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Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara informed the Israeli High Court of Justice on Tuesday that the government’s failure to revoke personal economic benefits from yeshiva students obligated to enlist constitutes a “lapse,” arguing that the lack of sanctions contradicts prior court rulings and harms both the army’s needs and the principle of equality in bearing the burden of service.

In her response to petitions questioning why no sanctions have been imposed on members of the chareidi community who received draft orders but did not report for service, Baharav-Miara wrote: “The government has not formulated a plan to revoke personal economic benefits from those evading service, despite the fact that personal and economic sanctions against draft evaders from the chareidi public have proven effective. This lapse contradicts the High Court’s ruling, harms the needs of the army, and undermines equality in the burden of service.”

At the outset of her submission, the Attorney General emphasized that the respondents recognize their obligation to take effective personal enforcement measures against individuals who were issued draft orders and failed to appear. Such enforcement, she wrote, is necessary to ensure equal application of the draft requirement to the entire public. This includes both criminal proceedings and the development of an effective, equitable, and proportionate government enforcement policy that incorporates complementary economic-civilian measures against evaders, in accordance with the principles established in the relevant High Court ruling.

Baharav-Miara noted that, in recognition of this duty, IDF authorities have for some time been working to enforce the draft requirement on members of the chareidi community through continued implementation of the army’s enlistment plan and increased enforcement efforts. As part of this process, draft appearance orders were gradually issued to all eligible chareidi draft candidates, marking what she described as a milestone enabling equal enforcement. Following the issuance of these orders, the “enlistment chain” began, eventually leading to a significant increase in the number of draft-eligible individuals who completed the summons process, many of whom were later formally designated as draft evaders.

At that stage, she explained, authorities are able to take personal enforcement steps using tools available to the military, including arrests at border crossings and coordinated enforcement and arrest operations in civilian areas, subject to coordination with Israel Police.

According to updated data cited in the filing, implementation of the army’s enforcement plan and what she described as unprecedented outreach efforts have led to an increase in the number of chareidi recruits compared to the corresponding third of the previous recruitment year. Military officials estimate that during the first third of the 2025 recruitment year (July–October 2025), approximately 1,100 chareidi recruits enlisted.

However, the Attorney General stressed that the upward trend remains far from meeting the army’s operational needs or satisfying the value of equality. She therefore underscored the importance of expanding the measures that led to the increase, including strengthening and refining enforcement tools, with particular emphasis on personal enforcement steps.

She further wrote that the government must, without delay, formulate an effective enforcement policy that fully utilizes available tools and economic sanctions, including revocation of personal financial benefits. According to professional officials in the Finance Ministry, such measures are expected to have a particularly significant impact on enlistment numbers. These officials assess that combining enforcement actions with economic sanctions would increase incentives to enlist, enhance deterrence against draft evasion, and lead to further growth in recruitment figures.

In addition, Baharav-Miara stated that, in the view of government professionals, the expectation within the chareidi sector that legislation will be passed effectively granting exemptions from service and canceling criminal and disciplinary proceedings against those declared evaders currently serves as a negative incentive for enlistment. Absent such expectations, she argued, enforcement efforts would likely yield even higher results.

She also highlighted the significance of the IDF Chief of Staff’s July 2025 decision to issue blanket summons orders to all draft-eligible members of the chareidi public and to shorten the time frame for declaring an individual a draft evader.

According to assessments by professional officials in the army and various government ministries, the use of personal sanctions—such as detention and arrest at border crossings—is a vital tool in strengthening the standing army and combating draft evasion. These measures, she wrote, have a substantial deterrent effect and prompt eligible recruits to regularize their status.

She explained that only after a draft-eligible individual is formally declared an evader—following exhaustion of all summons procedures—can authorities initiate proactive enforcement actions or pursue disciplinary or criminal proceedings, depending on the circumstances. With the broad issuance of summons orders and adjustments made to the enlistment process that shortened the timeline to evader designation, those personal sanctions now apply to a larger group of draft-eligible individuals, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of draft enforcement.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran is eager to reach an agreement with the United States but continues to stop short of explicitly renouncing its pursuit of nuclear weapons, a sticking point he highlighted just hours before delivering his State of the Union address.

The President made the remarks during a meeting at the White House with television anchors from several major networks, where he discussed themes expected to feature prominently in his speech.

“Iran wants to make a deal more than I do, but they just say the sacred phrase, we won’t build nuclear weapons,” the President told the anchors, as quoted in The Hill.

A day earlier, Trump dismissed media reports claiming that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine had cautioned him against proceeding with a potential strike on Iran. The President pushed back on the characterization and rejected suggestions that he was facing internal resistance over military options.

In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump also denied reports that he was weighing limited strikes against Iranian targets. At the same time, he reiterated his warning to Tehran that failure to reach an agreement would carry serious consequences, stating that if a deal is not made, “it will be a very bad day” for them.

As tensions continue to simmer, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, cautioned that any military action against his country would have far-reaching effects.

“We call upon all nations committed to peace and justice to take meaningful steps to prevent further escalation,” Gharibabadi said during a speech at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

He further warned that an attack would not remain confined to the targeted state, stressing that those who initiate or back such measures would ultimately be held accountable for the fallout.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump will address a joint session of Congress tonight for his first State of the Union address since returning to the White House just over one year ago. It’s an opportunity for the president to tout his agenda and shape his party’s messaging ahead of this year’s midterm elections.

The president is expected to begin at 9 p.m. ET., and if history is any indication, prepare for a long night. Last year, in what was technically not a State of the Union speech, Trump addressed Congress for over 90 minutes, breaking records as the longest joint address in at least 60 years.

WATCH LIVE:

The State of the Union is tonight, and President Donald Trump is scheduled to give his diagnosis on how the country is doing one year into his second term.

The nation’s attention will be on the president, but the audience may be where the action happens.

Not too long ago, members were expected to watch the speech respectfully. They could clap or stand to express approval, but otherwise had to be quiet. Increasingly, members of Congress are using the speech as a platform for their own political stances and making themselves the main characters of the night.

When one Republican, Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina, shouted “You lie!” at President Barack Obama during a 2009 address before a joint session of Congress, it was a national scandal. The House voted to formally reprimand Wilson in a bipartisan move.

In 2006, Beverly Young, the wife of then-Rep. Bill Young of Florida, was ejected from the House chamber ahead of President George W. Bush’s State of the Union for wearing a T-shirt supporting the Iraq War. Cindy Sheehan, an anti-war protester, was arrested at the same speech for wearing a T-shirt protesting the war.

Not for yelling. Not for interrupting. For a T-shirt. (The U.S. Capitol Police chief said later that he regretted removing the women from the chamber.)

Those norms are changing. In recent years, there have been a variety of theatrics that make calling the president a liar look positively quaint. Jeers and boos are the norm. Former representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) caused President Joe Biden to pause his speech in 2024 by shouting the name of nursing student Laken Riley, who had been killed by an undocumented immigrant.

In 2023, she repeatedly screamed “liar” during his address when he said some Republican lawmakers wanted to sunset Social Security, and she was hardly the only one. Reps. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and Eli Crane (R-Arizona) joined her on their feet, and a chorus of Republicans booed the president in an attempt to drown him out.

Democrats have also used the speech to express disapproval in ways that have become more visible over time. During his first address to Congress as president in 2017, Democratic congresswomen wore white in homage to the women’s suffrage movement and in rebuke of Trump’s sexist comments. Dozens of Democratic congresswomen have continued to wear white since.

Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi dramatically tore up Trump’s speech in 2020 from the dais, later telling reporters it was “a manifesto of mistruths.” During last year’s speech, several Democrats simply left the chamber.

Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was removed from the House floor last year for yelling “you have no mandate to cut Medicaid” while waving his cane, after which he was censured, with 10 Democrats joining all Republicans.

Many Democrats are uneasy with the outbursts like Green’s, fearing they distract from the party’s more measured formal rebuttal after the speech (this year given by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger). House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told his fellow Democrats this year to either be quiet or don’t come.

“The two options that are in front of us, in our House, is either attend with silent defiance, or to not attend, and send a message to Donald Trump in that fashion, which will include participation in a variety of different alternate programming,” Jeffries said during a news conference last week.

Several Democratic lawmakers are planning to speak at a “People’s State of the Union,” organized by left-leaning advocacy groups on the National Mall.

For reporters who sit in the chamber, watching the audience is often the biggest part of the job. Where we sit, high up behind the dais, we can’t see (and often can’t hear) the president but have a clear view of almost every seat on the floor. Not everything we notice is dramatic enough to make the headlines, but members’ behavior does give us an insight into where they stand on policy.

It’ll be interesting to watch how pro-free-trade Republicans react to Trump’s rhetoric on tariffs, a topic he’s almost certain to bring up tonight following the Supreme Court’s ruling last week that shot down much of his trade policy.

Trump is also weighing a strike on Iran, building up the U.S. military presence near the country. If he engages in an extended operation in Iran, he would be going back on a major promise made in his campaign: that he wouldn’t engage in new wars or nation building. We’ve already seen a scattering of Republicans voice opposition to an attack on Iran. Will more refuse to clap tonight?

Expect tonight’s speech to be long – Trump said it would be “because we have so much to talk about.” In case you missed it, Amber Phillips of The 5-Minute Fix newsletter (you can sign up here) wrote about what’s on Trump’s mind ahead of tonight’s speech. Be sure to follow our team’s coverage from the chamber tonight.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post 

A veteran former State Department official said Tuesday that President Donald Trump may use his State of the Union address to reveal the start of US military action against Iran, an unprecedented move that would mark a dramatic escalation in tensions.

Aaron David Miller, a longtime diplomat who is now a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, raised the possibility in a post on X hours before the president’s scheduled speech.

“Rubio briefing Congress hours before SOTU, delaying his trip to Israel from Saturday to Monday, wouldn’t surprise if Trump announces beginning of strikes against Iran in speech,” Miller wrote on X today (Tuesday).

He added, “No President has ever announced the start of military conflict in a SOTU. Why would they? That’s reason enough for Trump to do it,”

Miller previously served as an adviser on Arab-Israeli negotiations to six Secretaries of State between 1988 and 2003.

President Trump is set to address a joint session of Congress at 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday night.

The speculation follows Trump’s forceful rejection on Monday of media reports claiming that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine had cautioned him against launching a strike on Iran.

In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump also pushed back against reports suggesting he was weighing limited military action against the Islamic Republic. He reiterated that Tehran faces severe consequences if it fails to reach an agreement with Washington.

“Numerous stories from the Fake News Media have been circulating stating that General Daniel Caine, sometimes referred to as Razin, is against us going to War with Iran. The story does not attribute this vast wealth of knowledge to anyone, and is 100% incorrect,” wrote Trump.

He continued, “General Caine, like all of us, would like not to see War but, if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won. He knows Iran well in that he was in charge of Midnight Hammer, the attack on the Iranian Nuclear Development. It is a Development no longer, but rather, was blown to smithereens by our Great B-2 Bombers. Razin Caine is a Great Fighter, and represents the Most Powerful Military anywhere in the World. He has not spoken of not doing Iran, or even the fake limited strikes that I have been reading about, he only knows one thing, how to WIN and, if he is told to do so, he will be leading the pack.”

Trump also dismissed broader coverage of a possible confrontation as inaccurate and politically motivated.

“Everything that has been written about a potential War with Iran has been written incorrectly, and purposefully so. I am the one that makes the decision, I would rather have a Deal than not but, if we don’t make a Deal, it will be a very bad day for that Country and, very sadly, its people, because they are great and wonderful, and something like this should never have happened to them,” stated Trump.

{Matzav.com}

As the United States assembles its greatest military firepower in decades in the Middle East, Iranians are warily awaiting the next round of talks with the U.S. in Geneva this week — negotiations that many see as a last chance for their ruling theocracy to strike a deal with President Donald Trump. Some say the situation feels hopeless. […]

Five Israeli yeshiva bochurim were arrested and transferred to Israeli military police custody over the past 24 hours, according to the Notnim Gav organization, which assists families and provides legal support to detainees. The arrests, some of which took place late at night and involved Israel Police officers, have sparked protests in Yerushalayim.

According to the organization, a bochur from Yeshivas Ateres Yaakov in Beit Shemesh was arrested at approximately 2:00 a.m. Family members claimed that 12 military police officers arrived at the home, six of whom entered the apartment, conducted a search, and left the residence in disarray. The bochur is receiving legal assistance from the Chayei Olam organization and was sentenced to 20 days in military detention. Another yeshiva bochur was also reportedly sentenced to 20 days.

In a separate case, a bochur described as a “prosecution draft evader” was transferred at 4:00 a.m. by police to military police authorities in Beit Shemesh. Both detainees are being represented by attorneys Shlomo Hadad and Itai Cohen on behalf of the Hatzalah LaAchim organization.

Another yeshiva bochur was arrested this morning at Ben Gurion Airport and is receiving legal representation from attorney Shlomo Hadad on behalf of Notnim Gav.

In addition, a further arrest took place yesterday at the IDF induction center in Tel Hashomer. According to the organization, the bochur had arrived with exemption documents after being absent for only three days. He was also sentenced to 20 days in military detention and is being represented by attorney Shlomo Hadad on behalf of the organization.

Amid the arrests, demonstrators blocked Rechov Shivtei Yisrael in Yerushalayim in recent hours. Police forces are operating at the scene to manage traffic. As of now, no additional arrests have been reported during the protest.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Chief Rabbinate has issued a public warning over multiple imported food products found to carry misleading or unauthorized kosher certifications, raising concerns about kashrus and consumer transparency. In a special update, the Kashrut Fraud Division of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel detailed deficiencies involving dairy, fish, and meat products sold in major food chains. […]

Iran is nearing a deal with China to purchase advanced anti-ship cruise missiles, according to multiple people familiar with the negotiations, as the United States intensifies its military posture near the Iranian coast amid rising regional tensions. The potential agreement would involve China’s CM-302 supersonic missiles, weapons capable of flying low and fast to evade […]

In a deeply moving gathering, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe held a special seudas hoda’ah at his residence in the moshav of Ora, marking 26 years since his miraculous rescue from a horrific car accident at the entrance to Yerushalayim. The evening was combined with a fundraising event benefiting Kimcha D’Pischa for the Vizhnitz kehillah in Elad, […]

The state of Maryland is suing to stop the Department of Homeland Security from turning a warehouse into an immigration detention facility.

DHS paid more than $100 million for a commercial warehouse near the town of Williamsport, Maryland, in January as part of a nationwide effort by the Trump administration to dramatically expand its detention capacity. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could potentially use as many as two dozen such sites across the country as “mega centers” for detaining immigrants.

According to a lawsuit filed by Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, the Williamsport facility is to be outfitted with 1,500 beds.

“Defendants have run roughshod over federal law and trampled on the state’s interests,” in their pursuit of the project, Brown wrote.

A DHS spokesperson said the facilities would be “very well-structured” and built to the agency’s detention standards.

“Every day, DHS is conducting law enforcement activities across the country to keep Americans safe,” the spokesperson said. “It should not come as news that ICE will be making arrests in states across the US and is actively working to expand detention space.”

Brown accused the government of violating federal law by failing to prepare an environmental impact statement for the project, and for not considering alternatives. Construction could negatively impact local waterways and wildlife, Brown said, and the facility could overwhelm sewer lines once fully operational.

The site could also lead to traffic congestion, increased burdens on law enforcement and emergency services, Brown said. The attorney general also pointed to the risk of disease outbreaks and sanitation concerns based on reported conditions in other ICE facilities.

Maryland is asking a federal judge to vacate the purchase of the warehouse and declare the agencies’ actions unlawful. Brown seeks a court order halting any construction or conversion of the facility already taking place.

Lawmakers from Arizona are pushing back on similar plans for an ICE warehouse conversion west of Phoenix. In a post on the social media platform X, Representative Greg Stanton, a Democrat, said the acquisition of the building in Surprise, Arizona, did not go through the normal procurement process involving the Government Services Administration.

“They didn’t tell anyone they were doing this,” Stanton said, “and they paid cash money for this facility.”

(c) 2026, Bloomberg 

Hong Kong is protesting Panama’s seizure of two ports on a canal vital for global trade that were operated by a Hong Kong-based company for decades, the city’s government said Tuesday. Hong Kong’s Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said in a statement it had lodged “stern protests” with Panama’s consulate, adding that it had expressed […]

MEGA x5 MEGILLAH RAFFLE IS HERE! This Purim, don’t just hear the Megillah — own one. Yad L’Achim is giving away 5 stunning, high-quality Hamelech Megillos to 5 lucky winners!

A young child in Lakewood, NJ was rescued alive yesterday after being completely buried under heavy snow when a bulldozer clearing the streets inadvertently pushed large piles of snow on top of a snow igloo in which he was playing.

The frightening incident unfolded during snow removal operations following one of the region’s most intense winter storms. The child had been inside a snow structure he had built when a large bulldozer operator, unable to see the igloo, pushed a massive accumulation of snow directly over it. Within moments, the child was entirely covered.

Family members soon realized the boy was missing, triggering an immediate and frantic search. Relatives and neighbors began combing the area, fearing the worst as precious minutes ticked by.

For two hours and forty-five agonizing minutes, the search continued as rescuers worked desperately to locate him beneath the deep snow. The urgency intensified as the realization set in that he may have been trapped without air under the heavy accumulation.

Finally, after nearly three hours, the child was located and pulled from beneath the snow. In what family members described as nothing short of a neis, he was found alive and rescued.

“It’s a neis,” a Chaveirim members told Matzav.com. “Nothing short of it.”

Emergency responders evaluated the child at the scene.

The incident left the family and local residents shaken but deeply grateful, as they reflected on what could have ended in tragedy.

{Matzav.com}

POWERFUL BRACHA: HaRav Asher Weiss shlit”a, a world-renowned Rosh Kollel, Posek and Av Beis Din gives a powerful bracha from the depth of his heart for all those who donate to the Purim campaign for poor families in Israel: “Hashem should fulfill what your heart desires for the good” CLICK HERE TO DONATE: https://thechesedfund.com/kupahsheltzedaka/fulfill-the-mitzvah-matanos-l-evyonim-in-eretz-yisroel-on-purim-day?aff=4007

Zohran Mamdani and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have released a Spanish-language ad encouraging undocumented immigrants to enroll in free childcare programs.

Department of War Chief Technology Officer: The enemy will not win. They shouldn’t even think about trying.

Spirit Airlines reached an agreement with creditors that will allow the carrier to emerge from bankruptcy later this year, avoiding the risk of closure. •⁠ ⁠The airline, which filed for bankruptcy in November 2024, has sold aircraft and airport slots, reduced debt, and significantly cut staff. •⁠ ⁠Spirit is expected to operate as a much […]

New York City will not dismantle homeless encampments during one of the most severe snowstorms in its history, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Monday, even as many people living on the streets declined repeated offers of shelter.

The powerful winter system, known as Winter Storm Hernando, brought a fresh challenge for Mamdani’s administration. His handling of a major January storm drew sharp criticism after it spiraled into a deadly crisis during his opening weeks in office.

“The blizzard is a time when our focus should be not on physical infrastructure, but on people and on getting them indoors,” Mamdani argued during a news conference over Winter Storm Hernando.

The earlier storm resulted in 19 deaths across the city, many linked to hypothermia, fueling accusations that City Hall had failed to move vulnerable residents into safe housing quickly enough.

Just days ago, Mamdani had shifted course on his prior stance against dismantling homeless encampments, announcing that the city would resume clearances but provide individuals with seven days’ notice before any action was taken.

During the current storm, outreach teams helped 79 people enter shelters while snowfall totals approached two feet, according to the mayor. He emphasized that none of those placements were forced.

Still, some individuals remained outside despite the dangerous conditions. On the Manhattan Bridge pedestrian walkway, several tents were buried in snow on the Manhattan side as FDNY personnel, NYPD officers, and a private ambulance crew checked on those inside.

“I’m alright,” one man said, shaking his head as responders peeled back the tarps.

An FDNY EMT said the man had rejected appeals made in both English and Spanish.

“We can’t remove them. People have the right to be homeless in New York City,” the EMT said.

Two NYPD officers remained nearby while outreach workers attempted to persuade those sheltering in tents to relocate, but the man was not taken from the scene.

Police officials said officers made contact with 130 homeless individuals during the storm, and 127 declined offers to enter shelters. Only two agreed to accept city assistance.

Although outreach staff did not compel anyone to leave the streets, police did carry out one involuntary removal after determining the person posed a danger to themselves, according to a department spokesperson.

Under city policy, officers may remove someone against their will if they are considered a threat to themselves or others, though emergency medical technicians lack authority to enforce such removals.

These involuntary transports are distinct from broader encampment clearances, commonly referred to as “homeless sweeps.”

Both policies were heavily debated during January’s storm, when Mamdani faced intense backlash over the 19 outdoor deaths while maintaining that involuntary removals should remain a measure of last resort.

City officials said outreach teams accompanied by licensed clinicians conducted 33 involuntary removals between Jan. 19 and Feb. 10, encompassing the prior storm and the following cold spell.

During that same period, NYPD officers carried out 52 removals, according to a police spokesperson.

As of Monday, the mayor said there had been no confirmed fatalities connected to the latest blizzard.

“We are not aware of any deaths related to this blizzard on our city streets or in public areas,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

KAN News reports that 11 F-22 fighter jets landed this afternoon at an air base in southern Israel, as part of Washington’s ongoing regional military buildup in the Middle East. A twelfth F-22 had to turn around due to technical issues.