there. You should redeploy,” adding that the same message applied to Lebanon.

In response, the Prime Minister’s Office said Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s need to maintain security buffer zones along its borders during the discussion.

Trump also addressed his relationship with Netanyahu during an interview Monday on The Hugh Hewitt Show, dismissing suggestions that ties between the two leaders had cooled and describing their relationship as “very good”.

“I get along with Netanyahu; sometimes I disagree with him, and I tell him that,” said the President, who rejected claims that he had distanced himself from Netanyahu.

“I didn’t throw Bibi under the bus. He’s doing a great job. Without the two of us, there wouldn’t be an Israel,” Trump stated.

Americans may soon be paying more than $4 per gallon for gasoline once again as escalating military tensions between the United States and Iran disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. Analysts warn that if the conflict continues, fuel costs could climb rapidly and place renewed strain on consumers already grappling with higher living expenses.

According to fuel-tracking firm GasBuddy, the national average price for regular gasoline reached $3.84 per gallon on Tuesday, an increase of nearly 10 cents over the past week. Compared with a year ago, gasoline prices have climbed 22.2%.

The sharp rise in fuel prices presents a fresh political challenge for President Donald Trump and Republicans, who are preparing for November’s midterm elections while seeking to preserve their narrow majorities in Congress.

Gasoline prices last exceeded the $4-per-gallon threshold in late March after Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz. Prices later retreated below that level in June following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending the war.

A return to $4 gasoline would place additional financial pressure on American families already coping with persistent inflation.

Retail fuel prices have climbed in tandem with crude oil prices after last week’s collapse of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran and the subsequent reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on Iran. Because crude oil is the primary ingredient used to produce gasoline, increases in oil prices are typically reflected at the pump.

Shipping data released Monday showed that tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to its lowest level in two months, underscoring the growing disruption to global energy markets.

Before the conflict erupted, roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply moved through the Strait of Hormuz. Fuel prices have also been pushed higher by reduced refining capacity in Russia following intensified Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.

“I now expect the national average price of gasoline to reach $4 per gallon in the next 7-10 days, if not sooner, while the U.S. average diesel price is likely to again reach $5 per gallon by the end of this week, potentially as soon as Friday,” GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan wrote in a blog post on Monday.

De Haan added that motorists in some states could see gasoline prices surpass the $4 mark even sooner.

The latest increase in fuel costs also threatens to reverse recent progress in lowering inflation after energy prices helped moderate consumer costs in June.

“While June’s inflation data reflected easing price pressures largely due to lower energy costs, a sustained increase in gasoline prices throughout July could quickly alter that narrative,” said Simon-Peter Massabni, head of business development at XS.com.

“The impact extends beyond fuel itself. Higher gasoline prices feed into transportation costs, freight rates, and broader logistics expenses, which eventually pass through to the prices of goods and services across the economy,” Massabni said.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, warned that if the fighting intensifies and the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed for several weeks, already-depleted global oil inventories will shrink even further.

Under that scenario, he said, oil, gasoline, and other energy prices would surge sharply, while shortages of physical fuel supplies could begin to emerge around the world.

{Matzav.com}

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Israeli security forces arrested four Palestinian Authority residents attempting to enter Israel illegally during a targeted enforcement operation near Jerusalem, including one man suspected of planning an imminent terrorist attack. An Israeli citizen accused of transporting two of the suspects was also taken into custody.

The arrests were made over the course of several hours during a joint operation by Israel Police and Border Police at the Tunnels Checkpoint and the a-Za’im Crossing.

In one case, officers stopped a vehicle that had aroused suspicion and conducted a search. Upon opening the trunk, they discovered two illegal infiltrators from the Arab city of Tulkarm concealed inside as they allegedly attempted to enter pre-1967 Israel unlawfully.

A preliminary security screening determined that one of the two men was a wanted terrorist sought for questioning on suspicion of planning an imminent terror attack and attempting to enter Israel to carry it out.

In a separate incident at the same checkpoints, officers thwarted another attempted illegal entry. Two additional Palestinian Authority residents, from the villages of Azariya and Za’atara, were arrested after they allegedly tried to pass through the checkpoint using forged Israeli identification cards.

Police also arrested the driver transporting the pair, an Israeli citizen and Jerusalem resident suspected of assisting the attempted illegal infiltration.

All five suspects were transferred to Israeli security authorities for further interrogation and investigation.

Yisrael Beytenu chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman declared that if he is part of Israel’s next government, it will not grant even the smallest exemption from military service to Torah students. In a wide-ranging and combative interview with Yishai Cohen, Lieberman launched a blistering attack on the Chareidi leadership, accusing it of repeatedly breaking agreements, insisting that every Chareidi man must serve, and revealing what MK Moshe Gafni allegedly admitted to him behind the scenes regarding the draft law Lieberman promoted in 2018.

The interview also touched on Lieberman’s criticism of the Netanyahu government, his refusal to sit in a coalition supported by Arab parties, whether he intends to seek the premiership, and the personal rift that ended his longtime friendship with Shas chairman Aryeh Deri.

Discussing the ongoing debate over military service, Lieberman insisted that he would support no exemptions whatsoever for Torah students.

“There will not be even a fraction of an exemption,” he declared.

He also rejected the proposal put forward by Gadi Eisenkot to exempt three percent of each annual draft class of Torah students and disclosed that MK Moshe Gafni privately acknowledged to him, “You were right in 2018.”

Turning to the conflict with Iran, Lieberman addressed the recent escalation, including U.S. strikes on Iranian targets and Iran’s attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

“What is clear is that the Iranians are determined to use the ‘Hormuz bomb.’ They invented the ‘Hormuz bomb’ during the war, even before an atomic bomb, and they are using that card very aggressively. It is beyond my understanding. It was obvious, and I don’t know how they failed to take it into account.”

Lieberman argued that Israel has failed to secure a decisive victory over Iran and warned that the Islamic Republic has emerged from the conflict stronger than before.

“No decisive outcome has been achieved. What we are seeing is that the Iranians are returning fire, they have enough launchers, they have taken control of the domestic arena, and this crazy regime is emerging stronger from this entire event. We must understand: You do not launch a military campaign without understanding how you are going to achieve victory—and there is no victory.”

He also dismissed reports describing an alleged secret meeting between Mossad Director David Barnea and former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

“It is absolute madness. This entire publication is absolute madness. All the commentary we have seen on the television channels is absolute madness. It is a total loss of control.”

Speaking more broadly about Israel’s military campaigns in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen, Lieberman accused the government of pursuing a failed strategy.

“This government is incapable of achieving victory because it continues the policy of containment, allows the other side to grow stronger, and shows weakness in the use of force. There is no chance they will achieve victory.”

Lieberman noted that when the current coalition was formed, he predicted it would survive no more than a year and a half. Asked how it nevertheless managed to complete a full term, he argued that it did so at the expense of the Israeli public.

“This is a coalition at the expense of the public. In order to survive, we have seen division and incitement during wartime—division unlike anything the people of Israel have ever experienced. There is only one side here, and that is the side of the prime minister, who is prepared to sacrifice the entire country simply to remain in power. This is a sectoral coalition in which everyone is looking after his own constituency.”

Referring to recent opinion polls, Lieberman expressed confidence that the opposition would ultimately prevail.

“Yesterday we had 59 seats in Channel 12’s poll, and I have seen polls showing 62. They deserve respect, but I trust what I hear on the ground more, and we will form a stable coalition.”

Lieberman also ruled out any possibility of joining a government that depends on Arab parties.

“Certainly not. Without the Arab factions, absolutely. We will not sit with them—not through abstentions and not in a minority government. We will not sit with Netanyahu, and we will not sit with Arab parties. Before the election we will surpass 60 seats with a surplus.”

Asked who should lead a future opposition government, Lieberman declined to rule himself out as a candidate for prime minister.

“First, we need to remove the government of the October 7 massacre. This is the worst government in the history of the State of Israel since 1948. Everything else we will decide afterward. There are many considerations involved in forming a government. Right now I am focused on one mission: bringing down this government. In terms of experience, ability to perform, and understanding the political map, I believe I have an advantage over everyone else, but I am putting that discussion aside for now. I wish everyone success.”

Questioned about his deteriorating relationship with the Chareidi public after years of political cooperation, Lieberman insisted that the change had not come from him.

“Something happened to the other side, not to me. When I hear Rav Yitzchak Yosef saying, ‘If you receive a draft order—tear it up and throw it into the toilet,’ and Rabbi Maya saying, ‘Even someone who does not study Torah may not enlist,’ that is what I hear.”

Lieberman reiterated that any government in which he serves will grant no exemptions to Torah students and criticized Eisenkot’s proposal for limited exemptions.

“There will be no exemptions! Not even a fraction of an exemption! Gadi demonstrated that he lacks experience. Anyone who says there is a contradiction between Torah study and military service does not understand our sources.”

He went on to accuse the Chareidi leadership of repeatedly reneging on agreements.

“I personally brought forward a law that I coordinated with Aryeh Deri and Moshe Gafni, and they helped me pass it in its first reading, but in the end there was not a single time that the Chareidi leadership did not deceive.”

Lieberman then revealed a private conversation he says took place two weeks ago with MK Moshe Gafni, during which Gafni allegedly expressed regret that Lieberman’s 2018 draft law never became law.

“Two weeks ago, Gafni and I were sitting behind the Knesset plenum. He reminded me that in 2018 I told them, ‘One day you will miss this law.’ He told me, ‘How right you were, and how sorry we are,’ but that opportunity is gone.”

Lieberman concluded by pledging that he would refuse to join any coalition that does not require universal military service for Chareidim.

“There will be no exemptions. Either there is one hundred percent enlistment, or there is no government. Period. As clearly as possible.”

At the end of the interview, Lieberman was asked how his close personal friendship with Aryeh Deri had deteriorated into one of the fiercest rivalries in Israeli politics.

“We were excellent friends. When someone is your friend, you expect him to be your friend—not to sell you for ‘a bowl of lentils’ and not to pursue personal interests. Friendship comes before everything. It has nothing to do with politics. It is personal. Friendship is above everything.

“When I expect nothing from someone, I have no problem with him. But he was a close friend—for decades. Something happened that had nothing to do with politics. It was personal. Once the value of friendship is violated, it is very difficult to move forward.”

A wave of joy spread through the Brisk Yeshivah after Rav Avraham Yehoshua Soloveitchik delivered his first shiur in nearly two months, marking a significant milestone in his ongoing recovery following a prolonged illness.

According to sources, the shiur was delivered Monday at its customary time of 3:30 p.m. in the Rosh Yeshiva‘s home in Yerushalayim. Attendance was kept intentionally small, with only his sons, who have been caring for him throughout his illness, members of the extended Soloveitchik family, and a select group of senior talmidim from the yeshivah invited to participate.

Although Rav Soloveitchik remains connected to an IV and is still in the midst of his recovery, he delivered the shiur from his home. The shiur lasted approximately one hour and ten minutes, only slightly shorter than his regular shiurim, which typically run for about one hour and twenty minutes.

During the shiur, the Rosh Yeshiva shared with those present that his physicians had agreed with his desire to resume teaching Torah, believing that returning to his lifelong routine of delivering shiurim could contribute to rebuilding his strength and aid in his physical recovery.

Rav Soloveitchik also apologized that he is not yet able to resume delivering shiurim to the hundreds of talmidim who normally attend. At this stage, he explained, his medical condition permits him to teach only from his home and only to the small group approved to be present.

{Matzav.com}

Fresh off the passage of the law freezing the arrests of yeshiva bochurim, the Knesset plenum continued its marathon legislative session Tuesday night, shifting its attention to a major kashrus reform bill as lawmakers race to complete key legislation before the Knesset dissolves later this week.

The legislation, sponsored by MK Ohad Tal of the Religious Zionist Party, would eliminate the current framework that allows private kashrus organizations to issue kosher certifications. Under the proposal, exclusive authority to grant kashrus certification would once again rest with Israel’s Chief Rabbinate, authorized local rabbanim, and the Military Rabbinate, where applicable.

In addition to restoring centralized authority over kashrus certification, the bill establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework governing kashrus standards, the status and employment of mashgichim, oversight and appeals procedures, and an annual reporting requirement to the Knesset.

During earlier deliberations in the Committee for Public Initiatives, lawmakers incorporated additional oversight and appeals mechanisms into the legislation. The revised bill also includes provisions regulating the employment of mashgichim, including measures intended to eliminate the direct employment relationship between kashrus supervisors and the businesses they oversee.

Opponents of the legislation argue that concentrating authority in the hands of the Chief Rabbinate would effectively create a monopoly over kashrus certification, reduce competition, and potentially increase costs for business owners.

Coalition officials expect debate on the measure to continue well into the night, with final second- and third-reading votes anticipated shortly after 1:00 a.m. If the bill passes, the Knesset is expected to immediately proceed to debate legislation that would split the responsibilities currently held by Israel’s attorney general.

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister MK Sharren Haskel of the New Hope party announced her resignation from the government Tuesday evening, just hours after the Knesset gave final approval to the law freezing the arrests of yeshiva bochurim.

Haskel, who opposed the legislation, stepped down shortly after the bill passed its second and third readings in the Knesset plenum, amid growing tensions within the coalition over the controversial measure.

Coalition leaders wasted little time responding to her decision. MK Boaz Bismuth, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, ridiculed Haskel’s resignation in a sharply worded statement.

“If you think that after this performance someone is going to cast you in another political party, you should know the line is long. After a year of discussions in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee under my chairmanship, I’ve seen quite a few Knesset members give much more convincing performances.”

Haskel’s resignation comes against the backdrop of the heated political battle surrounding the law halting the arrests of yeshiva bochurim, which was approved by the Knesset despite opposition from several members of the governing coalition.

The Sanzer Chassidus is preparing to significantly expand the battle over the arrests of bnei Torah, announcing a broad protest campaign after an avreich and a yeshiva bochur from the chassidus were arrested for failing to report for military service and are currently being held in Military Prison 10.

A dramatic message was distributed Tuesday afternoon to thousands of Sanz chassidim across Israel, calling on them to prepare for what organizers described as a determined and far-reaching campaign on behalf of the two detainees.

The avreich, who was arrested last Friday, is the father of two young children and a grandson of the late Sanzer Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Eliyahu Shemerler, zt”l, as well as the late Stropkover Rebbe, zt”l. A second detainee, a yeshiva bochur affiliated with Sanz, was arrested Monday night in Bnei Brak.

In response, community leaders and organizers from Sanz communities throughout the country convened Tuesday at Kiryat Sanz in Netanya for an emergency strategy meeting to coordinate a series of demonstrations demanding the immediate release of the two prisoners from military custody.

According to individuals familiar with the plans, organizers intend to stage multiple coordinated protests simultaneously in several of Israel’s largest Chareidi population centers, with the goal of creating a large-scale, organized, and highly visible public demonstration.

The decision by Sanz to actively join the protest movement marks a significant expansion of the ongoing demonstrations against the arrests of bnei Torah. Until now, most major protests and road blockades have been concentrated primarily in Yerushalayim and other central Israeli locations. The addition of Netanya, the longtime center of Sanz Chassidus, is expected to broaden the geographic scope of the protests and create additional flashpoints.

Leaders within Sanz emphasized that they will not remain silent while the avreich and yeshiva bochur remain imprisoned, with emotions throughout the chassidus running high as preparations intensify for the coming days.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus broke with House Democratic leadership on Tuesday in the latest example of support for Israel dividing the Democratic Party.

Hours after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to colleagues saying that he would oppose an amendment to end $3.3 billion in U.S. aid to Israel, Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), chair of the Progressive Caucus, sent a competing letter urging House Democrats to reject the aid to Israel.

“The Democratic Party needs a new approach to Israel and Palestine,” Casar wrote. “The American people are crying out for an end to U.S. tax dollars subsidizing Israel’s military.”

“After the Israeli government has killed more than 70,000 people in Gaza and helped lead the United States into a destabilizing, deadly war with Iran, we are called to act,” he stated.

The House is expected to vote later this week on an amendment from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) to strip funding for Israel from the 2027 national security and State Department appropriations bill.

Massie lost his primary in May, in an election that focused in large part on his opposition to U.S. aid to Israel. He has used much of his remaining time in the House to pursue anti-Israel measures, including calling to re-investigate the 1967 Israeli attack on the USS Liberty and amendments to strip out Israel-related provisions from annual appropriations bills.

The Jewish state receives about $3.8 billion annually in U.S. aid, including $3.3 billion in foreign military funding to purchase arms and $500 million for cooperative missile defense programs.

Massie’s proposal to end most of that aid, which also includes some spending on humanitarian programs, has further divided a Democratic caucus in which support for Israel has become a major fault line and cost several incumbents their seats in primary challenges from the anti-Israel left.

In his letter on Tuesday morning opposing the Massie amendment, Jeffries acknowledged the difficult political calculus that many Democrats face and called for a “major reset” of U.S.-Israel relations.

“There are good faith reasons that will result in members voting in a variety of different ways with respect to the amendment,” Jeffries wrote. “Moving forward, it is my strongly held view that for the good of Israel and the Palestinian people, American policy in the Middle East must change.”

Jeffries called for a restructuring of the next 10-year agreement between Israel and the United States, saying that the Jewish state was “capable of paying for its own sophisticated weapons” and that the United States should support the creation of a Palestinian state. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a message to Iran’s leaders on Tuesday, warning that should they decide to attack Israel, the Jewish state’s response will be greater than the last round.

“Don’t count on it to be quiet if you attack us. Don’t count on a rerun. It will be a different broadcast—far more powerful,” the prime minister said while addressing the Negev Conference in Dimona, a regional forum focused on the economic development of Israel’s south.

“We are prepared for any scenario,” he said. “Gone are the days when someone hits us, and we don’t even strike them with a single blow.”

Israel and Iran last exchanged strikes on June 7, when Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for an Israeli attack against its proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel hit Iran’s Mahshahr petrochemical complex in return.

Since then, the Islamic Republic has so far refrained from hitting Israel, even as U.S. and Iranian forces intensify their exchange of volleys.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps instead attacked Bahrain, Jordan and three tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz in response to the latest U.S. strikes.

Two of the vessels, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, which were linked to the United Arab Emirates, briefly caught fire, the Associated Press reported. The Emirati Defense Ministry said the attacks killed one mariner and wounded eight others.

Bahrain’s Defense Force said its air defenses intercepted “a number of treacherous Iranian aerial attacks,” adding that “the deliberate use of missiles and drones to target civilians and private property constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.”

A Jordanian military source told the state-run Petra News Agency that the army “successfully intercepted and shot down four missiles that breached Jordanian airspace from Iranian territory early Tuesday.”

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered more strikes against Iranian regime targets on Monday in response to the Islamic Republic’s attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Also on Monday, Trump told Fox News that the United States will be “taking over” the Strait of Hormuz.

In a subsequent Truth Social post, Trump declared the Strait open and that, from “this point forward,” the United States will be known as “the guardian of the Hormuz Strait.”

He said that America is reimposing the Iranian blockade, “so named because it is only stopping Iran’s ships or customers from entering or leaving. All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait.”

However, Washington said it will charge 20% on all cargo shipped, plus “costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World,” Trump added.

CENTCOM said the blockade on all “maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports” would go into effect at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday. JNS

{Matzav.com}

One of Israel’s most sweeping public transportation reforms in decades has been pulled from the Knesset agenda after Chareidi parties objected over concerns that it could eventually undermine the longstanding status quo regarding Shabbos.

The Metropolitan Transportation Reform, which was approved by the Knesset Economics Committee last month for its second and third readings, was expected to come before the Knesset plenum on Tuesday. Instead, lawmakers removed the legislation from the agenda amid opposition from Chareidi coalition partners.

The proposed reform would transfer broad authority over public transportation planning and management from the Transportation Ministry to newly established metropolitan authorities. Although supporters repeatedly emphasized during committee deliberations that the legislation would not authorize local governments to operate public transportation on Shabbos or alter existing arrangements, Chareidi lawmakers remained concerned that future administrations could use the new framework to erode the status quo.

As previously reported, the legislation had already faced significant obstacles before clearing the Economics Committee, with one of the primary disputes centering on who would lead the newly created metropolitan transportation authorities.

During negotiations led by Economics Committee Chairman MK David Bitan, a compromise was reached under which the director of Israel’s National Public Transportation Authority would head the Gush Dan metropolitan authority for an initial transition period of 18 months. After that, the position would be transferred to a representative of the Tel Aviv municipality, followed by elections among all member municipalities.

The Transportation Ministry opposed that arrangement, insisting that the National Public Transportation Authority retain control for three years instead. The disagreement delayed the legislation and added another layer of political complexity to the reform.

Under the version approved by the Economics Committee, the Gush Dan metropolitan authority would include Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak, Ramat Gan, Holon, Bat Yam, Givatayim, Herzliya, and Ramat Hasharon, with Rishon LeZion and Kiryat Ono expected to join later.

According to sources, Bnei Brak would hold only about 13 percent of the voting power within the metropolitan authority. City officials expressed concern that neighboring municipalities could approve major public transportation policies without meaningful input from the predominantly Torah-observant city.

Beit Shemesh sought to be excluded entirely from the legislation, fearing that Jerusalem would control an overwhelming majority of the voting power within the Jerusalem metropolitan authority. That request was ultimately granted, and Beit Shemesh was removed from the framework. Mevaseret Zion was also excluded, while Tzur Hadassah was added to the Jerusalem metropolitan authority. At the same time, Rechasim was incorporated into the Haifa metropolitan authority.

Alongside the metropolitan transportation reform, the Economics Committee separately approved legislation repealing amendments to the Parking Law. Under the revised measure, private parking facilities will once again be permitted to charge by the full hour and then in 15-minute increments. That provision passed independently and is expected to take effect four months after the law is officially published.

With the metropolitan reform now off the Knesset agenda, it remains unclear when it will return for debate and a final vote. Its future is expected to depend on negotiations between the coalition and the Chareidi parties, particularly over guarantees that the legislation will not lead to any erosion of the Shabbos status quo.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is signaling that the U.S. military campaign against Iran will continue to escalate, declaring that the strikes will not stop until he decides they have achieved their objective. He also warned that critical infrastructure, including energy facilities, power plants, and bridges, could soon become targets unless Tehran agrees to negotiations.

Speaking with Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, Trump said the campaign is being deliberately phased, with Iran’s energy sector reserved for later stages of the operation.

“I’ll save the energy targets for last, but ultimately we’ll hit energy targets,” Trump told Fox News reporter Trey Yingst in an interview.

Trump also described an aggressive timetable for the ongoing military action, saying the intensity of the strikes would increase over the coming days.

“We’re going to hit them very hard tonight. We’re going to hit them very hard tomorrow night. We’re going to hit them very hard the night after, and then next week it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants,” Trump said.

The president went on to warn that even broader attacks on Iran’s infrastructure would follow if its leadership refuses to enter negotiations with the United States.

“Next week comes the bridges. We’re going to knock out all their power plants. We’re going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate.”

{Matzav.com}