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Israeli authorities have reportedly been secretly holding senior Hamas military commander Basel Salahiya for the past two years after he was captured during fighting in Gaza. Salahiya, who allegedly orchestrated the deadly 2011 Kornet missile attack that killed Israeli teenager Daniel Viflik Hy”d, is expected to stand trial in Israel for his role in multiple terrorist attacks. The revelation was first reported by journalist Avishai Grinzaig on i24NEWS.

According to the report, Salahiya’s capture followed an extraordinary chain of events that began years before the current war. Roughly five years ago, a bitter dispute erupted within Hamas’s military leadership after Salahiya accused senior commander Marwan Issa of betrayal. The accusations reportedly triggered a deep rift between Salahiya and the organization’s top military leaders, including Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif. As tensions escalated, Sinwar allegedly ordered Salahiya’s arrest, and he was imprisoned inside the Gaza Strip.

When the war in Gaza broke out, the prison where Salahiya was being held was reportedly destroyed in an Israeli Air Force strike. Hamas subsequently transferred him to house arrest in the Hamad neighborhood of Khan Younis. During the IDF’s ground operations in the area, Israeli forces raided the building where he was being held, took him into custody, and transferred him to Israel, where he has remained ever since.

His arrest comes as Israel continues targeting Hamas terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre. In recent weeks, the IDF has eliminated several senior Nukhba commanders who participated in attacks on Israeli communities, including the commander of the unit that infiltrated the Re’im military base and another who led the assault on Kibbutz Nirim.

Salahiya’s anticipated prosecution is expected to bring a measure of justice for one of the most notorious terrorist attacks carried out before the current war. According to the report, he was directly responsible for the April 2011 Kornet anti-tank missile attack on a school bus near Sha’ar HaNegev.

That attack claimed the life of 16-year-old Daniel Viflik Hy”d after Hamas terrorists fired an anti-tank missile at the bus, an incident that had a significant impact on Israel’s security policy at the time. Years later, after first being imprisoned by Hamas itself, Salahiya now faces prosecution in an Israeli court for his alleged role in the attack.

The report noted that Salahiya’s story highlights the intense internal rivalries that have existed within Hamas. His conflict with Mohammed Deif and Yahya Sinwar—both of whom were later eliminated by the IDF—ultimately led to his imprisonment by the terrorist organization, a development that eventually enabled Israeli forces to capture him during the war.

Meanwhile, IDF forces under Southern Command continue operations throughout Gaza aimed at eliminating immediate threats to Israeli troops and civilians. Military officials say the terrorists targeted in recent weeks had been working to rebuild Hamas’s operational capabilities and advance additional terror plots against Israel.

{Matzav.com}

A major new phase of Israel’s traffic enforcement reform has officially taken effect, significantly changing how many drivers can challenge speeding tickets and other moving violations. Under the expanded system, motorists cited for a broad range of offenses will no longer be able to automatically request a court hearing. Instead, they will first have to appeal through a newly established administrative traffic tribunal.

The latest stage of what has become known as the “Sa’ar Reform” went into effect over the weekend, extending the administrative process to traffic offenses carrying fines ranging from 750 to 1,500 shekels, as well as many speeding violations that previously qualified for an automatic court appearance.

The reform was originally introduced while Gideon Sa’ar served as justice minister in the Bennett-Lapid-Abbas government. Its goal was to move a substantial portion of traffic offenses out of the criminal court system and into an administrative framework, reducing the burden on Israel’s courts while handling most cases through a digital process. When promoting the initiative, Sa’ar said it reflected a policy of decriminalization and would spare drivers unnecessary criminal proceedings and court appearances.

The first phase of the reform took effect on February 8, 2026, covering violations carrying fines of between 100 and 500 shekels, excluding speeding offenses. As of August 8, the system now also includes qualifying speeding tickets and violations carrying fines between 750 and 1,500 shekels. During Knesset Economic Affairs Committee discussions, lawmakers noted that the expanded system covers several significant offenses, including using a cellphone while driving, running a red light, and certain speeding violations.

Under the new process, drivers who believe a citation was issued in error will no longer submit a request for a traditional traffic court hearing. Instead, they must file an appeal with the administrative traffic tribunal. In most cases, the matter will be decided based on written submissions and evidence filed electronically by both sides. The tribunal may hold a hearing only if it determines one is necessary to achieve justice, generally through remote technology and, in exceptional circumstances, in person.

One of the most significant changes involves sentencing authority. Unlike a criminal traffic court, the administrative tribunal cannot increase or reduce the statutory fine. It may uphold the citation, dismiss it, modify the decision, or even change the traffic offense attributed to the driver. As a result, while the tribunal reviews the facts and evidence independently, it does not have the discretion to tailor the amount of the fine based on individual circumstances if the violation itself is upheld.

Although some critics have claimed the new system leaves drivers with little opportunity to appeal, the law still provides judicial review. Final decisions by the administrative tribunal may be appealed to the Traffic Division of the Magistrate’s Court. Appeals of interim rulings require permission from the court, with additional review procedures available under the law. In other words, court oversight remains in place, but the courts are no longer the first stop for challenging most citations.

The reform has drawn criticism since it was first proposed. The Israel Bar Association’s Traffic Law Committee warned during the legislative process that the changes could weaken motorists’ legal protections by replacing traditional court proceedings with a more limited administrative process. Supporters countered that there is little justification for processing hundreds of thousands of routine traffic violations through the full criminal court system and argued that the new framework would resolve cases more efficiently.

Questions about the system intensified following its initial rollout. During a June meeting of the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee, the chairman of Israel’s Trucking and Transportation Council said that only nine of approximately 500 appeals filed under the new process had been accepted. At the same hearing, committee chairman MK David Bitan criticized the Transportation Ministry and called for greater flexibility for law-abiding drivers.

At the same time, the committee approved changes to Israel’s driver’s license point system to align with the reform. Under the revised rules, offenses carrying up to six penalty points will now be removed from a driver’s record after one year, while penalties have been increased for dangerous violations such as using a cellphone while driving, running red lights, and driving on road shoulders.

For many Israeli motorists, the practical effect is immediate. Drivers cited for speeding or other higher-value traffic offenses may now discover that the legal process has fundamentally changed. Rather than automatically requesting a hearing before a traffic judge, they must first pursue a digital appeal through the administrative tribunal, with the courts serving only as the appellate forum if necessary.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. Navy has launched a sweeping modernization plan for its submarine fleet, announcing that 19 advanced attack submarines will be converted into guided-missile platforms as Washington seeks to strengthen its military position against China’s rapidly expanding naval power in the Pacific.

The announcement comes as concerns continue to mount over America’s missile inventory following the conflict with Iran and reflects a broader effort to reinforce U.S. military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.

Under the initiative, Virginia-class submarines will be equipped with a specialized payload module approximately 25 meters (84 feet) long, adding 28 new missile launch tubes to the 12 already built into each vessel. The enhanced submarines will be capable of carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles for long-range strikes against land targets, as well as advanced hypersonic weapons designed to penetrate sophisticated Chinese air and naval defense systems.

Military analysts say submarines remain one of the few assets capable of operating undetected close to an adversary’s territory. Sidharth Kaushal, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, explained, “Submarines are one of the few capabilities that can stay near or inside the first island chain in relative safety,” adding that positioning missiles closer to their targets significantly reduces an opponent’s response time.

The overhaul comes as the Navy gradually retires its four aging Ohio-class guided-missile submarines. Those vessels were originally built as nuclear missile submarines before being converted to carry conventional weapons, with each capable of launching up to 154 Tomahawk missiles. Former Navy captain and RAND Corporation researcher Bradley Martin described the Ohio-class boats as “the platform with the greatest capability to launch conventional missile payloads.”

One of those submarines, the USS Georgia, entered the decommissioning process last month, while the remaining three are expected to retire over the next several years. According to the Washington-based Submarine Industrial Base Council, the retirement of the Ohio-class fleet will temporarily reduce the Navy’s undersea strike capability by as much as 60%.

The first upgraded Virginia-class submarines are not expected to enter operational service until 2029, with the final vessel in the program scheduled for delivery in 2038. Despite the temporary decline in firepower, senior Navy leaders have expressed confidence in the transition. Rear Adm. Rob Gaucher, head of the Navy’s submarine programs, said, “These submarines will ensure the Navy continues to dominate the undersea domain for decades.”

Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, said the next generation of submarines will build on the Ohio-class legacy while offering “greater survivability and adaptability.” Analysts note that although each new submarine will carry only about one-quarter of the missile load of an Ohio-class vessel, distributing those weapons across a larger number of submarines will make them far more difficult for China to detect and track.

The move comes in response to China’s accelerated military buildup. Between 2021 and 2025, China’s navy launched 10 nuclear-powered submarines, compared with seven built by the United States during the same period. Over those four years, Beijing also expanded its missile arsenal by approximately 50% and recently unveiled a new unmanned underwater vehicle during a military parade, highlighting its preparations for a potential conflict involving Taiwan.

The Navy’s restructuring also follows the depletion of portions of the U.S. munitions stockpile after the 2025 “Operation Midnight Hammer” strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities, ordered by President Donald Trump. In announcing the new submarine strategy, the Navy emphasized that “the submarines will operate unhindered in contested waters, ensuring the U.S. Navy maintains absolute undersea superiority.”

{Matzav.com}

Just weeks before the start of the Elul zeman, Quebec authorities are seeking to revoke funding for three Belzer educational institutions in Montreal, citing what they describe as serious educational and safety deficiencies. The schools, which include a preschool, a Talmud Torah, and a yeshiva ketanah, serve approximately 600 students.

According to provincial officials, the move follows inspections that uncovered multiple alleged violations, including a shortage of certified teachers fluent in English and French, failure to provide the required instructional hours in core academic subjects, the use of unapproved educational materials, and deficiencies related to emergency exits.

The inspections also reportedly found students spending school hours in prayer halls, classrooms operating without teachers, and staff members who did not speak either French or English. Educational programs for girls continue to operate normally but remain under government supervision.

Administrators of the schools have strongly rejected the allegations and have appealed to Quebec’s Administrative Tribunal, seeking an injunction to block the funding cuts. School officials argue that the government’s decision is based on “erroneous factual assumptions, inconsistent analysis and a disproportionate measure.”

Canadian reports indicate that the institutions have been under scrutiny by Quebec’s Ministry of Education since 2007. A report issued by the Advisory Committee on Private Education for 2024–2025 stated that the schools were granted repeated extensions to address deficiencies dating back to an agreement reached in 2009. However, according to the report, they continued to receive only short-term license renewals because they failed to meet the required standards.

{Matzav.com}

A new Kan News poll shows Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s Likud and Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party locked in a dead heat with 23 seats each, while two newly launched center-right political alliances remain below the electoral threshold and would fail to enter the Knesset.

According to the survey released Sunday evening, Likud gained one seat compared with the previous poll, drawing even with Yashar at 23 mandates apiece.

The two newest center-right parties—one led jointly by Yoaz Hendel and Matan Kahana? Actually Troper and Hendel? (the Troper-Hendel alliance), and another headed by Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein—both remain below the electoral threshold. Their weak showing appears to have benefited larger parties. Likud and the Netanyahu bloc each gained one seat, bringing the coalition bloc to 53 mandates. Meanwhile, Yair Golan’s Democrats rebounded from eight seats in the previous survey to 10, while Yisrael Beiteinu also climbed one seat to 10.

Naftali Bennett’s Beyachad party held steady at 13 seats, unchanged from the previous poll. The survey also examined a scenario in which Hadash, Ta’al, and Balad reunite on a joint list, though such an alliance is currently uncertain. In that case, the combined Arab list would win eight seats, while Ra’am—running together with Yoav Segalovitz—would receive five seats. Together, the Arab parties would command 13 mandates, reducing the Netanyahu bloc to 52 seats.

When respondents were asked who is best suited to serve as prime minister, Netanyahu continued to lead Bennett by a margin of 41% to 31%, virtually unchanged from the previous survey. Netanyahu also widened his advantage over Eisenkot. After leading by four percentage points in the last poll, he now holds a seven-point edge, with 41% naming Netanyahu as the preferred prime minister compared with 34% for Eisenkot.

In a head-to-head comparison between Bennett and Eisenkot, the Yashar leader came out ahead with 31% support, while Bennett received 20%. Although Eisenkot maintained the lead, the gap narrowed significantly from last week’s survey, when he led Bennett by 22 percentage points.

The poll also found that 18% of respondents said they have recently considered leaving Israel. Among opposition voters, that figure rose to approximately 23%, compared with just 6% of coalition supporters. Despite those numbers, most Israelis do not appear alarmed by the trend. Sixty-seven percent said they are not concerned about the number of people leaving the country, while only 12% said the issue worries them.

{Matzav.com}

Just one week after the ceasefire took effect in Gaza, Hamas is rapidly reestablishing its grip on the territory by recruiting new operatives, intimidating civilians, and imposing steep taxes on merchants, according to Gaza residents who spoke with Israel’s Channel 12 News.

Residents said the terrorist group has begun enlisting young men between the ages of 18 and 20, paying them between 600 and 700 shekels a month and arming them with Kalashnikov rifles. According to those interviewed, the recruits wear civilian clothing and face masks while manning intersections and other strategic locations throughout the Strip.

Despite the lull in fighting, Gazans say Hamas continues to maintain control through fear. Residents reported that masked gunmen quickly open fire on anyone who publicly criticizes the organization, insults it, posts negative comments on social media, or attempts to organize protests. They also claimed that Hamas has established operational and interrogation centers inside hospital complexes while its operatives closely monitor activity throughout the streets.

Many residents remain deeply skeptical that Hamas will ever surrender its weapons. Hussam al-Astal, commander of an armed militia in Khan Younis that opposes Hamas, said, “If Hamas gives up its weapons – neither our forces nor Israel will kill them, but the people themselves, because they killed many people.” Another resident, identified only as “M,” said he believes Hamas is deceiving the public and, at most, would stage a symbolic handover involving only a negligible number of weapons.

Residents also said Hamas is attempting to rebuild its financial base by imposing heavy taxes on local merchants. According to the report, traders are being forced to pay levies ranging from 18% to 40%, with additional taxes imposed on products such as cigarettes as the terrorist organization seeks to replenish its resources and strengthen its control over Gaza.

{Matzav.com}

Greenland’s government has issued a sharp rebuke to a Texas-based oil company with ties to President Trump after drilling equipment was brought ashore without official authorization, as the firm pushes ahead with plans to explore for massive oil reserves beneath the Arctic territory.

The dispute comes as President Trump has renewed his public calls for the United States to take control of Greenland. In recent days, equipment intended for exploratory drilling was unloaded along Greenland’s eastern coastline, prompting officials to stress that the operation had not been approved.

In a strongly worded statement, Greenland’s government said no authorization had been granted for the delivery of the equipment and reminded the company that, “All future logistical matters must be advised and approved by the mineral resources authority – before they are carried out.”

Just two days after the warning, Trump intensified attention on Greenland by posting an image on Truth Social depicting himself towering over a Greenlandic village.

The company at the center of the controversy, Greenland Energy, was established in Texas last year. Its executives believe the Jameson Land region could contain as much as $1 trillion in crude oil and have announced plans to invest $60 million to drill two exploratory wells to determine the area’s potential.

Although Greenland halted the issuance of new oil exploration licenses in 2021 because of environmental concerns, British company 80 Mile already held exploration rights in Jameson Land. According to Greenland Energy’s corporate filings, the Texas firm plans to acquire a controlling interest in the project by financing the exploration effort, though it still requires formal approval from Greenland’s government before drilling can begin.

The company has enlisted Phil McGraw, widely known as Dr. Phil, the conservative former television host who previously served on President Trump’s religious freedom commission, to produce a documentary series that will “capture the mission of these modern-day wildcatters.”

Greenland Energy has also added to its board a retired U.S. Navy veteran who is involved in developing the Golden Dome missile defense initiative, a project for which Trump has argued that control of Greenland is “vital.”

Company chairman Larry Swets, a major shareholder with reported connections to Trump’s political circle, has insisted that the drilling project “not related to American annexation.”

Following a community meeting in Jameson Land in June, where a company representative incorrectly stated that permission had already been granted to bring drilling equipment ashore, Swets acknowledged the mistake, saying, “Our enthusiasm for the project led us to communicate in a way that created confusion.”

Despite that clarification, residents in the remote region reported seeing a tugboat towing a barge to shore the following month and unloading roughly a dozen shipping containers. Greenland’s government later confirmed that “The goal was to get the equipment onshore at Nunap Qeqqa [Jameson Land] in connection with planned oil exploration drilling.”

The Danish investigative outlet Danwatch reported that the head of the shipping company confirmed the cargo had been delivered on behalf of Greenland Energy.

The company has not responded publicly to questions about the controversy. However, in a letter sent to shareholders on Thursday, Greenland Energy stated: “Recent high-level meetings between project leadership and Greenlandic regulatory and oversight authorities have been constructive, and we continue to be encouraged by the progress being made toward the remaining approvals required for drilling.” The company also indicated that it now intends to begin with a single exploratory well rather than two.

As a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland controls its own natural resources, placing the decision squarely in the hands of its elected officials. Those leaders now face mounting pressure as they weigh whether to authorize drilling in an area that appears to overlap with land protected under the Ramsar Convention on wetlands or reject the proposal, a move some fear could further inflame Trump’s interest in the territory.

While Greenland’s government said it believes it “would not be proportionate” to order the removal of the equipment already delivered, officials emphasized that the company’s application remains under review and no drilling approval has been issued.

A representative for Greenland Energy has said another vessel carrying approximately 300 containers of drilling equipment is scheduled to depart Canada on September 12, with drilling operations expected to begin in October if approval is secured.

Meanwhile, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who serves as Trump’s envoy to Greenland, has predicted that oil production on the island could begin as early as next year.

{Matzav.com}

NORAD dispatched F-16 fighter jets Sunday after two civilian aircraft entered restricted airspace over Bedminster, New Jersey, where President Donald Trump was expected to spend the weekend at his golf club during the LIV Golf New York tournament.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command said the aircraft violated temporary flight restrictions established over the area. Air Forces Northern, part of the 1st Air Force, later confirmed that two general aviation aircraft were involved in the incident.

Military officials said the aircraft were safely intercepted and escorted out of the restricted airspace by NORAD fighters without incident.

Ahead of the president’s arrival in New Jersey, NORAD had announced that it would actively enforce the Federal Aviation Administration’s temporary flight restrictions throughout the weekend to secure the airspace surrounding the Bedminster property.

Officials also advised pilots and the public that U.S. Army ground-based air defense systems could be operating in the region under the Continental U.S. NORAD Region as part of the military’s layered homeland defense network.

“These systems are operating under NORAD authorities, constitute a routine component of the command’s layered defense posture and work in tandem with the command’s airborne assets to monitor and protect the airspace,” information published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service said.

Following the interceptions, military officials reminded general aviation pilots to review all Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) before every flight to ensure they are aware of temporary airspace restrictions and other FAA flight requirements.

“Check NOTAMs before EVERY flight!” 1st AF/AFNORTH said in a post on X.

Officials also reiterated the procedures pilots must follow if intercepted by NORAD aircraft. Pilots should immediately switch their radios to frequencies 121.5 or 243.0 and, according to guidance published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, “turn around to reverse course until receiving additional instructions on one of those frequencies.”

Temporary flight restrictions are routinely established during presidential travel, major sporting events, national security operations, and other special events. NORAD relies on a combination of radar systems, satellites, fighter aircraft, and other surveillance capabilities to detect, monitor, and respond to potential threats within North American airspace.

{Matzav.com}

Nearly three years after the October 7 massacre, Israel continues its relentless campaign to hunt down every Hamas terrorist connected to the atrocities. A specialized task force created in the aftermath of the attack is still working around the clock to locate and eliminate everyone involved—from senior planners to the terrorists who guarded and abused Israeli hostages, Arutz Sheva reports.

In the wake of the massacre, Israel’s security establishment launched an extensive effort to identify and eliminate every individual who played a role in planning, supporting, or carrying out the attacks, as well as those who participated in the captivity and mistreatment of hostages.

To lead that effort, the IDF and the Shin Bet created a joint task force known as NILI, an acronym for Netzach Yisrael Lo Yishaker (“The Eternal One of Israel Does Not Lie”). The unit was named after the famed Jewish underground intelligence network that operated in Eretz Yisroel during World War I.

Channel 12 recently provided a rare glimpse inside NILI’s operational strike center, speaking with members of the unit who continue their mission of identifying and eliminating Hamas terrorists linked to the October 7 massacre.

Since the war began, Israeli forces have succeeded in eliminating much of Hamas’ senior leadership and operational command, including Mohammed Deif, Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Sinwar, Saleh al-Arouri, and, more recently, Izz al-Din al-Haddad.

One officer involved in the operation said NILI’s mission reaches far beyond Hamas’ top commanders and includes everyone who played any role in the attacks or hostage-taking.

“This can be the driver who drove a tractor, and it can be the Hamas officer who led a raid,” he said.

As the war progressed, the unit steadily expanded its target list. According to the head of its target division, investigators eventually broadened their focus to include Hamas members who held Israeli hostages, abused them, or even came into contact with them during captivity.

Among those pursued was the terrorist who phoned his father after October 7 to boast that he had murdered 10 Jews, as well as terrorists involved in the beheading of several hostages. The man responsible for murdering IDF soldier and lookout Noa Marciano remained on NILI’s target list for a year and a half before Israeli forces ultimately eliminated him.

“This was a Sisyphean task, work that also included failures and missed opportunities. But you do not forget it. You do not forget your responsibility to kill this evil.”

The unit maintains a database containing thousands of suspected terrorists. One soldier described the painstaking process of working through the list day after day.

“We have an Excel file; we consolidate all the terrorists’ names there, and every day we ‘delete a line,’” the soldier said. “I’ve already deleted dozens of lines. I delete a line and immediately think about the next one, even before I process what I feel about it.”

To locate its targets, NILI draws on a wide range of intelligence sources, including footage recovered from GoPro cameras carried by Hamas terrorists during the massacre, artificial intelligence technology, and intelligence gathered by agents operating in the field.

Since the ceasefire with Hamas took effect last October, the pace of operations has accelerated significantly. With Israeli hostages no longer being held in Gaza, the IDF and Israeli Air Force have gained greater operational flexibility. At the same time, testimony from released hostages and intelligence obtained from captured Hamas operatives has enabled Israeli security forces to identify and strike an increasing number of terrorists connected to the October 7 atrocities.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed pushed back Sunday after President Trump shared a social media post contrasting the president and first lady Melania Trump with El-Sayed and his wife, calling it a reflection of two competing visions for the country.

The post, shared on Truth Social on Shabbos, featured two side-by-side photographs. One showed President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, while the other showed El-Sayed and his wife. Above the images were the words, “Two VERY DIFFERENT America’s.” Trump’s name appeared above his own photograph, while El-Sayed’s full name, Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, appeared above the image of the Michigan Democrat and his wife.

During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” host Jake Tapper asked El-Sayed to respond to the president’s post.

“Yeah, he’s right. One in which your overlords are two people who don’t like each other but joint in the interest of making billions of dollars off of you, or two people who genuinely love each other, enjoyed some pancakes together, want to come together to build the kind of America where they can raise a family, and know that that family is going to have the good things.” El-Sayed said, referencing the actions from the post.

El-Sayed argued that the exchange highlighted what he sees as two fundamentally different political philosophies.

“So yes, you’ve got two different visions of America. Donald Trump’s vision is the one you’re living in right now. Can you afford your gas? Can you afford your groceries? Do you believe, when you look your kids in the eye, that they’re going to have a better future than you did?” he added.

El-Sayed, a leading progressive voice within the Democratic Party, narrowly defeated moderate Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens in last week’s Michigan Senate primary. His victory has been viewed as a significant test of the ideological direction of the Democratic Party heading into the general election.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

After serving 24 years as a Shas lawmaker, former minister Yaakov Margi has stepped away from political life. In a candid interview on the Mischak HaKisaot podcast produced by Yisroel Hayom and hosted by Shirit Avitan Cohen, Margi offered unusually sharp criticism of both his former party and the broader chareidi political leadership, particularly over its handling of the military draft issue.

Reflecting on the current state of the chareidi community, Margi argued that today’s rabbinic leadership lacks the unified authority that once existed.

“The chareidi community is very complex, and there is no strong Torah leadership like there once was. In the Sephardic community, there was Maran Rav Ovadia Yosef, who knew how to make decisive rulings, and among the Ashkenazi leadership there were also Gedolei Yisroel who knew how to do so. Today there is rabbinic leadership, but it is fragmented. Everyone is looking backward, wondering what people will say about them. And what happened? We all rejected the Peleg Yerushalmi. Now all of us—and when I say all of us, I mean the entire chareidi leadership, including the chareidi members of Knesset—have pushed the entire chareidi community into their hands.”

Margi described the ongoing draft crisis as “a bleeding wound” and expressed regret over what he believes was a missed opportunity to resolve the issue legislatively.

“This is a bleeding wound. I cry over it. They should have been wise rather than simply right, and they should have passed Edelstein’s framework. The army would never have been able to fully implement it anyway. Instead, we failed to regulate the status of the yeshiva bochurim. We didn’t draft those who aren’t learning, nor those in the middle. The army accomplished nothing. I was there in the past when the army genuinely wanted to recruit. We worked together with the Defense Ministry, created enlistment tracks, and large numbers enlisted. I couldn’t walk through the streets of Geulah or Bnei Brak. People chased after me because I was encouraging enlistment.”

Asked to summarize his broader philosophy on military service, Margi said he believes responsibility toward the country cannot simply be ignored.

“It is impossible to be a Jew with values and merely pay lip service to the idea of sharing the burden, or visit wounded soldiers at Tel Hashomer, or attend funerals, and then do nothing. I recognize the value of Torah learning—don’t misunderstand me—but the two are not mutually exclusive. Even before discussing the sefer and the sword model of the Religious Zionist community, if you’re needed now, then come. I was told to stay quiet. I remained silent for a year, and it frustrated me. But if they made a mistake, it was a serious one. On the contrary—that’s exactly how we surrendered to the extremists.”

When asked whether the chareidi parties should have publicly declared that those who are not learning Torah should serve in the military, Margi replied that they failed to do so.

“They didn’t say it, so I’m saying it now. The solution will not come from the chareidi politicians or from the rabbinic leadership because, objectively, they cannot deliver it. We missed the momentum. The chareidi public is not monolithic. There are different segments, and there are segments that are ready—they just need a small push.”

Margi also criticized what he described as Shas aligning itself too closely with the Ashkenazi chareidi leadership.

“That was a serious mistake. We should have said less publicly. We should have led this legislation. I look at Klal Yisroel as a whole. Sadly, and I hope I’m wrong, I believe that part of the Ashkenazi chareidi worldview still lives with the mentality of the shtetl in Eretz Yisroel, where preserving the shtetl is the supreme interest. That’s not my outlook. For me, Toras Yisroel, Eretz Yisroel, and Am Yisroel are one. They are not three separate things.”

Margi also questioned the necessity of recent legislative initiatives aimed at protecting Torah study.

“As far as I’m concerned, there was no need for a Basic Law on Torah study. There was no need for the arrests law. We should have advanced a draft law and enlisted those who are not learning. Everyone should have done their job. The army also had responsibilities. What are you waiting for—the legislature? You already have a draft law that applies to everyone. Start drafting people. Start creating a reality where uniforms are hanging from clotheslines in chareidi neighborhoods.”

{Matzav.com}

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For Shira, “just another day” can mean an ER visit.

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It can mean pain so severe that standing for more than a few minutes feels impossible.
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And yet, somehow, Shira keeps going.
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Six years ago, Shira became severely ill with COVID. Baruch Hashem, she made a significant recovery.

But in the fall of 2024, something changed.

Her health began declining again — and it hasn’t stopped.

Today, Shira lives with chronic respiratory failure and immunodeficiencies and requires oxygen around the clock. Even a minor illness can cause a serious setback. Her breathing can suddenly deteriorate, sometimes requiring hospitalization. Physical exertion can leave her dangerously weak.

And breathing isn’t the only battle.

In September 2025, Shira underwent what was supposed to be a relatively simple procedure to remove a kidney cancer growth. Instead, she suffered a serious psoas muscle injury. Since then, she has been dealing with severe, ongoing pain and extremely limited mobility.

There are days when she can barely walk a few steps.
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There are days when her pain is so overwhelming that she jokes that if the doctors would let her rate it higher than 10/10, she’d put it somewhere around 30/10.

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Now they are going to Denver.

After countless doctors’ visits, tests, hospitalizations, and attempts to understand what is happening, Shira’s medical team has recommended that she be evaluated at National Jewish Health in Denver, one of the country’s leading centers for respiratory and immunological conditions.

This isn’t simply another doctor’s appointment.

It is a chance to bring together specialists who may be able to look at the bigger picture — her breathing, immune system, and complicated medical history — and help determine what can be done next.

The initial evaluation is expected to take at least a week, with additional testing and consultations potentially extending the stay to two or even three weeks.

And getting Shira there safely is itself a major challenge.

Because of her respiratory condition, flying commercially can be dangerous. She has already undergone altitude testing and did not tolerate it well. Depending on her condition immediately before the trip, the family may need to drive, take a train, or arrange an air ambulance with full medical support.

They are trying to make the safest decision possible while also being responsible with the tremendous cost.

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If Shira is too medically fragile to travel by car or train, an air ambulance would cost approximately $42,000 each way, totaling $84,000.

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You don’t have to carry this alone.

A donation can help put Shira on that plane, train, road, or medical flight and get her to the specialists who may finally be able to help.

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[Video below.] Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper warned Sunday that Iran has become increasingly confident in its confrontation with the United States, arguing that Tehran no longer feels compelled to respond to President Trump’s military threats and instead believes it holds the advantage as negotiations continue.

Appearing on ABC News’ “This Week,” Esper said Iranian leaders have adjusted their strategy after watching President Trump repeatedly stop short of carrying out major military action against Tehran.

“Clearly the Iranians have figured this out. They are not reacting to these threats, and they are taking very strategic positions with regard to this. And so, you saw them over the last week put forward again this Omani plan that they’re going to unveil at some point,” Esper said.

“But these demands they’ve now raised last night show that they are emboldened, that they feel confident about their position in the world. And at the same time, they are flexing their muscles by using their proxies,” he added.

Esper pointed to Iran’s efforts to tighten its grip over the Strait of Hormuz by relying on the Houthis in Yemen to threaten commercial shipping in the Red Sea, saying the campaign demonstrates Tehran’s willingness to expand pressure on global energy routes.

“We know that the Houthis just this morning attacked a Saudi refinery on the Red Sea. Yesterday, Iran attacked a UAE ship. But they’ve also — they being Tehran — have tried to expand this conflict,” Esper said.

“There was a long shot taken at an Egyptian port on the Mediterranean Sea to show the range of their weapons. And they’ve gone so far as to threaten a U.S. ally, NATO ally, Bulgaria, about supporting U.S. operations from there. So they’re expanding the conflict in many ways,” he added.

The growing tensions come as fighting between Hezbollah and Israel continues in Lebanon, further complicating international efforts to restore a broader regional ceasefire.

Despite the escalating hostilities, President Trump has continued expressing optimism that an agreement with Iran remains within reach, including a possible arrangement that would fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments normally pass.

“It could happen. Tomorrow or the next day,” Trump said Tuesday after traveling to Los Angeles for a Republican National Committee fundraising event. “A lot of progress has been made.”

Iran, however, has largely dismissed that characterization, insisting it is instead pursuing an arrangement with Oman governing commercial traffic through the strait without American involvement. Iranian officials have also indicated that vessels using the waterway would be required to pay tolls.

At the same time, Tehran has submitted a list of conditions that it says must be met before the Strait of Hormuz would be fully reopened to international shipping.

Esper dismissed those demands as entirely unacceptable.

Esper said the demands are “ridiculous” and should be “rejected out of hand.”

“Demands such as the withdrawal of all U.S. forces from the region, reimbursement for the cost of the war, the fact that … we would end our blockade, we would end sanctions. So, it’s gone beyond the pale,” he told host Jonathan Karl.

Esper concluded that Iran’s sweeping demands reveal not only its unwillingness to compromise but also its belief that it now holds the upper hand.

“But what it tells you is two things, Jonathan. First of all, they haven’t apparently left any room for negotiation, and we know that’s important. President Trump wants to pursue that, and rightly so. But secondly and more importantly, it shows that they believe they have the upper hand, they believe they’re winning, and they are emboldened,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

A newly published UNICEF-coordinated nutrition survey is casting fresh doubt on longstanding claims that Gaza is experiencing a famine, finding that acute malnutrition among children remains at very low levels. Israeli officials say the report directly contradicts accusations that widespread starvation is taking place in the enclave.

The survey, which followed World Health Organization standards and was released on July 22, assessed children’s nutritional health by measuring weight, height, and mid-upper-arm circumference (WHZ). Researchers found acute malnutrition rates ranging from just 0.2 percent in Khan Younis and Rafah to 0.8 percent in Gaza City and northern Gaza—levels they said are similar to, or even lower than, those recorded before the Israel-Hamas war began.

Researchers collected data covering approximately 1.72 million residents, representing about 83 percent of Gaza’s population. Roughly 360,000 people—about 17 percent of the population—were not included because security conditions and access limitations prevented researchers from reaching them.

The findings place Gaza far below the 30 percent acute malnutrition threshold required to meet the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) standard for a Phase 5 famine, indicating that famine conditions are not present.

The report also found that child malnutrition rates in Gaza compare favorably with those of several neighboring countries and even some European nations. According to the survey, approximately 3.3 percent of children under age five in Egypt suffer from malnutrition, while the figure stands at about 4.3 percent in Iran and 2.3 percent in Jordan.

By comparison, the UNICEF 2025 Joint Child Malnutrition Survey reported child malnutrition rates of 0.5 percent in Germany and 1.4 percent in Finland, placing Gaza’s figures in a similar—or even lower—range.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said the report disproves allegations that Israel is intentionally starving Gaza’s civilian population.

“Facts prevail over fiction,” Danon said, arguing that Israel has continued both its military campaign against Hamas and the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza while accusing the terrorist group of exploiting civilians throughout the war.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry likewise pointed to the report as evidence that Gaza’s nutritional conditions fall nowhere near internationally recognized famine thresholds.

“In other words: There is no famine in Gaza. Malnutrition is not only significantly below the critical values—it is exceptionally low in regional comparison. Anyone who is still open to arguments can look at the empirical data themselves,” the ministry said in a statement.

Although the survey found little evidence of widespread acute malnutrition, researchers did identify several longer-term nutritional concerns. About one in eight children was found to suffer from stunted growth, a condition associated with chronic nutritional deficiencies rather than an immediate lack of food. The report also noted that childhood overweight remains present, suggesting that poor nutrition and limited dietary quality—not simply food shortages—continue to pose health challenges.

“Acute malnutrition remains low, but nutritional vulnerability remains high,” the study contends.

The survey found that unhealthy eating habits remain common across Gaza. In Khan Younis and Rafah, as many as 78 percent of children were found to consume unhealthy diets, while approximately 64 percent of children in Gaza City and northern Gaza reportedly do not regularly eat fruits or vegetables. Researchers also found that only about 30 percent of Gaza’s population receives a sufficiently varied diet.

The results are consistent with a July assessment by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which concluded that food security and nutritional conditions in Gaza improved after the October 2025 ceasefire as humanitarian aid increased. While the IPC cautioned that humanitarian needs remain significant, it classified Gaza’s nutrition status at its lowest acute malnutrition phase beginning in mid-April 2026.

The survey also challenges the widely circulated narrative that Gaza is experiencing an ongoing famine. Beginning in late 2023, the United Nations asserted that more than one-quarter of Gaza’s population was facing starvation, claiming hunger levels had exceeded those in conflict zones such as Yemen and Afghanistan. The UN later accused Israel of causing a famine in Gaza in July 2024. In August 2025, Tom Fletcher, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, cited what he described as “irrefutable” evidence of famine and criticized the international community for failing to intervene more aggressively.

Those allegations have faced growing scrutiny. In December 2024, the Biden administration challenged a report issued by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net), which claimed that famine conditions were emerging in northern Gaza and estimated that between 65,000 and 75,000 residents lacked adequate access to food.

The newly released UNICEF survey is expected to become a central reference point in the ongoing international debate over humanitarian conditions in Gaza, as governments and aid organizations continue evaluating both the extent of civilian needs and the effectiveness of relief efforts throughout the conflict.

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance says federal investigators have uncovered a recurring pattern of fraud tied to certain migrant communities, as the Trump administration intensifies its nationwide effort to root out abuse in government benefit programs. According to Vance, investigators have already uncovered an estimated $230 billion in fraud, while suspending $55 billion in payments to individuals and organizations suspected of fraudulent activity.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News Digital from his West Wing office, Vance discussed his role leading President Trump’s anti-fraud task force and said investigators have repeatedly seen fraud spread within specific communities once weaknesses in government programs become known.

“You definitely see patterns where certain communities,” Vance said. “It’ll start as maybe one Somali person takes advantage of the system, or realizes you don’t even have to have children to get money from these programs. You could just claim that you have children, there’s no verification. Then, word spreads like wildfire, and that program gets tapped into by the same members of that community.”

In addition to overseeing negotiations with Iran and carrying out other White House responsibilities, Vance has been directing the administration’s anti-fraud initiative since earlier this year. The effort intensified following major fraud investigations in Minneapolis and is being coordinated with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz and several federal agencies.

As part of the crackdown, federal payments have been suspended for hundreds of hospice and home healthcare providers in Minnesota and California that are suspected of fraud, while investigators continue examining similar operations in other states. Vance said the damage extends well beyond financial losses.

“The first and the most obvious victim is the American taxpayer,” Vance said. “You give your money to the federal government, and you expect the federal government, even if you disagree with the policy behind it, you expect that money to go to the people that it’s supposed to go to.”

He argued that fraudulent claims also deprive vulnerable Americans of services they legitimately need.

“When a new mom goes to apply for help for herself and her baby, the money isn’t there anymore,” Vance said.

“Or, you have autistic kids who benefit from services that are meant to go to the families of children with autism, and you have fraudsters who get rich off these programs,” he added. “Sometimes they don’t even have children, much less autistic children enrolled.”

Vance said investigators have identified approximately $230 billion in suspected fraud since President Trump returned to office and have prevented roughly $55 billion in federal payments from being distributed to suspected fraudsters.

The administration’s enforcement efforts continue to produce criminal cases. Last week, federal and state authorities charged 19 individuals accused of participating in schemes involving more than $4 million in fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid claims, according to the Department of Justice. Separately, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced a plea agreement involving the final defendant in a previously charged 21-person case connected to more than $1.7 million in fraudulent claims.

While criminal prosecutions remain important, Vance acknowledged that recovering stolen taxpayer money is often far more difficult once it has already been paid out.

“Getting money back is very hard,” Vance said. “Once it’s gone out the door, it’s very hard to get it back.”

“What we’ve done most effectively is actually just stop the money from going out the door in the first place, because that’s the only real way to ensure the American people don’t lose it.”

Vance pointed to investigations that gained national attention late last year after independent journalist Nick Shirley published reports alleging widespread fraud involving daycare centers in Minnesota, including the “Quality Learing (sic) Center,” which he reported were largely operated by Somali immigrants.

Those reports prompted a federal response, with then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem deploying DHS and ICE personnel to Minneapolis to locate and deport Somali immigrants who were in the country illegally. The operation led to confrontations between federal agents and local residents and eventually sparked violent riots across the Twin Cities.

President Trump has assigned Vance an unusually broad portfolio for a vice president, including multiple diplomatic missions involving Iran and leadership of the White House anti-fraud initiative after appointing him the administration’s “Fraud Czar” in May.

Despite those responsibilities, Vance recently welcomed his fourth child with Second Lady Usha Vance, becoming the first sitting vice president in more than 150 years to have a child while in office.

“Kids have a way of forcing you to focus on them, even when things are crazy at work,” Vance said. “[I was] with my six-year-old this morning, who was making like zoo animal noises, and I was like, ‘Buddy, what are you doing?’ And he said, ‘I just want you to get off the stupid phone.’ And I said, ‘Alright, this can wait.'”

Vance said fatherhood helps keep him grounded despite the demands of public office.

“Kids are so, they’re so in their own little world that they sort of force you to go into their world, and that’s a very, very good thing,” he said. “It’s good for my psychology. I think it’s good for my soul, but it’s a very good thing. The job obviously has its demands and the schedule can get kind of crazy.”

Although Vance has consistently declined to discuss a potential 2028 presidential campaign, speculation continues over whether he could eventually succeed President Trump. Trump recently said it is “way too early” to endorse a successor, but according to a source familiar with the remarks, he told donors during an Oval Office meeting last month: “At the end of the day, we need to elect JD.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said the United States is easing off military pressure against Iran for the time being, opting instead to rely on economic pressure as Tehran continues delaying an agreement over the Strait of Hormuz while demanding sweeping concessions from Washington.

In a brief telephone interview with Axios on Sunday, Trump said his administration is engaged in only limited negotiations with Iran while closely monitoring the country’s deteriorating economy.

“We are low-keying it,” Trump said.

Trump argued that Iran’s financial condition continues to worsen, saying the regime is struggling to pay its military forces. He also credited the U.S. naval blockade with placing additional strain on Tehran’s economy.

At the same time, he noted that American consumers are feeling less of the economic impact from the conflict because oil prices have eased to just above $75 per barrel.

“It will work out. It always works out. It’s like a chess game,” Trump said.

The president’s comments come as Iran continues postponing an agreement involving Iran, Oman, and the United States over reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Under the proposed framework, Iran would receive partial authority over maritime traffic through the strategically vital shipping lane.

On Saturday, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, unveiled a new list of conditions for restoring full access to the strait. Among the demands were a permanent end to the war against Iran and its allies, the removal of the U.S. naval blockade, the withdrawal of American military forces from the region surrounding Iran, and compensation for damages Tehran says it suffered during the conflict.

Iranian officials also insisted that all U.S. sanctions be lifted and that frozen Iranian financial assets be released.

Those same demands had previously been tied to negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, but Tehran has now expanded them, making them prerequisites for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

According to U.S. officials, President Trump had been considering a return to large-scale military operations against Iran as recently as last week before ultimately deciding to pursue de-escalation instead.

One administration official said the pause in fighting has deprived Iran’s leadership of the ability to blame its economic collapse solely on the war, forcing the regime to confront the country’s worsening financial crisis.

The official also said roughly 8 million barrels of oil currently pass through the southern shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz each night under coordination with the U.S. military, adding that Washington intends to increase that volume as long as an agreement remains out of reach.

Vice President JD Vance said yesterday that the conflict has not ended and emphasized that the administration continues employing diplomatic, economic, and military tools in pursuit of what it believes is the best outcome for the United States.

{Matzav.com}

Three Arab political parties have agreed to reunite under a single electoral slate ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections, saying their primary objective is to defeat the current right-wing coalition and boost voter turnout in the Arab sector.

The National Reconciliation Committee announced that it had approved the creation of a joint list bringing together the communist Hadash party, the left-wing Palestinian nationalist Balad party, and the anti-Zionist Arab nationalist Ta’al party.

In a statement following the announcement, Hadash welcomed the agreement and said it was ready to begin campaigning immediately. The party said its immediate goals are to increase Arab voter participation and secure the strongest possible showing for the renewed Joint List at the ballot box.

According to Hadash, the decision to restore the alliance reflects what it described as the Arab public’s desire “to topple the fascist right-wing government.”

The party also accused the government of seeking to entrench the “occupation,” continue what it called a war of “extermination” in Gaza, carry out “ethnic cleansing in the West Bank,” and intensify what it described as a “racist” campaign against Arab citizens of Israel while allowing organized crime groups to operate with impunity and undermine public safety.

A Matzav.com Editorial:

The summer bein hazemanim season is still at its height, yet it has already come at a heartbreaking cost. One tragedy after another has shaken the community, both in Eretz Yisroel and in chutz la’aretz, with reports of young people and entire families losing their lives in accidents, drownings, and other devastating incidents.

These painful events should cause every one of us to pause and reflect. Bein hazemanim is meant to be a time of rest, family outings, travel, and renewal. But stepping away from our normal routines also demands an even greater level of caution. Whether driving, swimming, hiking, operating recreational vehicles, or visiting unfamiliar places, every activity requires planning, responsibility, and vigilance.

It takes only a single moment of inattention to create a lifetime of heartbreak.

Parents, bochurim, children, and adults alike should make safety their first priority before heading to the beach, the pool, a hiking trail, or any other destination. Do not enter unsupervised or prohibited waters. Avoid unnecessary risks. Follow all safety regulations while traveling and enjoying the outdoors. Above all, look out for one another.

As countless families spend these weeks together on vacation and enjoying time away from home, our heartfelt hope is that this summer will be remembered for joyful memories, not for tragedy. May everyone who leaves home for an outing return home safely.

Bein hazemanim is a precious opportunity to rest, recharge, and gather strength for the months ahead. Please do not allow a moment of carelessness to turn it into a heartbreaking tragedy. Protect yourselves, protect your children, and protect one another.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee warned that antisemitism is becoming an increasingly dangerous force in American politics, pointing to recent developments within the Democratic Party as evidence that hostility toward Jews is becoming more mainstream.

Speaking on Newsmax’s Saturday Report, Huckabee cited Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s decision to skip her party’s nominating convention because of concerns about antisemitism and her personal safety.

“It’s a disturbing trend for the Democrats that I hope that they will change,” Huckabee told the network.

While acknowledging his own political affiliation, Huckabee said he believes a healthy political system requires two strong and responsible parties.

“I’m a Republican. I’m a pretty partisan Republican,” Huckabee said.

“But having said that, I wish there would be a competitive and a sane Democrat Party. It frankly makes both parties better to have a competitive environment.”

Huckabee argued that the Democratic Party has moved dramatically to the left both economically and socially.

Democrats are “moving so far to the left with socialism on the economic side, and with Jew hatred on the social side, that they are rapidly becoming the party of the insane.”

“And it’s not healthy. Not just for the Democrats. This isn’t healthy for America,” he said.

Huckabee also urged people not to minimize antisemitism by treating it as merely another political issue.

“We call it antisemitism. But let’s be clear what it is. It’s just hating Jews irrationally,” Huckabee added.

“Today, I want my Christian friends to hear me. Tomorrow they’ll hate the Christians.”

Asked how Israelis are viewing political developments in the United States, Huckabee said many are deeply troubled by what they are seeing.

Israelis are “very concerned” and “alarmed,” he said.

“Frankly, I am too,” Huckabee said. “I’ve been gone from the U.S. for a year and a half living here. It’s almost like I’m watching things in my own country and I’m thinking, ‘What’s happened over there? Where did this stuff start?’”

Huckabee also criticized political commentator Hasan Piker, questioning why he is widely described as an influencer.

“I want to think, who is he influencing?” Huckabee said. “Who would listen to somebody who is this completely off his cracker?”

Turning to developments in the Middle East, Huckabee said Israel is closely monitoring the newly announced mutual defense pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, but is taking a cautious approach.

According to Huckabee, Israelis have “genuine anxieties about both Pakistan as well as Turkey, especially Turkey,” citing what he described as “very threatening” and “really bizarre” statements by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Huckabee concluded by expressing hope that countries in the region would choose closer ties with the United States and Israel rather than pursuing more confrontational policies.

“All of these countries would be far better off if they would be working with the United States and Israel for normalization rather than for radicalization,” Huckabee said. “But unfortunately, we’re seeing the opposite.”

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing fresh criticism after appointing a slate of new members to the city’s Panel for Education Policy, including individuals whose past statements and affiliations have drawn controversy over anti-police and anti-Israel positions. One appointee has also advocated for racially segregated discussion spaces in public schools, according to reports.

Among Mamdani’s 13 selections is Lucas Koehler, a former New York City Department of Education official who now leads the $500 million endowment for the Foundation for City College. Koehler has previously promoted initiatives aimed at what he described as dismantling “white dominant culture.”

While serving at the Department of Education, Koehler endorsed a statement calling for “separate spaces for white people and non-black people of color” so they could “to interrogate their own internalized anti-black racism and unlearn white dominant behaviors without causing harm to black colleagues,” according to a statement from the Division of Early Childhood Education Antiracism Coalition cited by watchdog group Canary Mission.

Koehler, who worked for the DOE between 2014 and 2022, also backed a proposal urging the department to end all cooperation with the NYPD, arguing that police officers represent a “threat” to minority students.

“In addition to the threat in-school police pose to black and brown children and their families, the funding allocated to the NYPD necessarily keeps money away from the social services that keep children safe and secure, and therefore better able to learn and grow,” the statement from the DECE antiracism coalition read.

Another of Mamdani’s appointments is Raysa S. Rodriguez, who leads the Citizens Committee for Children, an advocacy organization that has repeatedly supported efforts to defund the police.

The organization has previously urged the NYPD to stop issuing quality-of-life summonses and called on the City Council to reject funding for a planned $225 million police training facility in Queens.

Mamdani also selected Dr. Madeline “Maddy” Fox, an alumna of Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center, for the board. Fox previously signed a letter accusing Israel of committing genocide while rejecting claims that antisemitism is widespread on college campuses.

“There is no rampant crisis of antisemitism on our campuses, despite prolonged attempts by the current administration to persuade the public that there is one,” read the 2025 letter, which was signed by Jewish faculty members from CUNY, Berkeley, and Georgetown.

The same letter criticized the Trump administration’s efforts to combat antisemitism, stating: “This campaign of repression and censorship, including deportation and detention, is evidence of an Islamophobic and racist campaign against political dissent.”

The Panel for Education Policy consists of 24 members and is responsible for approving Department of Education contracts, establishing education policy, and overseeing school closures. The Department of Education operates with an annual budget of roughly $45 billion.

Of the board’s 23 voting members, 13 are appointed directly by the mayor, giving City Hall substantial influence over the panel’s decisions.

{Matzav.com}