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Iranian authorities reported that an individual they described as an agent of Israel’s Mossad was executed after being convicted of espionage, as Tehran continues an intensified campaign of death sentences against those accused of ties to Israeli intelligence.

According to Iran’s judiciary-affiliated Mizan news agency, Ali Ardestani was put to death after being found guilty of spying for Israel. Iranian officials claimed Ardestani was recruited through cyber channels and carried out assignments for the Mossad in exchange for financial compensation and promises made by his handlers. The report alleged that he transferred sensitive information to Israeli intelligence.

Iranian authorities said Ardestani confessed to receiving digital currency payments at the completion of each task. He was also accused of meeting with a Mossad contact inside Iran, handing over information he had gathered, including photographs and video footage, and then receiving additional assignments.

The judiciary stated that the death sentence was carried out only after approval by Iran’s Supreme Court and following what it described as full legal proceedings. “The death sentence of Ali Ardestani for the crime of espionage in favor of the Mossad intelligence service, through the transfer of sensitive state information, was implemented after confirmation by the Supreme Court and completion of judicial procedures,” the judiciary said.

Iran has significantly increased executions in recent months of individuals accused of cooperating with Israeli intelligence services. Iranian media outlets have reported a sharp rise this year in the number of people sentenced to death on espionage charges linked to Israel.

In a separate case cited by Iranian state television, authorities announced that on December 20, 2025, Iran executed Aqil Kashavarz, who was also convicted of spying for Israeli intelligence and the Israeli military. According to Iranian claims, Kashavarz maintained what officials described as “close intelligence cooperation” with the Mossad and photographed sensitive military and security sites.

Kashavarz was arrested in May while allegedly photographing a military headquarters in the northwestern city of Urmia, approximately 600 kilometers northwest of Tehran. Iranian officials accused him of carrying out more than 200 similar missions for Israeli intelligence across multiple cities throughout Iran, including in the capital.

{Matzav.com}

Majority Whip Tom Emmer: I have three words regarding Somalis who have committed fraud against the American taxpayer and have refused to assimilate as Americans: send them home.

Rep. Ryan Zinke says President Trump doesn’t have the authority to pursue military action to acquire Greenland without Congressional approval.

In a major development for the English-speaking community in Israel, Chaim V’Chessed, the leading organization supporting Olim with guidance, resources, and advocacy across all areas of life, has appointed former Knesset member Rabbi Yitzchak Pindrus as Senior Governmental Liaison. This appointment represents a significant milestone in Chaim V’Chessed’s history.

Rabbi Pindrus brings extensive experience in public service, having served as Mayor of Beitar Illit, Assistant Mayor of Jerusalem, and a Member of Knesset. His considerable connections with municipalities, government ministries, and senior officials across Israel position him to dramatically enhance Chaim V’Chessed’s reach and influence.

As the son of American immigrants, Pindrus understands firsthand the challenges facing English-speaking Olim. In his new role, he will spearhead Chaim V’Chessed’s engagement with government offices and municipalities, strengthening the organization’s ability to advocate for and support Anglos in Israel at every level.

Paysach Freedman, CEO of Chaim V’Chessed, said: “The addition of Rabbi Pindrus is a pivotal moment for Chaim V’Chessed. His experience, national recognition, and deep understanding of our community will take our work to an entirely new level and significantly benefit English-speakers across Israel.”

This landmark appointment underscores Chaim V’Chessed’s ongoing commitment to expanding its impact and ensuring that English-speaking Olim have the resources, guidance, and support they need to thrive in Israel.

{Matzav.com}

In Ohio’s closely watched race for governor, Republican entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Democratic former health chief Amy Acton rolled out their picks for running mate on Wednesday, announcing a seasoned conservative lawmaker for him and a pragmatic former party chair for her. Ramaswamy tapped Ohio Senate President Rob McColley while Acton chose former state Democratic […]

Prime Minister Netanyahu toured the Western Negev today with Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, reviewing police and Shin Bet efforts against weapons smuggling and illegal arms in the south. Netanyahu was also briefed on a five-year plan to expand settlements, boost population growth, and strengthen security and infrastructure across the […]

Sen. Lindsey Graham on Fox News: if Iran’s doesn’t stop murdering Iranian protesters, “Trump is gonna kill you.”

Nick Shirley promises to reveal even more scandals, saying, “There’s widespread fraud in daycare facilities across the country, and I’ve been given a mandate to expose it—so more will be coming.”

President Trump praised efforts to raise NATO’s defense spending target to 5%.

Speaker Mike to Johnson will travel to London to address the parliament on Jan 20.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer on the rampant Somali fraud in Minnesota: “The breadth and depth of this fraud is breathtaking, and I fear that this is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Warner Bros. Discovery has urged shareholders to reject Paramount’s latest takeover offer, stating that the proposal carries significantly higher financial risk despite a personal $40 billion equity guarantee from Larry Ellison. The company said its $83 billion deal with Netflix, agreed to last month, remains the stronger and safer option. Paramount has been pursuing a […]

Fourteen-year-old Chaim Yosef Eisenthal z”l was killed last night during a protest in Yerushalayim, an event that has left the city—and far beyond it—reeling in shock and grief.

[Pictured above is the invitation to Yosef’s bar mitzvah, held a year and a half ago.]

The morning after the tragedy did not begin with routine headlines or updates, but with a heavy sense of anguish. The loss of a child, many said, eclipses politics, sectors, and arguments, forcing a painful national reckoning.

At the opening of the Kikar FM broadcast in Israel, host Eli Gothelf said that the very fact that a 14-year-old boy lost his life in the street should shake the entire country. “Not a sector, not a camp, not a political debate,” he said. “In a democracy, protest is a right. But in a democracy, a 14-year-old child is not supposed to die in the street. He is not supposed to be killed.”

Gothelf stressed that when a child is killed, questions of affiliation or ideology become irrelevant. “When a child goes out to a protest and does not come home, this is no longer an internal dispute. This is a flashing red warning light,” he said.

Also interviewed on the program was Motti Bukchin, spokesman for ZAKA, who spoke with visible pain as he described what the organization’s volunteers encountered at the scene.

“This is a horrifying event,” Bukchin said. “I don’t know whether to call it an accident, a killing, or an attack. In the end, there is a child in his early teens who was killed for nothing. Entire families are destroyed.”

According to Bukchin, ZAKA volunteers arrived shortly after the incident, while rescue forces were still working to extricate the victim. “The bus dragged him,” he said. “People ran after the driver and shouted for him to stop—and he kept going.”

He described long, agonizing minutes as teams waited for firefighters to arrive with hydraulic equipment. “Only after they lifted the bus were they able to extricate the victim. Sadly, he was already without signs of life, with multi-system injuries, no pulse and no breathing.”

Bukchin emphasized that, from his perspective, the central issue is not only the sequence of events but their tragic result. “It doesn’t matter what came before what,” he said. “The outcome is a 14-year-old child who lost his life in a tragic way.”

He noted that the scene was especially difficult, requiring extended and painstaking work by volunteers to collect findings and care for the deceased with dignity. “This work is done in front of the public, in front of a family that understands that their child has been killed. It is true kindness,” he said.

Despite decades of experience with ZAKA, Bukchin said the pain never dulls. “Every time it is new. No two events are the same. Every family, every person who dies, is an entire world.”

{Matzav.com}

Federal attention is increasing on Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison after video surfaced of him meeting with Somali community members later convicted in a major fraud case. Ellison says he “did nothing for them and took nothing from them,” though records show the group donated thousands to his campaign before their arrests.

Hundreds wait on line as Philanthropist Yoeli Landau distributes large amounts of Tzedakah ahead of the Chasunah of his son.

Elizabeth Warren: Right now, Republicans seem to be able to engage in only one action, and that is bow down to Trump.

DHS releases footage showing U.S. personnel boarding sanctioned oil tankers by helicopter in both the North Atlantic and the Caribbean this morning.

FOX: Are you investigating what they did on January 6? There’s a report that Michael Byrd, the officer who shot Ashli Babbitt dead, he allegedly was operating an unaccredited home daycare. COMER: We all have questions about January 6.

A helicopter has crashed in Perm Krai in central Russia, after reportedly striking zip lines, killing both people on board.

U.S. forces have seized two sanctioned oil tankers with ties to both Russia and Venezuela in the North Atlantic, officials and news outlets reported Wednesday morning. One vessel, now sailing under the Russian flag as the Marinera and formerly known as Bella-1, was intercepted after eluding a U.S. blockade of sanctioned oil shipments near Venezuela […]