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The State Department under President Donald Trump has canceled more than 175,000 visas belonging to foreign nationals accused of a wide range of criminal offenses since the beginning of last year, including violent crimes, fraud, theft, drunk driving, immigration violations, and threats to national security.

State Department officials said this week that many of the visa revocations have involved individuals accused of assault, driving under the influence, theft, drug-related offenses, fraud, immigration violations, and activities deemed harmful to U.S. national security.

Officials added that numerous visas have also been revoked from foreign nationals accused of crimes such as child abuse, assault, embezzlement, and reckless driving.

Among the cases cited by the department was a foreign national whose visa was revoked after being charged with rape and battery involving a mentally disabled victim. Another individual lost visa privileges after being charged with felony kidnapping, human trafficking, and exploitation of a minor.

Officials also highlighted several other examples of recent visa revocations.

One case involved a foreign national arrested on charges including disorderly conduct, violently resisting arrest, driving under the influence, and domestic violence.

At a U.S. embassy in North Africa, officials revoked more than 100 visas issued to so-called “birth tourists”—parents who allegedly traveled to the United States primarily so their children would be born with American citizenship.

Another foreign national had a visa revoked after being charged with sodomy of a child and aggravated battery.

In another case, authorities revoked the visa of a foreign national charged with more than a dozen counts involving possession of child sexual abuse material.

Another individual lost visa privileges after being arrested while allegedly driving with heroin in the vehicle and a blood alcohol concentration more than three times the legal limit.

The State Department also revoked visas belonging to several foreign nationals who publicly celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk, including one who wrote, “when fascists die, democrats don’t complain,” and another who stated that he “died too late.”

Officials also pointed to the case of a foreign national who claimed to run a legitimate business assisting vulnerable patients with healthcare but was allegedly involved in orchestrating a Medicaid fraud scheme that billed more than $5 million for services that were never provided.

In another example, a foreign national allegedly created a business through fraudulent means by fabricating revenue figures and deceiving investors out of millions of dollars. According to officials, the individual also used forged documents and false claims to obtain a U.S. visa.

The department also revoked the visa of a foreign national who entered the United States to teach children but was later arrested for allegedly assaulting one of the students.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has separately revoked visas held by foreign nationals whom the administration considers threats to national security, including a Cuban national with ties to the communist regime.

The crackdown has also included Iranian nationals with alleged ties to the Iranian regime, a Laotian child sex offender who had previously received a pardon from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and a Kuwaiti national accused of expressing support for violence against President Trump while referring to Americans as the “enemy.”

Megan Romer, co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is facing widespread condemnation after saying in a recent interview that Hamas’ October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel was “largely inevitable” and indicating that she likely would have attended a pro-Hamas rally held the day after the attack.

During an interview with The New Yorker‘s David Remnick, Romer was asked about Democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier, who took part in an anti-Israel, pro-Hamas demonstration in New York City on October 8, 2023. Remnick asked whether Romer would have attended the rally herself had she been in New York.

“You would have gone to that rally, had you been able?” Remnick asked.

“That’s a good question. I probably would have,” Romer replied. “Yeah, yeah. I don’t live in New York City, so I wouldn’t have —”

Remnick then questioned whether she was comfortable supporting such a demonstration immediately after Hamas’ attack on Israel.

“One day after the slaughter of 1,200 people and taking of over 200 hostages, you would have come and rallied behind Hamas?”

“I think that Oct. 7 was largely inevitable,” she replied. “If you put people in an open-air concentration camp and you deprive them of rights, of dignity, of food, of the ability to live in safety, you have to expect that they are going to not take that for that long. And that is not defending any harm of civilians or of non-combatants —”

When Remnick suggested that her comments amounted to support for the attack, Romer rejected that characterization.

“I’m saying that I think it was inevitable.”

Her remarks immediately drew condemnation from several pro-Israel organizations.

“I agree with DSA Co-chair Megan Romer that the October 7 attacks were in many ways inevitable — but not for the libelous reasons she cited,” Zionist Organization of America National President Morton A. Klein told Fox News Digital.

“When Gazans elected Hamas – a terror organization whose charter calls for murdering every Jew and destroying Israel, October 7 was the result,” he added. “When Qatar and Iran gave arms and hundreds of millions of dollars to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, gave sanctuary to Hamas leaders, and helped terror groups plan attacks on Israel, October 7 was the result.”

Klein continued by arguing that a number of additional factors contributed to the attack.

“When UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency) teaches children to hate and murder Jews, employs Hamas terrorists as teachers and principals, stores weapons for Hamas, and provides communications centers for Hamas, October 7 is the result. When Israel, under pressure from the Biden administration, issued thousands of work permits to enter Israel to Hamas terrorists and scouts, October 7 was the result,” he continued.

He warned that Israel must take steps to prevent a similar attack from happening again.

“And now, when Hamas is refusing to really disarm, and is vowing to commit more and more October 7ths, we must enable Israel to ensure its safety by retaining a buffer zone in Gaza and insisting on Hamas’ disarmament prior to any other peace plan steps,” he said. “Or else another October 7 will be the result. Regarding Romer’s lies, the parties ‘imprisoning’ Gaza are Hamas, PIJ and other terror groups. By contrast, Israel facilitated tons of food, water, medical and other supplies into Gaza — while Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad launched 30,000 rockets at Israeli civilians.”

The Anti-Defamation League also criticized Romer’s comments, directing Fox News Digital to a series of posts it published on X condemning the interview.

“What she said and doubled down on in this interview should concern every American. Because this kind of hateful and demonizing rhetoric against the only Jewish state in the world goes well beyond criticism of a government or its policies, and it puts every Jewish American at risk,” the ADL tweeted on its official account.

The organization specifically objected to Romer’s remarks about the rally and the October 7 massacre.

“Romer shamelessly said she ‘probably would have’ attended the pro-Hamas rally held in NYC on 10/8/23, just one day after Hamas murdered more than 1,200 people and kidnapped 251 hostages, including babies, children, young women, mothers, and elderly people. She also called the Hamas-led October 7 massacre a mere ‘revolt’ and ‘largely inevitable.’ There is no justification for rape, kidnapping, torture, and slaughter.”

The ADL concluded its statement by linking to an entry in its database about the Democratic Socialists of America, arguing that the organization’s growing influence extends well beyond the political fringe.

“DSA now has over 120,000 members and 250+ elected officials across 40 states in the U.S. Radical groups like DSA are no longer on the fringes of society, they have infiltrated mainstream politics and have the ability to impact laws and policies affecting everyone.”

Rabbi Yaakov Menken, executive vice president of the Coalition for Jewish Values, also sharply criticized Romer’s comments, calling the DSA “objectively antisemitic.”

“She used a mythological inversion of reality to justify both a murderous pogrom and an ongoing plan of starvation, torture, rape, and murder,” Menken said.

{Matzav.com}

New York City prosecutors are urging the court to impose strict controls during the upcoming murder trial of Luigi Mangione, warning that his supporters could attempt to intimidate witnesses and influence jurors in the closely watched case involving the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

In a letter submitted Monday evening to Judge Gregory Carro, Assistant District Attorney Joel Seidemann argued that the extraordinary public attention surrounding the case has created unusual risks for the judicial process.

“The media attention surrounding this case — and the efforts of some of defendant’s supporters both to intimidate witnesses and to interfere with the functioning of the jury — will place extraordinary pressure on witnesses and potential jurors alike,” Assistant District Attorney Joel Seidemann wrote in a letter to Judge Gregory Carro Monday evening.

Prosecutors are asking the court to tightly regulate access to the courtroom and ensure that all courtroom rules are rigorously enforced when the trial begins next month.

They also cautioned against creating an overflow room for additional members of the media, arguing that courthouse personnel could have difficulty policing such a space if it is opened to accommodate reporters who cannot fit inside the main courtroom.

“We are particularly concerned about the possibility that a spectator in an overflow courtroom will clandestinely record the proceedings and share any such recordings with others,” prosecutors wrote. “That concern will only be heightened if the overflow room includes a video feed as well as an audio feed.”

Seidemann recommended that, if an overflow room is ultimately approved, it should carry only live audio rather than video in order to reduce the risk of witnesses being identified or harassed.

“it include only an audio feed so as to minimize the potential for witness intimidation and harassment.”

Legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani said the defense appears to be pursuing a strategy that differs from what is typically seen in high-profile criminal cases.

“The conventional wisdom is that the defense usually doesn’t want high-profile cases broadcast. It can put implicit pressure on jurors to return a guilty verdict,” Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, told Fox News Digital last week.

Rahmani suggested Mangione’s attorneys may believe the widespread publicity could actually work in their client’s favor because of the public support he has attracted.

“There’s upwards of 10 to 20 percent of the people who have been surveyed who believe that even if he did it, it was justified,” Rahmani said. “And I think the defense knows this, and they know that more attention creates the possibility of jury nullification, or maybe even an acquittal.”

Thompson, a 50-year-old Minnesota father of two, was shot from behind while walking to a business conference outside a Manhattan hotel on Dec. 4, 2024. Surveillance footage captured a gunman firing multiple shots before fleeing the scene. Mangione was arrested several days later at a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Mangione briefly appeared in court Tuesday for a pretrial conference ahead of next month’s proceedings before Judge Carro.

During the hearing, the issue of cameras in the courtroom was not addressed. Judge Carro did, however, warn that anyone using a cellphone inside either the courtroom or any overflow room would be immediately removed.

“There has never been a decision by this court to exclude or limit,” he said. “There have been discussions on expanding.”

Mangione’s attorneys have asked the court to allow the trial to be televised, even though New York law generally prohibits broadcasting criminal trials.

Earlier this year, the defense announced plans to pursue a psychiatric defense in the state prosecution but withdrew that strategy just one day later.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all eight state charges against him, including second-degree murder, a charge that carries a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison if he is convicted under New York law.

In addition to the state prosecution, Mangione also faces federal charges stemming from the killing. That separate federal trial is expected to begin early next year.

{Matzav.com}

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has launched an inquiry into The New York Times, demanding internal company records that he argues could reveal whether editorial decisions have created legal and financial risks for shareholders, including Florida’s public retirement system, which holds millions of dollars in the company’s stock.

In a 28-page letter sent Monday, the Republican attorney general requested documents detailing how the newspaper reviewed several controversial stories and what information the company’s board received regarding potential legal exposure and financial liability stemming from those publications.

According to Uthmeier, the probe is “grounded in concrete corporate risk, not generalized dissatisfaction with editorial judgment.”

To support his argument, Uthmeier cited Fox News’ nearly $800 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems, saying it demonstrates how editorial choices can have enormous financial consequences for publicly traded media companies and their investors.

“Editorial malpractice does not always kill a media enterprise,” Uthmeier wrote. “But it always sends a bill.”

The New York Times strongly rejected the attorney general’s actions, accusing him of attempting to pressure the newspaper over its reporting.

“We are aware of the demand letter, which, while positioned as a request under corporate law, is a clear attempt to chill First Amendment-protected journalism,” Danielle Rhoades Ha, the Times’ senior vice president for communications, said in a statement obtained by Politico.

“We will respond more fully in due course.”

Uthmeier contends that the newspaper has experienced “publicly documented failures” to adhere to its own editorial guidelines. He also alleges that its opinion section has been used to “publish reported factual assertions outside the newsroom’s verification controls.”

Among the central issues in the investigation is a May opinion column by Nicholas Kristof titled “The Silence That Meets the Rape of Palestinians,” which alleged that Israeli authorities used dogs to rape Palestinian prisoners.

The column drew sharp condemnation from Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, who threatened legal action and described it as “one of the most hideous and distorted lies ever published against the State of Israel.”

The Times defended the article and its reporting process, stating that Kristof’s work “underwent a rigorous vetting process by Opinion’s fact-checking department to ensure that every testimony and anecdote he personally reported was supported by independent sources, as is the case with all sensitive pieces.”

As part of the inquiry, Uthmeier is seeking records indicating whether The New York Times’ board of directors was informed about the controversy surrounding Kristof’s column and any resulting consequences. He is also requesting documents related to other reporting by the newspaper, including a June article involving former Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner.

“The Times tells investors that its brand and reputation are its most important assets, and that if people see its journalism as unreliable or biased, the company can be hurt,” Uthmeier said Monday.

“So, we want to exercise our rights under New York law to review the company’s internal board documents, meeting minutes, reports, and other materials, to see what the directors know.”

The attorney general has given the newspaper two weeks to produce the requested documents.

Florida’s retirement system has a financial stake in the outcome. According to a May filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Florida Retirement System owned 147,831 shares of The New York Times Company, valued at approximately $12.4 million. The pension fund provides benefits to more than 1.2 million current and former public employees and their beneficiaries.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that his administration is examining whether the federal government has legal grounds to challenge New York’s newly enacted tax on luxury second homes, calling the measure a misguided policy that could have far-reaching consequences.

In a post on social media, Trump blasted the state’s new “pied-a-terre” tax, describing it as a “dangerous political experiment” and signaling that he is exploring possible legal avenues to stop it.

The tax, whose name comes from a French phrase meaning “foot on the ground” and refers to a secondary residence, was approved by New York lawmakers as part of the state’s budget package adopted in May.

“I am looking ⁠to see if the Federal ⁠Government ⁠has any legal right to avert this disaster,” Trump said.

The measure is already facing a legal challenge in New York state court. According to reports, a Staten Island judge issued a temporary order on Monday preventing the tax from taking effect while the case moves forward.

{Matzav.com}

At the levayah of his four-year-old grandson, Rav Shalom Arush delivered an emotional message urging the tzibbur to strengthen its commitment to Torah during bein hazmanim, stressing that there is never a “vacation” from Torah and calling on people to avoid unnecessary trips abroad.

The remarks were delivered at the levayah of four-year-old Shalom Seginer, the son of Reb Assaf Seginer and grandson of Rav Shalom Arush, founder and leader of the Chut Shel Chessed institutions. Speaking to the thousands gathered, Rav Arush reflected on the tragedies that so often occur during bein hazmanim, both in Eretz Yisroel and overseas, and called for spiritual introspection and renewed dedication to Torah.

Addressing the crowd, Rav Arush urged every Jew to use the bein hazmanim period for increased limud haTorah rather than spiritual relaxation.

“All of the Jewish people need to strengthen themselves. Tragedies always happen during bein hazmanim. All of the Jewish people should take it upon themselves during bein hazmanim to set aside fixed times for Torah study, including the children. Children say, ‘We’re on vacation.’ There is no vacation from Torah. The dead are free; there is no vacation from Torah.”

Rav Arush also addressed the growing trend of overseas travel, urging that such trips be reserved only for spiritual purposes.

“Travel abroad? Only to the graves of the righteous,” he said.

The levayah began Tuesday morning at the Chut Shel Chessed yeshiva in Yerushalayim and continued to Har HaZeisim, where thousands of family members, talmidim, friends, and members of the ציבור accompanied the young child on his final journey and paid their last respects.

Shalom Seginer tragically drowned in a swimming pool while vacationing with his family in Mexico.

{Matzav.com}

The Sanz-Klausenburg community in the United States is in mourning following the sudden petirah of Rav Tzvi Zev Berger zt”l, a respected moreh horaah and mara d’asra who served the Sanz-Klausenburger community and the Karlsburg Beis Horaah. Rav Berger passed away in his sleep while vacationing in Switzerland. He was just 43 years old and was widely regarded as one of Boro Park’s most prominent poskim and morei horaah.

Rav Berger had traveled to Switzerland in recent days for a period of rest. During the night, he apparently suffered a sudden cardiac event and passed away in his sleep. When he failed to wake up the following morning, emergency responders were summoned, but despite their efforts, they were forced to pronounce him dead at the scene.

Rav Berger was among the leading halachic authorities in Brooklyn’s Boro Park neighborhood. He served as a moreh horaah and mara d’asra for the Sanz-Klausenburg community while also holding a prominent position at the renowned Karlsburg Beis Horaah, which was founded by the Karlsburg Gaavad, Rav Yechezkel Roth zt”l.

He earned widespread respect for his extraordinary diligence in Torah study, his deep mastery of halachah, and his ability to analyze and resolve complex halachic questions. His well-known shiurim covering the laws of Shabbos, medicine and halachah, modern technology, and travel-related halachic issues attracted thousands of listeners and were widely circulated among those seeking practical psak.

Friends, colleagues, and members of the community describe Rav Berger as an exceptional talmid chochom, a devoted chossid, and an oveid Hashem whose entire being was deeply connected to the Sanz-Klausenburg Rebbe. They also recalled his warm personality, remarkable humility, and genuine kindness toward everyone he encountered.

News of his sudden passing has left his family, the Sanz-Klausenburg community, his many talmidim, and those who regularly sought his halachic guidance in the United States and around the world struggling to come to terms with the loss of a distinguished moreh horaah taken in the prime of his life.

Rav Berger leaves behind a beautiful family. Community leaders are currently working with Swiss authorities to complete the necessary legal procedures and secure the release of his body so it can be transported to the United States for burial. Funeral arrangements and details regarding the transfer of the aron will be announced at a later time.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) sharply dismissed Kamala Harris on Monday, arguing that the former vice president no longer carries political influence as he pushed back against her criticism of President Trump’s efforts to advance the SAVE America Act.

Appearing on Fox News with Sean Hannity, Kennedy responded to Democratic opposition to the election legislation by referencing a recent video in which Harris criticized President Trump’s decision to make the SAVE America Act a legislative priority.

“No disrespect, but Vice President Harris is no longer relevant. She had a shot and she missed. She can cozy up to the Lulu Lenins all she wants to,” Kennedy said, invoking Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin.

Kennedy continued his criticism by making clear that Harris’s views carry little weight with him.

“But she has me confused with somebody who cares what she thinks,” Kennedy continued to Fox News host Sean Hannity.

“I mean, she’s yesterday.”

In the video that prompted Kennedy’s remarks, Harris accused Republicans of creating barriers that could discourage voter participation. She claimed the GOP was putting up “obstacles to make it difficult to vote” and encouraged Americans to verify their voter registration, register if needed, and cast their ballots early.

Despite her defeat to President Trump in the 2024 election, Harris has continued to remain active in Democratic politics and is widely viewed as a possible contender for her party’s 2028 presidential nomination.

In recent weeks, she has urged Democrats to revisit several major institutional changes, including eliminating or restructuring the Electoral College, expanding the U.S. Supreme Court from nine to 13 justices, and granting statehood to both Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.

President Trump defeated Harris in the 2024 election by a 312-226 Electoral College margin and also won the national popular vote by more than two million votes.

Since leaving office, Harris has remained visible on the campaign trail and online, endorsing Democratic candidates such as Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed while maintaining an active presence on social media.

{Matzav.com}

Growing concern surrounds the unexplained disappearance of Mali and Liel Yahalomi, an Israeli mother and daughter who vanished while traveling in Europe, as the search enters its fifth day with investigators still lacking any meaningful clues to their whereabouts.

In an interview with Arutz Sheva–Israel National News, Vienna Chabad emissary Rav Reuven Timsit said the Austrian Jewish community remains stunned by the case and has little information about what may have happened.

“We first heard about it a few days ago, and there is still absolutely no lead. The information is very, very vague,” he said.

Rav Timsit explained that one of the earliest assumptions was that the missing pair would stop at the local Chabad House, as many religious Jewish tourists do during their travels.

“At the Chabad House this week, over 400 travelers registered for Shabbat meals, but their names did not appear on the lists. They also do not appear on the Chabad House’s security cameras, so we don’t even have a first indication that they came here.”

Since the disappearance became public, the Chabad House has played a central role in organizing search efforts and coordinating volunteers.

“We’ve activated WhatsApp groups for travelers and are asking everyone to look for them. But what’s especially moving is the response from the local Jewish community. People are treating this as though it were their own mother or daughter. You can see it in all of the community’s WhatsApp groups.”

He added that local business owners have also become actively involved in trying to help locate the missing women.

“One business owner wrote to us that he thinks he saw them come to him, and he immediately informed Israel’s Foreign Ministry. People feel this is their personal issue, and it’s very moving to witness.”

Rav Timsit emphasized that Austrian authorities are fully engaged in the investigation alongside Israeli officials.

“The police and everyone who deals with security in Austria are working on the case. They’re not leaving the work solely to Israel’s Foreign Ministry.”

He cautioned, however, that the ease of travel between European countries presents a major challenge for investigators trying to retrace the pair’s movements.

“They landed in the Czech Republic and traveled from there to Vienna, but in Europe all the borders are open,” Rabbi Timsit explained. “You can travel by car and no one will check you. In 50 minutes you’re in Slovakia, and within three hours you’re in Budapest. That’s why it’s so difficult to know where to even begin looking.”

At this point, investigators have not determined what type of incident, if any, may have occurred.

“We don’t know whether this is a criminal incident, nationalist [attack], a family matter, or something else. There isn’t a single lead. That’s what makes it all so strange,” he said, noting, “We live in a time when almost every movement can be tracked. How in the world is it possible to simply disappear in Europe? That’s what’s so disturbing.”

He also stressed that the disappearance is particularly puzzling because Vienna has long been viewed as a relatively safe destination.

“Vienna is usually very calm. We are not aware of any unusual warnings or specific threats against Israeli or Jewish travelers. Precisely because of that, this entire case raises more and more questions.”

As time continues to pass without answers, Rav Timsit acknowledged that fears naturally begin to grow.

“With every passing moment, your imagination starts working overtime. Suddenly you start wondering – maybe they fell into a pit? Maybe they were kidnapped? We can’t know. This isn’t a Third World country or an area struck by a natural disaster. This is Vienna, Austria. How can someone simply disappear here?”

He concluded by urging Jews around the world to take part in the effort through prayer.

“It’s not only people in Vienna or Europe who can help. Those in Israel can also be part of the effort. A short prayer, a short chapter of Psalms – they can always help.”

{Matzav.com}

An American military veteran who spent more than four years imprisoned in Russia under disputed convictions has been released and is returning to the United States after concerns mounted that his deteriorating health placed him in imminent danger, advocates working on his behalf announced Tuesday.

Robert Gilman was being transported to a U.S. military hospital in Texas, where doctors will conduct comprehensive medical and psychological evaluations before beginning treatment, according to Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer of Global Reach, an organization that has campaigned for the release of Gilman and other Americans detained overseas.

Members of Gilman’s family, including his mother, traveled to Texas to reunite with him after his release. His mother had previously been in Russia attempting to visit him while he was hospitalized there.

Gilman, 32, a teacher who had been held in Russia since 2022, was first sentenced that year to three and a half years in prison after being convicted of assaulting a police officer following his removal from a train where authorities said he had caused a disturbance.

Authorities later brought additional charges against him, accusing him of attacking a prison inspector during a cell inspection, assaulting an investigator, and attacking a prison guard. Those convictions resulted in a sentence of eight years and one month, imposed in October 2024.

His prison term was increased again last year to a total of 10 years after another conviction for assaulting prison guards.

According to Lebson, Gilman’s condition had become critical before his release. He said the American had spent 47 days in “a dissociative stupor” because of the abuse he allegedly endured while incarcerated.

Before leaving Russia, Gilman had been transferred from prison to a civilian hospital, where he was reportedly receiving nutrition through a feeding tube while remaining handcuffed to his hospital bed.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of chassidim gathered this week in the Tosh community of Quebec, Canada, to mark the yahrtzeit of the Tosher Rebbe, with visitors arriving from around the world to participate in the commemorations at the beis medrash and the Rebbe’s kever.

As the streets overflowed with people making their way through the community, panic suddenly broke out when a non-Jewish driver sped through the center of the neighborhood and slammed into several parked vehicles with tremendous force.

Against the backdrop of the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents across Canada in recent months, many chassidim and guests initially feared they were witnessing a deliberate vehicle-ramming attack targeting the large crowds. People scattered in every direction, rushing to find safety as confusion and fear spread through the area.

After several anxious minutes, police and emergency personnel arrived and determined that the incident was not a terrorist attack. Authorities concluded that the driver had simply lost control of the vehicle, causing the crash.

Witnesses described the outcome as nothing short of miraculous. At the time of the collision, the streets were crowded with people walking to the community’s central beis medrash and to the Tosher Rebbe’s kever. Despite the violent impact and the widespread panic, no one was physically injured, and the incident resulted only in damage to parked vehicles.

{Matzav.com}

Former Mossad Director Yossi Cohen disclosed Tuesday that Israeli intelligence operatives secretly entered Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow nuclear facility on multiple occasions to gather firsthand intelligence, calling the later American strike on the site “the fulfillment of all my dreams.”

Speaking at the Galilee Conference, Cohen said Mossad agents repeatedly infiltrated the underground complex to gain a detailed understanding of its layout and capabilities. “We toured the nuclear site in Fordow, Iran, many times in order to understand the site,” Cohen said. Reflecting on the U.S. military operation that targeted the facility, he added that it was “the fulfillment of all my dreams.”

Cohen also sought to put Iran’s nuclear progress into perspective, arguing that while Tehran possesses uranium enriched to 60 percent, it has not yet reached weapons-grade capability. “Sixty percent enriched uranium is still far from a bomb,” he said.

Fordow is one of Iran’s two primary uranium enrichment plants, the other being Natanz. The installation sits approximately 30 kilometers northeast of Qom and was built deep inside the Zagros Mountains, buried roughly 90 meters beneath the surface and shielded by layers of solid rock.

Its underground design has long made Fordow one of the most difficult targets within Iran’s nuclear network and a significant obstacle for any military operation. The existence of the facility became public in 2009 after Western intelligence agencies had already uncovered it, placing it at the center of international scrutiny over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and later negotiations surrounding the 2015 nuclear agreement.

During the 2018 Mossad mission that captured Iran’s classified nuclear archive, Israeli intelligence also obtained detailed blueprints of the Fordow complex. In the years that followed, Iran increased enrichment activity at the site and installed more advanced centrifuges there.

On June 13, 2025, the Israeli Air Force targeted Fordow as part of a wider offensive against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Although the strike inflicted damage on the facility, it did not eliminate it.

Nine days later, the United States carried out a much larger attack against Fordow, as well as the nuclear facilities at Natanz and Isfahan. The Fordow operation involved six B-2 stealth bombers that released 12 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-buster bombs, each weighing approximately 13.5 tons.

Gen. Dan Caine, then chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, later explained that the bunker-busting bombs entered the underground facility through two ventilation shafts. According to Caine, the first bombs blasted through thick layers of concrete that Iran had placed over the openings, allowing the remaining munitions to penetrate much deeper into the underground complex.

{Matzav.com}

A debate intended to feature opposing views on Israel erupted into a physical confrontation after Arab-Israeli activist Yoseph Haddad says he was attacked by an anti-Israel participant during and after the event at a U.S. studio.

Haddad traveled to the studio expecting to face a panel of anti-Israel activists, but according to his account, the individual debating him changed multiple times before the discussion began.

Eventually, YouTuber Dennis Feitosa, better known online as “Def Noodles” and associated with the Groyper movement, took a seat across from Haddad. Haddad said the exchange quickly deteriorated as Feitosa allegedly resorted to insults and attempted to provoke a physical altercation. Haddad’s fiancée, pro-Israel activist Emily Schrader, said Feitosa became increasingly agitated because Haddad repeatedly refused to fight, telling him, “I have no interest in fighting you, why would I?”

Video from inside the studio appears to show Feitosa grabbing Haddad by the arm. Haddad responded by pulling Feitosa across the table in an effort to break free from his grip.

The altercation continued outside in the studio parking lot, where tensions intensified further. Video from the scene shows one of the anti-Israel activists confronting and harassing Schrader, while others restrained Feitosa as he allegedly attempted to reach Haddad.

According to footage of the incident, Haddad briefly turned away to record a video when Feitosa broke free from those holding him and charged toward him from behind. Security personnel quickly intervened, taking Feitosa to the ground. Haddad, who served in the Golani Brigade, remained at the scene and struck Feitosa several times while he was restrained before the two men were separated. The confrontation ended with both sides continuing to exchange heated words before Haddad and those accompanying him departed.

Afterward, Haddad reflected on the incident in a social media post, writing, “This isn’t anything new. When they can’t win a verbal debate, they turn to physical confrontation…which they lose as well!”

{Matzav.com}

As previously reported, President Donald Trump was secretly flown out of Turkey aboard a U.S. military aircraft last month after the United States received intelligence about a potential Iranian threat targeting the president, according to a report citing American officials.

According to the report, Trump initially boarded Air Force One after meeting with world leaders in Ankara but was later quietly transferred to a military aircraft using an airport catering truck as cover.

A U.S. official told The Wall Street Journal that the intelligence warning was provided by Israel and included concerns that shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles could be used against Air Force One. Several of Trump’s senior aides, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reportedly remained aboard Air Force One after the president had already departed on the military aircraft.

Another U.S. official told The Wall Street Journal that no missiles were fired at either aircraft. The official added that this was the first time such a deception operation had been carried out during Trump’s presidency.

Officials said it was impossible to determine with certainty how credible the reported threat against the president actually was. Nevertheless, at the time, members of the U.S. Secret Service believed extraordinary security measures were necessary to protect Trump, according to the official.

As previously reported, during Trump’s visit to the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8, television cameras captured him boarding the older Boeing 747 that had previously served as the presidential aircraft. Minutes later, however, he was secretly escorted out through the aircraft’s opposite door, concealed by an airport catering truck, and transferred to a smaller C-32A military aircraft operating under a classified callsign with no public flight tracking.

The original presidential aircraft then departed with reporters and several White House staff members still on board. Those aboard were unaware that Trump was no longer on the plane, which served as a decoy intended to conceal the president’s actual location during his departure from Turkey.

A potentially dangerous drone incident near Ben Gurion Airport was brought to a rapid end after airport security teams detected an unauthorized aircraft entering restricted airspace, prompting a brief suspension of flight activity before police tracked down and detained the operator.

The incident began at approximately 11:40 a.m., when personnel monitoring activity from the airport’s control center spotted a drone heading toward the airport. Within minutes, officials confirmed that it had crossed into the airport’s municipal area. Airport operations, security units, and ground crews immediately coordinated their response, while Ben Gurion Airport police launched a search for the individual controlling the drone.

After the drone entered the municipal zone surrounding the airport, officials ordered a temporary localized halt to flight operations that remained in effect for only a few minutes. During that time, airport control personnel continuously monitored the drone’s movements to ensure the situation remained under control.

Using a combination of sophisticated surveillance technology, observations from ground personnel, and real-time tracking by the airport’s control room, authorities were able to pinpoint the drone’s location and guide police directly to the operator.

Within an hour of the drone first being spotted, police officers located the individual and took him into custody. A preliminary investigation determined that he had been operating the drone to record promotional footage for a construction company.

The Israel Airports Authority reiterated that flying drones without authorization near Ben Gurion Airport poses a serious threat to aviation safety. The authority emphasized that drones are prohibited from operating in restricted airspace unless the necessary permits have been obtained and all legal requirements have been met.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

Many years ago, after my prostate cancer surgery, people would naturally approach me and ask, “How are you doing?” or “How are you feeling?”

These questions were asked with genuine concern, but I soon discovered that they were not always easy to answer. I might not want to discuss how I was feeling. If I was having a difficult day, should I answer honestly and say that I felt lousy? Would that make me sound like a complainer? On the other hand, I could simply answer, “Baruch Hashem”—which was certainly true, but did not really answer the question.

I therefore began telling people that I preferred a different greeting: “Good to see you!”

Those four words expressed warmth and concern without requiring me to provide a medical report. They allowed me to decide whether I wanted to say anything more. If I wished to speak about how I was feeling, I could do so. If not, nothing further was expected of me.

Now that the Rebbetzin is undergoing treatment, I am experiencing the same challenge from a different perspective. We are deeply touched by the genuine concern of our friends and members. Every tefillah, message and expression of affection means a great deal to us. Nevertheless, when I am repeatedly asked, “How is the Rebbetzin?” or “How is she feeling?” there is often no simple answer.

During a serious illness—and especially during chemotherapy—the answer may change from one day to the next, or even from one hour to the next. Some information is private. Some answers are complicated. If it has been a difficult day, I must decide how much to disclose. If I answer only, “Baruch Hashem,” I have expressed our emunah and gratitude, but I have not really provided the information being requested.

I have therefore been thinking about what might be a more sensitive way for members of a caring Torah community to express their concern.

There is, in fact, an important halachic principle involved. The Shulchan Aruch says that one who visits the sick may do so repeatedly, and that the more one visits, the more praiseworthy it is—but then it adds the crucial qualification:

וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יַטְרִיחַ לוֹ

“Provided that he does not burden the sick person” (Yoreh De’ah 335:2).

Concern is therefore measured not only by the sincerity of the person expressing it, but also by the effect it has upon the person receiving it. Genuine chesed should lighten another person’s burden, not unintentionally add to it.

The Rambam similarly explains that ביקור חולים is included in the mitzvah of וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ. We should treat another person as we ourselves would wish to be treated. This requires us to consider not only what we want to say, but what the other person presently has the strength to receive.

It is also noteworthy that the traditional words Chazal give us to say to a sick person are not a request for information. They are a tefillah:

הַמָּקוֹם יְרַחֵם עָלֶיךָ בְּתוֹךְ חוֹלֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

“May Hashem have compassion upon you among all the sick of Israel.”

The emphasis is not, “Tell me what is happening.” It is, “I am standing with you. I care about you. I am davening for you.”

Therefore, when you see me, perhaps the most meaningful greeting would be:

“Rabbi, it is good to see you. We are continuing to daven for the Rebbetzin.”

Or:

“We are thinking of the Rebbetzin and of you. There is no need to give us an update—we just want you to know that we care.”

Or: A simple good Shabbos is  always great .

Those words say everything that needs to be said. They tell me that the Rebbetzin has not been forgotten, that Gela Leah bas Gittel remains in your tefillos, and that we are not facing this journey alone. At the same time, they leave it to me to decide whether this is a moment when I wish to share more.

I am also not particularly fond of the expression, “Send the Rebbetzin my best regards.” It is certainly kindly intended, but it gives the spouse another message to remember and deliver. If appropriate, a brief message sent directly to the person—“Thinking of you and davening for you; no need to respond”—can be much more meaningful.

None of this means that it is always wrong to ask how someone is doing. A close friend who is prepared to hear the real answer—and to remain present even when the answer is painful—may certainly ask. But it may be better to say privately, “If you ever feel like telling me how things are going, I am here to listen, but please do not feel obligated to give me an update.”

When illness enters a family, the surrounding community naturally wants to enter as well—with love, tefillah and support. Sometimes the most caring words are not those that ask for an answer. They are the words that quietly communicate:

“It is good to see you. We remember. We are davening. We are with you—and you owe us nothing in return.”

Rabbi Yossi Michalowicz

 A Fellow Yid Who Has Been on Both Sides of Illness

Thornhill, Ontario Canada

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A federal judge has denied a motion by the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Liberation Organization to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that their terrorist-payment programs, dubbed “play-for-slay,” helped induce two Hamas attacks.

The plaintiffs are Stuart Force, father of Taylor Force, an American who was stabbed to death in Israel in 2016, and Israeli-American Hananel Gez, who was wounded in a May 2025 shooting in Israel that killed his pregnant wife, Tzeela, and their infant son, Ravid Haim.

The complaint alleges that the attackers knew their families would receive P.A.-funded benefits if they were imprisoned or killed.

“Pay-for-slay isn’t welfare,” said Mark Goldfeder, director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, which represents the plaintiffs. “It incentivizes murder.”

U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon ruled that the allegations plausibly described a publicized promise of payment that may constitute substantial assistance under the Antiterrorism Act.

McMahon wrote in her decision that whether the assailants knew of and relied upon the promised payments must be tested through discovery. The defendants must answer the complaint by Sept. 15. JNS

A series of tense private conversations reportedly took place in recent days between Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior envoy, as disagreements deepened over the Peace Council’s proposed 15-point framework for the future of Gaza.

According to a report by Israel’s Channel 14, the discussions became increasingly strained after Netanyahu rejected the Peace Council’s 15-point document. The report said the prime minister’s decision was influenced both by pressure from within his coalition and by concerns that the proposal could ultimately pave the way for the creation of a Palestinian state.

During one of the conversations, Kushner reportedly accused Netanyahu of undermining an initiative the prime minister himself had originally supported.

“You’re throwing obstacles in the way of an idea that you wanted. You didn’t want Israel to rule the Gaza Strip, you didn’t want Hamas—and with that goal we established the Peace Council. Now you’re throwing obstacles in the way when it’s time to put the plan into action,” Kushner reportedly told Netanyahu, according to sources familiar with the discussion.

Netanyahu responded by insisting that Israel’s security conditions are non-negotiable and that any political process must come only after Hamas has been fully dismantled.

“That’s true—we wanted something different in Gaza that would not pose a threat, but only after the Strip is completely demilitarized and Hamas is disarmed, not before. Bringing an agreement under which the Strip will be governed under Palestinian law is, in effect, a Palestinian state,” the prime minister replied.

Kushner is considered one of the key architects of the Peace Council initiative and has played a central role in shaping the Trump administration’s proposed roadmap for Gaza’s future. According to the report, the difficult exchanges with Netanyahu, together with mounting pressure from coalition partners, contributed to the prime minister’s public declaration yesterday that Israel rejects the council’s 15-point document.

According to the report, the dispute now extends beyond the wording of the proposal itself and centers on a fundamental question regarding Gaza’s future: whether political negotiations can move forward alongside the process of demilitarization, or whether any diplomatic arrangement must wait until Hamas has been completely disarmed.

The Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment on the report. However, sources familiar with the discussions said significant differences between the two sides remain unresolved.

A yeshiva bochur who reported to a police station Monday to provide testimony in an unrelated investigation was arrested by Military Police moments after leaving the building, prompting sharp criticism from chareidi activists, who say the incident circumvented standing police policy regarding draft evaders.

According to the report, Moshe Steiner, a resident of Bnei Brak who learns in a yeshiva in Beis Meir, was summoned to the offices of Lahav 433 to give testimony. After investigators questioned him, he was informed that the interview had concluded and that he was free to leave.

However, as Steiner exited the station and entered the parking lot, Military Police officers who had reportedly been waiting outside detained him on allegations that he is classified as a draft evader.

The arrest has sparked outrage among activists involved in issues related to the military draft, who argue that the operation amounted to an indirect circumvention of an existing directive issued by Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levy.

Under that directive, chareidi draft evaders who come to police stations for routine civilian services or to provide testimony are not to be arrested, in order to avoid discouraging members of the public from cooperating with law enforcement.

In this case, critics contend that although police technically did not hand Steiner over while he was inside the station, the planned arrest waiting outside produced the exact same result. Sources involved in the matter said that the operation effectively made “a mockery of the police commissioner’s directive.”

According to those handling the case, Steiner is the first yeshiva bochur classified as a draft evader to be arrested since the start of Bein Hazemanim.

Activists said they intend to pursue the matter with the appropriate authorities and are determined to prevent similar tactics from being used in the future.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar welcomed on Monday Colombia’s announcement recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, calling it a “historic decision.”

Israel’s top diplomat said in a statement that the decision followed his meeting last week with Colombia’s newly elected president, Abelardo de la Espriella. Sa’ar visited the Latin American country to attend the presidential inauguration ceremony.

“I will continue working so that more countries join the United States, under [U.S.] President [Donald] Trump, and Colombia, under President de la Espriella, in recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, where Israeli law was applied 45 years ago,” Sa’ar said.

Bogota said in an official statement, “In light of the continuing regional instability in the Middle East, and considering the strategic importance of the Golan Heights to Israel’s security, the government of Colombia recognizes Israel’s sovereignty over this territory, as well as the state’s right to defend itself against external threats.”

It added, “For decades, Israel has faced persistent and existential security challenges along all of its borders. These threats have intensified significantly in recent years, culminating in the horrific terrorist attack of Oct. 7, [2023,] which demonstrated both the severity and the evolving nature of the dangers facing the Israeli people. Within this regional security context, Colombia recognizes that Israel’s continued control and sovereignty over the Golan Heights constitutes an essential component of its national security and its ability to defend its citizens and safeguard their security.”

The decision regarding the Golan Heights is but one of a series of diplomatic developments between Israel and Colombia, according to Israel’s Foreign Ministry.

The new arrangements agreed between Sa’ar and the Colombian leadership include the full and immediate restoration of relations between the countries; immediate appointment of ambassadors; relocation of Colombia’s embassy to Jerusalem; abolition of visa requirements between the countries; a free-trade agreement; Colombia’s withdrawal from South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and from the “Hague Group;” and tightening of collaborations in diplomatic, security and economic matters.

Earlier on Monday, Sa’ar spoke over the phone with his Colombian counterpart, Omar Bula Escobar, during which he expressed solidarity with Colombia and its people following the recent earthquake and offered Israel’s assistance, the ministry said.

The moves represent a dramatic reversal from the policies of defeated President Gustavo Petro, who severed diplomatic ties with Israel during the war against Hamas in Gaza and repeatedly criticized the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Colombia had long been considered one of Israel’s closest partners in Latin America, maintaining extensive cooperation in trade, agriculture and security before relations deteriorated under Petro.

De la Espriella’s election signals a return to that partnership. During his campaign, he pledged to restore ties with Israel and move Colombia’s embassy to Jerusalem.

The rapprochement between Israel and Colombia is part of Israel’s broader initiative to strengthen its ties with Latin America.

As part of this effort, 2026 has been designated by the Israeli Foreign Ministry as the “Year of Latin America,” establishing a strategic focus on expanding Israel’s engagement across the region. JNS