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A well-known rav in Netanya was murdered early Wednesday morning after an assailant entered his bais medrash and stabbed him multiple times. Large numbers of police officers and emergency personnel rushed to the scene as the victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition, where he was later pronounced dead.

The attack occurred on Rechov Shimon Bar Yochai in Netanya. Authorities have launched a homicide investigation and are searching for the suspect, whose identity and motive have not yet been disclosed.

Magen David Adom received the initial emergency call at approximately 5:45 a.m. reporting a man who had suffered serious stab wounds.

MDA paramedics and EMTs arrived at the scene and found the rav suffering from multiple penetrating injuries. While performing prolonged resuscitation efforts, they transported him to Laniado Hospital in critical condition. Despite the doctors’ efforts, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital.

Senior MDA motorcycle unit EMT Maor Brantz and MDA EMT Yonatan Yankelvitz described the harrowing scene.

“We found the victim unconscious, without a pulse and not breathing, suffering from severe penetrating injuries to his body. We immediately began lifesaving medical treatment, including prolonged resuscitation efforts, and evacuated him to the hospital in critical condition while fighting to save his life.”

Police remained at the scene throughout the morning, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses as the investigation into the shocking murder continued. Authorities have not yet released additional details regarding the suspect or a possible motive.

{Matzav.com}

The House of Representatives on Tuesday voted down a second effort by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to direct U.S. military operations in Lebanon, rejecting the measure by a vote of 235-189 as negotiations involving Israel, Lebanon, and Iran continue.

The resolution, H.Con.Res. 108, invoked Section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution and sought to require the president to withdraw U.S. armed forces “from any hostilities in Lebanon” within seven days. The proposal, however, preserved ongoing security assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces and allowed continued protection of U.S. diplomatic facilities.

Tlaib’s first attempt to pass similar legislation, H.Con.Res. 84, was overwhelmingly defeated on June 4 by a vote of 324-92. Democratic leaders opposed that version, arguing its broader requirement to remove U.S. forces “from Lebanon” could inadvertently force the withdrawal of American troops assigned to protect the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.

The revised resolution won the support of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Gregory Meeks of New York. Even so, 22 Democrats voted against the measure, while two Republicans broke with their party to support it.

Speaking to fellow lawmakers on Monday, Tlaib argued that the legislation was intended to halt American involvement in Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon.

She said the vote was about “immediately ending all U.S. participation in the Israeli government’s violent assault against the people of Lebanon,” accusing Israel of “ethnic cleansing and territory expansion” through its bombing campaign in the south.

Meeks defended the updated resolution, saying it addressed the concerns that doomed the earlier proposal and would help prevent the United States from becoming entangled in another prolonged conflict. He also said that, to his knowledge, American forces are not currently participating in combat alongside Israeli troops in Lebanon.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., sharply criticized the measure, arguing that it would undermine efforts to achieve peace by benefiting Hezbollah.

Calling the resolution “a win for terrorists,” Mast said it protected the one group continuing to obstruct a diplomatic resolution.

“Hezbollah is the one holdout that is standing in the way of peace between Israel and Lebanon,” Mast said. “The Lebanese government wants the fighting to stop. Israel wants the fighting to stop.”

The vote came amid intensified diplomatic efforts following last week’s agreement between Israel and Lebanon, which links an Israeli military withdrawal to Hezbollah’s disarmament. The Iran-backed terrorist organization has thus far rejected that condition. At the same time, Iran and Hezbollah have insisted that a complete Israeli withdrawal is a prerequisite for finalizing the broader U.S.-Iran framework aimed at ending the conflict.

Because H.Con.Res. 108 is a concurrent resolution, it is nonbinding and would not have required President Trump’s signature even if it had been approved by Congress.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump recently considered the possibility of launching a renewed large-scale military campaign against Iran but has, for now, decided to continue pursuing diplomacy, according to U.S. officials familiar with internal discussions who spoke to The Wall Street Journal.

According to the report, Trump held multiple meetings with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine to examine potential military options. While those conversations included plans for possible new operations, the president ultimately opted to continue giving negotiations a chance.

Officials familiar with the deliberations said the discussions included whether the United States should abandon the current diplomatic process in favor of a broad military offensive. Some within the administration characterized such an approach as “finishing the job.”

Despite keeping military action on the table, Trump reportedly told senior advisers that launching a major bombing campaign now could derail ongoing diplomatic efforts and undermine the broader goal of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

The president has also signaled that he is prepared to allow negotiations to continue beyond the August 18 deadline that had been set for reaching a nuclear agreement, believing that additional time could improve the chances of a diplomatic breakthrough.

In the meantime, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is comfortable authorizing limited, targeted strikes against Iranian assets if Tehran breaches the existing agreements. That approach was put to the test over the weekend, when a series of confrontations threatened the fragile ceasefire reached just two weeks earlier.

Although military contingency planning is a routine part of Pentagon operations under any administration, the newspaper reported that these recent discussions underscore Trump’s effort to balance diplomacy with the credible threat of force. Administration officials acknowledged that a return to full-scale conflict would effectively amount to an admission that the administration’s widely promoted peace initiative had failed.

One administration official told The Wall Street Journal that Trump’s preference remains focused on diplomacy, adding that Iranian leaders would be well served by reaching an agreement with the United States. Neither Hegseth nor Caine commented on the private meetings.

The report comes on the heels of weekend clashes in which U.S. forces twice struck Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran allegedly violated the ceasefire.

On Saturday night, Trump cautioned that the United States could be compelled to “militarily complete the job” if Iran continued violating the ceasefire.

By Monday, however, the president announced that American and Iranian officials would meet in Qatar, despite earlier statements from Iran denying that such talks would take place.

Later reports indicated that U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff was traveling to Doha to participate in the meetings with Iranian representatives.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu said Tuesday night that he intends to form a broad national coalition after the upcoming election, making clear that the chareidi parties would be welcome partners and declaring that he has “zero boycotts” against any legitimate political allies.

Speaking in an interview on Channel 14’s The Patriots with Yinon Magal, Netanyahu discussed his vision for Israel’s next government, his ongoing criminal trial, the toll public life has taken on his family, and the country’s political future.

Asked whether his next coalition would include the chareidi parties and Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, Netanyahu responded unequivocally.

“Of course. I want a broad national government. It’s not a spin. I want to bring about a broad national government, and in these elections it will either be a broad national government led by me, or a narrow left-wing government led by Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan.”

He added, “I accept everyone who is relevant. Zero boycotts.”

Netanyahu also addressed the corruption trial against him, arguing that the prosecution’s case has steadily unraveled.

“This case collapsed years ago when the judges said there was no bribery,” he said. “This will also collapse—you’ll see. There’s nothing there. The judges tried to push for a plea bargain, but I didn’t give in. I’m on a mission.”

He noted that he has already testified 98 times and maintained that the proceedings have failed to substantiate the allegations against him.

Explaining why he previously sought to end the trial, Netanyahu argued that the legal proceedings have deepened divisions within Israeli society.

“The trial tore the nation apart,” he said, claiming it fueled political boycotts, intensified the country’s political instability, and contributed to Israel’s repeated election cycles.

The prime minister also spoke about the personal burden his family has borne throughout his years in office.

He described an incident involving his wife, Sarah Netanyahu, who works as a psychologist in Jerusalem’s religious school system. According to Netanyahu, she spent hours supporting the family of a critically ill woman at Ichilov Hospital, helping them through their final moments with their mother and later assisting the children after the woman’s passing.

At the very same time, he said, demonstrators were gathered outside their home, carrying balloons and issuing threats.

“There were balloons and threats to murder her, and sometimes me as well,” he said.

When Magal asked whether the intense public hostility directed toward him affects him personally, Netanyahu acknowledged that attacks on his family have been especially painful.

“It affects me very much when Sarah, my sons, and everyone around me are hurt. It leaves emotional scars,” he said.

Nevertheless, he said his sense of purpose enables him to continue.

“I’m flesh and blood, but I’m on a mission, and that is stronger than everything. It does affect me, but the mission is stronger than anything else.”

Concluding the interview, Netanyahu said Israel faces critical national challenges that require unity and focus, while reiterating his belief that the legal proceedings against him should come to an end.

“We are facing much greater missions. We need to unite the people. The divisions are deep, and I know what missions and opportunities lie before us. I want to move the country forward. The trial needs to end,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

The family of Rav Aryeh Yazdi says he has no intention of apologizing for or retracting the controversial remarks he made about IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir during Monday night’s protest rally in Bnei Brak, despite widespread condemnation from political and rabbinic leaders.

In comments to Israeli media, the rav’s wife and family defended his statements while acknowledging the public backlash. According to his wife, “The rav does not intend to apologize.”

The controversy erupted after Rav Yazdi referred to Zamir during the rally as, “Cursed, may his name and memory be erased.” The remarks drew sharp criticism from across the political spectrum, including from Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, the Shas party, and senior Shas leader Rav Moshe Maya.

Rav Yazdi’s eldest son, Rav Yehuda Yazdi, said his father’s words stemmed from deep personal anguish rather than hostility.

“My father lives entirely within the four cubits of halachah. He has no interest in the media. When he heard about a chareidi soldier who was placed in solitary confinement because of a ‘Moshiach’ patch, his heart simply broke.”

He insisted that the comments were motivated by concern over the treatment of bnei Torah and chareidi soldiers rather than politics or personal animosity.

“He cannot stand by when he hears what is happening to lomdei Torah and chareidi soldiers. My father has brought dozens of people closer to their Father in Heaven. He does not act out of hatred.”

Rav Yazdi himself said that his remarks had been a “slip of the tongue.” However, responding to the condemnations issued by the prime minister and Shas, he added, “They have done nothing for the bnei Torah.”

Seeking to ease tensions with Shas, Rav Yehuda Yazdi emphasized the family’s respect for the party’s leadership.

“We respect the representatives of Shas. If they have objections, they are welcome to speak with my father. The appearance that has been created is terrible.”

He also expressed confidence that his father’s longstanding friendship with the former Rishon LeTzion, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, would endure despite the controversy. Meanwhile, Rav Moshe Maya issued a public statement stressing, “This is not the way of the Torah to speak in such a manner.”

Sources close to Rav Yazdi said that he does not grant media interviews and said his speech at the rally had been delivered only after consultation with, and with the approval of, rabbanim.

“The remarks delivered at the rally were made after consultation and with the agreement of rabbanim. As a talmid of Maran Rav Shalom Cohen zt”l and Rav Shimon Baadani zt”l, he was asked to convey the message.”

Addressing reports about government funding received by his institutions, Rav Yehuda Yazdi rejected claims that his father personally benefits from significant public support.

“Contrary to the misleading reports, my father receives only about 600 shekels from the state for the kollel. The budgets that were publicized belong to the entire nonprofit organization, which operates many institutions, and not to my father’s institution.”

He concluded with a message of unity, saying, “The Jewish people need to love one another.”

His mother, however, made the family’s position unmistakably clear, declaring, “The rav will never retract the things he said.”

As previously reported, Shas issued an official statement condemning the remarks, saying the extreme comments “do not reflect the views of our rabbanim of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah” and are “contrary to the path of the Shas movement, which was bequeathed to us by Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zy”a.”

{Matzav.com}

The massive protest gathering held Monday night in Bnei Brak continues to generate public debate, as one of its principal organizers, Rav Shabtai Levi, explained the thinking behind the event, rejected attempts to turn it into a political demonstration, addressed the controversy over inflammatory remarks made during the rally, and spoke about what he described as the dangers facing bnei Torah who enter the military system.

In an interview with Yaakov Grodka on Kol Barama’s HaMahadura HaMerkazit, Rav Shabtai Levi, the rav of the Ramat Aharon neighborhood and head of the Halichos Moshe institutions, said the demonstration was organized to express solidarity with bnei Torah who have been arrested over military draft issues.

“We organized this entire protest because the public, and the entire Am Yisroel throughout the country, feels the pain of the bnei Torah,” Rav Levi said. “It is unbelievable that in the Holy Land young men are being arrested, and people cannot walk down the street without fearing that a police vehicle will stop them and hand them over. And for what offense? For learning Torah.”

Rav Levi argued that the military neither needs nor is suited for the chareidi community.

“The framework of the army is not suitable for us, and even the army personnel themselves say this—they do not want us and they have no need for us. After all, of everyone in the army, only about 20 percent are outstanding combat soldiers, while the rest wander around idle in the Kirya. So why do they insist? They intentionally want to assimilate us with them so that the bochur chareidi will ultimately become secular. It will never happen. The Torah of Israel sustains the world. Everyone must know that the true master of this country is not its political leaders but those who learn Torah, because without Torah the world cannot exist.”

Addressing reports that some participants tried to display signs criticizing Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, Rav Levi said he personally ordered the signs removed in order to preserve the gathering’s nonpolitical character.

“We announced from the outset that this rally was completely apolitical,” he said. “It began with mourning over the arrests and the humiliation of Torah. Imagine someone sitting on the floor on Tishah B’Av crying, and another person suddenly starts shouting against the prime minister—is that relevant? Two bochurim met me at one o’clock in the morning and asked why I ordered the signs against Deri removed. I told them, ‘Those signs have nothing to do with this event.’ This place is kodesh kodashim, and you do not bring the mundane into the holy.”

He also defended chareidi elected officials, saying they are working on behalf of the community even if they do not always succeed.

“I do not believe there is a single shaliach tzibbur representing the chareidi public who is not working and fighting for the community. Even if they do not succeed one hundred percent, success comes from Heaven. The fact is that all the members of Knesset and former ministers came personally to support the rally, because in our chareidi world we need only one thing—unity. The secular media behaves like a metzora—it sees a huge white wall and searches only for the tiny black spot. Someone held up a sticker, and we removed it immediately before it developed into something bigger.”

Rav Levi also addressed the controversy surrounding remarks delivered by another speaker during the rally, who used an inflammatory expression directed at the IDF chief of staff. The comments were later condemned by senior Shas leader Rav Moshe Maya.

“That is not a sentence I would have said, and had I known beforehand I would have told him not to say it, because that is not our way,” Rav Levi said. “But out of this enormous rally, to seize on one or two words spoken in the heat of the moment? After all, Maran Rav Ovadia Yosef and Rav Shteinman also spoke very sharply in their time against Lapid because of the decrees. The speaker did not, chas v’shalom, intend to harm the chief of staff personally or call for harm against him. He was protesting the concept of the General Staff—the idea that the military establishment becomes the ultimate authority instead of following Torah and religion. A word like that slipped out, but there is no need to make it into a major story. It is completely insignificant compared to the unity and the Kiddush Hashem that took place there.”

Later in the interview, Rav Levi described what he said are troubling conditions faced by chareidi recruits and detainees in the military system, explaining why, in his view, the traditional approach under which those not learning Torah entered military service is no longer viable.

“Fifty years ago there were not many yeshivos. Someone who was not suited for learning would enlist, and the greatest concern was that he might come out smoking cigarettes,” he said. “Today the situation is completely different. Today, if a bochur goes into the army, he comes out desecrating Shabbos. Why? Because everywhere, including the chareidi units, they forcibly bring in women soldiers. A bochur told me that while serving in a chareidi unit, he refused to look at a female soldier because of tznius, and they punished him with a full day in military detention without food because he ‘refused an order.’ Where has anyone ever heard of such a thing?”

Rav Levi also leveled serious allegations regarding the treatment of chareidi detainees in military prisons.

“A prominent rav told me that, systematically, inside the prison, female guards walk around without proper uniforms and half-dressed in violation of the regulations—and all for one purpose: to secularize the bochurim and make them abandon their beliefs. They place them in situations where they have no choice. That is why I say this: Someone who truly is not learning would be prepared to enlist, but on one condition—that there be a framework established according to the guidance of rabbanim, with the rabbanim responsible for preserving taharas hakodesh, and the army signing on to that arrangement. No rav would oppose such a framework. But the army simply is not willing, because their goal is not recruitment—their goal is to secularize us.”

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Republicans will gather in Dallas this September for what he described as the party’s first-ever midterm convention, a two-day event designed to showcase the accomplishments of his administration while rallying supporters ahead of the 2026 congressional elections.

The convention is scheduled for September 9 and 10, and Trump revealed the plans in a post on Truth Social, calling the gathering unprecedented in Republican Party history.

“For the first time ever, the Republican Party will hold a MIDTERM CONVENTION,” Trump wrote. “It will be in Dallas, Texas — One of my favorite places in the World. It will be fantastic! It has never been done before, and will be a truly Historic Event.”

According to Trump, the convention will serve as a celebration of what he called the “Great American Comeback,” highlighting what he views as the achievements of both his administration and the American people under the America First agenda. He pointed to initiatives including eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay, strengthening border security, reducing costs, expanding domestic energy production, and creating jobs.

“We are going to celebrate the GREAT AMERICAN COMEBACK, and the incredible successes of the American People who transformed our Country through the America First Agenda,” Trump wrote before pointing to policies including no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, stronger border security, lower costs, increased domestic energy production and more jobs.

Trump also pointed to falling energy prices while highlighting his administration’s efforts to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

“Oil Prices are dropping sharply, even as we Denuclearize Iran,” Trump wrote.

The president said attendees will include people from across the nation’s workforce and economy, including innovators, business leaders, manufacturers, first responders, and entrepreneurs. He also promised entertainment and said the gathering would culminate in what he described as “a RALLY like none other.”

The announcement comes as Republicans gear up for the 2026 midterm elections, when the party will seek to maintain control of its congressional majorities. Historically, the party occupying the White House often faces significant headwinds in midterm contests, placing added importance on voter enthusiasm and turnout.

Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters said the Dallas event will highlight Trump’s record while energizing Republicans ahead of the election season.

“This historic Midterm Convention will highlight President Trump’s many accomplishments and unwavering commitment to restoring America,” Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters said in a statement. “This convention will be a Trumpapalooza, where we will showcase the America First agenda, which has delivered the largest tax cut in history and made communities safer. President Trump will unite Republicans around our shared vision, build momentum, and deliver an incredible convention for our Party.”

Trump concluded by connecting the convention to the approaching 250th anniversary of American independence, saying the event would help launch the country’s next chapter.

“America’s 250th Birthday is approaching, and together, we are building the foundation for the NEXT 250 YEARS of American Greatness,” he wrote. “Dallas will take center stage on September 9th and 10th as we celebrate our Nation, our achievements, and our bright future. THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN!”

Israeli police on Tuesday night prevented a planned chareidi protest outside the home of Police Commissioner Danny Levy in Zichron Yaakov by setting up roadblocks at the entrances to the town. Some of the demonstrators subsequently changed course and gathered outside the home of a military judge in nearby Or Akiva.

According to reports, police established checkpoints at every entrance to Zichron Yaakov, stopping and inspecting vehicles in an effort to prevent protesters from reaching the commissioner’s residence. A minibus carrying demonstrators was identified and denied entry to the town. Police Commissioner Danny Levy was reportedly seen visiting officers stationed at the checkpoints during the operation.

Protest organizers said that one of the minibuses diverted to Or Akiva, where demonstrators assembled near the home of a military judge.

Earlier in the evening, the “Black Alert” hotline reported what it described as an attempt to hand over a chareidi draft evader to military authorities on the access road leading to Yerushalayim’s Biblical Zoo. The hotline urged supporters to rush to the scene. According to organizers, after large numbers of demonstrators arrived, the draft evader was released and was not transferred to the military police.

Meanwhile, as Matzav reported earlier, Vizhnitz is planning to hold a quiet protest Wednesday in the form of an atzeres tefillah outside the home of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. Organizers are reportedly seeking official police approval for the gathering.

{Matzav.com}

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has instructed Israel’s Education Ministry to prepare to revoke after-school program discounts for individuals subject to military conscription who fail to report for service, as part of the government’s expanding civil sanctions tied to draft enforcement.

In an update submitted to the High Court of Justice, Baharav-Miara said the new policy is expected to take effect beginning with the 2026–2027 school year. Because of the limited time remaining before the summer session begins, however, the change will not apply to this year’s School of the Great Vacation program.

The attorney general also reported that additional sanctions have yet to be implemented. According to the filing, Transportation Minister Miri Regev has delayed the cancellation of public transportation discounts for those subject to the draft, while the government’s failure to transfer authority over municipal property tax benefits to the Prime Minister’s Office has prevented the revocation of arnona discounts.

The update was filed as part of ongoing High Court proceedings concerning enforcement of Israel’s military conscription requirements. Baharav-Miara noted that in November 2025, the High Court ordered the government to adopt effective enforcement measures against individuals who failed to report for military service, including both criminal penalties and civil and economic sanctions, while ensuring that enforcement is applied fairly and proportionately. After petitioners argued that the government had failed to implement the ruling, they filed a motion seeking to hold the government in contempt of court.

The attorney general also noted that, following the High Court’s decisions, individuals subject to the draft have already been barred from participating in Israel’s subsidized housing lottery program, Dira B’Hanacha. The government is also examining whether to revoke the benefit from applicants currently on waiting lists from previous lottery rounds.

In addition, the Labor Ministry has announced plans to expand the denial of discounts for government-subsidized day care centers and after-school programs under its authority. The Education Ministry has now been instructed to prepare to implement the same policy for the Nitzanim after-school program, which operates primarily in communities with large chareidi populations.

The filing also included updated military recruitment figures. According to the government, approximately 80,000 draft notices were issued to chareidi candidates for military service during the 2024 and 2025 recruitment cycles. Of those who received notices, about 8,000 reported for induction procedures, while roughly 2,900 ultimately enlisted.

The attorney general’s office further stated that there are currently approximately 92,000 individuals who are either subject to military service or are in the process of being officially designated as having failed to report for duty. About 80 percent of them belong to the chareidi community.

Baharav-Miara argued that draft evasion among the general population is “a very limited phenomenon,” adding that most non-chareidi draft evasion cases represent an accumulation of individual cases spanning many years rather than a widespread current trend.

According to the filing, from the beginning of 2026 through June 14, prosecutors filed 294 indictments against individuals officially designated as having failed to report for military service, including 32 involving members of the chareidi community. In addition, between August 2025 and May 2026, 1,136 draft-eligible individuals were tried in military disciplinary proceedings, of whom 424 were chareidim.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli singer and composer Yonatan Razel celebrated a deeply emotional family simchah Monday night, as his daughter Rivki became engaged to Avraham Ben David in Givat Ze’ev just weeks after Razel made a remarkable recovery from a life-threatening stroke.

Razel had been hospitalized in serious condition several weeks ago after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. B’chasdei Shamayim, he recovered and was able to participate in the engagement celebration alongside his family and friends.

Those attending the joyous occasion described his presence as extraordinary, calling Razel “a walking miracle” in light of the dramatic recovery that allowed him to take part in his daughter’s special day.

About a week and a half ago, Razel was discharged from Yerushalayim’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center after spending several weeks hospitalized following the brain hemorrhage.

At the time of his release, the hospital said, “Thanks to the rapid and professional diagnosis and treatment Razel received immediately upon arriving at Shaare Zedek, together with the comprehensive care he received throughout his hospitalization, he has returned to normal, full functioning.”

The hospital added, “We congratulate Yonatan and his family on his discharge from the medical center and wish him complete health and continued creativity and contribution to our cultural world.”

Following his recovery, the Razel family issued a heartfelt statement expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support they received during the ordeal.

“We are filled with gratitude to Hashem for the open miracles He has performed for us. Thank you to the wonderful people of Israel for your prayers and concern for Yonatan’s well-being. And last, but certainly not least, our deepest thanks to the entire staff of Shaare Zedek Medical Center—the doctors and nurses—for their devoted care,” the family said.

{Matzav.com}

A heated Knesset committee session on the arrest of yeshivah bochurim erupted Tuesday when Shas MK Yinon Azoulay launched a blistering attack on Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon, accusing him and the attorney general of pushing Israel toward internal conflict.

Addressing Limon during the discussion, Azoulay charged that the legal establishment was deliberately targeting the chareidi community.

“If you could stop air and oxygen from reaching the chareidim and suffocate them—you would do it. That’s what you’re doing. You don’t care about anything,” Azoulay said.

The confrontation quickly escalated, with Azoulay warning that the policies being advanced by the Attorney General’s Office could have devastating consequences.

“You and your attorney general will bring about a civil war and bloodshed. The blood will be on your hands. Why are you smiling? You should be ashamed of yourselves!” he shouted at Limon.

The clash came amid ongoing political and legal battles over the arrest of yeshivah bochurim in connection with Israel’s military draft policies.

Earlier this month, Azoulay also singled out Limon as the driving force behind legal measures directed at the chareidi community.

“She is carrying out his agenda. He is the brain behind everything,” Azoulay said. “The only thing running through his backbone is hatred—hatred for chareidim, the right, and Netanyahu.”

Azoulay also criticized what he described as the Attorney General’s Office’s unwillingness to engage with lawmakers.

“When we confronted the attorney general, she got up and left,” he said. “They are incapable of dealing with these issues face to face. When they come to the Knesset, the home of the people of Israel, they need to understand that they will not feel comfortable. The goal is for them to understand that there is a legislature, and the legislature has spoken.”

The disruption to genizah collection services in Bnei Brak came to an end Tuesday after the financial dispute that had halted operations was resolved, allowing collection crews to return to work and preventing what officials feared could have become both a serious sanitation problem and a ruchniyus concern.

Collection teams from the city’s Vaad HaGenizah resumed removing genizah bags and emptying collection stations throughout Bnei Brak with reinforced crews, restoring the system to normal operation after several days of inactivity.

The shutdown began after municipal inspectors issued substantial parking fines to the collection trucks. According to reports, the penalties led to liens being placed on the operating organization’s bank accounts, forcing it to suspend collection services.

According to information obtained by Matzav.com, the outstanding debt stemming from the parking tickets was ultimately paid in full. Once payment was received, the lien on the Vaad HaGenizah‘s account was lifted, enabling the trucks to resume their regular routes.

Representatives of the Vaad HaGenizah, however, continue to maintain that the matter had been handled through direct understandings with the mayor’s office in an effort to prevent the collapse of the city’s genizah collection system.

Whatever the precise resolution, the immediate impact for Bnei Brak residents is that the crisis has been resolved. Collection trucks are now working to clear the backlog that accumulated during the shutdown, restoring proper disposal of genizah materials and helping preserve both the cleanliness of the city and the kavod due to sifrei kodesh.

{Matzav.com}

Preparations are intensifying in Vizhnitzer Center for the upcoming atzeres of protest known as Za’akas HaTorah, with organizers planning to transform the area near the home of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara into a functioning bais medrash filled with avreichim engaged in uninterrupted Torah study.

According to organizers, the initiative was ordered directly by the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, who instructed that hundreds of avreichim and bnei Torah arrive carrying gemaros and standers. The goal is to establish a vibrant outdoor bais medrash, conveying the message that the proper response to what participants describe as persecution of Torah is more Torah, more learning, and the powerful sound of kol Torah.

Organizers said the Za’akas HaTorah protest will take on a distinctly Torah-centered character. Rather than a conventional demonstration, participants intend to continue their regular seder halimud throughout the gathering. Leaders in Vizhnitz say the event is meant to give voice to the anguish felt by lomdei Torah, their wives, and their families over what they describe as the imprisonment of bnei Torah solely because of their dedication to learning.

At the same time, organizers say police have raised objections to holding the protest at the planned location near the attorney general’s residence. Sources within the chassidus said a final decision on the venue is expected Wednesday morning following additional consultations with law enforcement authorities.

{Matzav.com}

The Justice Department, joined by attorneys general from 17 states, filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit Tuesday accusing three of the country’s largest egg producers of conspiring to artificially drive up egg prices over a three-year period, while simultaneously announcing proposed settlements designed to prevent similar conduct in the future.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, alleges that Cal-Maine Foods, Hickman’s Egg Ranch, and Versova worked together between 2022 and 2025 to manipulate the benchmark prices published by Urner Barry, a market reporting company whose daily quotations help determine egg prices across the United States.

“No product more quintessentially represents affordability than the price Americans pay for eggs,” Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said.

“These actions prove this Department’s continued commitment to protecting competition and providing real relief for everyday Americans’ pocketbooks,” he added.

According to the complaint, company executives regularly communicated by phone and text message, encouraging one another to submit aggressive bids in order to drive benchmark prices higher. Prosecutors allege the effort was coordinated rather than competitive.

One executive at an egg cooperative allegedly remarked that the companies should “bid like they vote in Chicago, early and often.”

Federal investigators contend the companies agreed on both the timing and volume of their bids and carried out transactions at inflated prices in an effort to influence Urner Barry’s benchmark figures. Those benchmarks are widely used to set wholesale egg prices paid by grocery stores, restaurants, and other major buyers nationwide.

The complaint further alleges that benchmark egg prices “dropped significantly” after the companies were notified in March 2025 that the Justice Department had opened an investigation and ordered them to preserve relevant records.

“Food affordability is a top priority of the Antitrust Division,” former Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi said.

“These settlements resolve years of conduct that dragged on Americans’ finances and their everyday lives,” said Assefi.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole Sarrine said the department remains committed to pursuing companies that unlawfully increase the cost of basic necessities.

“The Antitrust Division is steadfast in our work to protect our nation’s citizens from illegal conduct that makes daily life less affordable,” she said, adding, “We are proud that these settlements will keep egg prices competitive and keep money in the hands of consumers across the country.”

If approved by the court, the proposed settlements would prohibit the companies from sharing information with competitors regarding bidding strategies, pricing decisions, or supply-and-demand data intended to influence benchmark price publications. The agreements would also ban coordinated bidding and trading practices.

The settlements further require each company to establish formal antitrust compliance programs, appoint compliance officers, and strengthen oversight of meetings involving industry cooperatives.

Cal-Maine Foods, the nation’s largest egg producer, denied the allegations.

The company said the communications cited by federal prosecutors involved a former employee, had no impact on egg prices, and were entirely lawful and appropriate under market conditions.

“The period reviewed by the DOJ was a particularly challenging time,” Cal-Maine CEO Sherman Miller said in a statement to The Wall Street Journal.

[COMMUNICATED]

When architect Liran Shukrun, Partner and CEO of Primovitz-Bas, first encountered Givat Hashalvah nearly four years ago, the plan on paper did not yet reveal what the place could become. It looked familiar: another residential plan near Yerushalayim, another hillside with buildings arranged across it. But the land itself was saying something larger. The site sat on a high ridge, facing south, with rare topography, open views toward Yerushalayim, and on clear days, even the sea. The opportunity was not in the drawing. It was in the place.

For Liran, that is where architecture begins. A skilled architect can design a building. The harder work is understanding the story of a place: what belongs here, specifically here, and nowhere else. In Givat Hashalvah, that story began to emerge when the team understood the families this project was being created for: frum families, many from the Anglo world, looking to build a meaningful life in Eretz Yisroel with community, quality, and shared values around them.

That insight changed the master plan. The goal became to make community visible in the architecture itself. Cars, access roads, and technical systems were placed underground so the surface could belong to people. In their place came courtyards, paths, schools, shuls, parks, and shared spaces connected along an east-to-west axis that stitches the neighborhood together. Instead of life being pushed around the buildings, the buildings began to revolve around the life between them.

That is the story inside the plan. Givat Hashalvah is not arranged as a collection of homes with amenities attached. It is shaped as a neighborhood where walking, meeting, davening, hosting, learning, and raising children can happen naturally. The question was never only what could be built on the hill. It was what kind of life the hill was asking to hold.

Explore Givat Hashalvah → https://go.lyo.group/3LxM3tz

The Trump administration has suspended federal funding for New York’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, accusing the state of failing to aggressively investigate and prosecute Medicaid fraud and warning that the funding freeze will remain in place unless significant improvements are made.

In a letter sent Tuesday to New York officials, Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General Thomas March Bell informed the state that millions of dollars in federal funding would be withheld through at least September. Bell argued that New York’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has not produced enough criminal indictments or convictions to justify continued federal support.

The action marks the second time this year that the administration has suspended funding for a state Medicaid fraud unit. It is part of a broader anti-fraud campaign that has included the creation of a federal task force, expanded investigations, delayed funding, stricter oversight of healthcare providers, and new compliance requirements. While the initiatives have affected every state, they have focused heavily on states led by Democrats.

The latest move also follows the administration’s earlier acknowledgment that it had relied on inaccurate figures when launching a Medicaid fraud inquiry involving New York.

New York Attorney General Letitia James immediately denounced the decision and pledged to challenge it in court.

“During my time as Attorney General, my office has recovered over $627 million for Medicaid and was recognized by this very administration for leading the nation in anti-fraud efforts,” she wrote. “We are considering all legal options to stop this outrageous action.”

Bell’s letter, addressed to James and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Director Amy Held, contends that New York has allowed investigations to move too slowly and has failed to obtain enough criminal convictions. It notes that among five comparably sized state Medicaid fraud units, New York recorded the fewest criminal fraud convictions between 2023 and 2025.

Although Bell acknowledged that New York deliberately chose to prioritize “high impact, complex fraud cases” instead of pursuing a larger number of smaller prosecutions, he argued that the strategy failed to deliver adequate results.

“Enough is enough,” Bell wrote. “The New York MFCU has failed to comply with the terms and conditions of its MFCU grant award.”

According to Bell, the funding suspension could be lifted before Sept. 30 if state officials take corrective action and demonstrate that they have addressed the deficiencies identified by the federal government. Otherwise, he warned, the freeze will remain in effect.

New York’s attorney general’s office defended its record, saying the unit has “long been recognized as a national leader in effectively investigating and prosecuting Medicaid fraud schemes,” including by the HHS inspector general itself. Officials also pointed to a 2025 federal report showing that New York was one of only four states responsible for half of all civil Medicaid fraud recoveries nationwide that year.

A spokesperson for the attorney general’s office added that the unit focuses its criminal prosecutions on business owners, corporate executives, and companies whose misconduct results in substantial financial recoveries for the Medicaid program.

The New York State Health Department also criticized the administration’s action.

“Under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul, New York State has taken concrete steps to root out waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid,” said Cadence Acquaviva, New York State Health Department spokesperson, in a statement. “We look forward to the day when these disingenuous attacks end.”

The funding suspension follows a similar decision involving Hawaii. Earlier this month, Bell informed Hawaii officials that federal support for the state’s Medicaid fraud unit would be cut after it went three years without securing a single Medicaid fraud indictment or conviction.

Joan Alker, executive director and co-founder of Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families, questioned the logic behind the administration’s approach.

“If you want to fight fraud, don’t take away money from states’ fraud control units,” she said. “I chalk this up to more political theater to distract voters from historic Medicaid cuts before the midterms.”

For months, the Trump administration has argued that states—particularly those led by Democrats—have not done enough to combat fraud in public assistance programs such as Medicaid.

Federal officials have also required at least five states, four of them governed by Democrats, to provide detailed information explaining how they detect, prevent, and investigate Medicaid fraud.

In addition to New York and Hawaii, the administration has withheld certain Medicaid funds from Minnesota and California over fraud-related concerns. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2024, accused President Trump of using the funding cuts as political retaliation.

The administration’s anti-fraud campaign has also expanded into Medicare. Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, recently announced a nationwide six-month moratorium on enrolling new hospice and home healthcare providers as part of the broader effort to combat fraud and abuse.

{Matzav.com}

An Israeli court has rejected a petition filed by the intelligence chief of the Gaza Division during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, paving the way for the IDF to continue proceedings to end his military service.

The ruling, issued Tuesday by the Administrative Court, dismissed the petition filed by Lt. Col. A., who served as the Gaza Division’s intelligence officer on the morning of the attack. The court also lifted a gag order that had prevented publication of details surrounding the case, at the request of the IDF.

The proceedings against the officer stem from the IDF’s internal investigations into the failures surrounding the October 7 massacre and the findings of a panel headed by Maj. Gen. (res.) Sami Turgeman, which reviewed those investigations.

Based on the panel’s conclusions, the IDF Chief of Staff decided on November 23, 2025, that several senior commanders bore command responsibility for the failures leading up to and during the attack and should face disciplinary action. Lt. Col. A., who was serving as the Gaza Division’s intelligence chief at the time, was among those identified.

After the deputy chief of staff recommended terminating the officer’s career service commitment, the IDF began formal proceedings to consider his dismissal. Meetings of the review committee were scheduled several times but were postponed following requests submitted by the officer.

On March 23, 2026, Lt. Col. A. petitioned the court to prevent the committee from convening. A day later, the court temporarily halted the proceedings and imposed a publication ban while it considered the case.

In its ruling Tuesday, the court found that the IDF had acted lawfully and within its authority in initiating the dismissal process. The judges also ruled that the proceedings were properly based on the deputy chief of staff’s opinion and on findings attributing professional errors, operational failures, and command responsibility to the officer.

The court further held that IDF regulations permit the termination of career military service in cases involving professional or command failures and determined that the officer’s right to present his arguments had been fully protected throughout the process.

Following the ruling, the IDF announced that it will immediately resume the administrative proceedings to determine whether to terminate the military service of the officer who served as the Gaza Division’s intelligence chief during the October 7 attack.

A new international initiative aimed at weakening Hamas’ grip on Gaza is expected to begin within weeks, with the launch of humanitarian zones in areas outside the terrorist group’s control. The pilot program will reportedly start in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood near Rafah and is intended to separate Gaza’s civilian population from Hamas while expanding humanitarian assistance.

According to a report in Yisroel Hayom, preparations for the project are already underway. Under the plan, a multinational force operating under the Peace Council will deploy to Israel in the coming weeks and establish itself at a newly constructed base near the Gaza Strip. Those personnel are expected to be equipped with non-firearm weapons for maintaining public order while securing the humanitarian compounds.

At the same time, the Peace Council is reportedly identifying sites in communities bordering Gaza where large logistical warehouses will be established. These facilities are expected to serve as supply hubs for food, medicine, and other essential goods destined for the humanitarian shelters, with the goal of reducing Gaza civilians’ dependence on Hamas.

The initiative is based on Article 17 of the Trump agreement, which provides for temporary rehabilitation in areas cleared of Hamas control. According to officials involved in the plan, permanent reconstruction materials such as concrete will not be introduced at this stage. Instead, temporary housing units and essential public services will be provided.

The broader strategy envisions a two-pronged campaign. While the IDF continues expanding its operational presence beyond the so-called Yellow Line and further reducing Hamas-controlled territory, the Peace Council will seek to draw civilians into the new humanitarian zones, gradually depriving Hamas of its population base, territory, and resources.

The proposal has generated significant debate. Some residents of communities near Gaza argue that the plan should not proceed as long as Hamas remains armed and refuses to disarm. Others, including senior government officials and former high-ranking IDF officers, contend that isolating Hamas from the civilian population offers the best chance of dismantling the organization.

Security experts have nevertheless warned of potential risks. Although the plan provides for freedom of movement into and out of the humanitarian zones, critics caution that Hamas could exploit that freedom to maintain influence over civilian movement, similar to what they say occurred around previous aid distribution sites.

The Peace Council has also reportedly adopted a firm position regarding Gaza’s future governance. According to officials familiar with the discussions, neither the proposed technocratic committee nor the Palestinian Authority will be permitted to assume responsibility in Gaza while Hamas remains armed.

Those officials said that under the framework of the U.N. Security Council resolution and President Trump’s 20-point plan, the Palestinian Authority would not return to Gaza without major reforms, while the technocratic committee would not administer Hamas-controlled areas in order to avoid creating what they described as a “Lebanon model,” in which an armed group effectively dominates the state. Instead, the Peace Council and the committee would oversee only limited areas brought under the new framework. As one official put it, “No one intends to wait for Hamas.”

Meanwhile, the report says the U.S. administration continues to oppose a return to large-scale Israeli military operations in Gaza. In response, the IDF has reportedly intensified its campaign of targeted eliminations aimed at weakening Hamas. Israeli officials also insist that, despite residents’ concerns, the military will not withdraw from the Yellow Line and instead intends to deepen its operational hold in those areas.

Summarizing the government’s approach, one senior official said, “We are maneuvering within the American restrictions, increasing the pace of targeted eliminations while remaining below the threshold of international criticism—and that will continue as long as Hamas is unwilling to disarm.”

{Matzav.com}

A maggid shiur was rescued Monday evening after becoming lost and suffering minor injuries during a hike with his talmidim in the Santa Monica Mountains near Malibu, California. The dramatic rescue followed more than four hours of searching and ended with an airlift just before sunset.

According to those who took part in the outing, the group had been hiking together when the maggid shiur began feeling unwell. He told the bochurim that he would remain near the trailhead while they continued the hike.

When the group returned to the agreed-upon meeting point, however, the maggid shiur was nowhere to be found.

Because the remote area had little or no cellphone reception, the bochurim were unable to contact him or immediately call for help. Once authorities were notified, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department launched a large-scale search involving ground search-and-rescue teams as well as aerial units.

After searching for more than four hours, rescue crews located the missing maggid shiur shortly before sunset.

Authorities determined that he had fallen while walking and sustained only minor injuries, including scrapes and other superficial wounds.

Given the rugged terrain, sheriff’s officials concluded that the safest way to evacuate him was by helicopter. He was airlifted from the mountains while conscious and listed in stable condition with minor injuries.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu discussed the possibility of renewed Jewish communities in Gaza, escalating threats from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Israel’s security coordination with Egypt during a wide-ranging interview Tuesday evening on Channel 14’s The Patriots.

Asked about Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s recent assertion that preparations are underway to establish three Jewish communities in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu declined to confirm or deny the claim, saying it is not always wise to publicly discuss sensitive strategic matters.

“The big question is, do you need to act or to speak? First and foremost, you need to be prepared to act and to speak, and sometimes it is best to separate the two. Therefore, I will not add anything further on this matter.”

The prime minister said Israel’s leaders must carefully weigh international considerations alongside domestic concerns when making major policy decisions.

“The art of diplomatic navigation is not confined to the domestic arena. We are a nation challenged by an international community facing terrible waves of antisemitism, and we must act prudently,” he said.

Reflecting on his approach to foreign policy, Netanyahu argued that effective diplomacy requires knowing when to compromise and when to stand firm.

“I think I bring a great deal of proven experience to this field. That means choosing precisely the areas where you must stand your ground against the world. Where you can say yes to friends, say yes. Where you need to say no, stand up for your interests. I believe we proved this just now in Lebanon. I do not have to defy the entire world at all times and at every single moment.”

Turning to Turkey, Netanyahu said he believes President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s increasingly hostile rhetoric is tied to broader regional developments, particularly the weakening of Iran’s influence.

“I think what is happening in Turkey is a byproduct of Iran’s declining power,” he remarked.

Responding to Erdogan’s recent threats against Israel and his statements about Jerusalem, Netanyahu dismissed the Turkish leader’s aspirations.

“As for the things Erdogan is saying about wanting to destroy Israel and take back control of Jerusalem – I think he has forgotten that the 400 years of Ottoman Empire rule have ended.”

Netanyahu stressed that Israel is fully capable of defending itself against any external threat.

“Today, there is a strong nation here called Israel. There are the Israel Defense Forces, there is a people of Israel, and there is a government of Israel, and he would do well to calm down. We will not allow anyone to threaten our existence or jeopardize our security, and I think we have proven what we are capable of.”

When asked whether Erdogan’s statements worried him, Netanyahu responded succinctly: “Certainly.”

Addressing relations with Egypt, Netanyahu revealed that he has recently held discussions with Egyptian officials regarding security issues and implementation of existing agreements.

“I held discussions with the Egyptians and told them what I expect to be done, and some of it is already being carried out. These are matters that simply amount to fulfilling the agreement between us,” he said.

Netanyahu added that safeguarding Israel’s borders remains a top priority while noting that shifts in regional influence are constantly reshaping the Middle East.

“I believe we must secure our borders, but it must be understood: as one power declines, another rises. It has always been this way,” he added.

Closing the interview, the prime minister expressed confidence in Israel’s future and emphasized that the country must continue strengthening its position in the region.

“And do you know which power must continue to rise even faster? The State of Israel.”

{Matzav.com}