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Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is reportedly no longer inside Iran, according to an Israeli security source quoted by the Saudi news outlet al-Hadath, adding another layer of uncertainty surrounding the Islamic Republic’s leadership.

Khamenei assumed the role of supreme leader after his father was killed in the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28. Since taking power, he has not appeared in public and has communicated only through written statements.

According to the Israeli security source, those statements are not being written by Khamenei himself but instead are being prepared by Ahmad Vahidi, the newly appointed commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, along with other senior IRGC officials.

The source also described growing turmoil within Iran’s leadership, warning that “Iran’s internal divisions are deep and threaten the existence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”

The same Israeli source further claimed that Washington has made clear it does not want Israel to participate in military strikes against Iran, even if Tehran launches attacks against Israel.

President Donald Trump is expected to present the World Cup trophy to the champion following Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain, but the White House is already celebrating what it sees as an even bigger triumph: the successful hosting of the largest World Cup ever staged.

Speaking Friday during a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York City, Trump said the tournament had transformed perceptions of the United States as a soccer nation.

“It turned out we were a soccer country, and I think it’s going to remain,” Trump said Friday at a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York City. “This has really brought the world together.”

For the administration, Sunday’s championship marks the conclusion of more than a year of intensive planning with co-hosts Canada and Mexico to stage the historic tournament. Throughout that process, White House officials worked through major logistical challenges while also navigating the administration’s strict immigration policies, which prevented fans from certain World Cup qualifying nations from entering the United States.

Before the tournament began, organizers also faced criticism from human rights organizations and complaints over expensive ticket prices. At various points, Trump floated the possibility of relocating matches away from cities that refused to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, while disputes between FIFA and local governments over transportation costs added to the tensions surrounding the event.

Even as opening matches approached, the administration remained under international scrutiny because of several visa decisions, including denying entry to a Somali referee who had earned widespread praise for his officiating. Those concerns intensified after Trump launched military action against Iran, creating additional complications involving Iran’s national team, whose supporters and some staff members were barred from entering the United States and instead operated from neighboring Tijuana.

As the tournament unfolded, however, much of the controversy faded into the background. Online, countless visitors shared videos and stories celebrating American food, culture, and hospitality—from beer to ranch dressing—while many of the fears voiced before the event, including predictions of immigration enforcement activity around stadiums, never came to pass.

“One of the things that we talked about beforehand was, if we’re talking about what happened on the pitch, then we’ve done our job,” Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said in an interview with The Associated Press. “But I think it’s even better than that. We’re not just talking about only the incredible, athletic feats on the pitch, but we’re talking about all these incredible, incredible cultural moments.”

Trump nevertheless became part of one of the tournament’s biggest controversies after personally contacting FIFA President Gianni Infantino earlier this month to discuss a disputed officiating decision involving Team USA’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The referee had issued a red card to American forward Folarin Balogun, forcing him to miss the following game against Belgium.

According to Trump, he merely encouraged Infantino to review the decision. FIFA ultimately overturned the red card, and during Friday’s reception Trump praised the move, telling Infantino that “you made another great decision, if you think about it,” because it allowed the U.S. to keep a key player on the field even though the team lost the match to Belgium 4-1.

Giuliani defended the administration’s involvement, saying officials had a “duty” to seek answers about the officiating process, particularly because video review and slow-motion replay had been used in issuing the red card. He added that the federal government committed billions of dollars to help ensure the tournament was “not just a safe and secure event, not just where we welcomed the world, but an event that was filled with integrity.”

Successfully hosting the World Cup carries added significance for the United States because it will soon welcome two more major international sporting events: the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

The administration is also optimistic that the United States will receive hosting rights for the 2031 Women’s World Cup. Giuliani said one factor in pursuing that tournament is “ensuring that, in fact, women and only women will play in that 2031 Women’s World Cup,” reflecting the administration’s opposition to transgender women competing in women’s sports.

Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., who describes himself as a devoted World Cup fan and represents the state hosting Sunday’s championship match, acknowledged that while there were occasional transportation problems, the overall event has been overwhelmingly successful.

But “overall, just the joy that people have, the excitement that they have, has dramatically outweighed” any downsides, Kim said, who has been eagerly watching the games with his two young sons over the last several weeks.

The tournament also unfolded against a backdrop of strained relations among the three host nations. Since returning to office, Trump has imposed steep tariffs on both Canada and Mexico and has declined to renew the existing trilateral trade agreement, setting the stage for new negotiations.

On Friday, Trump even threatened tariffs against Canada over smoke from Canadian wildfires that has affected air quality in portions of the United States, including northern New Jersey, where the World Cup final will be played. He also joked that FIFA should award another World Cup to the United States and “this time, we’ll leave Mexico and Canada out.”

Despite those disagreements, both Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney are expected to attend Sunday’s championship at Trump’s invitation, underscoring the tournament’s ability to bridge political differences.

“I received an invitation from President Trump to attend the World Cup final on Sunday, and I decided to go because it’s a direct invitation from the President of the United States,” Sheinbaum said. “Prime Minister Carney will also be there.”

Following longstanding tradition, Trump will present the World Cup trophy to the winning team after the final. Although he has not publicly endorsed either side, the matchup carries political intrigue.

Spain has frequently clashed with the Trump administration over NATO defense spending and Madrid’s refusal to allow American forces to launch strikes against Iran from Spanish bases. By contrast, Argentine President Javier Milei is one of Trump’s closest international allies, with Trump previously threatening to cut U.S. assistance if Milei’s political coalition failed to win key legislative elections.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is expected to attend the championship match, while Milei has opted to remain in Argentina, citing superstition.

{Matzav.com}

What began as a simple at-home DNA test has turned into a life-altering legal battle after two North Dakota men discovered they were accidentally switched at birth 38 years ago. Their families are now suing the hospital where they were born, claiming they were deprived of the lives—and families—they were meant to have.

The astonishing discovery began when Kyle Bylin received a home DNA test during a Christmas gift exchange and decided to take it on a whim. The results led him to a woman identified as his biological aunt through a genealogy website. That connection prompted her nephew, Jeremy Morrison, to submit his own DNA sample, and the findings left no room for doubt.

“That’s when my mind was just completely blown,” Bylin said. “We could have never imagined that it was an actual birth switch that occurred.”

Morrison said he immediately suspected the truth after seeing a photograph of Bylin’s brother, whose appearance closely resembled his own.

According to a lawsuit filed in North Dakota state court last week, Bylin and Morrison were the only two babies born on Jan. 26, 1988, at Unity Medical Center in Grafton. Yet, despite being born just hours apart, each infant was allegedly sent home with the other’s family.

Unity Medical Center has denied that there is evidence its employees were responsible for the mix-up.

However, Bylin—who says he was actually born as Jeremy Morrison—still possesses the hospital identification bracelet that incorrectly identified him as Kyle Bylin.

The search for answers has been complicated by the passage of time. Hospital officials say the relevant medical records have long since been destroyed, making it impossible to determine exactly how the switch occurred.

It has now been two years since the DNA results overturned everything both families believed about their identities. Since then, they have faced emotional reunions, difficult conversations, and painful questions about what their lives might have been.

“Kyle is still my son – that is never going to change,” Evelyn Newton, who raised him as her own, told The Associated Press in a phone interview Friday. “But I feel robbed of the life I should have had with my biological son. You can’t go back and replace 35 years. First steps, driving a car, getting married – how do you make up for that?”

While the hospital acknowledges that the babies were switched at some point, it maintains that no evidence has been found showing that hospital administrators or staff caused the mistake.

“We recognize the profound impact this discovery has had on them and their families,” Unity Medical’s statement says. “Unfortunately, because of the passage of nearly four decades, the medical and staffing records that might have provided additional clarity no longer exist, and no members of the delivery team from that time are still employed by the hospital.”

For Morrison, learning the truth has not changed how he views the parents who raised him, Elizabeth O’Toole and Terry Morrison. He continues to consider them his parents and says he looks back fondly on his upbringing despite the challenges, including his parents’ divorce when he was seven.

“I was loved. I played sports. I did well in school,” Morrison said. “A DNA test is not going to take away 38 years of memories.”

Today, Morrison lives in Colorado City, Colorado, where he works as a welding inspector for a wind energy company. He often wonders how different his life might have been had the switch never happened. He believes he likely would have remained in North Dakota, working alongside his biological father and brother on the family grain farm where Bylin grew up.

Evelyn Newton said she never suspected that Kyle was not her biological son. Although he had dark hair while the rest of the immediate family was fair-haired, there seemed to be a reasonable explanation. Her late husband had relatives with dark hair, and because Newton herself had been adopted, she had little knowledge of her own biological family’s traits.

For Bylin, the revelation has reshaped the way he thinks about the long-running debate over nature versus nurture. After leaving North Dakota to pursue an academic career, he often wondered why he seemed so different from the family with whom he had grown up.

“You’re just kind of shaking your fist, like, how can this be my family? How am I so different from them?” Bylin said. “It turns out that we’re just totally different people, period.”

Both men have since met their biological parents. They described the reunions as heartfelt but understandably awkward. Although they have not yet met one another in person, they have spoken by phone.

“We’ve tried to unite as a group and just recognize that no matter what, there’s different ways that this can be socially messy,” Bylin said. “Everyone’s getting to know people that they didn’t know before.”

Although such cases remain uncommon, the growing popularity of consumer DNA testing has led to a number of similar discoveries around the world. In 2024, two women sued the Norwegian government after learning they had been switched at birth. Two West Virginia men filed suit in 2020 after concluding they had been switched as infants in 1942. DNA testing in Pennsylvania revealed in 2018 that two girls had been switched approximately 75 years earlier, and in 2016 Canadian authorities launched an investigation after evidence showed two Indigenous men in northern Manitoba had been switched at birth in 1975.

Medical experts say mistakes of this kind are now extraordinarily unlikely because of modern technology.

Dr. Jonathan Marron, a pediatric oncologist who also teaches at Harvard Medical School’s Center for Bioethics, said such errors should happen “pretty close to never” today.

“As often as all clinicians, doctors, nurses, social workers, everybody else, gripe about the electronic health records,” the digital backstop is a clear benefit, Marron said.

Attorney Tim O’Keefe said he spent roughly a year attempting to negotiate a financial settlement with the hospital before filing a lawsuit alleging negligence, medical malpractice, and emotional distress. Meanwhile, both families continue trying to adjust to a reality they never expected.

“I know the truth now, but we’re still working to build relationships,” Morrison said. “I mean, it’s not like I can go back in time and rebuild what’s already lost. It’s a work in progress, just like me.”

{Matzav.com}

A new Channel 12 poll paints a bleak picture of public confidence in Israel’s political leadership, with overwhelming majorities expressing dissatisfaction with the outgoing Knesset, opposing key legislation passed this week, and believing that most members of Knesset are motivated by personal interests rather than the public good.

The survey, conducted ahead of the upcoming election campaign, examined not only voting intentions but also public trust in elected officials and state institutions. Its findings suggest widespread frustration with the performance of the outgoing Knesset.

When asked about their voting preferences, 49% of respondents said they currently support parties aligned with the anti-Netanyahu bloc, compared with 36% who back parties in the pro-Netanyahu coalition. Another 12% said they remain undecided, while 3% indicated they plan to vote for parties outside either of the two main political camps.

Public dissatisfaction with the Knesset was especially pronounced. Overall, 64% rated the outgoing legislature’s performance as poor, while just 33% described it as good. Three percent said they were unsure.

The partisan breakdown reflected predictable political divisions. Among opposition voters, 92% said the Knesset performed poorly, as did 62% of voters from Arab parties. Coalition voters, however, viewed the legislature far more favorably, with 73% saying it had performed well.

The poll also found a striking lack of trust in lawmakers’ motivations. Fully 74% of respondents said they believe most MKs primarily look out for their own interests, while only 17% said lawmakers are working for the benefit of the public. Nine percent said they were uncertain.

Among opposition supporters, skepticism reached 94%, while 70% of Arab-party voters shared that view. Coalition voters were more divided: 49% said MKs mainly serve themselves, while 38% believe they are working on behalf of the public.

The findings also reflected strong opposition to the Knesset’s recent legislative blitz. Respondents were asked about two major measures approved this week—the Basic Law: Torah Study and the law freezing the arrests of bnei yeshiva draft evaders. A total of 67% said they oppose the legislation.

Only 21% voiced support for the two laws, while 12% said they had no opinion. Opposition voters overwhelmingly rejected the legislation, with 93% opposed, while 73% of Arab-party voters also objected. Even within the coalition camp, opinion was sharply divided, with 45% supporting the measures and 41% opposing them.

The survey also examined public views of Shin Bet Director David Zini, whose name returned to the headlines this week after recommending lifetime security protection for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara—a recommendation later approved by the ministerial committee.

Israelis were nearly evenly split in their assessment of Zini’s performance. Thirty-nine percent rated his work negatively, while 37% gave him positive marks. A significant 24% said they were unable to express an opinion.

Political affiliation again played a major role. Among opposition voters, 61% viewed Zini’s performance negatively, as did 62% of Arab-party voters. By contrast, 67% of coalition supporters said he has performed well.

The poll also explored whether another Netanyahu election victory would prompt Israelis to consider leaving the country. Overall, 68% said they would not contemplate emigrating, while 23% acknowledged they would consider such a move. Nine percent were undecided.

Among coalition voters, 90% rejected the idea of leaving Israel. Opposition supporters were more divided: although 49% said they would remain in the country, 39% said they would consider emigrating if Netanyahu wins another term. Among Arab-party voters, only 19% said they would consider leaving.

Participants were also asked to place Israel’s leading political figures on an ideological scale ranging from 1 (far right) to 7 (far left). The results closely mirrored public perceptions of each leader’s political orientation.

Democrats Party leader Yair Golan was viewed as the furthest to the left, receiving a score of 6.0. He was followed by Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid at 5.2. Benny Gantz (4.4) and Yisr! party chairman Gadi Eisenkot (4.2) were both seen as occupying the political center with a slight lean to the left.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett marked the beginning of the right side of the spectrum with a score of 3.8, followed by Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman at 3.3. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was placed firmly on the right with a score of 2.5, while Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich received a 1.7. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was viewed as the most right-wing political leader in the survey, earning a score of 1.3.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Shulamis Schiff a”h, who was niftar at the age of 98.

Rebbetzin Schiff was the devoted wife of Rav Sheya Schiff zt”l, longtime rosh yeshiva of Mesivta Bais Shraga in Monsey, New York.

She was born into one of the most illustrious families of American Torah Jewry as the daughter of Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz zt”l, the legendary menahel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas and the foremost architect of postwar Torah life in the United States. Rav Shraga Feivel dedicated every ounce of his strength to rebuilding Yiddishkeit and establishing institutions that would shape generations to come. Through his visionary leadership, mesirus nefesh, and boundless ahavas haTorah, he helped lay the foundation for the flourishing Olam HaTorah in America.

Her husband, Rav Sheya, was himself an outsanding talmid chochom and marbitz Torah. He was a son of the noted baal habayis, R’ Tzvi Shalom (Harry) Schiff zt”l, who merited to establish a remarkable family whose members became among the leading gedolei Torah and marbitzei Torah of their generation. Rav Sheya was a talmid muvhak of Rav Shlomo Heiman zt”l and Rav Reuven Grozovsky zt”l, absorbing the greatness of the Torah Vodaas tradition before founding and leading Mesivta Bais Shraga for decades. Rav Sheya’s brother is Rav Yankel Schiff, son-in-law of the Brisker Rov, Rav Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik zt”l. His sisters married Rav Shmuel Faivelson zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash L’Torah in Monsey, and Rav Meir Hershkowitz zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Binyomin in Stamford, Connecticut.

Those who knew Rebbetzin Schiff remember a woman of exceptional refinement, dignity, and strength. With warmth, grace, and genuine concern for others, she stood steadfastly at her husband’s side throughout decades of harbotzas haTorah, opening her home to talmidim and supporting the yeshiva with total devotion. Her humility, kindness, and deep commitment to avodas Hashem left a lasting impression on all who merited to know her.

She is survived by her sons, Rav Emanuel Schiff and Rav Shraga Schiff; her daughters, Mrs. Yehudis Berlin, wife of Rav Meir Berlin zt”l, and Mrs. Toby Berlin, wife of Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Berlin; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren who continue her family’s legacy of Torah, yiras Shomayim, and avodas Hashem.

The levayah will take place today at 11:00 a.m. at Mesivta Bais Shraga, located at 28 Saddle River Road in Monsey, New York.

Yehi zichrah boruch.

Two Orthodox shuls in Queens, Young Israel of Holliswood and Young Israel of Jamaica Estates, were vandalized overnight Thursday into Friday after an individual allegedly hurled bags containing motor oil and feces at the buildings in what authorities are investigating as a possible hate crime.

New York State Assemblymember Nily Rozic, who represents part of eastern Queens and is American-Israeli, condemned the attacks, describing them as “another outrageous example of the sustained hate faced by our community.”

The NYPD confirmed that a suspect “threw a bag of motor oil” at the exterior of a building housing an Orthodox shul in Queens.

According to police, officers were notified of the incident Thursday afternoon. The NYPD said its Hate Crimes Task Force has launched an investigation into the vandalism.

An NYPD spokesperson said no additional information is currently available as the investigation continues.

Police officials noted that reports from individual precincts sometimes take time to be transmitted to NYPD headquarters, which can delay the release of additional details.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli authorities are increasingly alarmed by what they describe as a growing Iranian effort to recruit members of the chareidi community for espionage and sabotage missions, prompting an unusual response: enlisting prominent rabbanim and influential chareidi public figures to warn their communities about the threat, according to a report published by The New York Times.

The report says Israel’s police, prosecutors, and security agencies—including the Shin Bet—have launched a targeted public awareness campaign aimed at preventing additional recruitment attempts. Rather than relying solely on law enforcement, officials have turned to respected rabbanim and community leaders to deliver direct warnings to their followers about the dangers of contact with Iranian operatives.

According to the report, Israeli authorities have filed more than 60 indictments against Israeli citizens accused of spying for Iran or assisting the Islamic Republic. Those charged come from across Israeli society, including active-duty soldiers, civilians, Jews and Arabs, secular and religious Israelis, chareidim, and even recent immigrants. The assignments allegedly ranged from photographing military installations and spray-painting graffiti to carrying out far more serious operations, including planning assassinations of senior officials.

One particularly striking statistic highlighted in the report is that nine of those espionage cases involved members of the chareidi community. According to investigators, Iranian intelligence casts a wide net through social media, searching for individuals in financial distress regardless of their religious background. Operatives allegedly pose as businesspeople, journalists, or other seemingly innocent contacts before attempting to recruit targets.

The newspaper reports that to combat the trend, Israel’s police, prosecution, and security agencies “decided to take the unusual step of recruiting rabbis and influential Haredi public figures to directly warn their followers and audiences.”

Rav Yigal Cohen, a member of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate Council and head of the Yabia Omer institutions, was described by the newspaper as having “enormous influence on social media.” In a video message cited by the report, Rav Cohen pleaded emotionally with his followers, saying, “I beg you, there is no greater chilul Hashem than to see a Torah-observant Jew betray his people.” He warned that any involvement with Iranian agents would destroy their lives.

The report also quotes Kol Barama radio commentator Yisrael Cohen, whom the newspaper described as a leading chareidi analyst and influencer. He told the Times that the chareidi public “was initially in complete shock when it learned that members of its own community had cooperated with Iran, but very quickly understood the necessity of the warnings and is working to stop the spread of the phenomenon.” According to the report, Cohen also helped connect security officials with rabbanim and other influential figures within the chareidi community.

The awareness campaign has even extended to specific languages spoken within the community. The report notes that Yiddish-language warning videos have been produced by chareidi journalists and influencers, including Mendel Ungar, in an effort to reach more conservative and insulated audiences.

Police and Shin Bet investigators quoted in the report said that ideology is rarely the driving force behind these cases. Instead, Iranian operatives typically exploit financial hardship, debt, or a desire for quick money, offering payment for assignments that initially appear harmless but gradually evolve into increasingly sensitive security-related missions.

According to The New York Times, Israeli officials now view the campaign as a coordinated effort to halt what they describe as an epidemic of Iranian recruitment attempts by leveraging the moral authority and influence of trusted rabbanim within the chareidi community.

{Matzav.com}

Belgian soldiers stationed in Antwerp’s Jewish neighborhood intervened on Friday night to prevent what appeared to be an attack on Chassidim leaving Kabbalas Shabbos, arresting a 28-year-old man who allegedly threatened pedestrians with an emergency hammer and behaved violently in the area.

According to sources, the incident occurred at approximately 8:20 p.m. on Lamorinièrestraat, one of the city’s main thoroughfares. The suspect allegedly confronted several Chassidim as they exited shul, threatening one man with an emergency hammer. He also knocked another person’s hat to the ground, shoved a passerby, and threw traffic signs onto the street.

Belgian soldiers deployed in the neighborhood quickly intervened and detained the suspect before anyone was injured.

Local police spokesman Wouter Bruyns confirmed that the man was arrested at the scene and will be questioned by investigators. “The suspect is known to police, among other things for public nuisance offenses and drug-related crimes,” the spokesman said.

Boruch Hashem, no injuries were reported.

The incident is the latest in a series of troubling episodes targeting Jewish communities across Europe in recent months, as many communities continue to contend with increasing harassment and antisemitic intimidation.

Antwerp is home to one of Europe’s largest and most vibrant chareidi communities, with thousands of Chassidim and bnei Torah.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz forcefully rejected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s suggestion that Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu could be arrested during an expected visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, calling the proposal nothing more than “pure political theater.”

Responding to Mamdani’s comments in a post on social media, Waltz wrote, “Mayor Mamdani: here’s why your threat to arrest PM Netanyahu in NYC during UNGA is not going to happen.”

Waltz then laid out what he said were four legal reasons the mayor’s plan could not be carried out, writing: “1. The US is not a party to the Rome Statute that underlies the ICC, 2. The UN Headquarters Agreement grants diplomatic protections to visiting heads of government, 3. head-of-state immunity applies, & 4. federal authority trumps any local mayor’s wishes.”

He ended his response by declaring, “This is pure political theater.”

Earlier Saturday, Mamdani referred to Netanyahu as a “war criminal” and said his administration was exploring whether the Israeli leader could be arrested if he travels to New York.

Speaking with The New York Times, Mamdani said, “I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague. He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court.”

The mayor added that he is engaged in “active conversation” with New York City’s legal officials regarding the extent of his authority over the matter. “Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do, but we won’t be writing our own laws to that end,” he said.

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, sharply condemned Mamdani’s remarks, accusing the mayor of neglecting his responsibilities at home.

“Mamdani is failing to govern New York. Instead of focusing on his responsibilities as mayor and confronting the rising wave of antisemitism in his city, he has chosen to incite hostility and generate headlines by attacking the State of Israel,” Danon said.

He added, “It will not change a thing. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will come to New York, address the United Nations General Assembly with pride, and stand before the world to state Israel’s truth and its unwavering right to defend its citizens.”

Danon concluded with a jab at the mayor, saying, “And if anyone should be arrested, it is NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani.”

Israeli Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis also dismissed Mamdani’s comments, arguing that the mayor has no legal authority to detain a foreign head of government.

“The mayor of New York City has no authority to order the arrest of the Prime Minister of Israel. Instead of dealing with matters over which he has no authority, he should start running New York City and only New York City,” Akunis said.

{Matzav.com}

Pesident Donald Trump brushed aside Iran’s declaration that it no longer considers itself bound by its memorandum of understanding with the United States, responding bluntly when asked about the move by NewsNation: “I couldn’t care less.”

Speaking during the interview, Trump also addressed the deaths of two American service members in Jordan, calling the loss “a very sad thing.”

He honored the fallen troops, saying they died “in service of our country,” while emphasizing that the United States remains committed to one overriding goal: “never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump’s remarks came after Iranian state television aired comments attributed to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who announced that Tehran would no longer comply with the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding. Khamenei also dismissed the agreement by declaring that Trump’s signature is “worthless and invalid.”

Iran’s announcement followed a seventh consecutive night of U.S. military strikes against Iranian targets. The attacks come as Iran continues violating the ceasefire agreement with the United States while carrying out assaults on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite the ongoing military campaign, Trump has continued to express confidence that Iran ultimately wants to negotiate with his administration. At the same time, he has warned that American strikes will intensify and expand to additional critical infrastructure if Tehran refuses to enter meaningful negotiations.

Meanwhile, Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a fresh warning on Friday, threatening a dramatic escalation if U.S. operations continue.

In an interview with Iran’s state-run IRIB television, Rezaei said that if American attacks persist for another two or three days, Iran will move into an “offensive and destructive” phase.

Rezaei also declared that Iran has abandoned its previous strategy of “both war and negotiation.”

He further warned that continued U.S. military action would prompt Iran to expand its response beyond limited retaliation, threatening that American military bases and personnel would no longer be secure anywhere within established political borders.

{Matzav.com}

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun left Beirut yesterday for Washington, where he is expected to hold key meetings with President Donald Trump and other senior U.S. officials in an effort to bolster the ceasefire with Israel and advance negotiations over Israel’s military presence in southern Lebanon.

The visit follows a fresh round of diplomatic discussions involving Israeli and Lebanese representatives in Italy and marks the first trip by a Lebanese president to the White House since Michel Sleiman met with then-President Barack Obama in 2009.

Officials from Lebanon’s presidency said Aoun’s meetings in Washington will focus on talks “with several American officials on the situation in Lebanon and ways to strengthen the ceasefire,” while also seeking “the withdrawal of Israel from the Lebanese regions it occupies”.

After arriving in the United States, the Lebanese presidency announced that Aoun is scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday before sitting down with Trump on Tuesday.

The diplomatic effort comes as the United States continues to broker indirect negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, which do not maintain formal diplomatic relations. The talks, launched in April, are aimed at reaching a lasting resolution to the conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist organization.

On June 26, negotiators meeting in Washington reached a preliminary framework that calls for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon, after which the Lebanese military would deploy in the area, beginning with two designated pilot zones.

Implementation of the agreement, however, remains dependent on the disarmament of Hezbollah. The terrorist group has flatly rejected both the proposed framework and the negotiations surrounding it.

A U.S. official said that during follow-up meetings held this week in Rome, Israeli and Lebanese negotiators “agreed on the structure and guidelines” needed to move forward with establishing the pilot zones.

Meanwhile, a Lebanese military official told AFP that the Lebanese army has already begun increasing troop deployments and patrols in villages near areas where Israeli forces are still operating, including the village of Froun in the Bint Jbeil district, in preparation for a possible transition.

At the same time, Hezbollah organized a public rally yesterday in the coastal city of Tyre to demonstrate its continued opposition to the diplomatic process.

Although Aoun has agreed to pursue indirect negotiations with Israel, he has repeatedly rejected the possibility of a face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, an idea that has been floated by Trump.

The Lebanese president has insisted that ending the fighting must take precedence over any direct political engagement between the two countries.

Earlier this month, Aoun again dismissed the possibility of meeting Netanyahu, declaring, “If we were to find ourselves in the same room, I would immediately leave.”

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the sudden petirah of Rav Eliyahu Yisroel Abba Shaul zt”l, a 59-year-old resident of Bnei Brak, who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest while on a family outing in Ramat Gan.

Rav Abba Shaul was spending time with members of his family at a park late last night when he suddenly became separated from the group shortly before midnight. After relatives were unable to locate him, a missing-person report was filed, prompting an extensive search.

Volunteers from the ZAKA Tel Aviv Missing Persons Unit were immediately dispatched and established a command center after receiving indications that he had last been seen in the Ramat Gan area.

A short time later, search teams located Rav Abba Shaul unconscious in Wadi Kofar Park (Gan Yedidya) on Hatfutzot Street in Ramat Gan. ZAKA volunteers, many of whom also serve as emergency medical responders, examined him together with arriving medical personnel. Sadly, they were forced to pronounce him dead at the scene. Authorities said he had apparently suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and collapsed.

Following the declaration of death, members of ZAKA Tel Aviv’s Chesed Shel Emes unit responded to care for the deceased with dignity while assisting Israel Police and forensic investigators. His body was transferred to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine for further examination, in accordance with standard procedure.

Nati Czyszynski and Shmuel Ra’ani, overnight coordinators and volunteers with the ZAKA Tel Aviv Missing Persons Unit, described the search effort.

“Immediately upon receiving the report, we headed to the scene together with additional volunteers,” they said. “We understood that this was a sensitive situation in which every minute could be be critical. Sadly, during the search we located the avreich without signs of life.”

ZAKA volunteers Yossi Teitelbaum and Yossi Karkukli, who handled the scene, added, “As soon as death was confirmed, we worked with the utmost sensitivity and respect for the deceased. Together with the police and forensic teams, we carefully attended to every detail to ensure that the niftar would be brought to burial with dignity.”

Rav Abba Shaul was a son of Rav Mordechai Abba Shaul of Yerushalauyim, who served for many years as the librarian of the Porat Yosef Yeshiva in the Geulah neighborhood of Yerushalayim. He was a nephew of Chacham Ben Zion Abba Shaul zt”l, the renowned Rosh Yeshiva of Porat Yosef and author of Or L’Tzion.

Rav Abba Shaul learned in the Beis Shlomo kollel headed by Rav Shemesh in Tel Aviv.

He is survived by nine children.

Tehei nishmaso tzerurah b’tzror hachaim.

{Matzav.com}

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A violent disturbance aboard a foreign airline flight at Ben Gurion Airport ended with the arrest of three young men after they allegedly attacked police officers, injured four of them, and one suspect reportedly shouted at an officer, “I hope October 7 happens to you,” according to Israeli police.

The incident occurred Friday shortly before takeoff, when three men in their 20s—two brothers from Yaffo and a friend from Bat Yam—allegedly became disruptive while on board the aircraft.

According to authorities, the trio began behaving violently and erratically, prompting the flight crew to determine that they posed a serious threat to both passengers and the safe operation of the flight. Police officers from the Ben Gurion Airport precinct were called to the scene to remove them from the plane.

When officers boarded the aircraft and instructed the men to leave, the suspects allegedly refused and became increasingly aggressive. Police said the three cursed at officers, physically assaulted them, and even bit several of them during the confrontation.

The struggle left four police officers injured. Some required medical treatment after the incident. Officers ultimately used what police described as reasonable force to restrain the suspects, handcuff them, and escort them off the aircraft in front of stunned passengers.

During the altercation, one of the suspects allegedly directed an inflammatory remark at a female police officer, shouting, “I hope October 7 happens to you,” a reference to the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel that took place on October 7, 2023. The statement reportedly shocked those at the scene.

The suspects were taken into custody and transported to the Ben Gurion Airport police station for questioning. Police said the investigation remains ongoing and that, depending on its findings, the three will be brought before a judge for a hearing on a request to extend their detention.

Israeli authorities treat violent incidents aboard commercial aircraft as particularly serious because they can jeopardize the safety of passengers and crew. Law enforcement and airport security officials maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward disruptive or violent behavior on flights, and suspects in such cases can face charges including assaulting police officers, endangering an aircraft, and disturbing the public order.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration has taken the unprecedented step of activating a little-known federal court that has never before been used, seeking to fast-track the deportation of foreign nationals designated as “alien terrorists” or certain members of their immediate families.

Earlier this week, the Justice Department filed the first application ever submitted to the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a special tribunal established by Congress in 1996 but left unused for nearly three decades. The July 15 filing remains under seal, and a cover sheet indicates that the contents are classified.

Chief Judge Joan Ericksen, a U.S. District Court judge appointed by President George W. Bush, convened a closed hearing on Thursday before issuing an order directing the Justice Department to revise and strengthen its submission.

“The government could benefit from the opportunity for more thoughtful consideration,” the Minnesota-based George W. Bush appointee wrote in her one-page order. She noted that she had lingering questions about the actions taken by the Justice Department target and how they connect to the laws providing for the removal of “alien terrorists.” An updated response is due Wednesday.

The move marks another effort by the Trump administration to expand its use of existing immigration laws in pursuing deportations. Although the Alien Terrorist Removal Court has never previously been utilized, it became part of a legal dispute last year when the administration sought to quickly remove more than 100 Venezuelan nationals it identified as members of Tren de Aragua, a transnational gang that President Trump designated as a terrorist organization.

During those proceedings, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg questioned why the administration had not attempted to use the specialized court that Congress specifically created for such cases.

“In fact, Congress has an answer for us, doesn’t it? Because they created the Alien Terrorist Removal Court,” he said. “You can always go to the ATRC, which would be a first, but that’s what it’s there for, right?”

Representing the administration at the time, Justice Department attorney Drew Ensign argued that the existence of the tribunal did not prevent the government from relying instead on the Alien Enemies Act to deport suspected terrorists without first obtaining judicial review.

Federal law requires that any request to remove an individual through the Alien Terrorist Removal Court receive approval from the attorney general or deputy attorney general. In this case, the application was authorized by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and must include a factual statement explaining why the individual has been designated an “alien terrorist” and certifying that the person’s continued presence poses a threat to national security.

The statute broadly defines the conduct that may qualify someone for removal under the law. It covers individuals affiliated with designated terrorist organizations, those who “endorse or espouse terrorist activity,” as well as the spouses and children of individuals classified as “alien terrorists.” The law also gives the secretary of state authority to designate someone as an “alien terrorist” if that individual “intends while in the United States to engage … in activities that could endanger the welfare, safety, or security of the United States.”

If the court approves the government’s application, the individual named in the filing would then receive a public hearing to challenge the designation. Any appeal from the court’s decision would be heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Legal scholars have long debated why the tribunal remained unused since its creation. Many have argued that its procedures—which permit judges to consider classified evidence that may not be disclosed to the individual facing deportation—could raise significant constitutional due process concerns.

Although the court has never handled a case until now, it consists of five federal judges appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts, operating under a structure similar to that of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which reviews government requests involving suspected foreign intelligence activities.

In addition to Chief Judge Ericksen, the current members of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court include Judge Timothy DeGiusti of Oklahoma, Judge Karin Immergut of Oregon, Judge Kenneth Karas of New York, and Judge Sara Lioi of Ohio.

The existence of the newly filed application was first uncovered today by journalist and legal researcher Seamus Hughes, who operates the CourtWatch project.

{Matzav.com}

Ontario Premier Doug Ford pushed back today against sharp criticism from President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans over Canada’s handling of the country’s devastating wildfires, calling the accusations “totally unacceptable” and defending his government’s response to the ongoing crisis.

Speaking at a news conference in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Ford said Canada remains focused on battling the massive blazes and criticized the tone of comments coming from American officials.

“We’re trying to get through this,” Ford told reporters during a press conference in Thunder Bay, Ontario, calling the rhetoric coming from some in the U.S. “shameful.”

Ford’s remarks came a day after President Trump threatened to impose additional tariffs on Canada, accusing the Canadian government of “willful negligence” and failing to carry out “basic Forest Management.” Trump argued that the unchecked fires have produced thick smoke that continues to blanket large portions of the American Midwest and East Coast.

“We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein, and the United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, arguing it was costing the U.S. “billions of dollars.”

The president also said he intended to speak directly with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss how Ottawa plans to address the hundreds of active wildfires burning across the country.

According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, there were 955 active wildfires across Canada as of 5:30 p.m. EDT Saturday, including 191 burning in Ontario alone.

Ford described the situation as catastrophic, noting that approximately 655,000 hectares—roughly 2,528 square miles—are currently on fire across Ontario.

“It’s a massive issue,” he said. “My heart breaks for the people who’ve lost their homes or their camps and their businesses.”

The smoke from the fires, along with wildfires burning in northern Minnesota, has prompted air quality alerts affecting more than 100 million Americans. Health officials have warned that the smoke contains microscopic particles capable of posing serious health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations.

The deteriorating air quality has fueled criticism from Republican lawmakers, many of whom contend that Canadian officials have failed to take adequate steps to prevent or contain the fires.

Ford rejected those accusations, saying critics in Washington have forgotten Canada’s history of assisting the United States during its own wildfire emergencies.

“That’s what neighbors do, right?” he said, noting that Canadian hydro crews and water-bombing aircraft helped battle major wildfires in California, Georgia, and South Carolina last year. He added that if the situation were reversed, Canadians would “be down there without hesitation.”

{Matzav.com}

Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is facing criminal charges stemming from an alleged hit-and-run collision over the Fourth of July weekend in California’s Napa Valley, the latest legal trouble in a driving record that spans decades and includes numerous traffic violations and a previous DUI conviction.

Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley filed charges Friday accusing the 86-year-old of misdemeanor hit-and-run involving property damage and making an illegal turn, according to multiple media reports.

If convicted of leaving the scene of an accident that caused only property damage, Pelosi could face up to six months in county jail and a fine of as much as $1,000.

The latest case follows Pelosi’s well-publicized 2022 arrest for driving under the influence after a crash in Napa County. He later pleaded guilty, served two days behind bars in lieu of a possible five-day sentence, and was placed on probation for three years.

Authorities said alcohol was not a factor in the recent crash. Police administered sobriety testing, which showed Pelosi had no alcohol in his system.

Despite the absence of alcohol, the incident has again drawn attention to Pelosi’s lengthy driving history, which stretches back many years and includes numerous citations as well as a tragic crash during his teenage years.

Court records cited this week by The New York Times indicate that, during the 13 years leading up to the July 3 collision, Pelosi accumulated at least eight traffic citations, including speeding violations, running multiple red lights, and driving the wrong way on a one-way street.

According to law enforcement accounts, Pelosi’s brown Maserati convertible struck a parked Tesla in Yountville. Witnesses told authorities he briefly stopped before driving away from the scene.

A bystander subsequently called 911.

Pelosi’s damaged Maserati was reportedly unable to travel very far. Police later found the vehicle partially blocking a driveway along Yountville Cross Road with significant damage to the front passenger side, according to the California Post.

According to the report, Pelosi told officers he believed he had hit something but did not realize exactly what he had struck.

Police administered alcohol screening tests at the scene, and Pelosi passed without issue.

Shortly after the incident, a spokesperson for Nancy Pelosi and her husband released a statement addressing the crash.

“Mr. Paul Pelosi has personally apologized to the owner of the vehicle and assured them that he would take responsibility for the damage to their vehicle,” a spokesperson told the Post. “Speaker Pelosi will not be commenting further on this private matter.”

Pelosi has long been known as an enthusiast of high-performance sports cars. During his 2022 DUI arrest, he had been driving a black 2021 Porsche 911 after leaving a dinner in Oakville with a longtime political donor. The crash occurred roughly six miles from the Pelosis’ Napa Valley residence.

According to the Post, Pelosi attempted to cross State Route 29 when his vehicle was struck by an oncoming Jeep. His blood alcohol level measured 0.082%, slightly above California’s legal limit, and he ultimately pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DUI causing injury.

Following his guilty plea in August 2022, Pelosi was sentenced to five days in jail, ordered to pay $6,800 in fines and restitution, complete a court-approved DUI education program, and serve three years of probation.

Pelosi’s earliest serious driving incident occurred nearly seven decades ago.

In 1957, when he was 16 years old, Pelosi was driving the family’s Corvette during an early morning outing with his 19-year-old brother David near San Mateo, according to a San Francisco Examiner article later republished by the Daily Mail.

News reports from the time quoted a California Highway Patrol officer as saying David warned his younger brother moments before the crash.

“This is a bad stretch — better slow down,” David was reported to have said as the car approached a tight curve on the Skyline Highway.

Authorities said Pelosi attempted to downshift but lost control of the Corvette, causing it to overturn. David Pelosi was killed in the crash.

Reports indicated that David, who was wearing a neck brace because of an earlier diving accident, may have died from strangulation resulting from the rollover.

Paul Pelosi was initially cited for misdemeanor manslaughter, but a coroner’s jury later cleared him of criminal responsibility in the fatal accident.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) is calling for tough action against Canada over the ongoing wildfire smoke blanketing much of the American Midwest, accusing Canadian leaders of allowing a preventable crisis to spiral out of control and saying the United States should respond with sanctions and tariffs.

Speaking Friday on Fox News Channel’s The Ingraham Angle, Moreno argued that Americans are paying the price for what he described as Canada’s failure to properly manage its forests and wildfires.

“[L]ook, it’s very simple — we’re being gassed,” Moreno said. “We are being systematically gassed here in Ohio. We have a very short summer, we’re in peak summer right now, you can’t go outside, it’s absolutely horrifying. You wake up in the morning, you see air quality index that says hazardous, stay indoors. And like you said, this isn’t the first time, it’s not the second time, it’s the third time this has happened, and we’re not going to put up with it. This is totally avoidable. And it’s not due to climate change. It’s due to leadership change in Canada that’s caused this problem.”

Host Laura Ingraham noted that the smoke has spread well beyond the Midwest, describing its impact on the nation’s capital and warning about the broader consequences.

“Well, and we’re in Washington, and I was leaving very early this morning, and you could see the news feeds of the Lincoln Memorial looking toward the Capitol, except you can’t see the Washington Monument,” Ingraham said. “There’s no Washington Monument, it’s just a cloud of smoke, and you’re thinking, who knows what kind of damage this is going to do to vulnerable lungs, and people who have no alternative but to work outside. So, there’s a real health issue, there’s an entertainment, recreation issue, and a business losses, clear business losses.”

Moreno argued that the environmental impact of the fires rivals the pollution produced by America’s entire vehicle fleet over the course of a year.

“Let me put this in perspective, Laura,” Moreno replied. “If you took every automobile in America off the road for one year, we had no cars, no trucks for an entire year, that’s about the amount of pollution that is happening during this two or three-week period of time, and it’s being dumped onto primarily the Midwest. And when I hear politicians like Carney and Ford say that we should help when they could have avoided this problem, it’s disgusting. We’re going to put sanctions on them, that means holding their assets, making sure that they don’t have visas. We’re going to put tariffs, as President Trump talked about it, because we have to make certain that the people who are suffering get compensated. This is an abject, avoidable disaster.”

Moreno concluded by criticizing liberals for frequently warning about climate change while, he argued, remaining silent about the current wildfire smoke crisis.

“And the left, who, by the way, talks about climate change every single day, this is the worst environmental disaster you could ever imagine. Every car in America for a year, pollution in three weeks dumped on the Midwest.”

Yael Shevach, the widow of terror victim Rav Raziel Shevach Hy”d, suffered another heartbreaking tragedy over Shabbos when her home in Chavat Gilad was completely destroyed in a massive wildfire that tore through the Shomron community. Shortly after Shabbos ended, she shared a brief but emotional message revealing the extent of the devastation.

“I have nothing to say, and I have no home,” Shevach wrote in a deeply personal social media post. “Thank you, everyone, for your concern.”

The blaze broke out during Shabbos as part of a massive wildfire that swept through Chavat Gilad, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. The flames engulfed 13 homes, as well as a garage and a lumber storage facility, after spreading deep into the residential area. Security and emergency personnel evacuated all residents as the fire rapidly approached the homes. Shevach and her children escaped safely before the flames reached their house, but the family lost virtually all of their belongings.

Shevach is the widow of Rav Raziel Shevach Hy”d, a beloved resident of Chavat Gilad who was murdered in a terrorist shooting near the entrance to the community in January 2018. Since his death, she has become a prominent voice in Israeli media and public life, choosing to remain in Chavat Gilad with her children as an expression of resilience and continuity.

Following Shabbos, Shevach described the tragedy in a short post that captured the magnitude of her loss.

“Good week to those who can afford one. There was a fire, a fire. The house is gone. We’re okay. Thank you, everyone, for your concern. I have nothing to say, and I have no home,” she wrote.

The fire began Shabbos afternoon near Mitzpe Yishai in the community of Kedumim. Firefighters from the Shomron Fire Station initially succeeded in stopping the flames before they reached the first row of homes in Kedumim, preventing injuries and major property damage there. However, powerful winds quickly drove the fire toward nearby Chavat Gilad, where it spread with tremendous speed.

During the lengthy firefighting operation, two firefighters were injured—one moderately and one lightly—and were transported to a hospital for medical treatment. A resident who had been evacuated also suffered minor injuries after collapsing during the incident. In addition to the homes that were destroyed, one fire engine was completely consumed by the flames, while another armored firefighting vehicle sustained extensive damage from the intense heat.

In recent years, Shevach has become one of the Religious Zionist community’s most recognizable public figures, known for her outspoken views and remarkable strength. Earlier this year, after learning that her husband’s murderer would be released as part of a hostage agreement, she drew widespread attention when she said, “If he is the price for bringing the hostages home—then with love.”

Shevach has also experienced moments of extraordinary kindness amid personal hardship. On one occasion, her wedding ring—which she had continued wearing after her husband’s murder—was lost at Ein Prat and was eventually recovered following an extensive search by Israel Nature and Parks Authority inspectors.

Now, after the fire reduced her family’s home and possessions to ashes, Shevach and her children face yet another painful chapter as they begin the difficult task of rebuilding their lives once again.

{Matzav.com}