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Israeli authorities on Sunday granted city status to the Yerushalayim suburb of Givat Ze’ev, officially making it the fifth Jewish city in Judea and Samaria.

The declaration, signed by Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, head of the Israel Defense Forces’ Central Command, came after initial approvals by the Defense Ministry’s Settlement Administration and the Interior Ministry, Arutz 7 reported.

Givat Ze’ev, located in Samaria some three miles northwest of Yerushalayim, has more than 35,000 residents, and the new municipal status is intended to allow for further growth.

Mayor Yossi Asraf called the move “a historic moment” for Givat Ze’ev, saying city status would help strengthen municipal services and manage the community’s expansion plans.

“Turning Givat Ze’ev into a city is first and foremost a major growth engine,” Asraf said in a statement cited by Arutz 7. He added that despite the new status, the municipality would seek to preserve the community’s “warm and rural atmosphere.”

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also serves as a second minister in the Defense Ministry tasked with civilian affairs in Judea and Samaria, welcomed the decision.

“The declaration of Givat Ze’ev as a city is part of a broader policy we have been leading in recent years to reinforce and strengthen settlement through the establishment of dozens of new communities, the legalization of farms, declarations of state land and now a new city—Givat Ze’ev,” Smotrich stated.

Yisrael Ganz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, the umbrella organization representing Judea and Samaria residents, noted that Givat Ze’ev had become the fifth city in the region, after Modi’in Illit, Beitar Illit and Ma’ale Adumim in Judea, and Ariel in Samaria.

“Thousands of families have chosen to build their homes in Givat Ze’ev over the years, and it has grown into a thriving city of more than 35,000 residents,” Ganz said.

“We will continue to strengthen the settlement not through words but through actions, and ensure continued development and construction throughout Judea and Samaria,” he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s government has led an unprecedented drive to expand Israel’s control of Judea and Samaria, having approved tens of thousands of homes and dozens of new communities in the past three-and-a-half years. JNS

{Matzav.com}

The Knesset is entering what could be its final days before dissolution, with the coalition launching an aggressive legislative blitz aimed at passing nine major bills in just 84 hours. Several of the measures carry major implications for the chareidi community and Israel’s political landscape, setting up a frantic race against the clock.

The Knesset plenum is scheduled to convene today at noon, with the Basic Law: Torah Study expected to be the first bill brought to the floor for its second and third readings. Because it is a Basic Law, the legislation will require the support of at least 61 members of the Knesset to become law.

Behind the scenes, coalition parties are locked in a battle over the legislative agenda, each pushing to ensure that its highest-priority bills are considered first. With limited time remaining before the Knesset is expected to dissolve, there is growing concern that not every measure will make it through the legislative process by week’s end.

Among the bills the coalition hopes to pass are the Basic Law: Torah Study, legislation freezing the arrests of bnei yeshiva and granting relief to draft evaders, the bill separating the role of the attorney general, the academic separation bill, kashrus reform, communications reform, the regional broadcasting bill, and several election-related measures dealing with campaign financing and election procedures.

For the chareidi parties, the two centerpiece bills are the Basic Law: Torah Study and the legislation suspending the arrests of bnei yeshiva. Their passage is viewed as the coalition’s final major test before the chareidi public following months of tension over the draft law and the enforcement measures directed at yeshiva students.

Meanwhile, the election timetable was finalized Sunday night. Political parties will submit their candidate lists on September 7, Israelis will head to the polls on October 27, and official election results are expected to be released on November 4.

The central question now is whether the coalition can muster the votes needed to complete its ambitious legislative agenda before the Knesset dissolves—or whether some of its most significant proposals will be left unfinished.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Securities Authority has launched a criminal investigation into businessman Mr. K. over allegations that he raised more than NIS 200 million from hundreds of investors—many of them from the chareidi community—for a gold mining venture in Ethiopia. Investigators suspect a range of serious financial offenses, though Mr. K. has not been charged and is presumed innocent.

The Israel Securities Authority announced that it has opened a public investigation into Mr. K. on suspicion of committing multiple economic crimes in connection with fundraising efforts for an Ethiopian gold mining project. According to investigators, Mr. K. raised more than NIS 200 million from 219 investors over an eight-year period.

Authorities say the investigation focuses on suspected violations that include offering and selling securities without a legally required prospectus, in violation of Israel’s Securities Law, as well as obtaining money by fraud under aggravated circumstances, theft by an authorized agent, and offenses under anti-money laundering legislation. The alleged conduct is said to have occurred between 2018 and 2026.

For several years, Mr. K. reportedly solicited investments in Ethiopia-based YMG Gold Mining, using companies under his control, including Lakach Investments Ltd. and Dakaria Investments Ltd. As owner and senior executive of those firms, he allegedly played a central role in raising capital and providing investors with updates regarding the progress of the mining operation.

According to investigators, Mr. K. primarily targeted members of the chareidi community, offering them investment opportunities while allegedly promising that their money would double within four years. Authorities further suspect that some funds received from newer investors were used to repay earlier investors.

Investigators also allege that investors were misled through false representations and that Mr. K. exceeded the authority granted to him regarding how invested funds were to be used.

The Securities Authority stated that on February 1, 2026, Mr. K. was instructed to cease raising additional investments after regulators suspected he was offering securities to the public without an approved prospectus. Despite that directive, authorities believe he continued soliciting additional funds.

The investigation remains in its early stages. The allegations against Mr. K. have not been proven in court, and he is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

A sprawling homeless encampment stretching across 12 blocks on Manhattan’s West Side continues to grow, with residents and workers warning that theft, drug activity, and prostitution have become commonplace in the area as city officials appear unable—or unwilling—to stop its expansion, the New York Post reports.

The makeshift settlement now runs along 11th Avenue from West 34th Street to West 46th Street. Dozens of tents and improvised shelters line the sidewalks, creating an increasingly troubling scene for neighborhood residents, employees, and the many tourists visiting the nearby Intrepid Museum. Despite the encampment’s growth, critics say City Hall has failed to intervene, while police vehicles routinely pass through the area without taking action.

“We cant get rid of them,” one city parks enforcement officer said Sunday. “These ones here are stealing everything. They stole our key for the hose. They stole our ladder. They take what they can. And there are escorts in there too. Prostitutes. I see them, they’re right there.

“Definitely getting worse,” she said. “People stopped parking here. People are scared to park here.”

According to local workers, some of those living in the encampment have furnished their makeshift homes with stolen couches and expensive electronics. They also claim stolen property—including Broadway theater lighting equipment and high-end telescopes—is openly displayed, while narcotics are reportedly sold to sex workers operating within the camp or inside nearby public restrooms.

Neighbors said one particular tent has become a regular gathering place where prostitutes frequently stop throughout the day, either to meet customers, purchase drugs, or both.

“This is crazy,” said one supervisor at the nearby Jacob Javits Center. “The cops and the sanitation guys and the outreach guys, they clean up one spot and after that day, the next day they’re over here. Then they’re over there. They’re kind of just spreading around.

“The scariest parts are on 36th and 37th right now,” he said. “It’s just heroin addicts.”

“It stinks,” a Javits maintenance worker added. “They were setting up in the park at 3 this morning and it’s just too much. It’s getting bad again, very bad.

“We kicked them out, now they’re over here,” he said. “One thing is for sure though, there are more today than there were last month, that’s for sure.”

The New York Post first highlighted the growing encampment in a report published Friday, drawing renewed attention to conditions that residents say have steadily deteriorated.

One man living in the encampment even praised Mayor Zohran Mamdani, calling him “awesome” for allowing the settlement to remain and for ending the police sweeps that had previously dismantled similar homeless camps.

On Sunday, NYPD patrol cars continued to drive through the neighborhood without stopping. City Hall did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment about the situation.

Public complaints, however, have continued to mount. City records show that calls to the city’s 311 hotline regarding homeless-related issues in the area have risen to 48 so far this year, compared to 40 during all of 2025.

Of the 48 complaints logged this year, 28 involved homeless individuals in need of assistance, while the remaining 20 specifically focused on the expanding encampment. Thirty of those calls were placed during the past month alone, with another eight already recorded this month.

By comparison, last year saw 40 total 311 calls from the neighborhood, including 36 requests for assistance involving homeless individuals and only four complaints directly related to the encampment itself.

Business and civic leaders also expressed concern that the growing settlement is damaging both the city’s image and public safety.

“Most people would agree that leaving people on the street indefinitely isn’t compassion, it’s neglect,” said Steve Fulp, CEO for the nonprofit Partnership for the City of New York. “We’ve seen in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco that letting encampments grow unchecked fails the homeless and erodes quality of life for everyone else.

“The right approach for the city pairs real services with the timely actual removal of encampments that pose safety risks,” Fulp said. “We aren’t seeing that here and these encampments can grow quickly if a balanced policy isn’t pursued which is the concern here.”

Cristyne Nicholas, chair of the New York State Tourism Advisory Council and a gubernatorial appointee of Gov. Kathy Hochul, said the deteriorating conditions near one of the city’s premier attractions are harming New York’s reputation with visitors.

“The Intrepid Museum is one of New York’s greatest tourist attractions, drawing millions of visitors each year,” she said. “Tourists are forced to walk around squalor and stench. I hope the mayor focuses on this, as he’s promoted tourism during the World Cup. He understands tourism.

“Maybe there’s a disconnect here” added Nicholas, the former head of the city’s tourism agency. “We want visitors to feel safe and welcome.”

Photo by Luiz C. Ribeiro for the NY Post.

{Matzav.com}

One of Yerushalayim’s most iconic shuls is preparing for a major transformation. The historic Zichron Moshe shtieblach will soon undergo an extensive renovation and expansion project that will include the construction of a new network of shtieblach on the ground floor, modeled after the renowned Itzkowitz shul in Bnei Brak.

The shul recently completed an initial phase of renovations, including the installation of new cabinets and long-overdue repairs throughout the building. Following the petirah of the mara d’asra, Rav Aharon Fischer zt”l, a new committee was appointed under the leadership of the current mara d’asra, Rav Yisroel Fischer, to oversee the affairs of the shul and improve conditions for its many mispallelim and neighborhood residents.

The gabbaim have now unveiled the centerpiece of their vision to modernize and expand the bais medrash. Under the heading “U’leshachlel Heichaleha — Kol Omrim Hodu LaHashem,” the hanhalah issued a special announcement informing the public that, after months of intensive planning and tremendous effort carried out with extraordinary siyata d’Shmaya, the shul is entering a new era of renovation, restoration, and expansion.

The announcement states that substantial portions of both the main bais medrash and the adjoining shtieblach will be upgraded “for the honor of this mikdash me’at and to provide greater comfort for the thousands who frequent this holy place.”

Construction will begin in the lower level of the building, centered around the Pri Chadash shtiebel and the surrounding area. This first phase will include enlarging and modernizing the existing shtieblach, renovating and expanding the restroom facilities, and refurbishing the entrance area.

A key feature of the project will be the installation of an internal staircase connecting the lower level directly to the main bais medrash and the upper shtieblach, allowing mispallelim to move easily between the floors and utilize both areas more conveniently.

Once work on the lower level is completed, renovations will shift to significant portions of the main sanctuary and the upper shtieblach. During that phase, some minyanim and tefillos will temporarily relocate to the newly completed shtieblach downstairs.

As construction is set to begin in the coming days, the gabbaim have issued an urgent request to anyone storing personal belongings in the affected areas.

“With construction beginning b’ezras Hashem in the coming days, a complete evacuation will take place of all contents located in the Pri Chadash shtiebel, the Kahanovitch shtiebel, throughout the lower floor, the corridors near the restroom area, and all private storage cabinets. The entire area must remain completely empty throughout the construction period.”

Invoking the principle that “HaTorah chasah al mamonam shel Yisroel,” the gabbaim urged mispallelim to remove their belongings immediately.

“Accordingly, we respectfully request and strongly urge anyone with belongings in the above-mentioned areas to remove them immediately and take them home, and not relocate items to other areas of the shul.”

The hanhalah also announced that a special suggestion box will soon be installed, allowing mispallelim to submit ideas, recommendations, and comments regarding the renovation project for the gabbaim overseeing the work.

{Matzav.com}

A highly unusual moment unfolded on Channel 14’s popular program The Patriots when host Yinon Magal and members of the panel recited Kaddish in memory of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham.

The tribute followed a halachic consultation with senior posek Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, who ruled that Kaddish could be recited for a non-Jew, provided that a Mishnah was studied beforehand. Before reciting Kaddish, the panel learned a passage from Pirkei Avos.

During the broadcast, Magal told viewers that he had personally consulted Rav Zilberstein regarding the issue.

“I consulted Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, the leading halachic authority, about whether it is permissible to say Kaddish for a non-Jew,” Magal said. “He said that we could first study Mishnah, Mishnah, Mishnah, and afterward we would recite Kaddish in memory of Lindsey.”

In accordance with that ruling, Magal read a Mishnah from Pirkei Avos (2:12): “Rav Yosi says: Let your fellow’s property be as precious to you as your own; prepare yourself to study Torah, for it is not an inheritance to you; and let all your deeds be for the sake of Heaven.”

Afterward, the panel joined him in reciting Kaddish Shaleim for the elevation of the soul of “Lynn ben Florence, James Graham.”

The tribute included the full text of Kaddish, beginning with “Yisgadal v’Yiskadash Shemei Rabbah” and concluding with “Oseh Shalom Bimromav.”

At the conclusion, Magal thanked the panelists, saying, “Shkoyach,” before adding, “May his memory be blessed.”

{Matzav.com}

The wife of a yungerman who was arrested after reporting to an IDF induction office to resolve his draft status is speaking publicly for the first time, describing what she says was an unexpected arrest, humiliating treatment in military prison, and the emotional toll the ordeal has taken on their family.

Yael Ben David, whose husband Nehorai Ben David is a yungerman from Bat Yam and the father of three young children, said in an interview that the family never imagined he would be arrested when he reported to the draft office. According to her, he went there solely to regularize his status, only to be taken into custody upon arrival.

“They set a trap for him,” she said. “They told him to come and resolve his status… and without any prior warning, they simply arrested him.”

According to Yael, her husband was handcuffed immediately after his arrest and informed that he would serve a 20-day sentence in military prison.

“They put handcuffs on him and told him, ‘You now have 20 days in prison to think about which unit you’re going to enlist in,'” she recounted.

She explained that her husband had received repeated notices and letters instructing him to resolve his status and ultimately decided to report out of concern that he might otherwise be arrested unexpectedly during his daily routine.

Yael also described what she said were the difficult first days following his incarceration, claiming he was not permitted to contact her after arriving at the military prison.

“When he first entered the prison, they didn’t even allow him to speak with me,” she said.

Only after approximately 24 hours was he able to make a brief telephone call, during which he described the conditions of his confinement. According to Yael, he was initially placed in a separate housing unit before later being transferred to the regular prison wing after a formal complaint was filed.

She also leveled serious allegations regarding the treatment her husband has received while in custody.

“He told me they treat chareidim there with real contempt,” she said.

According to Yael, her husband told her he was forced to stand for extended periods without explanation, was prevented from participating in tefillah b’tzibbur, and even had the bookmarks removed from the seforim he brought with him.

“He told me, ‘I’ve never been treated with such disrespect in my life,'” she said, adding that he believes his appearance as a ben Torah contributed to the way he was treated.

She said the family’s hardship extends well beyond the prison conditions themselves. Her husband, she explained, is permitted only a three-minute phone call each day.

“We don’t even have enough time to say hello and goodbye before they disconnect the call,” she said.

According to Yael, the family has retained legal counsel and is working to ensure that his rights are protected, including seeking greater opportunities for communication between the couple.

Nehorai Ben David remains in military prison as his family awaits further developments. During the interview, it was noted that any official response from the relevant authorities regarding the allegations would be published in full if and when it is received. In the meantime, the family says it hopes that by sharing its story publicly, greater attention will be drawn to what it describes as the conditions of confinement and treatment of chareidi detainees.

{Matzav.com}

The British government announced Monday that it will invest more than £250 million (approximately $335 million) over the next three years to strengthen security for Jewish communities across the country following a surge in antisemitic attacks and threats.

The funding package will finance the deployment of more than 500 additional police officers throughout England and Wales, with an increased focus on protecting Jewish neighborhoods, shuls, schools, and community institutions, according to the government.

The announcement comes after a series of attacks targeting Jewish sites in recent months. Among the most alarming incidents was the arson attack in March that destroyed four Jewish community ambulances. A month later, British authorities raised the nation’s terrorism threat level from “substantial” to “severe” following an antisemitic stabbing attack in north London.

The latest funding initiative comes in addition to the £25 million emergency package announced after the April stabbing attack. Under the new plan, roughly 300 officers will be assigned to London, while another 80 will serve Greater Manchester, where a shul was attacked last year. An additional £43 million will be distributed to police forces responsible for other regions with sizable Jewish populations.

“The rise in antisemitism we ⁠have seen in recent years is a test of our values ⁠as ⁠a country and tackling it has been central to my leadership from day one,” outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in Monday’s statement.

London’s Metropolitan Police will receive £86 million under the plan, while another £59 million has been designated to enhance the country’s counterterrorism policing efforts.

Officials said police will increase patrols during periods of heightened concern, providing a stronger visible presence in vulnerable areas while working to deter hate crimes and antisemitic attacks before they occur.

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The United States dramatically intensified its military campaign against Iran overnight, launching a new wave of strikes targeting military infrastructure after Iranian forces continued threatening freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command said the operation was intended to further weaken Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial shipping in one of the world’s most critical waterways.

According to U.S. Central Command, American forces began carrying out coordinated strikes late Sunday night against military targets across Iran in response to Tehran’s ongoing efforts to disrupt maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

For the first time in the current conflict, U.S. forces targeted Iranian air defense systems, coastal radar installations, missile and drone capabilities, and fleets of small attack boats. The operation involved American fighter jets, U.S. Navy warships, one-way attack drones, and unmanned naval vessels.

Iranian media reported a series of explosions overnight, including in the strategic port city of Bandar Abbas, which overlooks the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command said President Donald Trump personally authorized the operation to punish Iranian forces for interfering with international shipping through the vital waterway.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it retaliated by launching missiles and drones at Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, asserting that fuel depots and ammunition storage facilities were set ablaze. Iranian officials described the attack as the opening phase of their response to American strikes on military facilities along Iran’s southern coastline.

Air raid sirens also sounded in Bahrain early Monday after another suspected Iranian attack was detected.

The latest exchange of attacks has disrupted commercial aviation across the Gulf region. Dubai International Airport reported widespread delays on major international routes, with hundreds of flights delayed and dozens canceled.

A CENTCOM spokesman told CNN that, before the American strikes commenced, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard once again fired on a merchant vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The spokesman said U.S. military aircraft successfully intercepted and destroyed an Iranian cruise missile as well as an attack drone.

In a statement, U.S. Central Command said the latest operation was designed to “continue degrading Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”

Iranian media reported one fatality and four injuries following an American strike on a water pumping station in the country’s southwest. Additional explosions were reported in Ahvaz, Mahshahr, and near Bushehr.

Before the latest American offensive, Israeli officials had assessed that Iran was unlikely to attack Israel directly out of concern that doing so would trigger a far broader regional war. An Israeli official warned, however, that any Iranian attack on Israeli civilians or targets could rapidly alter the situation.

Following the U.S. strikes, Iran warned Gulf nations that any country serving as a launching point for attacks against Iran would become “a legitimate target.” Iran’s Foreign Ministry declared, “Iran will defend its sovereignty against American military aggression and against any other aggressor. The source of attacks against Iran will become a legitimate target within the framework of the defensive operations of our armed forces.”

Tehran also strongly condemned the latest U.S. military action, accusing Washington of sabotaging months of diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing regional tensions, according to a statement issued by Iran’s Foreign Ministry.

An American official also disclosed overnight that approximately 20 commercial vessels safely transited the Strait of Hormuz during the past 24 hours under coordination with the U.S. military. The official added that several other ships crossed the strategic waterway without coordinating with Washington, according to Axios.

{Matzav.com}

As the Knesset moves toward dissolution and Israel heads for new elections, MK Yitzchok Pindrus expressed optimism that the proposed Arrest Freeze Law could provide immediate relief for bnei yeshivah, while explaining that the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study is intended to serve as the legal foundation for future legislation.

Speaking about the two measures currently being advanced by the chareidi parties, Pindrus said the Arrest Freeze Law would have an immediate practical impact. “The Arrest Freeze Law is supposed to have an immediate effect,” he said. “I hope it truly will have an immediate effect, and that the Elul zeman can begin in peace and security.”

Pindrus explained that while the Basic Law: Torah Study is not expected to resolve the issue overnight, it is designed to establish a constitutional framework upon which future legislation regulating the status of bnei yeshivah can be built.

At the same time, he cautioned that even if both bills become law, the legal battle will be far from over. He argued that Israel is currently in the midst of an open confrontation between the elected branches of government and the country’s legal establishment.

“The judicial system is lined up on one side, the bureaucracy is lined up on that same side… and they are fighting head-on,” he said.

Addressing the future of the Torah world, Pindrus stressed that much work will remain even after the elections to achieve a lasting solution.

“We will have to do our hishtadlus to ensure that the Torah world continues to flourish,” he said.

He added that the proper response to the current challenges is to continue following the guidance of gedolei Yisroel.

“If we continue to walk alongside the elders, then, with Hashem’s help, we will get through this crisis as well.”

Later in the interview, Pindrus reflected on the yahrtzeit of Maran Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, zt”l, sharing personal memories of the revered posek hador, whom he described as someone whose entire life revolved around Torah.

According to Pindrus, every decision Rav Elyashiv made was guided by a single question: “What does the Torah want from me now? Not what I want to do, not what I think would be good to do… but what does the Torah want me to do in this situation.”

Pindrus said that mindset defined Rav Elyashiv throughout his life.

He also recalled Rav Elyashiv’s legendary daily schedule and extraordinary diligence in Torah study until his final days.

“You could set your watch according to Rav Elyashiv’s daily schedule,” Pindrus said.

He recounted the testimony of a physician who examined Rav Elyashiv in his later years and remarked that the X-rays of his back could not possibly belong to someone who spent countless hours bent over a Gemara.

“It simply couldn’t be,” the doctor reportedly said, underscoring the remarkable endurance and unwavering dedication Rav Elyashiv displayed throughout decades of Torah learning.

Concluding the interview, Pindrus returned to the ongoing struggle between the political and judicial systems, noting that opposition to the Supreme Court was once largely confined to the chareidi parties but has since broadened considerably.

“In the past, the battle against the Supreme Court belonged only to the chareidi parties. Today, it belongs to more than half of the Knesset,” he said.

He ended by expressing hope that the merit of Rav Elyashiv would continue to protect the Torah world and Klal Yisroel.

“We have truly reached a point where all we can do is lift our eyes toward Heaven. We do our hishtadlus—there is not much more that can be done.”

Newly reviewed emergency dispatch recordings provide a clearer picture of the frantic efforts made to save Sen. Lindsey Graham after first responders were called to his Washington, D.C., residence on Motzoei Shabbos, where they ultimately performed CPR before he was pronounced dead.

According to The Wall Street Journal, D.C. Fire and EMS personnel were dispatched just before 8:30 p.m. to a home on South Capitol Street—listed in public records as Graham’s residence—after emergency officials received a report of an individual suffering from chest pain.

Graham’s office announced Sunday that the South Carolina Republican died following a “brief and sudden illness.” Preliminary medical findings determined that he suffered an aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Dispatch recordings reviewed by the newspaper indicate that a woman who called 911 told operators she was driving from Baltimore and advised them that the front door of the residence was unlocked. When emergency crews arrived, however, they discovered the deadbolt was engaged and received no response despite repeatedly knocking on the door.

Approximately five minutes after reaching the home, firefighters requested assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department and informed dispatchers that they intended to force their way into the residence.

Roughly 15 minutes later, emergency personnel radioed that CPR had begun, prompting dispatchers to send an EMS supervisor to assist with what had become a cardiac arrest response.

The dispatch audio never identified the patient by name and referred to the individual as being 73 years old. Graham was 71, suggesting the age relayed over the emergency radio was likely inaccurate.

In a joint statement, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Jeffery W. Carroll and D.C. Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Francisco J. Diaz said Graham was pronounced dead at George Washington University Hospital at 10:23 p.m. last night. An autopsy was conducted the following day.

Law enforcement officials told The Wall Street Journal that additional medical testing—including toxicology analysis—could require several weeks before the investigation into Graham’s death is fully completed.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said he hopes investigators conduct “a full toxicology and autopsy” on Graham, noting that the senator’s father died of a heart attack.

President Donald Trump told CNN that Graham telephoned him at approximately 6:30 p.m. after returning from a trip to Ukraine.

“He said, ‘I’m tired because it’s a long trip,’ but other than that he was fine,” Trump said.

FBI Director Kash Patel also confirmed Sunday that the bureau is assisting local authorities in the investigation and has made “every necessary resource available” to support the inquiry. According to The Wall Street Journal, FBI agents were present at Graham’s residence Sunday afternoon as part of that ongoing effort.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Mitch McConnell disclosed Sunday that the medical emergency that landed him in the hospital last month began with a fall that briefly left him unconscious, ending weeks of speculation surrounding the Kentucky Republican’s health and explaining why he has remained away from the Senate.

In a statement, the 84-year-old senator said he lost consciousness for a short time around the incident that led to his hospitalization and has since undergone extensive medical testing to determine what caused the fall. He also revealed that doctors treated him for a mild case of pneumonia and that he has since been transferred to a rehabilitation facility.

“My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages,” McConnell said, adding that he is now “regaining my strength.”

McConnell’s update came just hours after the sudden death of fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. While expressing optimism about his recovery, McConnell acknowledged that he is not yet ready to resume his Senate duties.

“I cannot return to the Senate quite yet,” he said.

With McConnell temporarily sidelined and Graham’s seat now vacant, Republicans’ majority in the Senate has been reduced to 51-47 at a critical time, as the party works to advance President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda, increase military spending, and confirm the president’s nominees.

Addressing why he had remained silent about his condition for nearly four weeks, McConnell said his generation often finds it difficult to discuss the realities of aging.

“Folks of my generation often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with growing older.”

“Even in the public eye, I feel that same instinct — I can’t help it,” he said.

McConnell added that he continues to stay involved in Senate matters by working closely with his staff while recovering. His statement also included a smiling photograph of himself with his wife, Elaine Chao, appearing to push back against online rumors suggesting he had died or was no longer capable of serving.

The senator’s announcement follows growing public pressure for greater transparency. Since his hospitalization on June 14, his office had released few details beyond saying that he was “receiving excellent care” and recovering. As questions about his condition mounted, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear publicly urged McConnell last week to provide the public with an update in a “transparent manner.”

McConnell is scheduled to retire at the end of January, bringing to a close one of the most influential careers in modern American politics. Republicans have nominated U.S. Rep. Andy Barr to succeed him, while Democrats selected former Kentucky state lawmaker Charles Booker as their nominee. Despite his health challenges, McConnell emphasized that he intends to complete the remainder of his term.

“I still have unfinished business to complete on your behalf,” McConnell wrote in the statement addressed to Kentuckians, “and I have every intention of finishing the job you elected me to do.”

McConnell has dealt with significant health issues for much of his life. After contracting polio as a young child, he has long acknowledged that the illness left him with lingering difficulty walking and climbing stairs.

The Office of the Attending Physician to Congress said Sunday that McConnell has “experienced several falls through the year” because of his “post-polio condition.” According to the statement, his rehabilitation program is focused on reducing the likelihood of additional falls.

“A comprehensive evaluation by a multidisciplinary team determined that he had no fractures, cardiac abnormalities, stroke, tumor, or hemorrhage,” the physician’s office said.

First elected to the Senate in 1984, McConnell served as the Republican leader from 2007 until last year, holding the roles of both majority leader and minority leader during that span. Although no longer in leadership, he has remained an active member of the Senate, frequently relying on a wheelchair while traveling through the Capitol.

In recent years, however, his physical condition has become increasingly noticeable. In March 2023, he suffered a concussion after falling at a Washington hotel, forcing him to miss several weeks of Senate business. After returning, he experienced two widely publicized episodes during press conferences in which he suddenly froze and stared silently ahead until aides intervened. The following year, he suffered another fall while leaving a Republican luncheon, spraining his wrist.

{Matzav.com}

New details have emerged regarding an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate President Donald Trump during his visit to Turkey, following earlier reports that Israel had warned the United States about the threat. According to the latest report, it was actually foreign intelligence—not Israeli intelligence—that first detected Iran’s preparations for the alleged assassination attempt, prompting U.S. officials to switch the presidential aircraft before the trip.

According to a report by Yaron Avraham on Israel’s Channel 12 News, foreign intelligence services uncovered indications that Iran was preparing to target Trump while he was in Turkey. The report states that senior Iranian officials viewed the president’s planned visit as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” but the intelligence was passed to American officials in time for security measures to be implemented, including replacing the aircraft designated for the president’s travel.

Last week, The Wall Street Journal, citing Western intelligence officials, reported that Israel had provided the United States with new intelligence pointing to a renewed Iranian plot to assassinate President Trump. According to the report, the intelligence indicated a significant escalation in Tehran’s efforts to target the American leader.

The alleged assassination plot is rooted in Iran’s longstanding vow to avenge the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force. Soleimani was killed in a U.S. airstrike ordered by President Trump during his first term in office, and Iranian leaders have repeatedly pledged retaliation.

Speaking at a press conference in Ankara, Turkey, last week, Trump acknowledged the reported threats against him.

“They want to assassinate the leader of the United States—me,” Trump said. “I saw this morning—I’m on every one of their lists. Every single list. So far, I guess I’ve been a little lucky, but maybe that won’t last much longer.”

The Israeli Embassy in Washington declined to comment on the report. Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not respond to requests for comment, while the White House referred reporters to the president’s remarks made during the NATO summit.

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A growing dispute between Shas and the Religious Zionism Party has brought the planned appointment of approximately 60 community rabbis across Israel to a halt, exposing a widening coalition rift just hours after Religious Zionism delayed final approval of Shas’ kashrus legislation.

The appointments were part of an agreement reached before the last election between Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and Finance Minister and Religious Zionism chairman Betzalel Smotrich. According to sources, the two leaders agreed to move forward with appointing about 60 community rabbis throughout the country. The entire initiative has now stalled after Smotrich reportedly refused to grant the approvals needed to complete the process.

The central point of contention involves rabbinic appointments in Judea and Samaria. Religious Zionism is insisting that additional rabbis in those communities be included as part of the broader package, while Shas argues that those appointments cannot currently be carried out due to technical considerations.

Officials in Religious Zionism say the party has drawn a firm line and will not agree to implement only part of the deal.

“Either there are appointments in Judea and Samaria as well—or there are no appointments at all,” party sources said.

The latest clash comes amid mounting tensions between the coalition partners. Just hours earlier, Religious Zionism prevented Shas from securing final approval of its kashrus bill in the Knesset Committee for Public Initiatives, chaired by MK Ohad Tal, further highlighting the deteriorating relationship between the two parties.

The Knesset has taken a historic step toward formally recognizing Israel’s combat veterans suffering from psychological trauma, as a new bill establishing their legal status advanced Sunday and is expected to receive final approval later this week.

The Knesset Committee, chaired by MK Ofir Katz, together with the Labor and Welfare Committee headed by MK Michal Waldiger, approved legislation that, for the first time, formally defines combat veterans suffering from combat-related trauma under Israeli law.

The bill, which is expected to pass its second and third Knesset readings this week, would establish an official legal definition of a combat veteran suffering from combat trauma within the Disabled Veterans Law. It would also guarantee specialized treatment and rehabilitation through the Defense Ministry’s Rehabilitation Department while expanding benefits, financial assistance, and support services for their families.

Kikar HaShabbos has learned that the legislation was originally developed during discussions surrounding the Basic Law: Torah Study. Lawmakers later decided to incorporate the measure into an amendment to the Disabled Veterans Law, a move that ultimately received bipartisan support from both coalition and opposition members.

During the committee deliberations, lawmakers and government representatives said the legislation is intended to bring Israel’s laws in line with the country’s complex security reality and ensure that thousands of combat veterans suffering psychological trauma receive care specifically tailored to their needs.

Labor and Welfare Committee Chairwoman MK Michal Waldiger welcomed the bill’s advancement, saying, “I am happy to lead a meaningful and moving amendment that is tailored to the complex reality of the State of Israel. Combat veterans deserve personalized care and the best possible rehabilitation, both for themselves and for their family members, whose lives were turned upside down in an instant. They gave for us, and today, through great effort and true justice, we are giving back to them a little so that they can return to life.”

Following the committee’s approval, Netanel Shaked, one of the leaders of the Combat Veterans Forum, thanked MK Moshe Abutbul and the Shas party for supporting the legislation. He described the measure as a historic law that, for the first time, will provide official legal recognition to combat veterans suffering from combat trauma while significantly expanding the system of benefits, compensation, and assistance available to them and their families.

If the bill receives final approval in the Knesset plenum, Israel will, for the first time, formally enshrine the legal status of combat veterans suffering from combat trauma in statute, replacing a system that for years relied primarily on administrative procedures and government policies.

A new organization aimed at uniting chareidi journalists from across the media spectrum is set to be formally launched on Monday at the Museum of Tolerance in Yerushalayim. But even before the inaugural conference has taken place, organizers claim the initiative is already facing an organized effort to discredit and derail it.

Dozens of chareidi reporters, editors, broadcasters, and media professionals representing a wide range of chareidi news outlets are expected to attend the founding convention of the newly established Chareidi Journalists Council. Organizers describe the body as a professional organization designed to support journalists working in the chareidi media. In recent days, however, a series of media reports has fueled speculation that some parties are attempting to undermine the new organization before it even begins operating.

Much of the controversy stems from a recent investigative report aired by Channel 14, which alleged that the conference is being organized by Avi Widerman, whom the network characterized as a prominent left-wing figure. The station later reported that former Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Lau had withdrawn from the event following publication of that investigation.

Organizers strongly dispute those claims, arguing that the reports appear to be part of a broader campaign to tarnish the council by attaching political labels to it rather than addressing its stated professional mission.

They point to the reporting surrounding Rav Lau’s absence as an example. While Channel 14 claimed the former chief rabbi canceled his participation because of its investigation, organizers say the official response from Rav Lau’s office—and subsequent conversations with his staff—confirm that he informed organizers last week that he would be unable to attend because he is currently overseas as part of an official delegation strengthening ties with Jewish communities in the Diaspora.

“Those facts apparently were of no interest to those looking to manufacture a negative headline,” one of the conference organizers said. “Deciding on the facts first and only afterward asking for a response is the exact opposite of journalistic ethics. And if that is the reason the Chareidi Journalists Council is being established, then that alone justifies its existence.”

Organizers also reject claims that the conference represents a political initiative associated with the left, noting that the lineup of keynote speakers tells a very different story.

Among those scheduled to address the gathering are Israel’s Chief Rabbi, Rav Kalman Ber; veteran educator and chairman of the Madaim V’Yahadus network, Rav Ben Zion Nordman; and Dr. Avishai Ben Chaim, who is widely identified with Israel’s political right, traditional values, and the “Second Israel” movement.

“The list of speakers at the council’s inaugural conference completely refutes the claim that this is a left-wing event,” a source involved with the new organization said. “It appears that someone has already decided on a target and refuses to let the facts get in the way. Instead of journalism, we are seeing anonymous actors trying to sabotage an important initiative.”

The source added that Widerman’s Zericha Foundation operates under the guidance of gedolei Yisroel. While Widerman has never concealed his personal political views, the source said those opinions have never influenced the foundation’s work, including its involvement with the journalists’ council.

“It is unfortunate that some have chosen to take sides against chareidi journalists who simply want to establish a professional organization that will provide them with support,” the source said. “Unlike members of the general media, chareidi journalists currently have no professional body standing behind them.”

According to the organizers, the council’s mission is entirely professional and is intended to address a growing need within the chareidi media. They say that in recent years, chareidi journalists have increasingly faced threats, pressure campaigns, and lawsuits intended to intimidate them, making a unified representative body more necessary than ever.

The organization’s primary goals are to protect the professional rights of chareidi journalists, provide formal recognition for their work, and offer legal assistance and representation to reporters carrying out their responsibilities on behalf of the public.

“This council is more necessary today than ever before,” one of the organizers said. “Journalists should not have to fear competing media organizations trying to impose agendas on them. Our goal is to provide full support and protection to every chareidi journalist, regardless of any political or ideological agenda.”

{Matzav.com}

Despite the rapidly intensifying confrontation between the United States and Iran, Israeli officials believe Tehran is unlikely, at least for now, to launch direct attacks against Israel, according to assessments discussed Sunday evening at the highest levels of government.

According to a report by Israel’s Channel 12 News, Israeli officials—including participants in a security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday evening—believe Iran understands that attacking Israeli territory or civilians would trigger a return to full-scale war and could send the conflict spiraling beyond anyone’s control.

An Israeli official quoted in the report said, “We all hope our assessment proves to be wrong and that Iran makes the mistake.” The official added, “The Americans know that we want to complete our missions in Iran—and they know exactly what we mean. Right now, it isn’t relevant. The current operation is limited, and we are not part of it. We will become part of it only if the Americans bring us into it—or if the Iranians bring us into it.”

Earlier Sunday, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had launched drone strikes against American HIMARS surface-to-surface missile launchers in Kuwait. According to the Iranian report, “the missile infrastructure that was prepared to launch attacks against Iran was destroyed.”

Meanwhile, Sabereen News, a media outlet affiliated with pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, reported that drones targeted headquarters belonging to Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in the Sulaymaniyah province of northern Iraq. The report did not immediately provide additional details regarding the alleged strikes.

{Matzav.com}

A new series of arrests targeting bnei Torah has raised concerns that another wave of mass chareidi protests could be imminent. On Sunday, two Gerer chassidim and one Erlauer chassid were arrested and sentenced to military prison after attempting to resolve their draft status with Israeli authorities.

One of those arrested was a young Gerer chassid and talmid of Yeshivas Chiddushei Harim, who was detained after reporting to the military induction office in an effort to “regularize his status.” He was sentenced to 20 days in military prison.

Also arrested on Sunday was a Gerer avreich from Ashdod. He, too, was sentenced to 20 days in Prison 10 and, according to reports, was being transported there shortly after his sentencing.

In a separate incident, a young Erlauer chassid, a talmid of Yeshivas Chayei Torah, was arrested after reporting to the induction office in Be’er Sheva in an attempt to regularize his status. He was likewise transferred to Prison 10.

The arrests come roughly one month after Gur held its largest protest yet against the arrest of bnei yeshivah. Tens of thousands of chassidim participated in the demonstration following the detention of a yeshivah bochur from Ashdod who had been declared a draft evader. In an exceptionally rare move, the Gerrer Rebbe personally attended the mass rally.

In addition, approximately two weeks ago, thousands of vehicles took part in a nationwide protest convoy that departed from multiple locations across Eretz Yisroel, including Yerushalayim. The demonstration, titled “Enough Is Enough!,” featured a slow-moving procession toward military detention facilities but stopped short of physically blocking access to Prison 10.

{Matzav.com}