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President Donald Trump on Wednesday delivered remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, outlining his views on a range of international developments, including Venezuela, Greenland, Israel, and the situation in Gaza.

Speaking about events following the recent capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro earlier this month, Trump said the country was now positioned for success and praised the cooperation his administration received. “Venezuela is going to do fantastically well. We appreciate all of the cooperation we’ve been given. We’ve been given great cooperation. Once the attack ended. The attack ended, and they said, ‘Let’s make a deal.’”

Trump also returned to the issue of Greenland, reiterating his belief that the massive Arctic island should become part of the United States. He described Greenland as strategically vital, saying, “This enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America, on the northern frontier of the Western Hemisphere. That’s our territory.”

Emphasizing security concerns, Trump argued that only the United States is capable of protecting Greenland effectively. He said the U.S. needs control of the territory to “make it so that it’s good for Europe and safe for Europe, and good for us.. And the fact is, no nation or group of nations is in any position to be able to secure Greenland other than the United States.”

At the same time, Trump stressed that he does not intend to use military force to obtain the island. “People thought I would use force. I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force,” he said, adding that he prefers diplomacy. “I’m seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States, just as we have acquired many other territories,” he said.

Turning to Israel, Trump credited the United States with major contributions to its security and defense capabilities. “What we did for Israel was incredible,” he said, while pledging to pursue even more advanced missile defense technology for North America.

He recounted a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying, “We did it for Israel. And by the way, I told Bibi: ‘Bibi, stop taking credit for the dome. That’s our technology, that’s our stuff.’” Trump added that Israel’s military efforts were decisive, saying the Israelis “were good fighters and they had a lot of courage and we wiped out the Iran nuclear threat.”

After concluding his prepared remarks, Trump was asked about the creation of the Gaza Board of Peace and whether he believes the current ceasefire can last. He expressed optimism, responding, “I do. I think we have peace in the Middle East.”

He acknowledged remaining challenges, particularly regarding Hamas. “There are some little situations,” he said, “like Hamas. And Hamas has agreed to give up their weapons. They were born with a weapon in their hand, so it’s not easy to do. When they were born, they were born with a rifle in their hand. It’s not an easy thing for them, but that’s what they agreed to. They’ve got to do it. And we’re going to see over the next two or three days, certainly over the next three weeks, whether or not they’re gonna do it. If they don’t, they’re going to be blown away very quickly.”

{Matzav.com}

An awe-inspiring encounter took place in Tiveriah, as the venerable mashgiach Rav Don Segal paid a special and uplifting visit to the home of the tzaddik Rav Dov Kook. The meeting revolved around yearning for the geulah and the deep spiritual chain connecting the great ones of past and present generations.

Rav Segal, who is spending time in Tiveriah for rest, made a point of going to Rav Kook’s home for a private meeting. Despite Rav Kook’s relatively young age, Rav Segal is known to accord him exceptional kavod. Conversely, those close to Rav Kook note that the rare expressions of praise he voiced regarding Rav Segal are almost never heard within his home.

A transcript of their conversation reveals fiery words concerning the pursuit of geulah and the enduring spiritual bond between generations. At the heart of the discussion stood the towering figure of the legendary mashgiach of Lakewood, Rav Nosson Wachtfogel zt”l, whose entire life was bound up with constant anticipation of Mashiach.

Rav Segal shared emotionally, saying, “He was here once, the mashgiach Rav Nosson zt”l. He lived with anticipation for Mashiach literally every moment.” Rav Segal recalled what he declared at the levayah: “When he passed away, I said at the levayah, ‘Now Mashiach can already come.’ The reason is that Mashiach comes only with hesach hadaas. As long as Rav Nosson was alive, there was no such thing in the world as distraction from Mashiach, because he thought about it every moment. Now that he has passed, there is hesach hadaas, and Mashiach can come.”

Rav Kook listened intently and asked in earnest, “Who was the mashgiach of Lakewood?” Rav Segal then continued, elaborating on the wondrous conduct and inner world of Rav Nosson Wachtfogel.

Rav Segal recounted a rare meeting between Rav Nosson and the mekubal Rav Yaakov Hillel. “I asked Rav Yaakov Hillel after their meeting what they discussed,” Rav Segal said, “and he answered me in astonishment: ‘For two hours he spoke with me about only one thing — how to bring Mashiach.’ Again and again, back and forth, constantly just that one question: how to bring the geulah.”

Rav Kook responded with a stirring statement: “And I, the small one, add that even now he continues like this in Shamayim.” Rav Segal immediately agreed, replying, “That is absolutely correct. That is why I mentioned it. I did not come here to tell stories for their own sake.”

During the visit, Rav Segal inquired with concern about Rav Kook’s health, asking, “Is the Rav feeling better now?”

Rav Kook answered with his characteristic sincerity, “Just now I received another bout of suffering.”

Rav Segal immediately responded with a warm brachah: “First and foremost, there should be a complete refuah sheleimah, and may the yissurim be separated from him.”

As the conversation neared its conclusion, the two gedolim reflected on the wondrous timing of Rav Nosson Wachtfogel’s petirah. “It was truly a פלא of ‘r’tzon yereiav ya’aseh,’” Rav Segal said. “He passed away on the very yahrtzeit of Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l. Over the years, the powerful bond between them may not always have been spoken about, but on the day of his passing, the heavenly connection was revealed — on that very same day.”

{Matzav.com}

Conservative media figure Tucker Carlson is under fire following the release of a newsletter in which he floated the idea that Iran obtaining nuclear weapons might actually calm tensions in the Middle East, comparing the scenario to North Korea’s nuclear deterrence.

In the essay, titled “Could a Nuclear Iran Stabilize the Middle East?” and published on the Tucker Carlson Network website, Carlson revisits long-standing alarms about Iran’s nuclear aspirations and casts doubt on their validity. He wrote, “Those warnings sound pretty scary, but the past 20 years have proven them unwarranted. North Korea became a known nuclear nation in October 2006, and its proliferation has yielded a total of zero nuclear strikes on America, the West, or any other country.”

Expanding on that comparison, Carlson suggested that nuclear capability may have had a pacifying effect in East Asia. “Could the Iranians obtaining The Bomb wind up being a good thing? Whether anyone in the foreign policy establishment admits it, North Korea’s nuclearization has undeniably stabilized the Korean Peninsula. The region has seen no wars, coups, or interventionist-forced regime changes since 2006,” he argued.

Carlson went on to question whether a similar outcome could occur in the Middle East, asking, “Would Iran becoming a nuclear power have the same effect on its region? Could it finally prompt America to leave the area alone, and incentivize Israel to drop its stated goal of controlling the Gaza Strip and the West Bank?”

The commentary pushes back against warnings from U.S. and Israeli officials — including Senator Lindsey Graham and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who have repeatedly said that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose an existential danger, potentially threatening Israel or even the United States.

According to Carlson, regimes labeled part of an “Axis of Evil” have refrained from using nuclear weapons precisely because doing so would amount to “an act of suicide.” He suggested that dire predictions are overstated and are often used to build public support for a military strike against Iran.

The newsletter sparked an immediate and heated reaction on social media. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) responded on X by writing, “Unbelievable. Now @TuckerCarlson is arguing it would be ‘a GOOD thing’ if the Ayatollah had a nuclear weapon. READ it yourself. Apparently ‘Death to America’ is an ambiguous sentiment to Mr. Qatarlson. #TuckerIsAmericaLast.”

Others joined the criticism, including commentator Eyal Yakoby, who wrote, “Tucker Carlson now argues in his newsletter that Iran getting nukes would be good and that North Korea having them is good too. The mental gymnastics required to apologize for some of the world’s most brutal regimes isn’t contrarianism. It’s indefensible.”

Additional reactions focused on Iran’s internal repression. One user wrote, “Tucker’s newsletter today argues that it would actually be a good thing if The Islamic Republic, the same ones who just massacred thousands of their own citizens for simply protesting, obtained a nuke.” Another likened the argument to handing matches to arsonists, warning of catastrophic consequences.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said he has no intention of resorting to military action to obtain Greenland, even as he argued that the massive Arctic landmass belongs within North America and should fall under U.S. control.

“This enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America,” Trump said. “That’s our territory.”

While outlining his view of Greenland’s strategic importance, Trump acknowledged that the United States would be unlikely to gain control of the island unless he chose to act militarily, a step he described as involving overwhelming power. The U.S., he said, “probably won’t get anything” unless he opted to “use excessive strength and force,” which he claimed would make the country “frankly unstoppable.”

He quickly dismissed that option, however. “But I won’t do that. Okay?” Trump said.

Moments later, he reinforced the point, stating, “I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”

Trump made the remarks while addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he criticized European leaders and reiterated his belief that the United States should ultimately control Greenland.

WATCH:

[Video below.] President Donald Trump told an international audience on Wednesday that the strong performance of the U.S. economy one year into his second term is driving growth far beyond America’s borders, delivering benefits to countries around the world.

Addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in remarks broadcast live on Newsmax and Newsmax2, Trump argued that global prosperity is closely tied to America’s economic health. “The USA is the economic engine on the planet, and when America booms, the entire world booms,” Trump said. “It’s been the history. When it goes bad, it goes bad… when America booms, the entire world booms.”

Marking the anniversary of his inauguration, Trump portrayed an economy that he said is gaining momentum across multiple fronts, including faster growth, higher productivity, rising investment, and increasing incomes for Americans.

He asserted that inflation has been brought under control and claimed that the southern border is now shut down and effectively sealed off.

Pointing to recent figures, Trump said inflation has run at 1.6 percent over the last three months and projected that economic growth in the fourth quarter will reach 5.4 percent, calling those numbers proof of a sharp turnaround.

Trump also cited gains on Wall Street, saying markets have reached 52 record highs since the election and that retirement accounts and personal savings have grown by an estimated $9 trillion.

He contrasted the current economic environment with conditions during the previous administration, which he described as a period defined by stagnation and rising prices. “America was plagued by the nightmare of stagflation, meaning low growth and high inflation, a recipe for misery, failure, and decline,” said Trump. “But now, after just one year of my policies, we are witnessing the exact opposite: virtually no inflation and extraordinarily high economic growth.”

According to Trump, businesses and investors have pledged a combined $18 trillion in new investments, a figure he said could ultimately climb to $20 trillion, which he described as unprecedented anywhere in the world.

He added that U.S. economic expansion is now running at almost twice the pace forecast by the International Monetary Fund last spring and said additional acceleration is expected as a result of his economic and tariff agenda. “And with my growth and tariff policies, it should be much higher,” he said. “I really believe we can be much higher than that, and this is all great news, and it’s great for all nations.”

Trump concluded by stressing how quickly the shift has taken place, saying the pace of improvement exceeded his own expectations and describing the change as the most significant economic turnaround in American history.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

I recently conducted a brief, informal survey of about twenty people. No experts. No studies. Just conversations with ordinary, functioning members of our communities.

What emerged was not just troubling, it was downright disturbing.

We have people among us who are spending five, six, seven hours a day on their phones. Every day. Not once in a while. Not during a crisis. As a routine. Some knew it. Some guessed it. Others were shocked when their screen-time data forced them to confront the truth.

This is not a minor habit. This is not “just the times we live in.” This is sickness, normalized.

We have quietly trained ourselves to be incapable of silence. A free moment feels unbearable. Standing in line, sitting in a waiting room, even walking from one place to another … the reflex is immediate: reach for the phone. Not because we need it, but because we cannot tolerate being alone with our thoughts for more than a few seconds.

And then we wonder why people feel anxious. Why attention spans are shot. Why conversations feel shallow. Why we are impatient, irritable, and perpetually distracted.

We talk about chinuch nonstop. About children who can’t focus, teens who feel disconnected, families that feel fractured. But no one wants to say the obvious: We are modeling obsession. We are teaching our children that reality is something to escape from, not engage with.

We are sick!

Imagine a parent who spends seven hours a day reading magazines. Or pacing the house with a radio pressed to their ear. We would call it unhealthy. We would intervene. But scrolling? That gets a pass.

Why?

Because it looks productive? Because it’s “news”? Because it’s “work”? Because it’s “hock”? Because your checking Matzav and all the brilliant comments?

You’re sick!

Let’s be honest. Much of it is mindless consumption dressed up as necessity. Endless updates, outrage cycles, dopamine hits, and trivialities we won’t remember an hour later.

We have become a community that cannot sit through a meal without glancing down. That cannot daven without checking messages. That cannot have a conversation without half-listening, eyes darting toward a screen.

And the scariest part? We don’t even feel embarrassed anymore.

We used to worry about bittul zman. Now we carry it in our pockets and defend it aggressively. Anyone who dares question this addiction is dismissed as “out of touch.”

This isn’t about banning phones. It’s about reclaiming sanity. About asking whether five to seven hours a day glued to a device is something we want to accept as normal, or whether, at some point, we admit that something has gone very wrong.

Because if this is what adulthood looks like, what chance do our children have?

Name Withheld

To submit a letter to appear on Matzav.com, email MatzavInbox@gmail.com

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The opinions expressed in letters on Matzav.com do not necessarily reflect the stance of the Matzav Media Network.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Ben Zion Mutzapi, leading Sephardic posek and rosh yeshiva of Bnei Tzion, delivered a forceful message addressing what he described as mounting decrees against Torah learners, set against the backdrop of the ongoing struggle over the draft law and the legal status of yeshiva students.

Rav Mutzapi’s remarks came in response to a question from one of his talmidim, who described the severe financial pressure facing many kollel families. The avreich explained that while the men learn in kollel throughout the day and their wives work and earn limited incomes, the cost of placing infants in licensed daycare facilities has become overwhelming. For families with two young children, he said, the expenses are often impossible to meet, leaving many avreichim without a viable way to support their households.

In his response, Rav Mutzapi said the hardships are not incidental, but intentional. He stated that the aim of the authorities is to break the spirit of Torah learners, distance them from Torah study, and secularize the chareidi community. He added that those advancing these policies neither recognize nor believe in Hashem or His Torah, and he sharply criticized what he described as rampant incitement against yeshiva students who are already struggling to obtain even basic necessities.

Rav Mutzapi went on to say that the Torah community has been brought low and called on the public to cry out to their Father in Heaven. He expressed hope that Hashem will hear their voices, have mercy on them, and bring salvation. He davened for better days, asking that Hashem overturn unjust rulings and disrupt the plans and schemes directed against Torah learners.

He concluded his response with words of faith, stating that just as Hashem saved Klal Yisroel from Paroh and his forces, He will save them again in the present time as well.

{Matzav.com}

VIDEO: I recently lost my father, and now I am preparing for my wedding alone. I do not have what I need to reach the חופה with dignity. Please help an orphaned Kallah get married and fulfill the mitzvah of הכנסת כלה. DONATE HERE: https://thechesedfund.com/chesedprojects/346?aff=2040

UTJ party leader MK Uri Maklev sent a letter to Knesset Speaker MK Amir Ohana on Wednesday, demanding that an emergency Knesset discussion be held on an urgent proposal for the agenda on the topic: “A severe phenomenon of the ramming of protesters—two dead and four injured.” This follows a series of serious incidents that […]

Mrs. Brochi Goloventzitz, the mother of Leah Goloventzitz a”h, one of the two toddlers who died in the tragic incident at a daycare center in the Romema neighborhood, issued a public appeal, describing the family’s anguish and pleading for restraint amid a wave of rumors and misinformation.

In a personal statement addressed directly to the public, Goloventzitz wrote that the family is grappling with a devastating loss while simultaneously being forced to confront speculation, commentary, and inaccurate information circulating online and in public discourse.

The grieving mother emphasized that aside from those directly involved, no one truly knows the full facts surrounding the circumstances that led to Leah’s passing. She noted that the family has been exposed to headlines, images, and statements taken out of context, some of which are based on partial or incorrect information that does not represent the full reality.

Mrs. Goloventzitz further explained that the public is unaware of the considerations and decisions made following the incident, including the family’s refusal to allow an autopsy. She said those decisions were reached only after in-depth consultations and careful deliberation, based on information received from both the police and medical professionals.

She added that even the family itself does not yet have a complete understanding of what occurred. “We are not sleeping, we are not eating,” she wrote, explaining that their sole focus has been trying to piece together what truly happened.

{Matzav.com}

Mike Woods with the latest on a potential significant snowstorm that could impact multiple states, including New York and New Jersey, Sunday going into Monday.

TRUMP: In 12 months, we have removed 270K+ bureaucrats from the payroll, cut federal spending by $100B, slashed the federal budget deficit by 27%, cut 129 regulations for every ONE new regulation approved, passed the largest tax cuts in history, and so much more.

Trump touts the success of his tariffs in Davos: “In one year, I slashed our monthly trade deficit by a staggering 77%, and all of this with no inflation—something everyone said could not be done.”

TRUMP: “In recent decades, it became conventional wisdom in Washington, and European capitals that the only way to grow a modern Western economy was through ever-increasing government spending, unchecked mass migration and endless foreign imports… Virtually all of the so-called ‘experts’ predicted my plans to end this failed model would trigger a global recession and […]

The roar was deafening inside the train car as it hurtled off the tracks, then slid down a steep slope, ripping open its frame. And then, amid the twisted metal of the wreckage, the cries of the injured and the silence of the dead. Surrounded by bodies after the train accident in southern Spain, one […]

My dear brothers and sisters,For years, my father was the heart of the city עמנואל in Israel. As the head of כשרות and religious life, he spent his days serving the community and helping couples build their homes. He was a man who lived for כלל ישראל.My father passed away less than a year ago, […]

Did you know? The Baba Sali zt”l (yahrtzeit Thursday) gave a special bracha (blessing) to all Yad L’Achim supporters – that’s you! See his letter below! The Baba Sali zt”l was very close to Yad L’Achim and encouraged us in our work every step of the way. Before his passing, he wrote a letter of great inspiration, encouraging […]

Trump in Davos: “The USA is the economic engine on the planet — and when America booms, the entire world booms.”

TRUMP: “Under the Biden administration, America was plagued by the nightmare of Stagflation… But now, after just one year of my policies, we are witnessing the exact opposite — virtually no inflation, and extraordinarily high economic growth.”

President Trump has touched down in Davos, Switzerland, where he’ll meet with world leaders and deliver remarks at the World Economic Forum.