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Israeli authorities remain without a breakthrough nearly a week after Mali and Liel Yahalomi disappeared, with investigators continuing to examine multiple possible scenarios, including terrorism, criminal involvement, or the possibility that the pair vanished of their own accord.

The case is being handled by Lahav 433’s National Unit for Combating Economic Crime. As part of the ongoing investigation, detectives on Thursday interviewed friends of the missing mother and daughter and also visited Bank of Jerusalem, where Mali Yahalomi works, to gather testimony and any information that could shed light on the circumstances surrounding the disappearance.

According to a Channel 13 report, investigators in Austria are increasingly convinced that Mali and Liel are no longer in the country. If that assessment is correct, the search effort becomes significantly more complex, as authorities would need to widen the scope of their investigation well beyond Austria’s borders.

As speculation continued to mount, the Yahalomi family released a video statement on Thursday urging the public to avoid relying on rumors and conflicting media reports regarding the disappearance.

The family stressed that it would not respond to reports lacking official confirmation and appealed to investigators to continue exploring every possible direction.

“My family and I are aware of the rumor mill and the conflicting reports being spread by the media in the past few hours,” one of the family members stated. “We wish to make clear that we are unable to comment on unverified information that does not come from the official bodies.”

The relatives also referred to the statement issued by Bank of Jerusalem, emphasizing the bank’s findings after its internal review. “Following the inquiry that was conducted, nothing was found indicating any unusual activities with the bank’s funds or assets.”

The family further urged investigators not to prematurely dismiss any possibility, stating, “We ask all relevant authorities not to rule out any avenue in the investigation.”

They concluded by expressing hope for a positive outcome despite the uncertainty. “Amidst the uncertainty and worry, the family continues to hope and wish that the search will lead to them, and that this story will ultimately end and they will return home safely,” it said.

Earlier reports indicated that the Mossad had joined search efforts in Vienna as authorities work to locate the missing pair.

Separately, Bank of Jerusalem sought to reassure customers Thursday after widespread rumors triggered concern and sent the bank’s stock sharply lower, at one point falling 12.39%. The bank said there is no indication that customer funds were improperly handled or stolen.

In a message distributed to customers, the bank wrote: “Following information and rumors that have recently surfaced, and in light of a thorough and comprehensive examination conducted by the bank, we wish to clarify unequivocally that there is no concern whatsoever of embezzlement of Bank of Jerusalem customers’ funds.”

The market decline followed speculation tied to Mali Yahalomi’s disappearance. In a letter to employees, Bank of Jerusalem CEO Yair Kaplan emphasized that her employment at the bank is the only known connection to the institution, writing: “Apart from the fact that she is an employee of the bank, no connection has been found between the incident and the bank.”

Kaplan also reminded employees that the case is subject to a court-issued gag order and warned against circulating information about the investigation. The bank reiterated its earlier findings, stating: “Following an examination that was conducted, no findings were discovered indicating any unusual activity involving the bank’s funds or assets.”

The Kennedy Center is set to undergo a sweeping two-year closure to accommodate major renovation work after its board approved the plan on Thursday, according to two people familiar with the decision. While the main facility will shut down, some outdoor performances may continue during the construction period.

The vote, taken by a board made up largely of allies of President Donald Trump, reinforces an earlier proposal that leaders argued was essential to address significant safety and infrastructure concerns. Opponents, however, fear the closure could pave the way for broader changes as part of Trump’s ongoing effort to reshape Washington during his second term.

The individuals who disclosed the board’s decision spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly before an official announcement.

The latest action comes after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper halted a previous closure that had been scheduled to begin on July 5. It remains unclear whether Thursday’s vote will trigger another court challenge. In his earlier ruling, Cooper wrote that the board’s March 16 approval of the shutdown appeared “ill-informed and seemingly preordained.”

With the project now moving forward once again, board members are expected to face renewed scrutiny over whether they fully evaluated all available alternatives before deciding on a complete closure.

Before Thursday’s meeting, Kennedy Center officials said directors would consider three possible paths. One called for shutting the entire complex, while another would have allowed portions of the building to remain open with “some continued public access and limited programming in spaces unaffected” by the renovations. Under that proposal, performances could have continued at the Reach, the center’s outdoor campus.

A third proposal would have avoided a full shutdown by implementing “a highly limited series of phased closures to address only the Center’s most serious infrastructure needs while scheduling and maintaining a full slate of programming.”

Shortly after returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump replaced the Kennedy Center’s leadership and installed a new board of trustees that subsequently elected him chairman. In December 2025, the board also added Trump’s name to the building, though Judge Cooper later ruled that action was unlawful.

Trump’s name was removed from the building in June, but the location where it had appeared remains concealed behind a large tarp. Cooper has directed the Kennedy Center to provide updates on how long the covering is expected to remain.

The renovation project is part of a broader campaign by Trump to remake prominent landmarks throughout the nation’s capital.

Among those efforts is the demolition of the White House East Wing to make room for a new ballroom. Construction on that project was ordered halted last week after an appeals court ruled that Congress had not approved it, though Trump has vowed to appeal the case to the Supreme Court.

Other initiatives have also encountered setbacks. Renovation work at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has faced continuing problems after algae returned, while U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro disputed Trump’s assertion that vandalism was responsible for the damage.

At the same time, the administration continues to advance plans to renovate the golf course at East Potomac Park and construct a triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery.

Trump has repeatedly criticized the Kennedy Center, describing it as “rusted, rotted, and rat and bug infested.” After Cooper blocked both the closure and the addition of Trump’s name to the building, the president suggested turning the facility over to Congress.

Kennedy Center officials have maintained that the extensive renovation project is necessary because of the building’s deteriorating condition.

During a tour of the facility in April, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Matt Floca showed reporters areas with extensive water damage, saying corrosion had reduced some steel supports to the thickness of tissue paper. He also noted that major mechanical systems, including several 800-ton cooling units, are decades old and require replacement.

Floca said he had considered repairing the building in phases but ultimately advised Trump that a complete closure would be the most effective approach.

“When the president asked: ‘How do you make these projects the best? How do you make them really excellent and deliver them efficiently?’ my recommendation was you close the building and you do everything over a definite period of time, two years,” he said.

The ongoing legal and political controversy surrounding the Kennedy Center even became part of the entertainment during the presentation of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in late June, when comedian Bill Maher made the dispute part of his remarks.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Kennedy Center trustee Pamella Roland DeVos, who was appointed by Trump, emphasized the institution’s mission, calling it a “national cultural center open not just for some but for every American patron who wants to experience the greatest art and expression the world has to offer.”

“The responsibility that comes with it is one our board takes very seriously,” she said.

{Matzav.com}

Great excitement is being felt among Sanz-Klausenburger chassidim in Eretz Yisroel ahead of a surprise visit by the Sanz-Klausenburger Rebbe, who is traveling from his home in Boro Park for a brief visit ahead of the Yomim Noraim, marking his first trip to Eretz Yisroel in two years.

Immediately after landing today, he was scheduled to travel to Tzefas, where he will stay at the home of the family of noted philanthropist and baal chessed Rav Shalom Fisher z”l.

The highlight of the visit is expected to take place this coming Shabbos, Parshas Shoftim, when hundreds of Sanz-Klausenburger chassidim from communities throughout Eretz Yisroel are expected to travel to Tzefas to spend Shabbos in the presence of the Rebbe.

The tefillos and tishen will be held at the Tomer Devorah complex in Tzefas’ Old City, with preparations underway to accommodate the large number of chassidim expected to attend.

During his packed visit, the Rebbe is scheduled to receive chassidim seeking his counsel and brachos. He will also participate in several family simchos connected to the chassidus.

Among them will be the wedding of a grandson of Reb Azriel Tauber, a longtime confidant of the Rebbe and a leader of the Sanz-Klausenburger community in Eretz Yisroel. The Rebbe is also expected to attend a wedding in the family of philanthropist Reb Eliyahu Schlossberg, one of the prominent supporters of the chassidus.

As part of the visit, the Rebbe will travel to Netanya together with a large group of chassidim to visit the kever of his father, the Shefa Chaim of Sanz-Klausenburg zt”l.

A special team of askanim is overseeing preparations for the Rebbe’s visit, including transportation, accommodations and arrangements for the large tefillos and gatherings expected during his stay.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Bernie Sanders is calling on Democratic Party leaders to prohibit super PAC spending in Democratic primary elections, singling out AIPAC after the pro-Israel organization spent millions of dollars in Michigan’s high-profile Senate primary.

In an open letter released Sunday, Sanders urged Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin to dismantle what he described as a “corrupt system” of campaign financing by banning super PAC involvement in Democratic primaries.

Much of Sanders’ criticism centered on the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which poured approximately $32 million into an unsuccessful effort to defeat Abdul El-Sayed, an outspoken critic of Israel, in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary. El-Sayed ultimately prevailed over Rep. Haley Stevens, who was widely viewed as a pro-Israel moderate.

Sanders also pointed to reports indicating that AIPAC is now considering investing heavily in support of Republican nominee Mike Rogers, who is expected to face El-Sayed in a closely watched general election this November.

“It is absurd that they spend tens of millions of dollars to try to determine who the Democratic nominee is and, if they fail, then proceed to support the Republican candidate in the general election,” said Sanders. He added that corporate PACs, including “crypto, AI and other online betting special interests,” have spent a record $517 million this election cycle.

The Vermont independent, who caucuses with Senate Democrats, has long advocated overturning the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision through a constitutional amendment. That ruling opened the door for corporations and outside groups to spend unlimited sums on political campaigns. In his latest letter, Sanders argued that Democrats need not wait for constitutional changes and instead should immediately “prohibit super PACs from participating in its primaries.”

AIPAC quickly rejected Sanders’ proposal.

“Millions of Democrats are AIPAC members who are proud to help elect principled Democrats,” AIPAC said Monday in its response to Sanders.

The organization also responded on X, writing, “This letter isn’t about democracy or campaign finance — that’s why he doesn’t name the billionaire super PACs that back him. Sanders just wants to blacklist Americans who disagree with him.”

During an appearance Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Sanders acknowledged that Democrats would likely be at a major disadvantage if they voluntarily abandoned super PAC support in general elections. Nevertheless, he argued that the party should “take charge of what takes place within their own primaries right now.”

Sanders remains one of the most prominent progressive Jewish politicians in the United States. Over the past year, he has thrown his support behind a number of left-wing candidates critical of Israel, including El-Sayed, Adam Hamawy, who captured the Democratic nomination in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Although Sanders first rose to national prominence through his focus on economic inequality, he has increasingly centered his criticism on Israel’s military campaigns in Gaza and Iran. Last year, he became the first sitting U.S. senator to declare that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. Earlier this year, a record 40 senators voted in favor of his “Block the Bombs” resolutions seeking to halt certain U.S. weapons sales to Israel.

{Matzav.com}

Apple has agreed to pay $150,000 to resolve a federal religious discrimination lawsuit accusing the company of refusing to accommodate a Jewish employee’s Shabbos observance and later terminating his employment after he raised concerns about antisemitic treatment.

The case was brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in September 2025 on behalf of Tyler Steele, who had worked for years at Apple’s retail store in Reston, Virginia. The lawsuit alleged that the technology giant violated federal law by denying Steele’s request for a religious accommodation and retaliating against him after he complained.

According to the complaint, Steele converted to Judaism in the spring of 2023. At first, his supervisor approved his request not to be scheduled on Fridays and Saturdays so he could properly observe Shabbos. However, after a new manager took over, that accommodation was revoked.

The lawsuit states that in September 2023, Steele asked again to have Fridays and Saturdays off, but his new manager, Anthony Dosch, refused the request. The complaint further alleges that Dosch told Steele he “could become a rules Nazi with regards to our policies.”

The EEOC also alleged that, shortly after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, Dosch cautioned Steele against discussing politics or the war while at work. About a month later, Steele was issued a misconduct warning alleging that body odor had violated company policy.

Federal officials said Steele reported what he believed was antisemitic conduct, along with the denial of his religious accommodation, to Apple management in November 2023. According to the lawsuit, he was dismissed from his position in January 2024 after reminding Dosch that he would be unable to work on an upcoming Friday because of his religious obligations.

“Employees should not have to violate their religious beliefs to keep their jobs or live in fear of retribution because they requested an accommodation,” EEOC Philadelphia Regional Attorney Debra Lawrence said in a statement at the time the lawsuit was filed.

The EEOC’s lawsuit charged Apple with religious discrimination and unlawful retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

On August 7, Apple and the EEOC jointly notified a federal court in Virginia that they had reached a settlement, nearly one year after the lawsuit was filed. The agreement still requires judicial approval before becoming final.

As part of the settlement, Apple denied any wrongdoing and did not admit liability. Nevertheless, the company agreed to pay Steele $80,000 in back wages along with $70,000 in compensatory damages and interest, for a total of $150,000.

The agreement also requires Apple to revise its policies regarding religious accommodations and provide training to certain employees in its Virginia operations within 90 days.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri has entered the battle over the upcoming Likud primaries, directing chareidi activists to support several candidates who have worked closely with the chareidi community during the current Knesset term.

According to sources, Deri has instructed grassroots activists within the chareidi sector to campaign on behalf of several Likud candidates ahead of the party’s internal elections. At the top of his recommended list are MK Boaz Bismuth, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and MK Chanoch Milwidsky, chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee.

Both lawmakers have earned significant appreciation among chareidi leaders and activists for their efforts on issues affecting the chareidi public throughout the current term.

As chairman of the Finance Committee, Milwidsky has played a central role in advancing budgetary and financial matters benefiting the chareidi community, including confronting legal challenges posed by the Attorney General and Israel’s High Court of Justice.

Bismuth, who heads the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, has been deeply involved in deliberations surrounding the military draft law and efforts to regulate the status of bnei yeshivos.

Deri has also included Coalition Chairman MK Ofir Katz and MK Avichai Boaron among his preferred candidates, with activists likewise encouraged to assist their campaigns in the primaries.

The directive reflects a broader strategy of rewarding Likud lawmakers who have supported the chareidi community on major legislative and policy issues during the current Knesset, with the expectation that chareidi activists who are registered Likud members will return that support at the ballot box.

The Likud primaries are scheduled for Monday, August 17, when party members will choose the party’s slate of candidates for the next Knesset election.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has strongly condemned what he described as a prolonged siege by Jewish settlers targeting the West Bank home of an American Palestinian family, calling the incident a “horrific act of terror.”

According to local officials and relatives, the confrontation began Sunday, when groups of settlers gathered outside the family’s home in the village of Qusra and repeatedly harassed those inside, despite attempts by the Israeli military to calm the situation.

Family members said that at times dozens of settlers surrounded the property, throwing rocks, attempting to tear down a nearby stone wall, and blocking the residents from leaving the home even as they ran dangerously low on food and water.

Speaking by telephone to The Associated Press from his home in Ohio, homeowner Lou Ridi said his 48-year-old brother and nephew remained trapped inside the house for days while trying to protect it. He said they were unable to leave and went several days without access to food or water.

By Thursday morning, the standoff had ended when the Israeli military evacuated Ridi’s brother, Qusai Abu Rida, and his teenage son from the property. The future of the home, along with at least one neighboring property that was also targeted, remained uncertain.

The Israeli military said it had taken steps in recent days to restore calm. Overnight Thursday, troops dismantled “two illegal outposts” located near Qusra and a neighboring village, arrested one Israeli suspect, and reinforced the area with additional forces. The military said the deployment, near the Palestinian city of Nablus, was intended to “carry out defensive missions and patrols.”

Reporters at the scene said roads leading into Qusra had been blocked. Israeli police did not immediately answer questions regarding whether any additional Israeli civilians had been taken into custody.

Palestinian leaders, along with members of Israel’s opposition, have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of failing to adequately confront escalating settler attacks against Palestinians, which they say have increased significantly in recent years.

Huckabee’s statement on X marked one of the strongest public condemnations by a senior U.S. official regarding settler violence, though he also praised the Israeli military’s handling of the incident. Huckabee has long been viewed as a supporter of the Israeli settlement movement and has consistently backed Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank while also speaking out against violence by settlers.

Video captured by the home’s security cameras on Thursday morning appeared to show several settlers still positioned near a damaged stone wall adjacent to the property.

Ridi said the harassment had not begun this week but had been ongoing for months before intensifying. He alleged that settlers had cut off electricity and water to the home and repeatedly pelted the property with stones, damaging both his house and at least one neighboring residence.

“We are prisoners in our own house, hostages in our own house,” he said.

Rav Gershon Ribner, rosh kollel of Kollel Nesivos Hatorah and son-in-law of Rav Shneur Kotler, has succeeded in applying classical Talmudical analysis and methodology to understanding all areas of Yiddishkeit, bringing out its profundity and sense.

LISTEN:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday vowed to “resolutely” work toward a “sovereign and geographically contiguous” Palestinian state with eastern Jerusalem as its capital, Turkish state-run news channel TRT reported.

Speaking at a joint news conference in Ankara with Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas, Erdoğan accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to “remove Palestine from the common agenda of humanity by profiting from chaos and new conflicts in the region.”

“They will not succeed,” he added.

Erdoğan said Ankara “strongly opposes” what he denounced as provocations aimed at changes to the status quo at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and other Jerusalem holy sites, and accused the Jewish state of “unlawful actions” in Judea and Samaria.

The Turkish leader also called for establishing conditions for Gaza’s reconstruction and vowed to continue efforts “to support the Palestinian people and defend their rights.”

Abbas arrived in Ankara on Tuesday afternoon for a two-day visit, Ramallah’s official Wafa agency reported.

Abbas was met at the airport by Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat and the P.A.’s envoy to Ankara, Nasri Abu Jaish, according to the report.

Wafa said the P.A. delegation includes PLO Executive Committee member Ziad Abu Amr; Fatah Central Committee member Maj. Gen. Majed Faraj, who also heads Ramallah’s General Intelligence Service; and Abbas advisers Majdi al-Khaldi and Mahmoud al-Habbash.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned Abbas’s visit, describing the P.A. leader as “an enemy at the head of a terror authority that encourages and funds terror against the State of Israel.”

Smotrich called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent Abbas from returning to Israel and Judea and Samaria, adding that the Palestinian Authority “must be dismantled.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday accused Erdoğan of military aggression “that knows no borders,” saying Ankara occupies roughly 36% of Cyprus, 5% of Syria and 2,000 square kilometers of Iraq, with thousands of Turkish troops stationed across the three countries.

The ministry made the comparison amid Turkish criticism of Israel, writing on X, “Turkey has the audacity to criticize Israel. But what are the facts on the ground?”

Israel, by contrast, “temporarily controls merely 0.1% of Syria,” the ministry said, describing it as “a buffer zone to protect its citizens from proven security threats.” JNS

Bank of Jerusalem issued a public reassurance to its customers on Thursday, insisting there is “no concern whatsoever” that customer funds were embezzled, after widespread rumors surrounding the disappearance of bank employee Mali Yahalomi contributed to a sharp drop in the bank’s stock price.

The statement was released after the bank’s shares tumbled during trading, at one point falling as much as 12.39%, amid speculation surrounding Yahalomi’s disappearance.

In its message to customers, the bank stated: “Following information and rumors that have recently surfaced, and in light of a thorough and comprehensive examination conducted by the bank, we wish to clarify unequivocally that there is no concern whatsoever of embezzlement of Bank of Jerusalem customers’ funds.”

The bank further emphasized: “Customers’ funds are safe and protected, and are held and managed in accordance with the provisions of the law, binding procedures, and the bank’s control systems.”

Officials also stressed that the institution continues to function normally. “The bank is operating routinely and properly, and all activity in customers’ accounts is being conducted as normal.”

In addition, the bank sought to reassure customers that its oversight mechanisms remain fully operational. “The bank’s control and oversight systems operate continuously and ensure the safeguarding of customers’ funds and the proper conduct of banking activities.”

The market decline followed reports and rumors surrounding the disappearance of Yahalomi, who is employed by the bank. In a letter to staff, Bank of Jerusalem CEO Yair Kaplan addressed the situation, writing: “Apart from the fact that she is an employee of the bank, no connection has been found between the incident and the bank.”

Kaplan also reminded employees that the case is subject to a court-issued gag order and warned against circulating information about the investigation. The bank had previously stated: “Following an examination that was conducted, no findings were discovered indicating any unusual activity involving the bank’s funds or assets.”

Meanwhile, a court imposed a gag order on the investigation into the disappearance of two Israeli citizens, Mali and Liel Yahalomi, a mother and daughter who vanished while visiting Vienna, Austria. The pair have been missing since the weekend, and responsibility for the investigation was transferred Wednesday night to the Lahav 433 national crime unit.

Overnight, members of the Yahalomi family provided testimony to Lahav 433 investigators and voiced frustration over reports they said had been released “in the name of Israel Police.”

According to the family, “Some of the information that was published was not presented to the family, and the family possesses information that substantially contradicts some of the claims raised in the reports. According to information provided by the police, there was no unusual activity in Mali and Liel’s bank accounts, and the last activity took place on August 3.”

The family also challenged reports suggesting certain possibilities had been ruled out, stating: “The family wishes to clarify unequivocally that, contrary to what was published by the police spokesperson’s office, at this stage there is no basis whatsoever for ruling out the possibility of a nationalist-motivated terrorist incident.”

Relatives said they have had no contact with Mali and Liel since the evening of Friday, August 7. Throughout their trip, the two had regularly shared updates, photographs, and messages with family members before communication suddenly ceased.

Israeli police have dispatched representatives to Austria to assist local authorities with the investigation. According to published reports, cellphone location data obtained by investigators in both Israel and Austria placed the women near a train station in Vienna during Shabbos. The station is located within a larger complex that includes a sizable public park.

Authorities said there has been no trace of the women since that last cellphone location was recorded, and investigators have detected no activity on either of their credit cards.

Investigators are also reportedly examining whether the mother and daughter were carrying significant amounts of cash and whether location-tracking data had been removed from their mobile phones before they disappeared.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu has been ordered to take down a campaign video from his social media accounts after Israel’s Central Elections Committee issued a temporary ruling following allegations that the video unlawfully featured minors.

The order, issued Thursday by Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg, came in response to a petition claiming the video violated election laws governing the use of children in political campaign materials.

The footage, which Netanyahu posted earlier this week, documents his visit to Jerusalem’s Malha Mall, where he is seen greeting shoppers, speaking with members of the public, posing for photographs, and interacting with numerous children.

Following the video’s release, attorney and certified public accountant Yaron Meiri filed a petition with the Central Elections Committee, arguing that including minors in the campaign video violated legal restrictions prohibiting the use of children in election-related advertising.

Under Section 2C of Israel’s Elections Law governing campaign materials, children under the age of 15 are generally prohibited from participating in election campaigns unless their appearance is part of a routine activity. Along with his petition, Meiri requested an immediate temporary injunction requiring the video’s removal until the matter could be fully adjudicated.

Justice Sohlberg granted the request, ordering the video removed from all online platforms. He ruled that the video may be reposted only after all scenes showing personal interaction between Netanyahu and the children have been edited out.

The committee said proceedings on the petition will continue before a final ruling is issued, after receiving responses from both Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Likud Party.

El Al has called off plans to begin nonstop service between Israel and Hanoi after Israeli security authorities declined to authorize the route to operate with Israeli aircraft and flight crews.

The airline announced Thursday that the direct flights to Vietnam’s capital, which had been scheduled to begin in October, will no longer move forward because the necessary security clearance was ultimately denied.

El Al first unveiled the new route in February and had already begun selling tickets. However, with the inaugural flight only two months away, the carrier decided it had no choice but to abandon the launch.

According to the airline, it had initially received preliminary approval from all relevant government agencies, including security officials, before announcing the service. After investing significant time and resources into operational and commercial preparations, El Al said it was later informed that the final authorization needed to operate the route would not be granted.

The airline said the decision stemmed from Israeli security officials responsible for protecting the country’s aviation sector, who, following Shin Bet security guidelines, determined that they could not approve flights to Hanoi under the proposed operating arrangement using Israeli aircraft and crews. Without that approval, El Al said it was unable to proceed with the new route.

Passengers who already purchased tickets will be offered several alternatives, including rerouting to Hanoi through Bangkok on a connecting flight operated by a foreign airline at no additional cost, transferring their booking to another El Al destination, receiving a full refund, or accepting a travel voucher for future use.

El Al said the affected flights will be removed from its reservation system gradually based on their scheduled departure dates. Beginning next week, customers with bookings on the canceled route will receive direct notifications outlining their available options.

Despite El Al’s decision to cancel the service, Israeli travelers will still have access to direct flights to Hanoi through Arkia, which already operates the route.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told members of Congress on Thursday that the United States is fully prepared to keep its economic blockade of Iran in place for as long as necessary, insisting the U.S. military has both the resources and determination to sustain the operation indefinitely.

Appearing before lawmakers during hearings on the defense budget, Hegseth said the naval blockade can remain in effect without a time limit because the U.S. Navy has the ability to continuously rotate its fleet while maintaining a strong presence in the region.

“We can hold this blockade as long as needed. Indefinitely, the US Navy can maintain a blockade like that because we’ll rotate ships in and out as we have and will continue to. No other nation on earth, no other navy on earth has the capability to have a ‘wall of steel’ like the US Navy, and then the willingness to use it, as we have.”

Hegseth said the strategy is designed to gradually weaken Iran’s economy, emphasizing that the United States has no intention of backing down.

“We have the capability, the will, and the patience” to let the blockade wear down Iran’s economy, Hegseth said.

The defense chief also revealed that the blockade effort is expanding beyond the United States, saying more countries have joined the campaign. He added that while Washington continues to pursue a diplomatic resolution, military force remains on the table if negotiations collapse.

“If diplomacy fails, we are ready to strike,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

A turbulent demonstration against the arrests of yeshiva bochurim brought traffic on Highway 4 near Bnei Brak to a standstill for approximately three hours Wednesday, with some protesters wearing yellow stars and others displaying signs featuring graphic Holocaust imagery.

The protest was organized by members of the Peleg Yerushalmi in response to the ongoing arrests of yeshiva bochurim over their failure to report for military service. Demonstrators highlighted the latest case involving a yeshiva bochur classified as a draft evader who was transferred from the Lahav 433 police unit to military prison.

Hundreds of protesters gathered near the entrance to Bnei Brak and moved onto Highway 4, blocking traffic and prompting a large police response.

During the demonstration, some participants wore yellow stars bearing the Hebrew word “Chareidi,” deliberately evoking the yellow badges that Jews were forced to wear under Nazi rule during the Holocaust.

Other demonstrators carried signs comparing the current draft controversy to the Holocaust. One sign, displayed in both Hebrew and English alongside graphic photographs of Nazis leading Jews to their deaths, declared, “It is preferable to die in the Holocaust as a Jew than to convert in IDF camps.”

The use of Holocaust imagery and yellow stars became one of the most striking features of the demonstration as protesters continued blocking the major highway for several hours.

Following the dispersal of the protest, Israel Police announced that Highway 4 had reopened in both directions.

“Israel Police operated in recent hours in an effort to maintain public order, following protesters who blocked Highway 4, disturbed the peace and confronted police officers at the scene. Highway 4 has now been reopened to traffic in both directions,” police said.

Authorities described the gathering as an illegal demonstration and accused participants of endangering themselves and disrupting motorists traveling through the area.

“During an illegal demonstration held on Highway 4, near the city of Bnei Brak, hundreds of protesters confronted police officers, endangered their lives, physically blocked vehicles and infringed upon the freedom of movement of road users,” police said.

Police said an officer formally declared the demonstration illegal, but protesters refused instructions to clear the roadway and continued blocking traffic with their bodies.

“During the demonstration, a police officer declared the protest illegal, but the protesters did not obey the officers’ instructions, continued disturbing the public order and blocked the roads with their bodies. A short time ago, the demonstration was dispersed and the road was reopened to traffic. Israel Police views the right to protest as a cornerstone of a democratic state and permits protests as long as they are conducted within the framework of the law. At the same time, police will not permit disturbances of any kind or infringements upon freedom of movement, and will not tolerate behavior that could endanger public safety.”

The demonstration ultimately dispersed after approximately three hours, allowing traffic to resume on Highway 4 following an afternoon of major disruptions near Bnei Brak.

{Matzav.com}

A heartbreaking tragedy struck the chareidi community in Yerushalayim on Wednesday with the passing of 3-year-old Yael Rivka Betzalel a”h, who succumbed after battling for her life for two weeks following a choking incident at her family’s home in Ramot.

Yael Rivka choked while eating a grape approximately two weeks ago. Emergency medical personnel, including paramedics and EMTs from United Hatzalah and Magen David Adom, rushed to the family’s home and immediately began prolonged, advanced resuscitation efforts.

During the lifesaving attempts, a paramedic succeeded in removing the grape that had become lodged in the young girl’s airway.

Yael Rivka was subsequently rushed to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in extremely serious condition while resuscitation efforts continued. She was sedated and placed on a ventilator as doctors fought to save her life.

For the next two weeks, physicians in the intensive care unit battled for the life of the young girl, the daughter of Yitzchak and Chana Betzalel. Family members and members of the broader community davened fervently for her recovery.

Tragically, her condition deteriorated Wednesday and doctors were ultimately forced to pronounce her passing.

The devastating loss comes at an especially painful time for the Betzalel family, just one week before the scheduled wedding of Yael Rivka’s older sister.

Instead of preparing to accompany their daughter to her chuppah amid celebration and joy, the family was forced to accompany their 3-year-old daughter and sister to her final resting place.

The levayah departed from the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim and proceeded to Har Hamenuchos, where Yael Rivka was laid to rest in the Yemenite section.

Yehi zichrah baruch.

{Matzav.com}

A single Powerball ticket purchased at a gas station in western Illinois claimed Wednesday night’s massive $1 billion jackpot, bringing to an end a three-month stretch without a grand-prize winner.

Illinois Lottery officials announced that the winning ticket was sold at a Hy-Vee gas station in Quincy, a city along the Missouri border roughly 100 miles west of Springfield. The winning combination was 4-26-66-67-69, with a Powerball of 9.

Lottery officials said it was not immediately known whether the winner had come forward to claim the prize.

The jackpot winner can choose between receiving the full $1 billion through an annuity paid over 29 years or taking a one-time cash payout of $450.5 million. Historically, nearly all jackpot winners opt for the lump-sum payment.

The victory marks the first Powerball jackpot win since May 2, when a $20 million prize was claimed. It is also the first grand prize awarded since Powerball ticket sales expanded to the United Kingdom last month. With tickets costing $2 each, the odds of matching all six numbers remain approximately one in 292 million.

According to Powerball officials, the $1.04 billion prize ranks as the eighth-largest jackpot in the game’s history. Mega Millions has also produced jackpots exceeding the $1 billion mark.

“Congratulations to our newest Powerball jackpot winner in Illinois,” Stephen Durrell, chair of the Powerball Product Group and executive director of the Kansas Lottery, said in a statement. “For more than three decades, Powerball has shown that a winning ticket can be sold anywhere the game is played, giving every $2 ticket the chance to change not only a winner’s life, but generations to come.”

While only one ticket captured the jackpot, four other tickets sold in Arizona, California, Florida, and North Carolina matched the five white balls but missed the Powerball, earning prizes of $1 million each. Another ticket sold in Massachusetts also matched the five white balls and doubled its winnings to $2 million after the purchaser added the optional $1 “Power Play” multiplier.

In addition to the top prizes, more than 3 million tickets won smaller cash awards in Wednesday night’s drawing.

With the jackpot now claimed, the Powerball grand prize resets to $20 million for Saturday’s drawing.

The largest lottery jackpot ever awarded remains the more than $2 billion Powerball prize won in California in 2022.

{Matzav.com}

As Israel heads toward another election season, political analysts say the chareidi parties are unlikely to launch their campaigns in earnest until after the Yomim Tovim, with United Torah Judaism facing its familiar internal disagreements and Shas confronting what could prove to be a particularly difficult political challenge.

Commentators Yitzchak Feldman and Moshe Weisberg discussed the approaching elections Wednesday evening on Kol Chai’s “Central Edition,” hosted by Shneor Weber, addressing both the political landscape and the opening of the Elul zman across the yeshiva world.

Feldman said that although Israel’s political system is already beginning to shift into election mode, launching a full-scale campaign now would accomplish little within the chareidi community. In his view, starting too early could exhaust voters and dilute campaign messages long before Election Day.

“To start campaigns now is a waste of time, a waste of money, and it will usually have the opposite effect,” Feldman said. “The public is not capable of absorbing a message for more than a week or two and then internalizing it afterward. It dries up, and it won’t last until the ballot box.”

Turning to United Torah Judaism, Feldman said the party traditionally spends considerable time resolving internal disagreements before its campaign can even get underway.

Those disputes, he noted, predate the current crisis surrounding the military draft and typically involve questions over campaign management, the allocation of funds, which advertising firms will be hired, and how responsibilities will be divided between Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisroel.

“In United Torah Judaism, there are world wars even before the arrangements between Degel and Agudas Yisroel,” Feldman said.

He said reaching agreements over the structure and leadership of the campaign frequently takes considerable time, making an immediate launch of UTJ’s election operation unlikely.

Feldman said Shas could face an even more consequential challenge.

According to the analyst, tensions between the party’s political leadership and the positions of Rav Yitzchak Yosef could become one of the central issues confronting Shas during the coming election campaign.

“It will have a challenge that I don’t know how it will overcome this time,” Feldman said, referring to reports concerning Rav Yitzchak Yosef’s position regarding voting for Shas.

Feldman said the issue appears significant and added that he has heard similar information from additional sources.

Despite the potential difficulty, Feldman predicted that Shas would use the approaching period of Selichos and the Yomim Tovim to try to strengthen its relationship with its traditional voter base before the campaign begins in earnest.

Weisberg agreed that the chareidi street has not yet entered full election mode. He said the atmosphere does not currently resemble an intensive political campaign and predicted that the real election battle will begin only after the Yomim Tovim.

The analysts also discussed the opening of the Elul zman, which is taking place amid continuing tensions and arrests connected to the draft of yeshiva bochurim.

Weisberg said most yeshivos have either already begun the new zman or will do so by the end of the week. Despite the turmoil surrounding the draft issue, he said yeshiva batei medrash are once again filling with bochurim, with numerous institutions expanding to accommodate continued growth.

“I am receiving reports from all the yeshivos. They are building, adding and expanding, and in Ponevezh they are opening the Elul zman with 2,500 bochurim, to the point that there isn’t even room in the dormitories for all the bochurim. There are yeshivos that already started today, some that will start tomorrow, and there are bochurim who remained for weddings on the 30th of Av. But overall, by Shabbos all the yeshivos will be full,” Weisberg said.

{Matzav.com}

Some 10,000 yeshiva bochurim from across Eretz Yisroel gathered in Beit Shemesh for a massive “Talmudo B’Yado” gathering organized by Ichud Bnei Hayeshivos, featuring addresses from leading gedolim, words of chizuk ahead of Elul, and a musical program with some of the most prominent names in Jewish music.

The event was held at the municipal amphitheater in Beit Shemesh, with the participation of roshei yeshiva, rabbonim and public officials. The gathering took on particular significance amid the ongoing upheaval surrounding the draft of yeshiva bochurim, with the gedolim urging the thousands in attendance to remain steadfast in their Torah learning.

Beginning in the afternoon, dozens of buses arrived at the sprawling venue from communities throughout Eretz Yisroel. The amphitheater was divided into designated sections for the various yeshivos represented at the gathering.

The event was organized by Ichud Bnei Hayeshivos, led by Rav Yehuda Weissfish, in conjunction with the Bais Shemesh municipality and Mayor Shmuel Greenberg.

The evening began with a special musical production titled “Ashira Uzo,” featuring noted composer Rav Hillel Paley and Rav Mordechai Orlansky. The presentation focused on the traditional nusach hatefillah and niggunim associated with the yeshiva world as preparations begin for the Yamim Noraim.

The musical portions of the evening also featured Mordechai Ben David, Yeedle Werdyger, Bentzi Stein and conductor and arranger Yoeli Dickman, who performed before the thousands of bochurim.

The emotional high point came with the arrival of the gedolei Yisroel, led by Rav Dov Landau, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, Rav Berel Povarsky, and Rav Dovid Cohen.

As the gedolim entered the amphitheater, the approximately 10,000 bochurim rose to their feet and welcomed them with powerful singing in a stirring display of kavod haTorah.

The gedolim delivered words of chizuk in preparation for Chodesh Elul, addressing the importance of strengthening limud haTorah and remaining firmly attached to the bais medrash.

Their remarks also addressed the difficult situation facing the yeshiva world amid the ongoing draft crisis. The gedolim called upon bnei yeshiva not to weaken in their commitment to Torah despite the current circumstances, but instead to intensify their learning and increase their dedication to Torah during this challenging period.

Also participating were rabbonim from throughout Beit Shemesh, along with roshei yeshiva, mashgichim, neighborhood rabbonim, dayanim and morei horaah.

Public officials in attendance included MKs Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev, Bais Shemesh Mayor Shmuel Greenberg, members of the Bais Shemesh City Council and other public figures.

Toward the conclusion of the program, Yeedle Werdyger took the stage to perform several of his well-known songs.

After hours of Torah, chizuk and song, the massive gathering concluded, with the thousands of bnei yeshiva boarding buses for communities across Eretz Yisroel as they prepared for the opening of the Elul zman and their return to the halls of the yeshivos.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli security forces arrested a 70-year-old Palestinian imam near Me’aras Hamachpeilah in Chevron on Wednesday on suspicion of inciting terrorism and encouraging attacks against Israelis, as more than 14,000 people visited the site under heightened security.

The arrest took place approximately 200 meters from the Me’aras Hamachpeilah complex while large numbers of visitors were gathered at the site and in the Yitzchak Hall.

According to police, the operation was carried out by officers from the Shai District’s “Chetz Yehuda” special patrol unit, acting on intelligence provided by the district’s operations center and in coordination with the IDF Central Command.

The suspect, a Chevron resident who serves as an imam in his local area, was arrested while performing gardening work in the yard of his home.

Police said an initial review of investigative material raised suspicions that the imam had been actively disseminating inflammatory material on social media.

According to authorities, the suspect allegedly published posts encouraging terrorist attacks, violence and public disturbances in Yehuda and Shomron and other areas.

During a search of the suspect’s home, security forces seized his cellphone and a laptop computer. Police said the electronic devices will be examined as part of the ongoing investigation.

The imam was taken into custody and transferred to the Shai District for questioning.

The arrest came amid a major security operation surrounding Wednesday’s tefillos at Me’aras Hamachpeilah. Hundreds of police officers, Border Police personnel, IDF soldiers and volunteers from the Chevron area were deployed to secure the site and the thousands of visitors attending the events.

{Matzav.com}

The FBI and U.S. intelligence agencies reportedly classified prominent figures including Mike Pompeo, Bill Barr, Rudy Giuliani and several Republican lawmakers as potential “conduits” of Russian disinformation, according to newly released documents detailing a secret counterintelligence operation launched during the 2020 election.

Just the News reported that a spreadsheet recovered from U.S. intelligence files and released Wednesday by the White House Government Transparency Task Force contained dozens of names connected in various ways to the Biden family’s Ukraine dealings and the 2019 impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.

The document reportedly separated individuals and organizations into categories, including those considered “targets” of Russian disinformation and others characterized as “conduits” through which such information could spread.

According to the report, Democratic figures including Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry and Barack Obama, as well as George Soros, appeared on the list as “targets.” Pompeo and Barr, meanwhile, were reportedly classified as “conduits,” along with conservative media organizations and personalities including Fox News, One America News, filmmaker Michael Caputo and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) were also reportedly identified as “conduits” in the intelligence records.

The spreadsheet, according to Just the News, contained more than six dozen American and foreign individuals and organizations that became connected to the controversy surrounding the Biden family, Ukraine and the first impeachment proceedings against Trump.

An administration official told the outlet that the classifications were connected to a previously secret counterintelligence effort known as “Round River,” which was launched as the 2020 presidential election was underway.

The newly disclosed material also reportedly sheds additional light on the FBI’s use of confidential sources in examining allegations involving the Biden family.

According to the report, a separate FBI letter released publicly indicates that the bureau has identified at least 14 confidential informants who supplied derogatory information concerning the Bidens.

FBI Director Kash Patel addressed the matter in a letter sent to the White House Government Transparency Task Force, saying the bureau is now examining whether information gathered through Round River was subsequently used by the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force to affect other investigations.

Patel said investigators are specifically examining whether the task force used information from the counterintelligence assessment in a manner that caused investigators to focus selectively on confidential human sources whose reporting involved the Biden family.

“While our internal review of the FITF is not yet complete, we are investigating whether the FITF used information learned from the Round River assessment to undermine or influence ongoing investigations by only focusing on the subset of CHS’s (Confidential Human Sources) involving the Bidens,” Patel reportedly said in the letter.

Patel also said that the Foreign Influence Task Force has since been terminated under his leadership, while the FBI’s internal examination of its previous activities remains underway.

{Matzav.com}