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A group of yeshiva bochurim who became lost while hiking in the Golan Heights was safely rescued Tuesday after a single detail they provided during a 100 emergency call enabled rescue teams to pinpoint their location.

The incident occurred near Nachal Govta, close to Neve Ativ, after the group strayed off the marked trail while hiking in the Hazuri Stream area and could no longer determine where they were.

The hikers were carrying kosher cell phones without internet access or the ability to transmit their GPS location. After realizing they were lost, they called Israel Police’s 100 emergency hotline and requested assistance.

During the conversation, the hikers mentioned what initially sounded like an ordinary observation: “We reached a sign that says, ‘Stop, Border Ahead.'”

For volunteers from the Golan Rescue Unit, who know the terrain intimately, that single sentence proved to be the crucial clue.

Using the information from the call, together with other details gathered during the recorded conversation, rescuers narrowed the search area and instructed the group to remain where they were until help arrived.

A short time later, rescue personnel reached the hikers in an off-road vehicle, safely evacuated the group, and transported them to a secure location.

The Golan Rescue Unit reminded the public that anyone heading out on a hike should familiarize themselves with the route in advance, carry appropriate navigation and communication equipment, and inform someone else of their travel plans.

Officials also advised that anyone who becomes lost or encounters an emergency should call the police’s 100 emergency hotline and remain in place whenever possible until rescue teams arrive.

Chareidi journalist Yanky Farber unexpectedly found himself at the center of a bizarre case of mistaken identity after reports of another Yaakov Farber’s passing led some to believe that he had died.

Speaking Tuesday night on Kol Chai Radio’s Press Conference program with hosts Avraham Freund and Shlomo Cooperman, Farber recounted how confusion over identical names resulted in widespread rumors that he had passed away.

The mix-up began after the tragic passing of Reb Yaakov Farber z”l, a Belzer askan, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 32 following a serious illness. He is survived by his widow and six children. The niftar was widely respected for his extensive work assisting avreichim and families, including helping many secure employment and vocational training.

Farber said that as soon as he heard about the tragedy, he realized the similarity in their names could lead to confusion. One of his friends even suggested that he post a message clarifying that the deceased was someone else.

“I said, ‘Leave it alone, there’s no need,'” Farber recalled. He then went to sleep without giving it another thought.

When he woke up early the next morning, however, he found hundreds of messages from worried friends and acquaintances trying to determine whether he was still alive.

“People didn’t know whether it was me or not. On one hand, it was the same name. On the other hand, it said the person was 32 years old, and nobody knew,” he said, adding that he spent hours replying to messages and received countless blessings wishing him a long life.

The confusion reached another level when one journalist mistakenly published Yanky Farber’s photograph alongside the obituary details after apparently combining Farber’s WhatsApp profile picture with information found online.

“Friends started sending it to me, and people were saying, ‘How are you talking to the dead? Are you in Gan Eden? Tell us what’s going on there,'” Farber recalled with a laugh.

After notifying the publisher that he was very much alive, the journalist apologized for the mistake.

“In your merit, I received hundreds of brachos that I should live until 120,” Farber told him. “That’s a segulah for long life.”

The mistaken reports even spread into political circles. Farber said that one senior Knesset official contacted others to find out when his funeral would take place and how he could attend.

“I wrote in the group, ‘Friends, what’s going on? I’m alive,'” Farber said.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, Rav Kalman Meir Ber, has come to the defense of Rishon LeTzion Rav David Yosef, declaring that the latter’s recent public remarks were not an improper intrusion into public affairs but rather the fulfillment of his duty as Israel’s chief rabbi.

In a detailed letter sent Tuesday to the Ombudsman for Complaints Against Judges, retired Judge Asher Kula, Rav Ber expressed strong support for Rav Yosef following the ombudsman’s decision regarding the Rishon LeTzion’s comments.

Rav Ber wrote that safeguarding the public status of Shabbos is not merely a right of Israel’s chief rabbi but a fundamental obligation inherent in the office. He emphasized that throughout its history, the Chief Rabbinate has consistently defended the sanctity of Shabbos in the public sphere, and that every chief rabbi since the institution’s founding has followed that path.

The chief rabbi further argued that the matter at hand did not involve a private dispute but rather a judicial decision issued by judges acting in their official governmental capacity. As such, he said, the issue carries broad public significance and directly affects the Jewish character of the State of Israel.

Under those circumstances, Rav Ber wrote, Rav Yosef’s public comments constituted “the fulfillment of his public responsibility and mission” as Israel’s chief rabbi.

To reinforce his position, Rav Ber cited a long line of historical precedents, reviewing statements and correspondence from generations of Israel’s chief rabbis, beginning with Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook and continuing through Chief Rabbis Rav Yitzchak Isaac Herzog, Rav Ben-Zion Meir Hai Uziel, and Rav Yitzchak Nissim Unterman. According to Rav Ber, each of them stressed the responsibility of the Chief Rabbinate to stand guard over the sanctity of Shabbos in Israel’s public life.

Likud MK Tally Gotliv launched a broadside against former Israeli security officials, called for an immediate halt to the arrests of yeshiva bochurim, and warned against any future coalition partnership with Ra’am chairman Mansour Abbas during an interview on Kol Chai Radio’s Central Edition.

Addressing a letter sent by hundreds of former senior security officials to the U.S. administration criticizing Israeli policy in Judea and Samaria, Gotliv strongly condemned the initiative.

“We hear about hundreds of former senior security officials sending letters to the U.S. administration and talking about ‘settler violence’ and narrative cleansing, just days after Jews were murdered al kiddush Hashem. If it were up to me, anyone who so severely violates his loyalty to the state—I would revoke his citizenship. This is a distorted narrative being broadcast abroad while our soldiers are on the front lines, sacrificing their lives for the security of us all.”

Turning to the issue of the arrests of yeshiva bochurim over military conscription, Gotliv argued that coercive measures would only deepen the divide and insisted that a negotiated solution is the only viable path forward.

“My brother serves as a battalion deputy commander in the IDF, and my son is fighting in northern Israel, and they tell me in the clearest terms: this entire campaign surrounding Chareidi enlistment has become a political campaign whose goal is to discourage the public. It is impossible to achieve results through coercion, arrests, or draft orders. I told the Attorney General’s representatives in the Knesset committee: stop the arrests. We need to take a timeout, stop the persecution, and strive for a fair solution that respects the Torah world and the greatness of Torah scholarship, rather than tearing Israeli society apart from within.”

Gotliv concluded by criticizing comments made by Ra’am chairman Mansour Abbas during a recent media interview, noting that he declined to define Hamas as a terrorist organization and accusing him of sending different messages in Arabic than he does in Hebrew.

“Mansour Abbas is using us, we’re his ‘pet Jews.’ One morning he said he was distancing himself from the Shura Council after Trump said he would outlaw the Muslim Brotherhood. But what did he say that very same day in Arabic? They asked him in Arabic, ‘How could you say you’re distancing yourself from the Shura Council?’ and he answered, ‘That’s just what sounds good to the Jews.’ Did you hear that? That’s the enemy. That’s Mansour Abbas. That’s the Muslim Brotherhood—a terrorist organization of which Hamas is its political and operational arm!”

Gotliv warned that if Israel fails to establish what she described as a strong nationalist right-wing government, the country could ultimately face the creation of a Palestinian state in the heart of Eretz Yisroel.

“If a strong national right-wing government is not formed, we could, chas v’shalom, wake up to a scenario in which a Palestinian state is established in the heart of Eretz Yisroel. Our national duty is to stand firm in the justice of our cause and not be deceived by false declarations.”

{Matzav.com}

Tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply Tuesday after Iran attempted what U.S. military officials described as a “surprise attack” against American forces, even as diplomatic efforts to secure a cease-fire reportedly made significant progress.

The latest confrontation came as the United States and Saudi Arabia carried out coordinated strikes against Iran-backed terrorist targets in Iraq, responding to a series of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-directed attacks on American personnel stationed in the region.

According to U.S. Central Command, American and Saudi warplanes struck terrorist logistics hubs and weapons facilities shortly after Iran attempted to launch a coordinated assault on U.S. forces across the Middle East.

CENTCOM said the IRGC orchestrated more than 30 drone attacks over the past three days, but reported that every one of them was successfully thwarted.

“From February through April 2026, there were more than 600 attempted attacks on U.S. citizens and facilities by Iran-aligned terrorist militias in Iraq,” the combatant command said in a statement.

“The IRGC and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further U.S. military response.”

Later Tuesday, CENTCOM said Iranian forces attempted another escalation by firing multiple ballistic missiles from Iran toward American positions in the region in what officials described as an “attempted surprise attack.” U.S. forces intercepted the incoming missiles before they reached their targets.

The military confrontation unfolded just as diplomats involved in negotiations between Washington and Tehran reported that cease-fire discussions had achieved “significant” progress.

President Donald Trump, who paused additional military strikes against Iran last Friday, said he remains hopeful that diplomacy could produce an agreement but cautioned that military action could quickly resume if negotiations collapse.

“You know, they wanted to talk. … we’re having good talks, so we’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters Monday. “I think there’s a good chance that something could happen, and if it does, good.

“If it doesn’t, we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago,” Trump warned.

According to Axios and The Associated Press, the United States is working alongside Qatar, Pakistan, and Egypt to facilitate the ongoing negotiations between Iran and Oman over the future administration of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

Omani mediators said Monday that discussions over creating a fair management structure for the Strait of Hormuz have been complicated by proposals involving new fees for ships passing through the waterway.

One proposal under discussion would allow Iran and Oman to collect service fees in exchange for providing maritime security throughout the strait, effectively giving the two countries joint responsibility for overseeing one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes, a regional source told Axios.

Another concept being considered would model the arrangement after the Strait of Malacca, where Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore jointly oversee maritime security through a system funded by collected fees.

The Trump administration, however, continues to insist that the Strait of Hormuz remain open to international shipping without new restrictions or tolls, maintaining that the vital waterway should continue operating freely as it did before the conflict erupted.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz said on Tuesday that Israel was prepared to renew strikes against Iran but is holding back because U.S. President Donald Trump has not approved attacks on the Islamic Republic’s energy infrastructure.

Speaking at Channel 14‘s Defense Conference, Katz said that the Trump administration’s broader strategic interests were influencing the timing of future military action.

“There are economic and energy considerations. We very much want to strike Iran’s energy targets, but the United States is not approving it at the moment because of concerns that Iran would attack neighboring countries and trigger a global oil crisis,” said Katz.

“As far as we are concerned, we are ready to set Iran back 40 years,” he added.

Katz said the Israel Defense Forces had been instructed to maintain readiness to strike the Islamic regime without U.S. support if necessary.

“We have struck Iran twice and are prepared to strike a third time on our own,” he said. “The IDF has been instructed and is preparing accordingly to be capable of attacking Iran by itself.”

He added that Jerusalem was coordinating closely with Washington and would see “what the United States does—whether it returns to the campaign or acts in other ways.”

Katz stressed that the IDF would respond forcefully to any unprovoked Iranian attack on the Jewish state’s territory.

“If Iran fires missiles at Israel, there will be a massive response,” he said. “We have made it absolutely clear: If they fire at Israel, we will strike with full force.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday morning, marking the eighth meeting between the two since the latter returned to office for a second term.

According to Netanyahu’s official schedule, the meeting with Trump is set for 11 a.m. Washington time.

In a statement before departing from Israel’s Nevatim Airbase on Monday, Netanyahu said he would discuss with Trump “all the issues on the agenda, first and foremost Iran.”

“Of course, our goal is to safeguard our security while also expanding the circle of peace around us,” he said. “I am embarking on this mission with one clear goal—to ensure the security, strength and future of our dear State of Israel,” added the premier. JNS

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that his meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu was highly successful, emphasizing that the two leaders discussed a wide range of critical issues, with Iran taking center stage.

Following the meeting, Trump posted several photographs on Truth Social and praised the talks.

“Had a very good meeting! Obviously, many important subjects were discussed.”

The White House also characterized the meeting in positive terms, with a spokesperson describing the discussions as “productive and good.”

Netanyahu echoed that assessment, calling the meeting one of the most meaningful he has had with an American president.

“This was one of the best conversations I’ve ever had with the US President.”

Senior officials accompanying the prime minister likewise described the talks in glowing terms, saying the discussions covered every major security front while placing particular emphasis on Iran.

“It was a very good and highly positive meeting. The two leaders discussed all fronts, foremost Iran, and reiterated their shared commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. They also discussed the robust partnership between Israel and the US, as well as various opportunities across the Middle East.”

Earlier Tuesday, before sitting down with Netanyahu, Trump addressed reports regarding Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site during an interview with Fox News. Israeli intelligence has assessed that centrifuges were recently relocated to the facility, but Trump dismissed concerns about its significance.

“It’s not a big deal,” he said.

Asked whether Netanyahu had personally updated him on Iranian activity at the site, Trump responded that he was already fully informed, while taking a lighthearted jab at the Israeli premier.

“I don’t need Bibi to tell me that. I know exactly what’s going on there.”

Shas MK Moshe Abutbul has called on Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to immediately halt what he describes as discriminatory enforcement by the Israel Tax Authority against yeshivos, Torah institutions, and Chareidi nonprofit organizations, arguing that they are being singled out while left-wing groups accused of far more serious conduct continue to enjoy government tax benefits.

In a sharply worded letter sent Tuesday under the title, “Demand to End Selective Enforcement Against Torah Institutions and Restore Equality Before the Law,” Abutbul urged the finance minister to intervene in what he characterized as an unjust and politically motivated policy.

Copies of the letter were also sent to Finance Ministry Director-General Israel Malachi, Israel Tax Authority Director Shay Aharonovich, Knesset Finance Committee Chairman MK Chanokh Milwidsky, and B’Tzalmo CEO Shai Glick.

Abutbul warned that recent actions by the Tax Authority against Torah institutions and Chareidi nonprofit organizations have raised serious concerns about unequal enforcement and have undermined public confidence in the fairness of government agencies.

At the center of his complaint is the revocation of tax benefits granted under Section 46 of Israel’s Income Tax Ordinance, which allows donors to receive tax credits for contributions to approved nonprofit organizations. According to Abutbul, Torah institutions are facing severe financial penalties—including the loss of this critical designation—because of claims relating to the personal legal status of some of their students.

He argued that while the Torah world is being subjected to strict enforcement, the government has taken a far more lenient approach toward other organizations accused of significantly more serious conduct.

As a prominent example, Abutbul pointed to several left-wing civil society organizations that continue to hold Section 46 tax-exempt status despite publicly expressing solidarity with Al-Haq, a Palestinian organization that was designated a terrorist organization by Israel’s defense minister in 2021 because of its alleged ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. He also noted that the organization has been sanctioned by the U.S. government.

Abutbul further wrote that these same organizations have published reports accusing Israel of committing “genocide” and systematically harming Gaza’s healthcare system, yet have faced no loss of tax benefits or other enforcement measures.

The letter emphasizes that Section 46 status serves as a financial lifeline for nonprofit organizations by encouraging charitable giving. According to Abutbul, stripping Torah institutions of that status severely damages their ability to support bnei Torah and maintain their educational operations.

He questioned why the Torah community has become the primary target of economic sanctions while organizations that, in his view, support groups designated as terrorist organizations or damage Israel’s international standing continue to operate without consequence.

Abutbul also warned that unequal enforcement erodes public trust in the rule of law and raises concerns that the decisions are being driven by political considerations rather than objective administrative standards. He argued that if the government believes the conduct or legal status of individuals associated with an institution justifies sanctions against the institution itself, then that principle should be applied equally to all organizations without exception.

He specifically asserted that the same standard should also apply to universities and academic institutions where students fail to comply with legal obligations, including the potential loss of government funding, tax benefits, and Section 46 eligibility.

Abutbul concluded by urging Smotrich to take three immediate steps: review the Tax Authority’s enforcement policy toward Torah institutions to ensure it is not discriminatory; suspend any sanctions that are not being applied equally across all sectors; and publish clear, uniform, and transparent guidelines governing how the Tax Authority exercises its authority over nonprofit organizations and public institutions.

He closed his letter by stating that genuine rule of law requires equal treatment for every institution regardless of political views or sectoral affiliation, and called on the finance minister to intervene immediately and conduct a thorough review of the matter.

{Matzav.com}

A coalition of immigrant-owned businesses is preparing to take New York City to court over Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to launch taxpayer-funded grocery stores, arguing that the $70 million initiative will unfairly undercut neighborhood markets and threaten the survival of small businesses.

The legal challenge comes as Mamdani unveiled additional details of the proposal this week, including a pledge that city-operated supermarkets will sell staple items such as produce, meat, milk, cheese, and bread at prices roughly 30% below those of nearby retailers. Following the announcement, the board of the Multicultural Business Coalition voted to move forward with a lawsuit aimed at stopping the project, according to the organization’s chairman, Frank Garcia.

“The mayor doesn’t seem to want to sit down with us,” Garcia said, adding that Mamdani “won’t be able to bully these lawyers we are going to bring in.”

City Hall did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Multicultural Business Coalition was established earlier this year to unite opposition to Mamdani’s grocery store proposal. The organization represents 50 chambers of commerce whose members include Asian, African, Caribbean, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and Jewish-owned businesses throughout New York City.

Garcia said the nonprofit plans to raise $1 million to challenge several of the mayor’s initiatives, with the grocery store lawsuit serving as a key priority. He described the effort as one that should transcend party politics. The coalition also intends to formally notify the mayor’s office in the coming days that legal action is imminent.

According to Garcia, the fundraising campaign will finance both the lawsuit and a broader public awareness effort highlighting the struggles facing neighborhood shop owners, many of whom are dealing with rising rents, increasing taxes, limited access to financing, and persistent retail theft.

While Garcia declined to discuss the specific legal arguments that will be included in the complaint, he said the coalition believes the city’s plan is fundamentally unfair to existing businesses.

He also revealed that several organizations and prominent supporters—including conservative policy groups and elected officials, whom he declined to identify—have expressed interest in providing financial backing and other assistance in opposing what they view as Mamdani’s socialist agenda.

The coalition has joined forces with other organizations representing thousands of grocery stores and bodegas, including the National Supermarket Association, in criticizing the city’s plan to move forward with government-operated supermarkets despite concerns that they could financially devastate existing stores, particularly in lower-income neighborhoods.

One frequently cited example is East Harlem, where the city intends to open one of the new grocery stores at La Marqueta. Business owners note that several bodegas already operate within just a few blocks of the planned location.

Many of those merchants worry they will lose customers to the city-run market, which they say will enjoy major financial advantages because it will operate on municipal property without paying rent while offering substantially lower prices.

“Having items that sell for 30% less than our prices, means nobody will go to our stores,” Radhames Rodriguez, president of the United Bodegas of America told The Post.

Business owners also say recent meetings with city officials have done little to ease their concerns. According to previous reports, municipal representatives privately met with neighborhood grocers after Mamdani first introduced the proposal, asking detailed questions about their best-selling products. Rather than reassuring store owners, those discussions reportedly heightened fears that the city was preparing to compete directly with them.

Mamdani has insisted that the municipal supermarkets are not intended to replace neighborhood bodegas. He said the stores will not carry hot prepared food or other items commonly sold in bodegas, including alcohol, cigarettes, and lottery tickets.

“We are not looking to compete with bodegas or grocery stores when it comes to their ability to survive,” he said at a Monday press conference touting his shops, the first of which is scheduled to open next year in the Bronx.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump honored the late Sen. Lindsey Graham with a heartfelt yet humorous eulogy Tuesday, remembering his longtime ally while reviving one of the most memorable moments from their once-contentious political relationship by jokingly repeating Graham’s personal phone number during the funeral service.

Speaking at Washington National Cathedral, Trump reflected on his close friendship with Graham, calling him a cherished companion whose absence would be deeply felt.

“He was a force of nature, and I will miss him greatly,” Trump said at the Washington National Cathedral.

The president recalled that their relationship did not begin on friendly terms, referencing their bitter rivalry during the 2016 Republican presidential primary.

“As you remember, Lindsey and I did not exactly get off to the best of starts,” the president said in his eulogy.

During that campaign, the two frequently traded insults as they competed for the Republican nomination, which Trump ultimately secured.

Trump revisited one of the campaign’s most infamous episodes, when he publicly revealed Graham’s private cell phone number after the senator criticized him during a television interview.

“Naturally, I did something that I shouldn’t have done. I shared his personal cell phone number with the millions of people that happened to be watching,” Trump said.

WATCH:

Drawing laughter from those gathered at the cathedral, Trump repeated the same number.

“I remember the number (202) 228-0292 if anybody wants to give it a shot,” he said as the audience at the National Cathedral roared in laughter.

Trump acknowledged that, in the end, Graham got the better of him.

“While I blew up his phone for one day, we became great friends, and Lindsey did not stop calling me for the next 10 years,” Trump said.

Despite their rocky beginning, the two developed a close personal bond over the years. Graham frequently spent weekends with Trump, joining him for golf at his Bedminster club in New Jersey and at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach.

Remembering Graham’s personality, Trump said the senator had a unique gift for making people laugh while also possessing a toughness that commanded respect.

“He was the first person to make you laugh and one of the last people that you’ve really ever wanted to fight,” Trump said of Graham, who died July 11, 2026, at the age of 71 of cardiovascular disease.

The president also shared stories highlighting Graham’s well-known reluctance to wake up early, prompting more laughter from mourners. Among the anecdotes, Trump recalled Graham jokingly asking the Dalai Lama whether he could levitate.

He also repeated one of Graham’s favorite quips involving Sen. Tim Scott.

“As many of you know, when Senator Tim Scott, a great gentleman in his own right, I can tell you invited him to prayer breakfast at 8:30 a.m., Lindsey told him, ‘Tim, if Jesus himself comes back before 10 a.m., I ain’t going,’” Trump remembered.

Trump noted that Graham ultimately attended the breakfast to support his friend, as Scott had previously recounted.

At one point, the president briefly departed from his prepared remarks to emphasize Graham’s determination and resilience.

“No matter how heated things got in Washington, virtually everyone, Republican or Democrat, liked Lindsey. Well, not everybody, but it sounds good. Not everybody. He was a tough cookie,” Trump said.

Much of the eulogy focused on Graham’s more than two decades in the United States Senate and the influence he wielded throughout his career.

Trump praised the South Carolina senator’s remarkable rise from humble beginnings to becoming one of the most recognizable figures in American politics.

Graham rose from a small town in rural South Carolina “to become a constant fixture of American politics at the highest level, and a force to be reckoned with all over the world,” Trump said.

The president said Graham’s knowledge of Washington and global affairs made him one of the capital’s most influential lawmakers.

“Nothing of consequence happened in this capital without Lindsey Graham knowing about it. Nothing of significance happened anywhere in the world without Lindsey Graham having a view on it, and no bill became law in the most exceptional republic in human history without Lindsey Graham having a say in it,” he added.

Throughout his remarks, Trump repeatedly praised his late friend, describing him as a “force of nature,” a “great figure in Senate history,” and someone who embraced every moment of life.

“He was a man who gave America the full measure of his good and mighty heart until that heart itself just gave out,” Trump said.

A stunning new survey suggests New York’s race for governor may be far more competitive than expected, with Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman trailing Gov. Kathy Hochul by only four percentage points as dissatisfaction with the state’s direction continues to grow.

The poll found Hochul receiving support from 47% of registered voters, while 43% backed Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. Another 10% of respondents said they remain undecided. The survey, commissioned by the pro-Blakeman “Strong and Safe” super PAC, indicates a race that is significantly tighter than many previous public polls.

The same survey found Hochul struggling with public perception. Just 38% of those questioned said they viewed her favorably, while 58% expressed an unfavorable opinion.

Her job approval numbers were similarly weak, with only 39% approving of her performance as governor and 56% saying they disapprove.

According to the polling memo, voter frustration with incumbents appears to be widespread. Only one-third of respondents believe Hochul deserves another term, while a commanding 61% said they would rather see someone new in the governor’s office. The survey was conducted between July 7 and July 12.

“The environment favors a challenger: just 33% say New York is headed in the right direction vs. 57% wrong track,” Red Oak Strategic said in its July 21 polling memo to “interested parties.”

Blakeman remains relatively unknown to many voters despite the close race. Thirty percent said they have a favorable opinion of him, 23% view him unfavorably, and nearly half — 47% — either have never heard of him or have not formed an opinion with fewer than 100 days remaining before the Nov. 3 election.

Supporters of the Republican candidate believe those numbers leave significant room for growth, especially given Hochul’s weak standing among voters.

The survey also found widespread dissatisfaction with the direction of New York. Fifty-seven percent of respondents believe the state is on the wrong track, while only 33% believe it is moving in the right direction.

When asked about their biggest concerns, most voters pointed to the rising cost of living, inflation, the economy, jobs, and taxes. Public safety ranked as another major issue, cited by roughly one-third of those surveyed.

A majority of respondents — 57% — blamed politicians for increasing living costs, while 35% pointed the finger at corporations.

Personal financial outlooks also reflected voter frustration. Forty-three percent said they are worse off financially than they were a year ago, while only 15% reported being better off. The remainder said their financial situation has stayed about the same. The survey carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points.

Independent voters could prove especially important if the poll accurately reflects the electorate.

“Hochul opens at 47–43 (Hochul +4%) with 10% undecided. Blakeman already leads independents 54%–33%, holds Republicans 83–10, and runs strongest in the suburbs (51%),” the polling memo said.

Despite the close numbers, Hochul continues to enjoy a commanding financial advantage.

Recent campaign finance filings show her campaign committee, “Friends for Kathy Hochul,” holding approximately $21 million in cash, while another $22 million sits in the New York State Democratic Party’s accounts.

That financial edge is more than four times greater than the combined resources available to Blakeman and the state Republican Party.

Outside spending could narrow that gap. Pro-Blakeman groups such as the Strong and Safe super PAC, which is backed by Madison Square Garden owner James Dolan, are expected to invest millions of dollars during the final stretch of the campaign.

Campaign finance records show that MSG Entertainment and MSG Sports each contributed $350,000 to Strong and Safe earlier this month, for a combined $700,000.

In addition, MSG has donated $2 million to the Coalition to Restore New York, a political organization created by Dolan in 2021. That group later transferred $300,000 to Strong and Safe.

Red Oak Strategic projects that approximately 5.9 million New Yorkers — roughly 44% of the state’s 13.5 million registered voters — will cast ballots in the November election.

The survey also found Republicans displaying significantly greater enthusiasm than Democrats. According to the poll, 73% of Republicans said they are much more interested in this year’s governor’s race than in previous elections, compared to 44% of Democrats, creating what the poll described as a 29-point enthusiasm advantage.

Even so, Democrats continue to hold a substantial registration advantage statewide, outnumbering Republicans by more than two to one. Roughly one-quarter of New York voters are registered as independents or are not affiliated with any political party.

The survey did not examine how President Donald Trump could affect the race, despite his prominence in national politics and his relationship with Blakeman.

Historical trends have often favored the party out of power during midterm elections. In 2018, during President Trump’s first midterm election, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo cruised to reelection over Republican Marc Molinaro as Democrats also gained congressional seats and captured control of the New York State Senate.

Hochul’s most recent gubernatorial victory came in 2022, when she defeated then-Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin, who now serves as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, by six percentage points during President Joe Biden’s midterm election.

Other recent polling has painted a far different picture of the race. A Siena College survey released in late June showed Hochul with a commanding 52% to 32% advantage over Blakeman.

However, another poll conducted earlier this month by the conservative-leaning firm co/efficient for the Coalition to Protect Nassau Taxpayers also suggested a much tighter contest, putting Hochul ahead by six points, 47% to 41%, among likely general election voters.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump secured another key national security appointment Tuesday as the Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as the nation’s new director of national intelligence, placing the former federal prosecutor and Wall Street regulator in charge of coordinating America’s intelligence agencies.

The Senate approved Clayton’s nomination by a 51-47 party-line vote, bringing an end to more than a month of interim leadership at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and elevating him to one of the most influential positions in the U.S. national security apparatus.

Clayton, who previously chaired the Securities and Exchange Commission and most recently served as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, will oversee coordination among all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA and the National Security Agency.

Republicans argued that Clayton’s leadership experience made him better suited for the position than acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte. They pointed to his tenure at the SEC and his management of one of the nation’s most prominent federal prosecutors’ offices as evidence that he is prepared to confront growing national security challenges posed by China, Iran, and Russia.

Many Democrats, meanwhile, had voiced frustration with Pulte’s temporary leadership of the intelligence community, particularly following workforce reductions at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Their criticism intensified after Pulte announced in a Sunday post on X that a fourth round of what he described as “thoughtful, measured layoffs” had been completed.

Earlier this month, Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., said he wanted the administration to install a permanent intelligence chief, describing Pulte as one of the least qualified individuals to serve in the role.

Despite Warner’s comments, Democrats remained united in opposition to Clayton’s nomination, with none voting Monday to advance his confirmation.

During his confirmation hearing, Clayton openly acknowledged that he had never previously worked within the intelligence community. However, he argued that his background leading major organizations and overseeing sensitive national security investigations as U.S. attorney had prepared him for the responsibilities of the office.

“We interact with US intelligence community and counterterrorism officials continuously on dozens of important national security matters,” he told lawmakers at the time.

Democratic senators also questioned Clayton about subpoenas issued by his office to reporters at The New York Times seeking information related to leaked reports concerning potential security vulnerabilities involving Air Force One. The Justice Department later announced that those subpoenas would be withdrawn.

President Trump nominated Clayton in June to succeed Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence, praising his legal career and reputation within the profession.

“Few people anywhere in the legal community are respected at the level of Jay,” Trump said when announcing the pick.

{Matzav.com}

Following the deadly terrorist attack near the village of Tell, the IDF’s Central Command has issued updated security guidelines warning Israelis against entering Palestinian Authority-controlled areas in Judea and Samaria without prior coordination, stressing that doing so could put lives at risk.

According to the new directive, “Entry into Areas B, and certainly Areas A, without prior coordination and appropriate security protection endangers lives. Anyone who does so without the required authorization bears responsibility.”

The updated guidance, first reported by Army Radio’s Ayala Ben Adar, is intended to reinforce existing security procedures in light of the deteriorating security situation.

Under the Oslo Accords, Area A is under full Palestinian Authority civil and security control, Area B is under Palestinian civil administration with Israeli security responsibility, and Area C remains under full Israeli control.

Despite those distinctions, many Israelis—particularly members of the Chareidi community—regularly visit certain Area B villages that have long been viewed as relatively friendly. Among the most frequented are Dir Qadis, near Modi’in Illit, and Husan, near Beitar Illit, where many Israelis go for shopping, vehicle repairs, and other services.

The new directive was issued in the wake of the recent terrorist attack near Tell, which, according to the IDF document, “once again illustrates the complexity of the security reality in Judea and Samaria and the operational challenges we face every day. This reality requires all parties to act responsibly, with discipline and sound judgment, while strictly adhering to security procedures and directives, particularly regarding entry into areas that present security risks.”

The IDF emphasized that unauthorized entry into Areas B—and especially Area A—not only endangers the individuals involved but can also force Israeli security forces into dangerous rescue operations.

“Entry into Areas B, and certainly Areas A, without prior coordination and appropriate security protection endangers human life,” the document states. “Beyond the danger posed to the travelers themselves, incidents of this kind often require the deployment of security forces into a complex environment under time constraints and operational limitations, exposing them to significant risks, as occurred in the most recent incident.”

The updated guidance also reiterates that anyone entering these areas without the required authorization assumes personal responsibility for the consequences.

In addition, the IDF reminded the public that entering Area A without official authorization is a criminal offense under Israeli law.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s trip to Washington was carried out under an unprecedented veil of secrecy after Israeli security officials warned of an increased Iranian effort to target senior Israeli leaders, according to a report Tuesday evening.

Channel 12 News reported that top government officials, including several cabinet ministers, were briefed on intelligence indicating that Tehran has intensified attempts to strike high-ranking Israeli officials in what it views as an opportunity to achieve a strategic victory.

In response to the growing threat, Israel’s security establishment reportedly alerted the political leadership to the heightened danger, while the Shin Bet significantly increased security around a number of senior Israeli officials. Security authorities also recommended that Netanyahu’s departure for Washington be conducted in complete secrecy.

Instead of departing from Ben Gurion Airport, Netanyahu’s official aircraft, Wing of Zion, took off from Nevatim Airbase. Journalists were not permitted to accompany the prime minister on the flight, and both the departure time and the expected arrival time in Washington were withheld from the public for security reasons.

The prime minister’s visit to the U.S. had been planned in advance under unusually strict security and media restrictions. Netanyahu’s office announced that he was traveling to Washington at the invitation of President Donald Trump, but officials deliberately kept the flight schedule confidential, citing security concerns.

The heightened secrecy extended to Netanyahu’s White House meeting with President Trump. The meeting was initially scheduled to be closed to the media, although a source close to the prime minister later indicated that those plans could change.

According to the source, Netanyahu would prefer that the meeting be photographed and documented publicly, allowing the close relationship between the two leaders to be reflected not only diplomatically but also visually.

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Israeli entrepreneur Eran Efrat, who lives in the Netherlands, shared an emotional post on X describing how a heartbreaking encounter with a 3½-year-old boy battling aggressive cancer inspired him to put on tefillin and pray for the child’s recovery, despite saying he had not spoken to Hashem in years.

Reflecting on the experience, Efrat wrote that it was only the third time he had put on tefillin over the past year.

“This is the third time I’ve put on tefillin in the past year. A crazy event, even by my standards,” he wrote.

According to Efrat, he visited the children’s ward of a hospital in the Netherlands together with a friend named Eitan, where they met a little boy just 3½ years old who is fighting a severe form of cancer. The child had traveled to the Netherlands to receive specialized treatment, and his parents described his condition as “a ticking time bomb,” explaining that his medical situation could change at any moment.

Deeply shaken by the meeting, Efrat decided to put on tefillin and offer a prayer for the recovery of the child, Shay ben Nofar Meital.

“Years had passed since I spoke to Hashem, but maybe He’ll listen,” Efrat wrote candidly.

He said the visit left him emotionally devastated.

“I left completely broken and called Maor, a man who has seen everything and knows exactly the right words to tell me,” he wrote.

Efrat said witnessing the suffering of seriously ill children dramatically changed his perspective on life.

“The tubes, the sights, the broken children—it puts everything back into perspective. Everything else in life is nonsense. All the chasing after achievements. Only health truly matters,” he wrote.

He encouraged anyone who needs a reminder of what is genuinely important in life to visit the children’s oncology department at Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Israel, while cautioning that doing so requires tremendous emotional strength.

“If you need a brief reminder, take a walk through the children’s ward at Schneider with Maor, but be prepared for enormous emotional strength and many tears. Only health,” he concluded.

Efrat’s post was accompanied by a photograph taken by a friend who donated the tefillin he wore that day. Efrat described his friend as a man with an exceptionally generous heart and expressed appreciation for both his friendship and his act of kindness.

Iran has significantly increased its efforts to assassinate senior Israeli officials, both current and former, as part of a broader campaign aimed at delivering a psychological and strategic blow to Israel, according to a new report.

Channel 12 News reported that several top Israeli officials, including cabinet ministers, have recently been briefed by the country’s security establishment about what officials describe as a heightened Iranian campaign targeting prominent Israeli figures.

According to the report, Israeli intelligence believes Tehran has long sought to attack senior Israeli officials, but recent weeks have seen a marked increase in both the scale of those efforts and the number of suspected assassination attempts.

In response to the growing threat, the Shin Bet has reportedly tightened security around a number of high-ranking Israeli officials.

The report also revealed that, acting on the advice of security officials, authorities took extraordinary precautions surrounding the recent departure of the Wing of Zion government aircraft to the United States. The aircraft’s departure time was kept confidential, and the flight was moved to Nevatim Airbase for security reasons.

The latest assessment comes just days after the Mossad announced that it had foiled an alleged Iranian intelligence plot to infiltrate a terrorist cell into Israel to assassinate senior Israeli officials.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the operation was thwarted through close cooperation between the Mossad, the Shin Bet, and intelligence and security agencies from several allied countries.

The Mossad said Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have spent years directing a worldwide terrorist campaign against Israeli and Jewish targets and have recently stepped up efforts to conduct attacks inside Israel itself.

The agency added that security services have dismantled dozens of Iranian-linked terrorist networks in recent years and have also uncovered multiple attempts over the past two years to recruit Israeli citizens to carry out missions on behalf of the Iranian regime.

According to the Mossad, the disrupted operation relied on criminal proxy organizations that recruited operatives capable of entering Israel to collect intelligence before carrying out terrorist attacks. International intelligence cooperation ultimately exposed both the network and the Iranian intelligence officers allegedly directing it.

The Mossad identified the alleged leader of the operation as Thérot Ozkor, also known by the alias “Philip,” a man who had been living in France before being recruited to establish an operational cell composed of foreign nationals that would infiltrate Israel. According to the agency, he was recruited by two criminal intermediaries—Baba Mahu-Zadeh Haji Jafan, known as “Babak,” and Mahmat Nadim Yiğit, known as “Nadim”—both of whom are based in Iran and allegedly operate under the direction of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence.

Investigators said “Philip” traveled to Iran on multiple occasions, where he allegedly met with his handlers and received payment for advancing the operation. The investigation also linked Babak and Nadim to four Iranian intelligence officers identified by the Mossad as Asadollah Behzad Oskhari, Vahid Matzoumi, Mohammad-Hossein Zoghi, and Hamid Ghasemi.

According to the Mossad, Behzad Oskhari played a leading role in orchestrating terrorist attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets on behalf of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and was killed during Operation Rising Lion.

The agency further stated that “Philip” was expelled from France because of his alleged role in planning the operation, while Babak and Nadim remain in Iran and continue to be sought by intelligence agencies.

The Mossad and Shin Bet said they will continue working alongside international partners to identify and disrupt terrorist and espionage operations targeting Israeli and Jewish interests around the world and to pursue those responsible.

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The public war of words between Together Party chairman Naftali Bennett and Qatar intensified Tuesday after the Gulf state sharply rebuked Bennett for accusing it of helping enable the October 7 massacre. Bennett fired back by renewing his pledge to declare Qatar an enemy state if he returns to office.

The latest exchange began after Bennett accused Doha of supporting terrorism and bearing responsibility for the Hamas-led October 7 attack. In response, the Qatari Embassy in Washington issued a strongly worded statement condemning his remarks.

The embassy dismissed Bennett’s accusations as false and politically motivated.

“We condemn Bennett’s statements, which deliberately spread false information about Qatar in an attempt to advance his political ambitions,” the embassy said.

Qatari officials also defended their country’s regional role, saying its efforts have been recognized by international and regional partners. The embassy stressed that Qatar’s activities in the Gaza Strip were carried out in coordination with Israeli authorities and international organizations. It added that Qatar had helped broker several ceasefires and played a key role in securing the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

The statement then turned its criticism directly toward Bennett personally.

“This is not the first time Bennett has attacked Qatar in order to score political points on the domestic stage. Israeli politicians who criticize Qatar would do better to focus on addressing their country’s internal challenges,” the embassy said. It further asserted that “Israel’s disinformation campaigns will not deter Qatar from continuing to fulfill its role in promoting peace and security.”

Bennett responded by releasing a video in which he intensified his accusations against the Gulf nation.

“Qatar bears responsibility for the October 7 massacre. It financed the attack and hosts the terrorist leaders in Doha. To this day, it has not condemned the massacre; it celebrated it. I cannot be bought with money. Qatar is an enemy, and if I am elected prime minister, we will declare it an enemy state,” Bennett said.

The latest confrontation follows Bennett’s recent claim that, while serving as prime minister, he was exposed to intelligence indicating that Qatar also transferred funding to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Bennett has said that if he returns to the premiership, he will move to officially designate Qatar as an enemy state.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu is considering holding the Likud party’s next primary election through a secure digital voting system, driven largely by concerns that a deteriorating security situation could disrupt traditional in-person voting.

According to a report Tuesday evening by Kan News, Netanyahu was impressed by the Democratic Party’s recent digital primary process, which reportedly featured robust security measures and exceptionally high voter participation.

While the possibility of a security escalation is the primary factor behind the proposal, those close to Netanyahu believe digital voting offers additional long-term advantages that could make it attractive even under normal circumstances.

Among the most significant benefits cited are the potential to save the party millions of shekels and to reduce the influence of organized pressure groups that traditionally wield considerable power at physical polling stations.

The leading advocate for the initiative is Likud Acting Director-General David Sharan, who discussed the concept during a radio interview earlier Tuesday.

At this stage, Netanyahu has reportedly presented the idea only as a contingency plan in the event of a serious security emergency. However, people close to him believe the proposal could eventually become a realistic option even if the security situation remains stable.

Earlier this week, the Likud Party Tribunal rejected efforts to create a mechanism that would allow the primaries to be canceled in the event of an emergency.

The tribunal ruled that the primary election must proceed as scheduled, declaring, “Likud is not a party of one man, and it will lose its vitality if it becomes one. There is no room to open even the smallest door in advance to canceling the primaries.”

[Video below.] A Canadian lawmaker has become an online sensation after unintentionally reading artificial intelligence editing instructions aloud during a speech before his province’s legislature, turning what was meant to be a routine address into an embarrassing viral moment.

Bill Oliver, a Progressive Conservative member of New Brunswick’s Legislative Assembly, delivered the speech on June 9, but the incident has only recently begun attracting widespread attention after viewers noticed that portions of his prepared remarks included unrevised AI-generated prompts.

Rather than skipping over the editing instructions, Oliver read them verbatim, telling the assembly, “Here’s a more natural flowing version of that section that reads like a legislative speech rather than a series of short points.”

The mistake did not end there. As he continued speaking, Oliver twice more read internal AI instructions that apparently had been left in his speech draft.

During the address, he also said, “This version should … here’s a more developed and flowing version of the section” before later reading another unfinished prompt: “This section ends roughly …”

WATCH:

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