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[Video below.] New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani sharply criticized the participation of several Israeli government ministers in Sunday’s Israel Day Parade, singling out Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and saying their presence at the event was offensive to many New Yorkers.

Speaking during an interview on MSNOW, Mamdani, who chose not to attend the annual parade, reiterated his longstanding criticism of the Israeli government and condemned the involvement of several members of its current coalition.

“I’ve made clear time and time again over the course of the campaign my criticisms of the Israeli government. And you can see in the participation of the far-right Israeli minister Smotrich, as well as a number of other ministers, a vision of annihilation, a complicity in genocide, and frankly, a belief that does not have much value for even the sanctity of children in Gaza. And I am offended, as I know many New Yorkers are, by their participation.”

Asked about members of his administration who did attend the parade, Mamdani emphasized that individual officials are free to decide for themselves which public events they wish to join.

“I allow them to make their own decisions as to what marches they would like to participate in.”

The mayor also defended his absence from the event while stressing his administration’s commitment to protecting New York’s Jewish community.

“As I’ve said time and time again, as the mayor of this city, I need not be present to ensure the security of a march, and also that this is a march to celebrate Israel. That is something that many New Yorkers attended, many New Yorkers did not. When it comes to the sanctity and the security of Jewish life in this city, that is something that we are fully committed to – to ensuring that each and every Jewish New Yorker is not just safe in this city, but is celebrated.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who participated in the parade, also criticized Smotrich’s attendance and issued a statement condemning his appearance at the event.

“Bezalel Smotrich is a far-right extremist whose hateful and divisive rhetoric is fundamentally at odds with the values we hold dear in New York,” Hochul said in a statement. “Yesterday’s parade was a celebration of Jewish pride, community, and unity. I strongly condemn his participation.”

Mamdani’s decision to stay away from the parade marks the latest chapter in a series of actions and statements that have drawn criticism from pro-Israel groups and supporters of the Jewish state.

During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani declined to disavow the phrase “globalize the intifada.” He also faced criticism for comments he made about Israel on October 8, 2023, one day after the Hamas massacre in southern Israel.

Throughout the war in Gaza, Mamdani has repeatedly accused Israel of committing war crimes and has stated that he would seek the arrest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit New York City.

Controversy also erupted shortly after Mamdani entered office when he rescinded several executive orders related to Israel that had been enacted by his predecessor, Eric Adams.

Among the orders revoked was a June 2025 directive recognizing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism.

Another canceled order barred mayoral appointees and city agency employees from participating in boycotts of or divestment efforts targeting Israel.

Mamdani has also faced scrutiny over a number of antisemitism-related controversies since taking office. Most recently, reports surfaced indicating that his wife, Rama Dawaji, had liked several social media posts that praised or appeared sympathetic to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terrorist massacre in Israel.

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{Matzav.com}

New York Democrats have settled on a sweeping constitutional amendment that could dramatically alter the state’s congressional redistricting process, opening the door to redrawing district lines in a way that could help the party gain several Republican-held House seats before the 2028 elections, Politico reports.

The proposal would allow Democrats to pursue a more aggressive redistricting strategy in New York’s 26-member congressional delegation, potentially shifting as many as four GOP-held districts into Democratic territory and strengthening the party’s position in a state that remains home to several competitive swing seats.

According to a summary of the plan, Politico reports, the amendment would eliminate the constitutional ban on redrawing district lines in the middle of the decade, permit legislative approval of new maps by a simple majority vote, and remove existing language that prohibits drawing districts to benefit political parties.

Democratic leaders had spent weeks weighing two possible approaches—one that would permit modest revisions to district boundaries and another that would allow for far more substantial changes. Ultimately, lawmakers chose to advance a single amendment designed to provide maximum flexibility for future redistricting efforts. Legislative leaders intend to vote on the measure before the current session concludes Thursday.

Even if approved by lawmakers, the amendment would still need voter approval in a statewide referendum scheduled for November 2027. Both parties expect that campaign to become one of the most expensive political battles in the country, with any approved changes taking effect ahead of the 2028 elections.

The move represents New York Democrats’ official entry into a growing national struggle over congressional maps, one that could significantly influence the balance of power in Washington for years to come.

“New York cannot afford to stand still. We cannot ignore the reality that Republicans have repeatedly sought to undermine democracy through various attempts to gain political advantage,” New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said in a statement. “At a time when democracy is under attack across the country, we have a responsibility to protect all voters including the minority communities and ensure that every New Yorker continues to have a voice.”

The issue has long been a priority for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who has urged Democratic-controlled states to respond more aggressively to Republican redistricting efforts nationwide. Jeffries previously tasked Congressman Joe Morelle with coordinating the effort alongside state lawmakers.

The battle over congressional maps has intensified across the country during the past year. Democratic redistricting efforts have faced setbacks in some states, while court rulings elsewhere have created opportunities for Republicans to strengthen their position. With the GOP currently holding an estimated 10-seat advantage attributable to redistricting, Democrats view New York as one of their strongest opportunities to regain ground.

At present, Democrats hold a 19-7 edge in New York’s congressional delegation. Revised district boundaries could place several Republican incumbents in jeopardy, including one of the two Republican-held seats on Long Island, the Staten Island district represented by Nicole Malliotakis, the Hudson Valley seat held by Mike Lawler, and one of several Republican districts in upstate New York.

Republicans have already signaled that they intend to fight the proposal aggressively.

“Bring it on, we will fight back, and we will win,” Lawler said about the likely referendum. “New York Democrats, who proclaim to want to protect democracy — they only protect it when it’s convenient, when it suits their purpose, when it helps them gain power. They don’t care one iota about the integrity of our elections when it serves their purpose.”

The amendment would significantly restructure the constitutional framework governing redistricting. While districts designed to weaken minority voting power would remain prohibited, the language would be revised to align with recent Supreme Court rulings. Requirements that districts remain geographically connected would also stay in place.

At the same time, the proposal would remove language prohibiting maps drawn “for the purpose of favoring or disfavoring incumbents or other particular candidates or political parties.” Eliminating that restriction would allow lawmakers to pursue a much more aggressive partisan redistricting strategy than New York has attempted in previous decades.

The state’s independent redistricting commission would remain intact under the proposal. However, lawmakers point to the commission’s first experience in 2022, when an even split between Democratic and Republican commissioners led to deadlock and a prolonged legal battle that ultimately resulted in a judge throwing out Democratic maps and drawing new congressional lines himself.

Although the commission would continue to operate during the next redistricting cycle in 2032, the Legislature would gain clearer authority to step in and draw maps if the commission again reaches an impasse. The proposal would also impose stricter deadlines to reduce the likelihood of court challenges disrupting elections after campaigns have already begun.

Another major change would make it easier for lawmakers to approve new district maps. Under the amendment, simple majorities would be sufficient, replacing the higher voting thresholds currently required.

Democrats remain mindful of the political risks. In 2021, voters rejected a previous redistricting-related amendment following a well-financed campaign led by the Conservative Party. Party leaders acknowledge that convincing voters to focus on a constitutional amendment during an off-year election presents a significant challenge.

“All parties have to come together and determine what the strategy is going to be so that voters know about the referendum and favor it,” said state Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs.

When asked whether a major financial effort would be required to persuade voters, Jacobs replied, “I believe so, yes.”

Republicans, meanwhile, view the fight as critical to preserving one of their few remaining areas of influence in New York politics. Since losing control of the State Senate in 2018, the party’s congressional districts—particularly in the politically competitive suburbs surrounding New York City—have become some of its most important strongholds.

“It’s pretty clear that this is not motivated by good-government notions,” former Republican Congressman John Faso said.

Democrats counter that the changing national landscape leaves them little choice but to adapt if they hope to remain competitive in future congressional battles.

“The world has changed dramatically on the issue of redistricting just in the last couple of years,” state Senate Deputy Leader Mike Gianaris said. “You have some states jumping in off-cycle to draw new lines, you have the Supreme Court upending the Voting Rights Act. It’s critical that states like New York don’t keep ourselves out of the conversation and give us an opportunity to be responsive to what’s happening.”

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Monday that he had signed a tongue-in-cheek executive order temporarily “repealing bedtimes” so that children across the city can stay up and watch the New York Knicks compete in the NBA Finals.

Mamdani revealed the move in a post on X, presenting it as a lighthearted celebration of the Knicks’ long-awaited return to the league’s championship series.

“Today, I signed an Executive Order temporarily repealing bedtimes in the City of New York so that kids of all ages can watch our team in the NBA Finals,” Mamdani wrote on the social platform X.

The mayor joked that while many decisions at City Hall involve difficult choices, this one was easy.

“As Mayor, you’re forced to make many difficult decisions,” he added. “This was not one of them. Go Knicks.”

The Knicks have reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. In that appearance, New York fell to the San Antonio Spurs in five games, beginning a dynasty that eventually produced five championships for the Texas franchise over a 15-year period.

This year, the matchup carries a sense of déjà vu, as the Knicks will once again face the Spurs with the NBA championship at stake. New York is seeking its first league title since 1973, when it defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games to capture its second championship in four seasons.

Mamdani, who attended the Knicks’ Game 2 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, also posted a video showing him signing the executive order while surrounded by a group of children.

Before putting pen to paper, the mayor playfully asked the youngsters gathered around him, “Who here was alive in 1999?”

According to a photograph of the order shared by Mamdani, the directive takes effect immediately and will remain in place until the Knicks’ playoff run comes to an end.

The order takes effect “immediately” and “shall not expire until the Knicks complete — and hopefully win — this historic Championship run,” according to a photo of the directive that Mamdani shared.

Adding to the playful nature of the event, seven children placed handprints on the first page of the document.

Young Knicks fans may indeed need extra time before bed if they hope to watch the entire series, as every game in the best-of-seven Finals is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time and will be broadcast nationally on ABC.

San Antonio, which finished the regular season with nine more victories than New York, will host the opening two games of the series on Wednesday and Friday.

The Finals will then shift to Madison Square Garden, where Games 3 and 4 are scheduled for June 8 and June 10. It will mark the first NBA Finals games played at the Garden since 1999.

President Trump, a native New Yorker, said last week that Knicks owner James Dolan had invited him to attend one of the Finals games.

Should the series require additional games, San Antonio would host Game 5 on June 13. If necessary, the Knicks would then host Game 6 on June 16 before a potential winner-take-all Game 7 in Texas.

{Matzav.com}

Dr. Valerie Shoshan, the chief medical officer of the Israel Police and the mother of a soldier who was killed in Gaza, was rescued by police officers Monday evening after protesters surrounded her vehicle during anti-draft demonstrations in Yerushalayim.

According to video footage from the scene, demonstrators encircled Dr. Shoshan’s car, shook it violently, and attempted to reach her while she remained inside. Police forces quickly intervened and extracted her from the area before the confrontation escalated further.

Reports indicated that Dr. Shoshan is the mother of Reserve Staff Sergeant Elisaf Shoshan Hy”d, who was killed during combat operations in Gaza in December 2023 at the age of 23.

The attack drew widespread condemnation, particularly in light of her senior position within the police force and the tremendous personal sacrifice her family made during the war.

The incident took place amid a series of anti-draft protests that erupted across the country on Monday, resulting in major traffic disruptions, clashes with police, and the closure of key transportation routes.

At approximately 5:00 p.m., demonstrators arrived near the Ganot Interchange and blocked Route 4 in both directions. Police officers worked to clear the roadway after protesters allegedly ignored instructions to disperse. A police commander on the scene declared the gathering an unlawful demonstration before crowd-control measures were employed.

Meanwhile, protesters also blocked the entrance to Yerushalayim near the Chords Bridge, and later shut down sections of Begin Boulevard. Demonstrators obstructed traffic lanes, vehicles, and portions of the light rail route, causing significant transportation delays throughout the capital.

Additional protest activity was reported in Tzfas, Pisgat Ze’ev, and several locations in southern Israel. In Pisgat Ze’ev, dozens of demonstrators gathered near the home of Traffic Division Commander ניצב Chaim Shmueli. Police used stun grenades to disperse the crowd. Similar road blockages were reported elsewhere in the country.

During the unrest, a pedestrian was struck by a motorcycle near the demonstration on Route 4 close to the Ganot Interchange. Magen David Adom emergency personnel treated the victim before transporting him to Sheba Medical Center. The man, approximately 25 years old, was reported to be in serious condition but conscious, suffering injuries to his head and limbs.

{Matzav.com}

Anti-draft demonstrations expanded across Israel on Monday, bringing widespread traffic disruptions, road closures, and clashes with police. While the protests were sparked by opposition to the arrest of yeshiva bochurim classified as draft evaders, much of the demonstrators’ anger was directed at the police, whom they accuse of playing an increasingly active role in enforcing the arrests.

Large-scale protests were reported at numerous locations throughout the country, including central Israel, Yerushalayim, the north, and the south. Demonstrators blocked major roads and transportation routes, creating significant delays and forcing police to deploy substantial forces to restore order.

A short time before publication, protesters gathered near the Ganot Interchange and shut down Route 4 in both directions. Police officers attempted to clear the roadway after demonstrators allegedly refused orders to disperse. A police commander at the scene declared the gathering an unlawful protest before crowd-control measures were employed.

At the same time, protesters blocked the entrance to Yerushalayim near the Chords Bridge. Later, portions of Begin Boulevard were also closed. Demonstrators sat and stood on the roadways, obstructed traffic, and blocked sections of the light rail route, leading to major transportation disruptions throughout the city.

Additional demonstrations took place in Tzfas, Pisgat Ze’ev, and southern Israel. In Pisgat Ze’ev, dozens of protesters gathered near the residence of Traffic Division Commander ניצב Chaim Shmueli. Police used stun grenades in an effort to disperse the crowd.

Leaders and activists affiliated with the Yerushalmi faction directed much of their criticism at Shmueli. According to their claims, he significantly expanded upon the police commissioner’s directive requiring traffic officers to detain individuals classified as draft evaders until Military Police personnel arrive. Protest organizers alleged that what was initially intended as a limited enforcement measure has evolved into an aggressive policy targeting bnei yeshiva.

Sources associated with the faction claimed that Shmueli has been particularly eager to increase arrests and argued that police are no longer merely maintaining public order but have become active participants in the military effort against yeshiva bochurim.

Road blockages were also reported in southern Israel. Netivei Israel announced that the Netivot Junction on Route 25 had been closed to traffic. Police said an unlawful protest was taking place there and that officers from the Netivot station, Southern District personnel, and Border Police units were preparing to disperse demonstrators and reopen the roads.

Throughout the protests, demonstrators chanted “We will die and not enlist.” Footage from multiple locations showed protesters arriving by bus and disembarking at blocked intersections. Large numbers of police officers remained deployed at several sites, but the demonstrations continued into the evening, with disruptions affecting major transportation corridors.

{matzav.com}

A growing standoff between Israel’s police leadership and the chareidi community intensified Monday night as the Forum of Chareidi Mayors reportedly refused to meet with Police Commissioner Dani Levy, insisting that no discussions will take place until authorities halt the arrests of yeshiva bochurim classified as draft evaders.

The development comes amid rising tensions and escalating protests across chareidi communities throughout the country. According to a report by Yoeli Brim on Channel 13 News, the police commissioner’s efforts to open a dialogue with municipal leaders were met with an unequivocal rejection.

The report stated that representatives of the police commissioner reached out over the past day to arrange official meetings with heads of chareidi municipalities. The purpose was to ease tensions on the ground and preserve ongoing cooperation between local authorities and law enforcement in the wake of the widespread anti-draft demonstrations that have disrupted transportation routes and other locations around Israel.

Despite those efforts, chareidi municipal leaders reportedly refused to participate in any meetings and set a clear condition for renewing contact with the police. Sources familiar with the discussions said the Forum of Chareidi Mayors informed police officials that no meetings, coordination channels, or cooperative discussions would be held as long as arrests of yeshiva bochurim deemed draft evaders continue.

The demand places the mayors in direct opposition to existing legal directives requiring police to transfer such detainees to military authorities.

Earlier in the day, Beitar Illit Mayor Meir Rubinstein, who also serves as chairman of the Forum of Chareidi Local Authorities, sent a letter to Commissioner Levy announcing that chareidi municipalities would suspend cooperation with the police under current circumstances.

“We are aware of the severe consequences of such a decision, but if the police have decided to cooperate with the irresponsible conduct of the Attorney General, then the responsibility rests on your shoulders.”

The confrontation follows the continued detention of chareidi draft evaders by police officers acting under instructions issued by the Attorney General’s office, which directs law enforcement to transfer such individuals to the Military Police. Those arrests prompted the sharp response from Rubinstein and other municipal leaders.

In a joint letter to the police commissioner, the mayors and heads of local councils explained their position in strong terms.

“We are turning to you, with great sorrow and deep pain, regarding the steps we are now taking, in order to clarify the situation into which you have placed us with the continued arrests of Torah learners.”

The letter accused police of targeting bnei yeshiva and damaging relations with the chareidi public.

“The current situation, in which the police have become an enemy of the chareidi sector and are carrying out a hunt for yeshiva students in city streets and on highways, does not allow us, unfortunately, to continue municipal cooperation with the police.”

The municipal leaders went on to announce a broad range of measures that could be implemented if the situation remains unchanged.

“Accordingly, we intend to announce the cessation of cooperation between the authorities and the Israel Police, including the cancellation of all existing agreements, including the allocation of municipal buildings for police stations, the cancellation of community policing, the cancellation and freezing of all existing cooperative programs—including City Without Violence, welfare initiatives, and other important projects. And above all, a declaration by the rabbonim prohibiting any connection between the police and the leadership of the sector.”

{Matzav.com}

A legal battle that began when an Orthodox Jewish resident sought to host a small Shabbos minyan in his home has reached the doorstep of the U.S. Supreme Court, with attorneys arguing that local officials unlawfully targeted religious practice and treated a private minyan as though it were a commercial shul.

The dispute dates back five years, when Daniel Grand invited a group of friends to daven together in his home. According to Grand, the city of University Heights, Ohio informed him that he would need the same type of permit required for a shul or church in order to host the gathering. He later alleged that city officials withheld tax benefits, had police monitor his neighborhood, and conducted a public hearing that his attorneys say reflected hostility toward Orthodox Jewish religious observance.

On Thursday, lawyers from Alliance Defending Freedom and the law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe submitted a petition urging the Supreme Court to hear Grand’s challenge against the city and review the lower courts’ rulings.

The appeal comes after a federal district court dismissed Grand’s lawsuit in 2024, a decision later upheld by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Grand’s legal team argues that courts in different parts of the country have reached conflicting conclusions on similar issues and that the Supreme Court should resolve those differences.

Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal organization that has been involved in several major Supreme Court cases, is representing Grand in the matter. The group has played a prominent role in a number of religious-liberty cases over the years.

Grand, an Orthodox Jew, sought to host a minyan in his home, a practice common in many frum communities.

Court filings indicate that city officials learned of Grand’s invitation to friends for a planned January 2021 minyan before it took place. The city subsequently sent him a cease-and-desist order directing him to stop using his residence as a “place of religious assembly” unless he first obtained a special-use permit. Under local zoning regulations, such permits are generally required for houses of worship operating within residential neighborhoods.

Grand has maintained throughout the case that he was never attempting to establish a shul. Rather, he says he simply wished to host a small Shabbos minyan in his home, something observant Jews commonly do.

As a result of the city’s position, Grand canceled the gathering and submitted a permit application. Court records indicate that 195 local residents signed a petition opposing the request. The matter was later discussed during a Planning Commission meeting conducted over Zoom in March 2021.

According to reports at the time, the virtual hearing lasted more than three hours and attracted as many as 126 participants. During the meeting, Grand explained that the minyan would remain small, would not involve cars, would not expand beyond its original scope, and would be attended only by men who could walk there. He also assured neighbors that the gathering would not create safety or quality-of-life concerns.

One resident, Christopher Cooney, questioned whether the minyan was truly private and noted that Grand had listed his address on a website used by Jewish travelers seeking nearby minyanim. Grand’s attorneys also told the Supreme Court that some residents submitted written objections, including one stating, “I am not Jewish, and I do not want our neighborhood labeled as Jewish.”

The Planning Commission ultimately voted 3-2 to postpone a decision and requested additional information before holding another hearing. Before that could occur, however, Grand withdrew his application after concluding that obtaining the permit would effectively require his residence to be reclassified as a house of worship, preventing his family from continuing to live there.

“Paradoxically, the only way for Grand to pray with friends at his home was to convert his home to a commercial space and move his family,” the brief notes.

After Grand withdrew the application, his attorneys claim the city intensified its actions against him. According to the lawsuit, the mayor announced that the cease-and-desist order would remain in effect and encouraged neighbors to report any “activities consistent with those in a house of assembly.” Grand further alleges that police regularly patrolled the area to monitor compliance.

His legal team also contends that city officials repeatedly failed to collect his garbage and improperly cited his property for housing violations, actions they claim were used as justification for withholding occupancy approvals and tax abatements.

Although University Heights initially declined to respond to the Supreme Court petition, the Court later directed the city to file a response.

In its submission, the city argued that Grand was never prohibited from davening in his home and noted that no enforcement action was ever taken against him. The city also maintains that housing inspections found no violations and points to Grand’s own statement when withdrawing the application — “I do not wish to operate a house of worship as is defined under the zoning ordinance, in the privacy of my home” — as evidence that the zoning regulations may never have applied to his situation at all. According to the city, Grand abandoned the process before officials ever determined whether a permit was actually necessary.

“Every American has the right to host a prayer gathering in his home, and he certainly doesn’t need a city permit to do so,” said John Bursch, senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom. “The city’s actions underscore a troubling trend of weaponizing zoning laws against people of faith while allowing other gatherings of the same size, like book clubs or poker nights, to meet without issue.”

Grand’s attorneys argue that the case reflects a broader nationwide issue. They note that the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, enacted unanimously by Congress in 2000, was passed after lawmakers found what they described as widespread discrimination against religious institutions in zoning and land-use decisions. The Supreme Court filing cites similar disputes involving Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Buddhist groups in communities across the country.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz declared Monday night that Israel is “definitely not” operating under a ceasefire in Lebanon, warning that if Hezbollah continues firing at Israel, the IDF will launch powerful strikes against Beirut. He also revealed that more than 2 billion shekels have been allocated to combat the growing drone threat, with no budgetary limits imposed on the effort.

Katz made the remarks during an appearance on Channel 14’s “The Patriots,” just hours after President Donald Trump announced what he described as a ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Hezbollah. Katz rejected that characterization, stating that Israel remains fully prepared to escalate military operations if attacks continue.

Addressing the drone threat that has increasingly challenged Israeli defenses, Katz said Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu had instructed officials that funding would not be restricted in efforts to find solutions. He said both immediate and long-term technological measures are being developed to reduce the danger posed by enemy drones. He also praised residents of northern Israel for their resilience, saying their determination has enabled the government to continue its efforts to eliminate the threats facing the region.

Opening the interview, Katz highlighted the IDF’s recent achievements in Lebanon and stressed the importance of preserving Israel’s freedom to operate militarily throughout the country.

“We are operating in Lebanon with tremendous force. First and foremost, the soldiers—their heroism is extraordinary,” Katz said. “We must preserve two things: freedom of action inside Lebanon and the ability to eliminate terrorists and destroy infrastructure. We have that capability, and it was demonstrated by the recapture of the Beaufort fortress for the first time in 26 years. The Golani Brigade raised the Israeli flag over the Beaufort. Some are trying to downplay it, but it won’t help them. It has strategic significance on the ground and enormous symbolic importance in Hezbollah’s defeat.”

Katz emphasized that Israel’s approach toward Hezbollah has fundamentally changed and that there is no intention of halting military operations unless complete quiet is restored.

“The answer is no, we are definitely not in a ceasefire,” Katz said. “The Prime Minister and I committed that we would not allow harm to come to our communities, and we said all along that the Dahieh district would be treated the same as the communities of the north. If there is no quiet here, there will be no quiet there. Just because of our statement this morning, more than 600,000 residents evacuated from Dahieh because they take us seriously. They understand that if the shooting does not stop, we will strike Dahieh, evacuate it, and attack it with full force.”

The defense minister also described the extensive destruction inflicted on Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon as part of what he called Operation Silver Mortar.

“Today we control more than 600 square kilometers inside southern Lebanon,” Katz said. “The IDF is operating there with great strength, and all the villages along the border have been dismantled. We have already destroyed more than 10,000 of the 15,000 buildings there, and we will continue until the last house is destroyed. From our perspective, these are Hezbollah outposts, and we are demolishing them with engineering equipment and explosives. The objective is clear: to neutralize Hezbollah’s power, remove all terrorists from southern Lebanon, and continue acting against every threat the organization creates, with the backing of the President of the United States.”

Turning to the drone and UAV threat, Katz said Israel is investing heavily in new technologies to counter enemy systems that have proven difficult to intercept.

“A new challenge has emerged with fiber-guided drones that operate below the current technological threshold,” he said. “The Prime Minister said there is no budget limit, and more than 2 billion shekels have been allocated to find immediate tactical solutions. We will be the first country in the world to successfully defeat this threat. Every soldier who is injured breaks our hearts. We have an incredible nation and soldiers who are determined to move forward. When we are advancing and maneuvering, our achievements and protection are greater than when we remain stationary, and that is why we decided to reach every place necessary in Lebanon.”

Katz also addressed the situation in Gaza and Yehuda and Shomron, saying Hamas will not be permitted to govern Gaza in any capacity.

“Hamas will not control Gaza, neither civilly nor militarily. The real solution in Gaza is emigration. Most Gazans want to emigrate, and we are in discussions to renew that process,” he said.

Discussing future settlement plans, Katz referenced several former communities evacuated during the 2005 disengagement.

“As for settlement, Dugit, Nisanit, and Elei Sinai—at the appropriate time, Nahal pioneer groups will be able to move there,” he said. “We have already restored the communities in northern Shomron, approved 103 new communities, and the entire map will look different.”

Toward the end of the interview, Katz was asked about the controversy surrounding MK Tally Gotliv. He said he signed a secrecy order only after being told it was necessary to protect state security and members of the Shin Bet.

“The head of the Shin Bet came to me and said, ‘You must sign in order to prevent harm to state security,’ so I signed,” Katz explained.

He then sharply criticized the legal proceedings against Gotliv and pledged support for efforts to preserve her parliamentary immunity.

“The trial they want to conduct against her is disgraceful and discriminatory, and we will provide support to prevent the removal of her immunity,” Katz said. “To come and say that I am afraid of Gali Baharav-Miara? I’m not afraid of Khamenei and Sinwar, I’m not afraid of Miara, and certainly not of Tally Gotliv. All our energy should be directed outward against our enemies and toward supporting those who are doing the work.”

{Matzav.com}

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President Donald Trump brushed aside reports Monday that Iran may be preparing to suspend negotiations with the United States, saying he is not concerned if the discussions come to an end and suggesting the talks have lost momentum.

Speaking in a phone interview with CNBC, Trump made clear that the prospect of the negotiations collapsing does not trouble him.

“I don’t care if they’re over, honestly.”

Emphasizing his lack of concern, Trump said he had little interest in whether the diplomatic process continues.

“I really don’t care. I couldn’t care less,” Trump said in a phone interview, adding that the negotiations “started to get very boring.”

Trump’s remarks followed reports that Iranian officials were considering halting discussions with Washington and exploring steps to shut down the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli military actions targeting the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist organization.

When asked whether Tehran had officially notified him that the talks were ending, Trump said no such communication had been received.

“No, they haven’t.”

He went on to suggest that the negotiations may have simply run their course.

“If they’re over, they’re over. … Frankly, I thought they started to get very boring,” Trump said.

The president also noted that he intended to discuss developments in Lebanon with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Later in the day, Trump revealed on Truth Social that he had already spoken with Netanyahu and described the conversation as productive.

“There will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back,” Trump wrote.

Trump further stated that intermediaries had facilitated communication with Hezbollah and claimed both sides had agreed to halt hostilities.

Trump also said he communicated with Hezbollah “through highly placed Representatives,” adding that “they agreed that all shooting will stop — That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel.”

Despite reports of a possible breakdown in diplomacy, Trump later signaled that discussions with Tehran remain active.

In a separate post, Trump said, “Talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

The president also rejected concerns that tensions with Iran could trigger higher oil prices, predicting instead that energy costs would soon move sharply lower.

“I think the oil will be dropping like a rock in the very near, you know, the very near distance,” Trump said.

Trump argued that Americans recognize the stakes involved in preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and are willing to absorb short-term economic costs if necessary.

“Once you explain that this is all about Iran having a nuclear weapon, people are willing to pay a little bit more,” he said.

He also expressed confidence that gasoline prices would soon decline.

In separate remarks to NBC News on Monday, Trump said the White House had not received any official notification from Iran regarding a suspension of negotiations.

“It’s an appropriate thing to say, because they’re better negotiators than they are fighters,” Trump said. “But they haven’t informed us of that.”

Trump also minimized the significance of the reports, indicating that even if negotiations were paused, it would not necessarily lead to military escalation.

“It doesn’t mean we’re going to go and start dropping bombs all over there,” Trump said. “We’ll keep the blockade.”

{Matzav.com}

Roshei yeshiva, rabbanim, and admorim packed the Keter HaRimon hall in Bnei Brak on Sunday night for an emergency asifa for Keren Olam HaTorah, raising a unified cry over what the gedolim repeatedly described as the gravest assault on olam haTorah in Eretz Yisroel in decades.

The asifa came amidst the combined crises of the gezeiras hagiyus, the slashing of yeshiva budgets and the financial choking of thousands of bnei Torah and avreichim, and served as a call to global Jewry to carry a piece of the burden of holding up the limud haTorah of Eretz Yisroel.

The pain of the families, more than the politics, set the tone from the opening words. HaRav Dov Landau shlit”a expressed the daily fear that has taken hold inside the homes of bnei Torah. Standing before the assembled gedolim, he spoke of the trembling of the wife of the avreich and the mother of the ben yeshiva every time her husband or son walks out the door, dreading that the military police will seize him.

“Our heart aches from the pain of their families,” Rav Landau said, laying out the new blunt reality: the responsibility for the kiyum of the olam haTorah no longer sits on the shoulders of the gevirim alone. Every Yid, he said, must accept the responsibility on their shoulders, to whatever extent they can.

Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, added that the days of hoping the situation would reverse itself in a year or two are over. The old yeshiva budgets are not coming back, he said, and the framework in which a handful of wealthy supporters carried the olam haTorah simply cannot stretch to meet the moment.

“Every Yid must be a shutaf in Keren Olam HaTorah,” Rav Hirsch declared. He laid out the math openly: the cost of sponsoring a single avreich for one month is $276. We ask every Yid to, at a minimum, sponsor a month, either at once or spread across a year at $23 a month. Those who can give more, the Rosh Yeshiva said, should give more. And if one can sponsor an avrech for a full year at $276 per month, Hakodosh Baruch Hu should shower you with blessings.

Harav Meir Tzvi Bergman shlit”a told the assembled gedolim and the tzibbur that no threat, of any kind, will move klal Yisrael to give up a single bochur, and urged tefillos for the gedolim who are set to travel to America in the coming days on behalf of Keren Olam Hatorah.

The Sanzer Rebbe shlit”a said that the gezeira against limud haTorah is the inner milchamah of the geulah, the war waged by those who want to uproot Torah from Klal Yisroel.

“When Yidden support lomdei Torah, the money takes on a tzurah of kedusha,” the Rebbe said. He invoked the Noam Elimelech on the passuk “v’tzarta hakesef b’yadcha,” explaining that the dollars given to hold up olam haTorah become, in shamayim, a kli of taharah that is mevarech both the giver and his home.

By the end of the kinus, the gedolim had set a course. A delegation of roshei yeshiva and gedolei Torah is preparing to leave for the United States next week, in what marks the third such mission of askanim and gedolim on behalf of the keren since the gezeiros began. The earlier missions, the gedolim noted, were met with support from American Yidden that no one in Eretz Yisroel had dared expect, with hundreds of millions of dollars flowing to keep yeshivos and kollelim open and to keep avreichim learning while the state walked away from its obligations.

Now, with the dollar weakened and need growing greater each day, the gedolim are calling for every Yid to take on a share of the burden.

{Matzav.com}

Israel moved a step closer to new national elections early Tuesday after the Knesset approved legislation to dissolve itself, setting in motion a process that could send voters to the polls as early as September.

The proposal to disband the 25th Knesset passed its first reading in the plenum with overwhelming support, receiving the backing of 106 lawmakers and drawing no opposition votes.

Following the vote, coalition chairman Ofir Katz, who introduced the legislation, outlined the anticipated election schedule.

“the projected timeframe for the elections is between September 8 and October 20.”

Having passed its initial reading, the bill will now return to the House Committee, where it will be prepared for the second and third readings required before becoming law. The official election date will not be determined until those final stages receive approval from the Knesset.

The vote comes on the heels of a session held two weeks ago, when lawmakers gave preliminary approval to 13 separate bills seeking to dissolve the Knesset. Those measures were submitted by members of both the coalition and nearly all opposition parties.

Although opposition factions backed all of the dissolution proposals, coalition leaders chose to move forward only with their own bill and a similar measure submitted by the Blue and White party, formally launching the political campaign season and beginning the march toward a national election.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced that Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu agreed to call off a planned military operation in Beirut following a direct conversation between the two leaders, while expressing optimism that the latest cessation of hostilities could endure indefinitely.

In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump said he personally urged Netanyahu not to proceed with a major attack in the Lebanese capital and thanked him for reversing course.

“I had a conversation with Bibi Netanyahu today, asking him not to go into a major raid of Beirut, Lebanon. He turned his Troops around. Thank you Bibi!” wrote Trump in a post on Truth Social.

Trump also stated that he had been in contact with individuals representing Hezbollah and said those discussions resulted in a commitment to halt attacks against Israel.

He added, “I also had a conversation with Representatives of the Leaders of Hezbollah, and they agreed to stop shooting at Israel, and its soldiers. Likewise, Israel agreed to stop shooting at them. Let’s see how long that lasts – Hopefully it will be for ETERNITY!”

Earlier in the day, Trump revealed details of his phone call with Netanyahu and said both sides had agreed to stop military actions against one another.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump declared that Israeli forces would not move forward with an operation in Beirut and claimed Hezbollah had likewise agreed to suspend its attacks.

“I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back. Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop – That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel,” Trump wrote in the initial post.

Following his discussion with Trump, Netanyahu released a statement outlining Israel’s position regarding Hezbollah’s continued aggression.

The prime minister stressed that Israel remains prepared to target terrorist infrastructure in Beirut if attacks continue, while making clear that ongoing military operations in southern Lebanon will proceed.

“I spoke this evening with President Trump and told him that if Hezbollah does not cease attacking our cities and civilians, Israel will strike terrorist targets in Beirut. This position remains unchanged. At the same time, the IDF will continue operating in southern Lebanon as planned,” Netanyahu said.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has ignited a fierce battle within Democratic ranks by throwing his support behind a socialist challenger seeking to unseat longtime Congressman Adriano Espaillat, according to political insiders.

The mayor’s endorsement of Darializa Avila Chevalier, a fellow member of the Democratic Socialists of America, in the June 23 Democratic primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District is being viewed as part of a broader effort by Mamdani and his allies to reshape and eventually dominate the Democratic Party from within.

“In New York City, it’s a civil war in the Democratic Party,” said campaign consultant Evan Roth Smith.

According to Roth Smith, Mamdani’s decision to back Avila Chevalier against Espaillat will serve as a key measure of how much influence the mayor and the DSA can wield in future elections throughout the city.

“The 13th District is an early experiment on how far Mamdani’s popularity goes,” Roth Smith said.

The move has drawn criticism even from prominent Democratic leaders. State Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs publicly questioned the wisdom of challenging an established incumbent.

“I think it’s a mistake. When you have a good incumbent, stick with him,” Jacobs said.

Praising Espaillat’s record in office, Jacobs added that many voters have expressed frustration with Mamdani’s intervention in the race.

“Espaillat is an excellent congressman,” he said. “I’ve heard from a lot people in the Hispanic community and in general who are upset about him going against Espaillat.”

The 13th District, which includes large Hispanic, Latino, and Black populations, has traditionally not been viewed as fertile ground for Democratic Socialists. That contrasts with the neighboring 7th and 10th Congressional Districts, areas critics have dubbed the “Commie Corridor,” where progressive challengers have found greater success and where contentious Democratic primaries are also underway.

Still, demographic shifts have begun to alter the district’s political landscape, with younger residents who supported Mamdani increasingly moving into the area and potentially providing a receptive audience for his preferred candidate.

Mamdani carried the 13th District during both the Democratic mayoral primary and the general election, defeating Andrew Cuomo in the area despite Espaillat’s earlier endorsement of the former governor. Following Mamdani’s victory in the primary, Espaillat later endorsed him.

Avila Chevalier has built a reputation for inflammatory rhetoric, directing criticism at law enforcement, establishment Democrats, and the United States itself through a series of social media posts.

During President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign, she referred to him as a “rapist” and “war criminal.” She also criticized Sen. Bernie Sanders, a favorite among many progressives, over what she described as his “liberal Zionism” after he voted present on legislation involving military aid to Israel.

In another controversial online post from 2019, she wrote: “I forgot to get napkins so I just wiped my hand on the American flag behind me,” accompanied by a smiling emoji.

Mamdani has also become involved in another congressional contest, endorsing Democratic Socialist Assemblywoman Claire Valdez in the race for the open 7th District seat representing waterfront communities in Brooklyn and Queens.

That seat is being vacated by retiring Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, who has instead endorsed Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso in the Democratic primary against Valdez.

In the neighboring 10th District, Mamdani has likewise backed former City Comptroller Brad Lander in his challenge against incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman, another district where DSA-aligned candidates have historically performed well.

“He’s going to be mayor for four years and maybe eight. They believe in the long game,” Roth Smith said, referring to the far-left group.

Roth Smith argued that Mamdani’s efforts are partly driven by frustration over Albany politics. He noted that the mayor failed to secure all of the tax increases he sought during budget negotiations with Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers, making it advantageous for him to elect more allies to state and federal office.

Jacobs, however, accused Mamdani of undermining party unity by targeting members of New York’s congressional delegation.

“We should not be fomenting dissent in the primaries when we have so much at stake in the general election,” Jacobs said.

Describing the endorsements as a show of political strength, Jacobs said the mayor is attempting to demonstrate his growing influence across the city.

“It’s an effort by Mamdani to flex his muscles in the city,” he said.

“We’ll see how that turns out.”

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge has directed the National Park Service to allow a liberal activist organization to continue displaying a controversial “86 47” flag near the National Mall, ruling that the slogan represents protected political expression rather than a threat against President Donald Trump.

The decision came Monday when U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss granted a two-week temporary restraining order in favor of Accountability Now USA, a group that has been staging anti-Trump protests near the federal courthouse on Constitution Avenue for months.

At the center of the legal dispute was the organization’s use of a flag bearing the phrase “86 47,” a slogan that has generated national attention in recent weeks after former FBI Director James Comey faced scrutiny over a social media post featuring seashells arranged to form the numbers “8647.”

Comey subsequently removed the post, issued an apology, and insisted that he never intended the image to be interpreted as a call for violence.

In his opinion, Moss dismissed the government’s claim that the flag constituted a threat directed at the president.

“The Court does not doubt that political violence is on the rise and that it poses a grave threat not just to the targets of the threats but to the country as a whole. But the enormity of that problem does not change the meaning of Plaintiff’s speech, which by any reasonable measure merely advocated for the President’s impeachment and removal from office — that is, ‘to throw [him] out,'” Moss wrote.

Moss determined that Accountability Now USA was using the phrase as a political statement advocating Trump’s removal through constitutional means, specifically impeachment, rather than as a call for physical harm.

The judge further concluded that the slang term “86” lacks a single universally accepted definition and that the group’s message did not rise to the level of incitement or encouragement of immediate unlawful conduct.

As part of the ruling, Moss included a definition from Merriam-Webster, observing that the phrase “eighty-six” has been in use since the 1930s and is commonly understood to mean removing, rejecting, or getting rid of something.

Attorneys representing the Justice Department argued that the slogan had taken on a more ominous meaning following a May 24 confrontation near the White House in which an armed individual was fatally shot by law enforcement officers.

Government lawyers also cited growing concerns surrounding political violence and threats aimed at elected officials and public figures.

Court records indicate that Secret Service agents questioned protesters about the meaning of the display. According to those filings, demonstrators told investigators that they wanted Trump removed from office but had no desire to see him physically harmed.

While acknowledging the government’s broader concerns, Moss maintained that those fears did not change the plain meaning of the group’s expression.

Under the judge’s order, the National Park Service must allow the display to remain in place for the next two weeks while the legal challenge continues to move through the courts.

{Matzav.com}

MK Meir Porush delivered a fiery address in the Knesset on Monday, warning Police Commissioner Danny Levy that continued arrests of yeshiva students could lead to a complete breakdown in cooperation between police and Chareidi municipalities across Israel.

Porush pointed to a letter sent earlier in the day by the chairman of the Forum of Chareidi Local Authorities, Meir Rubinstein, informing the police that Chareidi municipalities were suspending cooperation with law enforcement over what they described as the targeting of Torah learners.

“Today, nine local authority heads in the State of Israel placed a bright red warning sign before the Inspector General of the Israel Police,” Porush began his speech.

He said the message conveyed by the municipal leaders was unmistakable and accused police leadership of pushing the country toward instability.

“A warning sign carrying a clear message: You, the Police Commissioner, are leading the country toward anarchy. The Forum of Haredi Local Authority Heads, led by the Mayor of Beitar Illit, Rabbi Meir Rubinstein, sent a letter to the Commissioner informing him that they will have no choice but to cancel all cooperation with the police.”

Porush emphasized that municipal leaders did not arrive at the decision lightly and understood the far-reaching consequences that could result from severing ties with the police.

“But when the police have effectively become the enforcement arm of the infamous Attorney General-a bureaucrat who has decided to inflame tensions and trample every reasonable understanding-we have no choice but to fight back with full force.

“The reality in which Israeli police officers, instead of combating the rising crime in the streets, are occupied with hunting yeshiva students-married scholars and young men whose only offense is studying Torah-is a distorted reality that has no place in a properly functioning state.”

Continuing his criticism, Porush argued that law enforcement has alienated an entire sector of the population and jeopardized years of cooperation between police and Chareidi communities.

“In a country governed by Jews, the police have turned themselves into the enemy of an entire public simply because it studies Torah-a public numbering more than one million people over the age of 18. In doing so, they are erasing decades of coordinated work, daily coexistence, and basic trust that was an asset to all of us. Our message today to the Police Commissioner is sharp and clear: the responsibility for dismantling this framework of cooperation rests solely on your shoulders.”

Porush then issued what he described as a final warning, insisting that the arrests must stop immediately or relations between the police and the Chareidi public would continue to deteriorate.

“There is a final ultimatum here: if these arrests are not stopped immediately, if you do not cease this persecution that is leading the country toward complete anarchy, we will leave you with no foothold in our communities. The Haredi public will not remain silent while its sons are being persecuted, nor will it file reports with a police force that has lost its trust and legitimacy.

“Mr. Commissioner, regaining your senses is your immediate duty-before it becomes too late to turn the clock back,” concluded MK Porush.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF announced Monday evening that Captain Dr. Ori Yosef Silvester, 30, of Tel Aviv, was killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon. Silvester served as a physician in the Shaked Battalion (424) of the Givati Brigade.

The fallen officer was killed during an incident that also left several other Israeli soldiers wounded. According to the IDF, two officers and one soldier sustained serious injuries in the same engagement, while another soldier was moderately wounded.

In addition, two more officers and another soldier suffered light injuries during the incident.

All of the wounded troops were evacuated from the battlefield and transported to hospitals for medical treatment.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu said Monday evening that Israel has not changed its policy toward Hezbollah, responding to President Donald Trump’s claim that he intervened to prevent an Israeli strike in Beirut’s Dahieh district.

In a statement issued after speaking with Trump, Netanyahu stressed that Israel remains prepared to attack Hezbollah targets if the terror group continues launching attacks against Israeli civilians.

“I spoke this evening with President Trump and told him that if Hezbollah does not cease attacking our cities and civilians, Israel will strike terrorist targets in Beirut. This position remains unchanged. At the same time, the IDF will continue operating in southern Lebanon as planned,” Netanyahu said.

Earlier in the day, Trump announced what he described as a breakthrough arrangement involving both Israel and Hezbollah, saying his conversations with representatives from both sides had prevented a further escalation of the conflict.

“I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back. Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop – That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

Later, Lebanese officials released additional details regarding the reported understanding, describing a series of diplomatic contacts involving Washington, Beirut, and Israel 27aimed at preventing a wider conflict.

“As part of the efforts undertaken by the Lebanese government to preserve stability and prevent further escalation in Lebanon, and following a telephone conversation between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Lebanese authorities received confirmation that Hezbollah had agreed to an American proposal providing for a mutual cessation of attacks.

“Under the proposed arrangement, Israel would halt strikes on southern Beirut’s Dahieh district, while Hezbollah would refrain from carrying out attacks against Israel. Subsequently, the ceasefire agreement would be expanded to apply throughout Lebanese territory.”

The Lebanese statement further claimed that Trump personally helped secure Israeli approval for the proposal through additional diplomatic contacts.

“Later, President Donald Trump spoke by telephone with Lebanon’s ambassador to the United States, Nada Mawad, and informed her that he had obtained the agreement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the proposed arrangement. Ambassador Mawad conveyed the results of the discussions to President Aoun, who in turn updated Hezbollah on the details.”

The reported understanding immediately drew criticism from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who urged Netanyahu not to back away from military action against Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut.

“Mr. Prime Minister, you said that a strong prime minister tells the President of the United States ‘yes’ when possible and ‘no’ when necessary,” Ben-Gvir wrote.

Calling for a tougher approach, Ben-Gvir argued that Israel should continue its offensive regardless of American pressure.

He emphasized his position: “This is the time to tell our friend, President Trump, ‘no.’ Now is the time to do what is necessary and required to strike Hezbollah, free the hands of our fighters, and restore security to the north,” Ben-Gvir wrote on his account on X.

The differing statements from Israel, Washington, and Beirut underscored the uncertainty surrounding the reported arrangement, even as diplomatic efforts continue to prevent the fighting from expanding into a broader regional confrontation.

{Matzav.com}

A Utah judge has cleared the way for the public release of new evidence in the murder case involving conservative activist Charlie Kirk, ruling that next month’s preliminary hearing will remain open to cameras and live coverage.

The decision came Monday after attorneys for defendant Tyler Robinson attempted to block media access to the five-day hearing scheduled for July. Prosecutors are expected to use the proceeding to present key evidence against the 23-year-old suspect.

District Judge Tony Graf denied the defense request, allowing journalists to continue covering the case from inside the courtroom.

The prosecution of Robinson has generated widespread public attention and fueled numerous conspiracy theories. Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has consistently advocated for maximum transparency throughout the legal process.

Prosecutors allege that Robinson shot and killed the Turning Point USA founder during a Sept. 10 appearance at Utah Valley University in Orem. They further contend that Robinson later admitted to the killing in text messages sent to his romantic partner.

Defense attorneys argued that prosecutors have improperly influenced public opinion by sensationalizing the case, advancing political narratives, and portraying Robinson negatively in violation of a court order governing pretrial publicity.

Although Judge Graf declined to hold the Provo County District Attorney’s Office in contempt, he scheduled a June 12 hearing where both sides will have an opportunity to present additional arguments on the matter.

Graf also ruled that cameras will be permitted during the highly anticipated July hearing, which is expected to feature some of the prosecution’s strongest and most significant evidence against Robinson.

Defense lawyers have repeatedly maintained that extensive media coverage could prejudice potential jurors and effectively expose them to anti-Robinson messaging before a trial even begins.

The judge disagreed that restricting media access was necessary, noting that much of the information at issue has already entered the public domain and received widespread attention.

“Several methods remain available to protect the defendant’s right to a fair trial, including enlarging the veneer of potential jurors, utilizing detailed juror questionnaires, and conducting thorough voir dire,” Graf said.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced Monday that indirect communications with Hezbollah had resulted in a commitment from the Lebanese terror group to cease attacks against Israel, while Israel, he said, has agreed to cancel plans for additional military action in Lebanon.

According to Trump, he also held discussions with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, after which Israel agreed to pull back forces that had been positioned for a possible operation in southern Lebanon.

If confirmed, the contact would mark an unprecedented development. No sitting U.S. president has ever publicly acknowledged communicating with Hezbollah, either directly or through intermediaries. The organization remains designated as a terrorist group by the United States.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the conversations as productive and said both sides had agreed to step back from further escalation.

“I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

“Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop.”

A Lebanese official told Reuters that Hezbollah conveyed a similar message to Washington through Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. According to the official, the group indicated its willingness to halt attacks on northern Israel if Israel refrains from targeting Beirut and surrounding areas.

The conflict in Lebanon has become the largest regional extension of the ongoing confrontation involving Iran. Since March 2, when Hezbollah began launching rockets and drones at Israel in support of Tehran, Israeli military operations and evacuation directives have displaced more than 1.2 million Lebanese civilians.

The announcement comes amid continued military activity in southern Lebanon. On Saturday, the IDF reported that its forces had captured the historic Beaufort Castle, a fortress dating back approximately 900 years, along with a strategically important ridge overlooking parts of southern Lebanon.

The operation followed one of the most intense days of Hezbollah rocket fire since the ceasefire reached in April. The barrage prompted school closures and other emergency restrictions across parts of northern Israel, underscoring the fragile security situation despite renewed diplomatic efforts.

{Matzav.com}