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A shocking antisemitic display erected in downtown Montreal has triggered outrage across the Jewish world after activists at a pro-Palestinian demonstration hung effigies of a visibly religious Jew along with Israeli leaders from mock gallows in a public square.

The disturbing exhibit appeared Sunday at Phillips Square in the heart of Montreal during a protest organized by the extremist group “Montreal for Palestine,” an organization critics say has openly aligned itself with support for Hamas and armed “resistance.”

Photographs and videos from the protest showed a doll depicting a Jewish man wearing a yarmulka suspended from hanging ropes alongside effigies of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The display immediately sparked fierce condemnation from Jewish organizations and public figures, many of whom warned that the imagery crossed the line from political protest into explicit incitement to hatred and violence against Jews.

According to critics, the protest organizers have repeatedly refused to condemn the October 7 Hamas massacre and have publicly expressed support for armed struggle against Israel.

This time, demonstrators were accused of taking the rhetoric to a far darker level by publicly displaying violent imagery involving a visibly Orthodox Jewish figure together with senior Israeli officials.

The strongest reactions came from the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, commonly known as CIJA, which issued a sharply worded statement condemning the incident.

The organization stressed that the display was not legitimate political discourse or criticism of Israeli policy but rather a blatant act of antisemitism.

In its statement, CIJA said that hanging effigies of Jews in the streets of Montreal revived some of the darkest antisemitic imagery in human history and accused the demonstrators of promoting hatred and fueling an atmosphere of violence and radicalization.

Jewish community leaders also demanded immediate action from Canadian law enforcement authorities, questioning how much further such incidents must escalate before officials begin treating them as serious threats to public safety.

{Matzav.com}

Jewish music singer Lipa Schmeltzer released an unusual clarification video overnight after widespread rumors circulated online claiming that he had become engaged.

The speculation spread rapidly across social media, prompting Schmeltzer to publicly address the reports while attending a wedding performance.

“I just finished performing at the chuppah. I was supposed to stay for the dancing, but I decided to step outside and record this clarification video,” Schmeltzer said in the clip.

According to the singer, he was shocked to discover the volume of messages flooding his phone.

“I opened my phone and discovered hundreds of ‘mazel tov’ messages from people who thought I got engaged. Some of them even claimed they knew who the kallah was,” he said.

Schmeltzer speculated that the rumors may have started because the wife of fellow singer Moti Ilowitz works as a shadchan and people may have connected unrelated details.

“I assume the rumor maybe started because the wife of my friend, singer Moti Ilowitz, is a shadchan, and people connected the dots,” Schmeltzer explained.

The singer then directly denied the reports.

“The rumors are not true. Right now I’m not there yet, and when the Ribbono Shel Olam decides the right time has come, He will find me the perfect zivug, and my followers will be the first to know,” he said.

Concluding the video, Schmeltzer reflected on the rapid spread of online misinformation and the growing role of artificial intelligence in generating false reports.

“We live in a crazy world where there’s artificial intelligence (AI), and anyone can write and invent whatever they want. My rule is that as long as it doesn’t appear in my status, it’s not true,” Schmeltzer said.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

The era of bargain airfare may be coming to an end, as soaring jet fuel prices continue hammering the global airline industry and experts warn that travelers are unlikely to see ticket prices fall anytime soon — even if tensions with Iran ease and the Strait of Hormuz fully reopens.

According to a report published by Mako, aviation industry analysts believe the sharp rise in jet fuel costs has already fundamentally altered airline operating expenses, making prolonged higher fares all but inevitable.

Since the outbreak of fighting and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, the price of jet fuel has nearly doubled. Fuel remains one of the largest expenses for airlines worldwide, meaning the impact is being felt across the industry — from low-cost carriers such as Wizz Air, easyJet, and Ryanair to traditional full-service airlines.

The collapse of American low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines has become a major warning sign for the industry. While the company was already struggling financially, the dramatic increase in fuel prices was reportedly viewed as one of the factors that accelerated its shutdown and led to roughly 17,000 layoffs.

Industry officials estimate that even after shipping routes fully reopen, it could take months before cheaper fuel once again reaches global supply chains and translates into lower ticket prices for consumers.

Current forecasts range from roughly three months under the most optimistic scenarios to as long as 18 months under more pessimistic projections.

In the meantime, airlines are already scaling back operations. Routes that were only marginally profitable before are increasingly becoming unsustainable, leading carriers to reduce flight frequencies and cut seat capacity.

According to aviation analytics company Cirium, airlines removed more than 75,000 flights and approximately 9 million seats from summer schedules during April alone.

The crisis is hitting low-cost carriers especially hard because their business models rely heavily on ultra-cheap fares and narrow profit margins. Ryanair, Wizz Air, and easyJet have all reportedly acknowledged growing financial pressure linked to the war and rising fuel expenses.

For Israeli travelers, the situation is even more complicated. Since the October 7 attacks, many foreign airlines have not fully resumed service to Israel, while the presence of American aerial refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport has reportedly added further congestion and operational disruptions.

Wizz Air is expected to resume only limited operations, easyJet is not expected to return before August, and Ryanair has still not announced a formal return date.

Despite the turmoil, tourism industry officials believe routes to Israel remain profitable for many low-cost carriers and therefore are unlikely to be among the first routes eliminated entirely.

At the same time, the strengthening of the Israeli shekel against the dollar has somewhat softened the financial blow for Israeli passengers by offsetting part of the fare increases.

Still, aviation analysts say the broader picture is becoming increasingly clear: even if a diplomatic agreement with Iran is eventually reached, airfare prices are unlikely to return anytime soon to the levels travelers had become accustomed to in previous years.

Within the industry, many now believe that significantly more expensive flights are rapidly becoming the new normal.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli consumers are beginning to feel a new wave of price hikes on basic dairy products, as supermarket chains across the country raise prices on milk, butter, cheese, and other staples — in some cases by even more than the increases announced by the dairy manufacturers themselves.

Following Shavuos, retail chains started passing the higher costs directly onto shoppers after regulated dairy products already went up in price and new increases from major producers including Tnuva, Tara, Strauss Group, and Gad Dairies began taking effect.

According to a report published by Ynet, Tnuva had announced before Yom Tov that it would increase prices on several products, although some retail chains initially resisted approving the hikes. Now, however, most major chains have already adjusted prices upward on at least some items — and in certain cases consumers are paying increases significantly steeper than those announced by the dairy companies.

Products already affected include white cheese spreads, butter, and shelf-stable milk.

A review found that Tnuva’s 3% and 9% white cheese products in 250-gram containers rose in price at several chains despite Tnuva itself announcing only about a 1.05% increase. In practice, some stores charged consumers far more.

At the חילול שבת AM:PM chain, the price of white cheese reportedly climbed from 5.80 shekels to 6.40 shekels — an increase of roughly 10%. At Wolt Market, the same item rose from 6.20 shekels to 6.50 shekels, nearly a 5% increase. The Victory chain recorded a smaller rise, moving from 6.30 shekels to 6.40 shekels.

Tnuva butter has also become more expensive in many stores. At Victory, the price of a 200-gram package rose from 9.90 shekels to 10.50 shekels — about a 6% jump — even though Tnuva’s own increase stood at 4.8%.

Other chains including Machsanei Hashuk and Super Bareket also raised butter prices, while Keshet Teamim increased the same butter product from 10.50 shekels to 10.90 shekels.

Several chains have additionally started raising prices on shelf-stable milk. Yohananof reportedly increased the price of Tnuva 3% shelf-stable milk from 8.40 shekels to 8.50 shekels, while the online platform of Rami Levy raised the product from 8.50 shekels to 8.60 shekels, although physical branches had not yet implemented the change.

According to Ynet, several chains — including Shufersal, Osher Ad, Salah Dabbah, and most Rami Levy branches — have not yet raised prices broadly. Still, retail officials reportedly acknowledged that additional increases are likely unavoidable and said negotiations with dairy suppliers are still ongoing.

Products from Tara have also begun climbing in price at certain chains, although many stores have not yet passed the increases on to consumers.

At the same time, upcoming price hikes from Strauss and Gad Dairies are scheduled to officially take effect on June 1, though some retailers have already implemented increases ahead of schedule.

At Wolt Market, Strauss Symphony 5% olive cheese rose from 11.90 shekels to 12.90 shekels — an increase of 8.4%. Gad Dairies’ refined Bulgarian cheese also increased there from 29.70 shekels to 30.90 shekels.

The Netiv Hachesed chain also raised prices on a variety of Tara and Strauss products, including Muller yogurt drinks, Tov Taam cheese, and Tara 5% cottage cheese. Strauss Greek yogurt reportedly climbed there by more than 8% as well.

The new increases follow months of announcements by dairy manufacturers regarding updated pricing on both regulated and non-regulated products. Consumers across Israel are now beginning to see the impact directly on store shelves, including on everyday household staples used by nearly every family.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu held a lengthy and highly sensitive phone conversation late Tuesday night focused on rapidly escalating developments involving Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza, as both leaders worked to coordinate policy amid mounting regional instability.

The call took place immediately after Israel’s security cabinet abruptly shortened a meeting that lasted roughly two-and-a-half hours so Netanyahu could speak directly with Trump regarding the evolving military and diplomatic situation across the Middle East.

The conversation reportedly came at a particularly volatile moment following a dramatic assassination attempt targeting senior terror leadership figures in southern areas of the region.

A major portion of the discussion focused on the ongoing diplomatic efforts being led by Washington concerning Iran’s nuclear program and attempts to permanently dismantle Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, Netanyahu told ministers in closed-door meetings that Israel’s strategic flexibility remains closely tied to American policy and stressed the importance of remaining fully aligned with Trump’s broader regional objectives.

While concerns reportedly continue circulating within parts of the Israeli government over possible concessions being discussed during negotiations in Qatar, Trump updated Netanyahu on the current state of the talks and reiterated that the United States would immediately return to military options if Iran failed to agree to a verifiable agreement.

The two leaders also reviewed the expanding military operations along Israel’s northern border, where Israeli ground forces have reportedly continued advancing beyond the so-called “yellow line” in an effort to secure dominant strategic positions overlooking the frontier.

According to sources familiar with the call, the White House reaffirmed strong American support for Israel’s right to defend itself against ongoing rocket attacks and Hezbollah threats.

At the same time, however, American officials reportedly urged caution regarding broader operations inside Lebanon, emphasizing a desire to avoid the total collapse of civilian infrastructure throughout the country.

Trump and members of his foreign policy team reportedly stressed that while the administration supports efforts to weaken and disarm Hezbollah, Washington hopes military operations can continue without turning Beirut into a full-scale war zone that could jeopardize parallel diplomatic efforts underway in the region.

The leaders also discussed the latest developments in Gaza, where Israeli officials confirmed that specialized Israeli air units recently targeted the newly appointed head of Hamas’s local military wing.

During the call, Netanyahu reportedly reiterated that Israel would continue pursuing every individual involved in planning or carrying out the October 7 Hamas massacres.

The conversation concluded with both leaders reaffirming mutual support and coordination as they seek to prevent the current conflict from spiraling into a much wider regional war.

According to sources briefed on the discussion, Trump also expressed strong personal support for Netanyahu’s wartime leadership during the exchange.

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is continuing the anti-Israel rhetoric long associated with his father, issuing a series of inflammatory statements Tuesday describing Israel as a “cancerous tumor” and predicting the destruction of the Jewish state.

Posts published through Khamenei’s official social media accounts included repeated threats against Israel and declarations that the country is nearing collapse.

“The shaken Zionist regime and the cancerous tumor of Israel are approaching the final stages of their wretched existence,” read one post.

A second message added: “By God’s grace – and in accordance with the decisive and forward-looking words of our martyred Leader ten years ago – the Zionist regime will not live to see twenty five years after that date, God willing.”

The language closely echoed years of rhetoric from Mojtaba’s father, Ali Khamenei, who was eliminated earlier this year during joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting Iran.

Ali Khamenei had repeatedly referred to Israel as a “cancerous tumor” and openly called for the destruction of the Jewish state throughout his decades in power.

In 2020, Ali Khamenei sparked international outrage after posting comments invoking the Nazi-era term “Final Solution” in reference to Israel.

Following criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Khamenei later claimed that his use of the phrase referred only to the elimination of the State of Israel and not to Jews themselves.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded sharply Tuesday to Mojtaba Khamenei’s latest statements.

“Sounds familiar. I remember someone with a similar surname who used to say it.”

Sa’ar then mocked the Iranian leader over his recent disappearance from public view following his appointment as supreme leader, adding: “BTW, where are you?”

{Matzav.com}

Former Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan has held a series of meetings in recent years with senior officials from Israel’s Shin Bet and defense establishment as part of ongoing efforts to identify a governing alternative for the Gaza Strip, according to a report aired Tuesday night by Kan News.

Sources familiar with the discussions described Dahlan as “one of the strongest people in Gaza,” despite the fact that he has not lived in the territory for years. According to the report, his influence stems largely from his ability to secure funding and financial backing connected to Gaza affairs.

The latest revelations come after reports earlier Tuesday that Shin Bet chief David Zini met with Dahlan during a recent visit to the United Arab Emirates.

According to Kan News, the meeting was not an isolated encounter but part of a broader and ongoing diplomatic-security track taking place behind the scenes amid international efforts to shape the future of Gaza after the war.

The discussions are reportedly unfolding alongside American efforts — together with former UN envoy and current Peace Council director Nikolay Mladenov — to continue advancing President Donald Trump’s regional initiative and create what officials described as a new political horizon for Gaza.

When asked about reports concerning Zini’s meetings, the Shin Bet declined to address the matter directly, stating only: “We do not comment on the schedule of the head of the service.”

Dahlan, once one of the senior leaders of Fatah, previously headed the Preventive Security apparatus in Gaza before falling out with Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas. He has spent years living in exile in Abu Dhabi and currently serves as an adviser to UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

In July 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that American, Israeli, and Arab officials increasingly viewed Dahlan as a leading candidate to play a major role in governing Gaza in the postwar era.

The report also noted that some regional players view Dahlan as a potential future successor to Abbas within Palestinian leadership circles.

Responding at the time in an interview with Sky News Arabia, Dahlan rejected suggestions that he intended to assume a direct security or executive role.

“I have repeatedly declared my refusal to accept any security, ministerial, or executive role, and I call for the formulation of a realistic and implementable international work plan that will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital,” Dahlan said.

{Matzav.com}

An Indiana university has agreed to pay $225,000 to settle a federal lawsuit brought by a former employee who claimed she was unlawfully fired over a private Facebook post criticizing conservative activist Charlie Kirk following his death.

The settlement, announced Tuesday by the American Civil Liberties Union, resolves a lawsuit filed last year on behalf of Suzanne Swierc against Ball State University president Geoffrey Mearns.

Swierc previously served as Ball State’s director of health promotion and advocacy at the university’s campus in Muncie, Indiana. She was terminated last September after university officials cited a Facebook post she made regarding Kirk’s killing, claiming the comments caused “significant disruption” on campus.

According to the ACLU, the firing violated Swierc’s constitutional protections because the post represented speech made in her capacity as a private citizen on a matter involving public debate and political concern.

Swierc’s firing violated her constitutional rights because she was “speaking as a private citizen on a matter of public concern,” said Stevie Pactor, an ACLU attorney in Indiana.

“The First Amendment does not allow government institutions to retaliate in those circumstances, and this settlement reflects that,” Pactor said in a statement.

Mearns defended the university’s decision in a statement distributed Tuesday to campus leadership and later shared with The Associated Press by a university spokesperson.

According to Mearns, the backlash triggered by Swierc’s social media comments threatened the university’s fundraising efforts and future enrollment numbers. He also argued that the settlement payment was significantly smaller than the projected cost of continuing to fight the lawsuit in court.

Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed by a gunman on September 10 while visiting a university campus in Utah. Prior to his death, Kirk had become one of the country’s most influential conservative youth activists and was widely credited with helping energize younger conservative voters during President Trump’s successful reelection campaign.

Swierc was one of several employees in both government and private-sector positions who lost their jobs after posting online reactions, comments, or memes related to Kirk’s assassination. Her case is also not the first to end in a financial settlement.

Earlier this month, a Florida state agency agreed to pay $485,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a former state biologist who had been fired after reposting a meme claiming Kirk would not care about children killed in school shootings.

In another case earlier this year, Austin Peay State University reinstated a professor and agreed to pay a $500,000 settlement after he sued the school over his firing tied to a social media post sharing a 2023 headline that read: “Charlie Kirk Says Gun Deaths ‘Unfortunately’ Worth it to Keep 2nd Amendment.”

Several other lawsuits involving employees dismissed over comments related to Kirk’s death are still pending.

In the Facebook post at the center of the Ball State case, Swierc referred to Kirk’s killing as a “tragedy,” while also criticizing his rhetoric and public influence.

She wrote that the killing was a “reflection of the violence, fear, and hatred he sowed.” She also added: “If you think Charlie Kirk was a wonderful person, we can’t be friends.”

Swierc’s attorneys argued that her Facebook account was set to private and that her comments were never intended for broad public distribution. However, someone reportedly took screenshots of the post and circulated them widely online.

According to Ball State officials, the controversy quickly triggered an avalanche of angry messages directed at the university. Mearns said administrators received numerous hostile emails and phone calls, with some individuals threatening to withhold donations and at least one parent allegedly saying she planned to remove her children from the school. He also said some callers issued threats of violence.

“The reaction was extraordinarily damaging to our University’s reputation and image, and it was exceptionally disruptive to our mission and our people,” Mearns said in his statement.

{Matzav.com}

Disturbing allegations of underage marriages within a Breslover community in the northern town of Yavne’el took center stage Tuesday during a special Knesset hearing, where lawmakers, former community members, social workers, and government officials described what committee members called a deeply entrenched and ongoing crisis.

The hearing was convened by the Knesset Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women and Gender Equality following mounting accusations that girls as young as 14 and 15 had been pushed into marriage over many years while authorities allegedly failed to intervene.

The Breslov community at the center of the allegations was established in Yavne’el in 1986 and is made up largely of baalei teshuvah. According to testimony presented at the hearing, the community encouraged marriages at extremely young ages, with girls often marrying at 15 or 16 and boys around age 18.

Committee chair Merav Cohen opened the session by saying officials have known about the issue for years but repeatedly failed to stop it.

“This has been in the background for two decades,” Cohen said. “This is a principled debate about minors who are forced into marriage and sexual relationships at a young age. Time and again, the public is shocked, but nothing changes, and the authorities fail to stop a phenomenon that endangers lives.”

Cohen said an investigative team had uncovered “very serious” findings, though the details had not yet been publicly released. She added that lawmakers would demand answers regarding how such practices were allegedly permitted to continue unchecked for so long.

Several former members of the community delivered emotional testimony before the committee, recounting experiences of being married off as teenagers against their wishes.

Sarah Maimoni, a mother of eight and grandmother of five who has publicly campaigned against the alleged marriages in Yavne’el, told lawmakers she herself was married at 15 and became a mother a year later.

“This is how my childhood was taken from me,” she said, alleging that girls as young as 14 continued being pushed into marriage and pregnancy. Maimoni accused welfare authorities of abandoning vulnerable children and called for a joint police-welfare task force to confront what she described as “complete lawlessness” in Yavne’el.

She further claimed that influential figures within the community consolidated power and used it to perpetuate the system, while families who resisted the marriages allegedly faced retaliation and pressure.

Another witness, Ruth Reichman, testified that she was forced into marriage at 16 to a man approximately ten years older than her despite objecting to the arrangement.

“I wanted to study and build a future,” she told the committee. “Instead, I knew I was going to be married off.”

Reichman said she became aware at age 15 that preparations for her marriage were already underway but was instructed to keep the matter secret.

Nachman Boltin, who was raised in the Yavne’el community, told lawmakers he married a 14-and-a-half-year-old girl when he himself was 18, describing a culture where teenagers were heavily encouraged to wed young and taught that such marriages represented the proper path in life.

“We were brainwashed for years that this was the right thing,” he said, adding that many children within the community suffered from severe trauma that was never properly addressed.

Social activist Heidi Mozes shared similar allegations, telling lawmakers she too was married at 16 against her wishes despite repeatedly pleading with relatives not to force the marriage.

“Why wasn’t there an adult there to protect me?” she asked during emotional testimony, while criticizing what she described as insufficient enforcement mechanisms to stop such situations.

Officials from Israel’s welfare agencies and law enforcement also appeared before the committee to address questions surrounding the government’s handling of the allegations.

Ilan Sharif, who heads the cults department at the Ministry of Social Affairs, acknowledged that authorities have long been aware of concerns in Yavne’el and said efforts had recently been made to strengthen local welfare services and improve coordination between agencies.

“This situation is horrific, and we are not minimizing it,” Sharif said, noting that staffing levels in the local welfare department had been increased and that a formal report on the issue was nearing completion.

Deputy Police Chief Avi Ayish said police investigated several incidents involving suspected underage marriages but noted that prosecutions are often difficult because ceremonies are sometimes presented publicly as “introduction parties” rather than formal weddings.

Welfare official Ami Romano said social workers had intervened in cases involving minors dressed for wedding ceremonies but emphasized that ultimate enforcement authority rests with police and prosecutors.

Batya Menachem, a social worker in the area, testified that authorities often receive reports only after ceremonies have already taken place, making meaningful intervention extremely difficult.

Representatives from the Knesset Research and Information Center presented statistics showing that between 2023 and 2025 authorities received 321 reports involving underage marriages conducted without legal authorization, yet only four indictments were ultimately filed.

The Health Ministry informed lawmakers that current Israeli law does not require mandatory reporting of pregnancies involving girls over age 16, suggesting that legislative changes may need to be considered.

The hearing intensified growing calls for tougher enforcement measures and new legislation amid accusations that underage marriages in Yavne’el continued for years despite repeated warnings from survivors, activists, and social service professionals.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump launched a blistering attack Tuesday against major media outlets over their coverage of the war with Iran, accusing the press of such extreme bias that they would portray even a total Iranian surrender as a defeat for the United States.

In a fiery post published on Truth Social, Trump mocked what he described as the media’s obsession with undermining his administration regardless of the facts on the ground.

“If Iran surrenders, admits their Navy is gone and resting at the bottom of the sea, and their Air Force is no longer with us, and if their entire Military walks out of Tehran, weapons dropped and hands held high, each shouting ‘I surrender, I surrender’ while wildly waving the representative White Flag, and if their entire remaining Leadership signs all necessary ‘Documents of Surrender,’ and admit their defeat to the great power and force of the magnificent U.S.A., The Failing New York Times, The China Street Journal (WSJ!), Corrupt and now Irrelevant CNN, and all other members of the Fake News Media, will headline that Iran had a Masterful and Brilliant Victory over The United States of America, it wasn’t even close. The Dumacrats and Media have totally lost their way. They have gone absolutely CRAZY!!! President DJT.”

Trump has repeatedly criticized opponents who claim his administration is moving toward an agreement resembling the 2015 Iran nuclear deal formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, which was negotiated under President Barack Obama.

On Monday, Trump amplified that message further by circulating a graphic to millions of followers comparing what he labeled “Obama’s Iran Policy” with “Trump’s Iran Policy.”

The image, designed in a split-panel format, contrasted the Obama administration’s diplomatic engagement with Iran against Trump’s military-focused posture toward the Islamic Republic.

One side of the graphic displayed large stacks of cash labeled “Pallets of Cash,” referencing the controversial transfer of funds to Tehran during implementation of the JCPOA agreement.

The opposing panel showed a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer — identified as the DDG 50 — launching missiles during a dramatic naval battle scene, symbolizing what Trump and his allies portray as a strategy centered on military strength and deterrence rather than economic concessions.

Supporters of the graphic said it underscored the administration’s broader message that Trump views force and pressure as the proper approach toward Iran, in sharp contrast to what he has long condemned as failed appeasement policies by previous administrations.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a sweeping lawsuit against University of California, Los Angeles, accusing the school of allowing violent antisemitic attacks against Jewish and Israeli students following the October 7 Hamas massacre while failing to intervene or protect students on campus.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by The California Post, Jewish students at UCLA were allegedly assaulted, beaten unconscious, attacked with sticks and pepper spray, and blocked from parts of campus by demonstrators enforcing what the complaint describes as “Jewish exclusion zones.”

“Antisemitic hatred against UCLA’s Jewish and Israeli students reached a point where students were physically assaulted, injured, excluded from campus, and deprived of educational opportunities because of their perceived Jewish or Israeli heritage,” the lawsuit said.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division alleged that tensions escalated dramatically in April 2024, when masked anti-Israel demonstrators established a large encampment outside Royce Hall.

According to the complaint, “masked demonstrators erected an encampment outside of Royce Hall and slapped, kicked, beat with sticks, doused with pepper spray, and knocked unconscious Jewish and Israeli students.”

The lawsuit further alleges that demonstrators formed so-called “human phalanxes” designed to physically block Jewish students from accessing certain campus areas unless they publicly renounced Zionism before being allowed through makeshift checkpoints.

Federal officials claim UCLA violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by displaying deliberate indifference toward what the lawsuit describes as widespread and ongoing antisemitism targeting Jewish and Israeli students.

Among the incidents detailed in the complaint was one alleged attack in which a Jewish student suffered an open head wound and was left unconscious. Other students were reportedly kicked, beaten with sticks, and sprayed with pepper spray during violent confrontations. One victim allegedly heard the words, “Hitler missed one.”

According to the lawsuit, nearly 60% of Jewish students reported avoiding campus during the unrest, while more than 40% considered transferring or leaving UCLA entirely because of the atmosphere.

The DOJ also accused UCLA of violating federal grant and funding agreements by certifying compliance with Title VI protections while allegedly permitting discrimination and harassment against Jewish and Israeli students to continue unchecked.

“Earlier this year, we sued UCLA for subjecting its Jewish and Israeli employees to an antisemitic hostile work environment,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said.

“Now, the Department of Justice calls UCLA to account for its toleration of the equally appalling hostile educational environment against its Jewish and Israeli students.”

Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California and one of Los Angeles’ top federal prosecutors, said universities have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of all students regardless of background or religion.

“Universities that violate our nation’s civil rights laws by repeatedly failing to shield Jewish students from antisemitism will be held accountable.”

UCLA has faced mounting scrutiny for months over anti-Israel demonstrations, protest encampments, and campus unrest connected to Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.

{Matzav.com}

A tense confrontation erupted aboard a United Airlines flight earlier this month after a passenger reportedly activated a personal Wi-Fi hotspot using the politically charged network name “Free Palestine, F Zionists,” prompting the pilot to threaten FBI involvement unless the hotspot was immediately shut down.

According to an account later posted on Reddit by a passenger onboard, the pilot addressed the cabin and warned that the individual responsible would have 30 seconds to disable or rename the hotspot or federal law enforcement — specifically the FBI — would be waiting for the aircraft upon landing.

The announcement reportedly created an atmosphere of anxiety and discomfort throughout the cabin, with passengers uncertain how serious the situation had become.

The passenger who described the encounter online said the captain’s response felt unusually aggressive and abrupt, particularly because the hotspot name itself did not contain a direct threat of violence. Nevertheless, heightened airline security sensitivities surrounding Israel-related tensions and global terrorism concerns appeared to contribute to the strong reaction from the flight crew.

According to the account, the pilot immediately escalated the matter to possible FBI involvement without first mentioning any planned intervention by flight attendants or other crew members.

The passenger who posted about the incident acknowledged that pilots and airline crews operate under heightened caution in the post-September 11 security environment. Even so, the individual wrote that it felt “a stretch” to suggest the hotspot itself posed an immediate or credible danger to the aircraft.

The incident comes amid a growing number of airline security scares connected to provocative Wi-Fi hotspot names and politically charged messages displayed during flights.

Earlier this year, a Turkish Airlines flight traveling over the Mediterranean was diverted to Barcelona after concerns emerged over a suspicious hotspot-related incident, according to a report by Fox News. Authorities reportedly met the aircraft with bomb-sniffing dogs after it landed.

In another incident in February, a Wizz Air flight traveling from London Luton Airport to Tel Aviv was intercepted by Israeli fighter jets after a passenger’s hotspot name allegedly included the word “terrorist.”

More recently, a KLM flight traveling from Málaga to Amsterdam was delayed for several hours after a passenger broadcast the hotspot name: “Allahu Akbar – er is een bom aan boord,” which translates to “God is great – there is a bomb on board,” according to NL Times.

Separate security incidents also disrupted two United Airlines flights over the same weekend, prompting emergency responses and renewed debate about airline security procedures and passenger conduct.

Aviation publication Paddle Your Own Kanoo described the hotspot name used on the United flight as anti-Semitic and noted that private airlines have broad authority to remove or deny boarding to passengers displaying provocative political slogans, messages, or symbols.

The publication also noted that many politicians and Jewish advocacy groups argue that the word “Zionist” is often used as a substitute for “Jew” in order to avoid accusations of overt antisemitism, while critics counter that the term is frequently used in debates surrounding Israeli government policy and geopolitics.

The broader debate over whether criticism of Zionism constitutes antisemitism remains deeply contested. Still, many observers noted that the use of an explicit and inflammatory hotspot name alone could justify airline intervention, even if some viewed the threat to summon the FBI as excessive.

At the same time, aviation analysts noted that concerns involving Israeli or Jewish-related security issues are treated with heightened seriousness because of the long history of attacks targeting commercial aviation connected to Israel.

Beginning in the 1960s, Palestinian terrorist organizations increasingly targeted civilian air travel through hijackings and other attacks, leading Israel to develop some of the world’s most advanced airline security measures.

As a result of decades of aviation-related terrorism threats, Israeli commercial aircraft today operate with sophisticated defense systems and some of the strictest security protocols in global aviation.

Not in history books.
Not 80 years ago.
Right NOW!

Two Yidden from Eretz Yisrael are trapped in brutal prison conditions in Poland. Separated from their families, broken emotionally, and desperate for help.

One can finally get out on bail.
But only if we raise $55,000 immediately.

Without it, he may remain in prison for years awaiting trial.

The second Yid is facing years behind bars as well. His wife in Eretz Yisrael is hospitalized and struggling psychologically while he sits alone in a foreign prison. A qualified lawyer can help reduce his sentence, but the legal fees are enormous.

For months, Rabbi Sholom Ber Stambler, the Rebbe’s Shliach in Warsaw for over 21 years, has personally visited them, brought them kosher food, supported them, and fought for them.

Now he’s asking Klal Yisrael to step in.

The Rambam calls Pidyon Shvuyim the greatest mitzvah.

How can we stand by while fellow Yidden sit imprisoned, alone, and forgotten?

Help bring a Yid home.
Help save a family.
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Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisroel Katz announced Tuesday night that the Israeli military carried out a strike in the Gaza Strip targeting Mohammed Odeh, who recently became the head of Hamas’s military wing.

According to Israeli officials, Odeh assumed the role after the killing of Izz ad-Din Haddad, the previous commander of Hamas’s military apparatus.

Earlier Tuesday, Arab media outlets reported a series of powerful explosions in western Gaza City during what sources described as a large-scale IDF “fire belt” assault. Some reports indicated that Israeli forces launched three separate strikes near the Shaafout restaurant along Salah al-Din Road in Gaza.

In a joint statement issued by the offices of Netanyahu and Katz, Israeli officials said Odeh played a central role in planning and executing the October 7 Hamas massacre and served as the terror organization’s intelligence chief during the attack.

The statement said Odeh had been elevated to lead Hamas’s military wing approximately one week ago following the death of Haddad, who was reportedly eliminated in an Israeli strike in Gaza about two weeks earlier.

“Oudeh was responsible for the murder, abduction, and injury of many Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers,” the statement said.

Netanyahu and Katz also commended the IDF and the Shin Bet for what they described as their ongoing operations against Hamas leadership.

“Congratulations to the IDF and the Shin Bet for their ongoing efforts to eliminate our enemies. We will continue to pursue everyone who took part in the October 7 massacre. Sooner or later, Israel will reach them all.”

{Matzav.com}

A bitter internal war over a proposed boycott of Israeli products has thrown Brooklyn’s famously progressive Park Slope Food Coop into turmoil, with Jewish members accusing anti-Israel activists of harassment, intimidation, and creating an atmosphere so hostile that organizers moved a major vote online over security fears.

The dispute centers around an effort by boycott activists to ban Israeli-made products from the coop, a battle that longtime members say has fractured the organization and created one of the ugliest controversies in its 53-year history.

The vote had originally been scheduled to take place Tuesday evening at the Picnic House in Prospect Park. But after concerns mounted among members about possible confrontations and safety risks, organizers shifted the proceedings to a Zoom-only format. Internal emails obtained by The NY Post said many of the coop’s roughly 15,000 members raised “explicit concerns about their safety.”

“People were nervous to go physically,” coop member Ramon Maislen told The NY Post.

“They are fairly violent,” Maislen alleged of the anti-Israel members.

Maislen said several members feared that individuals publicly opposing the boycott, divestment, and sanctions proposal could face harassment or confrontation after the late-night meeting concluded.

In an email sent to members, coop coordinators Ann Herpel and Matt Hoagland acknowledged that despite increased security measures, “we cannot guarantee their security.”

The proposed boycott itself would have little practical impact on store inventory. The coop reportedly sells only a small number of Israeli products, including seasonal kosher-for-Passover matzah, hummus, Bamba snacks, an herb product, and two Ecolove hair-care items.

Tuesday’s vote marked the latest chapter in a years-long anti-Israel campaign within the coop that reportedly dates back to 2012.

According to members, tensions exploded following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza.

Maislen filed a complaint in 2024 with New York’s Human Rights Division, alleging that he and other Jewish members faced harassment because of their opposition to the boycott effort.

The atmosphere grew even more heated during a coop meeting last month after one member reportedly declared, “Jewish supremacism is a problem in this country,” while also comparing Jews to Nazis — remarks that triggered outrage among many attendees.

Opposition to the boycott effort has also emerged from prominent liberal Jewish figures. Rabbi Rachel Timoner, who previously faced criticism within parts of the Jewish community for publicly supporting New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, has become one of the leading voices against the boycott campaign.

In a recent sermon to congregants, Timoner warned that BDS “is not a movement for Palestinian statehood, or for co-existence or for peace. It is part of a larger movement for the elimination of Israel.”

Numerous coop members told The New York Post that the controversy has become the most divisive internal battle the organization has ever experienced.

Outside the coop Monday, pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered chanting slogans about genocide, apartheid, and Zionism while newly hired security guards monitored the scene nearby.

“Vote yes to not be silent during genocide. Be on the right side of history at the coop,” shouted one woman, who was wearing a shirt that said “I’m Jewish and I’m against genocide.”

But several frustrated shoppers told The Post they were deeply disturbed by the demonstrations and growing hostility surrounding the issue.

Noah Potter, a 54-year-old attorney and coop member since 2012, warned that approval of the boycott would hand the BDS movement a symbolic victory.

He said the measure would become a “scalp hanging from the belt” of the BDS movement.

“It’s about putting the coop’s brand on the BDS ideology.

“In practice, when BDS comes into an organization, the modus operandi is to polarize and expel, purge and cause the organization to adopt a statement that is highly reductionist, and inflammatory, and assigns blame to the extent of incarnating evil,” he added.

Another longtime member from Prospect Heights, who has belonged to the coop since 1987, said the rhetoric surrounding Jews had left her horrified and reconsidering her membership.

“I thought it was disgusting,” she said, adding that if the vote passes, she will do the bulk of her shopping at the Key Food on Flatbush Avenue.

“When people are passionate about an issue, they sometimes don’t realize the antisemitism that’s there.”

One Jewish member connected to the anti-boycott organization Coop 4 Unity described witnessing a confrontation in which a pro-boycott activist allegedly intimidated someone distributing anti-boycott flyers.

“A member walked up to another guy who was flyering and got really physically aggressive,” she said.

“He backed up to him closely and started yelling about genocide and apartheid.”

Although coop staff eventually intervened, members said the incident reflected a broader escalation of tensions that has intensified in recent weeks.

“The whole time I was out there flyering, my heart was racing,” the 37-year-old woman said. “I’m a mom of two. I could think of 1 million other things I could be doing.”

Ahead of the vote, the pro-boycott organization Members for Palestine reportedly distributed forceful campaign emails urging members to support the boycott while dismissing security concerns as political intimidation tactics.

As tensions escalated, several Jewish members said they no longer felt comfortable attending coop meetings in person.

The Post said it contacted Members for Palestine for comment but received no response Monday.

In a recently filed complaint reviewed by The Post, one longtime member described suffering severe anxiety after receiving boycott-related emails referencing “Zionists.”

“I used to love the coop more than any other institution in my life (I am fast falling into a state of utter disgust with every part of it),” the member wrote.

“I lost sleep. I had diarrhea. My stomach was in knots for the two weeks between the April 14 email and the April 29 meeting,” she continued — referring to the heated debates over the boycott.

“I was so nervous that I went to the Picnic House at 4:30 pm, to ensure I could get in, because I expected to be prevented from entering.”

The member further described the atmosphere at the meeting as “intimidating,” alleging that pro-Palestinian activists “flooded” the venue wearing keffiyehs and watermelon imagery associated with Palestinian solidarity demonstrations, causing many members to stay away out of fear.

Bruno Grandsard, who has belonged to the coop for a quarter-century, said the current crisis is unlike anything he has seen before.

“There have been other periods like this in the past, but this is the worst it’s ever been,” he said.

“The majority of people just want all of this to go away. It’s just very divisive, extremely divisive.”

For Maislen and other opponents of the boycott, one of the biggest concerns is that passage of the measure could trigger a major exodus of members from the institution.

An informal survey estimated that nearly 1,000 current members could leave the coop if the boycott is approved.

“My concern is that if coop members leave in disgust, it actually kind of harms us in a way, because if we have to have another vote, there’s just fewer people that are on our side,” Maislen said.

President Donald Trump announced Monday that he received a clean bill of health following a new physical examination conducted just weeks before his 80th birthday, declaring afterward that “everything had checked out PERFECTLY.”

Trump, who became the oldest person ever inaugurated as president of the United States, underwent the medical evaluation on May 26 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The examination marked the fourth physical of his second term and came after months of public attention surrounding visible bruising, skin discoloration, and swelling in his ankles.

Following the examination, Trump posted a message on Truth Social saying: “Just finished my 6 month physical at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. Everything checked out PERFECTLY,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “Thank you to the great Doctors and Staff!”

As of Monday evening, no formal medical report from presidential physician Dr. Sean Barbabella had been publicly released. During a previous examination last April, Trump stated that he also completed a cognitive assessment and claimed he “got every answer right.”

Public discussion surrounding Trump’s health intensified last summer after he appeared in public with noticeable swelling near his ankles and bruising on the back of his right hand. Earlier this year, additional speculation emerged after photographs from a Medal of Honor ceremony in March appeared to show discoloration behind his right ear.

White House officials later explained that the ankle swelling was caused by chronic venous insufficiency, commonly known as CVI, a condition involving difficulty returning blood from the legs back to the heart. Officials also said the bruising on Trump’s hand resulted from frequent handshaking combined with aspirin use. Trump later attributed bruising seen on his left hand to accidentally striking a table.

Regarding the discoloration behind his ear, the White House said it was connected to a topical cream but initially declined to provide additional details.

“President Trump is using a very common cream on the right side of his neck, which is a preventative skin treatment,” Dr. Sean Barbabella said in the statement provided to USA TODAY in March. “The President is using the treatment for one week, and the redness is expected to last for a few weeks.”

Additional photographs taken during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January appeared to show bruising on the back of Trump’s left hand during a signing ceremony connected to the Board of Peace initiative.

Traditionally, the White House determines how much information from a president’s medical evaluation will be released publicly. Presidents are not legally required to disclose detailed medical records, and there is no standardized format governing presidential health exams. Throughout his presidential campaigns, Trump released only limited details regarding his medical condition.

During the 2024 presidential race, Trump frequently criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, over concerns related to age and stamina, particularly as Biden was serving at age 81.

The United States is preparing to significantly reduce the military resources it makes available to NATO allies during future crises, according to a new report outlining major planned cutbacks involving bombers, fighter jets, naval forces, and reconnaissance assets.

German publication Der Spiegel reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed senior NATO officials during meetings in Brussels last week that Washington intends to scale back several key military commitments to the alliance.

Among the proposed changes, the United States would reportedly cut in half the number of strategic bombers available to NATO operations.

According to the report, American envoy Alexander Velez-Green also told alliance members that the number of U.S. fighter aircraft deployed for NATO missions would be reduced by roughly one-third.

The report further stated that the U.S. Navy plans to stop assigning nuclear submarines to NATO altogether and will also decrease the number of destroyers it contributes to alliance operations.

Sources cited by Spiegel said the United States additionally intends to retain full control over its reconnaissance drone fleet while limiting NATO access to American attack UAVs.

The move reflects a broader push to reduce America’s military footprint in Europe, a policy shift that has accelerated under President Trump, who has repeatedly criticized NATO countries for failing to adequately fund their own defense systems and for relying too heavily on Washington’s military power.

Trump has long argued that many NATO members allowed their armed forces to weaken while depending on the United States to shoulder the burden of European security.

At the same time, European governments have sharply increased defense spending in recent years following Russian invasion of Ukraine, amid growing concerns over Russia’s military ambitions and regional instability.

The United States currently maintains approximately 68,000 active-duty troops stationed throughout Europe, with the largest concentration based in Germany.

Israel’s currency has surged to its strongest level against the U.S. dollar in three decades, an extraordinary development given the ongoing regional turmoil that has gripped the country since October 7, 2023.

Since the beginning of May, the exchange rate has hovered around 2.85 shekels per dollar, a dramatic rise from the roughly 4 shekels per dollar seen in October 2023. The shekel has also strengthened sharply against the euro, with one euro falling from 4.34 shekels in October 2023 to approximately 3.39 shekels in May 2026.

The sharp appreciation comes as Israel’s broader economic data continues to outperform expectations. The Bank of Israel is projecting economic growth of 3.8% for 2026, inflation dropped to 1.9% in March, and unemployment has remained relatively low at 3.2%.

For Israeli consumers, the stronger shekel carries significant benefits. Imported goods become cheaper, particularly energy products purchased in dollars, while overseas travel has become far less expensive for Israeli families. At the same time, however, the strengthening currency has placed growing pressure on exporters — especially Israel’s technology sector — since Israeli products and services become more costly in foreign markets.

According to the Bank of Israel, several developments have contributed to the shekel’s rapid climb. The ceasefire in the Middle East helped calm investor fears, lowered the perceived risk attached to Israeli assets, and encouraged foreign capital to flow back into the country. In addition, the weakening of the dollar, tied in part to President Trump’s economic policies, has naturally boosted other global currencies, including the shekel.

Economists also point to another major driver behind the rally: the American stock market. Israeli pension funds maintain large investments in U.S. equities and often hedge currency exposure by selling dollars and purchasing shekels. As Wall Street continues climbing, those hedging transactions have accelerated, further strengthening the Israeli currency.

Between August 2025 and February 2026, those currency-hedging activities are estimated to have involved roughly $23 billion in additional transactions. Economist Alex Zabezhinsky estimated that this factor alone may account for as much as 40% of the shekel’s recent gains.

The dramatic rise in the shekel is now creating growing pressure on policymakers at the Bank of Israel. Business leaders and exporters have increasingly urged the central bank to lower interest rates in an effort to weaken the currency and provide relief to Israeli companies competing overseas.

For now, however, the Bank of Israel has kept its benchmark interest rate at 4% — still higher than rates in both the United States and the eurozone — a policy that continues attracting investors to shekel-based assets.

Officials face a difficult balancing act. While lowering rates could ease pressure on exporters, it also risks reigniting inflation at a time when Israel continues dealing with war-related uncertainty and volatile energy prices.

Concern is also beginning to grow within the Israeli government itself. Israeli exports have steadily declined in recent years, falling from more than $76 billion in 2022 to under $59 billion last year.

In response, Israel’s Finance Ministry recently announced a new funding initiative focused on artificial intelligence, aimed at helping companies hurt by the shekel’s sharp rise remain competitive in global markets.

{Matzav.com}

Israel is escalating its military campaign along the northern border, with Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu making clear that operations in Lebanon are being broadened in scope and depth, aiming to secure key territory and strengthen defenses for communities in northern Israel.

Speaking Tuesday at the start of a security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu addressed the widening military push, emphasizing close alignment between the country’s political leadership and its top military officials as operations move forward.

“Under my direction and that of the Defense Minister, together with the Chief of Staff, we are deepening our operation in Lebanon,” the prime minister declared, underscoring unified leadership behind the ongoing campaign.

He explained that Israeli forces are increasing their presence on the ground, focusing on consolidating control over strategically important areas while reinforcing a buffer zone designed to protect Israeli towns near the border.

“The IDF is operating with large forces on the ground and is taking control of strategic areas. We are fortifying the security zone in order to protect the communities of northern Israel,” Netanyahu said, outlining the operational objectives guiding the current phase of the mission.

Beyond ground maneuvers, Netanyahu pointed to continued concern over aerial threats, particularly the growing use of explosive drones, and highlighted a nationwide effort to counter them through new technological approaches.

“We are conducting a massive national effort to advance creative and innovative solutions against explosive drones,” he stated, indicating that Israel is investing heavily in advanced defense capabilities to address evolving threats.

Closing his remarks, Netanyahu offered strong public backing to Israeli troops engaged in the campaign, praising their efforts and expressing confidence in their mission as they operate in high-risk areas.

“We support and praise our heroic commanders and soldiers. They are operating deep inside the field. We trust you.”

{Matzav.com}

The public is being asked to offer tefillos for the full recovery of the Gerer Rebbe, who is scheduled to undergo a planned medical procedure today.

According to sources, the procedure is connected to a medical complication from which the Rebbe has recently been suffering involving the sinus and eye areas, after doctors determined that the condition was affecting his vision.

Initially, physicians explored the possibility that the issue stemmed from another medical problem, but following additional examinations, doctors decided to move forward with the planned procedure.

Sources within Ger stressed that the procedure was scheduled in advance and, according to current medical assessments, is considered relatively limited and is not expected to last long.

The procedure is expected to take place at a medical center in Herzliya.

Following the treatment, the Rebbe is expected to spend approximately a week resting and recuperating in Kfar Shmaryahu together with close aides and attendants.

The public is being urged to continue davening for the complete and speedy recovery of Rav Yaakov Aryeh ben Yuta Henya.

{Matzav.com}